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By the summer of 1546, the Tudor Court was a dangerous place to misjudge the mood of the king.

England was officially leaning Protestant,

but only just. Old beliefs were still around and old grudges even more so. At the center of it

all was Henry VIII, aging, increasingly unwell and deeply suspicious of anyone who appeared

too confident in their own opinions.

And that was the environment that Catherine Parr was living in.

By this point, Catherine was no naive newcomer.

She had been queen for three years.

She had acted as regent while Henry campaigned in France.

She managed correspondence, patronage, and household politics with confidence.

She was respected, even, dare one say, admired.

She was also openly interested in theology.

She was comfortable debating scripture.

She was willing to put her thoughts into print.

That combination had already proved fatal to others.

Now, Catherine had seen how quickly favor could evaporate.

She had lived through the fall of Anne Boleyn.

She had watched Catherine Howard go from adored to executed in a matter of months.

She had seen the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell, terrifying speed.

...