Privy Seal · Chapter
VII explained
Cromwell and Throckmorton scheme against Katharine Howard.
What happens
Cromwell and Throckmorton scheme against Katharine Howard. Throckmorton, having planted a forged letter from Cleves to buy time, fears Cromwell's plan to destroy Katharine by bringing her cousin Thomas Culpepper from France and spreading rumors of her unchastity. Cromwell orders Viridus to fetch Culpepper and Throckmorton to gather false witnesses.
Themes in this chapter
Betrayal and Intrigue
Throckmorton betrays Cromwell by forging a letter, while Cromwell plots to betray Katharine Howard through false witnesses.
Power and Corruption
Cromwell uses his power to orchestrate a campaign of slander and manipulation against Katharine Howard.
Ambition and Survival
Throckmorton's schemes to survive and protect Katharine Howard clash with Cromwell's ambition to destroy her.
Characters to notice
- Sir Throckmorton
Desperate to protect Katharine Howard, he forges a letter from Cleves to delay Cromwell's attack, but is forced to report rumors of Katharine's affair with her cousin.
- Thomas Cromwell
Plans to destroy Katharine Howard by bringing her cousin from France and gathering witnesses to swear against her, believing her virtuous but dangerous.
- Katharine Howard
The target of Cromwell's schemes; Throckmorton hopes she will enslave the King's desires to save herself.
- Thomas Culpepper
Katharine's cousin, rumored to be her lover; Cromwell plans to fetch him from France and inflame his jealousy.
- Magister Udal
Writes the forged letter from Cleves in swift Latin; rewarded with ten crowns a quarter.
- Master Viridus
Tasked by Cromwell with fetching Thomas Culpepper from Paris.
Key passages
“Men enow have said she was too fond with her cousin?”
Many people have said she was too affectionate with her cousin.
Cromwell questions Throckmorton about rumors of Katharine's relationship with Culpepper.
“This work of fetching her cousin from Paris I will put into the hands of Viridus.”
I will assign Viridus the task of bringing her cousin back from Paris.
Cromwell delegates the retrieval of Thomas Culpepper to Master Viridus.
“I believe her to be virtuous, therefore do you bring many witnesses, and some that shall swear to have seen her in the act.”
I think she is chaste, so you must bring many witnesses, including some who will swear they saw her in the act.
Cromwell cynically instructs Throckmorton to fabricate evidence against Katharine.