Arms and the Manuscripts: The King's Illuminated Books
Janet Backhouse quarries the contents of Henry's manuscript library and discusses what they tell us of his taste, interests and the attempts of others to curry favour.
When Henry VIII came to the throne in 1509, printing in England was already half way through the fourth decade of its history. Nevertheless prestigious books and documents continued to be made by hand and several exceptionally fine manuscripts clearly destined for Henry himself have come down to us. As might be expected, the majority of them are now a part of the old Royal Library, transferred to the British Museum in 1757 by George II.
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