St. George’s Day

St. George’s Day is the date of Arthur, Prince of Wales’s burial in the narrative, fixing his funeral amid the grief that followed his death. The date is associated with a difficult procession from Ludlow to Worcester and with the public mourning that accompanied the burial.

The Date and the Funeral Journey

Arthur was buried on St. George’s Day after a journey from Ludlow to Worcester delayed by heavy rain and flooding. The River Teme had burst its banks, the fords were impassable, and the flooded lanes made horses unsuitable for the procession. Bullock carts carried the funeral party through the mud; by the time it reached Worcester, the black cloth and plumes were soaked.

Burial and Public Mourning

Hundreds gathered to watch the cortege pass through Worcester to the cathedral, where Arthur’s coffin was lowered into a vault beneath the choir. His household servants broke their staves of office and placed them in the grave, marking the end of their service to the dead prince. The funeral thus joined a public expression of grief to the formal closing of his household.

The Anniversary and Remembrance

The narrative distinguishes the burial date from the anniversary of Arthur’s death. On 2 April 1503, a year after his death, Catalina spent the day in the chapel at Durham House, attending a memorial Mass and keeping a private vigil. St. George’s Day therefore anchors the account of the burial, while 2 April marks Catalina’s later act of remembrance.