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Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.

In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.

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Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England 1401-1437

Paternal Family Tree: Capet

Maternal Family Tree: Tomasina Morosini

1420 Treaty of Troyes

1420 Marriage of Henry V and Catherine of Valois

1421 Coronation of Catherine of Valois

1422 Death of Henry V

1422 Death of Charles VI

1428 Parliament Passes a Bill to Prevent Catherine of Valois Marrying

1430 Birth of Edmund Tudor

1437 Death of Dowager Queen Consort Catherine of Valois

2nd February 1461 Battle of Mortimer's Cross

On 17th July 1385 [her father] Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France [aged 16] and [her mother] Isabeau of Bavaria Queen Consort France [aged 15] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Stephen "Magnificient Fop" Wittelsbach III Duke Bavaria [aged 48] and [her grandmother] Taddea Visconti Duchess Bavaria. He the son of King Charles V of France and Joanna Bourbon Queen Consort France. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry III of England.

On 27th October 1401 Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England was born to Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France [aged 32] and Isabeau of Bavaria Queen Consort France [aged 31] at the Hôtel Saint Pol, Paris [Map].

On 28th January 1405 [her brother-in-law] Philip "Good" Valois III Duke Burgundy [aged 8] and [her sister] Michelle Valois Duchess Burgundy [aged 10] were married. She the daughter of [her father] Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France [aged 36] and [her mother] Isabeau of Bavaria Queen Consort France [aged 35]. He the son of John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy [aged 33] and Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Burgundy [aged 42]. They were second cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

In 1406 [her brother-in-law] Charles Valois Duke Orléans [aged 11] and [her sister] Isabella Valois Queen Consort England [aged 16] were married at Compiègne, Oise. She by marriage Duchess Orléans. She the daughter of [her father] Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France [aged 37] and [her mother] Isabeau of Bavaria Queen Consort France [aged 36]. He the son of [her uncle] Louis Valois I Duke Orléans [aged 33] and Valentina Visconti Duchess of Orleans [aged 35]. They were first cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

On 26th October 1406 King Eric of Norway, Denmark and Sweden [aged 25] and [her future sister-in-law] Philippa Lancaster Queen Consort Denmark [aged 12] were married. She the daughter of King Henry IV of England [aged 39] and Mary Bohun.

On 26th October 1406 [her future sister-in-law] Philippa Lancaster Queen Consort Denmark [aged 12] by marriage Queen Consort Denmark.

In 1410 [her former brother-in-law] Charles Valois Duke Orléans [aged 15] and Bonne Armagnac Duchess Orléans [aged 10] were married. She by marriage Duchess Orléans. She the daughter of Bernard VII Count Armagnac [aged 47] and Bonne Valois Countess Armagnac and Savoy [aged 45]. He the son of [her uncle] Louis Valois I Duke Orléans and Valentina Visconti Duchess of Orleans. They were second cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry III of England.

In November 1411 [her future brother-in-law] Thomas Lancaster 1st Duke of Clarence [aged 24] and Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence [aged 26] were married. She the daughter of Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent and Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent [aged 61]. He the son of King Henry IV of England [aged 44] and Mary Bohun. They were first cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

Chronicle of Gregory. Alleso yf it happe the said Kateryn [aged 18] to ovyr levyn us, she shalle take and have in the realme of Fraunce, immediatly fro the tyme of our dethe, dower to the som of XX M frankys, [of]1 and up the londys, placys, and lordeschippys that helde and hadde Dame Blaunche, some tyme wyf of Phylyppe, befnelle2 to our said fadyr.

Note 1. Supplied from J.

Note 2. hefnelle. Should be besaile, i. e. great-grandfather, or proamis. The readings in J. and V. are equally corrupt.

On 21st May 1420 the Treaty of Troyes was signed at Troyes. Thomas Beaufort 1st Duke Exeter [aged 43] and Ralph Cromwell 3rd Baron Cromwell [aged 17] negotiated the terms which included the marriage of [her future husband] Henry V [aged 33] and Catherine of Valois [aged 18], daughter of [her father] Charles VI [aged 51], and the acknowledgement of King Henry V of England as Charles V's heir disinheriting the [her brother] Dauphin [aged 17].

