by Dr. Pelham Mead

Based on actual facts from the personal viewpoint of Anne of Cleves as she saw it.

THE PERSONAL DIARY OF…

QUEEN ANNE OF CLEVES, 4TH WIFE OF

KING HENRY VIII OF ENGLAND

BY DR. PELHAM K. MEAD III

2.

CHAPTER 1- MY YOUTH

SCENE 1- INT. DAY- DUSSELDORF, GERMAN, 1515, CASTLE

CLEVE.

FADE IN:

ANNE OF CLEVES

I was born a German princess on 1515 in

Dusseldorf Germany. I was the second child

born to Duke John III Of the Dutchy of

Cleve’s Germany. My mutter or mother

was Mary of Julich. I am told my parents

were not happy that they did not have a son.

It was no matter since a year later my

brother William was born, and then after

him my youngest sister Amelia was born.

Anyway this is my personal story from my

personal diary.

MIDWIFE (40)

Duke John, come quickly the Duchess had

just had a baby girl.

DUKE JOHN III OF CLEVES (30)

Not a boy. Oh, well at least it is healthy.

How are you feeling Mary?

MARY OF JULICH (25) DUCHESS OF

CLEVES

I am weak John. She is my first baby and the

experience was more than I had imagined. I

want to call her Anne. It that agreeable with

you John?

DUKE JOHN III OF CLEVES

Yes Anne sounds like a wonderful name

Mary. You need to rest now and we will talk

later.

3.

MARY OF JULICH

Aren’t you going to hold the baby John?

DUKE JOHN III OF CLEVE

Now, maybe later. She is so small I might

crush her in my hands. Get some rest Mary,

and I will return later to see how you are

doing. We will have a celebration tomorrow

for the birth of our first child. All of Cleves

will come out to celebrate the occasion.

FADE OUT.

SCENE 2- INT. DAY- THE BAPTISM OF ANNE OF CLEVES

FADE IN:

DUKE JOHN III OF CLEVE

Mary hurray up the carriage is waiting to

take us to the Cleves cathedral for Anne’s

baptism.

MARY OF JULICH

Yes, yes, I am coming John. My Maid of

Honor is helping me get this difficult dress

on. I will meet you downstairs in a few

minutes.

DUKE JOHN III OF CLEVES

I am glad you finally made it. Driver take us

to the Cleves Cathedral please.

At the Cleves Cathedral.

RECEPTION OF THE CHILD Anne of Cleves.

Bishop Paul Von Cleft (60)

What name do you give your child?

DUKE JOHN III OF CLEVES

We name her Anne

4.

BISHOP PAUL VON CLEFT

What do you ask of God’s Church for Anne?

DUKE JOHN III OF CLEVES

Baptism.

BISHOP PAUL VON CLEFT

You have asked to have your child baptized.

In doing so you are accepting the

responsibility of training Anne in the

practice of the faith. It will be your duty to

bring her up to keep God’s commandments

as Christ taught us, by loving God and our

neighbor. Do you clearly understand what

you are undertaking?

DUKE JOHN III OF CLEVES (CONT’D)

We do.

BISHOP PAUL VON CLEFT

Are you ready to help the parents of this

child in their duty as Christian parents as

God Parents?

GODPARENTS

We are.

BISHOP PAUL VON CLEFT

Anne of Cleves, the Christian community

welcomes you with great joy. In its name I

claim you for Christ our Savior by the sign

of his cross. I now trace the cross on your

forehead, and invite your parents (and

godparents) to do the same.( Makes the sign

of the cross on baby Anne’s forehead.

5.

SONGSTRESS

(Sings Psalm 85)

Will you not give us life;

And shall not your people rejoice in you?

Show us, O Lord, your kindness,

And grant us your salvation.

I will hear what God proclaims;

The Lord—for he proclaims peace to his

people.

BISHOP PAUL VON CLEFT

Here is the reading from the Holy Gospel

according to Matthew 28: 18-20: The

apostles are sent to preach the gospel and to

baptize.

Now there was a Pharisee named

Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.He came to

Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we

know that you are a teacher who has come

from God, for no one can do these signs that

you are doing unless God is with him.”Jesus

answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I

say to you, no one can see the kingdom of

God without being born* from above.”

