Marriage of Arthur Tudor and Catherine of Aragon
Marriage of Arthur Tudor and Catherine of Aragon is in 1500-1509 Death of Prince Arthur and Henry VII.
Wriothesley's Chronicle 1485-1509. 14 Nov 1501. This yeare, the 14th day of November, Prince Arthure (age 15) was marriedg at Paules Churche [Map], in London, to the Kinge of Spaynes (age 49) third daughter, named Katheryne (age 15).a
Note g. At the age of fifteen, his bride (age 15) being seventeen. The commission and marriage articles may be seen in MS. Harleian. Cod. 6, 220, Art. 1.
On 14 Nov 1501 Arthur Prince of Wales (age 15) and Catherine of Aragon (age 15) were married at St Paul's Cathedral [Map] by Archbishop Henry Deane assisted by William Warham Bishop of London (age 51) and a further eighteen bishops. She wore a white satin dress with a farthingale and over her head wore a veil of fine silk trimmed with gold and pearls. She would, eight years later, marry his younger brother King Henry VIII of England and Ireland (age 10) - see Marriage of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. She the daughter of Ferdinand II King Aragon (age 49) and Isabella Queen Castile (age 50). He the son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland (age 44) and Elizabeth York Queen Consort England (age 35). They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
Prince Henry (age 10) who escorted her up the aisle and gave her away.
Cecily York Viscountess Welles (age 32) bore the train, Thomas Grey 2nd Marquess Dorset (age 24) was Chief Answerer.
Robert Radclyffe 1st Earl of Sussex (age 18) and Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham (age 23) attended.
Thomas Englefield was appointed Knight of the Bath.
Immediately after their marriage Arthur Prince of Wales (age 15) and Catherine of Aragon (age 15) resided at Tickenhill Manor, Bewdley [Map] for a month. Thereafter they travelled to Ludlow, Shropshire [Map].
Letters and Papers 1529. After 28 Jun 1529. Vit. B. XII. 70. B. M. 5774. Catharine of Arragon.
Vit. B. XII. 130. B. M.
6. Deposition of Nicholas Bishop of Ely (age 68).
Is 68 years of age.
Princes Arthur and Henry were legitimate sons of Henry VII. and his Queen Elizabeth. Was present at the marriage of Prince Arthur, but can say nothing as to the words used, on account of the tumult and multitude of people there. Can say nothing as to the consummation, but he doubts of it, because the Queen has often told him, on the testimony of her conscience, "quod [non] fuit carnaliter a dicto Arthuro cognita," [Translation. That she had not known Arthur conjugally] but they were both of sufficient age. As to the 5th article, believes the marriage was contracted both de facto and de jure, by reason of the dispensation; but he cannot depose to the time mentioned in the article. To the 6th article, has always believed that it is true as to jus divinum, and believes that it is also true as to jus ecclesiasticum. The 7th article would be true if there had not been a legitimate dispensation. Can depose nothing to the 8th article. Has heard the archbishop of Canterbury say that he had a dispute with the late Bishop of Winchester on the subject. To the 9th, the present King and Queen were lawfully married, as he believes. Believes the 10th to be true, as the Pope affirms it in a rescript. Believes the 11th to be true. To the 12th, does not consider that the legates are competent judges, as an appeal has been made.
Letters and Papers 1529. After 28 Jun 1529. Vit. B. XII. 70. B. M. 5774. Catharine of Arragon.
Cott. App. XXVII. 135. B. M.
9. Deposition of Robert Viscount Fitzwater (age 46). Is 46 years of age, or thereabouts. To the 1st and 2nd articles, agrees with Thomas marquis of Dorset. Was in the service of Henry VII. from the death of Prince Arthur to the death of the King. Princes Arthur and Henry were always considered as the natural and lawful sons of Henry and Elizabeth. Was assigned by the King to the service of Arthur as his eldest son, and served him till his death.
To the 3rd and 4th articles, was present at the marriage of Prince Arthur and lady Catharine. Believes Arthur was then 15 years of age, as he heard from credible witnesses, and that Catharine was older. Was with the earls of Oxford (age 58) and Shrewsbury (age 61), and others, at the Bishop of London's palace, waiting on Prince Arthur going from his own chamber to that of the Princess, and left him in the bed, where, he believeth surely, the Princess lay. They dwelled together at Ludlow till the Prince's death. As to public report, agrees with the Earl of Shrewsbury (age 61). To the 5th article, cannot depose, except as to reputation, cohabitation, and offspring, in which he agrees with the marquis of Dorset. To the 6th, 7th and 8th, cannot depose. The 9th contains the truth. Believes the 10th, 11th and 12th to be true. Has not been influenced by force, fear, or the like.
Letters and Papers 1529. After 28 Jun 1529. Cott. App. XXVII. 141. B. M. 5774. Catharine of Arragon.
