Tuesday 24 May 2022

Henry VIII

 

Pay attention everyone. Today's English history lesson is about King Henry VIII.

Now here's a tip for all of you history enthusiasts. Remember, in English history the answer to any question is more often than not Henry VIII.

Just answer Henry VIII and the chances are you are right. Here are some examples:

Name a popular English King - Henry VIII

Who broke away from the Catholic Church - Henry VIII

Who had his wives killed - Henry VIII

Name a song by Herman's Hermits - I'm Henry VIII I am

What is the capital of England - Henry VIII

Name three ways to cook a potato - Henry VIII, Henry VIII and Henry VIII

Every question you are likely to be asked about English history, geography, politics, economics, and any other subject the answer is likely to be Henry VIII

Did you know that during Henry VIII's reign there was a grain famine. He told his people to kill vermin that eat grains like mice, rats, and such like and he will pay them money if they handed the dead creature to the Local Authorities. Amongst the creatures on the list was the kite; a bird of prey. Someone pointed to him that the kite eats mice and birds, not grain. So in a way he was contributing to the war against vermin. Why put him on the list of creatures to be hunted? King Henry VIII reminded the people as to who was King, and the kite remained on the list.

Also, did you know that Henry VIII was short-sighted? His helmet had glass spectacles fitted to them so he could see better. The Tudors were far more advanced than we gave them credit for.

In Henry VIII's time football was a favourite pastime played between two villages. The ball was a pig's bladder and they started the game at a mid-point between two villages several miles apart. The idea was to get the ball into your village. The whole village population would play and there were no rules or referee. Anything goes. Just fight everyone else and get the ball to your village. Many people got injured and hurt. In 1540 Henry VIII banned the game because he needed soldiers for his army and too many people were getting injured and maimed playing football.

Henry VIII is best remembered as having many wives. Do you know how many? The video below will explain it all.



31 comments:

  1. HaHa! Some of the football games last Sunday
    were much the same to..! :).

    Now! Like most people, l'm into our Henry..watched
    ALL the documentaries, film, and the like..
    And Robert Shaw as Henry in 'A Man For All Seasons'
    is still very much the best played Henry..
    Keith Michell, in the TV series was good as well.....
    One thing l do remember reading about Henry, is that
    he had 122 illegitimate children, how true that is, but,
    l feel sorry for any chamber maid walking past him in
    a corridor, especially after breakfast...ooooops! You've
    just dropped your toast sire..??? :).

    And there are a couple of rumours as to what happened
    to the royal corpse overnight..after he died..
    That his coffin opened and the body was part mauled by dogs...

    What did Henry VIII say to his kids when they were
    eating?
    Tudor food...

    The second wife of King Henry VIII would never
    arrive in a room quickly....
    She would just Anne Boleyn..

    I'll give Herman a miss...HeHe! And lead singer
    Peter Noone was in Coronation as a child actor,
    for a couple of episodes back in 1961..!
    🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
    Queen Elizabeth (1st) tomorrow Victor....???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh! Sorry..It's meant to say Coronation Street..
      The soap..! As a child actor..! 3 Hail Mary's..o.k.

      Delete
    2. Lots of facts here I did not know. Like Peter Noon appearing in Coronation Street.

      I'll research Queen Elizabeth I.

      God bless, Willie.

      Delete
    3. Just noticed that to~night on the Smithsonian
      channel freeview...(ch 57)...Sky..(ch 171)....
      is a weekly repeat at 8:00pm on Henry V!!!...
      Called Henry V111 And All The Kings Mens..
      Seen it before, well worth a watch..
      I'll be watching the Chelsea Flower Show on
      BBC2 though...!

      Delete
    4. I remember going to the Chelsea Flower Show some years back. It's all about plants, and gardens and such. Not a pizza in sight.

      God bless.

      Delete
    5. If you go to the Sicilian flower show..there are
      loads there..no flowers..just pizzas..! :O)

      Delete
  2. ...I remember the Herman's Hermits' song well, but being a Yank I never gave it much thought,

    ReplyDelete
  3. nothing like a serious British history lesson from my friend, Victor!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We learn so much from history. My teacher said that I'd go down in history ... and geography, science, Maths ...

      God bless Linda.

      Delete
  4. Hi Victor, I think his wives must have had sight problems to marry such an idiot too. God bless.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Love is blind. Beauty is skin deep. Polygamy means having many mothers-in-law. Monogamy means you can't watch football on TV when you want.

      God bless, Brenda.

      Delete
  5. Thanks for the History lesson and a few smiles. I do remember Herman's Hermits, so I am not all ignorant. I also remember football with the pigs bladder. It happened once a year at hog killing time. The Adults worked at rendering the meat the kids played 'foot' ball. Just sayin'.
    Enjoyed the post.... ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The football story (soccer) I relate is true, Jack. So glad you enjoyed my offering for today. Thank you so much for visiting here.

      God bless always.

      Delete
  6. I will take these sage words of wisdom to heart. From now on my answer to every question will be King Henry VIII. Thanks, Victor!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Henry VIII: that's how to bake a potato, that's the ideal temperature of a warm bath, that's what young lovers say when they truly like each other.

      God bless, Sandi.

      Delete
  7. So glad I didn't stop reading at your mention of 'history enthusiasts'! I don't even mind having Herman's Hermits singing over and over in my brain. How I enjoyed that song; and yes, I DO recall the lyrics. That video is hysterical.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. History can be made entertaining and memorable said my teacher years ago. Because it was years ago, it is now history. Because he was a jolly old fellow it was entertaining and memorable.

      The Henry VIII video is part of a series called Horrible Histories by the BBC for school children. It makes history memorable. A number of the videos are now on YouTube.

      So happy you enjoyed today's post, Mevely. God bless you.

      Delete
  8. I am not much of a history buff, however; I did enjoy this lesson. You have a wonderful way of wording things. Most interesting! Merry Tuesday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your kind words, Nells. History can be a little dull sometimes. I like to liven it up a little.

      God bless always.

      Delete
  9. I remember Herman Hermits well!! :)
    One of my favorite movies is Anne of a Thousand Days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They were a famous group in their time.

      God bless, Happyone.

      Delete
  10. Dearest Victor,
    Well, he for sure was a very mean ruler in many ways; not only to his six wives.
    Short sighted and not a loving person in any way. Even breaking away from the Catholic Church. Of course those basic ten commandments and more, did not fit his lifestyle!
    The bottom video is not available...
    Hugs,
    Mariette

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As you say, Mariette, he was very cruel ruler. I'm sorry the song did not play. Here's another link:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFNoDsOmluA

      God bless always.

      Delete
  11. A great history lesson, indeed, Victor! An aside, I loved Herman's Hermits and this particular song. It is now on replay in my head!
    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was quite a catchy tune, wasn't it?

      God bless you, Martha.

      Delete
  12. He was possibly a great king, but not necessarily a good man. Many great men and women of history are not necessarily good men or women.

    ReplyDelete
  13. If that's Herman's Hermits, then I'm Queen Victoria.
    I have a book by Philippa Gregory, titled The Taming of The Queen, it's all about Henry the 8th and how badly he treated his wives, his court and the country in general, by indulging his whims and greedy excesses.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes that's true. He was a cruel man. But a good singer too.

      God bless, River.

      Delete

I PRAY FOR ALL WHO COMMENT HERE.

God bless you.