Nicodemus said to him, “How can a person

once grown old be born again? Surely he

cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be

born again, can he?” Jesus answered,

“Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter

the kingdom of God without being born of

water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is

flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit.

The Gospel of the Lord.

(MORE)

6.

DUKE JOHN III OF CLEVE

Praise be to thee Lord Jesus Christ.

And so the Baptism continued.

BISHOP PAUL VON CLEFT

My dear brothers and sisters, let us ask our

Lord Jesus Christ to look lovingly on this

child who is to be baptized, on his (her)

parents and godparents, and on all the

baptized.

DEACON JOHN STRABUS (45)

By the mystery of your death and

resurrection, bathe this child in light, give

Anne the new life of baptism and welcome

Anne into your holy Church.

ALL RESPONDENTS

Lord, hear our prayer.

DEACON JOHN STRABUS (45)

Through baptism and confirmation, make

Anne your faithful follower and a witness to

your gospel.

All: Lord, hear our prayer.

DEACON JOHN STRABUS (CONT’D)

Lead him Anne by a holy life to the joys of

God’s kingdom.

All: Lord, hear our prayer.

DEACON JOHN STRABUS (CONT’D)

7.

DEACON JOHN STRABUS (CONT’D)

Make the lives of Anne’s parents and

godparents examples of faith to inspire this

child.

ALL RESPONDENTS

Lord, hear our prayer.

DEACON JOHN STRABUS (45)

Keep Anne’s family always in your love.

ALL RESPONDENTS

Lord, hear our prayer.

DEACON JOHN STRABUS (45)

Renew the grace of our baptism in each one

of us.

ALL RESPONDENTS

Lord, hear our prayer.

FADE OUT.

8.

SCENE 3- INT. DAY – THE SWAN CASTLE OF CLEVES.

ANNE OF CLEVES

I can remember mutter always spending

time with Sybilla, Amelia and I, showing us

how to be good wives for our future

husbands, and skilled in stitching. Meine

Mutter would spend hours with me since I

was clumsy with the use of the needle.

Father sent William away early for formal

training.

DUKE JOHN III OF CLEVE

William I have arranged for you to receive

formal training under a tutor. You are to

leave tomorrow for your trip to the Castle of

the Black Forest where you will tutor under

Count Von Diree.

ANNE of CLEVES

Give me a big hug brother William. We all

love you and will miss you while you are

away.

SYBILLA OF CLEVES

Willam, dear, I am going to miss you so

very much. Be strong my brother. We will

all pray for you.

WILLIAM OF CLEVES (6)

I don’t want to go away, but father will not

change his mind. I just want to stay here

with you Sybilla, Anne and mother. Pray for

me.

DUKE JOHN III OF CLEVE

Stop all this slobbering around and let

William get into the carriage and be on his

way.

Soon William was in a horse drawn carriage which soon disappeared over

the horizon.

9.

ANNE OF CLEVES

My sisters, and I did not receive a formal

education like William. It was German

tradition to prepare women to serve their

husbands. Mother was a strict Catholic, and

she brought us up to be good Catholics. My

Uncle, who was a Lutheran influenced my

brother William. Father believed in the

reformation and the teachings of the great

scholar Erasmus, but mother had the upper

hand in what religion we children would

learn. I seldom saw father except on

holidays. He was always busy with the

Duties of Duke of Cleves and the court.

AMELIA OF CLEVES

Anne and Sybilla will you play with me

today?

SYBILLA OF CLEVES

No, Amelia you are to young for Anne and I.

I am sorry you will have to play with your

dolls alone.

ANNE OF CLEVES

Music in the court of Cleve’s was frowned

upon as I was growing up. It was believed to

be a waste of time. Too bad, because I

would have liked to learn how to play a

flute. Sybilla and I were close and often

played together pretending to be Princesses.

I was mother’s favorite; at least that is what

she told me. We spent many happy hours

together over the years of my youth.

FADE OUT.

10.

SCENE 4-INT. DAY- THE CASTLE OF CLEVES

ANNE OF CLEVES

The castle of Cleve’s was a great German

castle that stood across the Rhine from a

village that was often French territory. I

remember how large my room was next to

Sybille’s room, and Amelia’s room down the

hallway. I could see the Rhine River from

my bedroom, and the mountains beyond.

