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Catherine Howard Tower of London Executions is in Catherine Howard Trial and Executions.
On 13th February 1542 Queen Catherine Howard (age 19) and Jane Parker Viscountess Rochford (age 37) were beheaded at Tower Green [Map]. Henry Howard (age 26) attended. They were both buried at St Peter ad Vincula Church, Tower of London [Map].
Mary Boleyn (age 43) was the heir of Jane Parker Viscountess Rochford being the sister of her deceased husband George Boleyn Viscount Rochford.
Grafton's Chronicle. To the which peticions the king graunted, saiyng that he thanked the Commons, that they tooke his sorow to be theirs. Wherevpon the Queene and the Ladie Rocheford were attainted by both the houses. And on Saterday beyng the xj. day of February, the king sent his roial assent, by his great Seale: and then all the Lordes were in their Robes, and the common house called vp, and there the acte read, and his assent declared. And so on the thirtene daye [Feb 1540], these two Ladies were behedded on the greene, within the Tower with an axe, and confessed their offences, and died repentaunt. And shortly after the maryed the Lady Katheryn Parre that had bene wife to the Lorde Latimer, and she was sister to the Marques of Northampton.
Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. 9th February 1542. And the same night the Lady Rochford (age 37) was had to the Tower.
Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. 10th February 1542. The 10th of February the Quene (age 19) was had by water from Sion to the Tower of London, the Duke of Suffolke (age 58), the Lord Privie Seale, and the Lord Great Chamberlaine (age 59) havinge the conveyannce of her.
Holinshed's Chronicle [1525-1582]. 10th February 1542. On the tenth of Februarie, the quéene [Queen Catherine Howard of England (age 19)] was conueied from Sion to the towre by water, the duke of Suffolke, the lord priuie seale, and the lord great chamberleine, hauing the conduction of hir.
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1542. [10th February 1542]. Forgot, when writing on the 10th, of the Queen's [Queen Catherine Howard of England (age 19)] trial and condemnation, to mention that after the condemnation passed against her in Parliament, the King, wishing to proceed with moderation, had sent to her certain Councillors and others of the said Parliament, to offer her to come and defend her own case in the Parliament. This she declined, submitting entirely to the King's mercy and owning that she deserved death. Some days later, on the afternoon of the 10th [Feb 1542], she was, with some resistance, conveyed by river to the Tower. The lord Privy Seal, with a number of Privy Councillors and servants went first in a great barge; then came the Queen with three or four men and as many ladies, in a small covered barge; then the Duke of Suffolk, in a great barge, with a company of his men. On their arrival at the Tower, the lords landed first; then the Queen, in black velvet, and they paid her as much honour as when she was reigning.
Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. 11th February 1542. And on Saterdaie beyng the [e]leventh daie of February, the Kyng sent his royall assent, by his greate Seale: and then all the Lordes were in their Robes, and the Common house called up, and there the acte redde, and his assent declared.
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The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
Statutes of the Realm Volume 3 Chapter 21. The Bill of Atteynder of Mestres Katherin Hawarde (age 19) late Quene of England, and divers other psonnes her complices.
Note 1. From the Original Act in the Parliament Office in the Bundle of the Thirty-seventh Year of this Reign. See the Note at the Beginning of this Year; and Note to Chapter XX.
Note 2. This Act was given assent on 11th February 1542.
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1542. On Sunday the 12th [Feb 1542], towards evening, she [Queen Catherine Howard of England (age 19)] was told to prepare for death, for she was to die next day. That evening she asked to have the block brought in to her, that she might know how to place herself; which was done, and she made trial of it.
Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. And so on the thirtene daie, these twoo Ladies were behedded on the Grene, within the Tower [Map] with an axe, and confessed their offences, and died repentaunt.
Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. 13th February 1542. To the whiche peticions the kyng graunted, saiyng that he thanked the Commons, that thei tooke his sorowe to bee theirs: Whereupon the Quene (age 19) and the Lady Rocheforde (age 37), were attainted by bothe the houses.
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1542. Next morning [13th February 1542], about 7, those of the Council except Suffolk, who was ill, and Norfolk, were at the Tower, accompanied by various lords and gentlemen, such as Surrey (Norfolk's son and the Queen's cousin), and she [Queen Catherine Howard of England (age 19)] was beheaded in the same spot where Anne Boleyn had been executed. Her body was then covered [with a black cloak]. and her ladies took it away. Then Lady Rochford (age 37) was brought, who had shown symptoms of madness till they told her she must die. Neither she nor the Queen spoke much on the scaffold; they only confessed their guilt and prayed for the King's welfare.