11. Deposition of William Lord Mountjoy (age 51).
Is 52 years of age or thereabout.
To the 1st and 2nd articles, agrees with Lord Darcy. To the 3rd and 4th, was present at the marriage of Arthur and Catharine, at St. Paul's. Believes Arthur was more than 14 years of age. Knows nothing of Catharine's age, nor of the consummation, except from report. To the 5th, agrees with Thomas marquis of Dorset as to cohabitation, offspring, and reputation, but cannot depose about the marriage. To the 6th and 7th, cannot depose. To the 8th, never heard of any great murmur or scandal in consequence of this marriage, among either the clergy or laity. The 9th contains the truth. To the 10th, 11th and 12th, cannot depose. Is not influenced by fear, &c.
Letters and Papers 1529. After 28 Jun 1529. Vit. B. XII. 70. B. M. 5774. Catharine of Arragon.
A set of depositions as to Catharine's marriage with Prince Arthur.
1. of George Earl of Shrewsbury (age 61), seneschal of the King's household, at the Coldherbar, on Monday, 28 June 1529. Is 59 years of age. Was present at the marriage of Henry VII. at Westminster, and at the creation of Arthur prince of Wales and Henry Duke of York (age 38). They were always considered as brothers, and he never heard it contradicted. Was present at the marriage of Prince Arthur with Catharine, now Queen, at St. Paul's, in Nov. 17 Henry VII. 1521 (sic). Believes that Arthur was then 14 or more. Saw the Queen Elizabeth and him a month after his birth, at Winchester [Map], in 2 Henry VII. Believes that Catharine was more than 14. Thinks that Arthur must have been nearer 15 than 14. At night, with the Lord of Oxford (age 58) and others, conducted Prince Arthur to the lady Catharine's (age 43) bedchamber, and left him there. Supposes that the Prince consummated the marriage,as he did so, being only 15 years when he was married. They were always considered lawfully married during the life of Prince Arthur. Saw the funeral of Prince Arthur at Worcester, and the marriage of the King and Queen at Greenwich. Cannot answer the 6th and 7th articles, but leaves them to the laws. Never heard what is contained in the 8th article. As to the 9th, knows that the King and Queen cohabited and treated each other as husband and wife, but cannot say whether lawfully or not. Can say nothing from his own knowledge as to the 10th, 11th, and 12th articles. Has made this deposition without being instructed or corrupted in any way, only for the sake of truth.
Vit. B. XII. 80. B. M.
2. of Thomas marquis of Dorset (age 52). Is 52 years of age. The 1st and 2nd articles contain the truth. Was present at the baptism of Arthur and Henry, the former at Winchester, and the latter at Greenwich. Was present at the marriage of Prince Arthur with Catharine, now Queen, at St Paul's, on a Sunday in Nov. 1501, 17 Henry VII. Believes Arthur was about 15, for he has seen in the book in which are written the births of the King's children that he was born 20 Sept. 1486. Was present when Prince Arthur went to bed after his marriage, where the lady Catharine (age 43) lay under the coverlet, "as the manner is of Queens in that behalf." Thinks that he used the princess as his wife, for he was of a good and sanguine complexion, and they were commonly reputed as man and wife during Prince Arthur's life. As to the 5th article, he can depose nothing to the first part, as he was then prisoner at Calais; but the remainder, touching cohabitation and reputation, is true. Can say nothing to the 6th, 7th, and 8th. The 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th contain the truth, as he believes.
Vit. B. XII. 85. B. M.
3. of Sir Antony Willoughby. Has lived 15 years in Hampshire, for 12 years previously in Wiltshire. Was five years in the service of Prince Arthur, for five years before that in the service of the Bishop of Durham, and before that time in his father's household. Believes the 1st and 2nd articles to be true. To the 3rd and 4th, was present at the marriage of Prince Arthur and lady Catharine. By favor of his father, Lord Broke, steward of the King's household, was present when Prince Arthur went to bed on his marriage night in the palace of the Bishop of London. In the morning the prince, in the presence of Mores St. John, Mr. Cromer, Mr. William Woddall, Mr. Griffith Rice, and others, said to him, "Willoughby, bring me a cup of ale, for I have been this night in the midst of Spain;" and afterward said openly, "Masters, it is good pastime to have a wife." He, therefore, supposes that the marriage was consummated; and he heard that they lay together the Shrovetide following at Ludlow.
Knows that they lived together as man and wife during the remainder of the Prince's life.
Believes the 5th article to be true. Can depose nothing to the 6th, 7th and 8th. Believes the 9th, 10th and 11th to be true. The 12th contains law; to which he is not bound to reply. To the second additional interrogatory he replies, that it contains the truth, for he has been present twenty times at the solemnization of marriage, and the said form of words is always used.