Growing up was blissful, and before I knew

it at age 12, (1527) father was arranging for

my marriage to Francis the 10-year-old son

of the Duke of Lorraine. Fortunately, this

proposed marriage was cancelled. I had no

desire to leave my family, and marry

someone I did not know.

MARY OF JULICH, DUCHESS OF CLEVES

Anne one day you will be a beautiful

princess and it is important that you marry

into a rich family. When your father married

me he was able to take over the lands my

father owned making the Duke of Cleve’s

also the Duke of Julich also and making our

family much richer and important in France

and Germany.

ANNE OF CLEVES

But mother I want to marry someone I love,

not some rich Baron or Count.

MARY OF JULICH, DUCHESS OF CLEVES

You will do as your father deems best for

you and our family daughter.

ANNE OF CLEVES

But mother I am a simple princess with

simple ideas about marriage. Living a

comfortable lifestyle was most important.

No princess wanted to marry into poverty.

(MORE)

11.

MARY OF JULICH, DUCHESS OF CLEVES

Would you like to play cards daughter? It

will keep your mind busy.

ANNE OF CLEVES

Sure mother, why not? Playing cards passes

the time.

SCENE 5- INT. DAY- 1527 SYBILLA IS BETHROTHED TO THE

ELDEST SON OF THE DUKE OF SAXONY.

ANNE OF CLEVES

1527 was a terrible year. I remember when I

was 13, when my dear elder sister Sybilla

was betrothed by my father to John

Frederick the eldest son of the powerful

Duke of Saxony.

DUKE JOHN III OF CLEVES (30)

This marriage to the Duke of Saxony is an

important alliance for our family. It will

strengthen our ties with Saxony and help

defend us against the Holy Roman Empire.

ANNE OF CLEVES

Poor Sybilla she had never known a boy or

had any opportunity to be familiar with any

boys. Saxony was a very strongly Lutheran

Dutchy, and would make a strong ally

mother told me.

I remember the day Sybilla left our castle. A

coach was sent to pick her up along with

additional coaches for her maids, and

personal assistants.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN:

ANNE OF CLEVES (CONT’D)

Sybilla I cannot you are leaving us. (Cries)

Be strong and God be with you sister.

ANNE OF CLEVES (CONT’D)

12.

MARY OF JULICH, DUCHESS OF CLEVES

Remember all that I taught you Sybilla. Be a

good Christian, wife and mother and make

us proud. Christ bless you daughter.

SYBILLA OF CLEVES

Good bye mother. Good bye Anne and

Amelia. I will write you. God bless.(Waving

from the coach window)

And so the horse drawn carriages with Sybilla and her maids and personal

assistants rode off into the forest.

FADE OUT.

SCENE 6- INT. DAY- LIFE AFTER SYBILLA LEAVES.

FADE IN:

ANNE OF CLEVES

Things were very quiet in the castle after

Sybilla left.

MARY OF JULICH, DUCHESS OF CLEVES

Come Anne, let us go down to the River

Rhine and walk along the banks.

ANNE OF CLEVES

I would do anything to get out of the castle

mother.

MARY OF JULICH, DUCHESS OF CLEVES

Good, change your shoes and put on boots

for hiking. I will meet you at the front of the

castle.

ANNE OF CLEVES

Thank you mother.

13.

Later Anne and her mother Mary meet in from of Swan Castle and walk

down the stony path to the Reine river.

MARY OF JULICH, DUCHESS OF CLEVES

You know Anne, I used to dream of my

handsome prince that would one day sweep

me away. Your father was a handsome man

when he was young. I was fortunate to

marry a man I had some physical attraction

to rather than some middle aged pot bellied

old man. I am sure you will be fortunate one

day to find a handsome young prince or

Duke to marry.

ANNE OF CLEVES

You have a great imagination mother. Look

at that beautiful white crane over there by

the side of the river mother.

MARY OF JULICH, DUCHESS OF CLEVES

Yes, cranes are beautiful and graceful birds.

They walk with those log legs as if they are

tip toeing in the water waiting for a juicy

frog to pop it’s head out of the water.

The next morning at morning Chapel before breakfast.

MARY OF JULICH, DUCHESS OF CLEVES (CONT’D)

Let us pray to God to watch over and protect

Sybilla. Amen. Let me sing Ave Maria. It is

one of Sybilla’s favorite songs.