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1542. 13 Feb [1542]. R. O. Kaulek, 388. (Full abstract.) 100. Marillac To Francis I.
The Scottish ambassadors yesterday came to report that they had received this King's answer about the interview; which was in substance what he wrote on the 5th, viz., that this King would willingly grant an interview for two, but not for three. As they are sending the Cardinal of St. Andrews the said answer, which was given them in writing, Marillac could do no less than forward their letters with these; to which there is nothing to add but that Parliament has condemned this Queen (age 19) and the lady of Rochefort (age 37) to death. Her execution was expected this week, for last night she was brought from Syon to the Tower, but as she weeps, cries, and torments herself miserably, without ceasing, it is deferred for three or four days, to give her leisure to recover, and "penser au faict de sa conscience." As to the old duchess of Norfolk, some say she shall die, others that she shall keep perpetual prison, like her son lord William and daughter the countess of Brizchwatre. A few days will show.
All her goods are already confiscated, and are of marvellous value, 400,000 or 500,000 cr., for ladies in this country succeed for life to the moveables of their deceased husbands. Norfolk is greatly interested, since the greater part came to her through his late father; yet the times are such that he dare not show that the affair touches him, but approves all that is done.
P.S.—13 Feb.: After writing the above, was informed that to-day, Monday, 13th inst., the condemned ladies should be executed; and, indeed, about nine o'clock in the morning, this Queen first, and afterwards the lady of Rochefort, within the Tower, had their heads cut off with an axe, after the manner of the country. The Queen was so weak that she could hardly speak, but confessed in few words that she had merited a hundred deaths for so offending the King who had so graciously treated her. The lady of Rochefort said as much in a long discourse of several faults which she had committed in her life. It is not yet said who will be Queen; but the common voice is that this King will not be long without a wife, for the great desire he has to have further issue.
French. Modern transcript, pp. 3. Headed: Londres, 11 Fevrier.
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Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. 13th February 1542. And the 13th of February, beinge Monday, the sayd Quene, Katharine (age 19) put otherwise Lady Haward, was beheaded within the Tower on the grene, and my Lady of Rochforde (age 37) allso; the Lordes of the Counsell, with other noblemen, and certeine commoners, beinge there present at the execution, she beinge afore condempned by the body of the whole Parliament of high treason.
Spanish Chronicle Chapter 39. [13th February 1542] When she mounted the scaffold she turned to the people, who were numerous, and said, Brothers, by the journey upon which I am bound I have not wronged the King, but it is true that long before the King took me I loved Culpepper, and I wish to God I had done as he wished me, for at the time the King wanted to take me he urged me to say that I was pledged to him. If I had done as he advised me I should not die this death, nor would he. I would rather have him for a husband than be mistress of the world, but sin blinded me and greed of grandeur, and since mine is the fault mine also is the suffering, and my great sorrow is that Culpepper should have to die through me." Then she turned to the headsman and said, "Pray hasten with thy office." And he knelt before her and asked her pardon, and she said, "I die a Queen, but I would rather die the wife of Culpepper. God have mercy on my soul. Good people, I beg you pray for me." And then, falling on her knees, she said certain prayers, and the headsman performed his office, striking off her head when she was not expecting it. She was carried to the Tower Church, and buried near Queen Anne.
Holinshed's Chronicle [1525-1582]. 13th February 1542. And so on the thirtéenth daie, those two ladies [Queen Catherine Howard of England (age 19) and Jane Parker Viscountess Rochford (age 37)] were beheaded on the greene within the towre with an ax, where they confessed their offenses, and died repentant.
Chronicle of Greyfriars. 13th February 1542. And the 13th day of February was the Queen Katherine (age 19) and Lady Rocheford (age 37) be-heddyd within the tower, and there burryd.
Ellis' Letters. Ottwell Johnson, to his brother John Johnson a merchant of the Staple at Calais, describing the Execution of Queen Catherine Howard.
[From the original in his Majesty's Record Office in the Tower.]
