silk bed curtains and the many faces of those who had crowded into the bedchamber.
The King came to them and, laying a hand on the shoulder of each, he drew them towards him.
He said: “You are very young. Your lives lie before you. You are not yet ready for marriage, but this ceremony shall be a symbol, and when you are of an age to consummate the marriage then shall it be consummated.”
Katharine saw the relief in Arthur's face and she herself felt as though she wanted to weep for joy. She was no longer afraid; nor was Arthur.
They were led to the bed and the curtains were drawn while their attendants stripped them of their clothes; and when there was nothing to cover their white naked bodies and they knelt side by side, still they were not afraid.
They prayed that they might do their duty; they prayed as all married people were expected to pray on the night of their nuptials. But this was no ordinary wedding night because it was the King's express command that they were too young to consummate the marriage.
A cup of warm, sweet wine was brought to them and they drank as commanded. Then an attendant came and wrapped their robes about them. The ceremony was over.
The people who had crowded into the bedchamber departed; the servants of Katharine and Arthur—Spanish and English—remained in the antechamber; the door of the nuptial chamber was locked, and the bride and bridegroom were together.
Arthur said to her: “There is nothing to fear.”
“I heard the King's command,” she answered.
Then he kissed her brow, and said: “In time I shall be your husband in truth.”
“In time,” she answered.
Then she lay down in the marriage bed still wearing the robe which her attendant had wrapped about her. The bed was big. Arthur lay down beside her in his robe.
“I am so tired,” said Katharine. “There was so much noise.”
Arthur said: “I am often tired, Katharine.”
“Goodnight, Arthur.”
“Goodnight, Katharine.”
They were so exhausted by the ceremonies and their attendant fears that soon they slept; and in the morning the virgin bride and groom were ready to continue with their wedding celebrations.
The Tragedy at Ludlow Castle
ALL LONDON WAS EAGER TO CELEBRATE THE MARRIAGE OF the Prince of Wales and the Infanta; the King was wise enough to know that his people must have some gaiety in their lives, and that if he allowed them to celebrate the marriage of his son, they might for a time forget the heavy taxes with which they were burdened.
“Let them make merry,” he said to Empson. “A fountain of wine here and there will be enough to satisfy them. Let there be plenty of pageantry. The nobles will provide that.”
Henry was even ready to contribute a little himself, for he was very anxious that his subjects should express their loyalty to the new Tudor dynasty. There was nothing the people loved so much as a royal wedding; and as this was the wedding of the boy who was destined to become their King, it was the King's wish that the celebrations should continue.
Katharine felt a little bewildered by them. Arthur was tired of them, but young Henry revelled in them. Margaret uneasily wondered when
her
marriage would be celebrated, and as for little Mary, she was delighted whenever she was allowed to witness the pageantry.
The greatest pageant of all was staged at Westminster, to which the royal family travelled by barge. After the night following the wedding day, Katharine had been sent to Baynard's Castle where she had been placed under the strict surveillance of Doña Elvira. The King had made it clear to the duenna that the marriage was not yet to be consummated; and as Elvira considered her Infanta as yet too young for the consummation she was determined that the King's wishes should be respected.
So, by barge, came the Infanta with her duenna and lovely maids of honor.
Katharine sometimes wished that her maids of honor were not so beautiful. It was true that she was always
The King came to them and, laying a hand on the shoulder of each, he drew them towards him.
He said: “You are very young. Your lives lie before you. You are not yet ready for marriage, but this ceremony shall be a symbol, and when you are of an age to consummate the marriage then shall it be consummated.”
Katharine saw the relief in Arthur's face and she herself felt as though she wanted to weep for joy. She was no longer afraid; nor was Arthur.
They were led to the bed and the curtains were drawn while their attendants stripped them of their clothes; and when there was nothing to cover their white naked bodies and they knelt side by side, still they were not afraid.
They prayed that they might do their duty; they prayed as all married people were expected to pray on the night of their nuptials. But this was no ordinary wedding night because it was the King's express command that they were too young to consummate the marriage.
A cup of warm, sweet wine was brought to them and they drank as commanded. Then an attendant came and wrapped their robes about them. The ceremony was over.
The people who had crowded into the bedchamber departed; the servants of Katharine and Arthur—Spanish and English—remained in the antechamber; the door of the nuptial chamber was locked, and the bride and bridegroom were together.
Arthur said to her: “There is nothing to fear.”
“I heard the King's command,” she answered.
Then he kissed her brow, and said: “In time I shall be your husband in truth.”
“In time,” she answered.
Then she lay down in the marriage bed still wearing the robe which her attendant had wrapped about her. The bed was big. Arthur lay down beside her in his robe.
“I am so tired,” said Katharine. “There was so much noise.”
Arthur said: “I am often tired, Katharine.”
“Goodnight, Arthur.”
“Goodnight, Katharine.”
They were so exhausted by the ceremonies and their attendant fears that soon they slept; and in the morning the virgin bride and groom were ready to continue with their wedding celebrations.
The Tragedy at Ludlow Castle
ALL LONDON WAS EAGER TO CELEBRATE THE MARRIAGE OF the Prince of Wales and the Infanta; the King was wise enough to know that his people must have some gaiety in their lives, and that if he allowed them to celebrate the marriage of his son, they might for a time forget the heavy taxes with which they were burdened.
“Let them make merry,” he said to Empson. “A fountain of wine here and there will be enough to satisfy them. Let there be plenty of pageantry. The nobles will provide that.”
Henry was even ready to contribute a little himself, for he was very anxious that his subjects should express their loyalty to the new Tudor dynasty. There was nothing the people loved so much as a royal wedding; and as this was the wedding of the boy who was destined to become their King, it was the King's wish that the celebrations should continue.
Katharine felt a little bewildered by them. Arthur was tired of them, but young Henry revelled in them. Margaret uneasily wondered when
her
marriage would be celebrated, and as for little Mary, she was delighted whenever she was allowed to witness the pageantry.
The greatest pageant of all was staged at Westminster, to which the royal family travelled by barge. After the night following the wedding day, Katharine had been sent to Baynard's Castle where she had been placed under the strict surveillance of Doña Elvira. The King had made it clear to the duenna that the marriage was not yet to be consummated; and as Elvira considered her Infanta as yet too young for the consummation she was determined that the King's wishes should be respected.
So, by barge, came the Infanta with her duenna and lovely maids of honor.
Katharine sometimes wished that her maids of honor were not so beautiful. It was true that she was always
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