After singing Ave Maria.

ANNE OF CLEVES

You sing so well mother. I wish I had a

voice as good as yours.

MARY OF JULICH, DUCHESS OF CLEVES

Morning prayer is finished. Amen. Let us go

to breakfast now Anne.

At breakfast that day a courier appears with a message from Sybilla.

14.

COURIER (20)

Madam I have a message from your

daughter Sybilla.

MARY OF JULICH, DUCHESS OF CLEVES

Thank you. I will read it aloud for Anne and

Amelia can hear what Sybilla has to say.

Dearest Mother, I write you this day to

inform you that my marriage has gone

according to plan. I have met the Prince and

he is a handsome and polite man. By the

time you receive this letter I will have

already been married to the Prince of

Saxony. I miss and love you and father, and

my sisters as well as William. Thanks be to

God. Sybilla. Well it seems my daughter

Sybilla is doing well in Saxony.

FADE OUT.

ACT 2 THE KING HENRY VIII OF ENGLAND

SCENE 1-INT. DAY- THE ENVOY OF KING HENRY VIII

FADE IN:

ANNE OF CLEVES

The years passed by and in early 1539 news

that King Henry VIII of England sent

envoys to inquire about my hand in

marriage.

ENVOYS FROM THE COURT OF KING

HENRY VIII OF ENGLAND

Duke William we have been sent by King

Henry VIII of England to ask your for the

hand of your sister Anne of Cleves. As you

have heard King Henry VIII is anxious to

have a male heir to the throne and after three

marriages that did not work out he wishes to

try again with your sister the beautiful Anne

of Cleves.

15.

DUKE WILLIAM OF CLEVES (40)

So now the King of England wants to

establish an alliance. My father, God rest his

soul, would have been thrilled to establish

an alliance with the powerful King of

England, but now things have changed. King

Henry has divorced his first wife of many

years, chopped off the head of his second

wife and his third wife died from childbirth

complications. History does not bode well

for my Sister Anne of Cleves. Right now I

do not have enough money for a respectful

dowry to accompany Anne my sister. I ask

King Henry VIII to accept a smaller dowry

now and additional sum later.

ENVOYS FROM THE COURT OF KING

HENRY VIII OF ENGLAND

We cannot speak for the King as to the

financial arrangements, but we will submit

your request to him. May we see and speak

with your sister Anne of Cleves, Duke

William?

DUKE WILLIAM OF CLEVES

Yes, I have already sent for her.

MAID OF HONOR (17)

Anne your brother the Duke has requested

your presence in the great hall. Some envoys

of King Henry VIII of England have come

to ask for your hand in marriage to King

Henry VIII.

ANNE OF CLEVES

I must prepare my face to be at my best

appearance. What does the King of England

look like?

(MORE)

16.

MAID OF HONOR

He is described as a tall man over six feet

tall with curly red hair. He is described as

handsome and strong with light skin and a

ruddy complexion so common among the

English people.

ANNE OF CLEVES

I had no picture of him at all, yet a few years

ago he sent a court painter named Hans

Holbein to come and pain Sybille’s and my

portrait. We did not know at the time that

Sybilla would be married off at the age of 14

to someone else My father passed away and

my brother William became Duke of Cleves.

He was now responsible for my betrothal

and a proposed treaty with the King of

England to support England in case France

tried to invade England. William also had to

promise a dowry with his limited funds to

King Henry VIII for him to accept me, as

was the custom. I must hurray, William is

waiting with the envoys from England.

Anne and her maids of honor hurray down the stairs to the great hall

SIR THOMAS CROMWELL, ENVOY TO

KING HENRY VIII OF ENGLAND (50)

Princess Anne I am pleased to meet you on

behalf of King Henry VIII of England. The

King is a kind and generous man and your

marriage to him will be like something made

in heaven. King Henry VIII is a just man

who was a bit of a romantic that only

wanted to have more than one male heir.

Arthur his son by his third wife Jane

Seymour was his only heir and Queen Jane

had died in childbirth leaving a saddened

King without a Queen.

SIR THOMAS CROMWELL, ENVOY TO KING

17.

On behalf of the King I ask your hand in

marriage to rule the country of England

together with King Henry VIII.

