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
