I am delighted to be hosting Day 3 of Amy Licence’s blog tour for her latest book The Six Wives and Many Mistresses of Henry VIII. Today’s guest post is an extract from Amy’s book taken from Chapter 33, “Love Letters” 1526-7.
Be sure to leave a comment after the extract, for your chance to win a copy of ‘The Six Wives and Many Mistresses of Henry VIII‘, kindly donated by Amberley Publishing.
Conditions of Entry
For your chance to win a copy of The Six Wives and Many Mistresses of Henry VIII you must be subscribed to On the Tudor Trail’s newsletter (if you are not already, sign up on our homepage).
Then simply leave a comment after this post between now and 29 October 2014. Don’t forget to leave your name and a contact email.
This giveaway is open internationally.
A winner will be randomly selected and contacted by email once the competition has ended. Please ensure you’ve added natalie@onthetudortrail.com to your address book to avoid missing my email.
Good luck!
The Early Days of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn’s royal suitor was undergoing a period of transition. The years 1524-6 had been a time of intense personal challenge for the King and Queen, bringing them to the recognition that their relationship had permanently changed. Their hopes of another child had been dashed and the future path of the Tudor dynasty was uncertain. Henry was no longer the “green” young man who had wooed women entirely for pleasure, as sexual adventures and playthings, as parallels for the hart he hunted in the forest, and outlets for his physical needs. After each previous romance, he had returned to Catherine as his wife and equal, whose breeding and position meant that none of his paramours could really offer any competition. By 1526, those days were gone. Henry was thirty-five and his wife was forty. In these years, the King was facing some difficult decisions about his future.
Miniature of Anne Boleyn attributed to John Hoskins
Henry appears to have fallen in love with Anne by early February 1526. At the Greenwich shrovetide jousts, he dressed in embroidered gold and silver, which bore the device of a “mannes harte in a presse, with flames about it,” and the motto “declare, I dare not.” His opponents, headed by the King’s cousin, Henry Courtenay, Marquis of Exeter, were dressed in green and red velvet, decorated with of burning hearts. Over this image was that of a woman’s hand “commyng out of a cloud, holdyng a garden water pot, which dropped silver drops on the harte,” giving relief. This symbolism revealed a new object of affection, the pain of concealed love and the remedy, which was within the reach of the right woman.
During the celebrations, Henry “did service” to the Queen and her ladies. This would have included Anne, to whom his cryptic message was directed. It is likely that, by this time, she was aware of his meaning. Equally Catherine may have seen the signs but not known the identity of her rival: it is impossible to know just how aware she was of the flirtations taking place in her household. However, the joust then took a violent and shocking turn. In an accident reminiscent of that Henry himself had endured in 1524, when a lance splintered against his helmet, Sir Francis Bryan was injured by the “chance shivering of the spere.” He lost an eye and would always wear a patch as a consequence. Such an accident would kill the King of France, Henri II, in 1559. It was another reminder of the fragility of life and that death could strike at any time, even in the royal circle. If the King was to meet an untimely end, the realm would be left in the hands of a ten-year-old girl.
Henry VIII by Hans Holbein the Younger c. 1536
Henry’s embroidered motto may have stated that he dared not declare his love, but this was only in a public arena. He knew the Queen was watching. In private, though, he did not hesitate to make his feelings plain. At some point, early in 1526, he found an opportunity to speak to Anne alone, perhaps as she sewed costumes of silver and gold, or sat reading in a garden or alcove: the scene has been imagined many times by historical novelists. He also ordered his goldsmiths to make four gold brooches that continued the motifs of desire and hope, using the visual symbols of hearts and hands, tongues and eyes, which poets like Wyatt deployed in verse. It was part of the playful romantic games of the age to send symbolic messages in gifts, that represented some virtue or desire, to be decoded by the recipient. Another method was to use the language of flowers, selecting particular blooms for a nosegays or bouquet. As Shakespeare reminds us in Hamlet, there was rosemary for remembrance, pansies for thoughts, daisies for unhappy love, violets for faithlessness. The royal wardrobe in 1532 included a range of such symbols once created as messages before having lost their context: eight separate legs made of silver, a silver hand, a tooth of silver and two silver breasts. Perhaps at some point they had been lovers’ tokens.
Book Tour Schedule
Monday 20th – Olga at Nerdalicious interviews Amy Licence
Tuesday 21st – Claire at The Anne Boleyn Files, with an extract about Henry’s relationship with Mary Boleyn.
Wednesday 22nd – Me!
Thursday 23rd – Lara at www.tudorhistory.org with an extract about Jane Seymour
Friday 24th – Darren at The Tudor Roses with an extract on Catherine Parr
Saturday 25th- Stephanie at www.thetudorenthusiast.weebly.com with a final interview.
Sunday 26th- Amy concludes her blog tour with a post on her blog His Story, Her Story authorherstorianparent.blogspot.com
Having studied English literature and culture at university Henry and his wives played an important part in my studies. I still find it very fascinating. 🙂 I look forward to reading this book!
This book sounds so interesting. Definitely needed for my winter reading collection!
I am French and my favorite books are English. I love reading on that period of English history.
I have had a fascination with Henry VIII and his six wives since I was 12, having read this extract I know that this book is a must have, it is so interesting and easy to read.