ANNE OF CLEVES

I am flattered Sir Cromwell that you have

traveled so far to offer the hand of the King

of England in marriage. The final decision is

in the hands of my brother William the Duke

of Cleves.

SIR THOMAS CROMWELL, ENVOY TO

KING HENRY VIII OF ENGLAND

I understand Princess Anne. Your brother the

Duke and I will finalize our negotiations as

to your dowry and a peace treaty with

England to protect England in case France

decides to invade England and declare war.

ANNE OF CLEVES

I know nothing of those politics Sir

Cromwell. It was nice meeting you Sir

Cromwell. If you will excuse, I will leave

you to my brother the Duke of Cleves to

discuss legal matters.

MARY OF JULICH, DUCHESS OF CLEVES

Sir Cromwell we welcome you to Cleves.

My daughter Princess Anne of Cleves would

make an excellent wife and Queen for the

King of England. She has been trained in

reading and writing and speaking several

languages.

SIR THOMAS CROMWELL, ENVOY TO

KING HENRY VIII OF ENGLAND

Good day to you DUCHESS Mary of

Cleves. The King has sent a small gift for

you and Anne as a gesture of his kindness. I

big you a pleasant day while Duke William

attend to legal matters.

18.

The following day Sir Thomas Cromwell and the other envoy returned to

England with a signed treaty from Duke William of Cleves to protect

England in case France decides to invade England and to promise a dowry

for Anne paid in installments.

FADE OUT.

CHAPTER 3- THE LONG JOURNEY TO ENGLAND

SCENE 1- EXT. DAY- THE DEPARTURE FROM SWAN CASTLE.

CHAPTER 4- THE FIRST NIGHT WITH A STRANGER KING

SCENE 1- INT. NIGHT-THE ABBEY AT ROCHESTER.

FADE IN:

It was New Years Eve, and my journey from Cleves Germany to meet my

Betrothed King Henry VIII was almost over. Soon I would meet my

19.

Handsome King. I had been traveling for almost a month now over the

Lowlands in Germany to Cali’s and then to Dover, England. It was a cold

Winter crossing the ocean to England. I had never seen England before,

And the White Cliffs of Dover were beautiful with a castle perched on the

upper slope.

My journey had taken me to Canterbury where a beautiful English

Cathedral stood which was almost as beautiful as our German Cathedrals.

I met his Lordship the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, and he was most

gracious. We feasted at my betrothed’s palace at St. Austin. Many nobles

Were in attendance, and it was a merry affair despite the fact I could not

understand what they were saying in English. My interpreter told me what

some of the Nobles were saying, but not everything. My ladies in waiting

and I spoke to one another during the festival. It was the first time I had

English ale and it was quite good.

On New Years Eve the Duke of Norfolk and other nobleman escorted me to

20.

The Abbey at Rochester. I was tired so I withdrew to my quarters. Outside

In the courtyard below my window they were bull baiting. I longed to seamy

handsome betrothed King Henry. Later that day when I was looking out my

window a fat old English man rudely burst into my room. He had a

Marbled colored coat and hood on and I paid him no mind. Perhaps he

Had come to clean the room? As the stranger entered my room he said

Something in English which I could not understand without my interpreter.

Before I knew it the ruffian charged across the room and embraced me and

Kissed me upon the lips. I was most frightened by the rude stranger. Did

He not know that I was a German princess of Nobel birth? How dare he

Attempt to rape me and remove my modesty? I pushed the obese old man

away. It was then I noticed that he had little red hair and was balding. I

Was confused and repulsed by this ugly fat man. I screamed for help but

No one heard my screams. Jesus protect me from this sexual assault I cried.

Surely I would become pregnant, and never be a virgin again. I had never

21.

Known a man before in my entire life. My mother kept me away from

German boys for my own protection she told me. The stranger tried to show

me a gift after I screamed and pushed him away. I could not understand what

he was saying. I asked him who he was and why he saw fit to take liberties

with me in German. He could not speak German and mumbled something in

French that I could not understand. I begged him to leave or I would

summon the Duke of Norfolk to protect me. The stranger looked shocked

after I pushed him away. He was a tall old obese man with pale white skin as

if he never went out in the sun. I was trembling from fright and crying from

the old man’s assault on me. Finally he withdrew from my room, bowing for

some reason as he left.

