Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1858-07-10
From tho Happy Home, for July.
Katharine of Arragon.
FIRsr ouEEs ro nENRY y1Ir.
the FIRST SKETCHES OF the SIX vSoLrsu QUEENS.
By s. Z. Homer.


THE FIRST OF SIX SKETCHES SIX ESoLrsu QUEENS
By s. Z. Homer.
In 1885, this dark eyed daughter of
Spain, first looked upon its sunny hills
She was the youngest child of Ferdinand
aud Isabella, who in their conjugal relation
were patterns alike to sovereign and sub
ject. Bonn at the time when the crescent
waned ond faded, beneath the prowess OF
| Spanish chivalry, her earliest days passed
amid the din and danger of battle. When
but a few mouths old, Grenada, that
stronghold Of the Moorish dynasty. passed
into the possession Of Isabella; and the Al
hambra, with its marble halls and groves
Of myrtle, became the home of the youth
ful princess, Isabella, Queen Of Spain.
was one of the most learned soyereigns of
her time; and she not only provided the
most accomplished tutors, but devoted all
the time she could snatch from the cares
of goverIsaent, to a personal supervision OF
her daughters education When Katha-
rne was sixteen years of age, her hand was
demanded in marriage, by Henry 7th, OF
England, for his son Arthur, Prince of
Wales; and as the alliance met the appro-
batiou of the Spanish soyeregus The prin-
cess embarked for England, aud after
prosperous voyage reached Plymouth on
the I'd Of Oct. 1901. King Henry, Prince
Aulhur an. suite, advanced to meet the
lnfanta. Ferdinand had stipulated in true
Moorish custom, that no man should look
upon her face until she became wife
When King Henry was told this, he pro-
tested, that " if she were even in her bed
he would see her and speak with her." He
so resolutely insisted, that an interview
was granted Now for the FIRST time the
young pair looked upon each other. On
the 18th OF Nov, the Infanta was mar
ried TO husband her junior by ten months.
The hands Of these royal children were
joined by the Archbishop of Canterbury,
aud the pageautry which followed, was, in
Splendor and expense, worthy of the illus
trious descent of the bride. Dance. tour
nament, and tableau, followed in quick sue
cession, till the royal pair departed for
their principality Of Wales They were
much beloved by their subjects; but their
popularity aud happiness were short lived;
tor in less than six months Arthur died
of plague. The Queen, the good Elizabeth
of York, showed all kindness TO her widow
ed iaughter-in-law, and during the Snort
time 81 lived, Katharine kpe:; she ba a
one true friend in ENGLAND. AS but one
third OF Kath.rine's Cover had been paid
her nesents w.sned her to return to Spain;
but .senry, who had great deS re to hand.
le Spanish coin. proposed his secuud son,
(alIbough her junior by i've years. as the
future husband Of Katharine Her parents
consented, and Notwithstanding she ex-
expressed great disinclination to second
English marriage. Still she begged her
father to act as suited his convenience, aud
not to regard her taste. A dispensation
was therefore obtained from the Pope, and
the betruthal took place in 1903. Soon
after Henry, having lost his wife, was de-
srous Of marrying again, and TO the dis
may Of Ferdinand demanded in marriage
Joanna, eldest sister of Katharine, the in-
sane Queen of CASTLE. He was told that
grief for the death of her husband had in
dueed insanity; Henry replied that he
knew the lady; and her illness was no OBJ
jeetlon. But INSCRIPTIONS though he was,
he felt that If his demand was complied
with, Katharine's marriage must be brok-
en of. as the three-fold connection was of
such nature as would outrage Christen-
DOM He therefore induced Prince Henry.
the day before he was fifteen years of age
to protest against marrying Katharine.--
Al this time, as in after years, to Prince
Henry, the value Of possession depended
upon the difficulty of It's attainment; and
as soon as any opposition was made TO bis
marriage with Katharine, he suddenly
found himself hopelessly in love with the
forbidden object.
King Henry prohibited their meeting,
lest they should form elandestine union.
Can We imagine anything more trying to
the high-spieiled Castillian, than being for
hidden TO meet the boy, for whom she had
expressed such decided repugnance, lest
she should traLsgress all etiquette by a
runaway mirriageg But the English am-
bassador, alter seeing the distracted Queen
Joanna, told the King that bis marriage
was not TO be thought of He then return
ed to bis original design of marrying Prince
Henry 10 katharine, which marriage took
place on the 7th Of June, 1909. Kalhar-
inc was 80 this time exceedingly attractive,
and as she had been married but few days
at the time Of her coronation, "she was
dressed IS bride. in white embroldered
satin, her hair, which was blaek, aRd very