Today in Tudor History...

23 July 1301 – Birth of Otto, Duke of Austria 

1339 –  Birth of Louis I, Duke of Anjou

1403 –Death of Thomas Percy, 1st Earl of Worcester

1503 –  Birth of Anne of Bohemia and Hungary

1528-The divorce-Promise of Clement VII. that he will grant no letters of inhibition or other letters interfering with the execution of his commission to the Legates, but will confirm their decision. Viterbo, 23 July 1528

1529- THE DIVORCE.

Proceedings of the Legatine Court, containing depositions of witnesses, &c.

Begins with the words, ... "decreverunt eidem procuratori Regis copias omnium et singulorum gestorum et exhibitorum illo die et tribus sessionibus proximo præcedentibus dandas fore, præsentibus tunc memoratis domino abbate Westmon., et Thoma Arundell, armigero, et aliis multis in copiosa multitudine congregatis, die vero supradicto Veneris, videlicet 16o die mensis Julii, &c."

Admission, on the petition of John Hughes, of Wm. Falk, notary, John Taverner, and John Clamport, citizens of London, as evidence on the 2nd article. Depose to the existence of certain writings touching this cause. Adjourned till the Monday following. Agreed, on the motion of the same Hughes, touching certain evidences in the possession of Garter, that John abbot of Westminster, Wm. Burbank, archdeacon of Carlisle, and _ Hygons, canon of Sarum, shall report upon the same. Richard Sampson, the King's proctor, to be present at the search.

Monday, 19 July.—Proceedings touching the breve of pope Julius. Process exhibited by Sampson Michell, canon of Chichester, of Geoffrey Wharton, official of the bishop of London, with the subscription of Rob. Johnson, notary, containing the depositions of Agnes duchess of Norfolk, and Mary countess of Essex, as in No. 5778. preceding.

Note at ƒ. 209:—"Desunt hic acta et depositiones testium examinatorum per Fra[n]klyn et Tailor."

Depositions of the abbot of Westminster, Burbank, and others, of searches made in the Exchequer at Westminster, 14 July 1529; present Ric. Warner, sub-chamberlain, and Ric. Longman, doorkeeper. Also, in the Orphan's Chamber at Guildhall, made by Th. Wryethesley, King-at-arms, and Th. Tong, Norroy. In a great register of the latter the following words were found:—"The year of our Lord God 1502, the 2nd day of April, in the castle of Luddelow, deceased the prince Arthur, first-begotten son of our sovereign lord king Henry the VIIth, the 17th year of his reign; immediately after whose decease Sir Richard Pole, his chamberlain, wrote and sent letters to the King's council to Greenwich, where his Grace and the Queen lay, and certified them of the Prince's departing; which discreetly sent for the King's ghostly father, to whom they showed this heavy and sorrowful tidings, and desired him, in his best manner, to show it to the King's highness; which, in the morning, the Tuesday next following, somewhat before the time accustomed, knocked at the King's chamber door. And when the King understood that it was his confessor, he commanded to let him in; which confessor, after due salutation, began to say, `Si bona de manu Dei suscipimus, mala autem quare non sustineamus ?'—and so showed his Grace that his dearest son was departed to God."

In another ancient book of calendars (calendarum)—"This day was born the lord Herre, 1481" (sic), on 28 June; and in another—"Nativitas R. H. VIII., 28o die Junii 1491, Greenwich." Marriage of prince Arthur and Katharine at St. Paul's, 24 Nov. 1501.

In the Council Chamber they found a printed book of the names of the bailiffs, mayors, and sheriffs of the city of London, with this passage:—"This year (17 Hen. VII.) was sent unto England the king of Spain's third daughter, named Katharine, to be married to the prince Arthur; and she landed at Plymouth the 8th day of October, and [was] received into London in the most royal wise the 12th day of November, then Friday, and the Sunday following married at St. Paul's Church; and an halpace made of timber from the west door to the quire door, of 12 foot broad and 4 foot of height, and in the midst of the same married; and the feast holden in the Bishop's palace. And from London Bridge to Paul's in divers streets were made royal and costly pageants. And at the west door of Paul's was made a costly pageant, running wine, red, white, and claret, all the day of the marriage. And at the same triumph the King made 57 knights. And the Tuesday after, all the court removed to Westminster by water, and the marriage, with all the crafts with them, in barge[s], with trumpets, shawms, and tabrets, in their best manner. And there the King held royal jousts, tourneys, and banquets six days after, and then removed to Richmond, &c."

