376 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 



and expectation of foreigners, after a few months, in 

 the beginning of April, deceased at Ludlow castle, 

 where he was sent to keep his resiance and court, as 

 Prince of Wales. Of this prince, in respect he died 

 so young, and by reason of his father s manner of 

 education, that did cast no great lustre upon his 

 children, there is little particular memory : only thus 

 much remaineth, that he was very studious and 

 learned, beyond his years, and beyond the custom of 

 great princes. 



There was a doubt ripped up in the times fol 

 lowing, when the divorce of King Henry the Eighth 

 from the Lady Catharine did so much busy the 

 world, whether Arthur was bedded with his lady or 

 no, whereby that matter in fact, of carnal knowledge, 

 might be made part of the case. And it is true, 

 that the lady herself denied it, or at least her counsel 

 stood upon it, and would not blanch that advantage, 

 although the plenitude of the pope s power of dis 

 pensing was the main question. And this doubt was 

 kept long open, in respect of the two queens that 

 succeeded, Mary and Elizabeth, whose legitimations 

 were incompatible one with another, though their 

 succession was settled by act of parliament. And 

 the times that favoured Queen Mary s legitimation 

 would have it believed, that there was no carnal 

 knowledge between Arthur and Catharine. Not 

 that they would seem to derogate from the pope s 

 absolute power, to dispense even in that case : but 

 only in point of honour, and to make the case more 

 favourable and smooth. And the times that favoured 



