The King Hath His Eye on a Seventh Wyf
To whom it may concerne in trust,
I have heard it sayd,
although Henry weddened Kateryn with joyful countenaunce,
fatte grows The King with peyne and fantasye,
and bareyne she, bringeth no children.
Katherine Willoughby,
lady in waiting, young with fertility,
ripe to fulfil oon last erthely beseech,
a seventh quene with sone and posteritee.
Al day long Kateryn
prateth her bokes and straunge views.
She speketh boldely of matters of feith,
and techeth The King on the merits of her owene sooth.
Such heretike tales
bringen many tortment and misforyeven.
The King without comfort in his owene cradel
should not be scolede over his fate by a womman.
Katherine Willoughby
holdeth no such sawes, and Henry is wel y-queynted,
for he hath been masked and y-visite her,
enjoying much daunce and minstralcie.
Bishop Gardyner
sholde come with fyr in hand,
visit Kateryn to assaye her views,
oon wyf to brenne, oon mayde left to stande.
Take this writing and hiden it well. Fain servise of The King.

John Gilbert Ellis
Sat 14th Feb 2026 12:15
Thank you Martin and David for the kind comments, and the likes.
This was written as part of the ‘hoax’ poetry course I’m doing through the Poetry School. A missive between courtesan’s in the latter days of Henry VIII. Sure it could have happened😄