 Henry VII renewed his efforts to seal a marital alliance between England and Spain , by offering his second son in marriage to Arthur 's widow Catherine . Both Isabella and Henry VII were keen on the idea , which had arisen very shortly after Arthur 's death . On 23 June 1503 , a treaty was signed for their marriage , and they were betrothed two days later . A papal dispensation was only needed for the " impediment of public honesty " if the marriage had not been consummated as Catherine and her <unk> claimed , but Henry VII and the Spanish ambassador set out instead to obtain a dispensation for " affinity " , which took account of the possibility of consummation . The young Henry 's age , only eleven , prevented cohabitation . Isabella 's death in 1504 , and the ensuing problems of succession in Castile , complicated matters . Her father preferred her to stay in England , but Henry VII 's relations with Ferdinand had deteriorated . Catherine was therefore left in limbo for some time , culminating in Prince Henry 's rejection of the marriage as soon he was able , at the age of 14 . Ferdinand 's solution was to make his daughter ambassador , allowing her to stay in England indefinitely . Devout , she began to believe that it was God 's will that she marry the prince despite his opposition . 
