n July 1482 the Catholic Monarchs, Fernando V of Aragón and Isabel I of Castile, entered the Vega of Granada. This was the last bastion of Al-Andalus, the term given to Iberian land under Moorish rule, which had lasted well over eight centuries. The Kingdom of Granada, with the Alhambra at its centre, was fiercely defended by the Islamic troops led by their king, Boabdil. In this song king Boabdil of Granada reflects over his misfortune. In the midst of the battle, Queen Isabel had temporarily left the sierras of Granada, traveling up north to give safe birth to Catalina, on December 15, 1485. Four months earlier, in England the last Plantagenet king had gone down in battle and the crown had passed to Henry Tudor, Henry VII. Catherine spent her first seven years with her mother and the other royal children, following the military fortunes of King Fernando. At last, on  January 2, 1492, Boabdil surrendered and gave the keys of the city to Fernando.

 

Katherine almost perished in the siege-camp of Granada. A candle had been badly placed in her tent and the child was left behind! It was in the Alhambra that the infanta, together with her older sisters Isabel (later Queen of Portugal), and Juana (the famous Queen Joan the Mad of Castile) and the heir, prince Juan, lived the rest of her short life in Spain. There, Isabel personally supervised their education. Religion and theology were primordial:Music and languages were almost as important: Katherine had inherited the Queen's love of music and discipline. She learned among other things, to play the vihuela and other courtly instruments.

 

Almost from her cradle, Katherine was destined to marry Arthur, Prince of Wales. A treaty was made with Henry VII, who had married Eleanor of York the year after Katherine was born. In 1489 the English Ambassador, who described the young infanta as "a singularly beautiful child", signed the treaty by proxy. She became popular in England even before she set foot on it and was referred to as "the Princess of England". As soon as she was old enough to do so, Katherine started writing letters, in Latin, to Arthur, who replied: "to my most illustrious and most excellent lady, my dearest spouse".

 

Meanwhile, "the hope of Spain was made low", in the words of Prince Juan's tutor, for the heir to the thrones of Castile and Aragon had died in 1497. He would have been the first king of a united Spain. That same year would also see the death of their sister Isabel (1470-1497). Before Katherine arrived in England she had already been married four times to the Prince of Wales, and so was already considered the Princess of Wales. The Spanish Ambassador to the English court had advised Queen Isabel to teach her daughter French, so that she could converse with the Prince. He also passed on a recommendation made by the Henry VII and his mother: that the Princess of Wales "should accustom herself to drink wine". Little did they know that Spaniards had adored wine since Roman times:

 

On May 21, 1501, Katherine left the Alhambra. She had with her 150 attendants (King Henry would not accept a larger number), among them her own musicians. She reached Plymouth on October 2.  It was in Dogmersfield, Hampshire, that the two teenagers first met (they were both fifteen years-old). That same evening, Katherine danced for her spouse and Arthur obliged with an English ayre. All hopes were set on the young Prince. Prayers were regularly dedicated to him to wish him all kinds of fortune:

Their marriage took place in St. Paul's Cathedral on Sunday, November 14, 1501. A water pageant conducted the court down the Thames to Greenwich "with the moost goodly and pleasunt mirthe of trumpets, clarions, shalmewes, tabers, recorders and other dyvyrs instruments, to whose noyse upon the water hathe not been hard the like". But this happiness did not last long. On April 2, 1502, Arthur died of "decline". Thus finished the "Spanish marriage", leaving Spain and England without a very important link, one that would have secured their position against France, and Katherine widowed and with no clear plans for the future. For over 7 years, Katherine's fate was uncertain. Arthur had left her nothing in his will. Her father failed to secure her a proper pension and King Henry wasn't even sure of what to do with her. Katherine was reduced to selling some of her dresses and jewelry to pay for her expenses. Within a very short period, her mother-in-law, who was very kind to her, and her own mother died. She fell into a period of serious depression and illness. Even her physicians gave up on her.

After many trials and disputes (the widowed Henry VII expressed an interest in marrying either Katherine, much to her parents' horror, or even the widowed Joan the Mad, in spite of her madness!), Katherine married the heir, Henry, shortly after the death of Henry VII. The marriage with Arthur had not been consummated, or that was at least Katherine's position, and so allowed for this very convenient second wedding. The date was June 11, 1509. She was 23, he 17. The Coronation took place on Midsummer Day that same year. The royal couple was very popular. Katherine managed well things for her husband and had quite a strong influence on him. Her father had promptly paid her dowry. The court saw many feasts, pageants, tournaments and masked balls. These were some of Katherine's happiest years and on New Year's Day, 1511, eighteen months after marriage, she had a son who was christened Henry (previously she had already had a still-born daughter). Two months later Prince Henry was dead. The following year, Katherine's father brought King Henry into war against France. After a year of military misfortunes, Henry went over to lead his forces in person.

