Dialogue with Six Queens (Part Two)

Catherine of Aragon:

....my husband had no cause to rend his kingdom apart for a son. Our daughter Mary was all the heir he needed.

Anne Boleyn:

A female child surviving when all his sons had died? That was enough to convince the King his marriage to you, madam, was accursed, verily, no marriage, Henry, our husband -

Catherine: Our!? Mistress Bullen, Henry was my husband only!

(Anne Boleyn peals with laughter.)

Anne Boleyn:

We can dispute this beyond our graves, madam, but we know we will never agree. Let it be. At the end, all knew he wanted you as much as he wanted me.

(Peals with laughter again and puts her hands around her neck.)

At least he allowed you to die in your bed. With me, he cut himself loose from our relationship using other means. Anne, lack a head! (A short laugh - her face crumbling.) It was not enough to just stop loving me, but the King robbed me of mothering my daughter, as well as my life.

Catherine of Aragon:

Madam, your words tell full well my story too. The King separated me from my only living child, and refused me her presence at my death bed. But I died his true, humble wife, and his Queen!

Wendy:

Queen Catherine - please. We begin to tread on dangerous grounds here. I think it is best to now let Queen Anne speak. Your majesty, can you tell me of your early life?

Anne Boleyn:

I was niece to the duke of Norfolk, daughter of Sir Thomas Boleyn and Lady Elizabeth Howard. I believe they dispute now about my birth date? (Peals with laughter.) I left behind a mystery! Good! I like this well, and will leave it so. At my birth, my father was but a knight of the realm. My grandfather was a Mayor of London, but still he managed to wed an heiress, the daughter of Lord Hoo and Hastings. My father even did better than that when he wed Lady Elizabeth Howard, a daughter of Thomas, Duke of Norfolk. I am descendent, from my mother, to Edward I, from his second marriage to Margaret of France. My bloodlines are those of noble lineage, but to ever expect to become crowned consort of a King? No - this was never my thought as a maid, not even when I knew the King desired me.

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