Chapuys’ Audience with Henry VIII

Eustace Chapuys

After hearing of the passing of the Act of Appeals, Chapuys requested an audience with King Henry VIII.

The act, engineered by Thomas Cromwell,

‘removed English religious rule from the authority of Rome, ultimately restricting appeals to Rome on legal matters, endowing Thomas Cranmer with the right to grant Henry a divorce from Catherine of Aragon and enabling him to marry Anne Boleyn.’ (The Literary Encyclopedia)

On April 10 1533, Chapuys was granted this audience and had a long discussion with the king, ‘to whom he represented the injustice done to the queen.’ (Friedmann, pg. 90)

Katherine of Aragon by Wenceslaus Hollar

Chapuys’ efforts were all in vain, as the day before, unbeknownst to the ambassador, Catherine of Aragon had been informed that the king had married Anne Boleyn and that she should now refrain from calling herself queen – or being addressed as such.

Catherine would now be known as Princess of Wales.

Read a detailed description of Chapuys’ encounter with the king in the ambassador’s own words. Click here and scroll down to Chapuys’ letter to Charles V, entry 351.