by Anne Stevens
“Customary?” Thomas Boleyn senses some awful new trick is being played on him, and cannot understand how his life has taken so poor a turn, of late. It is as if all the hobgoblins in Hell are conspiring to make his existence as difficult as they can.
“I fear so, Master Boleyn,” Cromwell says, and Henry actually laughs out loud. He has no intention of imposing the due, and merely wishes to make a jest of it. Then Cromwell continues. “It will, of course, be set at the lowest figure… for the king loves you as a father … of a tithe.”
“Yes, a tithe,” Henry says, winking at his Privy Councillor.
“Which, at current land values, taking into account the huge flocks of sheep thereon, and the virgin woodlands, will amount to some … three hundred thousand pounds.”
“Good Christ!” Henry is no longer smiling. He lurches forward on his throne, and stabs a thick finger at his cowering father-in-law. “You thought to grant yourself title to my own dear county of Wiltshire … without any recompense to the treasury?”
“Sire… I did not know!” Boleyn is stuttering. “This is the first I have heard of the matter. Why, Charles Brandon was made the 1st Earl of Suffolk, was he not?”
“My Lord Suffolk was assessed at the time, sire,” Rafe Sadler puts in. “As he offered a tenth portion, without being pushed, Your Majesty allowed him to settle over a ten year period. Besides, his county was not so highly priced back then. The debt is long discharged.”
“Three hundred thousand pounds?” Henry looks from Cromwell to Sadler, and settles on Boleyn. “You shall have the same terms as Charles, who you are so quick to condemn, Boleyn. Ten years, at thirty thousand a year.”
“With interest, sire?” Rafe Sadler asks, softly.
“Why not?” Henry’s jest has fallen flat, but results in him being many thousands of pounds richer for it. “Though only from today’s date, I think.”
“The seventh day of September, sire… as you command.”
“Sire!” Sir Edward Crompton is at the throne room’s door, with a young pageboy standing his side. He sees that all eyes are upon him. “News, at last!”
Thomas Boleyn knows, at once, what it is, and sees a swift forgiveness on the horizon. He turns, and sneers at Thomas Cromwell, whose face is adopting a waxen hue.
“To the winner, the spoils,” Boleyn mutters to Cromwell. “Now you will dance to my tune, blacksmith’s boy!”
“Well, what is it?” Henry towers from his throne, and throws his arms out wide. “Tell me!”
“Sire,” Sir Edward Crompton announces. “You are a father, and the queen is well.”
“Must I strangle the bastard?” Henry cries. “Speak, fellow!”
“Your Majesty has … a daughter.”
Thomas Cromwell sees the look on the king’s face, and the horror of the news sends Boleyn reeling back. He snatches at Rafe Sadler’s sleeve, and draws him to one side, urgently.
“By God, Rafe, the bitch has failed,” Cromwell says. “Get word to Austin Friars, at once. Have our people start whispering about how the king is cursed. Spare no expense. We will have but one chance at this, and must take it. Before another twelve months are gone, we will be ruined, or have ruined Anne Boleyn.”
“Yes, master.” Rafe slips away, whilst the entire court stands about, cowering in silence. The need for a son was so palpably felt by all, that no one can think what to say. It is Thomas Cromwell who breaks the silence. To the shock of all, he mounts the low dais that supports the throne, and throws his arms around the king. There is an audible gasp from the throng at such an outrageous act.
“Sire, do not show dismay, I beg of you,” he whispers into Henry’s ear. “You are the king, and must not show weakness to these people. It is a small setback, and one, as virile as the king, shall soon sire many more children … of both sexes. Understood?”
The king tries to pull away at first, until Cromwell’s words sink into his mind. Slowly, he relaxes, and allows Cromwell to finish what he must say. Then Cromwell steps back, and bows to his king.
“Thomas Cromwell, you are my rock, once more.” Henry nods his complete understanding.
“Forgive my forwardness, sire,” Cromwell says, still bowing. “I was overcome with pleasure at the news. Your daughter is healthy, and your queen lives!”
“Thank you, Master Cromwell,” Henry says. “I have often heard that a filly seldom foals a stallion, first time. Let me but regain my vigour, and I will fill these halls with children’s voices.”
