Biography of Isabel Leigh -1573

On 28th July 1540 [her brother-in-law] Henry VIII (age 49) and [her half-sister] Catherine Howard (age 17) were married at Oatlands Palace [Map] by Bishop of London Edmund Bonner (age 40). She by marriage Queen Consort England. The difference in their ages was 31 years. He the son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland and Elizabeth York Queen Consort England. They were fifth cousin once removed.

Catherine Carey (age 16) and Eleanor Paston Countess Rutland (age 45) were appointed Lady in Waiting to Queen Catherine Howard of England.

The date of the marriage derived from the Baga de Secrets Pouch XIII.

Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. 13th November 1541. This yeare, the 13th daye of November, Sir Thomas Wriothesly, knight, and Secretary to the Kinge, came to Hampton Court to the Quene, and called all the ladies and gentlewomen and her servauntes into the Great Chamber, and there openlye afore them declared certeine offences that she had done in misusing her bodye with certeine persons afore the Kinges tyme, wherefore he there discharged all her househould; and the morrowe after she was had to Sion, and my Lady Bainton and 2 other gentlewomen, with certeine of her servauntes to wayte on her there till the Kinges further pleasure;^a and divers persons were had to the Tower of London, as my Lady Rochford (age 36), Mr. Culpepper (age 27), one of the Kinges Privie Chamber, with other.

Note a. A letter from the Council to Archbishop Cranmer, signifying the King's pleasure as to the remove of Qneen Katharine Howard, and the discharge of her household, is printed in State Papers, Heniy VIII. rol. i. part ii. pp. 691-8.

Holinshed's Chronicle [1525-1582]. [14th November 1541]. The morrow after she [[her half-sister] Queen Catherine Howard of England (age 18)] was conueied to Sion [Map], the ladie Bainton and certeine gentlewomen and some of hir seruants being appointed to wait upon hir there, till the kings pleasure might be further knowen. Culpeper (age 27), Diram (age 28), and others were had to the tower. Diram in his examination being charged with the familiaritie which had béene betwixt them, before she was married to the king, confessed that he and she said quéene had made a precontract togither, and that he concealed it for hir preferment in marriage to the king, after he vnderstood the king began to cast a liking towards hir.

On 13th February 1542 [her half-sister] Queen Catherine Howard (age 19) and Jane Parker Viscountess Rochford (age 37) were beheaded at Tower Green [Map]. Henry Howard Earl of Surrey (age 26) attended. They were both buried at St Peter ad Vincula Church, Tower of London [Map].

Mary Boleyn (age 43) was the heir of Jane Parker Viscountess Rochford being the sister of her deceased husband George Boleyn Viscount Rochford.