Tudor Education, Art, Travel and Culture Chronology – Henry VII

In 1480, London was an international city with a population of 60,000 that was steadily becoming the business centre of Europe. The city now extended beyond the city walls to take in Southwark in the south, Westminster in the west and Thameside in the East. Merchants from Venice and the low countries brought wines, spices, glassware, pottery, carpets, silk and timber to London which they exchanged for English wool. England also exported corn, tin, coal, timber and salt but to a much lesser degree than wool and cloth.

William Caxton published Thomas Malory’s Morte d’Arthur.

Thomas Wolsey, aged 15 years, became a Bachelor of Arts.

Henry VII and Elizabeth of York embarked on a progress to the north of England accompanied by 200 bowmen. Henry wanted to show the north of England that he was secure in London which he hoped would put off any would-be Yorkist pretender to the throne. He made a great show of richness and grandeur which he hoped would inspire awe, respect and the affection of his people.

The population of England was about 3 million. Due to yearly outbreaks of plague and sickness the population stayed at about this number. There was a general shortage of Labourers which meant wages were high and rents low.

A new coin was introduced. The golden sovereign depicted Henry VII wearing the imperial crown.

Thomas More, aged 14 years, entered Oxford University.

Thomas More left Oxford University and entered the Inns of Court where he would pursue a career in law.

Henry VII left London to make a progress (royal tour/holiday) to Lancashire. During the tour he visited his mother Lady Margaret Beaufort.

Prince Henry began his formal education. The Poet Laureate, John Skelton, was appointed his tutor. Henry was taught to speak and write both Latin and French and taught a basic knowledge of Italian and Spanish. His lessons also included coaching in deportment and how to behave on formal occasions.

Thomas More entered Lincoln’s Inn as part of his legal training.

The first dry dock in the World was built at Portsmouth. This would enable ships to be built in the port.

The explorer John Cabot was granted letters patent that allowed him to sail five ships under the English flag to discover new lands. On his return to England he was to pay the King one fifth of all profits from his venture.

Jesus College, Cambridge was founded.

John Cabot, financed by Henry VII, set sail in ‘The Matthew’ with a crew of 18 sailors to discover new lands.

John Cabot discovered an uninhabited land which he named the New-Found-Land.

John Cabot returned to England. He was given a reward of £10 (roughly 2 years pay for a craftsman) by Henry VII.

John Cabot left England with five ships, one of which had been donated by King Henry VII. One of the ships had to put into harbour in Ireland after being damaged. The fate of the other four ships is unknown. Recent research suggests that Cabot was in London in 1500 and that he travelled with his son in 1508 but the facts are not clear.

Prince Henry aged seven years performed his first public duty when he attended a meeting of the City of London Trade Guilds.

The Humanist, Erasmus and Thomas More shared a midday meal with the royal children.

Thomas Linacre, a Humanist and friend of John Colet and Thomas More, was appointed tutor to Prince Arthur.

Catherine of Aragon left the Alhambra in Granada and began the first stage of her journey, from Granada to Corunna where she would board a boat for England.

Catherine of Aragon reached the port of Corunna. Due to unfavourable weather they were confined to port.

Catherine of Aragon set sail bound for England.

A violent storm in the Bay of Biscay forced Catherine of Aragon to return to Spain.

Catherine of Aragon set sail for England again.

Catherine of Aragon reached England. She was given a warm welcome by the Mayor of Plymouth and the local people. She was escorted to Exeter where she was to stay

A delegation of courtiers arrived in Exeter to escort Catherine of Aragon to London.

Henry and Prince Arthur were eager to meet the young bride and, rather than waiting until she reached Lambeth as planned, they rode to meet her party on the road. Both Henry and Arthur were pleased with her appearance and returned to London the following morning.

Catherine of Aragon reached Lambeth Palace in London where she rested.

Catherine of Aragon made her formal entry into London riding a gaily decorated horse. She was greeted with pageant’s along the route as she processed through the city.

Bristol merchants returned from Newfoundland. They brought with then three native people and a quantity of cod.

Prince Arthur and Catherine reached Ludlow Castle in the Welsh Marches.

There was an outbreak of sweating sickness in the west of England.

Prince Arthur and Catherine of Aragon were taken ill with a viral infection.

The court moved to the Tower of London where Queen Elizabeth prepared for the birth of her seventh child.

Princess Margaret aged 14 years began her journey north to Scotland to marry 29 year old King James IV.

Princess Margaret made formal entry to Edinburgh riding pillion behind her future husband.

A new coin, the shilling, was introduced. It was made from silver and was worth twelve pennies.

Catherine of Aragon was taken ill with a mystery illness which kept her confined to bed for much of the summer. She was subject to fits of fever and shivering and at times it was feared she would die.

Catherine of Aragon now had no money of her own and was unable to pay her servants. The Spanish ambassador, Dr De Puebla, wrote to Ferdinand of Aragon to seek his advice.

After the death of Isabella of Castile in 1504, Ferdinand had taken control of the region rather than allow it to pass to Isabella’s heir, her daughter Juana. Henry made a loan of £108,000 to Philip of Castile, husband of Juanna, to help him pursue his wife’s claim to the throne of Castile.

The humanist scholar, Erasmus, returned to England from the continent. He became very friendly with Thomas More.

The Spanish ambassador, Dr De Puebla, received word from Catherine’s father, Ferdinand of Aragon, stating that Catherine’s welfare was the responsibility of King Henry VII. De Puebla was told to ask Henry to help Catherine however, the ambassador was concerned about his own standing in England and decided not to speak to Henry for fear of antagonising him. Court etiquette prevented Catherine from asking her father-in-law for money.

Since the dismissal of her duenna, Catherine had been mistress of Durham House where she was living. However, she had no money with which to run a household. Dr De Puebla spoke to Henry who replied that Catherine should dismiss some of her servants and move to court.

Catherine wrote to her father, Ferdinand of Aragon, begging him to do something about her financial situation. She also asked for De Puebla to be replaced since he did little to help her.

King Henry VII ordered that the notorious Stews be closed after increasing levels of syphilis were reported.

Philip of Burgundy and his wife, Juana, were shipwrecked off the coast of Weymouth. Messengers were sent to inform the King.

Catherine of Aragon had been provided with new clothes to wear for the festivities held to honour Philip of Burgundy. All meetings between Catherine and her brother-in-law were closely supervised by Henry VII to make sure that Catherine had no opportunity to complain about her treatment in England. Catherine did meet her sister, Juana, but her sister was so obsessed with her husband’s infidelities that she had no time for Catherine.

Philip of Burgundy and his wife, Juana, left England and returned to Spain.

Catherine now had no money to pay her servants. She again wrote to her father telling him that if something was not done, she and her household would be on the streets. She suffered with anxiety and recurrent bouts of fever.

Catherine and Henry spent time together and found they had much in common. When Henry VII discovered they had become close he sent Catherine to live at Fulham Palace.

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

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’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.

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 installment of Catherine’s dowry so he extended the deadline for the final payment to March 1508.

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

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.

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.

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.

St Paul’s School was founded by John Colet, Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral and spiritual advisor 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 huanist, was chosen as head master.

The Spaniah 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 installment 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.