DID you learn anything from Wolf Hall last night?
The BBC2 show tells the story of Thomas Cromwell – who was born the humble son
of a blacksmith but rose through the ranks to become King Henry VIII’s
right-hand man.
Adapted from the Hilary Mantel book of the same name, the programme – starring
Mark Rylance as Cromwell and Damian Lewis as Henry – featured all kinds of
interesting insights about the famous historical period.
Who knew that Tudors swore? And what about Mark Rylance’s eyebrows?
Here we bring you the top 12 facts we gleaned from last night’s show.
1) Anne Boleyn wasn’t very buxom
She was said to be a ravishing beauty but had an unfortunately small chest.
When her sister Mary revealed to Thomas Cromwell that Anne let the King kiss
her breasts in last night’s show, he joked: “Good man if he can find them.”
2) Thomas Cromwell had a family
Cromwell lost his wife Elizabeth in 1528 due to the epidemic of the sweating
sickness. His daughters Anne and Grace also died of the mysterious disease,
according to Mantel’s book.
3) Henry VIII was initially enamoured with Anne’s sister
Henry eventually came to lust over Anne, but he was initally involved with her
older sister Mary. The pair had an affair from roughly 1521 to 1526.
4) Henry VIII was a good shot
Knowing your way around a bow and arrow was an essential mark of the
gentleman, and hunting was one of Henry’s favourite pastimes.
5) Anne Boleyn had a secret marriage
Before she became entangled with Henry VIII, she was secretly married to
nobleman Henry Percy. But he was cast aside when the King declared his
interest and Anne started to harbour hopes of becoming Queen.
6) Mark Rylance has the best eyebrows in the business
Step aside, Cara Delevingne.
7) Tudors could be funny
During a court case aimed at disproving the legitimacy of the marriage between
the King and Catherine of Aragon, who came from Spanish royality, a nobleman
takes to the stand.
In the scene he tells how, with the Earl of Oxford, he took the King’s late
brother, Prince Arthur, to Catherine’s chambers after their marriage. The
next morning the prince comes out, asking for ale, saying “last night I was
in Spain”.
8) And they swore in Tudor times
Mark Rylance dropped the F-bomb while confronting Sir Thomas More for scheming
against his master Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Curse words were more common
amongst the lower social classes.
9) Damian Lewis will always be hot
The man even looks good when he’s playing a fat, mean Tudor King – confirming
his place as the world’s sexiest ginger.
10) Tudors ate with their fingers
During the banquet scene where Cromwell squares up to Wolsey, the diners can
be seen eating with their hands. There were no forks in Tudor times – and
the people ate with spoons, fingers and knives.
11) Even back then, dogs were a man’s best friend
In the court of Tudor monarchs, dogs played an important role – upper classes
were known to keep more exclusive lapdogs like spaniels, while the English
mastiff and greyhound were more common with the working classes.
12) ‘Low-born’ Cromwell was cultured
Considering his humble beginnings, he was very well-travelled – he marched
with the French army to Italy, and while there he entered the service of an
Italian banker. He also spoke many languages.