The Rubies of Anne Boleyn: Cromwell’s Paranoid Purge of Catherine Howard
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Cromwell, disturbed by the presence of Catherine Howard and the reminder of Anne Boleyn, orders Lady Rochford to send Catherine away until the King is safely married.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Amused and provocative, enjoying the tension she stirs between Cromwell and the Howards, while masking her own resentments.
Lady Rochford engages in sarcastic commentary, drawing attention to Catherine Howard’s rubies and their connection to Anne Boleyn. She mocks Cromwell’s age and the Maids-of-Honour’s attire, while also revealing personal details about Catherine—such as her lack of a mother and her naivety. Her provocations are calculated, aiming to unsettle Cromwell and highlight the court’s volatile dynamics.
- • To provoke Cromwell by highlighting Catherine’s connection to Anne Boleyn’s rubies, reinforcing his paranoia.
- • To assert her own influence by exposing the court’s secrets and vulnerabilities.
- • Cromwell’s authority is fragile, and exposing his fears will weaken his position.
- • The court thrives on intrigue, and her role is to navigate and exploit it.
Uneasy and alarmed, masking deep paranoia about the court’s history of female intrigue and his own precarious position.
Cromwell enters the Long Gallery during a dress-fitting for the Maids-of-Honour, initially intending to leave but drawn back by Lady Rochford’s provocation. His attention is immediately seized by Catherine Howard’s presence, particularly her rubies—once Anne Boleyn’s—which trigger a visceral reaction. He orders Lady Rochford to remove Catherine from court, revealing his paranoia about female influence and his strategic caution. His authority is abruptly interrupted by Wriothesley’s urgent summons, forcing him to exit without resolving the confrontation.
- • To neutralize potential threats to Henry’s marriage by removing Catherine Howard from court.
- • To assert his authority over Lady Rochford and the Howards, despite his growing unease.
- • Female influence at court is inherently destabilizing, as demonstrated by Anne Boleyn’s downfall.
- • His political survival depends on controlling Henry’s environment, even if it means clashing with powerful nobles like Norfolk.
Proud and distracted, masking his strategic satisfaction with Catherine’s potential as a pawn in his political games.
Norfolk arrives with Catherine Howard on his arm, displaying unusual pride in her presence. He ignores her attempts to regain his attention, instead watching for the King’s arrival. His brief explanation of the Maids-of-Honour’s role is distracted, as his focus remains on the political dynamics unfolding around him. His satisfaction with Catherine’s presence is tinged with calculation, reflecting his strategic maneuvering in the court.
- • To position Catherine Howard as a potential influence over Henry VIII, countering Cromwell’s authority.
- • To assert his family’s dominance in the court by leveraging Catherine’s youth and beauty.
- • Female beauty and youth are powerful tools in securing royal favor.
- • Cromwell’s influence is waning, and the Howards must seize the opportunity to regain power.
Excited and oblivious, unaware of the political tensions her presence ignites, but clearly thrilled by the court’s grandeur.
Catherine Howard arrives with Norfolk, displaying excited awe and a vacant expression. She pulls impatiently at Norfolk’s arm, asks naive questions about the Maids-of-Honour, and admires their attire. Her adornment in Anne Boleyn’s rubies draws Cromwell’s attention, though she remains oblivious to the political significance of her presence. Her excitement is childlike, contrasting sharply with the court’s intrigue.
- • To gain Norfolk’s attention and understand her role in the court.
- • To impress the Maids-of-Honour and embrace her new position.
- • Her beauty and youth will naturally secure her a place in the court.
- • The court’s intrigue is beyond her understanding, and she is merely an observer.
Reserved and composed, engaged in the ritual of the dress-fitting without awareness of the broader intrigue.
Maid-of-Honour 2 receives a compliment from another Maid-of-Honour during the dress-fitting. Her participation is minimal but contributes to the court’s social dynamics. Like the other maids, she is focused on the aesthetic and ceremonial aspects of her role, providing a backdrop to the political tensions.
- • To ensure her attire meets the court’s standards.
- • To fulfill her role as a Maid-of-Honour with dignity.
- • Her primary duty is to the Queen and the court’s traditions.
- • Political maneuvering is not her concern.
Composed and pleased with her appearance, unaware of the political undercurrents.
Maid-of-Honour 3 participates in the dress-fitting, complimenting her own gown. Her focus is on the aesthetic details of her attire, reflecting the court’s emphasis on appearance and ceremony. Her role is largely ceremonial, providing a contrast to the political maneuvering of the other characters.
- • To ensure her gown is flawless for the upcoming events.
- • To uphold the court’s standards of beauty and ceremony.
- • Her role is to embody the court’s ideals of beauty and grace.
- • Political conflicts are irrelevant to her duties.
Alarmed and urgent, reflecting the high-stakes nature of the news he brings and the precariousness of Cromwell’s position.