 

Katherine was made regent of England, the first war-regency of a woman in England since that of Queen Philippa, Katherine's ancestress. Katherine was also Captain of Forces and had power to raise taxes for defense. This was the height of her power and influence over Henry. Soon the queen would have to prove her military mettle, for James of Scotland had written a threatening letter to King Henry. Katherine raised the English forces and sent troops against the Scots. She wrote to her husband: "All his subjects be very glad (I thank God) to be busy with the Scotts; for they take it for a pastime. My heart is very good to it, and I am horribly busy with making standards, banners and badges." The Scots were defeated at Flodden and King James was killed on the battlefield. Prayers were offered for the victory. At his return, Henry was welcomed back into the city after his victory in France with music. The monarch was though somewhat jealous of his wife's own victories:

  

On February 18, 1516, Katherine gave birth to a healthy girl who, in time, would become Mary I, "bloody Mary". The King was full of pride for "if it was a daughter this time, by the grace of God, the sons will follow". Thus sang the happy king. Music was a favourite pastime at court. Henry himself is known to have written more than thirty songs. These he would perform himself in many occasions. Sometimes the Queen would sing: Soon after Mary's birth, Katherine's fortunes started to change. Her father and her sister Mary died very soon. Cardinal Wolsey had an increasing influence over the king. Although the queen was very popular with her subjects (she obtained the royal pardon for four hundred apprentices who were rioting in the city, thus saving their lives), she could not give Henry the son that he so critically needed to secure the succession. He also did not take easily to her popularity. At his return from France, the king had begun an affair with Mary Boleyn, but soon became more interested in her sister, Anne. Katherine must have underestimated the situation for, in 1526, much to her surprise, Henry raised the question of the legality of his marriage with the queen. During the "Divorce Year" Henry went on publicly to declare his moral, religious and legal doubts about her marriage and the legitimacy of his daughter Mary. In front of a special assembly, presided by the papal envoy, Henry claimed: "If I were to marry again, I would choose Katherine above all women, but if it is determined in judgment that our marriage is against God's law, then I shall sorrow, parting from so good a lady and loving companion." All sorts of trials, discussions and intrigues followed. Katherine put up with all kinds of humiliations: she not only lived under the same roof as her husband and his mistress, but it was also "suggested" to her that she take the veil or accept her dowry back together with a divorce. Soon, with no other solution at hand, Henry proclaimed himself "the Protector and only Supreme Head of the Church and clergy of England". Although the people cried in the streets in favour of "Cathryn-la Fidèle" and insulted Anne wherever she went, Henry went ahead with the affair, and in 1527 the divorce went ahead. In 1531, Katherine was expelled from the court: "Go where I may, I remain his wife, and for him will I pray".

 

Katherine said good-bye to the daughter whom she was never to see again. By Christmas 1532, Anne was with child. Next January she and the King got secretly married. On May 23, 1533, the Archbishop of Canterbury read sentence that Katherine's marriage with Henry was not valid. Within a week, Anne had been crowned as the new queen. Katherine was removed to Buckden. There, she spent most of her time in prayer and needlework. To all the messengers and envoys, she replied: "Queen I am and Queen will I die". Before she did, though, she wrote a last letter to her husband: " For my part I do pardon you all, yea, and devoutly pray God, that He will also pardon you…Lastly, I make this vow, that mine eyes desire you above all things. Farewell." She died at Kimbolton on 7 January 1536. Henry heard the news next day. He wept. He ordered Court mourning for one day and issued instructions for her burial as Princess Dowager in Peterborough Abbey. She was buried there on January 29, 1536, later that same year Anne Boleyn would be executed.

 

©Carlos Fernández Aransay

(Historical facts and quotations have been taken from Francesca Claremont's Catherine of Aragon).

 

PROGRAMME

 

Una sañosa porfía. Juan del Encina (1468-1529) Palace Songbook.

 

Gritos davan en aquella sierra. Alonso. Palace Songbook.

 

Por los campos de los moros. Francisco de la Torre. Palace Songbook.

 

Gloria sea al glorioso Rey. Anonymous. Palace Songbook.

 

Viva el gran Rey Don Fernando. Carlo Verardi, 1492.

 

Virgen bendita sin par. Pedro de Escobar (c.1470-1550)

 

Sol, sol, gi, gi, a, b, c. Alonso. Palace Songbook.

 

"Dos fantasías de pasos largos para desenbolver las manos" ("Two phantasies in long notes to train the hands"). Alonso Mudarra.

 

Triste España sin ventura. Juan del Encina. Palace Songbook.

 

Ave, color vini clari. Juan Ponce. Palace Songbook.

 

"The Base of Spayne", based on Narváez's "Baxa de Contrapunto".

"The Kynge's Pavane". Anonymous. Osborn Lute Manuscript.

 

From stormy wyndis and grievous wethir. Edmund Turges (c1450-). Fayrfax Manuscript.

 

Alleluya. John Taverner (1490-1545).

 

Let serch your myndis. Richard Hamshere (1465-1515). Fayrfax Manuscript.

 

Triste está la reyna. Contreras. Palace Songbook.

 

Adieu, adieu, le Company. Anonymous. Henry VIII Manuscript.

 

Adieu, madame et ma mastres. Henry VIII.

 

Regina caeli, laetare. Pedro de Escobar. (c1470-1550)

 

Benedictus. Missa Tecum Principium. Robert Fayrfax (1464-1521)

 

Pastime with good company. Henry VIII. Ritson's Manuscript.

 

Whiles life or breath is in my breast. William Cornysh (-1523) H.VIII Manuscript

 

Helas, madame, celle que j'aime tant. Henry VIII.

 

Adieu, my heart is lost. - Ah, the sighs that come form my heart. William Cornysh. (-1523).

 

Versa est in luctum. Francisco de Peñalosa. (c1470-1528)