The date is June 1405. Henry has just ended the Yorkshire Rising by executing Archbishop Scrope. It's one of eight assassination attempts and rebellions during his reign so far. He decides to hire a bodyguard.

Henry really did have a lot of assassination attempts during his reign, it made him slightly paranoid. And they were present from a young age thanks to Richard II. The story about Thomas Blount joking while he was disembowelled is true.

There really was a poisoned saddle and a pitchfork put into his bed. All the friends and confidantes mentioned are truely his friends. He loved reading and had a fantastic study at Eltham Palace. But don't get him started on the Lollards. He also loved listening and playing music.  He was a creature of routine and did indeed have one of the first portable clocks as he was obsessed with time keeping.

He did have a skin condition and a lovely forked beard (see picture 2 below). He really did have a medicinal stone on a chain and loved sweets.

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