Catherine Parr

by SJH, 10th grade

Catherine Parr was born to Sir Thomas Parr and Maud Green in 1512 in London. Her father was a close friend of King Henry VIII, and her mother was a good friend of the queen, Catherine of Aragon. Catherine Parr was very well educated for the day. She was fluent in Latin, French, and Italian. After the death of her first husband, Catherine married John Neville, 3rd Baron Latimer, who had two children.

In 1536, she and her step-children were captured by rebels and held hostage in Snape Castle because of the uprising against the king caused by his break up with the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic rebels were caught and executed. This event solidified Catherine's support for the Reformed Church.

Four months after Lord Latimer's death, Catherine married Henry VIII, having regretfully rejected Sir Thomas Seymour's proposal. At this time Henry VIII weighed about 300 pounds and had a putrid-smelling sore on his thigh which continually became infected.

Catherine's duties as queen included supervising the education of the king's children, Elizabeth and Edward. She taught them in letters, music, religion, needlepoint for Elizabeth, and swordsmanship for Edward. Catherine also continued her own studies, and she wrote Prayers and Meditations, which was applauded by the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

In the year of 1545, Henry VIII was ailing. His sore on his leg had never healed and still caused him much pain. In an attempt to take his mind off the pain, Catherine debated theology with him. She was adopting some Protestant views while he could not stand them. Two of the king's spiritual advisors seized this opportunity to accuse Catherine of heresy and convince the king to authorize her arrest. The night before her arrest, Henry VIII tried to draw her into another discussion, but having been informed by a servant, Catherine pleaded that she was only trying to take his mind off his pain and would always be in submission to him. Henry VIII spared Catherine's life and punished his advisors.

Not long after, Henry VIII died, and his nine-year-old son, Edward, became king.

Catherine secretly married Sir Thomas Seymour six months later, and in 1548, she gave birth to her only child, Mary Seymour. Catherine died in August of 1548, just six days after Mary's birth.

Catherine's greatest contribution to the Reformation was her help in the education of Lady Elizabeth, Henry's daughter. Elizabeth became queen in 1558, and her reign was very peaceful because of her tolerance for both Protestants and Catholics.