On 11 August Wotton sent back a report confirming again that Anne was not bound by any covenants made by the old Duke of Cleves and the Duke of Lorraine and he furnished Henry with more details about his potential bride. He confirmed her sheltered upbringing and closeness to her mother. She spent most of her time at her needlework, couldn’t read or write French or Latin, nor sing or play an instrument. She only spoke German but her wit was good and Wotton had no doubt she would learn English when she put her mind to it. She was also not a drinker. It was a mixed report. Since Anne’s mother had never expected her to marry a foreign king, her upbringing had been entirely suitable for a noble lady. Henry’s first wife Katherine of Aragon hadn’t spoken English either when she first arrived in England to marry his brother Arthur although she did know Latin and of course Spanish. Marillac, the French ambassador, reported ‘The King, who in some former years has been solitary and pensive, now gives himself up to amusement. He evidently delights now in painting and embroidery’12 so they had that in common! Henry also wouldn’t want a drunkard for a wife so there was nothing in Wotton’s report that deterred him.
Wotton finished by stating that Holbein ‘hath taken the effigies of my Lady Anne and the Lady Amelia and hath expressed their images very lively’.13 Holbein had taken a week to sketch both the sisters at the Palace of Duren which earnt him £40 from the king for his expenses. He was back at court at the beginning of September. The French ambassador Marillac confirmed his arrival and that shortly after a courier came with secret news for the king. The court was awash with rumour that Henry would marry soon.
Holbein had turned his sketches into ‘tempera on parchment, which he glued on to canvas when he reached London’.14 Anne’s portrait was shown first to the king’s chief minister. ‘When Cromwell saw the portrait, and found the lady was pretty, he was very glad’.15 He waited until he was sure that Henry was in a good mood before showing it to him. We do not know the king’s reaction to Holbein’s work but it cannot have been unfavourable at the time.
Holbein had chosen to paint Anne square-on which was not typical of his usual studies. It has led some writers to postulate that he spent more time enriching her dress and jewels with rich regal colours of red, gold and green rather than concentrating on her face which can appear lifeless with dull eyes and only a faint suggestion of a smile. There have even been suggestions of hidden imagery that Holbein included as a warning to the king that perhaps Anne was not the bride for him. X-rays under the top layer of paint have shown that Holbein did alter her nose to make it shorter but like any artist’s work adjustments would be made until they were happy with the final product. Holbein was known for painting good likenesses – Wotton certainly thought it was – and since the marriage negotiations continued Henry must have been happy to proceed.
With confirmation his intended was indeed free, Henry would marry Anne of Cleves. Henry would later tell Marillac he was marrying Anne to ally with Germany, that Cleves could provide ‘a diversionary military action’16 if England was attacked and ultimately because she was of child-bearing age. William of Cleves signed an initial marriage treaty on 4th September 1539 at Dusseldorf. Anne was present to thank the people of Cleves and her brother ‘for having preferred her to such a marriage that she could wish for no better’.17 Two days later the Duke of Cleves sent his ambassadors headed by Olisleger and Burchart to England to negotiate the finer points of the treaty, the dowry and income.
But Marillac was reporting that this might not yet come to pass. Duke Frederic, the brother of Louis V, prince elector of the Palatinate had arrived in England.
Probably duke Frederic, who appears a true servant of the Emperor, will try to break off this alliance with Cleves, in order that the duke of Cleves may not strengthen himself with English money to resist the Emperor’s designs against him, through Gueldres, where he has proceeded so far, and will put forward urgently the marriage of the duchess of Milan. The whole to get money if possible; but such is the nature of this nation that he will get no pecuniary assistance except by compulsion.18
Frederick was married to Christina of Denmark’s sister Dorothea and it seems as if he was trying to raise funds to free the girls’ father, Christian II of Denmark, who had been imprisoned since 1531. He may have been trying to use Christina as a bargaining tool but Henry was past that now. Their marriage had already proved unfeasible and the Cleves negotiations were advancing quickly. Frederick’s attempt to raise support for the Danish king was unsuccessful and Dorothea would later write to Anne to use her influence with Henry VIII to affect her father’s release from prison.
