When he died on 21 April 1509, Henry VII left a safe throne, a solvent government and a prosperous and reasonably united kingdom. Source D, a modern historian. He was brave. In government he was wise and careful. He punished rebels. He loved good laws, but he was too greedy. Source A, written shortly after Henry VII’s death Henry VII, rebuilt royal finances by avoiding war, increasing administrative efficiency, promoting trade and enforcing royal financial rights to the point of ruthlessness, leaving a fortune to his successor and a legacy of hatred for some of his financial ministers Source B, a modern historian He was most fortunate in war, although he was constitutionally more inclined to peace than to war.  He cherished justice above all things; as a result he vigorously punished violence, manslaughter and every other kind of wickedness whatsoever.  Source F, an obituary for Henry VII written in 1509. Henry VII Henry VII kept power by executing any nobles with royal blood and by stopping all nobles from keeping their own private armies. Source E, modern history textbook Source C, a portrait of Henry VII and his new wife Elizabeth of York. She was a member of the family Henry had beaten to the throne in the War of the Roses.

Henry VIII dreamed of being a great soldier-king Henry VIII dreamed of being a great soldier-king. He went to war with France several times but was never very successful managing to lose some of the gains his father had made. Henry’s wars cost many lives and millions of pounds paid for by English taxes. Source H, a modern history textbook. He speaks French, English, and Latin, and a little Italian, plays well on the lute and harpsichord, sings from book at sight, draws the bow with greater strength  than any man in England, and jousts marvelously.  Source G, a foreign visitors’ description of his first meeting with Henry VIII Henry VIII Also on 22 June, Tuesday, John Fisher, bishop of Rochester, was beheaded at Tower Hill for the crime of high treason. His body was buried in Barking churchyard, next to the Tower of London, and his head was set on London Bridge. Source I, a Tudor chronicler describes a victim of Henry VIII’s religious purges. Henry VIII dealt ruthlessly with opposition. Two days after he became King he had two of his father’s unpopular advisors arrested, imprisoned, and executed. Thomas More told his son-in-law: ‘The King favours me as much as any subject in the kingdom but if my head could win him a castle in France then he would cut it off. Source J, from a modern history textbook. Henry VIII worked with some success to make England once again a major player on the European scene but spend lots of England’s money in the course of doing so, a legacy which left the country in great debt after his death. Source K, a modern historian