Chapter summaries Boleyn Traitor Philippa Gregory

Westminster Palace, Summer 1536

Spoiler Notice: This page reveals the full plot of Chapter 16. If you haven't read it yet, consider returning later.

Summary

King Henry VIII immediately forces Lady Mary to take the oath denying her mother's marriage and declaring herself illegitimate. His leg wound has reopened, and with no viable heir—Mary illegitimate, Elizabeth illegitimate and too young, and Lady Margaret Douglas imprisoned—the succession is precarious. News breaks that Margaret Douglas secretly married Thom Howard, half-brother to the Duke of Norfolk. Jane Seymour, fearing blame from her own family, whispers her practiced ignorance. The king interprets the marriage as the latest Howard conspiracy after Anne Boleyn's "sortilèges" and Mary Howard's marriage contract. Thomas Cromwell suggests a writ of attainder to execute Thom Howard without trial. Parliament compliantly agrees. The narrator, Jane Boleyn, encounters Cromwell on a winding stair, asking if they are "madder than ever." He replies that Margaret Douglas had better be mad, for nothing else will save her. The chapter closes on a note of arbitrary royal justice and deepening fear.

Key Events

  • Henry forces Mary to accept the oath and declare herself illegitimate.
  • The king’s leg wound reopens, highlighting the physical and succession crisis.
  • The discovery that Margaret Douglas has secretly married Thom Howard.
  • Jane Seymour’s anxiety about being blamed and her insistence on knowing nothing.
  • The king accuses the Howards of yet another conspiracy.
  • Cromwell proposes the writ of attainder to bypass trial and execute Thom Howard.
  • Jane Boleyn’s brief exchange with Cromwell on the palace stair.

Character Development

  • Jane Seymour: Reveals her insecurity and practiced ignorance. She whispers that she knows nothing, a deliberate survival tactic, and fears her family will turn against her despite her innocence.
  • Jane Boleyn (narrator): Remains a sharp observer, noting the erasure of history—Anne and Katherine are never mentioned. Her question to Cromwell (“Are we madder than ever?”) betrays a cynical awareness of the court’s irrationality.
  • Henry VIII: Shown as physically debilitated and politically paranoid. He sees conspiracies everywhere, turning on the Howards with a new level of ruthlessness.
  • Thomas Cromwell: Pragmatic and chilling; he provides the legal weapon to kill without trial, underlining his influence over the king and parliament.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Illegitimacy and the Succession: The chapter is saturated with the word “illegitimate.” Mary, Elizabeth, and Margaret Douglas are all tainted or imprisoned, leaving the Tudor line dangerously thin.
  • The Writ of Attainder: A symbol of absolute tyranny. The king can now execute without evidence or defense, a motif of how law becomes a tool of terror.
  • Historical Amnesia: Jane’s court “has no knowledge of anything, especially history.” The deliberate forgetting of Anne Boleyn and Katherine of Aragon shows how the regime controls narrative.
  • Secrecy and Lies: Jane Seymour’s mantra “We know nothing” epitomizes the survival strategy of the powerless.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter distills the atmosphere of 1536: a wounded king with no clear heir lashes out at any perceived threat. The writ of attainder marks a dark legal innovation that foreshadows further arbitrary executions. Jane Seymour’s helplessness is contrasted with Cromwell’s cold efficiency, while the narrator’s perspective highlights the absurdity of a court built on fear and denial. The Howard “conspiracy” claim ties Anne Boleyn’s fall to present events, showing that the past is never truly buried.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Henry force Mary to declare herself illegitimate, and how does this affect the succession? Henry needs her submission to cement his break from Rome and Katherine of Aragon. Her illegitimacy, alongside Elizabeth’s, means no acknowledged heir exists, ramping up his paranoia and the desperation of his court.

  2. What is the significance of the writ of attainder introduced by Cromwell? It allows execution without trial or appeal, stripping legal protections. This device shows how the king and parliament can collaborate to destroy any enemy on mere accusation, tightening Henry’s absolute control.

  3. How does Jane Seymour’s “we know nothing” reflect the broader court atmosphere? Her mantra embodies the forced ignorance and denial required to survive. By erasing awareness of Anne and Katherine, the court creates a fragile reality where only the king’s present mood matters, making everyone complicit in the lie.

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