“God save the king, Queen Anne, and the new princess!” Thomas Cromwell shouts, and the room erupts into wild cheers.
“He said that?” Queen Anne is tired from her labours, yet must have all the court news, from those closest to her. The reports are coming in fast, and she must sort the clever wheat from the banal chaff. “He actually likened me to a horse?”
“A fine filly, sister,” George Boleyn says. “In that we do both heartily concur.”
“And what about Cromwell?”
“He had them all crying ‘God save Henry, and Queen Anne’, out loud,” a lady in waiting puts in. “Then he actually blesses the new princess.”
“Cromwell was first to praise me?” Anne Boleyn smiles, and nods her head. “Then I must be most careful. For by this, he means to ingratiate himself with my husband. We must make our move soon, father. Cromwell is the real enemy.”
“That he is,” the Earl of Wiltshire says. “He hems me in on all sides, and seeks to lessen my power over Henry.”
“He is a clever man,” George mutters. “Let us hope you have enough time to bring forth a son, before he acts!”
“Let him,” Queen Anne says. “Henry has a child by me now, and cannot think of putting me aside. Even his own church will not countenance that. No, I must bring him to my bed once more.”
“Is he up to it?” George asks.
“Clear the room,” Anne snaps. “I would talk with my brother, alone.” The elder Boleyn, and all of the ladies in waiting leave, and George moves to sit by his sister.
“Will you stay by me, George?” she asks.
“I will.”
“Do you remember when we were a little younger?” Anne asks. “Me, you, sister Mary, and Tom Wyatt, playing in the meadow, at Hever Castle?”
“Of course.”
“Good. Then, if I call upon your services…”
“Enough, sister,” George replies. He kisses her on the forehead, and runs a finger down her cheek, to her lips. “One glance from you, and I am ready. Did ever a brother love his sister so much?”
“We must be discreet,” Anne says. “Should Henry not be man enough, then I will seek other means.”
“Your servant, Your Majesty,” George says, and smiles, as he remembers times past. “To the very end!”
~end~
Afterword
The incestuous relationship between Anne Boleyn, and her brother, George is, almost certainly a fiction. Though the two grew up together, and had a close bond, there is no supporting evidence for the claims. I use the possibility, merely as a fictional ploy, with which to embellish my story. There is also little evidence to suggest that George was either a homosexual, or a bi-sexual. Tudor views of these vices are ambiguous, and official stances vary from those held in private. Like the later Victorian age, the Tudors did not mind, providing that it went on behind closed doors.
My fictional alchemist, Aldo Mercurius, is a distillation of many in Tudor times, who claimed magical, or alchemical powers. The story of the Philosopher’s Stone is widely known, and usually alludes to the turning of base metals into pure gold. In fact, most of the better alchemists (the scientists and chemists of the day) sought to create elixirs to cure illnesses, or prolong life.
I apologise, yet again, for the interpretations I make of historic figures. Though I am sure my portrayal of Henry is close to the mark. His various disorders made him ever more unreliable in later life, and prone to listen to whom ever wished to whisper in his ear. Suffolk was a common
er, who had the luck (good or bad) to be made a playmate of Henry, as a child. He grew into the perfect courtier, and figured throughout many of Henry’s darkest moments.
Norfolk was a survivor, and it is easy to see how he can move from one allegiance to another, without the benefit of conscience. As the first noble of England, he was able to support the reformation of the English church, yet remain a Roman Catholic, in private.
During Queen Anne’s progression from the wedding ceremony, the king noted how the crowds cheered for him, yet turned away from his queen, and even catcalled to her. From the first, he was aware of the peoples strong feelings, yet pressed on, knowing that a son would solve every ill.
As we know, Queen Anne produced Elizabeth, a daughter, and only entangled the royal couple in further constitutional discord. The great oath is almost upon the general public, and soon, Sir Thomas More, and many others must make their minds up. King, or faith?
As for Thomas Cromwell, and his young men at Austin Friars, there is a rocky road ahead. The queen is against him, and it is up to him to unravel the Gordian Knot that is English politics. Can he untie the intricate bond, or must he cut it through, and see where the pieces fall?
