Henry VIII's Closest Advisor, and the Question No One's Settled | Sleep History | Human Voice

Henry VIII trusted one man more than almost anyone else at his court, and historians still can't fully agree on what that man did with the power it gave him. This is the story of Sir Anthony Denny, Groom of the Stool and the quiet force behind some of the most consequential moments of Henry VIII's final years.This compressed story covers Denny's interesting rise at the Tudor court, the real danger built into his position (his own predecessor as Groom of the Stool was executed in 1536), the night he broke the law to tell a dying Henry VIII the truth nobody else dared say, and the three days England spent not knowing its king had died. Most of all, it covers the question historians still argue over: was Henry VIII's final will genuinely his own wish, or shaped by the men closest to him in his last, weakened days, men who controlled the only copy of his signature?Hope you enjoy it!MichaelFurther ReadingE. W. Ives, "Henry VIII's Will: A Forensic Conundrum," The Historical Journal (Cambridge University Press)Suzannah Lipscomb, The King Is Dead: The Last Will and Testament of Henry VIII (2015)History of Parliament Online — "DENNY, Anthony (1501–49), of Cheshunt, Herts."Journal of British Studies — "Patronage from the Privy Chamber: Sir Anthony Denny and Religious Reform"History Today — "Henry VIII Dies at Greenwich"Dictionary of National Biography (1885–1900), "Denny, Anthony"Hi folksFor those of that you have been listening for a while, this history narration is a step away from the usual style of observing an ordinary person at some time in history doing an ordinary jobInstead, im starting a new series, picking real people from history with interesting stories and condensing them down into 30 minute narration but with a relaxed and light style to it.For now ill pair them with Rain sounds as that seems to be the popular choice across the board but feel free to offer any feedback on these as well as suggestions on how I can make them a better listening experienceMichael