As I was recovering from the frightful attack the old man returned to my

Chambers yet again. I begged him in German to leave. He did not

understand. It was then that I noticed that the stranger was wearing the

purple robes of nobility. I understood the phrase in English, “I am king

Henry,” he said. Shocked and in disbelief I suddenly realized this fat old

balding man was my betrothed Henry the King. I was so embarrassed and

Shocked at the same time. He was nothing my mother tool me he would

Looked like. He was old and grossly obese and not at all handsome or

athletic

As I had been told. I asked him in my poor English, “are ye the King.” “Yes

He replied. Forgive me your highness, I said in German. He did not

understand.

22.

We sat on the edge of my bed and tried to talk to one another. It was a

Most difficult task even though I had some lessons in learning English I

Could not understand him because he spoke so fast. He sat next to me

Very close and I was very nervous and afraid. I wanted to pee my

underpants. He put his arm around me next, and I was sure he was going to

rape me, and have his way with me. I could not breath. The king was very

Nervous also and breathing heavily down my neck. What was he trying to?

Do I asked myself?

Bitte, please heir Henry I begged him to stop. He paid be no mind. He said

Something in English which I did not understand and slipped his hand Dow

The front of my dress. He struggled to feel my breasts under my corset. He

Was breathing even more heavily now as he ravaged me. I was shocked

That he would treat a princess the way. I asked him to stop in

German. “bitte,” I said please stop you highness. He ignored me. He

pinched my small breasts. He was hurting me and I cried out, bitte.

23.

Before I knew it he was pulling down his britches and exposing his einr

Deutschland wurst. The smell from his crotch made me sick. It was like the

smell of dead fish. I almost fainted from the odor. There in front of my face

was the King’s sausage surrounded by red crotch hair resembling a red

bush. It was smaller than imagined. He grabbed my head and pushed my

face toward his sausage. I thought I was going to throw up. He kept saying

something in English,” suck, suck.”. I did no know what to do. My mother

never told me I would have to suck on the King’s sausage before marriage.

Perhaps this was an England custom? He placed my hand on his hairy

sausage and pushed his sausage even closer to my mouth. I began to gag

but it did not matter to his majesty since de was breathing hard. Finally he

placed his sausage in my mouth and attempted to push it in and out of my

mouth. The taste was disgusting and his filthy sausage began to get hard

as he forced it into my mouth. I wanted to bite it but he was the King and

my master to be. I remember what mother told me ” learn to obey your

husband.”. I gagged as he thrusted his sausage into my mouth. He

24.

seemed to be struggling with reaching his climax. Finally, he took his

sausage out of my mouth and I was able to breath. I wiped off my face

which smelled of his crotch. Next he attempted to place his hand up my

dress and caress my private parts. I pushed him away as his hand slid up my

legs. For a moment I felt twinge but it passed as I tried to fight him off, I

could not let this fat man take my virginity before our marriage. He was a

barbarian and he smelled. I was having my period that week and I too

smelled in my private region. As the King attempted to bury his head in my

dress the fishy smell of my period repulsed him and he turned away in

disgust. I was saved from the fat man. I slapped him on his sausage and he

fell back in much pain. Next he got up in much pain and I think he cursed

me in English. He pulled up his britches and left the room. I was exhausted

and frightened from fighting the balding old obese King. I know he was

upset with me but I am a German Princess of High breeding not a common

whore or mistress.

Later there was a knock at the door and I thought he was coming back for

more carnal pleasures. “Your majesty it is I, Lord Anthony Brown with a

present from the King. I will leave the furs at the door so as not to disturb

you. The there was silence and they were all gone.

I could not sleep all night thinking how grossly obese the King was and how

he treated me like a common whore. I was very disappointed that the

handsome King I had envisioned did not exist. What I saw was not a slim

young man but an old obese man with balding red hair. I realized that my

25.

life was going to prove difficult if he wanted to always feel my breasts and

force be to suck his dirty hairy sausage all the time. Having never laid with

a man before made this experience all the more fearful. I prayed to Jesus

to help me.