The Cleves ambassadors arrived in London on 18 September and were escorted to Windsor where they spent the next eight days being royally entertained by Henry before settling the marriage negotiations. Henry tasked Cromwell, Cranmer, Lord Audley, Suffolk, Southampton and Tunstall, Bishop of Durham, to act on his behalf. It was agreed that the Duke of Cleves would provide a dowry of 100,000 gold florins, 40,000 to be paid on their wedding day and the rest within the year. Her dower payment was agreed at ‘20,000 golden florins of the Rhine, equal to 5,000 mks sterling money of England, as long as she remains in England’19 after the death of the king. If she were to be childless and return home, her pension would be 15,000 florins, payable half-yearly for life, and she could keep her own dresses and jewels. They also agreed her inheritance rights with regards to Cleves. William was to pay for her travel to Calais within two months from where Henry would arrange and pay for her journey across the Channel. If safe conduct could not be guaranteed through Charles V’s dominions, William would have to pay for the costs of her travel from another seaport. The marriage treaty was finalised on 24 September and the Cleves ambassador hastened back to William where at the beginning of October it was ratified. Meanwhile Henry waivered the dowry payment, knowing William could not afford it. It had been included in the treaty to save William’s honour. Henry never expected riches from Cleves – just his bride.
Cromwell would have his work cut out for him over the following months as he looked to who should form the queen’s household. To begin with he sent Mrs Gilman with four servants to Anne in Cleves perhaps to begin teaching her English and acquaint her with the country she would soon reside in. Susanna Gilman was the daughter of Gheraert Horenbout of Ghent and sister to the court painter Lucas Horenbout and a skilful illuminator and miniature painter herself. She had served in Jane Seymour’s household and was now given £40 to travel to Germany to meet her new mistress.
A decision had to be made on how exactly Anne would travel to England. There were two routes; the first overland to Calais and then across the Channel, the other to sail from Harderwijk on the Zuiderzee. For Anne to travel overland permission had to be sought for safe conduct through the emperor’s territories and he was still currently at odds with Anne’s brother over Guelderland.
Henry thought it would be better for her to sail from the Cleves-owned port. He sent John Aborough of Devon and Richard Couche of Dover, experienced seamen, to investigate the route and draw up a ‘rutter’ – a mariner’s guide to navigation and the first of its kind – and a rough chart. Henry was ‘marvellously inflamed, supposing many things to be done thereon’20 on seeing the rough sketch. In the finished drawing it showed Henry’s flagship waiting at sea with a blockade of English ships to ensure Anne was safely escorted aboard. It would be a chance for Henry to show off how truly impressive his fleet was but the rutter also showed how dangerous the journey could be ‘the deepest water that is betwixt Harddyerwek and Ankcewson is 3 fathoms (or) 19 foot water and in the channel is ooze… when you be nearer the coast you shall have sand, but no good ship may come so near’.21
However the Cleves envoys were concerned for Anne’s health should she have to take such a long and dangerous sea journey. They worried she would ‘take such cold or other disease, considering she was never before upon the seas, as should be to her great peril and the King’s Majesty’s great displeasure’ and that also
they feared ‘how it might alter her complexion’.22 They insisted she travel by land to Calais and thankfully Charles V gave her safe conduct through the Netherlands even though the pope wrote to him and Francis I to deny her passage ‘if it is true she is a Lutheran’.23 She wasn’t and this must have been proved. At the end of October Henry wrote to Mary of Hungary that he was grateful for Charles’ consent and that she ‘may be pleased, for the personal security and comfort of the said lady (Anne) and suite, to add to her passport such full orders and favourable commendations as may be required and it is in your power to give since such is, as We can see, the good intention of our said brother, the Emperor’.24 Mary would have no problem with Anne’s journey through the Netherlands. She was probably still relieved that at least the English king was not marrying her niece.
Henry was anxious to receive his new bride but Anne had preparations to make with her mother including the making of a new wardrobe. Although her brother had few funds, she could not become a queen without the most regal clothing. Her brother William had to arrange her escort, plan her route and send ambassadors ahead to inform the heads of the relevant towns where accommodation needed to be organised. By the end of November Henry had expected Anne’s arrival. He impatiently sent a courier to Cleves to find out what was going on as he was hoping for a Christmas wedding. He was assured that she would be in Calais on 8 December.
