Six the Musical: The Real Herstory - Part 2

A few weeks ago, we wrote a post all about the historical accuracy of Six the Musical, looking at the first three Queens and praising the shows skill and hilarity.

You can read that post here if you haven't already! Now we are back and talking about Henry's last three wives...

Whilst Henry wasn't usually one for moping around after the end of a marriage, and seemed to get back in the saddle rather quickly, after the death of his 'true' love Jane Seymour, the King waited 3 years before considering marrying again. In 1540, Henry began his search for lucky number 4, and the whole charade commenced once more...

Get Down - Anna of Cleves

Sittin' here all alone

On a throne

In a palace that I happen to own

Anna and Henry were married for a grand total of six months. Anna (or Anne, as she is also known) however, didn't suffer humiliation or embarrassment on the world stage. Instead she prospered, and was probably the most successful of all of the six queens of Henry VIII.

When her marriage to Henry was annulled, Anna didn't make a fuss, in fact she and Henry remained on good terms. He awarded her the title of ''The King's Sister,' a permanent place at court, and enough money to live on comfortably for the rest of her life. It is indeed true that she owned her own palace, and actually had several too her name, including Hever (formerly belonging to the Boleyn family) and Richmond Palace. The latter is also referred to in her song when Cleves lets us know she's 'doing my thing in my palace in Richmond!' Talk about a good divorce settlement!

Alexia McIntosh as Anna of Cleves
Photo Credit: Idil Sukan

Cause I'm a playa 

//

So I have a little flirt with a footman 

When looking at the historical accuracy of a piece, it's as important to address what's not real as it is too talk about what is true! Throughout Anna's song, there is a strong case built to suggest she was quite flirty and played the field well after her divorce to Henry, but we couldn't find any evidence to support this fact. At least in the musical she's having a good time, though! Similarly, the line

Symbolic of my faith to the higher power

also has little evidence to support it. In fact, the line might be satirical, as Anna converted to different religions throughout her life.

Anna of Cleves

You said that I tricked ya, 

'Cause I didn't look like my profile picture

In the musical, between Queens three and four, we take a break to learn about legendary painter Hans Holbein. Henry wanted to choose his fourth wife for himself and so sent his mate Holbein around the world, painting portraits of women in court to bring back to him so he could select the most beautiful. Henry chose Anna from her portrait, but when she arrived fresh off the boat from Europe, Henry declared she looked like a 'Flanders Mare.' Rude!! He tried to use her apparent unattractiveness as a reason for divorce, but Anna didn't do too badly out of it and remained his friend, so surely there's no bad blood there. Can't say we would be so forgiving!

When I get bored

I go to court

As previously demonstrated, Anna did very well from her divorce settlement; she was given an allowance of £500 a year, which at the time was big bucks. Having so much money allowed her to enjoy lots of freedoms, including spending her free time gambling, and spending much of her money on beautiful clothes. Legend.


All You Wanna Do - Katherine Howard

Take my first music teacher

Henry Manox,

I was young, it's true

But even then I knew

The only thing you wanna do is...

After the death of her mother when she was a young girl, Katherine was sent to live with her step-grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk. The Duchess cared for many poor or orphaned relatives, and Katherine was no exception. When she was around the age of 12 or 13, Henry Manox who was actually about 36-years-old, began grooming her. Years later he was accused of trying to 'seduce' her, Katherine herself saying that he flattered her and she "being but a young girl ... suffered him at sundry times to handle and touch the secret parts of [her] body."

Aimie Atkinson as Katherine Howard
Photo credit: Idil Sukan

But then there was another guy, Francis Dereham

Manox was later banished from the Dowager Duchess's household - then came Francis Dereham. He was the secretary to the Dowager Duchess, and again, was older than Katherine... Many people knew of their relationship, and it is said that Francis and Katherine actually referred to each other as 'husband' and 'wife.' 

So I decided to take a break from boys

And you'll never guess who I met...

Tall, large, Henry the Eighth

Supreme Head of the Church of England

Katherine's uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, found a place at court for her, in the household of Anna of Cleves. Henry's head was quickly turned... Soon after her arrival, Henry began presenting Katherine with gifts and clothes. Her family her revered at court; they gained influence as they had once before, when Henry's attentions turned to Katherine's unfortunate older cousin, Anne Boleyn. It's known that Henry paid her many compliments, calling her the "very jewel of womanhood." Flatterer. 

They were married on 28 July 1540, mere weeks after Henry's marriage to Anna was annulled. 

Katherine Howard

Except for this one courtier

He's a really nice guy just

So sincere

The royal life isn't what I planned 

But Thomas is there to lend a helping hand

Henry and Katherine hadn't been married very long at all when she embarked on an affair with Thomas Culpeper. They met covertly, helped out by Lady Rochford, Jane Boleyn, Katherine's cousin-in-law. 

When rumours went around court, Lady Rochford was interrogated and threatened with torture. Eventually, she confessed to being Katherine and Culpeper's lookout. Love letters from Katherine to Thomas were found, and used as evidence against her. Her entire sexual history and past relationships were examined, and she was found guilty of adultery. Thomas Culpeper and Francis Dereham were executed on the same day.

In the hours leading to her execution, Katherine spent her time practising how to lay her head on the chopping block. There is an urban myth that some of her last words were "I die a Queen, but I would rather have died the wife of Culpeper." Katherine was only about 18 or 19-years old.  

I Don't Need Your Love - Catherine Parr

You know I love you boy

in every single way

//

I wish that I could stay with you

and keep the life I made with you 

When Catherine was first courted by Henry, she was in fact already in love with someone else - Thomas Seymour, who was actually Jane Seymours brother! Her love remained, and she finally got to marry Thomas after Henry's death, but it is rather sad to think she had no choice over her own life and had to deny him for so long.

Maiya Quansah-Breed
Photo credit: Idil Sukan

I've got no choice

with the King I stay alive

//

When Henry says it's you, then it's you.

No matter how I feel

it's what I have to do

Having watched Henry already engage in 5 marriages, it must have been pretty clear to Parr that what he says go's. Henry persuade Catherine, and it seems Parr felt no choice but to say yes - she had seen what happened to the other Queens who displeased him! Plus, if she denied the King, the consequences could have been terrible for her family. As it goes, Catherine put in a great deal of effort to make the marriage work, trying to avoid the same sticky ends as those before her.

Remember that I was a writer

I wrote books and psalms and meditations

In the more empowering section of Parrs song, she lists her personal achievements. It is true that she was an author in her own time, and even had two books published under her name, 'Prayers or Meditations' in 1545, and 'The Lamentations of a Sinner' in 1547. We love a powerful woman!

Catherine Parr

Fought for female education

Whilst we can't find anything to support this statement, it is true that Parr was in charge of organising the education of all the King's children, including his daughters. However, she was influential in passing the Third Succession Act in 1543, which meant that Henry's daughters were placed back in line of succession to the throne, so it is clear to us that she still fought for women's rights in some capacity 

I even got a woman to paint my picture

This is another one of those pesky lines that we can't find proof for, but that doesn't mean it's not true! Whilst not recorded, a lady named Susannah Hornebolt worked in many a wife of Henry's privy chamber, including that of Parr. Hornebolt is claimed to be the first female artist in Britain, and due to her proximity to parr could easily have painted her, but we just cannot say.

We hope you enjoyed learning some facts about these Queens, and that you don't get the soundtrack stuck in your head for too long after reading this! Thank you for reading!