Amador ledger., 1904-02-19
KATHERINE
lOriginal.1

brought up with proper care. Her
mother died when Katherine was in
early childhood, and she was turned
over to an old dowager duchess. In
the duchess splendid mansion she was
left with the waiting women and occu-
pied the sleeping apartments common
to them all. Here temptation was
thrown in her way, especially by two
of these women, Dorothy Berwicke and
Mary Lassells. The former led the lit
tie girl just coming to womanhood into
an intrigue with her music teacher,
Henry ManoX, while Mary Lassells led
her into another with Francis Derham,
a member of the household troop of
Katherine's uncle, a powerful duke
Derham succeeded in persuading
katherine to become betrothed to him.
A troth plight, as it was called in those
days, was equivalent to a marriage
and so recognized by the church. Der
ham called her ''wife," and she called
him husband" In time this relation
ship was discovered by the dowager
duchess, who, after giving Katherine a
beating, placed her under duress. The
matter was hushed up; the women who
had fostered the intimacy were sent
away, while Derham fled from the
blight he had brought upon one of the
noblest families in England, escaping
to Ireland. There he shipped with
pirates.
Katherine had only now reached
womanhood and, having been freed
from her evil associates, became re-
markable for her modest and maidenly
deportment. Derham returned and en-
deavored to renew his intimacy with
her, but Katherine would have nothing
to do with him.
Reports of Kalherine's attractions
spread till they reached the court. Her
family, indeed her relationship by blood
to the royal house of England, render
ed her fully eligible to an appointment
in the royal service. and she was made
maid of honor to the queen. The king
noticed and admired her. Then he be
gan to pay her attention. and she be
came the queens rival. At last the
queen was divorced, and Katherine be-
came queen of England.
Meanwhile Derham had vanished.
while Dorothy Berwicke, Mary Las
sells and the others who had known of
Katherine's temptations and their re-
suits were scattered. But no sooner
was it known that she was to become
fhncn birds. of hpuo N
to hover over the woman they had
ruined as child. One of the women
wrote her demanding to be taken into
her service, and Katherine did not dare
refuse her. ManoX, who had first
tampered with her, became one of the
royal musicians, and the terrible cord
dat was drawing about her was at
Hest knotteG by Derhams receiving an
appointment in her suit.
Mysterious reports about the queen 5
past life began to be circulated, but the
king, who was desperately in love with
her, either did not hear or ignored
them. In those days Catholic and Prot
estant were struggling for the mas
terry, and it was not possible that any
scandal about the queen should escape
the opposite party. Mary Lassells re-
vealed the whole matter, and the king
confidential minister informed his maj
esty of the facts. He at first treated
the accusation as calumny designed
for the destruction of the queen. New
ertheless he could not rest in doubt and
%.~o ct, - II, 4u,, y,
was arrested on a charge of piracy. He
acknowledged the troth plight of years
before and that he and Katherine had
lived as man and wife, but denied the
slightest familiarity between them
since her marriage with the king
Derham's confession pierced the king
to the heart and was the queens death
warrant. katherine was made a pris-
oner, her household discharged and her
glory taken from her. The king, who
loved her devotedly, would have been
glad to save her life, but there were
reasons why it was not to her interest
or to the interest of the realm. These
reasons were magnified by those who
were striving to get rid Of one who had
supplanted a former queen and was
of different religion. The king in his
desire to save her from the block en-
deayoreq to force her to acknowledge
her precontract with Derham, for the
Church of Rome allowed nc divorce eX-
cept in precontract. But Katherine
would not admit this troth plight. and
since she could not be divorced, there
was no way of severing her matrimo
nial status except by execution.
Katherine Was'transferred to the Tow
er of London, that prison of so many
political offenders and objects of the
displeasure of the sovereign. Two days
after the royal assent to her execution
she was led to the scaffold. There was
great dissatisfaction on the part of the
people at her illegal execution, for even
in those barbarous days the laws of
England provided that no one should
be put to death without fair and open
trial, which had been denied Rather
Inc. She was led like a sheep to the
slaughter without being permitted tc
make any defense, She submitted tc
the headsman's stroke with meekness
and courage.
Many others suffered a like fate, but
none so well deserved as Derham, who
was hanged and quartered.
Such is the story of Katherine How,
ard, Henry Wills fifth queen. Nc
more touching example, certainly nc
more notable one, of the consequences
of being unprotected from evil infu-
ences, has ever been enacted. The facts
as laid down in this brief sketch have
been taken from history, not an Incl
dent having been changed nor one add
ed. The story is subject for great