Anne left Dusseldorf on 26 November for the Schwanenburg or Swan Castle in Cleves where she was to meet her entourage. William had sent out a decree at the beginning of November for all the men to accompany her to meet there appropriately attired and with armour on the 25th. None of her family were to travel with her as they were still in mourning for her father and here she had to say goodbye to the mother she had always been close to, her sister Amelia (who would never marry) and her brother William.
With 263 attendants and 228 horses she set off on a journey that was as slow as five miles a day. No wonder given the amount of people not to mention the baggage that slowly wound its way through the Low Countries. Wotton’s report to Cromwell details the array of people that would accompany her:
It is purposed to send over the following persons with Lady Anne, to continue with her, Mistress Gylmyn, who is taken for first of her gentlewomen, because she was sent here by the King, and four servants; also the widow of the late lord of Wissem, sister to Willik, steward of Cleves, who is “howmestrinne,” i.e., governor to the other gentlewomen, with five servants; five other young gentlewomen, one being a baron’s daughter called Swartzenbroch, with three to wait on them; eight pages, one being son to the earl of Waldeck, my lady’s cousin germain, an aged gentleman, named Tennagel, my lady’s steward, formerly the Duke’s waltgrave, i.e. master of forests, with six persons, eight young gentlemen, four with two servants, and four with one. There are also a secretary, a chaplain and others. Making in all 88 persons. The following will come over with her but return:—The ambassadors of Saxe, the Marshal Dultzik, and the vice-chancellor Burgartus, the earl of Oversteyn, the steward Hoghesteyn, and Dr. Olisleger with their servants. The following will come to Calais, but not cross unless the King desires it:—The young earl of Nuenare, whose wife is a kinswoman of my lady, and would have come but that she fell sick. He speaks Latin and French well besides his own tongue. With him is a gentleman named Roussenberg. Also the elder Palant, lord of Bredebent, one of the Duke’s Council, John Buren, drossart or captain of Tolhuis, Hantzeler, drossart of Millen, the younger Palant, a knight of the Sepulchre (the elder Palant of Bredebent, and he be brothers and jolly fellows both), and 26 other gentlemen. There are also 13 trumpeters sent by the elector of Saxony and other officers and servants. The lady Keteler and the elder Palant’s wife are also going.25
Anne travelled in a chariot of ‘well carved gilt with arms of her country curiously wrought and covered with cloth of gold’.26 Her first main stop was at Antwerp where Cromwell had arranged her reception. Antwerp was the capital of the Low Countries and a trade centre popular with the English. Here crowds gathered to see the new queen of England and Wotton reported it was a ‘goodly sight’.27 She was greeted by fifty English wool merchants from the Company of Merchant Adventurers dressed in velvet coats adorned with gold chains who escorted her by torchlight, even though it was day, to the English house on Old Bourse Street, their headquarters, for entertainment and refreshment. Stephen Vaughan, a contemporary of Cromwell’s and head of the company was responsible for Anne’s care whilst Lord Buren ensured all her attendants were well looked after.
The next day she continued her journey with some of the English merchants accompanying her as far as Stekene. After taking their leave the procession moved onwards to Bruges but was delayed due to the horses not being able to cross the River Schelde at low water. On she travelled through Dambrugh and Newport. At Dunkirk she heard a sermon that was deemed to be heretic by some and prompted Henry to order an investigation but it was deemed not to be of ‘any danger or hazzard’.28
Whilst Anne progressed slowly through town and country, Henry was ordering preparations to be made for her arrival. Only Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury had any misgivings at this stage. Although he was also an ardent believer in church reform and supported efforts to join the Schmalkaldic League, he felt that Henry should marry ‘where that he had his fantasy and love, for that would be most comfort for his grace’ rather than making a political match but Cromwell was adamant there was no suitable English bride and Cleves was an advantageous match to which Cranmer replied ‘it would be very strange to be married with her that he could not talk withal’.29
Back in October Cromwell wrote to Lord Lisle, governor of Calais to improve the town especially the Exchequer House.