The next day our next stop was at Blackheath where many beautiful tents

were set up to receive us. Many English Nobleman, and women came out to

greet me speaking in the English language. It seemed no one knew any

German words at all? My Interpreter was very helpful understanding what

they said. Soon I would meet my future husband and King again, but in

more favorable circumstances. I struggled to understand this strange

language called English, but I had to have my interpreter to tell me what

everyone was saying.

At last the King had arrived on his horse and I mounted a horse to show him

I was a woman who could ride a horse. We met just outside Blackheath in a

meadow. He embraced me and greeted me speaking his native language of

English. I had practiced my English response for when I met the King. “O

what a sight was this to se so goodly a prince and so noble a Kyng to ryde

with so fayre a lady of so goodly a stature and so womanly a countenance,” I

said in the best English I could. Drums and trumpets sounded as we rode

into the cap. As we both dismounted our horses together the King kissed me

and led me into the great hall. There he took me to my apartments where I

would stay and refresh myself. He bid me “goodbye,” in English as he left

the apartments. For a moment things seemed to be going well.

26.

A day later the King’s council summoned me to swear that I was free from

any pre-contract such as my betrothal to Francis of Lorraine when I was just

11 years of age. Somehow the council was confused as to whether the

contract to marry was still in force. I was confused as to why at this late date

they were bringing up an old subject about a betrothal that never came

about? As I explained to the council with my interpreter that the original

betrothal was cancelled and the documents no longer existed and were

destroyed. They seemed disappointed for some reason as I read the

expression of doubt on their faces.

Later that day the King summoned me to attend mass with him. He was

again polite but distant. I wanted to ask him why the council was concerned

about a cancelled betrothal, when I was but 11 years of age with my father

stopped. I did not get the opportunity to speak personally with the King even

though he was right next to me in the mass.

On the next day my ambassadors informed me that the King had signed

three documents granting me lands as part of my dowry. I learned that the

King had appointed the people for my personal household that day also. The

Earl of Rutland was to be my chamberlain. Other gentlemen of the courts

were appointed as my chancellor, master of horse, personal secretary and

receiver general. I asked my ambassadors to invite these gentlemen to my

apartments so that I may come to know them. The were all very courteous

and said they were honored to serve the Queen of England.

One of my ladies appointed by the King was his niece Lady Margaret

Douglas, and his daughter-in-law the Duchess of Richmond. The Duchess

of Suffolk whom I had met before was also appointed as one of my ladies.

Also included was the Countess of Suffolk and Lady Rochford, (sister inlaw

of Anne Boleyn). Mistress Gilmyn and Annie Bassett (daughter of the

Lady Lisle) were appointed to wait upon me. I received all of these ladies

kindly and through my interpreter I explained I would try hard to speak in

English so that they could understand me.

27.

Two days later in the evening of January the King informed me that the

marriage was to take place the following day on January 6th.

Chapter 3-The Marriage

(Portrait of Anne Queen of England)

On January 6, 1540 I was married to King Henry VIII King of England at

age 24. I knew something was wrong right from the beginning. He was

courteous to me in public, but in private he ignored me. Somehow we had

gotten off to a bad start after he tried to rape me in Greenwich. It was a

surprise that did not work for either of us. His aloofness was difficult for me

to deal with. I did not know how to communicate with him. I wore my best

dress of gold for the wedding that day. Henry had given me a crown of gold

to wear and I wore it proudly. The Earl of Essex was to come to my

apartments and led my ladies and me to the church. The Earl was late, and

the King getting impatient sent Lord Cromwell instead. Just as Lord

Cromwell arrived at my apartments, the Earl of Essex finally appeared and

he escorted my ladies and me to the church. It was cloudy outside and the

time was around 8:00 in the morning when we arrived at the church. As the

wedding ceremony began I kept quiet so as not to make a mistake in

speaking English. Finally, the King put a ring on my left hand engraved with

the words, “God send me well to keep.” It was a beautiful gold marriage ring

and it make me proud to be the Queen of England despite some of the King’s

rumored misgivings. After the ceremony we walked hand in hand to the

King’s closet and heard Mass there. Afterward we dined together in all royal

splendors.

I retired to my apartments afterward to rest and dress for evening activities.

I was told the King would celebrate Compline with me in the chapel in the

evening, so I prepared all day for this event.

28.

That evening the King escorted me to the chapel and we celebrated

Compline together singing wonderful English, songs that I mumbled

through.

