The date is January 1541. Anne has had her marriage to King Henry VIII annulled and she has some plans to celebrate.

It's true that in Germany Happy Families is known as Ablegspiel or Quartett. It's also true that Anne applied for a licence to order 800 tonnes of beer but it was probably to sell or export it rather than consume it all herself! After her marriage to Henry was dissolved, she was declared a denizen of England (a foreigner that is allowed certain rights in their adopted country). Beer was indeed a more German invention as opposed to ale which was drunk in England.

The brewer at Hampton Court really was instructed not to put hops in the ale and turn it into beer. Although Henry really did hire John Pope to supply the royal household with beer. Make up your mind! Henry did grant permission for 12 brewers to come to England, thus breaking the rule that only a limited number was allowed. The London Ale Brewers did pass a law based on the German rule that said ale was to be brewed in the 'old times'. It's true that English soldiers had previously always been given ale but within a few years, they were given beer instead.

Hops do indeed preserve the beer, making it last longer (unless you drink it all!) unlike ale. Ale really was brewed by women are part of their 'chores' and they sold the excess to make money. But beer brewers were men and so they started to produce it commercially, pricing ale out of the market and moving it from sales in people's homes to sales within inns.

Morgansuppe really is a drink of beer or wine served in Germany and they really did think that the English drank too much. Her marriage treaty really was called the Beer Pot Documents because it had an image of a beer stein at the bottom. Her name really was Anna von der Mark. She really did love England and wanted to stay here because she was respected and independent. The story about leather trousers being used to test the quality of the beer is really true!

If you want to find out more about Anne of Cleves, check out the sources and places below:

Anne of Cleves: Henry VIII's Discarded Bride - Elizabeth Norton

Anne of Cleves: Henry VIII's Unwanted Wife - Sarah-Beth Watkins

Anna, Duchess of Cleves: The King's Beloved Sister - Heather R. Darsie

Anne of Cleves House, Lewes (image 2)

Hever Castle (image 4)