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The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel Volume 1 Chapters 1-60 1307-1342

The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel offer one of the most vivid and immediate accounts of 14th-century Europe, written by a knight who lived through the events he describes, and experienced some of them first hand. Covering the early decades of the Hundred Years’ War, this remarkable chronicle follows the campaigns of Edward III of England, the politics of France and the Low Countries, and the shifting alliances that shaped medieval warfare. Unlike later historians, Jean le Bel writes with a strong sense of eyewitness authenticity, drawing on personal experience and the testimony of fellow soldiers. His narrative captures not only battles and sieges, but also the realities of military life, diplomacy, and the ideals of chivalry that governed noble society. A key source for Jean Froissart, Le Bel’s chronicle stands on its own as a compelling and insightful work, at once historical record and literary achievement. This translation builds on the 1905 edition published in French by Jules Viard, adding extensive translations from other sources Rymer's Fœdera, the Chronicles of Adam Murimuth, William Nangis, Walter of Guisborough, a Bourgeois of Valenciennes, Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke and Richard Lescot to enrich the original text and Viard's notes.

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Deeds of King Henry V [1413-1421]. In the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Troyes, on the 20th day of May, the solemnization of the princely agreement took place. Present were the [her future husband] King of England [aged 33], accompanied by the most noble princes, [her future brother-in-law] Thomas [aged 32], Duke of Clarence, and Humphrey [aged 29], Duke of Gloucester, as well as numerous bishops, earls, barons, knights, and nobles. Also in attendance was Isabella [aged 50]1, the consort of King Charles, along with their daughter Catherine [aged 18], as well as the Duke of Burgundy, and the bishops, prelates, magnates, and many others of that faction in great numbers2.

Note 1. Isabeau of Bavaria, 1370-1435. Daughter of Stephen III, Duke of Bavaria, and Taddea Visconti. She was descended from Kings of England by both her paternal and maternal descent.

Note 2. The particulars of the betrothment of Henry and Katherine are given in Miss Strickland’s Life of Katherine of Valois. When the warrior-king was first presented to his future bride, he wore in his helmet a fox’s tail ornamented with precious stones, upon which Miss Strickland remarks that he now and then indulged in a few whims regarding dress. But the fox was one of his and of his father’s cognizances, as the wolf was that of Charles IV of France; witness an ancient chart of the genealogy of the Dukes of York in Leland’s Collectanea, vol. ii. Page 617. In the list of Henry's property rendered by his executors occurs, [translated from French] "1 coronet for the king's cap, adorned with 6 balas rubies and 16 pearls, valued in total at £21, 2s. 8d. Item, another coronet with 7 diamonds, 21 pearls of one sort, and 115 pearls of another sort, valued at £59, 7s. 8d." [Rot. Parl. iv. 218.]

Chronicle of Gregory. 20th May 1420. Ande in that year, the XX day of May, the year of our lord M1CCCC XX, the [her future husband] kyng [aged 33] come unto Troys, in Chaunpeyne, and there he was worthely ressayvyde of alle the lordys spyrytualle and temporalle that were there whithe the King of Fraince. And on the morne the [her father] Kyng [aged 51] and [her mother] Quene of Fraunce [aged 50], and Dame Katerynne [aged 18], and the Duke of Burgayne, mette to gedyr in Synt Petrys chyrche [Map] in Troys; whiche metyng was in the body of the chyrche. Ande thenne they went upe to the hyghe auter, and there were the artyculys of the pes redde, and the othys made on aythyr partye.

On 2nd June 1420 Henry V [aged 33] and Catherine of Valois [aged 18] were married at Troyes Cathedral [Map]. She the daughter of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France [aged 51] and Isabeau of Bavaria Queen Consort France [aged 50]. He the son of King Henry IV of England and Mary Bohun. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

Chronicle of Gregory. 3rd June 1420. And thenne was the [her husband] kyng [aged 33] and Dame Katerynne [aged 18] swryde to-gedyr. And on the morne aftyr was Trenyte Sonday, that was the iij day of June, the year of our lord M CCCC XX, in the chyrche of Troys [Map], the kyng spowsyd Dame Kateryne, [her father] Kyng Charlys daughter of Fraunce [aged 51]; and thenne he was made Regent of Fraunce, and the convencyons of the whiche acordyd folowynge here aftyr, that is for to saye:

Harry, by the grace of God, Kyng of Inglond, heyre and Regent of Fraunce, and lord of Yrlonde, to perpetualle mynde to alle Crystyn pepylle, ande to alle that ben undyr owre obeysaunce, we notefy and declare that thoughe a here before dyvers tretes have ben be twyne the moste excellente Prynce Charlis, owre fadyr of Fraunce, and his progenytours, for the pes to ben hadde be twyne ij realmys of Fraunce and of Inglonde, the whiche here by forne have borne no1 frwte, we, consyderynge the grette harmys that have ben, not oonly by twyne ij realmys for the grette devysyon that hathe ben be-twyne hem, but to alle hooly Chyrche, we have take a trete whythe our said fadyr and us, that for as moche as be the bonde of matrymonye, i-made for the goode of the pes be-twyne us and our moste dyre modyr [her mother] Isabelle [aged 50] his wife, the same Charlis and Isabelle ben made fadyr and modyr, and there fore take them as for owre fadyr and modyr, we shalle have and worschippe as it syttythe and semythe so worthy a prynce and a pryncesse too ben i-worschippyde, pryncypally before alle othyr temporalle personys of the worlde.

