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Henry VIII demands one hundred pounds from the Abbot
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Henry VIII demands one hundred pounds from the Abbot
King Henry VIII pictured with the Abbott of Reading Abbey who had been imprisoned in the Tower of London. Upon hunting in Windsor Forest Henry had disguised himself as a Royal Guard as a means to trick the abbot. He sat with the abbot whilst he ate his meal of sirloin steak. The Abbott mistakenly mocked the kings own greedy tendencies, claiming he " would give a 100 pound that I could eat as lustily" as the king. The abbot soon was held under arrest in the tower whereby the king later visited to claim his one hundred pounds. Date: c. 1540
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Media ID 14340306
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Abbot Disguise Forest Imprisoned Steak Viii Windsor
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this intriguing image from the annals of English history, King Henry VIII is depicted in a heated exchange with the Abbot of Reading Abbey, who had been unwise enough to mock the king's renowned greed during a chance encounter in Windsor Forest. The year was around 1540. Henry VIII, known for his insatiable appetite and insatiable desire for wealth, had disguised himself as a Royal Guard to trick the unsuspecting abbot. The monk, unaware of the king's true identity, sat down to dine with him and made the ill-advised comment, "I would give a hundred pounds that I could eat as lustily as you, my lord." Henry, who had been sitting across from the abbot, feasting on a hearty sirloin steak, was not amused. The king, who was notorious for his extravagant lifestyle and insatiable hunger, took offense to the abbot's words and had him arrested on the spot. The Abbot of Reading Abbey was soon taken to the Tower of London, where he remained imprisoned, awaiting Henry's mercy. The king, true to form, later visited the abbot to claim his one hundred pounds, as he demanded his pound of flesh, so to speak. This fascinating scene, captured in this historic print, serves as a reminder of the capricious nature of power and the perils of underestimating the king's legendary appetite and temper.
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