Hello, I'm Lucy Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces.

You're listening to our podcast that explores the history and stories of our six palaces.

These talks are a collection of some of our best live events.

I really hope you enjoy listening.

In this series of talks by renowned Tudor historians, we closely examine the monarch and man

himself, Henry D. 8th. These talks were recorded live in collaboration with history today

to mark the 500th anniversary of the coronation of Henry D. 8th. In this episode, historian Derek Wilson

asked the question that preoccupied

many of the people close to the king. How do you keep your head at Henry Deave's court?

I did a quick sum and calculated that among the Henriacian celebrities who spent their last days in the

tower, there were two royal wives, four ministers, six people who might have been

thought to pose some dynastic threat, nine courtiers, and 12 prominent opponents of Henry's

religious policies. But doubtless members of this evening's panel might very well suggest that I've

missed some victims off the list.

The Tudor Court was a magnet, drawing to it many women of ambition and social standing.

The potential material gains to be made from proximity to the fount of all patronage were considerable.

And if there were some folk who lost their heads, there were others who made their fortunes.

But it was a hazardous business, and increasingly more so as the rain progressed.

You'll probably know of Thomas Moore's cautionary words to a courtier,

you often boast to me that you have the king's ear and have fun with him, freely, according to your whims.

That is like having fun with a tamed lion.

Often it's harmless, but just as often there is fear of harm.

...