In utero

While I won't go around saying Henry Carey such an interesting and powerful character that his birth precede by omen of greatness.  Heck this particular part doesn't particular interest me personally , but I feel it is necessary to go through this as it is one of the thing that you will find the most written about Henry Carey. Probably because it involves characters with more historical panache than him or at least person whoses life has enough drama to end get played by Scarlett Johansson. While somewhat gossipy, even a "serious" work would need to mention it. A definitive version of the truth is yet to be establish and will probably never will, unless DNA research are made, but even the author of this blog fail to see the need to aside to provide some answer to this particular question.

In the year that precede the future baron birth, his mother Mary Boleyn was the mistress of king Henry the VIII. The exact date of beginning and end of the affair aren't known, but it happened sometime after her wedding with William Carey in 1520. It went on for a number of years, but eventually the king lost interest toward Mary and went on to rock the kingdom with her sister Anne around 1527, a mere year after Henry birth.

To put it simply there is this chance Henry Carey (and his sister, Catherine) are the bastard children of Henry VIII.

In order not to thoroughly plagiarise someone who made an informative article on the  matter. I will refer to you to the Anne Boleyn files.  

I think you at least deserve to have me doing a little bit more work here.

An often mention quote on to argument of Henry Carey father is Vicar John Hale of Isleworth . Whoses emanate from "Henry  VIII letter and Paper" volume 8. From around 1535 (when Henry would be about 9 or 10) entry 567 where the resemblance is noted. Though it is but a part of a much larger text. Where it almost seem something of an afterthought.

The thing is that Vicar Hale was execute shortly afterward for his opposition to Henry VIII control of the church (as this is the time of English reformation). Personally I have a hard time giving credence to the claim aside than an example of what was said in some circle in what might have been political attack.  Allison Weir give it more context in chapter 8 of Mary Boleyn)

Allow me to editorialise as to why I seem to care so little about the question. It seemed Henry Carey had been considered Elizabeth cousin first and foremost during his life. I feel it had little impact on his life and I think this project will benefit from going forward in time in its research.

 

Addemdum : in The Six Wives Of Henry VIII by Allison Weir, at page 134, (which can be seen on google book) she mention that in 1533, Henry Carey did claimed his was the King son, though I'd say consider that not only he said that at very young age, but also that Weir quote is given no source. Though herself seem to give no credence to any widespread rumour that Henry Carey was the king bastard in Mary Boleyn.  (Though she does give more credential to the idea that his sister might be Henry  VIII daughter)

(Sorry for over relying on Allison Weir, but so far she has wrote the most on the matter of Henry Carey)

As a bonus I feel the need the need to post this in honor of Henry Carey mother , apparently the song the about her.  Thank you NikoZnate from alternatehistory.com for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zJhnZdq6aM

On another note,  the Anne/Mary/Henry VIII triangle was fictionalise in the book/movie the other boleyn girl (Henry Carey is feature, but referee to as "little henry") I've looked much into it, feel too much like this is fictionalisation first and foremost.

Also another found,  I was wandering how come Carey birthdate was so precise when everyone else seem to be so vague. I might have found a possible explanation on this. Apparently, Henry age at the time time was noted in William Carey inquisition post mortem and figure out from there. The article also question whereter or not the march 24 date might be the one of baptism. Though while I may not be all that familiar with baptism back in the day, didn't they do as soon as possible because of child early death? I'll stick to march 24 personally.

 

 

http://www.genealogymagazine.com/boleyn2.html

Apparently the source of the inquistion of Post Mortem is the following book

The herald and genealogist from 1862 Nichols, John Gough, 1806-1873

Here are the pages around Henry Carey

 

http://archive.org/stream/heraldgenealogis04nich#page/32/mode/2up

http://archive.org/stream/heraldgenealogis04nich#page/34/mode/2up

 

(I have the feeling  I'm going to site a lot of stuff written in the 19th century)

(My god this  epilogue going to be longer than the article!)

The herald made me look The history of the worthies of England By Thomas Fuller, where you'lll find  Henry Carey name Cary (like in the previous quote, oh changing spelling how you make research so much more difficult) managed to find in the second volume on page 47. Those checking it out will found most anecdocte about Henry Carey I've found thus far in other source. (I can't quite recall what was the name of the book, but I should find it when I'll write more Henry Carey personality)