Henry VIII Chronology – What Happened 1509-1510?

After a long illness, King Henry VII, aged 52 years, died from tuberculosis at Richmond Palace.

Prince Henry succeeded his father as King Henry VIII.

Henry VIII was financially secure – his father had left around 1 million pounds in the treasury. The new King modelled himself on his predecessor Henry V and swore to continue Henry V’s war with France.

To gain popularity and to show the people that he would be a different ruler to his father Henry imprisoned his father’s financial advisers, Edmund Dudley, Richard Empson and Henry Stafford for imposing a tyranny of taxation on England.

As was the custom on the accession of new monarchs, Henry VIII freed all prisoners except those accused of serious crimes or murder.

Henry’s grandmother, Margaret Beaufort, took control and formed a new council. Members of the council included Thomas Howard, Thomas Ruthall, Thomas Lovell, William Wareham Archbishop of Canterbury, Henry Marnay and Richard Fox. Thomas Ruthall retained his postion as King’s secretary while Thomas Lovell was appointed Treasurer of the Chamber. Henry Marnay became Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard.

As King, Henry took no part in the government of the country and would only attend to necessary state matters at a time that suited him, generally after he had hunted or played sport.

At the time of his accession the Tudor navy consisted of just seven ships. Two of these were the formidable carracks ‘The Regent’ and ‘The Sovereign’ both modelled on French ships but the others were much smaller vessels. Henry knew that he would need a greater navy if he were to conquer France and ordered plans to be drawn up for two new ships, ‘The Mary Rose’ and the ‘Peter Pomegranate’.

King Henry VII was buried in Westminster Abbey. John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester led the service. Afterwards he was buried next to his wife, Elizabeth of York, in the King Henry VII Chapel in the Abbey.

Henry visited Catherine of Aragon in her private chambers and proposed to her. He had been urged to marry Catherine by members of his Privy Council to preserve the treaty with Spain. The marriage would also secure the release of the remainder of Catherine’s dowry.

Henry VIII married Catherine of Aragon in the church of Greenwich Palace. The service was performed in private, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Warham. The wedding was a low-key affair because the court remained in mourning following the death of Henry VII.

Henry and Catherine took part in a special Coronation procession as they made their way to the Tower of London to await their coronation. Henry wore a cloth of gold tunic with a red velvet robe. Catherine wore an embroidered gown of white satin and a coronet of rich stones on her head.

To mark the coronation, Henry created 24 new Knights of the Order of the Bath.

King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon rode in procession from the Tower of London to Westminster Abbey. Henry rode on horseback while Catherine travelled in a litter covered in cloth of gold. Henry was crowned King Henry VIII and Catherine was crowned Queen consort at Westminster Abbey. Henry sat in Edward I’s coronation chair to receive the crown of Edward the Confessor. The service was conducted by William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury. After the ceremony a coronation banquet was held at Westminster Hall. The streets of London were decorated with tapestries and cloth of gold and food and drink were set out on trestle tables for the people.

Henry’s grandmother, Margaret Beaufort, died. Before she died she told Henry to listen to the advice of John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester.

Thomas Linacre was appointed Royal Physician.

Edmund Dudley was tried for treason at the Guildhall in London. He put up a good defence stating that he had only acted on the orders of his king but he was found guilty and sentenced to be hung drawn and quartered. He was returned to the Tower of London to await his execution.

Catherine of Aragon announced that she was pregnant.

To avoid an outbreak of plague in London, Henry and Catherine left on a progress. They visited Hamworth, Sunninghill, Woking, Farham, Esher, Enfield and Waltham.

William Blount, Lord Mountjoy, invited the Humanist reformer, Erasmus, to England. He told him that the old regime was over and that England was full of promise for young men of learning.

king Henry and Catherine of Aragon returned to London. They stayed at Richmond Palace.

Richard Empson was tried for treason at Northampton. He was found guilty and sentenced to be hung drawn and quartered.

Henry VIII appointed Thomas Wolsey as King’s almoner.

Catherine felt her baby move for the first time.

Henry VIII renewed this 1502 peace treaty with King James IV of Scotland. A new clause was added to the treaty which promised excommunication by the Pope if either king broke any of the clauses in the treaty.

Henry established the Band of Pensioners, sometimes referred to as the Band of Spears. This military guard was based on the French Company of One Hundred Gentlemen of the King’s House. The Pensioners were higher in rank and more heavily armed than the Yeoman of the Guard and cost a great deal of money to maintain.

Construction began on the two new ships ordered in 1509. The Mary Rose (600 tons) and the Peter Pomegranate (400 tons) were the first ships to have side firing guns located below the main deck.

It was the custom for the King and courtiers to exchange gifts on New Year’s Day. Henry gave Catherine a beautifully illuminated missal (a book containing the Roman Catholic Service of Mass for one year).

A jousting tournament was held to celebrate Twelfth Night. Henry had been advised not to take part in jousts, due to the danger and lack of heir to the throne. However, he decided he could stay away no longer and took part heavily disguised. The ‘unknown knight’ showed great skill and when he was revealed as the King was cheered and applauded. Henry regulary took part in jousts from this point.

Thomas Englefield became Speaker of the Commons.

Catherine was prematurely delivered of a stillborn daughter. Although Henry and Catherine were disappointed, miscarriage and stillbirth in a first pregnancy was a common occurrence in the sixteenth century.

Henry renewed the peace with France which had been signed by his father. The peace was extended for a further year.

The Pope sent Henry VIII a golden rose as an act of friendship.

Thomas Wolsey became a Knight of the Garter and a member of the privy council

Catherine announced a second pregnancy.

It was rumoured that Henry was actively pursuing Anne, Lady Hastings, wife of Lord Hastings, sister of the Duke of Buckingham. In medieval times it was normal for the nobility to take a mistress when their wives were pregnant. Lady Anne’s sister, Lady Fitzwalter, had heard the rumour and told the Duke of Buckingham who told Lord Hastings. Hastings duly removed his wife from court and placed her in a convent. Henry was furious and ordered Catherine to dismiss Lady Fitzwalter for spying. Catherine was upset to hear of the affair.

A peace treaty was agreed with Ferdinand of Spain.

Henry created Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey, Earl Marshall

After Edmund Dudley made an unsuccessful attempt to escape from the Tower of London, Henry ordered that the sentence passed on both Dudley and Richard Empson be carried out. Both men were executed by beheading.

Catherine of Aragon went into labour.