February 10, 1542: Catherine Howard Taken to the Tower of London

On February 10, 1542, Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII, was taken to the Tower of London. For the next three days, she remained here knowing that she would be executed. What had led to this?

You've all likely heard of the process of her downfall. It started with Francis Dereham coming to court and working his way into becoming her personal secretary. Soon enough, he relationship with him before her marriage to Henry VIII was exposed, along with her possible ongoing relationship with Thomas Culpepper.

By Feb. 10, Dereham and Culpepper had been dead for two months. Catherine also had a Bill of Attainder against her, which had been passed three days earlier (it would gain royal assent on Feb. 11). This didn't focus on the potential affair with Culpepper, but on her previous relationship with Dereham.

The Bill of Attainder made it illegal for a Queen Consort to keep her sexual history a secret, something that was never a requirement up to this point. Catherine didn't stand a chance.

Seeing the heads of her lovers

On the way to the Tower of London, Catherine would have passed under Tower Bridge. The heads of both Dereham and Culpepper would have been put on spikes here (they remained until 1546!) as a deterrent to those considering traitorous actions. They would have been hurtful to Catherine, who had been imprisoned in Syon Abbey up to this point.

I couldn't imagine the fear and distress she would have felt. For two months, she had already been locked away, not really sure of the reasons. Seeing the heads of Dereham and Culpepper would have made everything real. She would have realized they died for being connected to her if she hadn't already.

Catherine never stood a chance. Maybe she would have had she realized that she could have told the full truth months earlier. There was a chance to admit about her past and admit her marriage to Henry was invalid. This could have prevented everything.

Whether she was too immature, too naive, or just thought she could have it all is unknown. All that is known is that Catherine's downfall was permanent.