Page "Catherine of Valois" Paragraph 5

Catherine was still young and marriageable, a source of concern to the Lord Protector of England, the king's uncle, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester.

Rumours abounded that Catherine planned to marry Edmund Beaufort, Count of Mortain, her late husband's cousin.

Humphrey was strongly against the match, however, and in the Parliament of 1427 – 8, a bill was introduced setting the rules for the remarriage of a queen dowager.

The bill stated that if the Queen remarried without the king's consent, the husband would lose his lands and possessions, although any children of the marriage would still be members of the royal family and would not suffer punishment.

Another rule stipulated that the king's permission could only be granted once he had reached his majority.

At the time the bill was written, the king was only six years old.