Did Arthur and Katherine of Aragon have sex?

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Wed May 4th, 2011, 11:57 am

I swore I'd never read PG's The Constant Princess, but it's up for a group read at Goodreads and I said I'd give it a go. I think I'm having some issues with PG's version of things (SPOILER highlight to revealArthur asks her on her deathbed to swear they'd never had sex and instructed her to marry Henry so she could be Queen in the end)

PG's theory not withstanding, I think the idea of whether or not the two *did it* and whether or not Katherine would lie and put her faith on the line for that lie an interesting one. What say the rest of you?

MLE (Emily Cotton) · Post by **MLE (Emily Cotton)** » Wed May 4th, 2011, 12:24 pm

I vote no. Whatever PG says, Catherine's convictions and character were on display for 30-plus years. And we know the moral situation in which she was raised. I always look at the long view, when I have to decide how trustworthy a person is or isn't.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Wed May 4th, 2011, 12:46 pm

I've always felt that way as well, and why I always refused to read the book. I'm not buying into PG's version that much, but we got to talking over at Goodreads it is interesting to consider that she might be a princess first and do what she's got to do and make another dynastic marriage.

boswellbaxter · Post by **boswellbaxter** » Wed May 4th, 2011, 1:27 pm

I voted no also. I think she would have been unlikely to make her famous statement, "I was a true maid without touch of man," in front of a spellbound audience if she believed that Henry could have contradicted her--which he personally never did under oath.

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Wed May 4th, 2011, 4:31 pm

Eck! I voted wrong

I meant to vote "no".

SM

LoveHistory · Post by **LoveHistory** » Wed May 4th, 2011, 4:32 pm

I say no.

I don't think the witnesses in the trial were lying about what Arthur said though. What young man is going to emerge from the bridal chamber after the wedding night and admit that nothing happened? Of course he said they did. Doesn't mean it happened.

LoveHistory · Post by **LoveHistory** » Wed May 4th, 2011, 4:33 pm

[quote=""SonjaMarie""]Eck! I voted wrong

I meant to vote "no".

SM[/quote]

That's ok, Sonja. We all know you. We won't put you in the tower for it.

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Wed May 4th, 2011, 4:35 pm

[quote=""LoveHistory""]That's ok, Sonja. We all know you. We won't put you in the tower for it.

[/quote]

Awww thanks! I figured out how to change the totals but it still has me shown as voting for "yes".

SM

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Wed May 4th, 2011, 4:38 pm

[quote=""LoveHistory""]That's ok, Sonja. We all know you. We won't put you in the tower for it.

[/quote]

Off with her head

Thanks everyone for voting, it's looking pretty unanimous at the moment.

princess garnet · Post by **princess garnet** » Wed May 4th, 2011, 5:07 pm

Hmmm, looks like a familiar question from PG's forums.

I don't think they did either.

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