The Fifth Queen · Chapter
III explained
A religious riot erupts in Greenwich park as Lutherans gather to welcome the new Queen from Cleves, clashing with Catholic citizens.
What happens
A religious riot erupts in Greenwich park as Lutherans gather to welcome the new Queen from Cleves, clashing with Catholic citizens. Amid the chaos, Thomas Culpepper rescues his cousin Katharine Howard, the Duke of Norfolk's niece, and they seek refuge inside the palace gardens.
Themes in this chapter
Religious Conflict and Reformation
The riot is fueled by disputes over Catholic practices like fish on Friday and the Eucharist, with Lutherans celebrating the arrival of a Lutheran queen.
Loyalty and Betrayal
Culpepper's fierce loyalty to Katharine is shown through his violent defense, while the crowd's betrayal of social order erupts in chaos.
Appearance vs. Reality
The park's serene winter landscape contrasts with the brutal riot; the woman in furs is revealed to be a noblewoman, not a commoner.
Characters to notice
- Katharine Howard
Riding a grey mule, she is struck on the arm during the riot and rescued by her cousin Thomas Culpepper.
- Thomas Culpepper
Violently defends Katharine, killing a Protestant butcher; he is enraged and protective, seeking entry to the palace.
- Duke of Norfolk
His soldiers guard the postern gate; his niece Katharine seeks him in the palace.
- Sir Christopher Aske
Captain of the guard at the postern, he stoically manages the riot and allows Katharine and Culpepper entry.
Key passages
“The shadow of the King kept hands from throats in the palace, but grooms were breaking each others’ heads in the stables till towards morning.”
The King's authority prevented violence inside the palace, but stable hands fought each other until nearly dawn.
Sets the scene of simmering conflict just beneath the surface of court order.
“A German horse merchant from the City pulled a putrid cat out of the river mud and held it over his head. He shrieked: 'Hic hocus pocus,' parodying the 'Hoc corpus meum' of the Mass.”
A German merchant mockingly held up a dead cat and parodied the Latin words of the Catholic Mass.
Illustrates the anti-Catholic sentiment and irreverence of the Lutheran crowd.
“The woman was flogging at the mule with her reins. 'I have killed ’un,' he shrieked.”
The woman whipped her mule while Culpepper screamed that he had killed a man.
Highlights the chaos and Culpepper's violent outburst.