[Jonty30]

Just about succeeded in genociding the Irish.

[Gay State Conservative]

I must admit that to this day I still have nightmares about my visit to the Tower of London.

[hanamizu]

When you see pictures of religious ruins in England, you have to remember that most would still be standing if not for Henry’s seizure. He ordered that the roofs and windows be removed. Ironically, he paid for prayers for soul at one abbey he didn’t destroy—Westminster Abbey.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Strange. I’ve been watching old movies from that time all last week. ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS, A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS (two versions) and several others.

I still remember when the PBS broadcast THE WIVES OF HENRY VIII almost forty seven years ago.

[mware]

A couple episodes from The Tutors were really brutal to watch. His death was one of them. A drunken execution that took something like 5 wacks before a Yeoman finally finished him off. Thomas More at least went in one clean stroke, although original sentence was to be drawn and quartered.

[crz]

There are some GREAT BBC docu’s on about the kings and queens of England.

The Devils Brood..

About the reigns of the Plantagenets.

“From the devil we came, and to the devil we will go.”

Nasty bunch them.

[Vermont Lt]

These are great stories. Thanks for posting them.

[Jan_Sobieski]

Getting England free of Rome’s corrupt grip was worth It. Anne Boleyn’s Last prayer (before she was beheaded) was answered that England would be Christian, not Babylonian

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

Interesting. In reading the article, it appears that another famous high government official, who ordered thousands to be executed by the axe, also fell to the axe on this date, 254 years later. Maximilien Robespierre also was executed on this date, courtesy of Madame la Guillotine, in Paris in 1794. Those who live by the sword (axe/guillotine/etc.), die by the sword.

[pepsi_junkie]

If anyone enjoys historical fiction of this period there are a series of books about a hunchbacked lawyer who did work for Thomas Cromwell, mostly stuff associated with dissolution of the monasteries and the legal settlement of the property. Of course, as these things go, he gets wrapped up in various criminal intrigues and is charged to investigate and yadda yadda yadda powerful people now enemies yadda yadda. You know, that sort of thing.

The books range from Cromwell's peak through his fall, the death of Henry VIII and to where it is now, the reign of Henry's son while the lawyer is now working for Elizabeth I, at this point just 2nd in line for the throne behind her brother and sister Mary. The author is C. J. Sansom and the lead character is Matthew Shardlake. I've enjoyed them. The first book in the series is "Dissolution"