Comprehensive Notes on Henry VIII, New Ideas, and Elizabeth I

Henry VIII

  • Early Life and Appearance:

    • Described as the handsomest prince, tall with fine legs, light skin, and reddish-brown hair in the French style.
    • His face was considered so beautiful it could suit a woman.
    • He was proficient in French, English, Latin, and some Italian.
    • Skilled in music, playing the lute and harpsichord, and capable of singing on sight.
    • Strong archer and jouster.

  • Physical Descriptions at Age 30:

    • Very handsome and well-built with a golden beard.
    • Skilled in music and horsemanship, and clever with words.
    • Observed prayers frequently, three times a day when hunting and five times a day when at home.

  • Key Considerations Regarding Descriptions:

    • Written sources mention scars on Henry's face, which are absent in portraits.
    • Portraits can reveal Henry's interests and how he wanted to be perceived.
    • Clothing and jewelry choices in portraits were deliberate for projecting a specific image.

  • Christmas Celebration Account (Age 22):

    • A "Mount" called the "Riche Mount" was brought into the hall, decorated with silken flowers and gold.
    • The King and five others, dressed in crimson velvet, sat around a beacon on top of the Mount.
    • Four woodhouses (madmen) pulled the Mount before the Queen.
    • The King and his company danced, after which six ladies emerged from the Mount and danced.
    • The King then joined the Queen for a sumptuous banquet.

  • Analysis of the Christmas Feast:

    • The "mountain" was likely a constructed prop.
    • The "madmen" may not have been genuinely insane.
    • The event signifies Henry's lavish spending on festivities.

New Ideas and Lands

  • Printing Press and Spread of Ideas:

    • Books were initially copied by hand in monasteries under Church control.
    • The Church dictated what was copied and what was burned.
    • The invention of the printing press by individuals allowed for faster production and wider dissemination of books.
    • Printing presses could produce hundreds of copies in months, compared to a year for hand-copying.
    • New ideas challenging the Church were published, such as Galileo's proof that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
    • Anatomists like Vesalius defied the Church by dissecting dead bodies to study organs.
    • Discoveries revealed the Earth was round and introduced new continents.

  • Exploration and its Impact:

    • Explorers aimed to reach Asia by sailing west but discovered North and South America.
    • Christopher Columbus's voyage from Spain in 1492 marked a pivotal moment.
    • Columbus's writings reveal his intentions to exploit native populations as servants or slaves.

  • Historical Context of Medical Practices:

    • People believed illnesses were caused by excess blood, leading to treatments like bleeding.
    • Practices included cutting patients, using leeches, or heated 'cupping glasses'.
    • Herbal remedies were popular, with plants chosen based on their appearance.
    • For example, liver-shaped leaves were thought to cure liver diseases.
    • Paracelsus advocated for learning from patients directly, not just books.
    • Vesalius and others dissected bodies to understand anatomy, challenging traditional knowledge.
    • Michelangelo dissected bodies to realistically paint human anatomy.

  • Henry VIII's Health Timeline:

    • Age 20: Smallpox
    • Age 30: Head injury in a jousting contest
    • Age 40: Malaria attacks and ulcers on the leg
    • Age 50: Serious head injury in a jousting contest and ulcers on both legs
    • Age 56: Possible blood clot on the lung, breathing difficulties, difficulty walking, and headaches
    • Various plants like holly, feverfew, calendula, vervain, and periwinkle were used for treatment.
    • Ulcers were treated with poultices, sometimes using moldy bread.

  • Tools and Inventions:

    • Windmills and water wheels used for grinding grain.
    • Hurdy-gurdy used for making music.
    • Perspective glass used for studying stars.

Break with Rome

  • Henry VIII's Defiance of the Pope:

    • The Church, led by the Pope, opposed Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon.
    • Henry declared himself head of the Church in England.
    • He closed monasteries and convents, claiming monks and nuns lived sinfully and wastefully.
    • Monasteries owned vast lands and employed many people.
    • Their closure led to land being used for sheep farming, benefiting wool traders but increasing food costs and unemployment.
    • Uprising in northern England led by Robert Aske against Henry's actions was suppressed.

  • Monasteries and Their Role:

    • Monasteries provided teaching, preaching, lodging, and financial assistance.
    • They maintained sea walls, dykes, bridges, and roads.
    • Destruction of monasteries involved tearing lead from roofs, breaking tombs, and burning furniture.

  • Reformation and Changes in the Church:

    • Printed Bibles led to the identification of mistakes in Church teachings.
    • English translations of the Bible appeared, initially banned by Henry.
    • Under Edward VI, further reforms were enacted:
      • Priests were allowed to marry.
      • Churches were stripped of statues and finery.
      • A simplified English prayer book was introduced.
      • Ordinary tables replaced altars.

  • Religious Turmoil:

    • Monarchs alternated between Protestantism and Catholicism, causing instability.
    • Mary I (Bloody Mary) reverted to Catholicism, reversing Henry's and Edward's reforms.

Thomas More

  • More's Opposition to Henry:

    • Thomas More opposed Henry's break with the Church.
    • Appointed Lord Chancellor, but resigned due to his beliefs.
    • Refused to sign a document supporting Henry's control of the Church.
    • Imprisoned, convicted of treason, and beheaded in 1535.

  • More's Character and Beliefs:

    • A scholar interested in various fields of learning.
    • Known for his pleasant personality and humor.
    • Devout, spending time in prayer.

  • Legacy:

    • Inspired Roman Catholics and those loyal to the Pope.
    • His life depicted in the film "A Man for All Seasons."

Elizabeth I

  • Early Life and Appearance:

    • Born in 1533, praised by Shakespeare in Henry VIII.
    • Never married, claiming to be 'married to her country'.
    • Descriptions of her appearance varied, with some noting wrinkles, black teeth (due to sugar consumption), and red hair.

  • Portraits and Image:

    • Had many portraits painted to convey specific messages about herself.
    • Her clothing and jewelry reflected foreign fashions and trade.

  • Defense Against the Armada:

    • In 1588, King Philip of Spain sent the Armada to attack England.
    • Elizabeth delivered a speech to her troops, portraying herself as both a woman and a king.

  • Challenges and Dangers:

    • Imprisoned in the Tower of London by her half-sister Mary.
    • Faced threats from Roman Catholics who wanted Mary Queen of Scots on the throne.
    • Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned and later executed.