Alright, here I am with a new chapter. Hope you enjoy it. Just a small note before we start: as will be explained in the chapter, Chapuys will be – for the story's sake – Imperial Ambassador in England (appointed by Isabel of Castile on behalf of Charles) from 1519 onwards (in real life he only arrives to England 10 years later.
There is no need for the establishment to fear me. But they have every right to fear the people.
Huey P. Newton (1942-1989)
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Ambassador wishes to see you" whispered one of the ladies-in-waiting. Katherine's heart jolted a little: it had been almost five days since Mary's departure for Spain, and the Queen had not yet received word of her arrival. Katherine still remembered her eventful trip to England, twenty years ago: the weather was terrible and she could not keep food in her stomach for days. Therefore, she prayed fervently for Mary to have a safe travel. Straightening her dress, Katherine walked towards her private chamber, where Eustace Chapuys was already waiting her.
"My most gracious lady" he bowed with a smile.
"Monsieur Chapuys" she gave him her hand. Regarding his long years at the service of the Imperial Crown – he was one of the most trusted ambassadors of the late Emperor Maximilian, who had died three years earlier -, Queen Isabella, as Regent of the Holy Roman Empire on behalf of her had chosen him to keep him at his service, sending him to England as soon as she heard of the King's infatuation with Anne Boleyn.
Of course, being Charles only a boy of twelve at the time of his election, Queen Isabella had to act as a regent for her grandson until last year, which truly justified Chapuys designation as Imperial Ambassador to England. Isabel was no fool, she knew that Henry looked for a new womb to bear his son, and a divorce was imminent. Being he a doctor in Canon Law, Isabella hoped that he could help Catalina in her difficult ordeal of avoiding being cast away. Unfortunately, Katherine had surprised them all by accepting Henry's conditions. At first he thought she was being unreasonable, but then when Katherine confided him that she had heard that the Boleyns were planning to hurt the Princess Mary, he understand her logic. Truth to be told, he had never met such great a woman, even in her darkest hours, and his loyalty to her was intact even if his main objective was not accomplished.
"Do you have any news of my daughter?" Katherine asked in the most serene tone she could find, gesturing him to sit by the fire in front of her. Much to her relief, his features revealed a smile.
"Indeed I have, My Lady. According to my sources, Princess Mary is already in Spanish soil. They also tell me that your mother Queen Isabella was delighted with her manners".
Katherine smiled openly for the first time in days. Her plan had succeeded. Mary was now safe and protected under her grandmother's wing, where that Boleyn mistress could not reach her. "I am very glad. I am sure Mary will learn a great deal from her".
"I have no doubt, my Lady. How could she not with such a role model as her grandmother?" Chapuys praised. There was a silence between them, until Katherine spoke again. "There is something else, Excellency". It was more a statement than a question. He looked a bit uncomfortable.
"Yes, my lady" the Ambassador took a long breath, but did not speak further.
"Yes?" Queen Katherine prompted him gently.
"Well" he started, looking downcast. "Your Majesty... there has been a delay in the process of divorce" Queen Katherine frowned immediately at his words.
"How so, Excellency?"
"The King says there are some... unresolved matters to discuss still. Matters of great importance" Chapuys answered.
"Pérdoneme, Monsieur Chapuys, but I am failing to understand. What kind of matters could there possibly be? I have complied to His Majesty's will, I will retire for a nunnery as soon as I sign the due papers. I will soon resign from my rightful position as an anointed Queen for his mistress. What else should I do to please the King?" whispered Katherine, leaning forward. Chapuys could see she was starting to boil inside.
"His Majesty fears that a nunnery is not the right place for you to be, my lady" Chapuys was preparing himself for breaking his suspicions to her.
"That is ludicrous, Monsieur. A nunnery is a holy place, one of peace and contemplation. What else can I wish for after such troubled times? His Majesty, as a good catholic King, should be able to understand my humble request"
Chapuys sighed and decided to take another approach.
"My lady, can I speak bluntly?" and with that he switched to Spanish.
"Por supuesto, Monsieur".
"I fear that the King... is not as catholic as he claims himself to be"
Katherine laughed.
"Nonsense, Excellency. He is and always will be a catholic prince. Do I need to remind you that he was originally intended to be Archbishop of Canterbury?"
"That only makes this matter most ironic... and also very unfortunate" Chapuys insisted. "My lady, have you ever heard of aman called William Tyndale?" Katherine shook her head. "He is a Cambridge scholar famous for his pamphlets".
"What kind of pamphlets?"