Anne Stevens
Coming Soon….
A Twilight of Queens
In this, the eighth volume of the Tudor Crimes series, we see the final struggle between Thomas Cromwell, and Queen Anne. Having helped to bring down one queen, Cromwell is compelled to go against another, more powerful consort. The King sways, like a rowan tree in the wind, waiting for his secret wishes to be fulfilled.
Anne Boleyn holds the fate of England in her two hands, and struggles to give the king the one thing which he most craves - a son. Even as Cromwell, and Anne, prepare for the final conflict, Henry is about to throw everything into turmoil, because of one small whim. In a dangerous age, one smile, and the touch of a hand can change a country’s future, forever.
Whilst the great and the good clash, the life of everyday Tudor England must go on apace. Whilst the king wants a son, his people want nothing more than a full stomach, and a quiet life.
Will Draper, now a Colonel of the King’s Horse, and head of the King’s Royal Examiners, is to become a father again, and must face up to his investigative duties, aided by a new recruit… John Beckshaw, a no nonsense Yorkshire born, young man.
Together, they must investigate the terrible case of a fabled beast, roaming the countryside, and solve the intriguing riddle of a self confessed witch.
Miriam Draper makes her first trip to France, in search of new trade opportunities, and finds something quite different. Mush continues to struggle along in a world that is not his, and returns to a lost love, where he will find nothing but heartache.
The very fabric of Tudor England is about to be ripped apart, and Thomas Cromwell must search his own conscience, before embarking on a terrible mission. Something has to give, and the inhabitants of Austin Friars do not want it to be them, or their way of life.
For her part, Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, and mother of the infant Princess Elizabeth must take a dangerous course, if she is to have a chance of ultimate success. She gambles everything, to win for her family, the greatest prize of all - the throne of England.
Book 8 ~A Twilight of Queens~ will be
out in the Spring of 2016
What do the critics think?
Writing about ‘The King’s Angels’ critical reviewer A Boffin says: “This series goes from strength to strength and I await the next slice of Cromwell … I cannot wait for my Tudor fix!”
“I have just finished reading this [The Condottiero]. The plot, and the main character smacks of Hercule Poirot … a good read!” C J Parsons, UK Reviews.
A reader of ‘The Condottiero’ writes “Another Tudor winner …. A big, sprawling epic that encompasses a dizzying array of characters. Number four in the series, and already is up to the writing of Maurice Druon‘s ‘Accursed Kings’ series, the works of Alfred Duggan, and G R R Mason’s Game of Thrones.”
“A welcome addition to the genre … Anne Stevens writes with an urgency that keeps the pages turning…” ………Bel Ami.
“I didn’t want it to finish….” Amazon reader [about Midnight Queen.]
5 out of 5 stars from: Swan2 [ Winter King.]
‘I love the Shardlake series and it reminded me a bit of them. A good read for the holidays … though I worked out the killer quite early on!’
5 stars 24 Jun. 2015: By Amazon Customer: ‘Brilliant, I enjoyed every bit of it !’
5 stars, posted 28 Oct. 2015 by C. J. Parsons Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
‘A gripping read… well written.’
Customer Reviews of ‘Midnight Queen’
5.0 out of 5 stars. 24 Jun. 2015 by Amazon Customer / Kindle edition.
‘Excellent read ,cannot wait for next one…’
4.0 out of 5 stars, posted on 14th Oct. 2015 by Maureen Price
Format:Kindle Edition | Verified Purchase : “Didn't want it to end”
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read [17 Nov. 2015]… by Loopy Loo *
“I thoroughly enjoyed this. It makes easy reading, and flows well. I look forward to the next book in 2016.”
* The King’s Examiner
5 stars. Good read… very interesting. Couldn’t put the book down until I reached the end of it. Good characterization, and plots. Sharon McAndrew’s review on Amazon.
Thank you all for the above reviews. In this crazy world, the more reviews we get, the better the algorithms (?), which means we get promoted by Amazon better. What ever happened to poor old Bill Posters … was he finally prosecuted?
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