Alle so we shalle nought dystroble, nor dyssesyn, nor lette our said fadyr, but that he holde and procede2 as long as he levythe, and holdythe, ande he possedythe at this tyme, the crowne and dignity of the ryalte of Fraunce, and rentys and profytys of the same, to the sustenaunce of his estate and chargys of the realme of Fraunce, and owr modir al so holdyng as long as she levy the estate and dignity of the quene, aftyr the maner of the same realme, whythe convenable and convenyante parte of the said rentys and profytys.

Alle so that the fore said Kateryne shalle take and have dwer in our realme of Inglond, as [quenes of England]3 here a-forne were wonte to have and take, that is for to saye, to the summa of xl M [40000] scwtys yearly, of the whyche4 ij [2] shalle be worthe a nobylle Englysche. Alle so the maners, weyis, and menys that we may, whythe out transgressyon or ofFensys ofte5 i-made by us for to kepe the lawys, customys, usagys, and ryghtys of owre said realme6 of Inglonde, [we]7 shalle done owre labur and pursewe that the said Katerynne, alsone as it may be done and be made sure, for to take and for to have in owre said realme of Inglonde fro tyme of our dethe, the said xl M [40000] scutys yerly, of the whyche twyne shalle alle way be worthe8 a nobylle of Englysche mony.

Note 1. borne no. These words are taken from J., and are a true rendering of the text of the original treaty (see Kymer, ix. 895). Our MS. reads, "have ben frwte/' following perhaps some other translation in which the word "without" has been omitted. Vit. reads, still more absurdly, "have ben frendes."

Note 2. procede. A transcriber's error for "possede," i.e. possess,

Note 3. Omitted in MS.; supplied from J.

Note 4. of the whiche repeated, MS.

Note 5. ofte. We should certainly read, "of the oath;" but the words do not occur even in J.

Note 6. of owre said realme repeated in MS.

Note 7. Omitted in MS.

Note 8. worthe. with, MS.; corrected from J.

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On 24th February 1421 Catherine of Valois [aged 19] was crowned Queen Consort England at Westminster Abbey [Map] by Archbishop Henry Chichele [aged 58]. Robert Willoughby 6th Baron Willoughby [aged 36] was appointed Chief Butler of England. James I [aged 26] attended, and was honoured by sitting immediately on the queen's left at the coronation banquet.

On 6th December 1421 [her son] King Henry VI of England and II of France was born to [her husband] King Henry V of England [aged 35] and Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England [aged 20] at Windsor Castle [Map]. He married 23rd April 1445 his third cousin Margaret of Anjou Queen Consort England, daughter of René Valois Anjou I Duke Anjou and Isabella Metz Duchess Anjou I Duchess Lorraine, and had issue.

On 22nd April 1422 [her brother] Charles "Victorious" VII King France [aged 19] and [her sister-in-law] Marie Valois Anjou Queen Consort France [aged 17] were married. She the daughter of King Louis of Naples and Yolande Barcelona Queen Consort Naples [aged 40]. He the son of [her father] Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France [aged 53] and [her mother] Isabeau of Bavaria Queen Consort France [aged 52]. They were second cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

On 31st August 1422 [her husband] King Henry V of England [aged 35] died at Château de Vincennes, possibly from dysentery, possibly from heatstroke. John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley [aged 21] brought the body back to England. His son Henry succeeded VI King of England.

Thomas Beaufort 1st Duke Exeter [aged 45] was appointed Governor to King Henry VI of England and II of France.

On 21st October 1422 [her father] Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France [aged 53] died at Hôtel Saint Pol, Paris [Map]. The succession of the French throne was disputed between:

[her son] King Henry VI succeeded II King France: Lancaster

[her brother] Charles "Victorious" VII King France [aged 19] succeeded VII King France: Capet Valois. [her sister-in-law] Marie Valois Anjou Queen Consort France [aged 18] by marriage Queen Consort France.

On 30th November 1424 [her former brother-in-law] Philip "Good" Valois III Duke Burgundy [aged 28] and Bonne Artois Duchess Burgundy [aged 28] were married. She by marriage Duchess Burgundy. She the daughter of Philip Artois Count of Eu and Marie Valois I Duchess Auverge [aged 49]. He the son of John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy and Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Burgundy. They were second cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

In 1428 Parliament Passes a Bill to Prevent Catherine of Valois Marrying without the consent of the King. The Bill appears to be in response to rumours that Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England [aged 26] and Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset [aged 22] were having an affair, and were planning to marry.

Around 1430 Owen Tudor [aged 30] and Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England [aged 28] were married. She the daughter of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France and Isabeau of Bavaria Queen Consort France [aged 60]. They were sixth cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

Around 1430 [her son] Edmund Tudor 1st Earl Richmond was born to [her husband] Owen Tudor [aged 30] and Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England [aged 28] at Much Hadham Palace, Hertfordshire (which belonged to the Bishops of London). There was speculation [Source Unknown?] that the biological father was Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset [aged 24] with whom Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England was rumoured to have had an affair. Interesting, perhaps, that he was named Edmund rather than Owen. Interesting that he took the Royal Arms of England differenced. Also interesting that his younger brother was named Jasper; a Persian name meaning 'Keeper of the Treasure' or 'bringer of treasure' that was unknown in England before his birth. He married 1st November 1455 his half fourth cousin once removed Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond, daughter of John Beaufort 1st Duke of Somerset and Margaret Beauchamp Duchess Somerset, and had issue.

On 7th January 1430 [her former brother-in-law] Philip "Good" Valois III Duke Burgundy [aged 33] and Isabella Aviz Duchess Burgundy [aged 32] were married. She by marriage Duchess Burgundy. She the daughter of King John I of Portugal [aged 78] and Philippa of Lancaster Queen Consort Portugal. He the son of John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy and Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Burgundy. They were third cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In August 1431 [her nephew] Francis Montfort I Duke Brittany [aged 17] and Yolande Valois Anjou Duchess Brabant and Brittany [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Duchess Brittany. She the daughter of King Louis of Naples and Yolande Barcelona Queen Consort Naples [aged 49]. He the son of [her brother-in-law] John Montfort V Duke Brittany [aged 41] and [her sister] Joan Valois Duchess Brittany [aged 40]. They were second cousin once removed. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

Around November 1431 [her son] Jasper Tudor 1st Duke Bedford was born to [her husband] Owen Tudor [aged 31] and Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England [aged 30] at Hatfield, Hertfordshire. He married 7th November 1485 his fifth cousin Catherine Woodville Duchess Buckingham and Bedford, daughter of Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers and Jacquetta of Luxembourg Duchess Bedford.

On 24th September 1435 [her mother] Isabeau of Bavaria Queen Consort France [aged 65] died.

On 25th June 1436 [her nephew] King Louis XI of France [aged 12] and Margaret Stewart Dauphine of France [aged 11] were married at Tours Castle. They had met the day before. She by marriage Dauphine . She the daughter of King James I of Scotland [aged 41] and Joan Beaufort Queen Consort Scotland [aged 32]. He the son of [her brother] Charles "Victorious" VII King France [aged 33] and [her sister-in-law] Marie Valois Anjou Queen Consort France [aged 31]. They were half fourth cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 3rd January 1437 Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England [aged 35] died at Bermondsey Abbey [Map]. She had been married aged eighteen to [her former husband] King Henry V of England for two years three months. Their son was King Henry VI of England and II of France [aged 15].

After Henry V died she disappears somewhat from the records other than for Parliament to legislate against her marrying without permission, which she then duly did, to Owen Tudor [aged 37], and had two sons, the elder of which was father to King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

Her children Edmund [aged 7] and Jasper [aged 5] were subsequently placed in the care of Abbess Katherine Pole, then Abbess of Barking. Katherine's brother William "Jackanapes" de la Pole 1st Duke of Suffolk [aged 40] had the wardship of Edmund's future wife Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond.

Chronicle of Gregory. 3rd January 1437. Ande that same year Quene Kateryn [aged 35] dyde at Bredmonsey [Map] the iij day of Jany ver.

Chronicle of Gregory. 4th February 1437. Ande the ix day of Feverer Quene Kateryn [deceased] aforesaid was broughte to Powlys [Map] yn London, and there sche hadde a solempne deryge ande a masse on the morne. And thenne she was hadde unto Westemyster. And the iij day aftyr she was worth ely enteryde and buryde in Oure Lady chapylle at Westemyster in the Abby; of whos soule God have mercy.

On 2nd February 1461 following the battle [her former husband] Owen Tudor [aged 61] was beheaded in the Market Place, Hereford [Map]. He was buried thereafter in Greyfriars Church, Hereford in a tomb paid for by his son David Owen [aged 2]. Somewhat curious that his other son Jasper Tudor 1st Duke Bedford [aged 29] didn't contribute although the political situation may have made it difficult to do so.

Memorial to Owen Tudor in the Market Place, Hereford [Map]. Somewhat incongruously between a toddlers merry-go-round and a baked potato stall on the day of our visit.

Chronicle of Gregory. 2nd February 1461. Alle so Edwarde Erle of Marche [aged 18], the Duke of Yorke is son and heyre, hadde a gre jornaye at Mortymer is Crosse in Walys the secunde day of Februar nexte soo folowynge, and there he put to flyght the Erle of Penbroke [aged 29], the Erle of Wylteschyre [aged 40]. And there he toke and slowe of knyghtys and squyers, and of the,a to the nomber of iij M1 [3000]., &c.

Ande in that jornay was Owyn Tetyr [aged 61] take and brought unto Herforde este, an he was be heddyde at the market place [Map], and his hedde sette a-pone the hygheyste gryce of the market crosse, and a madde woman kembyd his here and wysche a way the blode of his face, and she gate candellys and sette a-boute him brennynge, moo then a C [Note. One hundred]. Thys Owyne Tytyr was fadyr unto the Erle of Penbroke, and hadde weddyd Quene Kateryn, Kyng Harry the VI [aged 39]. is modyr, wenyng and trustyng all eway that he shulde not be hedyd tylle he sawe the axe and the blocke, and whenn that he was in his dobelet he trustyd on pardon and grace tylle the coler of his redde vellvet dobbelet was ryppyd of. Then he said, "That hede shalle ly on the stocke that was wonte to ly on Quene Kateryns lappe," and put his herte and mynde holy unto God, and full mekely toke his dethe.

Alle soo the same day that the Erle of Marche shulde take his jornaye towarde Mortymer is Crosse fro Herforde este [Map]b, he mousterd his many without the towne wallys in a mersche that is callyd Wyg mersche. And ovyr him men sayc iij [3] sonnys schynyng.

Note a. So in MS.

Note b. Haverfordwest. [Note. While the note suggests Haverfordwest we believe this is a reference to Hereford?]

Note c. And over him men say three suns shining. A reference to the Parhelion which occurred on the morning of the Battle of Mortimer's Cross.

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Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke

Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.

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Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1509. April 1509. Will of [her grandson] Henry VII [aged 52]:

At his manor of Richmond, Surrey [Map] March 24 Henry VII., the King makes his last will, commending his soul to the Redeemer with the words he has used since his first "years of discretion," Domine Jesu Christe, qui me ex nichilo creasti, fecisti, redemisti et predestinasti ad hoc quod sum, Tu scis quid de me facere vis, fac de me secundum voluntatem Tuam cum misericordia, trusting in the grace of His Blessed Mother in whom, after Him, has been all his (testator's) trust, by whom in all his adversities he has had special comfort, and to whom he now makes his prayer (recited), as also to all the company of Heaven and especially his "accustumed avoures" St. Michael, St. John Baptist, St. John Evangelist, St. George, St. Anthony, St. Edward, St. Vincent, St. Anne, St. Mary Magdalene and St. Barbara, to defend him at the hour of death and be intercessors for the remission of his sins and salvation of his soul.

Desires to be buried at Westminster [Map], where he was crowned, where lie buried many of his progenitors, especially his granddame Catharine wife to [her former husband] Henry V and daughter to [her father] Charles of France, and whereto he means shortly to translate the remains of Henry IV in the chapel [Map] which he has begun to build (giving full directions for the placing and making of his tomb and finishing of the said chapel according to the plan which he has "in picture delivered" to the prior of St. Bartholomew's beside Smithfield, master of the works for the same); and he has delivered beforehand to the abbot, &c., of Westminster, £5,000, by indenture dated Richmond, 13 April 23 Hen VII, towards the cost.

His executors shall cause 10,000 masses in honor of the Trinity, the Five Wounds, the Five Joys of Our Lady, the Nine Orders of Angels, the Patriarchs, the Twelve Apostles and All Saints (numbers to each object specified) to be said within one month after his decease, at 6d. each, making in all £250 and shall distribute 2,£000 in alms; and to ensure payment he has left 2,£250 with the abbot, &c., of West-minster, by indenture dated (blank) day of (blank) in the (blank) year of his reign.

His debts are then to be paid and reparation for wrongs made by his executors at the discretion of the following persons, by whom all complaints shall be tenderly weighed, viz, the abp of Canterbury [aged 59], Richard bp of Winchester [aged 61], the bps of London and Rochester [aged 39], Thomas Earl of Surrey [aged 66], Treasurer General, George Earl of Shrewsbury [aged 41], Steward of the House, Sir Charles Somerset Lord Herbert [aged 49], Chamberlain, the two Chief Justices, Mr. John Yong [aged 44], Master of the Rolls, Sir Thomas Lovell, Treasurer of the House, Mr. Thomas Routhall, secretary, Sir Ric Emson [aged 59], Chancellor of the Duchy, Edm. Dudley [aged 47], the King's attorney at the time of his decease, and his confessor, the Provincial of the Friars Observants, and Mr. William Atwater, dean of the Chapel, or at least six of them and three of his executors.

His executors shall see that the officers of the Household and Wardrobe discharge any debts which may be due for charges of the same.

Lands to the yearly value of above 1,000 mks have been "amortised" for fulfilment of certain covenants (described) with the abbey of Westminster.

For the completion of the hospital which he has begun to build at the Savoie place beside Charingcrosse, and towards which 10,000 mks in ready money has been delivered to the dean and chapter of St. Paul's, by indenture dated (blank), his executors shall deliver any more money which may be necessary; and they shall also make (if he has not done it in his lifetime) two similar hospitals in the suburbs of York and Coventry.

Certain cathedrals, abbeys, &c., named in a schedule hereto annexed [not annexed now] have undertaken to make for him orisons, prayers and suffrages "while the world shall endure," in return for which he has made them large confirmations, licences and other grants; and he now wishes 6s. 8d. each to be delivered soon after his decease to the rulers of such cathedrals, &c., 3s. 4d. to every canon and monk, being priest, within the same and 20d. to every canon, monk, vicar and minister not being priest. His executors shall bestow 2,£000 upon the repair of the highways and bridges from Windsor to Richmond manor and thence to St. George's church beside Southwark [Map], and thence to Greenwich manor, and thence to Canterbury.

To divers lords, as well of his blood as other, and also to knights, squires and other subjects, he has, for their good service, made grants of lands, offices and annuities, which he straitly charges his son, the [her great grandson] Prince [aged 17], and other heirs to respect; as also the enfeoffments of the Duchy of Lancaster made by Parliaments of 7 and 19 Henry VII. for the fulfilment of his will.

Bequests for finishing of the church of the New College in Cambridge and the church of Westminster, for the houses of Friars Observants, for the altar within the King's grate (i.e. of his tomb), for the high altar within the King's chapel, for the image of the King to be made and set upon St. Edward's shrine, for the College of Windsor, for the monastery of Westminster, for the image of the King to be set at St. Thomas's shrine at Canterbury, and for chalices and pixes of a certain fashion to be given to all the houses of Friars and every parish church not suitably provided with such.

Bequest of a dote of 50,£000 for the marriage of [her great granddaughter] Lady Mary [aged 13] the King's daughter with Charles Prince of Spain [aged 9], as contracted at Richmond (blank) Dec. 24 Henry VIII., or (if that fail) her marriage with any prince out of the realm by "consent of our said son the Prince, his Council and our said executors.".

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Samuel Pepys' Diary. 23rd February 1669. Up: and to the Office, where all the morning, and then home, and put a mouthfull of victuals in my mouth; and by a Hackney-coach followed my wife and the girls [Barbara Pepys and Elizabeth Pepys], who are gone by eleven o'clock, thinking to have seen a new play at the Duke of York's [aged 35] house. But I do find them staying at my tailor's, the play not being to-day, and therefore I now took them to Westminster Abbey, and there did show them all the tombs very finely, having one with us alone, there being other company this day to see the tombs, it being Shrove Tuesday; and here we did see, by particular favour, the body of Queen Katherine of Valois; and I had the upper part of her body in my hands, and I did kiss her mouth, reflecting upon it that I did kiss a Queen1, and that this was my birth-day, thirty-six years old, that I did first kiss a Queen. But here this man, who seems to understand well, tells me that the saying is not true that says she was never buried, for she was buried; only, when Henry the Seventh built his chapel, it was taken up and laid in this wooden coffin; but I did there see that, in it, the body was buried in a leaden one, which remains under the body to this day.

Note 1. Pepys's attachment to the fair sex extended even to a dead Queen. The record of this royal salute on his natal day is very characteristic. The story told him in Westminster Abbey appears to have been correct; for Neale informs us ("History of Westminster Abbey", vol. ii., p. 88) that near the south side of Henry V.'s tomb there was formerly a wooden chest, or coffin, wherein part of the skeleton and parched body of Katherine de Valois, his Queen (from the waist upwards), was to be seen. She was interred in January, 1457, in the Chapel of Our Lady, at the east end of this church; but when that building was pulled down by her grandson, Henry VII, her coffin was found to be decayed, and her body was taken up, and placed in a chest, near her first husband's tomb. "There", says Dart, "it hath ever since continued to be seen, the bones being firmly united, and thinly clothed with flesh, like scrapings of tanned leather". This awful spectacle of frail mortality was at length removed from the public gaze into St. Nicholas's Chapel [Map], and finally deposited under the monument of Sir George Villiers, when the vault was made for the remains of Elizabeth Percy, Duchess of Northumberland, in December, 1776. B.

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Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England appears on the following Descendants Family Trees:

King John "The Good" II of France 1319 1364

Bonne Luxembourg Queen Consort France 1315 1349

Royal Ancestors of Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England 1401-1437

Kings Wessex: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Godwinson: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of King Harold II of England

Kings England: Great x 5 Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of King David I of Scotland

Kings France: Daughter of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Kings Spain: Great x 6 Grand Daughter of Alfonso II King Aragon

Royal Descendants of Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England 1401-1437
Number after indicates the number of unique routes of descent. Descendants of Kings and Queens not included.

King Henry VI of England and II of France [1]

King Henry VII of England and Ireland [1]

Ancestors of Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England 1401-1437

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Philip III of France son of King Louis IX of France

Great x 3 Grandfather: Charles Valois I Count Valois son of King Philip III of France

Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabella Barcelona Queen Consort France Great Granddaughter of Alfonso II King Aragon

Great x 2 Grandfather: King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France Grandson of King Philip III of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: Charles II King Naples Grandson of King Louis VIII of France

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Capet Countess Valois Great Granddaughter of King Louis VIII of France

Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary of Hungary Queen Consort Naples 6 x Great Granddaughter of King Harold II of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: King John "The Good" II of France son of King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh IV Duke Burgundy 4 x Great Grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert II Duke Burgundy 5 x Great Grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Yolande Capet Duchess Burgundy 6 x Great Granddaughter of Hugh I King of the Franks

Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan "Lame" Burgundy Queen Consort France Granddaughter of King Louis IX of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Louis IX of France son of King Louis VIII of France

Great x 3 Grandmother: Agnes Capet Duchess Burgundy daughter of King Louis IX of France

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Provence Queen Consort France Great Granddaughter of Alfonso II King Aragon

Grandfather: King Charles V of France son of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Luxembourg VI Count Luxembourg 5 x Great Grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Luxembourg VII Holy Roman Emperor 5 x Great Grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Avesnes Countess Luxembourg 4 x Great Granddaughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: King John I of Bohemia 6 x Great Grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John I Brabant

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Brabant Countess Luxembourg and Namur

Great x 1 Grandmother: Bonne Luxembourg Queen Consort France 7 x Great Granddaughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ottokar "Iron King" II King Bohemia 5 x Great Grandson of King Harold II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia and Poland 6 x Great Grandson of King Harold II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Kunigunda Rostislavna Přemyslovna

Great x 2 Grandmother: Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia 7 x Great Granddaughter of King Harold II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Rudolph I King Romans 11 x Great Grandson of King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex

Great x 3 Grandmother: Queen Judith of Bohemia and Poland 12 x Great Granddaughter of King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex

Great x 4 Grandmother: Gertrude Hohenburg

Father: Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France son of King Charles V of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Louis IX of France son of King Louis VIII of France

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Bourbon 1st Count Clermont son of King Louis IX of France

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Provence Queen Consort France Great Granddaughter of Alfonso II King Aragon

Great x 2 Grandfather: Louis Bourbon I Duke Bourbon Grandson of King Louis IX of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Burgundy Count Charolais 5 x Great Grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Beatrice Burgundy 6 x Great Granddaughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Dampierre Countess Artois and Charolais

