On 17 May 1536 the sound of two thousand guns blasting and the clanging of cathedral bells welcomed the much-anticipated birth of England’s son and heir. The joyous news spread quickly across the realm, with letters signed personally by our moost happi queen, now resting in Whitehall Palace, hailed "a Prince, conceived in most lawful matrimony between my Lord the King's Majesty and us." Bonfires were lit, the churches sang Te Deums, and the drink flowed freely. The king immediately conferred the title Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester in addition to the automatic Duke of Cornwall, and he was christened two days later—Prince Arthur. The Lady Mary was brought to court in order to serve as his godmother for the occasion, which she initially resisted but was pressured into doing so.
The child was robust and pink, a specimen of good health, with dark auburn curls and large cobalt irises; furthermore, he was of a cheerful disposition and suckled vigorously from the wet-nurse’s breast. Henry was beside himself with joy, and the city of London was overtaken by massive celebrations lasting for two weeks. Discussion of removing the queen went away, and upon Anne’s return to court so did the Seymour’s; although, Mistress Jane Seymour did bear the king’s bastard son on Christmas day that same year, named Edward. Though the boy was provided for, he was never officially recognized.
Following the birth of a Prince of Wales, the queen spear-headed reforms to further establish the church of England, modeled after Lutheranism. Improvements included the dissolution of monasteries and printing of English translations of the Bible. However, this led to unrest, primarily in the Northern regions of the nation, resulting in the Pilgrimage of Grace. The uprising was put down and its leaders, originally offered clemency, were executed—much to the irritation of the Vatican and the rest of Catholic Europe. In hopes of avoiding aggression from Scotland, it is suggested that the Lady Mary be offered to the single James V, but he declined the proposal and wed Madeline of Valois instead.
The following year, 1538, Queen Anne gave birth to twin boys, the oldest being Edward, Duke of York and the latter Henry, Duke of Bedford. Negotiations began to discuss the proposal of Princess Elizabeth to Denmark and Sweden as both the Holy Roman Empire and France had signed a treaty agreeing to refrain from future alliances with England. Much aggrieved with the handling of funds from the monasteries, which she’d intended to go toward education and other charitable works, Anne conspired against Thomas Cromwell. With not two, but three sons in-tow, the lady was nigh-untouchable. In 1540 he was charged with treason and executed.
In 1541 the Kingdom of Ireland was established and henceforth Henry and all his successors were to be known as kings of both England and Ireland. Relations with Scotland continued to deteriorate, further exacerbated by the death of Henry’s sister the Queen Mother, Margaret Tudor. A fervent Catholic, James V now lacked incentive to maintain peace with England. Following the death of his first wife, Madeline of Valois, the Scots king elected to wed Marie of Guise from Lorraine, continuing his alliance with France. War broke out between the two nations mid-year, followed by the death of both James’ sons; however, Queen Marie was pregnant once more.
War raged on into the end of 1542, and King James fell ill following the battle and defeat at Solloway Moss. Word was brought to him that Queen Marie had given birth to a daughter, and six days after the child’s birth King James V was dead and the baby was recognized as Mary, Queen of Scots. This launched the “Rough Wooing” in which Henry VIII sought to gain control over Scotland by engaging Prince Arthur to the infant monarch. The marriage was proposed in the Treaty of Greenwich as a solution to unite the kingdoms and instill peace; however, Scotland’s regent and a majority of the nobility opposed the concept in favor of maintaining Catholicism and continuing the Auld Alliance with France. In 1543 the treaty was officially rejected by the Scottish Parliament.
For the next several years Queen Mary remained hidden within Scotland's strongest and most difficult to reach fortresses, only able to fend off Henry's advances in the slightest while English forces were being sent to France where they were engaged alongside the Holy Roman Empire, whose previous treaty had fallen through. Meanwhile, Prince Arthur is sent to reside in Wales in preparation for his official role as the prince therein.
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1. Suggested spouses for the Lady Mary Tudor?
2. Assuming Henry VIII dies on-schedule, who do you think will be named regent?
3. Proposed marriages for the Dukes of York and Bedford.
4. Questions, suggestions, comments, concerns? <3
The child was robust and pink, a specimen of good health, with dark auburn curls and large cobalt irises; furthermore, he was of a cheerful disposition and suckled vigorously from the wet-nurse’s breast. Henry was beside himself with joy, and the city of London was overtaken by massive celebrations lasting for two weeks. Discussion of removing the queen went away, and upon Anne’s return to court so did the Seymour’s; although, Mistress Jane Seymour did bear the king’s bastard son on Christmas day that same year, named Edward. Though the boy was provided for, he was never officially recognized.
Following the birth of a Prince of Wales, the queen spear-headed reforms to further establish the church of England, modeled after Lutheranism. Improvements included the dissolution of monasteries and printing of English translations of the Bible. However, this led to unrest, primarily in the Northern regions of the nation, resulting in the Pilgrimage of Grace. The uprising was put down and its leaders, originally offered clemency, were executed—much to the irritation of the Vatican and the rest of Catholic Europe. In hopes of avoiding aggression from Scotland, it is suggested that the Lady Mary be offered to the single James V, but he declined the proposal and wed Madeline of Valois instead.
The following year, 1538, Queen Anne gave birth to twin boys, the oldest being Edward, Duke of York and the latter Henry, Duke of Bedford. Negotiations began to discuss the proposal of Princess Elizabeth to Denmark and Sweden as both the Holy Roman Empire and France had signed a treaty agreeing to refrain from future alliances with England. Much aggrieved with the handling of funds from the monasteries, which she’d intended to go toward education and other charitable works, Anne conspired against Thomas Cromwell. With not two, but three sons in-tow, the lady was nigh-untouchable. In 1540 he was charged with treason and executed.
In 1541 the Kingdom of Ireland was established and henceforth Henry and all his successors were to be known as kings of both England and Ireland. Relations with Scotland continued to deteriorate, further exacerbated by the death of Henry’s sister the Queen Mother, Margaret Tudor. A fervent Catholic, James V now lacked incentive to maintain peace with England. Following the death of his first wife, Madeline of Valois, the Scots king elected to wed Marie of Guise from Lorraine, continuing his alliance with France. War broke out between the two nations mid-year, followed by the death of both James’ sons; however, Queen Marie was pregnant once more.
War raged on into the end of 1542, and King James fell ill following the battle and defeat at Solloway Moss. Word was brought to him that Queen Marie had given birth to a daughter, and six days after the child’s birth King James V was dead and the baby was recognized as Mary, Queen of Scots. This launched the “Rough Wooing” in which Henry VIII sought to gain control over Scotland by engaging Prince Arthur to the infant monarch. The marriage was proposed in the Treaty of Greenwich as a solution to unite the kingdoms and instill peace; however, Scotland’s regent and a majority of the nobility opposed the concept in favor of maintaining Catholicism and continuing the Auld Alliance with France. In 1543 the treaty was officially rejected by the Scottish Parliament.
For the next several years Queen Mary remained hidden within Scotland's strongest and most difficult to reach fortresses, only able to fend off Henry's advances in the slightest while English forces were being sent to France where they were engaged alongside the Holy Roman Empire, whose previous treaty had fallen through. Meanwhile, Prince Arthur is sent to reside in Wales in preparation for his official role as the prince therein.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. Suggested spouses for the Lady Mary Tudor?
2. Assuming Henry VIII dies on-schedule, who do you think will be named regent?
3. Proposed marriages for the Dukes of York and Bedford.
4. Questions, suggestions, comments, concerns? <3
