Catherine Parr was one of the most intellectually ambitious of Henry’s queens. She not only read extensively but later published works of her own in English—a radical act for a woman of her rank. Midweek afternoons often saw her studying theology or discussing scripture with her circle of learned women, which included Catherine Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk, and Anne Seymour, Countess of Hertford.

They debated passages from Erasmus or the newly translated Bible, sometimes reading aloud from manuscripts Catherine herself annotated. Such gatherings alarmed conservative bishops, who feared the spread of Protestant ideas.

Catherine’s interest in reform nearly proved her undoing. In 1546, opponents at court prepared articles accusing her of heresy. Only her quick thinking—and a humble apology to Henry framing her debates as merely to “divert and amuse” the king—saved her from arrest.

Thursday: Outings and Displays

If the court was at Hampton Court or Greenwich, Thursday might include a hunt. Catherine, like many Tudor aristocrats, enjoyed riding. Even with Henry’s gout confining him increasingly to chairs or litters, Catherine sometimes joined younger courtiers in hunting deer or hawking along the Thames.

Alternatively, Thursdays might bring the queen to watch masques or rehearsals. The Tudor court loved elaborate entertainments blending drama, dance, and allegory. Catherine sometimes sponsored performances that promoted Protestant themes—using culture as a quiet form of advocacy. shutdown123