Monday, April 15, 2013
"She changed her name from Marchionness to Queen..."
In a letter dated April 15, 1535 Imperial ambassador Eustace Chapuys wrote of Anne's procession into mass for the first time as recognized Queen. The King had, just a few days before, commanded his council to acknowledge Anne as his wife and Queen. In his words to Emperor Charles V, Chapuys describes the scene:
"On Saturday, Easter Eve, dame Anne went to mass in Royal state, loaded with jewels, clothes in a robe of cloth of gold friese. The daughter of the duke of Norfolk, who is affianced to the duke of Richmond, carried her train; and she had in her suite 60 young ladies, and was brought to church and brought back with the solemnities, or even more, which were used to the Queen. She has changed her name from Marchioness to Queen and the preachers offered prayers for her by name. All the world is astonished at it for it looks like a dream, and even those who take her part know not whether to laugh or to cry. The King is very watchful of the countenance of the people, and begs the lords to go and visit and make their court to the new Queen, whom he intends to have solemnly crowned after Easter, when he will have feastings and tournaments; and some think that Clarencieux went four days ago to France to incite gentlemen at arms to the tourney, after the example of Francis, who did so at his nuptials. I know not whether this will be before or after, but the King has secretly appointed with the archbishop of Canterbury that of his office, without any other pressure, he shall cite the King as having two wives; and upon this, without summoning the Queen, he will declare that he was at liberty to marry as he has done without waiting for a dispensation or sentence of any kind."
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