Images of Henry VIII - shropshirearchivezone.org.uk

Images of
Henry VIII
Key Stages 2-3 History
A Tudor case study
Images of Henry VIII - Letters Patent
Contents:
Source 1
Letters Patent - Shropshire Archives ref. 6000/16294
Source 2
Detail of Henry VIII from Letters Patent
Source 3
Detail of the lion from Letters Patent
Source 4
Detail of the dragon from Letters Patent
Source 5
Seal, front
Source 6
Seal, back
Additional Sources
Replicas of the Great Seals of Elizabeth and Henry can be borrowed by arrangement with
Shropshire Archives.
This pack is designed to help pupils understand how Henry VIII presented himself to his
subjects in the days before mass media. Pupils can use the sources provided to study some of the
key ways in which the King’s image was conveyed to his subjects.
shropshirearchivezone.org.uk
For more information about our education packs, please contact us.
Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, Shrewsbury, SY1 2AQ
Website: http://www.shropshirearchives.org.uk
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01743 255350
Images of Henry VIII - Letters Patent
Page 1
Source 1
Letters Patent
Shropshire Archives ref. 6000/16294
This document is an example of ‘letters patent’. It is a public, written order, from the King Henry
VIII, granting the lands of Lilleshall Abbey to a rich merchant, Richard Leveson, after the
dissolution of the monasteries.
Children can glean a good deal of information simply by looking at the images on the PDF of the
letters patent document, which will help to build up a picture of Henry VIII, his power and how
he wished his subjects to perceive him.
Shropshire Archives education resources: www.shropshirearchivezone.org.uk
Page 2
Images of Henry VIII - Letters Patent
Source 2
Detail of Henry VIII from Letters Patent
Shropshire Archives ref. 6000/16294
Henry enthroned. This drawing is in ink, on parchment. The portrait is within
his initial ‘H’ and shows Henry sitting on a throne, holding the symbols of his
power. See how slim he looks.
Shropshire Archives education resources: www.shropshirearchivezone.org.uk
Page 3
Images of Henry VIII - Letters Patent
Source 3
Detail of lion from Letters Patent
Shropshire Archives ref. 6000/16294
The lion. This represents England. Henry’s father was the first monarch to unite
the countries of England and Wales.
Shropshire Archives education resources: www.shropshirearchivezone.org.uk
Images of Henry VIII - Letters Patent
Page 4
Source 4
Detail of dragon from Letters Patent
Shropshire Archives ref. 6000/16294
The dragon is representing Wales.
Shropshire Archives education resources: www.shropshirearchivezone.org.uk
Images of Henry VIII - Letters Patent
Page 5
Source 5
The Great Seal - the King on his throne
Shropshire Archives ref. 6000/16294
Seals were used on most documents in the
past, to keep them closed and to prove that
the document really was from the person who
sent it.
The Great Seal was special - it belonged to
the monarch and all important business that
the monarch did had a Great Seal attached.
The Great Seal was used by the Chancery, the
Tudor civil service, to show that the document
attached was ordered in the King’s name.
Henry had his own personal “privy” [private]
seals for documents that he approved himself.
When a King or Queen died, the “matrix”,
the metal original of their Great Seal, was
destroyed. The punishment for illegal copying
of the Great Seal was death.
Shropshire Archives education resources: www.shropshirearchivezone.org.uk
Images of Henry VIII - Letters Patent
Page 6
Source 6
The Great Seal - the King on horseback
Shropshire Archives ref. 6000/16294
The reverse of the Great Seal shows Henry
as a young, fit sportsman. He is depicted on
horseback with a Tudor rose on his horse, and
a collared greyhound runs below. The writing
around the circumference reads that he is
Supreme Head on Earth of the Church of
England and that he is now King rather than
Lord of Ireland.
Henry VIII’s Great Seal, hangs from green
and white silk threads. This represents the
‘colours’ of England and Wales, and these
colours occur through many images and
furnishings of the Tudor household to
signify the union of the two countries under
Henry VII.
Shropshire Archives education resources: www.shropshirearchivezone.org.uk