Katherine of Aragon's Royal Entrance

On November 12th, 1501, the Spanish princess Katherine of Aragon made her official entry into the City of London prior to her marriage to Arthur, Prince of Wales. This story map explores the six pageants witnessed by Katherine throughout the route, as well as the involvement in the Worshipful Companies of London, the Lord Mayor, and the Alderman in the funding and planning of this procession.

On November 12th, 1501 at 2 in the afternoon, Katherine of Aragon departed from Lambeth Palace where she had lodged since Nov. 7th. She was accompanied by her own retinue of Spanish advisors, and was met at St. George's Fields by a company of the King's men. These men included the Archbishop of York, the Dean of York, the Duke of York (a young Henry Tudor), the Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of Northumberland, the Earl of Surrey, the Earl of Essex, the Earl of Kent, the Lord Henry of Buckingham, and more.

After crossing through St. George's Fields, Katherine continued through Southwark towards London Bridge, the location of the first pageant on the route. According to The Receyt of the Lady Kateryne:

"There was on the myddes of the bridge erecte a tabernacle of two flouers, assemblaunt unto tweyne rodeloftes, in whoes lougher floure and particion there was a sete. And within the sete a faire yonge lady with a wheel in hir han in liknes of Seint Kateryne, with right many virgyns in every side of her. And in the ijde and higher floure and story, there was anothir lady in liknes of Seint Ursula with her great multitude of virgyns right goodly dressid and arayed. Above the bothe flours there was the pictour of the Trinyte, and uponiche side of thise iij storyes, oon small tabernacle square with propir vanys, and in every square of the small tabernacle, the Garter invyrond with his poysye in Frenche: Onye soit que male pens." (Kipling 2.30-42)

In addition to the pageant of Saint Katherine and Saint Ursula, Christopher Eliot, an alderman from the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, and William Mariner, an alderman from the Worshipful Company of Salters, were present at the site.

After crossing the London Bridge, Lady Katherine continued into the City of London. The second pageant presented for her along her route was at the broadest point of Gracechurch Street (in front of the Falcon) entitled the Castell with Portculleis:

"Ffurst there was in the myddis of the strete where as the watir runneth in the chanell a foundacione off stone of iij or iiij foote in highte, havyng the seid curse and voydans that the watir might usually be curraunt as he did, upon the which foundacion the castell was erecte...there was a greate gate with foldyng leves full of great barris of iron with many naylys affixed, and over the gate a lardge portcullys, and in every joynte of the portcullys a red rose...Bynethe in the openyng stode an armyd knighte cape-a-pe, as a capeten or a venturous knight, callid Pollici." (Kipling 2.127-161)

Thomas Billesdon, haberdasher, and Richard Grey, ironmonger, were the aldermen present at this pageant.

Katherine of Aragon then proceeded west from Gracechurch to the third pageant at the Conduit in Cornhill.

"There was a sete and an angell therin, the which was callid Raphaell, the angell of marriage, and on every side of the angell, this shilde of the Kinges armys upholde with a rede dragon and grehounde. And over this sete were pynnales with fanys of goolde full goodly wrought, and all the hooll pagent chekiryd with wight and grene as well without as within, set with bagges and conizansis as it was shewed. And this Pagent of the Mone was appropriat to the Princes, sheweng her fatall disposycion and destyny." (Kipling 2.314-322)

In attendance at this pageant were two aldermen, Willelmus Butteler the Grocer and John Mone the Vinter.

The fourth pageant witnessed by Katherine of Aragon during her royal entry to London took place in Cheapside between the Great Conduit and the Standard in Cheap.

"There was a whele wondurffully wrought with clowdis abought the compasse owtward...within the medill of this greate whele there was a chare, and within the chare a prince stondyng full richely beseene...In the brede of this whele, there were many dyvers figures....as they be apropered and namyd in bokys of astronomy." (Kipling, 2.485-505)

This pageant was attended by two aldermen, Johannes Weston, a mercer, and Thomas Howden, a tailor.

The fifth pageant on Katherine's entry procession route was located at the Standard in Cheape.

"Upon these postes were iiijor sage personys aftir the auncyent fachion arayed, sum with marvelous hoodes, and sum with hattes, and their robys sett full of perlys, and were semblaunt unto the prophettes...And within this trone, there was the Godhod sittyng full gloryously...And this was callid the Temple of God, exortyng and meovyng this goodly Princes to the love of God and of Holy Chirch." (Kipling, 2.547-564).

Stationed at this pageant location were two aldermen: John Holden from the Drapers and John Palmer from the Fishmongers. However, most significant for this location was the presence of the King Henry VII, Queen Elizabeth of York, and other lords and ladies, as well as French ambassadors. This royal party spectated Katherine's entry procession from the south side of the street in the house of William Geffrey, a haberdasher.

