AMPTHILL PARK 77 



So wrote the witty Mr. Luttrell, Lord Holland's 

 friend, in his lines on Ampthill Park a poem in 

 which not one of its beauties is left unsung. Well 

 might he write of Katherine as " ill-starred." Proud, 

 passionate, possessed of that austere religious 

 fervour so often found in Spain, small wonder 

 that she failed to keep Henry's fickle affections, 

 wandering as they did at the sight of every new 

 pretty face. Katherine unfortunately played her part 

 most unwisely. Firm in her religious belief, insist- 

 ing on the justice of her claims, she considered her 

 position as Queen unassailable. Unhappily she 

 was no fit opponent against Ann Boleyn. 



Complacent Anne of Cleves fared better, and 

 bowed to her fate, and was willing, though the 

 King's wife, to be styled " his beloved sister," and 

 accepted a fair income and a goodly house. Not 

 so with Katherine, the daughter of a race of kings, 

 born Infanta of Spain, and wife of Harry of 

 England. Nothing could induce her to accept any 

 other position. The Pope might consider that her 

 marriage ought to be annulled still, she was 

 Queen of England and the mother of Henry's 

 daughter and his son who had died in infancy. 



Papers still exist in which the hated words, 

 " Princess Dowager," have been struck out by her 

 own hand and the word " Queen " substituted. 

 There is something almost terrible in the inexor- 

 able web of fate which wound itself round Katherine, 