"He intends to... translate the Bible to English" Chapuys said. "But that's not all" he said, looking at Katherine. "It is rumoured that he is writing a book... where he mocks and refuses to acknowledge with the due respect all the things that are sacred in our faith, such as the Holy Communion, the vices of the clergy, the supposed greed of the monasteries, the falsity of the relics and, most importantly, the authority of the Holy Father".
Katherine listened with great astonishment. "But that's a heresy! Someone must tell the King of it: this man needs to either recant for his sins or be punished as His Majesty sees fit" she said with determination.
"The problem is that the King is already... acquainted with such writings"
"How so?" Katherine's mouth went dry.
"It is rumoured that his Secretary, Mr. Cromwell – despite having been one of the late Cardinal Wolsey clerks – is one of the most active Protestants in England. I believe you already have heard of Luther?"
Katherine nodded. "I have. The King has even written a pamphlet against him: Assertio Septum Sacramentorum, with the help of Sir Thomas More and Bishop John Fisher. The Pope even declared him Fidei Defensor, Defender of the Faith. I don't understand why His Majesty would turn away from Rome given those circumstances. Besides, as cunning and ambitious as he might be, Cromwell is just a Secretary: does he possess such a influence on the King's mind?"
"Not yet, my Lady. Although I am sure he already has a plan to achieve that. But someone else has".
It took Katherine a second to put the pieces together. "Anne Boleyn".
"Exactly" Chapuys nodded. "I have been told she shares Cromwell's... beliefs. It is said that she also has shown the King the said pamphlets, and that His Majesty is especially fond of one aspect defended by Tyndale".
"Which aspect?"
"Tyndale says that a King, as ruler ordained by God, should respond to God alone for his actions. That means..." Chapuys stopped, crossing himself mentally for the heresy he was about to say aloud. "That means the King is the absolute head of the church within his realm... as the Pope is the absolute Head of our Holy Church".
"So that means Henry would abolish the Pope's authority in England and replace it by his?" God help us, thought Katherine.
"Indeed"
"But that would mean the eternal damnation of his christian soul, the excommunication from Rome! England has always been a catholic country, I am sure the people won't accept it"
"Some of them already do. Cromwell, the Boleyn family, and many, many scholars throughout the
country. But there are some good people who resist, like Sir Thomas and Fisher, among others. Nevertheless, it is spreading like the plague".
"I still fail to understand what does all this have to do with me. Henry won't refuse me a divorce, Head of the Church or not" Katherine insisted.
"My lady, one of the points those heretics defend more wholeheartedly is the fighting against the corruption of the Catholic Church. They say the catholic priests and monks do not fulfill their vows of chastity – some of them have children – and, most importantly, of poverty. They say the Church is nothing but a means of extortion from the Crown, since His Majesty is obliged to pay them a tenth. Of course this is widely contested by the most parts of the friars and other religious men".
"And rightly so. Most of them are nothing but good and pious men and women, living at the service of God and of their community" Katherine said calmly. "It is true that in every flock there might be some lost sheep, but it has been like that since the beginning of time" she stated ironically, thinking about the late Cardinal Wolsey, whose dissolute lifestyle (it was said he maintained a mistress and two children) and his dishonesty (he used part of the King's revenue to build his own College) would have cost him his head if God had not chosen to take him earlier, victim of a heart attack.
"Your Majesty's devotion and good works have put you in very high esteem among them" Chapuys smiled lightly.
"I am glad to hear it, although I do not seek praise in my piety".
"Have you decided which monastery will you enter?"
"I have been thinking about Wilton" Katherine said pensively. "It is well-known for the virtue of his members, and I can only pray to be well received there".
"That's precisely what the King is afraid of" Chapuys said sharply.
"How so? Does he happen to think I am to organise a revolt against him from within the Abbey walls? That's unthinkable, Monsieur Chapuys. As I've said, I only look after peace and reflexion. And now that my daughter's safety is no longer a problem, I have the right to obtain it. I have done my part in this agreement, now the King shall do his" and with that Katherine rose from her seat. "Now if you excuse me, Monsieur Chapuys, I have to go back to my needlework. Chemises for the poorest do not sew for themselves" she said with a resolute smile. Chapuys chuckled lightly and bowed, kissing her hand. "It is regrettable" said Katherine before rejoining her ladies "that after twenty years of marriage His Majesty – or should I say his entourage – thinks I should do harm to him or to his country. Nevertheless, it's sad to see how little he knows me if he thinks he can dispose of me as he sees fit and thus break his promise " she said enigmatically just before leaving Chapuys alone with his thoughts.
"It is sad indeed, my gracious lady" muttered Eustace. "But unfortunately it does not stop them from having their way in the end" he sighed before leaving the room.