In Kipling's Receyt of the Lady Kateryne, he describes the procession that the king witnessed: "And first in this solempne and ordinat entraunce cam rudung the Mayre on horsbake in cremsyn saten...and bifore him the Sworde Berer aftir the guyse of the Citie, and aftir him the Recorder in blake velvet, the ij Shrevys and the xxiiijti Aldremen in skarlet... Aftir them cam the kinges of harodes and arolds of armys in their cote armours of silver and golde of the Kynges armys of Englond... And aftir them rode the gentilmen belonging to therl of Northumberland, and than the gentilmen belongyng to the Duke of Bokyngham, and aftir theim the squyers and knightes appoyntid by the Kyng, and aftir the seid lordes, therlys of Northumberlnd and Kent, and aftir theim the Duke of Bokyngham, and aftir them such trumpettes, shalmewes, and sakbotes to a great nombre as cam with the Princes owte of Spayne, and aftir them straungers of Spayne... And aftir theim rode the Prunces upon a great mule richely trapped aftir the manour of Spayne, the Duke of Yorke on her right hande and the Legate of Rome on her left hande." (2.653-683)

The sixth and final pageant witnessed by Katherine of Aragon during her entry procession was held at the Little Conduit by the entrance to St. Paul's Churchyard. This pageant depicted the Seven Virtues.

"Upon the floure at the hede of the steires stode the vij vertues, the iij Theologik and iiij Cardinalles, that is to seye, Feith, Hope, and Charite, Justice, Temperauns, Prudens, and Fortitude or Strength... and in the myddis sat oon full pleasauntly beseen in purpill velvett, and he was callid Honour. And in the two other setes upon the right hande and on the left hande was there ij cusshons, with iche of theime a ceptour and a cronell of gold in tokyn that they were recerved and kept for the Prince and the Princes." (Kipling 2.761-771).

Also present at this pageant were John Pasmere from the Worshipful Company of Skinners and Henry Ivy from the Worshipful Company of Shearmen.

After witnessing all six pageants, Katherine of Aragon arrived at St. Paul's Cathedral. In the churchyard, City of London officials such as the Lord Mayor John Shaa (a goldsmith), the two Sheriffs Johan Hawys and William Stede, the Recorder Sir Robert Sheffield, and 24 aldermen presented Katherine with "moch treasoure and great plentie of plate of silver and gilt."

She then proceeded to the door of St. Paul's where she was greeted by Henry Deane, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishop of Durham, Richard Foxe. Katherine then made an offering at the shrine of St. Erkenwald in St. Paul's.

After making her offering, Katherine of Aragon proceeded to Bishop's Palace, attached to the west side of Paul's Churchyard, where she was lodged for the night.

London's Worshipful Companies, or trade guilds, made up an important part of the City of London government. The Lord Mayor of London, as well as the Aldermen, Sheriffs, and Bridgemasters, were elected from and by members of the Worshipful Companies. In city events, such as the Royal Entry of Katherine of Aragon, the Worshipful Companies were also tasked with funding and participating in pageants and processions. The REED London Civic records demonstrate the involvement of the guilds for this event.

For records chronicling the overall involvement of livery companies in Katherine of Aragon's royal entry, see:

The Armourers were stationed in Cornhill, where they paid for "brekyng of the pament" as well as the railings for guild members to stand on. Below is a map depicting the area of the procession route funded by the Armourers, as well as the location of the Armourers' Hall. In 1501, the Master of the Armourers was John Sherwyn. The Worshipful Company of Armourers comes 22nd in order of precedence.

To learn more about the Worshipful Company of Armourers, see:

The Brewers were also stationed in Cornhill, where they paid the carpenter John Clerk to construct railings for the company to stand behind at the reception of Katherine of Aragon. The below map depicts the area in which the Brewers constructed their railing, as well as the location of the Brewers' Hall. The Brewers rank 14th in the order of precedence for Worshipful Companies in London,

To learn more about the Worshipful Company of Brewers, see:

The Drapers were stationed in Cheapside, where they paid a carpenter named Crosby to construct their frame for standing. In addition, the alderman from the Drapers, John Holden, stood at the pageant at the Standard in Cheapside. The below map depicts the area of the procession route where the Drapers stood, the pageant where the Drapers' alderman stood, and the location of the Drapers' Hall. The Drapers rank third in the order of precedence of Worshipful Companies.

To learn more about the Worshipful Company of Drapers, see:

The Fishmongers rank 4th in precedence. For the royal entry of Katherine of Aragon, the Fishmongers were tasked with graveling Fish Street, the south end of Gracechurch Street. The alderman from the Fishmongers, John Palmer, was stationed at the pageant at the Standard in Cheapside. Both of these locations, as well as the location of Fishmongers' Hall, can be seen on the map below.

