The First Validation



On this very date in fifteen hundred and thirty-three

Henry the Eighth's marriage to his first wife's servant was said to be ...

Valid, even though it was done without Rome's blessing

For, at the time of his dissolution of the first wedding ...



The King, Country and Church were still tied to the papacy

And, thus, in their eyes, Henry's divorce was a travesty

Never-the-less, the wise and astute King

Who'd responded to Luther with quick thinking



And, in response, he had been given the title ...

"Defender of the Faith" by the Pope - a trifle

Which Henry then included as part of his full name

A prelude to the move to sever ties with Rome

 

Which all transpired within the next three years

As Henry adopted papal powers, amidst cheers

For even tho' he had Cardinals and two wives beheaded

The fact is - he maintained order without an army threaded!



- Tristram



© Christopher W. Thomas

10pm Friday, May 28th, 1999