Katherine of Aragon's letters to Henry VIII, 1513

Between 30th June and 21st October 1513 Henry VIII embarked for war in France, leaving Katherine of Aragon the regent. As regent she was provide with a council headed by William Warham, archbishop of Canterbury, and given the power to raise troops, although prior to his departure Henry had assigned Thomas Howard, earl of Surrey to the north in case of a Scottish invasion. This army ultimately encountered and defeated the Scots at the Battle of Flodden, the victory of which is referred to in Katherine's final letter in this clip. Throughout this time Katherine wrote primarily to Wolsey as Henry was busy with military affairs. This included the first letter mentioned in this clip, in which she voices her concerns regarding Henry's welfare (dated to 13th August 1513) The full letter from Katherine of Aragon to Henry detailing the victory of the Battle of Flodden (dated 16th Sept 1513): "My Lord Howard hath sent me a letter, open, to your Grace, within one of mine, by the which ye shall see at length the great victory that our Lord hath sent your subjects in your absence." - Thinks the victory the greatest honor that could be. The King will not forget to thank God for it. Could not, for haste, send by Rouge Cross "the piece of the King of Scots coat which John Glyn now bringeth. In this your Grace shall see how I can keep my promys, sending you for your banners a King's coat. I thought to send himself unto you, but our Englishmen's hearts would not suffer it. It should have been better for him to have been in peace than have this reward. All that God sendeth is for the best.""Surrey wishes to know the King's pleasure as to burying the King of Scots' body. Prays for his return; and for the same is going to our Lady at Walsingham, "that I promised so long ago to see." Woborne,16 Sept.