doing for Arthur. Then, bishop-like indeed, he warmed unctuously to his theme. Could not 'Our Sovereign Lord the King . . . be resembled to the King celestial/As well as any Prince earthly now living?' he asked. Was he not 'Most Christian King, and most steadfast in the Faith'? By this point, even Catherine must have become aware that the actor playing God the Father was made up to look like the father-inlaw whom she had first seen when he burst into her chamber at Dogmersfield. 5
The recording herald was with the royal party or its hangers-on, since it is at this point in his narrative that he describes Catherine's procession – one by one and group by group, just as they came into his view. Like all good reporters, he was most struck by the odd and the peculiar. He noted how the Spanish and English ladies in Catherine's suite (because they sat on opposite sides of their steeds) rode back-toback. And he was particularly interested by Catherine's exotic dress and her 'little hat, fashioned like a cardinal's hat' with a 'lace of gold' to keep it on. The only personal feature he noticed was her hair, 'hanging down about her shoulders, which is fair auburn'. It was, we can safely assume, her best asset – in English eyes at least.
At the end of Cheapside, by the Little Conduit, Catherine came to the final pageant. She had succeeded in reaching the goal of Honour, and Honour himself pointed out two empty thrones on either side of him: one for Arthur, the other for Catherine. The Mayor and Aldermen, having given Catherine many fair words, now made her more substantial gifts of plate and money. Turning south by the church of St Michael le Querne (or 'at Corn'), whose east end abutted the Little Conduit, she made a half circuit of St Paul's Churchyard, by Paternoster Row and Ave Maria Lane, and re-entered it from Ludgate Hill. This brought her to the open space before the west front, where the Archbishop of Canterbury, in cope and mitre, was waiting to greet her. She offered up gifts and prayers at the Shrine of St Erconwald, the seventh-century Bishop of London and builder of one of the first cathedrals on the site. Then she withdrew to the Bishop's Palace, which lay to the north-west of the churchyard. Here she would stay for her wedding and honeymoon. 6
15. Wedding and bedding
C atherine's wedding was scheduled for Sunday, 14 November (a Sunday or other Holy Day had always been the commissioners' preferred date for the celebration of the marriage, to take advantage of the extra elaboration of the religious ritual on such occasions). This left the intervening Saturday as a day of rest for Catherine. She had only one engagement, but it was an important one: her first meeting with her future mother-in-law, the Queen, Elizabeth of York.
Henry VII had already briefed his wife about his own encounter with Catherine at Dogmersfield; now the Queen would see for herself. The meeting as planned by the commissioners was a short and formal courtesy call.
Elizabeth had taken up residence with her husband a few days previously at Baynard's Castle. The house lay on the river, directly to the south of St Paul's. The way, down Paul's Chain, was short but steep and orders were given to sand the street to prevent Catherine's horses from losing their footing. According to her programme, Catherine would set out in the afternoon; be greeted at the foot of the stairs leading to the Queen's apartments by the Queen's Lord Chamberlain, who would conduct her to the presence; and then, having 'made a certain pause', she would return.
In fact, it turned into a much more sociable occasion. Elizabeth, as we have seen, was predisposed to like Catherine, and Catherine responded in kind. She did not arrive till 3 or 4 o'clock. Then, after a short formal audience, musicians were called for 'and with pleasure and goodly communication, dancing and disports, they passed the season full conveniently'. Time flew by and
The recording herald was with the royal party or its hangers-on, since it is at this point in his narrative that he describes Catherine's procession – one by one and group by group, just as they came into his view. Like all good reporters, he was most struck by the odd and the peculiar. He noted how the Spanish and English ladies in Catherine's suite (because they sat on opposite sides of their steeds) rode back-toback. And he was particularly interested by Catherine's exotic dress and her 'little hat, fashioned like a cardinal's hat' with a 'lace of gold' to keep it on. The only personal feature he noticed was her hair, 'hanging down about her shoulders, which is fair auburn'. It was, we can safely assume, her best asset – in English eyes at least.
At the end of Cheapside, by the Little Conduit, Catherine came to the final pageant. She had succeeded in reaching the goal of Honour, and Honour himself pointed out two empty thrones on either side of him: one for Arthur, the other for Catherine. The Mayor and Aldermen, having given Catherine many fair words, now made her more substantial gifts of plate and money. Turning south by the church of St Michael le Querne (or 'at Corn'), whose east end abutted the Little Conduit, she made a half circuit of St Paul's Churchyard, by Paternoster Row and Ave Maria Lane, and re-entered it from Ludgate Hill. This brought her to the open space before the west front, where the Archbishop of Canterbury, in cope and mitre, was waiting to greet her. She offered up gifts and prayers at the Shrine of St Erconwald, the seventh-century Bishop of London and builder of one of the first cathedrals on the site. Then she withdrew to the Bishop's Palace, which lay to the north-west of the churchyard. Here she would stay for her wedding and honeymoon. 6
15. Wedding and bedding
C atherine's wedding was scheduled for Sunday, 14 November (a Sunday or other Holy Day had always been the commissioners' preferred date for the celebration of the marriage, to take advantage of the extra elaboration of the religious ritual on such occasions). This left the intervening Saturday as a day of rest for Catherine. She had only one engagement, but it was an important one: her first meeting with her future mother-in-law, the Queen, Elizabeth of York.
Henry VII had already briefed his wife about his own encounter with Catherine at Dogmersfield; now the Queen would see for herself. The meeting as planned by the commissioners was a short and formal courtesy call.
Elizabeth had taken up residence with her husband a few days previously at Baynard's Castle. The house lay on the river, directly to the south of St Paul's. The way, down Paul's Chain, was short but steep and orders were given to sand the street to prevent Catherine's horses from losing their footing. According to her programme, Catherine would set out in the afternoon; be greeted at the foot of the stairs leading to the Queen's apartments by the Queen's Lord Chamberlain, who would conduct her to the presence; and then, having 'made a certain pause', she would return.
In fact, it turned into a much more sociable occasion. Elizabeth, as we have seen, was predisposed to like Catherine, and Catherine responded in kind. She did not arrive till 3 or 4 o'clock. Then, after a short formal audience, musicians were called for 'and with pleasure and goodly communication, dancing and disports, they passed the season full conveniently'. Time flew by and
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