Tudor Books, The History of the Reformation Volume 3 71

71. The Examination of Q. Catherine Howard.

Being again examined by Lord of Canterbury of Contracts and Communications of Marriage between Deerham and me: I shall here answer faithfully and truely, as I shall make Answer at the last Day of Judgement, and by the Promise that I made in Baptism, and the Sacrament that I received upon Allhallowes Day last past.—First, I do say, that Deram hath many Times moved unto me the Question of Matrimony; whereunto, as far as I remember, I never granted him more than before I have confessed: And as for these Words, "I promise you, I do Love you with all my heart," I do not remember that ever I spuke them. But as concerning the other Words, that I should Promise him by my Faith and Troth, that I would never other Husband but him, I am sure I never spake them.

Examined what Tokens and Gifts I gave to Deram, and he to me:—I gave him a Band and Sleeves for a Shirt. And he gave me a Heart's-Ease of Silk for a New-Year's-Gift, and an Old Shirt of Fine Holland or Cambricke, that was my Lord Thomas Shirt, and my Lady did give it him. And more than this, to my Remembrance, I never gave him, nor he to me, saving this Sommer Ten Pounds about the Beginning of the Progresse.

Examined whether I did give him a small Ring of Gold upon this Condition, that he should never give it away.— lo my Knowledge I never gave him no such Ring, but I am assured upon no such Condition.

Examined whether the Skirt, Band, and Sleeves were of my own Work.—They were not of my Work; but as I Remember, Clifton's Wife of Lambeth wrought them.

And as for the Bracelet of Silkwork, I never gave him none; and if he have any of mine, he took it from me.

As for any Ruby, I never gave him none to set in Ring, nor for other Purposes. As for the French Fenel, Deram did not give it me, but he said there was a litle Woman in London with a crooked Back, who was very cunning in making all Manner of Flowers. And I desired him to cause her to make a French Fenel for me, and I would pay him again when I had Money. And when I was First come unto Court, I paid him as well for that, as for diverse other Things, to the Value of Five or Six Pound. And Truth it is, that I durst not wear the said French Fenel, until I had desired my Lady Breerton to say that she gave it me.

As for a small Ring with a Stone, I never lost none of his, nor he never gave me none.

As for Velvet and Satten for Billyments, a Cap of Velvet with a Feather, a quilted Capp of Sarcenet and Money. he did not give it me, but at my Desire he laid out Money for them to be paid again. For all which Things I paid him, when I came into the Court. And yet be bought not for me the quilted Cap, but only the Sarcenet to make it of. And I delivered the same to a little Fellow in my Lady's House, as I Remember, his Name was Rose, an Embroiderer, to make it what Work he thought best, and not appointing him to make it with Freer's Knots, as he can testify, if he be a true Man. Neverthelesse, when it was made, Deram said, What Wife here be Freer's Knots for Fraunce.

As for the Indenture and Obligation of an Hundred Pound, he left them in my Custody, saying, that if he never came again, be gave them clearly unto me. And when I asked him whether he went, he said he would not tell me untill his Return.

Examined whether I called him Husband, and he me Wife.— I do Answer, that there was Communication in the House that we Two should Marry together; and some of his Enemies had Envy thereat, wherefore he desired me to give him Leave to tall me Wife, and that would call him Husband. And I said I was content. And so after that, commonly he called me Wife, and many times I called him Husband. And he used many Times to Kiss me, and so he did to many other commonly in the House. And I suppose, that this be true, that at one Time when he Kissed me very often, some said that were present, — They trowed that he would never have Kissed me enough. Whereto he answered,— Who should Lett him to Kiss his own Wife? Then said one of them, — I trowe this Matter will come to passe as the Common Saying is. — W'hat is that, quoth he. — Marry, said the other. That Mr. Deram shall have Mrs. Katherine Howard. — By St. John, said Deram, you may guesse Twice and guesse worse. But that I should Wink upon him, and say secretly, What and this should come to my Lady's Ear? I suppose verily there was no such Thing.

As for Carnall Knowledge, I confess as I did before, that diverse Times he hath lyen with me, sometimes in his Doublet and Hose, and Two or Thre Times naked: But not so naked that he bad nothing upon him, for he had al wayes at the least his Doublet, and as I do think, his Hose also, but I mean naked when his Hose were putt down. And diverse Times he would bring Wine, Strawberryes, Apples, and other Things to make good Chear, after my lady was gone to Bed. But that he made any special Banquet, that by Appointment between him and me, he should tarry after the Keyes were delivered to my Lady, that is utterly untrue. Nor I never did steale the Keyes my self, nor desired any Person to steal them, to that Intent and Purpose to lett in Deram, but for many other Causes the Doores have been opened, sometime over Night, and sometime early in the Morning, as well at the Request of me, as of other. And sometime Deram hath come in early in the Morning, and ordered him very lewdly, but never at my Request, nor Consent.

And that Wilka and Baskerrile should say, what Shifts should we make, if my Lady should come in suddenly. And I should Answer, that he should go into the Little Gallery. I never said that if my Lady came, he should go into the Gallery, but he hath said so himself, and so he hath done indeed.

As for the Communication of my going to the Court, I remember that he said to me, that if I were gone, he would not tarry long in the House. And I said again, that he might do as he list. And further Communication of that Matter, I remember not. But that I should say, it grieved me as much as it did him, or that he should never Live to say thou hast swerved, or that the Teares should trickle down by my Cheeks, none of them be true. For all that knew me, and kept my Company, knew how glad and desirous I was to come to the Court.

As for the Communication after his coming out of Ireland, is untrue. But as far as I remember, he then asked me, if I should be Married to Mr. Culpepper, for so he said he heard reported. Then I made Answer, What should you trouble me therewith, for you know I will not have you; and if you heard such Report, you heard more than I do know.

Katherine Howard,