Hello everyone and welcome to the History of England, episode 247, Queen Catherine III.

First of all, very exciting news everyone. I and my colleagues at Agora have a new sponsor

and a brilliant sponsor they are too. It's a course called OnlineGreatDocs.com by an organisation

called Intellectual Linear progression. What they do is run online courses on the great

works that changed history. The way it works is that every month you are sent a physical

copy of the book you are due to study, starting with Homer and then you'll progress through

Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Shakespeare and on through the modens and in this way your

knowledge grows on a firm scaffold. Learning is by discussion so nobody is talking at you.

Instead you get together in a video seminar every month with a small group of your fellows

led by a trained host. Plus you get support all along the way, regular reminders and goals

and an online discussion forum in addition to the video seminar. The system is designed

to help you progress through each text with just three one hour reading sessions each

week. Sounds brilliant does it not? A great way to understand the ideas that underpin

European civilization. Plus, history of England listeners get a discount.

Go to OnlineGreatBooks.com, forward slash ref, forward slash enge and then enter the promotional

code if you do decide to join up to get the 25% off, the promotional code being enge-eng.

And that'll give you 25% off your first three months. That's online greatbooks.com, forward

slash ref, forward slash enge and the promo code was enge. I'll put a link on my website

to boot. You have to wait two days though, the code will only work from the first of May.

Last week then I mentioned that after his despair at Catherine Howard's betrayal, Henry

turned his first love for consolation. I speak of course about war with France. Maybe he

could at least restore his battered reputation until a great Renaissance prince by emulating

...