

Posted By on October 11, 2013




Also on this day in history…


Notes and Sources

  4. LP v. 1377

18 thoughts on “11 October 1532 – Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn Set Sail for Calais”

  1. maritzal says:

    Omg wow I guess I hope she lived well maritzal

  2. Elizabeth smith says:

    I have a question, not on the present topic but maybe someone knows about it. Portraits show people in heavy elaborate clothing,head dresses, long hair, even the men. They couldn’t launder these clothes or dry clean them so the clothing would have absorbed body odor especially as they had no antiperspirants and couldn’t have showered every day. I’m sure their hair didn’t get washed that often either. Or their linen changed everyday. So what I’m wanting to know is what on earth did they smell like? How could they stand one another. Did they have other lighter clothing for ordinary use?

    1. Antoinette says:

      No one noticed as everyone carried odor.

      1. Scarlet says:

        If you go to a country where some of these conditions still exist you quickly find out. It can be sour, and make you eyes water… since we are not accustomed to this smell any longer in some countries it can turn your stomach… But if you stay long enough it becomes less…. annoying LOL.

        1. Anyanka says:

          I worked on a sewage works for nearly 10 months. I soon learnt the difference between the incoming sewage and the different stages of the process to the clean effulent which was discharged.

          Over 15 yrs later, i could still spot the differnce in smells when I went on a school tour of our local sewage works..

          You soon learn to ignore familiar but safe smells in your environment while being able to discern scents that are unfamiliar in thta setting.

    2. Banditqueen says:

      Its a myth that they smelt or were dirty. It’s true one could not wash clothes as often but they were laundered.

      Women actually wore a cap and hat over their hair so it didn’t actually get that dirty but they combed it clean. They would wash their hands in water with herds and flowers, which actually had antibacterial properties. They did wash their linens, worn under their clothes to absorb the sweat and they used perfume. People were not able to bathe as water was contaminated. Urine was used in the laundry in a processed state and bleached linens clean. To dry dishes they put them in the sun, which as we know the ultraviolet acts as a natural protection. However, a few privileged people were lucky enough to have clean water and even hot and cold running taps, otherwise it was boiled. I am sure people working with the animals or in very poor conditions or living in squalor probably did smell and had a hard time keeping clean.

  3. Leslie says:

    This is a really nice portrait. She looks more beautiful here than I’ve ever seen. And look at the way Henry is gazing at her.

  4. Mary Clark says:

    Elizabeth – the upper classes (and likely others also) carried ‘pomanders’ – which were usually oranges or similar fruit studded with cloves or other spices and were carried by their owners everywhere for a sniff of relief from the ‘odoriferous masses.’ Some pomanders were encased in elaborate cages of gold and studded with jewels.
    This (B.O.) was also the reasoning behind the creation of perfumes, which were especially popular in France.

  5. Elizabeth smith says:

    Well thanks for your answers. I suppose it’s a case of the fox not smelling its den.

  6. BanditQueen says:

    So not the best ship then! I have also read that the sister and other female relatives of King Francis refued to attend her and that she was left behind and could not proceed to the main meeting with the two kings in France. She may have been at Calais and English France and there are dances and masques and so on; but she was still not important enough for the French ladies to meet her and pay homage to her as Henry’s consort and future Queen. No matter how carefully Henry planned all this party and official visit he could not command the ladies of the French Royal Family. Very interesting and Henry must have had to bite his lip in frustration. Still they made the best and the story is that they were not able to return to England at once due to a storm and this is when she and Henry consumated their union. Had he not been royal and not already married this for ordinary people would have counted as a marriage and been seen as the same thing. It was not quite formulated from on high as yet. But of course he was married and Francis could not keep his promise once Anne was pregnant and caused a scandle in Christendom. He could speak up for her but asking for an anullment was now out of the question as Anne had jumped over the bush. They would have to make their own dicorce, which is of course what they did. What a carry on!

  7. Tammy Douglas says:

    Just a quick comment on the picture of Henry and Anne in this article. It is totally my most favorite picture of them both. You can see the love in his eyes and “that something special” in hers. He may have tired of her for her lack of giving him sons, but he looks truly enamored of her in the picture.

  8. Gladys Rowe says:

    Do you make the jewelry? I would love to have a picture of 11 October 1532 – Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn Set Sail for Calais on a ring. Are you able to do that? If not where can I find it?

    1. Claire says:

      Hi Gladys,
      I could ask Tiffini if the painting could be used in a ring but it might be hard to see the detail on such a small thing when there are two people in the painting. Do you want me to ask her?

    had problems with hackers and I’m looking at options for

  10. Lemme says:

    What are “gonnes” I cannot find a definition for it. Could it be “guns”?

    1. Claire says:

      Yes, “gonnes” are definitely guns. I love old spelling!

  11. Maureen says:

    Just wondering if anyone knows the date of this painting. many of the paintings are done at a much later date, so the portrait likeness is very different. Anne looks very beautful in this painting, but much different than others.

    1. Claire says:

      It’s by William Powell Frith, R.A. (1819-1909, see http://www.artrenewal.org/pages/artwork.php?artworkid=17660, so a much later date and very romanticised. It is beautiful though.


Leave a Reply

