St. Paul’s Cathedral dominates London’s skyline today with its massive dome, but in 1525 it looked very different (see image here). Its spire was one of the highest in Europe.
Because much of the roof was made of wood, the cathedral burned down during the fire of London in 1666, after which plans were drawn up for the cathedral as we know it today.
When I was researching In a Treacherous Court — the first book in my series featuring Susanna Horenbout and John Parker — I learned about the ceremony Henry VIII arranged after the death of Richard de la Pole and the capture of King Francis I of France in battle at Pavia. The story of In a Treacherous Court ends before the ceremony, and the action starts again in Keeper of the King’s Secrets afterward. So choosing the St. Paul’s celebration was perfect for a short story that bridges the two books.
Geoffrey Pole is the sympathetic villain of the story, and I chose him because he seemed to be a man who was very emotional, even unstable. When his brother Reginald verbally attacked Henry VIII for seeking to divorce Katherine of Aragon, and Henry reacted by lashing out at the Pole family, it was Geoffrey who was questioned in the Tower of London, and asked to give information on his family that would help to convict them. During this time, in October and November 1538, Geoffrey seemed to teeter on the verge of mental collapse, and the testimony that was either forced or coerced from him convicted and led to the execution of most of his family. He was the only one released, and seems to have lived the rest of his life a broken man.
When thinking of someone who would be rash enough and hot-headed enough to want to strike out at the King over the celebration of Richard de la Pole’s death, Geoffrey Pole sprang readily to mind.
For those interested in hearing a version of the Te Deum, which is sung by the choir in this story (and was really sung at the Mass Henry attended in St. Paul’s Cathedral to celebrate the death of de la Pole and the capture of Francis I at Pavia) you can click on this link The recording is seven minutes long.