 On 28 July 1540 ( the same day Cromwell was executed ) , Henry married the young Catherine Howard , a first cousin and lady @-@ in @-@ waiting of Anne Boleyn . He was absolutely delighted with his new queen , and awarded her the lands of Cromwell and a vast array of jewellery . Soon after the marriage , however , Queen Catherine had an affair with the courtier Thomas Culpeper . She also employed Francis Dereham , who had previously been informally engaged to her and had an affair with her prior to her marriage , as her secretary . The court was informed of her affair with Dereham whilst Henry was away ; they dispatched Thomas Cranmer to investigate , who brought evidence of Queen Catherine 's previous affair with Dereham to the king 's notice . Though Henry originally refused to believe the allegations , Dereham confessed . It took another meeting of the council , however , before Henry believed the accusations against Dereham and went into a rage , blaming the council before consoling himself in hunting . When questioned , the queen could have admitted a prior contract to marry Dereham , which would have made her subsequent marriage to Henry invalid , but she instead claimed that Dereham had forced her to enter into an adulterous relationship . Dereham , meanwhile , exposed Queen Catherine 's relationship with Culpeper . Culpeper and Dereham were both executed , and Catherine too was beheaded on 13 February 1542 . 
