As Elizabeth 1st and her sister grew from babyhood into childhood, Elizabeth 1st was a very sickly child. After her and her sister's birth, she became sick and had a fever, giving her parents quite a scare. Henry VIII had told the physicians that if his precious rose was to die, they would die along with her. When her eldest daughter still struggled with her illness, Catherine of Aragon would go to the chapel everyday and pray to God to spare the girl's life. After a week, the eldest Tudor girl survived her illness. Now, as a girl of six years of age, Elizabeth 1st grew to look much like her father but with the virtues of her grandmother, much to her parents' delight. As for her sister, Mary, the two were as thick as thieves. Elizabeth 1st was running around, smiling and giggling, as Mary chased her. Not too far from them was their governess, Lady Margret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, and three ladies-in-waiting. Lady Margret clapped her hands, trying to calm the princesses, and said to them, "Your Highnesses! Running throughout the Palace is very unladylike and unbecoming of your stature!" Elizabeth and Mary only giggles and continued their game of chase.
The two girls ran into the throne room where all the lords and ladies of the court were gathered. The herald announced, just as the girls entered, "Their Royal Highnesses, Princess Elizabeth 1st of Wales and Princess Mary Tudor!" Upon hearing of his daughters' arrival, Henry VIII turned from speaking with Thomas More and grinned. Elizabeth stopped running when her father turned to her and her sister. Mary, however, ran over to her father and said, after she had curtsied, "Papa!" Henry smiled at his youngest twin daughter and replied, picking her up, "Mary, the pearl of my world! How are you today? Are you well?" Mary smiled and replied, "I'm well, Papa." Elizabeth 1st came up to her father and sister, with grace, and curtsied to her father. Henry smiled at his eldest twin daughter and said to her, setting Mary down so he could bring Elizabeth into his embrace, "You may rise, my precious jewel." Elizabeth smiled at her father and ran into his embrace.
From the sidelines, Catherine smiled lovingly at the sight of her beloved with their children. If anyone could say anything about Catherine, it was that she was very loving and motherly towards her two daughters. Henry caught a glance at his wife and placed Elizabeth the ground. He knelt down to his two girls and said to them, "Why don't you two darlings go with your mama? I believe it is time for your lessons." Mary protested at the mention of her lessons while Elizabeth stayed quiet. Henry chuckled and said, nudging the two girls towards their mother, "Go on. I'll visit you two later." Mary walked over to her mother, smiling as she curtsied to Catherine. Catherine smiled at her youngest twin daughter and held out her hand, taking the girl's hand. She noticed that her eldest hesitated and turned back to Elizabeth. Elizabeth looked up at her father, hesitantly. Henry just gave his daughter a smile and nodded. Elizabeth curtsied to her father then walked over to her mother, taking her hand, and looked back at her father. At a young age, Elizabeth knew that her father was taking other women, who were not her mother, into his bed.
Rumors of the King and his mistresses spread throughout the court. Her mother and governess did all that they could to keep Elizabeth and Mary out of the brunt of the rumors. Elizabeth had heard about how her father had a rendezvous with one of her mother's ladies-in-waiting and she ended up having a living son, though he was a bastard. Catherine wept in sorrow and anger for days after she found out. It was a constant reminder of how her sweet baby boy died just weeks after his birth. Back to the present, Catherine led her two girls to their tutors. The man bowed to the queen and said to her, taking her hand to kiss, "Your Royal Majesty......It is a great honor to be in your presence." Catherine smiled at the man and replied, "Thank you, Mister More."
Thomas Moore, Secretary and a friend of the King, was the two princesses' tutor. Thomas smiled at the two princesses and said to them, bowing to them, "I suppose Your Highnesses are ready for your lessons?" Elizabeth nodded and replied, giving the man a slight curtsy, "We are, Mister Moore." Thomas smiled at the eldest Princess then turned to the youngest. Mary only nodded and gave a small curtsy. Catherine smiled at her daughters and said to them, kneeling down to their height, "I expect you two to be on your best behavior for Master Moore. I will be very displeased if I find out you weren't. *She turned to her eldest* Elizabeth, make sure you are doing your duty as the Princess of Wales and keep an eye on your sister." She hated to put that much pressure on her eldest but she was a reputation to uphold and it depended on her. Elizabeth nodded and replied, curtsying, "Yes, Mama." Mary did the same and said, curtsying, "Yes, Mama." Catherine smiled at her girls, bringing them into her embrace, and kissed the top of their hair. She stood and left the room, causing the two princesses and tutor curtsy/bow.