Bottom of the Pot is the fourth episode of season 4 of The Tudors.
Plot[]
After receiving a letter from an anonymous source the King decides to investigate the accusation that two other men knew Catherine 'carnally' while she was under the service of the Dowager Duchess, and he confines his queen to her apartments with only Lady Rochford in attendance, still believing her to be innocent and chaste. The investigations uncover many lies and many truths, which results in the execution of one of Catherine Howard's former lovers Francis Dereham, her current lover Thomas Culpepper, Lady Jane Rochford and herself.
Summary[]
The King receives an anonymous letter accusing his queen of sexual relationships with two men, including Francis Dereham. Henry thinks the whole thing is a fraud but nonetheless orders an investigation, to be led by Lord Hertford. Queen Katherine is shocked to be confined to her apartments on the King’s orders, with no visitors permitted and with only Lady Rochford in attendance to the Queen's services. The investigation into her past moves with speed: Francis Dereham is arrested and interrogated; Joan Bulmer is questioned, as is the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, at whose home Joan and Katherine lived as young women, where their immoral acts are rumored to have taken place.
Dereham confesses that he and Katherine Howard had planned to get married and that he knew her carnally (had sex with her, in other words) before she became queen: a serious revelation, but not adultery. Uncharacteristically, Henry weeps when told of these discoveries. Nevertheless, his response is unsentimental and swift: Katherine Howard is removed from court, all of her previous presents are taken from her (her jewels, dresses and lands) and she has forfeited her title of Queen. Her pleas for understanding and forgiveness are coldly ignored by Henry, but she knows she is lucky to escape with her life—for now. Francis Dereham is brutally tortured as Lord Hertford seeks to establish whether Katherine committed adultery. Dereham denies the charge but points to Thomas Culpeper, who is promptly arrested. Furious that the betrayal was widely known, Henry isolates himself from his court.
Later, Katherine Howard, Thomas Culpeper, Francis Dereham and Lady Rochford are all executed, and Joan is lucky to escape with her life. Betrayed, bruised but unbowed, the King gives a banquet, attended only by 26 beautiful young women.
Trivia[]
- Final appearances of Katherine Howard, Jane Boleyn, Francis Dereham and Thomas Culpepper.
- During the execution scene, Jane Rochford goes first followed by Katherine. This is historically inaccurate—in real life, Katherine was first.