WI: Catherine of Aragon and Mary had successfully fled England?

As the tin says, what if rather than being split up and forced into captivity, Catherine and Mary had been able to flee England for the continent?
 
Henry is pissed. Might be something of a witch hunt for those suspected of assisting their escape. If any of the foreign ambassadors get implicated that might cause some manner of diplomatic fracas/embarrassment.

When and where is probably important.

Charles might face a bit of a compromising diplomatic conundrum if they flee to him. It'd be difficult in the extreme to pursue an alliance/friendly relations with England whilst sheltering the King of England's runaway family. He might try for some sort of arrangement where he discretely looks after them whilst maintaining plausible deniability?

Does Mary get married off to buy support? Will someone suitably ambitious angle to marry Mary in the hopes of claiming a throne through her?

A collection of their supporters/religious exiles might coalesce around them (e.g. any Poles who end up on the continent).
 
My personal pet peeve: ignoring the known personality of a given person in order to come up with a scenario the author has come up with. It happens most frequently in fanfiction, but here is a great example. Katherine of Aragon believed herself to be the lawful Queen (and she was crowned right alongside Henry) of England. She comes from warrior parents who were raising their children on the battlefield (so to speak). She ain't running. Period.

Now, Mary, OTOH, might be persuaded to bolt. But in doing so, she may forfeit the crown. Running and then coming back works for Henry Tudor (H7), but she's not built for battle (always ill) and the throne will pass with some small bumps (smoothed over by Parliament, after years of Edward VI, stating she 'admitted' the validity of Henry VIII's conscience when she fled the country. But......Charles V, HRE, is going to ensure she weds someone he can back for a fight. Mary might become Queen of England after wedding the HRE (they had been betrothed before) after his wife's death - just to give him a reason to enforce her claim. After all, both daughters of H8 are bastards. She would be in England, reigning, and he's in Europe, reigning (or perhaps hands over lands to Philip earlier to remain in England and "advise" his wife - he's the only person in that era who can afford to go "I don't need to be a reigning King" and accept the title of King Consort, all the while being the power behind the throne. And he's had the experience (and hopefully the wisdom) to give good, pro-English advice. (Which will surprise the council - he might even be more Elizabeth and be tolerant of people's personal beliefs.)
 
My personal pet peeve: ignoring the known personality of a given person in order to come up with a scenario the author has come up with. It happens most frequently in fanfiction, but here is a great example. Katherine of Aragon believed herself to be the lawful Queen (and she was crowned right alongside Henry) of England. She comes from warrior parents who were raising their children on the battlefield (so to speak). She ain't running. Period.

Now, Mary, OTOH, might be persuaded to bolt. But in doing so, she may forfeit the crown. Running and then coming back works for Henry Tudor (H7), but she's not built for battle (always ill) and the throne will pass with some small bumps (smoothed over by Parliament, after years of Edward VI, stating she 'admitted' the validity of Henry VIII's conscience when she fled the country. But......Charles V, HRE, is going to ensure she weds someone he can back for a fight. Mary might become Queen of England after wedding the HRE (they had been betrothed before) after his wife's death - just to give him a reason to enforce her claim. After all, both daughters of H8 are bastards. She would be in England, reigning, and he's in Europe, reigning (or perhaps hands over lands to Philip earlier to remain in England and "advise" his wife - he's the only person in that era who can afford to go "I don't need to be a reigning King" and accept the title of King Consort, all the while being the power behind the throne. And he's had the experience (and hopefully the wisdom) to give good, pro-English advice. (Which will surprise the council - he might even be more Elizabeth and be tolerant of people's personal beliefs.)
I think if Mary flees in her twenties, she might still marry Philip and give birth to a better Infante Carlos.
 
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