Item 1
From a letter by Chapuys to the Emperor Charles V
December 1533
"The duke of Suffolk and his colleagues mentioned in my last letters have not yet returned from the Queen. So far as I can learn of their business after they had used much sharp language to her, they have proceeded to take away her chamberlain, chancellor, almoner, master of the horse and other chief officers. Since yesterday they have cashiered almost all of the rest of her servants and ladies and they have brought some from the North, more accustomed to war than the court; as I think for other reasons, to serve her. Thye were commissioned to bring the Queen by force to a house (Somerhsam) surrounded by deep water and marshes which is, as she is informed, the most unhealthy and pestilential house in England, and she seeing evident danger of it, refused to go except by force."

(The Queen referred to is Katherine of Aragon, now surplus to Henry VIII's requirements. Katherine clearly felt she was being sent to Somersham to die of malaria or a similar ailment.)

Item 2

From the calendar of State Papers of Milan 1385-1618 (item 936, dated February 6th 1534). Letter from Zorzo Andreasio Milanese ambassador at Rome to Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan

The Bishop of Paris has arrived in Rome 3 days ago and has spoken several times with His Holiness. I have not yet found out what he brings. By letters of the Queen of England it is understood that they have taken away all her servants, male and female and the little silver left so far for her use. They wanted to send her to live in a private house situated in a marsh (Somersham) so that the bad air might speedily end her life. She would not go saying that God did not wish any one to go to voluntary death of their own accord; if they used force she would be patient but they could not do it otherwise. They have given her daughter to the concubine as a maid who serves like others of her household.

Rome 6 February 1534

Item 3
The same issue seen from the perspective of the other side:
19 December 1533
Suffolk writing to Norfolk
He (Suffolk) finds Katherine the most obstinate woman that may be. There is no other remedy but to convey her by force to Somersham. Wish for immediate instructions. Had great difficulty in inducing the servants to be sworn. Understand that he (Norfolk) has taken Tomeo the clerk comptroller to serve my lady princess (Mary) and discharged Wilbraham. Beg that he may be sent back again. Want money for the household and provisions of which a docket has been sent to Cromwell. Bugden. Friday 19 December.

(The Cromwell referred to here is Thomas Cromwell, who would shortly spearhead the attack on church property.)

Duke of Suffolk to Henry VIII

On Wednesday last after dinner we declared your pleasure to the Princess Dowager (Katherine) in her great chamber before all the servants of the house. She protested with open voice that she was your Queen and would rather be hewn in pieces than depart from this assertion. She refuses the name Princess Dowager and resists her removal to Somersham because of her health; and for all the persuasions that could be made by us or Lord Mountjoy, or Dymock her almoner who urged her to remove however she might order herself in her cause; she refuses to take any person into her sworn service as Princess Dowager. Her servants are loathe to take the new oath as they were sworn to her as Queen and they think the second oath would be perjury; and they continued stiffly in this opinion until we had gotten with difficulty from them that they had that knowledge from Abel and Barker her chaplains. We examined them and found them stiffly standing in their conscience that she was your Queen and no man sworn to serve her as Queen might change that oath without Perjury. As they persist in that opinion we have committed them to the pPorters Ward there to remain without speaking with any one till your pleasure be known. After some exhortations we have induced some of the servants to comply. Some we have changed. The Bishop of Llandaff (John de Atequa, a Spaniard) whom you have appointed to depart, we have suffered to remain for the present as she has no confessor (if he and Abel depart) that can speak Spanish in which language she has always confessed. He is the man of most simplicity and will do little harm. Wish to know the King’s pleasure as she will not remove to Somersham against all humanity and reason, unless we bind her with ropes. She also refuses the service of those men sworn to her as Princess Dowager and by her wilfulness may feign herself sick and keep her bed or refuse to put on her clothes, or otherwise order herself by some imagination that we cannot now call to remembrance.
Charlys Soffolke

Bugden
Friday 19th December