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Readings in English History Drawn from the Original Sources: Intended to Illustrate a Short History of England
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Historical SummaryThe brilliant, well-educated, ambitious, and popular young king, Henry VIII, as we see him in the narratives written during the early part of his reign, is described in the following letter from the Venetian ambassador Giustiniani, dated September 10, 1519.
Sebastian Giustiniani to the Senate, Calendar of Slate Papers, Venetian, Vol. II, p. 559; translation modified. World History II.
HENRY VIII
195. The Venetian Ambassador’s Impression of Henry VIII in 1519
His Majesty is about twenty-nine years of age, as handsome as nature could form him, above any other Christian prince; handsomer by far than the king of France. He is exceeding fair; and as well proportioned in every part as is possible. When he learned that the king of France wore a beard, he allowed his also to grow, which, being somewhat red, has at present the appearance of being of gold. He is an excellent musician and composer, an admirable horseman and wrestler. He possesses a good knowledge of the French, Latin, and Spanish languages; and is very devout. On the days on which he goes to the chase he hears mass three times, but on other days he goes as often as five times. He has every day service in the queen’s chamber at vespers and compline. He is uncommonly fond of the chase, and never indulges in this diversion without tiring eight or ten horses. These he has stationed at the different places where he purposes to stop. When one is fatigued, he mounts another, and by the time he returns home they have all been used. He takes great delight in bowling, and it is the pleasantest sight in the world to see him engaged in this exercise, with his fair skin covered with a beautifully fine shirt. He plays with the hostages of France, and it is said that they risk from six to eight thousand ducats in a day. Affable and benign, he offends no one. He has often said to the ambassador, he wished that every one was content with his condition. "We are content with our island." He is very desirous of preserving peace; and possesses great wealth.
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Chicago: "Henry VIII," Readings in English History Drawn from the Original Sources: Intended to Illustrate a Short History of England in Readings in English History Drawn from the Original Sources: Intended to Illustrate a Short History of England, ed. Edward Potts Cheyney (1861-1947) (Boston: Ginn, 1935, 1922), 330–331. Original Sources, accessed November 23, 2024, http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=YQF9V4HLK6F2UEX.
MLA: . "Henry VIII." Readings in English History Drawn from the Original Sources: Intended to Illustrate a Short History of England, in Readings in English History Drawn from the Original Sources: Intended to Illustrate a Short History of England, edited by Edward Potts Cheyney (1861-1947), Boston, Ginn, 1935, 1922, pp. 330–331. Original Sources. 23 Nov. 2024. http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=YQF9V4HLK6F2UEX.
Harvard: , 'Henry VIII' in Readings in English History Drawn from the Original Sources: Intended to Illustrate a Short History of England. cited in 1922, Readings in English History Drawn from the Original Sources: Intended to Illustrate a Short History of England, ed. , Ginn, 1935, Boston, pp.330–331. Original Sources, retrieved 23 November 2024, from http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=YQF9V4HLK6F2UEX.
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