"The King," wrote Catherine's confessor, "adores her, and her highness him." Less than eight months later, on the 1st of January, 1511, she was delivered of her first-born son.[496] A tourney was held to celebrate the joyous event, and the heralds received a handsome largess at the christening.

The child was named Henry, styled Prince of Wales, and given a serjeant-at-arms on the 14th, and a clerk of the signet on the 19th of February.

Three days later he was dead; he was buried at the cost of some ten thousand pounds in Westminster Abbey.

The rejoicings were turned to grief, which, aggravated by successive disappointments, bore with cumulative force on the mind of the King and his people.

In September, 1513, the Venetian ambassador announced the birth of another son,[497] who was either still-born, or died immediately afterwards.