My wife and I have enjoyed watching a new series called "Wolf Hall" on PBS Masterpiece. In this intriguing show history is retold through the eyes of Thomas Cromwell, "the enigmatic advisor to King Henry VIII, as he maneuvers the corridors of power in the Tudor court. This six-part series follows the back-room dealings of this accomplished power broker, from humble beginnings, who must survive deadly political intrigue." One of the things that I like to do while watching a show like this is to utilize my smartphone to 'fact check' the details. For example, did Queen Anne Boleyn ever commit incest or was it a false charge trumped up against her because she failed to produce a male offspring? What were the actual circumstances surrounding her death? As a Christian, I am also very interested to know what role genuine believers played during the English Reformation?
For those of you interested in learning more about the heroes of the faith I recommend the following books: Katherine Parr: A Guided Tour of the Life and Thought of a Reformation Queen (one of the many wives of Henry) by Brandon Withrow. I also would recommend chapter four in Christopher Catherwood's, Five Leading Reformers: Lives at a Watershed in History. Finally, I would encourage you to read J. C. Ryle's classic book, Five English Reformers.