Wriothesley appears abruptly, looking alarmed, and interrupts Cromwell’s confrontation with Lady Rochford. His urgent demeanor suggests critical news, prompting Cromwell to follow him out of the Long Gallery. His interruption underscores the volatility of the court and the constant demands on Cromwell’s attention.
- • To deliver urgent news to Cromwell, prioritizing his duties over the confrontation.
- • To ensure Cromwell’s attention is directed to the most critical matters at hand.
- • Cromwell’s authority is essential to the stability of the court, and his focus must be protected.
- • The court’s intrigue is relentless, and even minor distractions can have serious consequences.
Polite and composed, unaware of the deeper political currents swirling around her.
Maid-of-Honour 1 participates in the dress-fitting, complimenting another Maid-of-Honour’s attire. Her focus remains on the aesthetic details of the fitting, providing a contrast to the political tension unfolding around her. Her role is peripheral but contributes to the court’s bustling atmosphere.
- • To ensure the Maids-of-Honour’s attire is perfect for the upcoming events.
- • To maintain the court’s protocols and rituals.
- • Her role is to support the Queen and uphold the court’s traditions.
- • Political intrigue is beyond her purview, and she focuses on her duties.
Neutral and focused, performing their duties without awareness of the political tensions around them.
Female Servants adjust the matching white attire of the Maids-of-Honour during the dress-fitting. Their work is methodical and unobtrusive, ensuring the Maids’ gowns are perfect. Their presence underscores the court’s reliance on a vast network of servants to maintain its rituals and appearances.
- • To ensure the Maids-of-Honour’s attire is flawless.
- • To maintain the court’s standards of presentation.
- • Their role is to serve the court and its rituals without question.
- • Political intrigue is beyond their concern.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Anne Boleyn’s rubies, adorning Catherine Howard’s neck, serve as a potent symbolic artifact that triggers Cromwell’s paranoia. Their presence is a deliberate provocation, evoking the court’s volatile history of female influence over Henry VIII. Lady Rochford’s pointed remark about their provenance—‘did they not once belong to Anne Boleyn’—amplifies their significance, turning a piece of jewelry into a political weapon. The rubies symbolize the court’s cyclical nature and the ever-present threat of female intrigue, which Cromwell fears could destabilize his carefully constructed alliances.
The cloth from the old dowager’s wardrobe, referenced by Lady Rochford, is implied to be part of Catherine Howard’s dress. Its mention serves as a subtle dig at Cromwell, suggesting that her attire—and by extension, her court position—may not be as legitimate or modest as it appears. The cloth’s provenance becomes a point of contention, reinforcing the idea that Catherine’s presence is strategically orchestrated by the Howards to undermine Cromwell’s influence. Its role is symbolic, representing the court’s layers of deception and the manipulation of appearances.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Long Gallery at Hampton Court Palace serves as a neutral yet charged ground for this confrontation. Its elongated space, filled with the chatter and rustle of the Maids-of-Honour’s dress-fitting, contrasts sharply with the political tension that erupts when Cromwell arrives. The gallery’s grandeur and formality provide a stage for the court’s rituals, but it also becomes a battleground for power struggles. The presence of mirrors and pins during the fitting underscores the court’s obsession with appearance and control, while the gallery’s openness allows for eavesdropping and public displays of authority—such as Cromwell’s order to remove Catherine Howard.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Cromwell's order to send Catherine away is ignored, resulting in her presence at court during Anne's arrival and highlighting Cromwell's decreasing authority."
"Cromwell's order to send Catherine away is ignored, resulting in her presence at court during Anne's arrival and highlighting Cromwell's decreasing authority."
"Catherine Howard's presence, wearing rubies that once belonged to Anne Boleyn, foreshadows her role as the next queen and Cromwell's impending downfall, mirroring Anne Boleyn's fall from grace."
"Catherine Howard's presence, wearing rubies that once belonged to Anne Boleyn, foreshadows her role as the next queen and Cromwell's impending downfall, mirroring Anne Boleyn's fall from grace."
"Cromwell orders Lady Rochford to dismiss Catherine, but Catherine appears among the Queen's Maids of Honour. This foreshadows Henry's interest in Catherine and Cromwell's undoing."
"Cromwell orders Lady Rochford to dismiss Catherine, but Catherine appears among the Queen's Maids of Honour. This foreshadows Henry's interest in Catherine and Cromwell's undoing."
Key Dialogue
"**LADY ROCHFORD**: *And those rubies—did they not once belong to Anne Boleyn.* **CROMWELL**: *Send her away.*"
"**CROMWELL**: *I think we’ve had enough of Norfolk’s nieces.* **LADY ROCHFORD**: *Well, I sent her back because she looks twelve. But they swear she is of sufficient age, and here she is again.*"
"**CROMWELL**: *Say what you like. Just make sure she doesn’t show her face here again until the King is safely married.*"