Six the Musical: The Real Herstory - Part 1

Six, a musical telling the previously unexplored stories of the six wives of Henry VIII has exploded onto the scene in the last year. Quick, clever, modern and educational, the musical is such great fun, and can be described as a pop concert meets history lesson - what's not to love?! For two musical loving history geeks like us, Six represents a perfect meeting of our interests, so we decided to delve deep into the lyrics to see just how historically accurate they really are.

The Six Queens!
Photo Credit: Idil Sukan

No Way - Catherine of Aragon

And even though you've had your fun

Running around with some pretty young thing!

And even though you've had one son

With someone who don't own a wedding ring!

Catherine is referring here to Henry's illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy, whose mother Bessie Blount was one of Catherine's maids of honour. Fitzroy (which literally means 'son of the king') was the only illegitimate child Henry openly acknowledged. He was born in 1519, ten years after Henry and Catherine had married. With Henry and Catherine having no surviving sons, it became a real possibility that Fitzroy could be legitimised and succeed his father as King one day. Fitzroy married Mary Howard, a cousin of both Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard, but then died aged only 17. 

Jarneia Richard-Noel as Catherine of Aragon
Photo Credit: Idil Sukan

So you read a Bible verse that I'm cursed

'Cause I was your brother's wife 

You say it's a pity 'cause quoting Leviticus 

I'll end up kiddy-less all my life!

The actual verse from Leviticus says: "If a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless." As Catherine reminds Henry, they already had a child - Mary - but in the eyes of Henry and contemporaries of the time, daughters didn't offer much security to a dynasty in the same way that boys did. They're undesirable and entirely forgettable. 

Catherine always denied that her marriage to Arthur (Henry's brother) had been consummated, but there were reports that Arthur said it had been. No one will ever know who was actually telling the truth - historians can only guess who had the most to gain from lying.

Contemporary portrait of Catherine

You got me down on my knees

Please tell me what you think I've done wrong

Been humble, been loyal, I've tried

To swallow my pride all along

If you can just explain
A single thing I've done to cause you pain, I'll go

This verse is a direct reference to Catherine's famous speech at Blackfriars. She spoke with real passion and fire and professed her love for Henry. She even got down on her hands and knees, saying: 'Sir, wherein have I offended you, or what occasion of displeasure have I deserved? I have been to you a true, humble and obedient wife.' Humble and loyal was her motto, and that was what she was to the husband she loved and respected so much - he just really wasn't that bothered! Their marriage was annulled in 1533.

You made me your wife 

So I'll be queen till the end of my life!

Even after the divorce, Catherine would only ever sign her name as "Katharina the Quene." In her eyes, and in the eyes of her God, she was Henry's true and legitimate wife. Catherine died in 1536, aged 50. Which leads us onto...

Don't Lose Ur Head - Anne Boleyn 

(Politics) - Not my thing,

(Ooh) - But then I met the King 

And soon my Daddy said
"You should try and get ahead"

In her role as a maid-of-honour, Anne had experience in international affairs and communications with nobles and dignitaries after serving in the various royal courts of Europe, so she'd definitely have a broad knowledge of politics. Also her father, Thomas Boleyn, was a diplomat (someone who represents their country abroad), and it is believed he played a big part in having Henry's head turn in the direction of his fair daughter.

Millie O'Connell as Anne Boleyn
Photo Credit: Idil Sukan

Three in the bed
And the little one said 

"If you wanna be wed
Make up your mind!"

Her or me, chum,
Don't wanna be some

Girl in a threesome
Are you blind?

Early on in the relationship, Henry's feelings towards Anne became clear, but she refused to get 'involved' with him whilst he was still married to Catherine. This may be because she didn't want to suffer the same fate as her sister, who had also been his mistress! To allow them to get together, Henry's first marriage would first have to be annulled. This would prove to cause quite a stir throughout Europe... 

Tried to elope
 But the Pope said "Nope!" 

Our only hope was HENRY

He got a promotion
Caused a commotion
Set in motion the C of E

As is the same today, the Catholic church does not formally recognise divorce, though a marriage can be annulled. The Pope did say nope to an annulment, but Henry really wanted to get with Anne, so he made the momentous decision to break from Rome. England was a Catholic country no longer. Casual. With him as the Supreme Head of his own church, he could divorce much more easily... The whole ordeal took seven years from start to finish - talk about dedication to the cause!

Anne Boleyn with that famous necklace!

Henry's out every night on the town

Just sleeping around like - what the hell?

If this is how it's gonna be 

Maybe I'll flirt with a guy or three
Just to make him jel

Anne gave birth in September 1533 to a girl they named Elizabeth. There were still no sons. Henry had grown tired of Anne now she had proved to be as disappointing to him as Catherine had been (sidenote: Henry is Trash). By this time, he had already decided he wanted to 'recouple up' with her maid, Jane Seymour. Famously, Anne was beheaded due to rumours that she engaged in at least five affairs with other men whilst married to Henry, though these rumours were probably much exaggerated. Henry, no doubt, welcomed them. Like we said, he is Trash!

Anne Boleyn was beheaded at Tower Hill on 19 May 1536, just four months after the death of her rival, Catherine of Aragon. Henry married Jane Seymour eleven days later.

Heart of Stone - Jane Seymour

You've got a good heart

But I know it changes

A restless tide, untameable

You came my way

And I knew a storm could come too 

You'd lift me high, or let me fall

It's important to remember that Jane had served as a maid-of-honour to both Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. She'd have seen firsthand the type of man Henry was. She knew at times he could be kind and compassionate, charming all the ladies at court, but she'd also have known how impulsive and cruel he could be with people who weren't in his favour. Henry was a tempestuous character, and Jane had witnessed the downfall of two women she'd have known intimately. Would she be able to brave the storm? 

Natalie Paris as Jane Seymour
Photo Credit: Idil Sukan

And when I say you're the only one I've ever loved

I mean those words truthfully

In comparison to Henry's first two wives, Jane had no baggage. She hadn't been previously married or promised to anyone else. Jane is remembered in history as the only wife he truly loved, because she gave him the son he so desperately desired. She was the only one of the six wives to have a funeral befitting a Queen of England, and was the one Henry chose to be buried beside. 

Soon I'll have to go

I'll never see him grow

In what is arguably the saddest lyric in Six, Jane guesses that she isn't long for this world. She died less than two weeks after giving birth to Edward, the much anticipated heir to the throne, in 1537. There's a painful irony to the lyrics when you consider that Edward died aged only 15. He never reached adulthood and so never made any real impact as king. He was later succeeded by his two half-sisters - Mary and Elizabeth - the two daughters of the women Henry had discarded so cruelly. 

Jane Seymour

Generally, Jane Seymour is considered to the meek and gentle wife. A 'plain Jane' if you will. In Six, Jane is given a real sense of agency. Gentle maybe, but not weak (seriously though, that belt!).

Make sure to tune in next week as we explore the final three Queens - Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr!


If you enjoyed reading this, why not check out our previous posts about the historical accuracy of Hamilton! You can find them: Part One and Part Two.