Finally we retired to the Kings quarters and were ceremonially put to bed by

my ladies and gentlemen of the court.

When everyone had left and we were alone the King removed his cloak and

helped me remove mine. He kissed me and then sat on the bed. I removed

my outer garments and corset that was choking me to death. The King asked

me to lie back on the bed as he disrobed in front of me. His fat sagging belly

stuck out like a mountain of lard. His sausage was so small I could hardly

see it. I tried to look the other way, as he stood naked in front of me. “How

would we consummate this first night of marriage,” I thought to myself?

This was soon to be revealed as he took my hand and placed it on his small

sausage. Squeezing my hand over his sausage he gestured for me to slide my

hand up and down his sausage. I was very nervous and his sausage smelled

like a week old dead fish. Holding my breath I held his sausage and pulled it

up and down. No erection occurred after pulling on his sausage for many

minutes. Finally, he came closer and thrust his sausage into my mouth. I

gagged and choked as the smelly organ lie in my mouth. I began to suck on

it as he motioned me to do as we did once before in Greenwhich. What had

my life come to be for me sucking the penis of a fat obese King of 48 years

of age? I pretended to be back in Germany and happy sucking on a pretzel.

The King began moaning and I took that to be a good sign. Soon his hand

rode along my thighs up to my private parts touching me inside and outside,

Thrusting his finger in and our of my private female part. He began to feel a

warm sensation as he did so. His sausage got hard and then got soft again. I

could not keep sucking for it hurt my mouth to do so. I spread my legs so

that he would penetrate me but instead he moaned and rolled over and went

to sleep. I was left with a snoring obese king in the bed who was unable to

keep his sausage hard enough to penetrate me. I felt guilty that I did not do

more to arouse him. Sex seemed so difficult when before I had always

dreamed it would be beautiful. I satisfied my desires by touching myself

until my organ exploded. So went the first night with my lord the King.

(MORE)

29.

His majesty did not come to my chambers the next night, however on the 3rd

night he came again to spend the night with me to consummate the marriage.

He tried his best but he was truly impotent and embarrassed to admit it to

me. Once again he wanted me to suck on his sausage which I did to please

him. His sausage was small and shriveled and covered with red hair. I

stroked his sausage many time to get it to become hard but it never did. His

majesty ran his hands over my breasts and began panting hard. I thought he

might have an attack or something while we were making love. He sucked

on my breast but still his sausage would not become hard. Embarrassed I

asked his majesty if he might like to try a different position to push his

sausage inside of me like the doggie position. I bent over on the edge of the

bed for him to penetrate me but he could not get his sausage hard enough to

penetrate me. Finally, he rolled over and pretended to be asleep. Feeling that

the lovemaking was over I washed my face and hands in a bowl to remove

the smell of his majesty’s private parts. I realized then that having a child

with the King was going to be impossible because he was impotent.

Perhaps I could speak with Lord Cromwell about the problem or perhaps the

King would not want anyone to know about his personal problems in the bed

with his Queen?

In honor of our marriage a joust was to be held at Greenwich later that week.

I decided to wear a dress more suitable to the English women’s dresses to

please the King. My ladies had told me that the German style of clothing

was not followed in England. The jousting was a wonderful event with many

English nobles and their ladies in attendance. The English enjoyed

celebrations I could tell. I enjoyed myself sitting next to the King during the

jousts.

CHAPTER 4- SOLITUDE

SCENE 1-EXT.-DAY- BOATING ON THE THEMES RIVER.

FADE IN:

QUEEN ANNE OF CLEVES

After four weeks at Greenwhich we moved

to Westminister on February 4, 1540.

QUEEN ANNE OF CLEVES (CONT’D)

30.

We traveled by boat down the river to

Westminister. His majesty traveled in a

separate barge as well as the Mayor of

London. We had a grant procession with

flags flying from the barges and trumpets

sounding.

At Easter time we viewed another jouste

Later in June we were moved to Richmond Castle. His majesty stated this

was necessary to avoid the plague in London which was spreading.

On July 28, 1540, I heard that Lord Cromwell who had been in the tower of

London was taken and beheaded. I felt sad for his lordship. I remember well

our first meeting in Cleves several years ago and how he inquired from the

King as to my availability for marriage.

To be continued…Dec. 2021