Henry in Fiction

(I sorta wanted to write more in details about Henry times in Mary parliament, but while I though I'd find stuff, so here some filler)

I think I've talk about this before, but while Henry Carey has appeared in a number of historical novel he hardly ever a protagonist or even an important when portray in fiction, usually overshadowed by a lot of other character who are considerably more famous, though at the same time a lot of them I think are better fit for work of fiction.  Hell even as a secondary player he seem to be subdue to the bare minimum and what you can find in the most basic research. Part of it, I think is because of the way he lived his life, the man didn't seem to be much of schemer with big ambition (Since he pretty much served Elizabeth with utmost loyalty) he didn't do a lot of thing worth bragging about or his had a particularly dramatic life. 

So far I think I've seen a few ways Henry Carey was displayed, it's not really a thorough look, mostly a few observation.

Henry Carey the son of Mary Boleyn

You can see that in the other Boleyn girl and the last Boleyn.  It would usually cover-up up to Mary death, he don't require much characterisation aside from being a child, but his unsure paternity and the up and down of Mary life make for drama and he can be used has some sort of token in power play (and he is too young to be a player in these thing).

Henry Carey, courtier of Elizabeth

Inevitable, though I don't think I have seen one book that focus a lot of Henry and Elizabeth relationship. Though the Poyson Garden by Karen Harper seem to have a bit more about it, but I can't find a way  to read it properly. He usually show without much characterisation aside for being supportive of her. Though you can read the usual description of him being a rough and tumble kind of guy

Henry Carey, Patron of the art

In his later year, his time has lord chamberlain pop-up, though not so much because of the connection to Shakespeare, but rather to the dark lady, his mistress Emilia Lanier.  Though considering he bite dust shortly afterward, he's usually don't do much.

Here something for you to read a thesis/novel on Emilia Lanier which features Hunsdon.

http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/7435

The inheritance.

The inheritance.

If we take it as the year he became major, 1547 would have been the year Henry Carey got in full control of the inheritance has his father, mother and grand-parent were dead (as well has his aunt and uncle). Though his mother had given some of the property to his stepfather, namely  the manor of Abinger and houses in Essex (weir, Mary Boleyn mistress of king page 250). Just four days prior her death she had came into control of the family estate of Rochford hall. I did find one reference to this estate getting in control on Henry Carey, only to sell it later, however I'm not sure I can vouch for the authenticity of this (Feet of Fines for Essex may shed some light of it, but it doesn't seem readily available online, at least not the volume I need). If it is to believe he eventually gave away that estate in favor of those west of London to Richard Rich (well that's one more wikipedia worthy name I can add)

though the bulk of it went to Henry with it being spread around Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hampshire and Wiltshire (source). Mind you as he we go along in the period between 1547 and the crowning he would lose some of these property as time went by. Heck despsite some of the jobs he had with crown our fella seem to be a little strap for liquidity in the coming years (he seem to be constantly selling properly and never acquiring new ones). Another Boleyn property Swavesey would be sold by him in 1549.  Even if it is his "home" seat, Henry will sell property in Buckhingham later in the 1550's. He also seem to been in some legal issue over an estate against some Pakington.

Sorry if it don't seem very structurate here, but I wasn't really able to find a concise list of Henry Carey real estate or what was given to him in any fashion.

The Queen's ward

(As you can see I'm trying to add something to new every 2 days or so, I'm not quite sure I'll be able to keep up the schedule)

As I mention previously, the first time Henry Carey seemed to have popped into logging is with the death of his father. In 1528, when he was two years old. Of course the death of his father affected his life rather dramatically.  Mary Boleyn had a lot of financial problem and couldn't take care of her two children of her own. Luckily, her sister was the queen of England and so Henry Carey and his sister Catherine became the ward of Anne Boleyn, giving him access to the tutoring of Nicholas Bourbon. A French poet under the queen protection. (I will try to give more about him in a future article).

It would seem of interest of figuring out what exactly was the relationship between the nephew and the aunt during those years between the moment Anne Boleyn and her beheading  8 years late in 1536.. I think it can be attributed to a lack of interested and lack of notability in the primary source.  If anything I have the impression that the two had very little direct interaction, probably because Henry probably wasn't much at the court or following his aunt around.   (While I did say I was skeptical of John Hale quote earlier, it does indicate that Henry wasn't part of the court)

On an interesting note, I've came across an unexpected source about this topic. The site of the history of parlement

The point is well illustrated by the first four names on the list. It is all but certain that the two men elected in 1529, John Hasilwood and Edward Lloyd, were official nominees, as indubitably were their successors of 1536, Thomas Pope and George Gifford. Since Cromwell’s imposition of Pope and Gifford on the borough in 1536 ran counter to the King’s general directive for the re-election of the previous Members, Hasilwood and Lloyd must by then have forfeited their claim to re-election, a lapse which is most easily explained if they had been to any extent patronized by Anne Boleyn, whose wardship of Henry Carey had given her the interest at Buckingham now vitiated by her imminent fate. Between 1536 and 1547, when Carey was himself first elected.

I've decided to check primary source available online on the matter. I've been meaning to look at them, but most of my tentative did not bear much fruit aside from the Letter and Paper.

Here some additional link on the matter (Mostly because the difference and adoption need to be explained)

http://letthemgrumble.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/stop-two-on-the-anne-boleyn-collection-book-tour/

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)