Evening star., 1929-06-29
THE LIBRARY TABLE
BY the Booklouer

Bosworth, where Richard III had been
killed, the War Of the Roses was ended
and the House of Tudor was founded
Henry of Richmond, who now became
Henry VII, traced his claim to the
throne through devious paths. He was
the son of Edmund Tudor and Mar
garet Beaufort; through his mother he
was descended from those Beauforts
who were the children OF John of Gaunt
and his mistress, Catherine Swynford,
iegitimatized by Parliament; on his
fathers side he was descended from
Owen Tudor, who married the widow OF
Henry v, Catherine of France. Be-
cause he was rather doubtful of the
validity Of his claim to be of the royal
line. Henry VII gained authorization of
his kingship from both Parliament and
OF conquest So the Tudors were from
the beginning IN a sense upstarts. This
Iact helps an understanding of the
policies and Of many of what seem
isolated acts OF the reigns of both Henry
VII and Henry VIII and even of Eliza
beth. Both Henry VII and Henry VIII
were very anxious to found a continuing
royal line; they were dynaSts. The new
biography, Henry the Eighth" by
Francis Hackett, makes plain this CEN
trail motive In the life of the most
spectacular Of the Tudors and the one
who had the most revolutionary effect
on English history.
All the European intrigues and al
liances Of Henry VIII were for the
purpose of placing England, Just
emerging as q wealthy nation, in a
position OF leadership In Europe and
for the aggrandizement of the House
of Tudor. This devotion to dynasty
came to him by inheritance from his
father for of Henry VII Mr.. Hackett
says: Into the close fabric of his mind
the one idea that rooted firmly was his
family's fortune. England he dragged
after him, like a handcart." Henry
VIII, boy of 18 when he came to the
throne. decided Immediately on alliance
with Spain and lost no time in marry
ing Catherine OF Aragon, his older
brothers widow, who had been q neg
lected dweller at the English court for
eight years. She was the daughter of
Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain and
soon an alliance with Ferdinand and
Maximilian of Austria against Louis
XII OF France was formed. Henry went
OF to France for the war, but soon his
allies. both "old stagers," left him in
the lurch. They made q secret truce
with Louis without consulting Henry.
With little logic and less kindliness
Henry vented his wrath on Catherine
From the first, seeing Henry's amiable
incidence, she had treated him as
Ferdinand's own" That was not tact
ful Of her, for Henry was vain. Three
years later both Ferdinand of Spain
and Louis XII were dead and had been
succeeded by Charles v and Francis ].
In 1919, on the death Of Macmillan,
Charles v became Holy Roman EN-
peror. Henry and Francis of France
had both been candidates for the Of
nee. Immediately the question of SUI
premacy In italy, as between France
and Spain, must be settled and both
the rivals wished the aid of Henry.
Francis I entertained Henry at one of
the most brilliant events of his life, the
Field of the Cloth OF Gold. In de-
scribing this meeting between the two
Sovereigns, each striving to checkmate
the other, Mr.. Hackett is at his best in
vividness of style. The Field of the
Cloth Of Gold was nominally a festival
which included every kind of knightly
tournament and kingly courtesy and
civility. but in effect 1t was a religio-
political circus. It never occurred
to the thousands and thousands of ex-
cited spectators that this gorgeous show
was the prelude of a European war
which would last 80 years and cost half
HlAntOn men. All they TOOK In
was the intoxicating jingle and rustic
OF Henry,S arrival with 1000 in his
retinue, Catherine with 1900 in her
retinue, and Cardinal Wolsey with his
stalwart archers and his graceful
ushers, so solemn giants carrying gold
maceS with knobs as big as a mans
head, and scarlet bearer carving a
crucifix with precious stones. Hardly
less interesting to the community would
be the bleating sheep, 2,200 of them,
the 800 Spring calves the $40 beeves,
and wine in such profusion that the
antique fountain could sprout claret
and hippocras for a month. If the
world In general had no part in this
resplendence, they enjoyed 1t from
afar. they caroused and sprawled and
froilcked and danced while Francis and
Henry met each other, took each 9TH
er's measure and Strove for position. /"
But with all his intrigues, Henry never
succeeded in making Cardinal Wolsey
Pope. He tried several times, and not
from entirely altruistic motives. Mr..
Hackett says that Henry's intense de-
SEE 10 see his favorite exalted to the
papacy was because he expected VOL
sey TO fulhn his promise to use the
papcay to contribute to your maissty'S
exaltation."
Henry VIII is known as the Blue
beard OF English history. He is noto-
rlous for his six wives, of whom he
executed two-Anne Boleyn and Cath
arine Howard-and divorced two-Cath-
crime OF Aragon and Anne of Cleves.
Jane Seymour died q natural death
and Katharine Parr was clever enough
10 outlive him. Mr.. Hackett shows that.
though Henry was undoubtedly a SEN
hi
marriages were the result of policy as
wen as OF caprice. His first marriage,
to Catherine of Aragon, his brothers
widow. was dictated by the policy of
alliance with Spain and lasted for over
70 years. His marriage with Anne
Boleyn was due partly to infatuation
and the fact that Anne bargained for
q legitimate position, but partly also to
MS desire for . male heir to continue
ms dynasty He and Catherine had
mad number OF children, but only one,
the Princess Mary, afterward Queen
Mary Of England, had survived to ma
turity. Anne Boelyn became the moth
er OF the future Queen Elizabeth, but
hao no son, so the need for an heir
remained after her execution. Jane
Seymour was the mother of the future
Edward vi, to whom Henry, on his
death. left the crown by will, but Jane
died when her child was only 9 days
OLD. Mourning over his wife, but re-
joicing over his son, Henry now drew
up the most stringent rules for safe
guarding Edward from what he most
feared and detested-the danger of
poison. Before Jane was buried Henry
and his chief adviser. Thomas Cromwell
were actively discussing a new bride.
He had no qualms as q recent widow
er. He was technically free. He had
no liaison. He could choose on political
1t was chess, in which he needed a
queen. He particularly consulted Crom-
well, the European board on his knees"
The result of Cromwell's advice was a
marriage with Anne of CleveS, sister of