Catherine Howard: Fifth Wife of Henry VIII Quiz

Answer: Horsham

Catherine Howard was brought up in Chesworth House, a mile south of Horsham. Her exact date of birth is unknown, but it is estimated she was born in 1523. Her mother died c.1528, so she was sent to live at Chesworth House under the care of her father's stepmother, Agnes Howard, the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk. Agnes Howard, however, was often at court and there were reports of the children being allowed to run wild, as she was rarely around and had little to do with their upbringing. Catherine appeared to have received little intellectual training.

Answer: Catherine's music teacher

Sometime around 1536 Catherine met Henry Mannox, a music teacher, who some historians categorize as an abusive person who imposed himself on Catherine. Both Mannox and Catherine confessed during interrogations about her adultery that they had had sexual contact, although they both stated they had not gone as far as intercourse.

She later described her relationship with him as such: "at the flattering and fair persuasions of Mannox being but a young girl I suffered him at sundry times to handle and touch the secret parts of my body which neither became me with honesty to permit nor him to require".

Answer: Joyce Culpeper

Joyce Culpeper was born around 1480. She was the daughter of Sir Richard Culpeper and Isabel Worsley. When she married Catherine's father, she brought with her five children from her first marriage; Catherine is believed to have been her mother's tenth child.

Joyce died in about 1528 when Catherine was young. This was why Catherine was sent to live with her step-grandmother. Lord Edmund Howard was the brother of Anne Boleyn's (Henry VIII's second wife) mother. This made Catherine Howard and Anne Boleyn cousins.

Answer: Francis Dereham

Because of what happened between her and Henry Mannox, Catherine's grandmother, Agnes Howard, decided it would be wise to lock Catherine in her room to avoid any more similar incidents. But Catherine persuaded a maid who worked in Chesworth House, Mary Lascelles, to steal the key and allow Francis Dereham inside her room. Mannox himself was not allowed in, and he later commented that Catherine and Dereham would eat, drink, and be merry into the early hours of the morning. Most likely out of jealousy, Mannox wrote a letter to Agnes Howard detailing Catherine's romantic involvement with Dereham, and he was sent away.

His affair with Catherine would cost him his life later. In 1541, because of his past involvement with Catherine, Henry VIII had Francis Dereham hung, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn Gallows.

Answer: 3 weeks

Before Catherine Howard, Henry was married to Anne of Cleves for 6 months. Henry was not satisfied with Anne's appearance and her lack of musical education, as she preferred needlework. Their marriage was annulled. She was ordered to leave court on 24 June 1540. By July 6, she was told that Henry wanted to end the marriage. She agreed. The marriage was officially annulled on July 9.

As one of Anne's ladies in waiting, Catherine soon caught the eye of Henry. She was too young to realise she was possibly being used as a pawn. Some historians say the Duke of Norfolk, Catherine Howard's uncle, likely pushed his niece in Henry's direction to tempt him away from Anne of Cleves. This would also result in the downfall of Thomas Cromwell, who had arranged the marriage.

Henry VIII and Catherine Howard married in July 28 1540, at Oatlands Palace near what is now Weybridge, Surrey. Henry had actually bought the house in 1538 for Anne of Cleves. His last wife (Catherine Parr) also spent time at this palace.

Answer: Thomas Cranmer

Mary Lassells had stories of Catherine's "light" behaviour with men before she married Henry VIII. She confided in her husband about this, who reported what he had learned to Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury.

Cranmer immediately acted to use this information against his political rivals: the Duke of Norfolk, and the rest of his Catholic family. Lady Rochford was interrogated and confessed to witnessing Catherine's sexual behaviour with men.
On All Saint Day of 1541, Henry VIII read a letter detailing Catherine's sexual adventures with other men. Henry was understandably very upset. Catherine was taken in for questioning.

Even the hardened Thomas Cranmer was discomforted by Catherine's histrionics at being taken away, describing her as such:

"I found her in such lamentation and heaviness as I never saw no creature, so that it would have pitied any man's heart to have looked upon her."

Answer: Thomas Culpeper

Thomas Culpeper was part of Henry VIII's inner circle. Catherine signed her letters to him "Yours as long as life endures." He was a close friend of Henry VIII and a cousin of Catherine Howard. Thomas Culpeper was a popular courtier. Thomas Culpeper was sentenced to death for his involvement with Catherine. Although managed to persuade Henry to have him beheaded rather than hung, drawn, and quartered. He was beheaded at Tyburn Gallows in 1541.

Answer: Jane Boleyn

Jane Boleyn,(nee Parker) Viscountess Rochford, was married to Anne Boleyn's brother, George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford. Some historians consider her a possible instrument in the downfall of Anne Boleyn. But it would be the downfall of Catherine Howard that would claim Lady Rochford's life. Before Jane Boleyn's execution she addressed the crowd.

She was asking for forgiveness from God as was usual. But she did not claim she had made a false testimony about her husband, George Boleyn, committing incest with his sister, Anne Boleyn.

Answer: It was illegal to not disclose one's sexual history to the King, or his successors, honestly

This act made it punishable by death for the person engaged to the King to not disclose her sexual history within 20 days of their wedding day. It also stated it was treason to aid and abet the King's fiance to have sexual relations with others. This was probably inspired by Jane Boleyn's actions in the Catherine Howard scandal.

Answer: False

This popular myth is not mentioned to have happened in any eyewitness accounts to Catherine Howard's execution. Not to mention that people sent to death at the order of the King usually admitted their wrongs. They usually asked the King for forgiveness before death whether innocent or guilty. This was to protect members of their family who would still be alive after their execution.

Catherine Howard is described by eyewitness accounts to have asked for forgiveness for her sins and said that she had betrayed the King, who had always treated her well.