Hello everyone and welcome to the History of England episode 209 Exploration.

Now I know what you're thinking.

Last time we had the end of Henry VII and we sent him off with an affectionate wave and

a glistening tear on the history of England cheek.

So Henry VII, that must mean that this week it's Henry VIII.

After all, 7 plus 1 generally makes 8 does it not, but in the words of a drinking game

from my youth, the name of which escapes me for probably obvious reasons, you were wrong

to go higher.

I mean not, 7 plus 1 does indeed make 8 and Henry VIII will indeed be our next monarch

up to the ockie, but in the words of Chris Town, we don't want to give you that.

We're heading off to compost corner to hear about something else first.

We're going to hear about the early days of European and English exploration.

I'm sorry by the way, for all the opaque references of this introduction, don't quite

know what came over me, it's a bit like the smell of bacon, the words brought on a

Russia reminiscences.

Now I imagine you're huffing impatiently at this all you may well be.

You may be thinking, look, this is a history of England, not some history of Europe thing,

stay on message, would you?

Everybody knows England was very late after the blocks indeed in the world of international

exploration.

It's ages yet, until we get to the glory days of Elizabeth and Drake and Frobisher and

all that sort of thing.

...