第58章 (第3/3页)
or later. Perhaps he was an alien. Anyhow, everything went on just as you would expect things to go with Henry in charge. He succeeded in August of 1485, and married Elizabeth in the following January. Elizabeth had her first child at Winchester, and her mother was there with her and was present at the baptism. That was in September 1486. Then she came back to London-the Queen Dowager, I mean-in the autumn. And in February-hold on to everything-in February she was shut up in a convent for the rest of her life.'
'Elizabeth Woodville?' Grant said, in the greatest astonishment. This was the very last thing he had expected.
'Yes. Elizabeth Woodville. The boys' mother.'
'How do you know that she didn't go voluntarily?' Grant asked, when he had thought of it for a little. 'It was not an uncommon thing for great ladies who were tired of court life to retire into an Order. It was not a severe existence, you know. Indeed, I have an idea it was fairly comfortable for rich women.'
'Henry stripped her of everything she owned, and ordered her into the nunnery at Bermondsey. And that, by the way, did create a sensation. There was "much wondering", it appears.'
'I'm not surprised. What an extraordinary thing. Did he give a reason?