K.O.A did prove herself quite capable of ruling efficiently, during Henry’s campaign in France. Her actions when Scotland decided to put the boot in when Henry was in France proved that. James 4th seriously underestimated Katherine. He thought with Henry away he could just sweep into England and take the English throne by right of conquest via his wife Margaret (Henry’s elder sister).
I had to have a giggle when I read about Henry blowing his trumpet saying how wonderful he was etc, in being able to capture a few live French dukes and that they were to housed befitting their status, because he wanted some money for them from the French King. K.O.A shot down Henry’s pathetic little victory by sending him the bloodstained coat of James 4th, with a letter which said “You send me some live French Dukes but look here I send you the coat of a dead King.” There is a little bit more to this but I can’t say whether it was true or not the extra bit alledgely said “I was going to send you his body but the English Halberds wouldn’t stomach it” Somehow I don’t think Henry was very pleased with K.O.A’s choice of words.
Mary was brought up to know that she would one day be Queen but always in deference to her husband. England however was always going to be hers reguardless of a husband or not. Unfortunatly she lacked the very skills that may have made her a successful ruler, and her stubborn grip of her faith didn’t help the situation much either. I actually wonder if she was trying too turn back time in some way? Trying to recapture the England she knew as a child? If that was true she was always going to be disappointed as the England she knew as a child had changed rapidly, and now that the people had tasted freedom and religious freedom etc, they certainly wouldn’t want to be put back in their cages again.
Maybe if Mary moved with the times and excepted that each man, woman and child has the right to worship in anyway they feel, her reign would have been a lot more peaceful. But her insistance that there was the Catholic way or no way was just too much for people.
That’s where Elizabeth succeded where Mary failed she didn’t ram her religious views down people’s throats. I feel very sorry for Mary in some ways but I would still like to pick her up by the scruff of the neck and give her a good shaking too.

LadyPrincess said

Boleyn said

K.O.A did prove herself quite capable of ruling efficiently, during Henry’s campaign in France. Her actions when Scotland decided to put the boot in when Henry was in France proved that. James 4th seriously underestimated Katherine. He thought with Henry away he could just sweep into England and take the English throne by right of conquest via his wife Margaret (Henry’s elder sister).

I’m sort of surprised that Henry wasn’t envious of Katherine during her role as Regent. But then again, I guess he was so full of his own importance and “conquests” that it didn’t occur to him to think that KOA had done better than him.

I rather think that he was jealous of K.O.A’s victory over Scotland. When he came crawling back from France, many of his men had the flux he made a big deal out of the fact that, Henry King of England had done what his great ancestor Henry V had done gone to fight against the French, Blah Blah Blah. But what had Henry actually acheived? In short Sod all, ok so he captured a few small towns. BIG DEAL and when he realised that the cost of keeping them was more trouble then they were actually worth he basically sold them back to France. A little bit of trivia here. The duke de’ Longville one of Henry’s captives, acted as Louis’s proxy in his marriage to Henry’s sister Mary, when she became Queen of France he was also given the task of escorting her to her bridegroom.
K.O.A victory over Scotland far outshone Henry’s little escapades, but when he returned he made sure that the celbrations for his escapades and galavanting around France far outshone K.O.A’s victory.
He didn’t like being shown up for what he was, basically he was afraid of getting his hands dirty. Henry V got stuck in and came within a inch of taking the French throne and perhaps would have done if he hadn’t of died so untimely. Henry 8 on the other hand was quite happy to sit at the back and reap the benefits from the hard work of others. in short a coward.

I hope this works.. I found it very thought provoking..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..A3-5KzHvfA

Yeah I know Sharon. it’s annoying too. I’ll try to find a working link..

Sharon, Oil up the rack you are going to need it.
Anyanka, Sharpen the points on the Iron Maiden.
Everyone else just pick up something to chuck at me. LOL
An off the latch idea comming up.
Is it possible that Elizabeth had a mild form of Marfan’s syndrome? She does seem to exhibit some signs that she does have the condition. Long fingers, and her body too in some pictures does seem to be quite elongated. She also suffered with headaches and I’m not sure that she may have had pain in her legs in later life. Also her feet in the Armada Portrait seem to be quite large and wide,to me at any rate.
I have also read somewhere some years ago that one of Elizabeth’s shoulders was slightly higher than the other giving the appearence of a deformaty.
If she did have Marfan’s (which was an unknown thing at that time) she was probably aware that she look different to the other ladies in her court, none of them had long slim fingers or her long wasp like body.