Henry VIII

Henry VIII

Name: My name is Henry Tudor, Duke of York, or as I am better known, Henry VIII.

Parents Names: My father was none other than the great King Henry VII, who was sovereign of England from 1485 to 1509, My mother was Elizabeth of York.

Brothers & Sisters: My eldest brother was Arthur, born in 1486, who married Catherine of Aragon. Margaret, my eldest sister was born in 1489 and married James IV of Scotland, and Mary, my younger sister was born in 1498 and married Louis XII in 1514.

When & Where I Was Born: I was born on June 28th 1491 at the Royal Manor of Greenwich (England), where ships sailed down the Thames to the sea.

How Old I Am Now: I am 17 years old presently, nine weeks and four days off my eighteenth birthday. Today my father has died, it is the 22nd April 1509.

Occupation Of Parents: My mother was Lady Elizabeth of York, Henry VII’s wife. My father was Henry VII, King of England until his death in 1509.

What I Look Like: They say I was a precious child, alert and observant. At 17 I inherited the throne that had been destined for my brother Arthur, I also inherited his widow Catherine. I am almost 200 centimetres tall with pink and white cheeks. My hair is auburn and I have the beginnings of a red beard. I tower over others, which helps with authority. I am clean-shaven, and my hair is combed short and straight in the French fashion. I have a round face. I keep myself trim at the moment with exercise. I enjoy shooting, singing, dancing, wrestling, casting of the bar, playing the recorder, flute and virginals, setting of

songs, making ballads, hunting and hawking. I also like to live life to the full, enjoying gambling, eating and drinking with little restraint.

.Diary

DATE: June 11th, 1509

King Henry VII’s death bed wish was for me to marry Catherine of Aragon – the princess who had been brought from Spain as the bride of my elder brother, Arthur, who had died earlier. Catherine had been betrothed to me after my brother’s death, on my twelfth birthday.

It is six weeks now since my father’s death and Catherine and I married today very quickly in the Chapel of the Franciscan Observants at Greenwich. This will now enable my coronation, which is to take place on Midsummer’s Day, to be a double crowning of King and Queen.

DATE: June 7th, 1520

Oh! It was so meticulously organised at the Field of Cl...

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...the lawn and weeding the gardens. The musicians and choristers of the court are practicing and performing down stairs in the big hall.

I am worried and concerned for I believe the Duke of Norfolk and his son, the Earl of Surrey, it appears, have been dabbling in treason. They are a threat to Prince Edward, the heir apparent. I have decided, I must act now. I may not have much time. I must strike both men down, as I must guard my son and preserve the Tudor dynasty.

Today, December 12th, 1546, my guards have arrested Norfolk and Surrey and I have had them sent to the Tower. They now await trial.

DATE: January 27th, 1547

Today Norfolk has been condemned a high traitor by Act of Parliament. I am dying, I will see Cranmer soon but not yet, first I will take a sleep.

When Henry awoke, he could hardly speak. Around midnight the archbishop arrived, but Henry could not speak, all he could do was to press Cranmer’s hand in a token of repentance and faith. Henry was dead by 2 a.m. He had reigned over England for nearly 38 years.

On February 16th, 1547, in St. George’s Chapel in the royal vault, sixteen Yeomen of the guard lowered his great coffin down to lie besides that of Queen Jane.