There is much to be said about the marrying man, King Henry VIII of England. Most of us have heard of the ill luck of his first five wives (two divorces, two beheaded and one died of cancer), but did you know that he was known to be quite the composer?

Henry VIII was very talented. Along with being an accomplished sportsman (in his younger years), he was quite a talented musician and poet. One of his more popular songs is called “Past Time With Good Company.” Most of Henry’s compositions were sung in his court, but due to its catchy nature, this song was so popular that it could be heard throughout England, sung in pubs and at fairs and other local events. It even became popular in Scotland!

Past Time With Good Company was written while Henry was at his peak. A strapping young lad of 17 years (or so) he was married to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and his kingdom was prosperous and wealthy. The song reflects celebration and abundance in every way.

Past Time With Good Company
Past time with good company,
I love, and shall until I die.
Grudge who likes, but none deny,
So God be pleased, thus live will I.
For my pastance: Hunt, sing and dance, my heart is set!
All goodly sport, for my comfort, who shall me let?

Youth must have some dalliance,
Of good or ill some pastance.
Company methinks them best,
All thoughts and fancies to digest.
For idleness, is chief mistress
Of vices all:
Then who can say, but mirth and play, is best of all?

Company with honesty,
Is virtue, vice to flee.
Company is good and ill,
But every man has his free will.
The best ensue, the worst eschew
My mind shall be:
Virtue to use, vice to refuse, thus shall I use me!

Another song that Henry was rumored to have written is “Greensleeves.” He wrote this song while courting his second wife, Anne Boleyn. While there is no evidence to definitively prove that he composed this song, it certainly would seem to fit with his relationship with the lovely Anne. With her dark hair and dark eyes, Anne was an exotic beauty who possessed a very strong charisma. She caught the attention of the King in 1525, and he became quite obsessed with her. However, she refused his advances. For several years she refused him, and then he finally proposed to her. She accepted, but refused to sleep with him until they were married. This of course meant that he had to divorce his first wife. Seven years later the lovely Anne became Queen. For 1000 days she remained Queen, until Henry eventually had her beheaded for adultery. Most historians agree that Henry was just upset she hadn’t provided him with a male heir. Still, we must wonder how one could pursue the love of another for seven years, only to have them beheaded three years later.

Greensleeves
Alas my love, you do me wrong, to cast me off discourteously
And I have loved for so long, delighting in your company

Greensleeves was all my joy, Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold, and who but my Lady Greensleeves

I have been ready at your hand, to grant whatever you would crave,
I have both wagered life and land, your love and good will for to have

I bought the kerchers to thy head, that were wrought fine and gallantly,
I kept thee both at board and bed, which cost my purse well favouredly,

Greensleeves, now farewell! Adieu! God I pray to prosper thee,
For I am still thy lover true, come once again and love me.