I never tire of reading about this period and the people that filled it. Currently working my way through ‘In Bed with the Tudors’ and this book is on my Christmas list 🙂
Wow let me read more I cannot get enough tudors
This book is at the top of my summer reading program…Im hoping for a Very Tudor Christmas this year.
This seems like a very interesting read. I would like to know more about this time.
I would love a copy of this book to add to my ever growing book collection but also to add another title by Amy Licence.
Fingers crossed 🙂
It’s nice to get a different viewpoint on life with Henry VIII. I have added this book to my TBR list. Thanks for the giveaway! raquel36m(at)gmail(dot)com
Ms. Licence plants the reader squarely in the hushed recesses of corridors, and the cozy corners of lush and vast gardens. This looks to be a fascinating read, with details of our ill crossed lovers, that you won’t find anywhere else.
I’d love to read this book! I’ve been obsessed with the Tudors for as long as I can remember, and I read everything about them that I can get my hands on!
I have read several of Amy’s books. She is a thorough researcher and engaging writer. I am looking forward to reading this book as well.
This book sounds great! I love learning and relearning about my favorite dynasty!
great giveaway!
A continued quest of learning!
I am a huge fan of Queen Anne , King Henry and his other wives! I love to read as much as i can on them!
Looks to be an interesting read.
I started reading historical novels when I was about 12 years old and have always been fascinated by English history, more than my own dutch history. Specially Henry VIII, after watching Henry VIII And His 6 Wifes, somewhere in the 70s. I will definitely get this book, it looks a very interesting read.
Love everything about Henry VIII’s reign. Looks like a fab read!
I remember being fascinated by Henry VIII and his wives from a very young age. Anne Boleyn was one that caught my attention the most. I look forward to reading this book.
Sounds like a good read.
A must for Tudorians
The whole notion of embroidered mottoes with hidden meanings and the hidden language of flowers is very romantic. We could use something similar nowadays.All these colourful mottoes must have added to the excitement of the jousts.Thank you for the giveaway.
denannduvall(at)gmail(dot)com
I am absolutely intrigued by Anne Boleyn and her relationship with Henry VIII. Thank you for this interview…it makes me even more excited to read the book.
This sounds remarkably fun to read and is intriguing beyond words.
I love reading about Tudor history and this book is on my must read list.
Amy is so talented. I enjoy all of her writings. Would relish a copy of this book!
Despite all I’ve read about Henry and his many liaisons I still cannot decide if I would have liked him or hated him! Looking forward to another good read here
I would love to read the book!! It seems exciting!!
I can’t wait to read more. The Tudors fascinate me!
“As Shakespeare reminds us in Hamlet, there was rosemary for remembrance, pansies for thoughts, daisies for unhappy love, violets for faithlessness.”
What an interesting abd sweet reminiscence! It is lamentable that we no longer speak in “flower”. It’s beautiful, fun to figure out, and, most importantly, shows someone you spend time thinking of them!
Thank you, once again for sharing very unique, historically educating, and enjoyable article!
Amber
Would love to know more about Henry and his many women from Amy’s perspective
I would love to know more about Henry and his loves from Amy’s perspective
Love to know more about the mistresses.Anything new coming out about the amazing Tudors always catches my attention.I can’t wait to read it.
Love the romances that Henry has with his ladies and then courts his Queen. The poor queen must have sadly been acutely aware that she could no longer conceive a child and that Henry was looking for more than just another fling or sexual encounter. When she realised that Henry had secretly asked Wolsey to open a secret investigation into the validity of his marriage in 1526 and then realised that he had begun another, more full on affair, this time with the other Boleyn sister: Anne, her heart must have sank. It must also have become apparent that this was not just another affair some time in 1527 and that she would have to fight to defend her rights as Queen, mother and consort. Look forward to reading this book as it gives us the stories from the point of view of the women, gives the women a voice, women so often silent and hidden from history.
Henry VIII and his wives grabbed my attention when I was a little girl. I’m still fascinated by the Tudors.
I love reading the history of the British Royals!
This fascinating little extract has me captivated already!
Cannot wait to get my hands on this book, I’ve always been fascinated by the Tudors so got my fingers crossed that I might win this!
Have a passion for all things Tudor and recently have discovered your site.
This book would be a welcome addition to my knowledge.
Would love to win this book!
Even though I have no more room in my Tudor bookshelf, I will always be able to squeeze in one more. My mother thinks I am crazy but whenever we go somewhere I have to visit the book stores and second hand shops to see if there are any more stories about the medieval ages that I do not have. I would love to be a winner of this book.
Can’t wait to read this!
I’d love to read this book. It most of been very romantic to be wooed by the King of England. He seemed so in love with Anne.
I’d love to read a more recent investigation on Henry and his wives!
Cannot wait to read it and find out more about this fascinating woman!
The more I learn about Queen Anne, the more I want to learn. Her history is so full and rich but her live was so short. I really would love to read this book. Thank you so much for the chance to win a copy and for this site. I love reading the comments and posts and share many of them with my family and friends.
Like so many, I love to read about this period in history. And the less fictional the better.
shermie40 at yahoo dot com
Loved the article above…I know I would love the book too.