6 October 1542 – Death of Thomas Wyatt, English poet (b. 1503)
Read about Tom Wyatt and his relationship with Anne Boleyn in Brandy Purdy's
The Boleyn Wife, due to be released this January 2010.
Excerpt
While Anne played for a King, her heart would suffer another blow when Tom Wyatt chose to graciously withdraw from the field where he had battled Henry for Anne’s love.
Ever the poet, he renounced her in a poem:
Who so list to hunt: I know where is a hind.
But as for me, alas, I may no more:
The vain travail hath wearied me so sore,
I am of them that farthest cometh behind.
Yet may I by no means my wearied mind
Draw from the deer, but as she fleeth afore
Fainting I follow. I leave off therefore,
Since in a net I seek to hold the wind.
Who list to hunt, I put him out of doubt,
As well as I may spend his time in vain,
And graven in diamonds in letters plain
There is written her fair neck round about:
Noli Me Tangere, for Caesar’s I am,
And wild for to hold, though I seem tame.
I was there the night he stood up and recited it to the court. And I saw sorrow, true and deep, in his brown eyes.
Their eyes meet across the banquet table where Anne sat beside the King who possessively rested one meaty jewel-laden pink paw upon her knee. They shared a long glance of regret, mourning for what could never be.
Though Wyatt had never replaced Percy in her heart, Anne truly did love him in her way. And, had he been free, I am certain they would have wed.
When he spoke the last four lines, Anne’s hand reached up to touch the choker of diamonds encircling her neck and a pained expression flashed across her face. Then it was gone and she cast her eyes sideways at Henry, who was nodding in approval at the words “Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not), for Caesar’s I am.”
When he finished Wyatt bowed low to the sovereign and Henry leapt to his feet, applauding loudly, and the court, ever quick to follow the King’s lead, did the same.
Only Anne remained seated and silent, then slowly she stood. I was seated only two places down and I heard her softly plead a headache and that she must go at once to bed.
As she passed him, Henry seized her wrist and said in a voice that made me shiver, “Rarely when I hunt does the quarry escape me, no matter how fleet of foot or cunningly it hides. Make no mistake, Mistress Anne, I will catch you, and you will be mine!”
Anne curtsied quickly and fled. Tom Wyatt’s eyes followed her as his body dared not do. He pressed a hand briefly to his heart as if it pained him, then he forced himself to smile and gave himself over to the congratulations of his friends.
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31 October 1517 – Protestant Reformation: Martin Luther posts his 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.
29 October 1390 – First trial for witchcraft in Paris.
27 October 1401 – Birth of Catherine of Valois, queen of Henry V of England (d. 1437)
26 October 899 – Death of Alfred the Great, king of Wessex (b. 849)
25 October 1415 – The army of Henry V of England defeats the French at the Battle of Agincourt.
20 October 1139 – Death of Henry X, Duke of Bavaria
by Frederic Miller, et al.
by J. Edwards.
15 October 1582 – Pope Gregory XIII implements the Gregorian calendar. In Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain, October 4 of this year is followed directly by October 15.
by Elizabeth Alder and Harold the King by Helen Hollick.
11 October 1138 – A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria.
9 October 1003 – Leif Erikson lands in L'Anse aux Meadows, Canada, becoming the first known European to reach North America.
by Charles White.
8 October 1600 – San Marino adopts its written constitution.
7 October 1542 – Unaware of Thomas Wyatt's death the day before, explorer Cabrillo discovers Santa Catalina Island off the California coast.
Today in Medieval History is brought to you by medieval-novels.com where you will find over 1,200 novels set between 500 and 1600 AD/CE and in every part of the world. Many of the events recorded here are illustrated with admirable accuracy and skill in the pages of these novels. As one author put it, historical novelists strive to offer any number of interpretations of the great events of history. Visit medieval-novels.com at http://www.medieval-novels.com today! Authors, make sure your titles are in our catalog!
5 October 1143 – King Alfonso VII of Leon recognises Portugal as a Kingdom.
4 October 1582 – Pope Gregory XIII implements the Gregorian Calendar. In Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain, October 4 of this year is followed directly by October 15 and a whole bunch of people are cheated out of birthday parties.
