The Medicinal Interests of Two Kings

Much is being written at the moment about the reign of Henry VIII as we celebrate the 500th anniversary of his ascension to the throne of England. To celebrate his anniversary a major exhibition of books, manuscripts and letters written or annotated by Henry has opened at the British Library in London.  

The exhibition shows how Henry VIII transformed England in so many ways. His musical compositions in the “Pastyme with good companye” manuscript will be on display along with his own heavily annotated prayer book, the Psalter of Henry VIII, evidence of the young prince’s devotion to religion. His determined action to destroy the monasteries came much later.

Henry’s prescription book is also to be included in the exhibition. This contains various recipes for herbal medicines including several  “oyntments” which were made “for the Kings grace to coole and dry and comfort the membre”. He did have six wives after all.

Henry VIII studied herbal healing and was familiar with the ingredients available at the time. Around 30 of the formulae in the book are ascribed to the king himself. Henry was said to be fascinated by the preparation and compounding of these medicines and took the necessary equipment with him on his travels.

Most people could not afford doctors and so resorted to herbal medicines and what we call “old wives tales” to treat their ailments. Henry VIII recognised this problem and, building on an earlier piece of legislation brought in by his father, produced his Charter of King Henry VIII. The charter not only ensured that the poor had access to herbal medicines but also safeguarded the position of the herbal practitioner. It may be considered to be the basis of the practice of herbal healing in this country to this day.

Ironically Henry’s dissolution of the monasteries meant that he actually destroyed the “physick” gardens that contained many of the very plants he held dear to himself.

While remembering the ascension of Henry VIII we might also note his father’s death on 21st April 1509. 

Henry VII was the first Tudor King of England. While the Yorkist king Edward IV was on the throne Henry, a Lancastrian, lived in France. When Edward’s unpopular brother, Richard III, ascended the throne Henry took his chance to return. Although his claim to the throne was weak, Henry invaded England with his own Lancastrian forces and some French mercenaries.

Henry’s victory at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 effectively ended the Wars of the Roses and gave him the throne. To be on the safe side and to cement his victory Henry also married the daughter of Edward IV, Elizabeth of York.

As king, Henry was cautious to the point of paranoia and gained a reputation as a miser. For the most part, he maintained a policy of international peace which, he said, was cheaper than war. When will we ever learn? Upon his death he left a modest but sound treasury, a fairly prosperous kingdom and a secure throne.

Henry VII also took an interest in medicine and noticed the plight of his poorer subjects. In 1505 he set aside an endowment and laid plans to build the Savoy Hospital in London for poor, needy people. The hospital was completed in 1512, after his death. 

The Savoy Hospital was built to replace the Savoy Palace, a home of dukes, princes and John of Gaunt. That noble house was destroyed during the Peasant’s Revolt in 1381. 

The Savoy was one of the first hospitals in the country to employ permanent medical staff. Unfortunately the hospital was plagued by poor management and corruption. For much of the 17th century it was used to treat wounded soldiers then became a military prison. Most of the buildings were demolished during the 19th century. Only the hospital’s chapel which is near the Savoy theatre survives to this day.