1514
In France, Prince Henry was carving a bloody path to Aquitaine, determined to regain his ancestral lands. His nickname the Lion of York was becoming wide spread. However during the early months of 1514, the prince realized that money was running out and with it the loyalty of his army. Then King Louis offered peace, he would acknowledge Prince Henry as the Duke of Auvergne Jure uxoris.
Henry decided to agree to King Louis' terms, feeling that he had gotten what he came for. Although he wanted more, it would have to be another time. Besides if he wanted to keep Auvergne, he needed an heir. He did however insist that he also be named Earl (Count) of Tourlose, not wanting his duchy to have enemies on all sides. It took a lot of negotiating but in the end King Louis agreed in exchange for the cities and towns in Aquitaine.
Katherine was not pleased when her brother-in-law returned home, feeling he had abandoned her father and overstepped his bounds by making a peace treaty with France without her agreement. It led to a heated argument with Katherine accusing Henry of deliberately giving up the Aquitaine because they would have gone to his nephew instead of himself. Henry clapped back that Katherine had let her father fleece them as he conquered Navarre and fought in Italy.
Elizabeth of York intervened, once again acting as mediator. She noted that England had gained much from the war but its funds were depleted. She did not want her grandson to have to deal with debt once he reached his majority. She also pointed out that King Louis had made peace with Emperor Maximilian and Pope Leo.
As reluctant as she was, Princess Katherine agreed to end hostilities with France. Instead she decided to focus on King James of Scots. The Scottish monarch was their hostage and had been for several months now. The regents of King Arthur discussed what was to be done with him. The ransom they had demanded was too much for Scotland to afford so Katherine suggested that they exchange King James for his son, Prince Arthur. He could be raised in England, nurturing a brotherly bound between the two Arthurs.
Queen Margaret was fresh from her confinement after birthing her fourth son, Prince Alexander in March. When she heard of England's demands, she collapsed. She then sent a letter to Princess Katherine, swearing to never forgive her if she took her son. "And how would you feel, Madam, had my father ripped your son from your bosun?" She wrote to her sister the now Queen Mary of Denmark that she wished that the boat carrying that Spanish wretch had sunk to the bottom of the sea.
King James did not like the idea anymore than his wife, but he felt he had to think of the welfare of Scotland before his family. He could not subject Scotland to a long regency when it would bring nothing but unrest and turmoil. Upon signing the Treaty of Whitehall in July, he said "God forgive me for I never shall." The Treaty of Whitehall stipulated that Treaty of Perpetual Peace was to be renewed every five years, King James would send amble compensation for breaking it, and that Prince Arthur would remain in England until his father's ransom could be paid and would get a bride of his cousin's choosing.
Two months after signing, the Scottish monarch was escorted to Northumberland where his wife and their son were waiting for him. Prince Arthur of Scotland was a boy of six and he clung to his mother, not wanting to go. King James kneeled down and told him to be brave and never forget, he was a Stewert, brave and bold. Margaret kissed her son's cheeks and told him that she would visit often, bringing little James and Alexander with her. Holding back tears, she told Arthur to go to his grandmother. Elizabeth of York gently took the boy into her arms, telling him she would never let any harm come to him.
Elizabeth of York insisted that until Prince Arthur was settled in he would remain with her at her manor. Princess Katherine and Prince Henry both argued that he should be sent to Eltham with King Arthur at once. Elizabeth merely repeated herself in a tone, as one courtier put it, that could chill a man to the bones and then promptly left to tuck her grandson in bed. She later remarked to Elizabeth Boleyn, "I could not protect my brothers so I shall do everything I can for my grandsons."
The two Arthurs met at Christmastide at Greenwich. King Arthur, proving he was his father's son, was quick to put his younger cousin at ease, asking him about what he liked to do, what were his favorite foods, did he think London should be renamed Camelot. This drew the prince out of his shell a bit and he even accepted the nickname Roth that the young king came up with.
Henry decided to agree to King Louis' terms, feeling that he had gotten what he came for. Although he wanted more, it would have to be another time. Besides if he wanted to keep Auvergne, he needed an heir. He did however insist that he also be named Earl (Count) of Tourlose, not wanting his duchy to have enemies on all sides. It took a lot of negotiating but in the end King Louis agreed in exchange for the cities and towns in Aquitaine.
Katherine was not pleased when her brother-in-law returned home, feeling he had abandoned her father and overstepped his bounds by making a peace treaty with France without her agreement. It led to a heated argument with Katherine accusing Henry of deliberately giving up the Aquitaine because they would have gone to his nephew instead of himself. Henry clapped back that Katherine had let her father fleece them as he conquered Navarre and fought in Italy.
Elizabeth of York intervened, once again acting as mediator. She noted that England had gained much from the war but its funds were depleted. She did not want her grandson to have to deal with debt once he reached his majority. She also pointed out that King Louis had made peace with Emperor Maximilian and Pope Leo.
As reluctant as she was, Princess Katherine agreed to end hostilities with France. Instead she decided to focus on King James of Scots. The Scottish monarch was their hostage and had been for several months now. The regents of King Arthur discussed what was to be done with him. The ransom they had demanded was too much for Scotland to afford so Katherine suggested that they exchange King James for his son, Prince Arthur. He could be raised in England, nurturing a brotherly bound between the two Arthurs.
Queen Margaret was fresh from her confinement after birthing her fourth son, Prince Alexander in March. When she heard of England's demands, she collapsed. She then sent a letter to Princess Katherine, swearing to never forgive her if she took her son. "And how would you feel, Madam, had my father ripped your son from your bosun?" She wrote to her sister the now Queen Mary of Denmark that she wished that the boat carrying that Spanish wretch had sunk to the bottom of the sea.
King James did not like the idea anymore than his wife, but he felt he had to think of the welfare of Scotland before his family. He could not subject Scotland to a long regency when it would bring nothing but unrest and turmoil. Upon signing the Treaty of Whitehall in July, he said "God forgive me for I never shall." The Treaty of Whitehall stipulated that Treaty of Perpetual Peace was to be renewed every five years, King James would send amble compensation for breaking it, and that Prince Arthur would remain in England until his father's ransom could be paid and would get a bride of his cousin's choosing.
Two months after signing, the Scottish monarch was escorted to Northumberland where his wife and their son were waiting for him. Prince Arthur of Scotland was a boy of six and he clung to his mother, not wanting to go. King James kneeled down and told him to be brave and never forget, he was a Stewert, brave and bold. Margaret kissed her son's cheeks and told him that she would visit often, bringing little James and Alexander with her. Holding back tears, she told Arthur to go to his grandmother. Elizabeth of York gently took the boy into her arms, telling him she would never let any harm come to him.
Elizabeth of York insisted that until Prince Arthur was settled in he would remain with her at her manor. Princess Katherine and Prince Henry both argued that he should be sent to Eltham with King Arthur at once. Elizabeth merely repeated herself in a tone, as one courtier put it, that could chill a man to the bones and then promptly left to tuck her grandson in bed. She later remarked to Elizabeth Boleyn, "I could not protect my brothers so I shall do everything I can for my grandsons."
The two Arthurs met at Christmastide at Greenwich. King Arthur, proving he was his father's son, was quick to put his younger cousin at ease, asking him about what he liked to do, what were his favorite foods, did he think London should be renamed Camelot. This drew the prince out of his shell a bit and he even accepted the nickname Roth that the young king came up with.
Last edited:
