Catherine of Aragon's Father's Message Arrives

[00:00:00]The daughter of two monarchs was finally going to marry the one she loved. The new king officially moved forward with plans for their wedding. Meanwhile, [music] the disgraced queen mother, shunned by her grandson, grew increasingly frail in mind.

[00:00:11]>> [music] >> She clung stubbornly to the belief that Henry's marriage violated morality and ethics.

[00:00:16]>> [music] >> She was convinced it would bring divine punishment. Long-term anxiety, guilt, and unease [music] wore down the elderly queen mother completely. She took to her bed and never rose again. Inside the palace, preparations for the magnificent royal wedding were in full swing.

[00:00:29][music] Catherine had finally got what she wanted and was soon to be queen of England. In stark contrast [music] to the bustling palace, the queen mother lay alone in her bed. Tormented by guilt and mental anguish [music] day after day, she eventually drew her last breath. Just then, Catherine received a letter from her father. The contents took her completely by surprise. [music] It was not Henry who had rejected the marriage to Catherine's niece. Instead, Catherine's father had turned down the proposal of his own will. [music] The reason was that someone had proven Henry had an affair with Catherine's elder sister. Juana herself had confessed [music] to this matter. Even Catherine's maid found the news hard to believe.

[00:01:02]Elsewhere, Henry knelt in sincere prayer to God.

[00:01:04]>> [music] >> Beneath his calm appearance lay a host of troubled thoughts. Catherine was also in great turmoil at this moment. She had never doubted Henry, nor [music] had she ever questioned him. Yet, the words in her father's letter forced suspicion into her heart. After much [music] thought, Catherine voiced her doubts to Henry. The moment he heard the question, secret memories flashed across Henry's mind. Still, he firmly denied everything [music] on the spot. Relieved by his denial, Catherine let go of her worries.

[00:01:29]But just as she relaxed, Henry suddenly called out to her.

[00:01:33]>> You didn't lie with Arthur, either.

[00:01:37]Did you?

[00:01:39]>> No.

[00:01:41]As I have said, [music] I am a maid.

[00:01:46]>> As their eyes met, behind their [music] resolute gazes lay shameful and ugly secrets. Filled with lies and concealment, this marriage was perhaps doomed to unhappiness from the very start. [music]