Examination of Fox, bishop of Winchester, by Ric. Wolman, archdeacon of Sudbury, on the 5th and 6th of April 1527, in the Bishop's chamber in the castle of Wolvesaye, in the city of Winchester, in the presence of Andrew Smith, notary. Says he is 79 years old; and it is now 41 years since he knew Henry VII. Knew prince Arthur, who was born in the priory of St. Swithin's, Winchester, and baptised in the monastery;—he being secretary to Henry VII., and present. Says he baptised Henry VIII. in the Church of the Observants at Greenwich. Remembers the entry of queen Katharine into London, and met her in St. George's Fields, and conducted her into London. Does not remember anything of the matrimonial contract between her and Arthur. Was present at the solemnization at St. Paul's. Thinks the contract was passed some time before. Thinks the Prince was of sufficient age for marriage, but cannot remember how old he was. Says they cohabited in the palace of the bishop of London, near St. Paul's, for about 14 days, and after that resided in Wales, to the Prince's death. After his death, negotiations took place for a marriage between Katharine and Henry, at which he was present, and had many conferences with Dr. De Peohebla, Spanish ambassador. Is not certain whether Henry VII. proposed the marriage. Thinks it was done by De Peohebla,—how long after the death of Arthur, cannot say. Does not recollect whether any writings took place. Says that frequent deliberations took place between the King's councillors, of whom he was one, in reference to the impediment. Thinks there was a contract between the two. Does not know the express age of the Prince. Is certain that a bull was obtained from the Pope, which was then thought sufficient for contracting the marriage and removing the impediment. Believes that various bulls were obtained, two of which remain in England, and one or two in Spain, all of the same tenor. On a copy of the bull being read to him, stating that Henry desired the marriage, and yet at the time of the bull he was a minor, believes the suggestion was a true one, so far as the peace of the two kingdoms was concerned; but whether the King desired the marriage at the time of the bull, says he does not know what the King's mind was. Says the bull was obtained by the ambassadors of the two kingdoms, and chiefly by Adrian cardinal St. Chrysogon. Does not suppose that the consent of Henry was asked about the bull, as he was then a minor. He cannot speak of his own knowledge, but he thinks that Henry desired the marriage, and that he loved Katharine for her excellent qualities. Does not remember that Henry, when he arrived at the age of puberty, expressly consented to or dissented from the marriage between himself and Katharine. He thinks, however, that a protestation was made, "quod dictus invictissimus princeps, non obstantibus prioribus sponsalibus inter ipsum et dictam clarissimam Catherinam factis, nec quibuscunque verbis aut douariis in ea parte intervenientibus, nec quod insimul in eadem domo et familia illustrissimi Henrici VIImi, patris ipsius invictissimi Henrici octavi, in minore ejus ætate cohabitassent, tunc ad annos pubertatis perveniens, non intendebat obligari ad observationem hujusmodi sponsalium in minore ejus ætate contractorum, quam quod posset pro suo arbitrio accipere quamcunque vellet aliam sibi in uxorem." Thinks this protest is still to be found with Master Ryden, clerk of the Council. Does not remember that Henry VII. ever interdicted the Prince, after this protest, from showing signs of love to Katharine. Thinks the protest was made by command of Henry VII. Believes it was made before Ryden, the notary; and that either he, or Thomas Ruthall, or West, now bishop of Ely, drew it up, in the presence of the earl of Surrey, Dr. Peohebla, and princess Katharine, at Durham Place, in the suburbs of London. Does not remember that any public instrument was made of the protest. If so, it was delivered to Henry VII. Does not think any new dispensation was gained. Says he had many conferences with Henry VII. after the death f prince Arthur, and that his intention always was that Henry should marry Katharine; but the solemnization was put off on account of the disputes between the King and the king of Spain touching the re-demanding of the dote. Says he did not know that Henry VII. ever wished to marry the mother of the present Emperor (Joan), but he intended to marry Margaret duchess of Savoy. Asked if Henry VII. communicated to him any designs of other marriages for the Prince, after his protest, and whether he wished him to marry the sister of the king of Spain: says he never heard of such a wish. Refers him to the laws how far the bull must be deemed sufficient.

On the Bishop's declining to subscribe his deposition on account of his blindness, and none of his counsellors being allowed to be present, the said Ric. Wolman said he was instructed to sign it, if necessary, in the Bishop's name. Whereupon, out of deference to the King's command, he signed it.

Attestation by Augustine Spinola, cardinal and papal chamberlain, 27 Jan. 1529, 6 Clem. VII., of the breve granted by Julius II., 6 July 1504.

Copy of the breve of Julius II. to Henry VII., 22 Feb. 1505.

Oath of Wriothesley. 

Sittings on Wednesday, 21 July.—Protest of Henry prince of Wales. (fn. 4)

Sittings on Friday, 23 July.—Prorogation by Campeggio of the court to the 1st of October.

"Liber continens depositiones testium, et processum habitum coram Legatis.—Ricardus Watkyns, prothonotarius regius."

Lat., pp. 134, imperfect at the commencement. Endd.

 Record of the proceedings at twelve sessions of the Papal Commissioners in the matter of the divorce of Catharine of Aragon.

1531 – Death of Louis de Brézé, seigneur d'Anet,  husband of Diane de Poitiers

1543 – Mary of Guise and her daughter, Mary, Queen of Scots, escaped from Linlithgow Palace to Stirling Castle.

1596 – Death of Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon

source:http://www.british-history.ac.uk/,http://www.onthisdayintudorhistory.com/