The Fifth Queen Crowned · Chapter
V explained
With the King and most men gone, a deep peace falls on the castle.
What happens
With the King and most men gone, a deep peace falls on the castle. Queen Katharine Howard takes charge of the household and realm, overseeing accounts and letters. She works on a Latin letter to the Pope, a task she shares with the Archbishop and Lascelles, but finds their draft too humble. She sends for the imprisoned Magister Udal to help with the Latin, despite her ladies' warnings. The chapter also features a conversation between the Queen and Cicely Rochford about the nature of the times, the fate of Margot Poins, and the Queen's preference for being loved over feared.
Themes in this chapter
Power and Corruption
The Queen reflects on the fleeting nature of authority and prefers to be loved rather than feared, contrasting with the advice of Lady Rochford who believes a Queen should be feared and deemed awful.
Innocence and Naivety
The Queen's idealism is on display in her conversation with Cicely Rochford, where she laments the degenerate days and believes in a past ancient nobleness, while Cicely mocks her for being a 'Queen of dreams and fancies'.
Betrayal and Loyalty
The Queen's loyalty to Margot Poins is shown as she took shame for not doing more to keep her from the 'wolf Magister'. The theme of betrayal is also hinted at in the warnings about the boy at the door.
Characters to notice
- Katharine Howard
The Queen, now in charge of the castle and realm in the King's absence. She is writing a letter to the Pope, overseeing accounts, and engaging in learned pursuits. She shows a preference for being loved rather than feared and reflects on the nature of authority and friendship.
- Cicely Elliott
Now married to the old knight and known as Lady Cicely Rochford. She is a sharp-tongued and outspoken companion to the Queen, mocking her idealism and warning her about the boy at the door. She is also present when the Magister Udal is brought before the Queen.
- Lady Rochford
The old Lady Rochford, who is slow-witted and often berates the Queen for being too familiar with her social inferiors. She advises the Queen to be more distant and feared, but the Queen disagrees.
- Magister Udal
The imprisoned scholar, brought up from his cell to help the Queen with the Latin of her letter to the Pope. He is in chains, stiff from the damp, and limps, but retains his wit and learning.
- Lascelles
Working with the Archbishop in the cellar on the draft of the King's letter to the Pope, which the Queen finds too humble.
- Archbishop Cranmer
Working with Lascelles on the draft of the King's letter to the Pope, which the Queen finds too humble.
- Margot Poins
Mentioned as being sent away to a nunnery, a source of grief for the Queen. She is also mentioned as sitting with the maids to keep them to their tasks.
Key passages
“I had rather be loved and deemed pitiful.”
I prefer to be loved and seen as compassionate.
The Queen expresses her preference for a kind and approachable reign over a distant and feared one.
“By Heaven, you have too tickle a conscience to be a Queen of this world and day.”
By Heaven, your conscience is too delicate for you to be a Queen in this world and age.
Cicely Rochford criticizes the Queen's overly scrupulous nature, suggesting it is impractical for the times.
“I do lead a very cloistered life, and have leisure to reflect upon for what a little space authority endureth, and how that friendship and true love between friends are things that bear the weather better.”
I lead a very secluded life and have time to reflect on how brief authority is, and how friendship and true love between friends endure better through difficulties.
The Queen explains her perspective on the transience of power and the lasting value of personal bonds.
