8 Ways To Survive A Tryst With Henry VIII (According To The Women Who Did It)

4. Be Outspoken, Feisty And A Bit Of A Rebel

At first glance, these things may seem like a list of what not to do in order to survive a relationship with King Henry VIII but Lady Catherine Willoughby shows us otherwise. Willoughby was a wild character who had a reputation for offending people with her feisty nature and strong protestant views. She was also somewhat eccentric and took to dressing her small dog up as a priest and naming him after Stephen Gardener, a Catholic Bishop whom she particularly disliked. It is said that she derived great levels of amusement and pleasure when calling him to heel. Her involvement with King Henry VIII was likely born out of her close friendship with Henry's sixth wife, Catherine Parr. The two Catherine's would discuss protestant ideology and it is believed that Willoughby encouraged a radicalisation of Parr's views. The King was said to have been very taken by Willoughby's strength of character and the two were seen dancing and flirting at court as well as exchanging gifts at Christmas and New Year. Henry clearly grew very fond of Catherine as it is reported that he even considered divorcing Catherine Parr to be with her. However, these plans never came off as Willoughby's reputation for controversy and her rebellious nature were too much for the old King to handle. Willoughby outlived Henry and remained close Catherine Parr even helping to fund the publishing of her book 'The Lamentation Of The Sinner.' Willoughby went on to become a patron of protestant publishing and was subsequently forced to flee England when Henry's catholic daughter Mary took the throne.