Henry VII Chronology – What Happened 1503-1504?

A son, Thomas, was born to Sir Henry Wyatt and his wife Anne at Allington, Kent.

The court moved to the Tower of London where Queen Elizabeth prepared for the birth of her seventh child.

Construction began on Henry VII’s Chapel at Westminster Abbey.

A daughter, Katherine, was born to Queen Elizabeth and Henry VII at the Tower of London.

Queen Elizabeth died from complications following the birth of her daughter, Katherine.

Princess Katherine died.

The body of Queen Elizabeth had been embalmed and placed in a lead-lined coffin. The coffin was then drawn through the streets in procession to Westminster Abbey where it lay in state before burial.

Thomas Wolsey, who had been Chaplain to Henry Deane, was appointed Chaplain to the Governor of Calais, Sir Richard Nanfan.

With only one surviving male heir, Henry knew that the Tudor line was not secure. He therefore began to think of remarrying. His first choice was Arthur’s widow, Catherine of Aragon, who was in good health and looked strong enough to bear sons. Her dowry was settled and Henry thought that the Spanish sovereigns would approve the match.

Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain had not been in favour of their daughter marrying Henry VII and had pressed for her to be married to Prince Henry instead. This new treaty declared that providing the necessary dispensation was granted by the Pope the marriage would go ahead in two years when Prince Henry reached the age of fourteen. In addition to the dowry payment already made, Ferdinand and Isabella agreed to pay a further 100,000 crowns. Catherine was to give up all claims to the first dowry payment and also to her widow’s pension on the understanding that once married she would receive an equivalent revenue.

Prince Henry and Catherine of Aragon were formally betrothed by the Bishop of Salisbury.

Isabella of Spain, who wanted to strengthen the relationship between England and Spain, offered the hand of her niece, Joan, Queen of Naples, to Henry VII.

Louis XII had heard that Henry VII was considering remarriage and offered Henry the hand of his niece, Germaine de Foix.

Princess Margaret aged 14 years began her journey north to Scotland to marry 29 year old King James IV.

Princess Margaret made formal entry to Edinburgh riding pillion behind her future husband.

Princess Margaret married James IV of Scotland in the monastery of Holyrood House.

William Warham, Bishop of London, became Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Pope granted the necessary dispensation allowing the marriage of Prince Henry and Catherine of Aragon.

Thomas More was elected to parliament as a Burgess representing London.

Henry VII asked parliament for a tax of three fifteenths to help pay for the expenses incurred by the marriage of Princess Margaret and the knighthood of Prince Arthur in 1489. Henry hoped to raise £90,000 by the tax. Thomas More spoke against the move and the Commons voted against so large a tax and it was halved.

A new coin, the shilling, was introduced. It was made from silver and was worth twelve pennies.

An act was passed that required all noblemen who kept retainers to submit a list of their names to the king and to obtain a license for them.

William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury, was appointed Chancellor.

Edmund Dudley, representing Staffordshire in Parliament, became Speaker of the Commons.

Prince Henry was formally created Prince of Wales.

Henry VII ratified the marriage treaty for the marriage of Prince Henry to Catherine of Aragon. However, he continued to delay the actual marriage ceremony. Many clerics including the Archbishop of Canterbury objected to the marriage and doubted that the Pope had the power to grant the dispensation.

Catherine of Aragon was taken ill with a mystery illness which kept her confined to bed for much of the summer. She was subject to fits of fever and shivering and at times it was feared she would die.

William Barnes was appointed Bishop of London.