Great x 1 Grandfather: Peter Bourbon Duke Bourbon Great Grandson of King Louis IX of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: John of Avesnes I Count Hainaut 4 x Great Grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John of Avesnes II Count Hainaut II Count Holland 3 x Great Grandson of King Stephen I England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Adelaide Gerulfing Countess Hainaut 2 x Great Granddaughter of King Stephen I England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Hainaut Duchess Bourbon 4 x Great Granddaughter of King Stephen I England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry "Great" Luxembourg V Count Luxembourg III Count Namur 8 x Great Grandson of King Edward "Elder" of the Anglo Saxons

Great x 3 Grandmother: Philippa Luxembourg Countess Hainaut and Holland 5 x Great Granddaughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret of Bar Countess Luxembourg and Namur 4 x Great Granddaughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Grandmother: Joanna Bourbon Queen Consort France Great Granddaughter of King Philip III of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Louis IX of France son of King Louis VIII of France

Great x 3 Grandfather: King Philip III of France son of King Louis IX of France

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Provence Queen Consort France Great Granddaughter of Alfonso II King Aragon

Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Valois I Count Valois son of King Philip III of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: James I King Aragon Grandson of Alfonso II King Aragon

Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabella Barcelona Queen Consort France Great Granddaughter of Alfonso II King Aragon

Great x 4 Grandmother: Violant Árpád Queen Consort Aragon 4 x Great Granddaughter of King Harold II of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Isabella Valois Duchess Bourbon Granddaughter of King Philip III of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: Guy Chatillon III Count Saint Pol 4 x Great Grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Guy Chatillon IV Count Saint Pol 3 x Great Grandson of King Stephen I England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Matilda Reginar Countess Saint Pol 2 x Great Granddaughter of King Stephen I England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Mahaut Chatillon Countess Valois Great Granddaughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John II Duke Brittany 3 x Great Grandson of Alfonso VII King Castile VII King Leon

Great x 3 Grandmother: Marie Capet Granddaughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Plantagenet daughter of King Henry III of England

Catherine of Valois Queen Consort England daughter of Charles "Beloved Mad" VI King France

Great x 4 Grandfather: Otto "Illustrious" Wittelsbach II Duke Bavaria

Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis "Strict" Wittelsbach II Duke Upper Bavaria 2 x Great Grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Welf Duchess Bavaria Great Granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Louis Wittelsbach IV Holy Roman Emperor 3 x Great Grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Rudolph I King Romans 11 x Great Grandson of King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex

Great x 3 Grandmother: Matilda Habsburg Duchess Bavaria 12 x Great Granddaughter of King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex

Great x 4 Grandmother: Gertrude Hohenburg

Great x 1 Grandfather: Stephen Wittelsbach II Duke Bavaria 4 x Great Grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Beatrix Świdnica Holy Roman Empress

Grandfather: Stephen "Magnificient Fop" Wittelsbach III Duke Bavaria 3 x Great Grandson of King Louis VIII of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: James I King Aragon Grandson of Alfonso II King Aragon

Great x 3 Grandfather: Peter III King Aragon Great Grandson of Alfonso II King Aragon

Great x 4 Grandmother: Violant Árpád Queen Consort Aragon 4 x Great Granddaughter of King Harold II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Frederick III King Sicily 2 x Great Grandson of Alfonso II King Aragon

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elisabeth Barcelona Duchess Bavaria 2 x Great Granddaughter of King Louis VIII of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Charles Capet of Sicily son of King Louis VIII of France

Great x 3 Grandfather: Charles II King Naples Grandson of King Louis VIII of France

Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Provence Queen Consort Sicily Great Granddaughter of Alfonso II King Aragon

Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Capet Great Granddaughter of King Louis VIII of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: Stephen V of Hungary 5 x Great Grandson of King Harold II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary of Hungary Queen Consort Naples 6 x Great Granddaughter of King Harold II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Cuman

Mother: Isabeau of Bavaria Queen Consort France 4 x Great Granddaughter of King Louis VIII of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: Pope Gregory X

Great x 3 Grandfather: Matteo I Visconti

Great x 2 Grandfather: Stephano Visconti

Great x 4 Grandfather: Squarcino Borri

Great x 3 Grandmother: Bonacossa Borri

Great x 1 Grandfather: Bernabò Visconti

Great x 2 Grandmother: Valentina Doria

Grandmother: Taddea Visconti Duchess Bavaria

Great x 2 Grandfather: Mastino II della Scala

Great x 1 Grandmother: Beatrice Regina della Scala

Great x 3 Grandfather: Jacopo I da Carrara

Great x 2 Grandmother: Taddea da Carrara

Great x 4 Grandfather: Pietro Gradenigo

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anna Gradenigo

Great x 4 Grandmother: Tomasina Morosini