The king’s Majesty’s pleasure is that you shall view his Grace’s house here called the Exchequer, that with all diligence all things therein necessary to be amended may be undelayedly repaired… Furthermore, his Majesty would that you should cause the streets and lanes there to be viewed for the pavements, and where any default is, to give commandment to those which should repair the same to see it immediately amended, endeavouring yourselves to put all other things within the said town in the most honest and cleanly order you can devise…30
Although Anne wasn’t specifically mentioned it was obvious that Calais was to host someone of great import and Lord Lisle had heard rumours of marriage negotiations. Calais was in need of much repair and the ‘other things’ included renovating the Lantern Gate, the main entrance to the town, tidying the tiltyard, repairing walls and cleaning the entire town before even the work of decoration, fresh paint and royal emblems could be undertaken.
The men that were needed for the improvements included ‘9 free masons, 4 sawyers, a carpenter’s apprentice, 14 bricklayers out of England, 15 of the town and marches, 10 bricklayers’ prentices, 18 labourers making mortar, 9 water bearers, 85 mortar bearers, 50 bearers of chalk to the bricklayers, 29 labourers digging in the foundation, &c., 30 boys bearing of brick and chalk, 15 labourers burning of lime and hewing of chalk at Bullen Well, 6 slakers of lime, 3 water-bearers to them, 4 labourers lading cartes at the brickery, 5 working in the Braies at 9¾d., 5 cutting turfs at 8d., 8 casting earth behind the turfs, 2 watchers, 8 daily labourers, 4 labourers appointed by the King’s bill, and 4 clerks’.31 Calais was thrown into a frenzy of activity to make Calais, the first English town Anne would see, anywhere near presentable.
Lodgings also had to be prepared for her onward route once she arrived on English soil at Deal, Dover, Canterbury, Sittingbourne, Dartford and Greenwich. The roads she would travel down had to be clean and free of obstruction. Royal beds were sent to Dartford and Rochester and the Queens Apartments at Hampton Court Palace were redecorated. Cromwell has his work cut out for him sending orders out across the country and over the Channel. Amongst his duties was the organisation of Anne’s new household.
Thomas Manner, Earl of Rutland, who had previously served Jane Seymour was appointed as her chamberlain
, Sir Edward Baynton who had served both Jane Seymour and Anne Boleyn was made her vice-chamberlain, and John Dudley her master of horse. Six ladies-in-waiting were employed – Lady Margaret Douglas, the king’s niece, the Countess of Sussex, the duchesses of Richmond and Suffolk, Lady Howard and Lady Clinton (formerly Bess Blount). Her maids of honour included Katherine Howard, Mary Norris, Anne Bassett (another young girl who had caught the king’s eye) and Katherine Carey (later Knollys), with the mother of maids Lady Browne to take charge of them all. Henry also reformed his Band of Spears. Headed by Sir Anthony Browne, fifty gentlemen pensioners would be an impressive guard to accompany the king and escort Henry to meet his new bride.
She reached Gravelines, just a few miles from Calais on 10 December, a little later than expected. Lord Lisle, governor of Calais, met Anne to escort her into the town the next day. She was greeted outside the town by the William Fizwilliam, Earl of Southampton and Lord Admiral, dressed in robes of cloth of gold and purple, ‘who had in his companie thirtie gentlemen of the king’s household, as Sir Francis Brian, Sir Thomas Seimer (Seymour), and others, beside a great number of gentlemen of his owne retinue clad in blue veluet, and crimson satin, and his yeomen in damaske of the same colours. The mariners of his ship were apparelled in satin of Bridges, cotes & slops of the same colour. The lord admerall brought her into Calis by lantern Gate. There was such a peale of ordinance shot off at his entrie, as was maruellous to the hearers’.32 The king’s ships the Lyon and the Sweepstake had fired 150 rounds of ammunition which created so much smoke the gathered nobles and Anne’s entourage could hardly see one another. Lady Lisle was waiting with her ladies to escort Anne to the Exchequer, the king’s lodging house. On the way ‘The maior presented hir with an hundred markes in gold, the merchants of the staple with an hundred sovereigns of gold in a rich purse’.33 One of the reception committee, Cromwell’s son Gregory, assumed Anne would only be in Calais for two days and would sail that Sunday across the Channel as long as the weather was favourable. In fact it would be over two weeks until Anne could leave the English-owned port. Southampton was anxious for Henry’s bride to be on her way and organised men to watch for signs of the weather changing. Anne agreed to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. She was as eager as he to embark on the next stage of her journey.
Anne of Cleves Page 4