To learn more about the Worshipful company of Fishmongers, see:

The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, ranking 5th in the order of precedence for London livery companies, had an alderman, Christopher Eliot, stationed at the pageant at London Bridge. The Lord Mayor during the time of Katherine of Aragon's royal entrance in 1501, John Shaa, was also a Goldsmith. The below map shows the location of the Goldsmiths' Hall as well as the point on the procession route where the alderman from the Goldsmiths stood.

To learn more about the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, see:

The Grocers built a railing in Cheapside to watch Katherine's entrance. In addition, Willelmus Butteler, the alderman from the Grocers, was stationed at the pageant at the Conduit in Cornhill. The below map shows these locations along the procession route, as well as the location of the Grocers' Hall. The Worshipful Company of Grocers is ranked 2nd in the order of precedence for London guilds.

To learn more about the Worshipful company of Grocers, see:

The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers ranked 8th in order of precedence for London livery companies. During the royal entrance of Katherine of Aragon, a Haberdasher named Thomas Billesdon was one of the aldermen stationed at the pageant at Gracechurch Street. Additionally, a Haberdasher named William Geffrey offered his house in front of the 5th pageant at the Standard in Cheape from which the King and other nobles watched the procession. The below map shows both locations, as well as the Haberdashers' Hall.

To learn more about the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, see:

The Worshipful Company of Iremongers, ranking tenth in the order of precedence for London guilds, paid for the paving and railing on part of the procession route (although the REED records do not specify where). Additionally, Richard Grey, the alderman from the Iremongers, stood at the pageant at Gracechurch Street.

To learn more about the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers, see:

The Mercers rank first out of the London livery companies. For the entrance of Katherine of Aragon, a Mercer named Johannes Weston was the alderman stationed at the pageant at the Great Conduit. The below map shows this pageant and the location of the Mercers' Hall.

To learn more about the Worshipful Company of Mercers, see:

The Merchant Taylors rank either 6th or 7th in precedence, switching places with the Worshipful Company of Skinners annually (in 1501, they were 6th). Thomas Howden was an alderman from the Merchant Taylors who was stationed at the Great Conduit pageant. The map below depicts this location, as well as the Merchant Taylors' Hall.

To learn more about the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors, see:

The Worshipful Company of Pewterers rank 16th in precedence in the order of London livery companies. For the entrance of Katherine of Aragon, the Pewterers built railings to stand next to the third pageant on the procession route at the Conduit in Cornhill. The map below shows this area as well as the location of the Pewterers' Hall.

To learn more about the Worshipful Company of Pewterers, see:

The Salters were 9th in the order of precedence for London livery companies. William Mariner, an alderman from the Salters, was positioned at the pageant on London Bridge for the royal entry of Katherine of Aragon. The below map shows this position and the Salters' Hall.

To learn more about the Worshipful Company of Salters, see:

The Shearmen ranked 12th in the order of precedence for London livery companies prior to their amalgamation with the Fullers in 1528 to form the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers. The below map shows the stationing of Henry Ivy, the alderman from the Shearmen, at the sixth pageant at the Little Conduit in Cheape, as well as the location of Shearman's Hall.

Although the Shearmen no longer exist, to learn more about the history of the Shearmen, see:

The Skinners are ranked either 6th or 7th in the order of precedence, switching places with the Merchant Taylors annually (In 1501, they were 7th). For the Royal Entrance of Katherine of Aragon, an alderman from the Skinners, John Pasmere, was stationed at the Little Conduit in Cheape. The below map shows this location and the location of the Skinners' Hall.

To learn more about the Worshipful Company of Skinners, see:

The Vintners rank eleventh in precedence for the London livery companies. For the Royal Entry of Katherine of Aragon, John Mone, an alderman from the Vintners Company, was stationed at the pageant at the Conduit in Cornhill. The below map shows the location of this pageant as well as Vintners' Hall.

To learn more about the Worshipful Company of Vintners, see:

The Worshipful Company of Wiresellers is an amalgamation of two livery companies, the Pinners and the Wiredrawers, who combined in 1497. It is assumed that this company later joined the larger Worshipful Company of Girdlers. For the royal entry of Katherine of Aragon, the Wiresellers hired Thomas A. Wode, a carpenter, to construct their scaffold in Cornhill in order for their company to spectate the royal entrance. The below map shows the general location of their scaffold and the location of Wiresellers' Hall.

To learn more about the Worshipful Company of Wiresellers, see:

 https://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/agas.htm 

 Boffey, Julia, editor. “The Mayor’s New Customs; Princess Katherine’s Reception Into London; the Wedding Ceremonies and Celebrations; a Dinner for the Embassy From Scotland; Prince Arthur’s Death; More Trials.” Henry VII’s London in the Great Chronicle, Medieval Institute Publications, 2019, pp. 96–111.  

Kipling, Gordon, editor. The Receyt of the Ladie Kateryne. The Early English Text Society. Oxford University Press, 1990.