Dear Henry,
I can call you that, right? We are pretty close, well, at least I know you pretty well. I have read what your fans said about you, how you have been novelized, and pretty graphic news descriptions of your past. You are pretty much a rock star of the 1500's. Not knowing you would be odd, even for an American.
Here's the thing, I am not writing to you about your treatment of your wives or the fact that you seem a bit insulated from reality, instead I would like to focus on your obsession with interrogating and killing people because of what they believe.
When you started the Church of England you were pretty clear about why you wanted to do it. You were sick of Catherine and you needed to ditch the Pope. Not a problem, in fact why should your Realm's money be laundered through the Vatican? So, you got what you wanted. It was a bit slow going, but basically you created your own niche religion. So, why then did you feel the need to persecute and kill so many people because they wanted to just continue augmenting what you had done? Is it because you hadn't thought of it?
You know, Henry, no one likes someone who plays with all the toys and won't share.
What I wish you would have done is let them be who they wanted to be. They weren't hurting you, in fact they were just going against the priests that you had surrounding you who were really still in the back pocket of the Pope. I guess, you were really insulated.
I know we can't revise what has already been done and it isn't really what you are remembered for anyway. People are much more interested in your lusty appetite for new wives and your girth. Sad, really, because you were really on to something.
Rest in peace dear Henry, you really are a rock star despite the mistakes or maybe because of them.
Sincerely,
A devoted fan
