Princess Katherine ENGLAND

   Another name for Katherine was ENGLAND Princess.

   Ancestral File Number: 8XJ8-9H.

   General Notes:

Princess of ENGLAND.

Deaf and dumb, Died in childhood. TMC "Fell fast asleep after one glimpse at a world she did not like."

BOOKS
Kings and Queens of Great Britain, Genealogical Chart, Anne Taute and Romilly Squire, 1990: "Katherine, Died 1257.

A History of the Platagenets, Vol II, The Magnificent Century, Thomas B Costain, 1951, Popular Library
p20: "Katherine, Born 1253, Died in childhood..."
p171: "Katherine, the last child, was born on November 25, 1253..."
p179: "There was a poignant mingling of joy and unhappiness for the royal parents in the frief life of their last child, Katherine, who was born on November 25, 1253. It was apparent from the first that the infant gave great promise of beauty, but as she lay silently in the costly nest provided for her and showed no signs of reaction to sounds when old enough for some manifestations of an awadening interest in life, the Queen and her attendants realized that the little princess was deaf and dumb. Henry was abroad whenshe was born, and on his return a year later he was as delighted at the extreme beauty of his small daughter as he was distressed over her disabilities. She was lovelier than the impulsive Margaret or the equally pretty second princess, Beatrice, and her disposition was sweet and even. Her patient smiles led Henry into an orgy of spending for her. He ordered gold cloth for dresses for his little Katherine and he distributed among her servants and nurses a sum the equivalent of several hundred pounds in modern currency.
"The royal parents watched over their latest child with a solicitude they had never displayed before. All the doctors of London, all five of them, must have been consulted in the parental determinationto see her cured, and there was much corresponding with authorities before the bitter truth was accepted that Katherine would never be able to hear or speak. She continued of an angelic disposition, but she did not grow as she should, adding greatly to the grief of the parents. Finally she was sent to Swallowfield, where the air was believed to possess special qualities, and placed in the care of one Emma St. John. As the child displayed a great interest in animals, many pets were found for her, even a young kid which was caught in the woods. This small playmate did something to sweeten the last months in the life of the unfortunate princess, although nothing served to lengthen it.
"The grief of the King and Queen when she died was so intense that both fell seriously ill. Henry's first act on recovering sufficiently to leave his couch was characteristic: he ordered one Master Simon de Welles to make a brass figure for the tomb of the dead child in Westminster at a cost of fifty-one pound, twelve shillings, and fourpence. On second thoughts he was convinced that this tribute fell far shart of expressing the intensity of grief. Mere brass would never do. An order was given accordingly to the King's goldsmith, William of Gloucester, to carve the figure in solid silver. Henry seems to have been satisfied with the work the goldsmith produced, for he paid seven hundred pounds from the royal coffers, which, it is needless to state, perhaps,were in a sorry condition at this time.
"This was one of the few extravagances with which his subjects found no fault. There was general grief over the death of the child, and a poet of the day spoke of her as falling fast asleep after oneglimpse at a world she did not like."

ANCESTRAL FILE
Ancestral File Ver 4.10 8XJ8-9H Catherine, TMC/KQGB Katherine.