Henry VII Chronology – What Happened 1507-1509?

This trade agreement between England and the Netherlands, first drawn up in 1496, was renewed. The clause regarding no tariffs on cloth, which had been added in 1506, was omitted from this new treaty.

Richard Nanfan, former Governor of Calais, died.

Thomas Wolsey was appointed chaplain to Richard Fox, Bishop of Winchester, who was the King’s Lord Privy Seal.

The Book of Rates was a list of customs duties to be paid in London. Henry VII now updated the rates.

Father Fray Diego Fernandez, a member of the Observant Franciscan Monks, arrived in England. He had been appointed Catherine of Aragon’s new confessor.

King Henry VII was taken ill and it was feared that he would die, but he eventually recovered.

Henry VII wrote to Ferdinand of Aragon that the second part of Catherine of Aragon’s dowry needed to be paid within six months.

Catherine wrote to her father stating that her situation was dreadful and that she and those servants that had remained with her were running out of clothing.

Ferdinand appointed Catherine as Spanish Ambassador until a replacement for de Puebla, who was sick, could be found. Catherine found she was treated with much more respect as Ambassador.

Tournaments were held to celebrate Prince Henry’s 16th birthday. The young prince enjoyed showing off his skill at jousting.

Ferdinand of Aragon sent Catherine 2,000 ducats but the money was not enough. Over the years since Arthur’s death in 1502, Catherine had been forced to pawn many pieces of jewel and plate which formed part of her dowry. She had also found it increasingly difficult to obtain loans and those that did loan her money charged very high rates of interest. The money sent by her father barely covered her debts and servant’s wages.

Henry VII did not want to have to repay the first instalment of Catherine’s dowry so he extended the deadline for the final payment to March 1508.

King Henry began negotiations for a triple marriage alliance with Maximilian I. Princess Mary would marry Maximilian’s grandson and heir, Charles, Prince Henry would marry Maximilian’s granddaughter, Eleanor, while Henry would marry his daughter, Margaret of Savoy.

Ferdinand wrote to Henry stating that he was trying to raise the money to pay the second part of Catherine’s dowry and promised to deliver it to England by March 1508.

Henry VII’s daughter, Mary, was betrothed to Maximilian’s grandson, Charles. It was agreed that they would marry when Charles was 15 years old.

Christopher Bainbridge was appointed Archbishop of York.

John Yonge was appointed Master of the Rolls.

Jane Seymour was born to Sir John and Lady Margaret Seymour at Wolf Hall.

Thomas Wolsey was appointed Dean of Lincoln Cathedral.

Henry VII was taken ill and was confined to bed for a period of time.

Thomas Wolsey was appointed Prebendary of Lincoln.

Don de Fuensalida arrived in England as the new Spanish ambassador. He brought with him a bill of exchange to pay the remaining 65,000 ducats of Catherine’s dowry. As she was no longer the ambassador, Catherine lost the respect she had gained while in the position. King Henry initially refused the see Fuensalida but eventually granted him a short interview. He questioned the whereabouts of the jewels and plate that were to form part of the dowry. When Fuensalida replied that Catherine had them in her position, Henry told him that they had become his own property on the death of his son and could not form part of the payment. He therefore considered the second part of her dowry unpaid.

Henry continued the discussions, which had begun in December 1507 for a triple marriage alliance with Maximilian I. However, during discussions it became clear that the marriage of Henry to Margaret of Savoy would not go ahead.

During a meeting with the King, the Spanish ambassador, Fuensalida, told Henry that he was bound by treaty to marry Prince Henry to Catherine of Aragon. Henry was furious and dismissed the ambassador stating that his son was free to marry where he chose.

Negotiations for the marriage of Prince Henry to Maximilian’s granddaughter, Eleanor, broke down.

King Henry VII was taken seriously ill. He had always been thin but was now very thin and gaunt. He also had a hacking cough and could not walk unaided.

Ferdinand of Aragon wrote to Henry VII demanding that either his daughter be married to Prince Henry or she be sent back to Spain. Henry was very angry and cut off Catherine’s small allowance.

Fuensalida wrote to Ferdinand of Spain requesting that he send a ship to the River Thames so that he and Catherine could return to Spain.

Thomas Wolsey was appointed Almoner to the King.

St Paul’s School was founded by John Colet, Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral and spiritual adviser to Thomas More. The new school housed 153 boys and 3 masters. The Worshipful Company of Mercers, of which both Colet and More were members, was chosen to govern the school. William Lily, a layman and humanist, was chosen as head master.

Richard Pace was appointed secretary to Cardinal Bainbridge who had recently taken up the position of English ambassador in Rome.

Lord Thomas Dacre was appointed Warden of the West March. His duties included organising government missions to the court of King James IV and keeping the English government informed of the situation in Scotland.

John Cabot’s son, Sebastian, was given financial backing by the Bristol Merchants for an expedition to try and find a north-west passage that would make an easy route around the New Found Land to the shores of Cathay (China). The expedition was abandoned after they encountered ice and the crew refused to continue the journey.

Ferdinand of Aragon wrote to King Henry stating that he would support the marriage of Princess Mary to his grandson Charles providing Prince Henry marry his daughter Catherine of Aragon.

A deputation of the nobility had an audience with the King. They knew that Henry VII was very sick and wanted to avoid problems with the succession. They urged the King to allow the marriage of Prince Henry and Catherine of Aragon to go ahead.

The Spanish ambassador, Don Fuensalida, advised Catherine to dismiss her confessor, Fray Diego, after it emerged that the priest was becoming known as a womaniser.

King Henry VII collapsed and had to be taken to his bed.

King Henry VII summoned his chaplains, Thomas Wolsey and John Fisher to his bedside. Wolsey was paid to say 8,000 masses and Fisher 2,000 masses at six pence per mass.

King Henry VII dictated his will.

A new Spanish ambassador, Don Luis Caroz, arrived in England. He informed the King that the final instalment of Catherine’s dowry was ready and that payment would be made as soon as the wedding arrangements were finalised.

Prince Henry was summoned to his father’s bedside.

After a long illness, King Henry VII, aged 52 years, died from tuberculosis at Richmond Palace.