# Katharine Howard — Privy Seal character guide > Katharine Howard in Privy Seal by Ford Madox Ford. **Role:** major **Also known as:** the Lady Katharine Howard, Katharine Howard, the Lady Katharine, Katharine, Howard, the Lady Howard, The Lady Howard, Lady Katharine, Katharine Howard—her, Kat Howard, this Kat Howard, A Kat, Kat, Kat Howard Poins **First appearance:** 0004-i ## Snapshot A fair, plainspoken noblewoman who will not be Queen over a lie, even as courtiers wager their necks on her rise. ## Who they are Katharine Howard is the woman around whom every faction in the book coils: the King loves her, Cromwell plans to destroy her, Throckmorton has lied for her, and her cousin Culpepper is being fetched to ruin her. She refuses to be Queen if the Queen is truly the King's wife, and she takes shame that men have lied for her sake, pointing an accusing finger at Throckmorton rather than accept the debt. Her stubborn honesty is both her glory and her danger. In a court built on falsehood, she insists on truth, and the whole plot turns on whether that can survive. ## Relationships ### [Cardinal Pole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/cardinal_pole) _romantic_ Cardinal Pole is deeply in love with Katharine Howard, but their relationship is complicated by political and religious tensions. ### [Thomas Cromwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/thomas_cromwell) _rivalry_ Katharine Howard and Thomas Cromwell are fierce political enemies, each plotting to destroy the other's influence. ### [Anne Boleyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/anne_boleyn) _rivalry_ Anne Boleyn and Katharine Howard are rivals for the king's favor and influence at court, with deep personal animosity. ### [Magister Udal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/magister_udal) _friendship_ Magister Udal is a loyal friend and tutor to Katharine Howard, often acting as her confidant and ally. ### [Thomas Culpepper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/thomas_culpepper) _romantic_ Katharine Howard and Thomas Culpepper are secret lovers, engaging in a passionate but dangerous affair. ### [Cicely Elliott](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/cicely_elliott) _friendship_ Cicely Elliott is a close friend and confidante to Katharine Howard, offering support and loyalty. ### [Cardinal Pole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/cardinal_pole) _romantic_ Cardinal Pole is deeply in love with Katharine Howard, but their relationship is complicated by political and religious tensions. ### [Thomas Cromwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/thomas_cromwell) _rivalry_ Katharine Howard and Thomas Cromwell are fierce political enemies, each plotting to destroy the other's influence. ### [Thomas Cromwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/thomas_cromwell) _rivalry_ Katharine Howard and Thomas Cromwell are fierce political enemies, each plotting to destroy the other's influence. ### [Anne Boleyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/anne_boleyn) _rivalry_ Anne Boleyn and Katharine Howard are rivals for the king's favor and influence at court, with deep personal animosity. ### [Anne Boleyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/anne_boleyn) _rivalry_ Anne Boleyn and Katharine Howard are rivals for the king's favor and influence at court, with deep personal animosity. ### [Magister Udal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/magister_udal) _friendship_ Magister Udal is a loyal friend and tutor to Katharine Howard, often acting as her confidant and ally. ## In the story ### [Part I: The Rising Sun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/part-i-the-rising-sun) Emerging as a key player in the political landscape. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as the Lady Katharine Howard, mistress to the King, and a figure whose favor Udal seeks to maintain. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned as the possible cause of the embassy; rumored to have influenced the King to send the mission. Doctor Longstaffe has copied sonnets to her for the Earl of Surrey. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/iii) Mentioned as Udal's former pupil and a potential future queen who might restore the Old Faith. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/v) Passionately argues for righting wrongs and defending the old faith; declares she will not participate in plots against Privy Seal. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/vi) Confronts Cromwell with a plea to turn from his policies and embrace Rome; offers him a place beside her if he will help re-humble the King before God. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/vii) The target of Cromwell's schemes; Throckmorton hopes she will enslave the King's desires to save herself. ### [Part II: The Distant Cloud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/part-ii-the-distant-cloud) Her preparations and potential confrontation with Cromwell are hinted at, marking her as a key player. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as the recipient of letters Poins once carried, and as Culpepper's cousin; her fortunes are at stake if Culpepper reaches London. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/ii) Discussed as the object of Culpepper's desire; he claims to have had her alone and bought her gowns and pies. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/iii) Negotiates with Henry about becoming queen, insists on verifying Anne of Cleves's testimony, and struggles with her conscience over divorce. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/iv) Determined to ask Queen Anne of Cleves if she is the King's wife; refuses to be queen if lies are involved; resolute against threats. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as returning from Windsor; Throckmorton fears a meeting between Culpepper and the King will lead to her death. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/vi) Visits Queen Anne to seek her blessing for marriage to the King, driven by a desire to restore the old faith and guide the King. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/vii) Lady Katharine, the woman Cromwell seeks to destroy by proving her unchaste through her cousin. ### [Part III: The Sunburst](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/part-iii-the-sunburst) Prepares to confront Cromwell, asserting her agency in the court's power struggles. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/i) Culpepper's cousin; her room is the destination for Culpepper and the King, and she is not yet taken. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/chapters/ii) Wracked with guilt over becoming queen after Anne of Cleves, she pleads with Henry to avoid a coronation and seeks penance. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters/katharine_howard - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/privy_seal_se/characters