ON THIS DAY - 01 December 1541

On This Day (01 Dec) in 1541, Thomas Culpeper and Francis Dereham were tried for high treason, for their alleged adultery with Katherine Howard, Henry VIII's fifth queen.

'The Tower of London' Artist: Anthonis van den Wijngaerde (c. 1525-1571) Year: c.1544 © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

They were escorted from the Tower of London by the Tower's Constable Sir John Gage, to the City of London's Guildhall. Both men were found guilty of treason, and were given the sentence of death. Due to his social standing as a member of the Privy Chamber, Culpeper's sentence was commuted to beheading; however, Dereham's sentence remained that of hanging, drawing, (beheading) and quartering). Their death warrants were signed on 09 Dec, and both men were executed at Tyburn on 10 Dec 1541, their decapitated heads placed on London Bridge.

'A view of the Guildhall of the City of London' From 'The History and Survey of London: from its foundation to the present time' by William Maitland. Published 1756. © Public Domain

Katherine herself had been stripped of her position as Queen 2 weeks previously; her household had been dissolved, and she had been moved to the former monastery at Syon to await her fate.

'Probably Katherine Howard' Miniature Artist: Hans Holbein Year: c.1540 © The Buccleuch Collection

Jane Parker, Lady Rochford, one of Katherine's highest ranking ladies-in-waiting had also been arrested following questioning (led by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer), and taken to the Tower, due to her perceived role (with both Katherine and Culpeper placing the blame with her). However, within 2 days of her incarceration, she was "seized with a fit of madness by which her brain is affected". She was subsequently moved out of the Tower to Russell House, The Strand, under the care of Anne Sapcote, Lady Russell (wife of John Russell, Lord High Admiral, and mother of Francis Russell).

Detail from: 'Two views of a Woman wearing an English Hood' Artist: Hans Holbein the Younger Year: c.1532-35 © The Trustees of the British Museum

Whilst at Russell House, Henry VIII sent his physicians to her daily, as it was said that he was eager for her recovery, as at the time it was not legal for a person presenting with 'lunacy' to be tried for high treason; Imperial Ambassador Eustace Chapuys suggested that Jane was likely to have been tried alongside Culpeper and Dereham on 01 Dec if there had not been these concerns.