Our principal information of the crimes and death of Queen Catherine Howard is derived from two sources only: from a Letter which the Lords of the Council addressed to Mr. William Pagett our ambassador in France1, and from the Act of Attainder. The latter is not upon the Statute Roll; but the original Act is preserved in the Parliament Office, in the bundle of the 37th. Hen. VIII.
The following Extract from a Merchant's Letter, presents an Account of the Execution by an eye-witness, who unquestionably informs us that both the Queen and Lady Rocliford made a full confession of their guilt.
From Calleis I have harde nothing as yet of your sute to my Lord Gray: and for news from hens, know ye, that even according to my writing on Sonday last, I se the Quene and the Lady Retcheford suffer within the Tower, the day following, whos sowles (I doubt not) be with God, for thay made the moost godly and christyan's end, that ever was hard tell of (I thinke) sins the worlds creation; uttering thayer lively faeth in the blode of Christe onely, and with goodly words and stedfast countenances thay desyred all christen people to take regard unto thayer worthy and just punnishment with death for thayer offences, and agenst God hainously from thayer youth upward, in breaking all his commandements, and also agenst the King's royall Majesty very daungeriously: wherfor thay being justly condempned (as thay sayed) by the Lawes of the Realme and Parlement, to dye, required the people (I say) to take example at them, for amendement of thayer ungodly lyves, and gladdly to obey the King in all things, for whos preservation thay did hartely pray; and willed all people so to do: commending thayer sowles to God, and ernestly calling for mercy upon him: whom I besieche to geve us grace, with suche faeth, hope, and charite at our departing owt of this miserable world, to come to the fruy tion of his godhed in joy everlasting. Amen.
Your loving brother
Otwell Johnson.
With my harty commendacions unto Mr Cave and Mtres Cave, not forgetting my syster your wiff, I pray you lett them be made parttakers of thies last newes, for surely the thing is well worth the knowledge.
Note 1. MS. Cotton. Otho, c. x. fol. 251. The Letter is much burnt.
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Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1542. 15 Feb [1542]. R. O. 106. Ottwell Johnson To His Brother, John Johnson1.
London, 15 Feb. 1541:—Wrote on Sunday last. Describes purchase of wine and herrings for his mother, and some commercial dealings with Wm. Gifford, Adrian of Dunkirke and Bartram de la Salle. From Calais hears nothing of his brother's suit to lord Gray.
"And for news from hence, know ye, that, even according to my writing on Sunday last, I see the Queen (deceased) and the lady Retcheford (deceased) suffer within the Tower, the day following; whose souls (I doubt not) be with God, for they made the most godly and Christians' end that ever was heard tell of (I think) since the world's creation, uttering their lively faith in the blood of Christ only, with wonderful patience and constancy to the death, and, with goodly words and steadfast countenance, they desired all Christian people to take regard unto their worthy and just punishment with death, for their offences against God heinously from their youth upward, in breaking of all his commandments, and also against the King's royal majesty very dangerously; wherefor they, being justly condemned (as they said), by the laws of the realm and Parliament, to die, required the people (I say) to take example at them for amendment of their ungodly lives, and gladly obey the King in all things, for whose preservation they did heartily pray, and willed all people so to do, commending their souls to God and earnestly calling for mercy upon Him, whom I beseech to give us grace with such faith, hope, and charity, at our departing out of this miserable world, to come to the fruition of his Godhead in joy everlasting. Amen."
Desires that Mr. and Mrs. Cave and his wife may share this news, which is surely "well worth the knowledge."
Large paper, pp. 2. Add.: merchant of the Staple at Calais. At Tykeford.
Note 1. Extracts from this letter are printed in Ellis's Orig. Letters, 1st ser. II. 128.
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The History of England under Henry VIII 1542. The King yet not satisfied thus, for more authorizing his Proceeding, referred the Businesse to the Parliament sitting the 16 of January, 1541. Where upon Petition of both houses, that hee would not vex himself, but give his Royall assent to what they should doe, they had leave to proceed, and together thanks given them that they took his forrow to be theirs. Hereupon they attainted the Queen and the Lady Jane Rochfort, as also Culpeper, Derrham &c. And so the Queen and Lady Jane Rochfort (Wife to the late Lord Rockford, and noted to be a particular instrument in the death of Queen Anne) were brought to the Tower, and after confession of their faults, had their heads cut off.