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"Here rests queen Elizabeth,

Daughter of Edward IV., some time monarch of this realm,
Sister of Edward V., who bore the title of king,
Wedded to King Henry VII.,

The illustrious mother of Henry VIII.,
Who closed her life

In the [palace of the] Tower of London,
On February 11, 1502 [1503],

Having completed her 37th year."

The portrait of Elizabeth with which this volume is illustrated, was from a family group painted by Holbein, under the directions of Henry VIII., in which that king, his queen Jane Seymour, his father Henry VII., and his mother Elizabeth of York, are represented standing at the four corners of an altar.'

In the person of Elizabeth of York were united delicacy of features and complexion with elegance and majesty cf stature. Her portraits are numerous, and extremely like her monumental statue. Her usual costume was a veil or scarf richly bordered with gems, put on like a hood, hanging down on each side of the face as low as her breast, the hair banded on her forehead. Several contemporaries quoted in the course of this narrative describe her as fair in complexion, with hair of pale gold like her mother, the beautiful Elizabeth Woodville. The heavenly serenity of expression in all her portraits is still more remarkable than her beauty, and leads to the conclusion that, when her subjects universally called her 'the good queen Elizabeth,' they spoke but the truth.

1 It was Holbein's master-piece, but was burnt in the fire at Whitehall in the reign of William III.; Charles II. had, however, employed Le Sueur to make a opy of it for St. James's-palace. There is an inferior copy at Hampton-Court. We sought in vain for the one at St. James's: the domestics supposed it was burnt there in the fire that occurred in the beginning of this century.

KATHARINE OF ARRAGON,

FIRST QUEEN OF HENRY VIII.

CHAPTER I.

Country and parents of Katharine-Place of birth-Reared in the AlhambraBetrothed to Arthur prince of Wales-Accidents of voyage-Arrival at Ply mouth-Henry VII. meets her-Introduction to prince Arthur-Katharine's Spanish dances-Her progress to London-Married to prince Arthur-Grand festivities-Residence at Ludlow-Death of prince Arthur-WidowhoodHer marriage proposed with prince Henry-Her reluctance-Is betrothed to him-Her letters to her father-Katharine's sister visits England-Katharine's troubles, deprivations, and illness--Double policy of Henry VII.-His deathHenry VIII's preference of Katharine Marries her-Their coronationLetter to her father-Birth of eldest son-Rejoicings-Death of the princeLegacy to the queen-She is appointed queen-regent-Her letters-Flodden -King's return-May-day festival-Birth of princess Mary-Queen intercedes for the rebel apprentices-Visit of her nephew the emperor-Queen's voyage to France-Assists at field of cloth of gold-Friendship with quen Claude-Katharine's present to the emperor-His opinion of her happiness in

wedlock.

Ar a time when joy and prosperity were swelling in a floodtide for her native Spain, Katharine of Arragon first saw the light; for her renowned parents, king Ferdinand of Arragon, and donna Isabel queen of Castile, had made every city pos sessed by the Moors bow beneath their victorious arms, with the exception of Granada and Malaga, which alone bore the yoke of the infidel. Donna Isabel, the mother of Katharine, had been raised to the throne of Castile by a revolutionary act of the cortes, the people being disgusted at the imbecile profligacy of her brother, king Enrico, who was by them deposed and degraded from his regal rank. The Castilian cortes likewise illegitimated his only child and heiress, donna Juanna, on account of the shameless character of the wife of king Enrico, and bestowed the inheritance on Isabel, who was carefully educated from girlhood with reference to the queenly station she afterwards so greatly adorned. She was at the

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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LOX AND TILDEN POUNDA. IONS.

age of fourteen demanded in marriage by our Edward IV., and capriciously rejected on account of his passion for Elizabeth Woodville, an insult which left a lasting impression on the mind of the royal Castilian maid.' Finally, the young queen Isabel was wedded to don Ferdinand, heir of the kingdom of Arragon; and though the married sovereigns each continued to sway an independent sceptre, they governed with such connubial harmony, that the whole peninsula of Spain was greatly strengthened and benefited by their union.

At the close of the year 1485, the ancient Moorish city of La Ronda had just fallen beneath the victorious arms of queen Isabel, and several other strongholds of the infidel had accompanied its surrender, when she set out from her camp in order to keep her Christmas at Toledo, which was then the metropolis of Spain. On the road the queen was brought to bed of a daughter, at the town of Alcala de Henares, December 15, 1485. This child was the youngest of a family consisting of one prince and four princesses. The new-born infanta, though she made her appearance in this world some little time before she was expected, was, nevertheless, welcomed with infinite rejoicings by the people, and the cardinal Mendoça gave a great banquet to the maids of honour on occasion of her baptism. She was called Catalina, the name of Katharine being unknown in Spain, excepting in Latin writings. The first historical notice of this princess in Spanish chronicle is, that at the early age of four she was present at the marriage of her eldest sister, Isabel, with don Juan, heir of Portugal.

Nor

The early infancy of Katharine of Arragon was passed amidst the storms of battle and siege; for queen Isabel of Castile herself, with her young family, lodged in the magnificent camp. with which her armies for years beleaguered Granada. was this residence unattended with danger: once in particular, in a desperate sally of the besieged Moors, the queen's pavilion was set on fire, and the young infantas rescued with great difficulty from the flames. The little Katharine accompanied

See life of queen Elizabeth Woodville.

These particulars are taken from a beautiful Spanish MS., the property of sir Thomas Phillipps, bart., of Middle Hill, by André Bernaldes, called Historia de los Reyes Catolicos Don Fernando y Donna Isabel: fol. 12, 13, 41, 42, 125.

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