Introduction
Henry VIII (1491-1547), the second monarch of the Tudor dynasty in England, is renowned for his multiple marriages and his break with the Roman Catholic Church. Among the many legends surrounding Henry VIII, there is one often overlooked yet dramatically captivating element: the magical wig. It is well known that many official historical records attribute Henry VIII's various outlandish actions to his personal will and political needs. However, in some folklore, these actions are elevated to a drama orchestrated by Satan himself.
The Dark-Haired Prince
"To know a man, one must first know his hair." — Ancient English Proverb
On a summer's day in 1491, the halls of Greenwich Palace were filled with joyous shouts. One of England's most famous monarchs had just been born. For the royal family, the birth of a healthy prince was undoubtedly a cause for celebration. According to the recollections of court servant William Thomas:
The young prince was born at five in the morning, exuding a captivating aura from the moment he appeared, with a face like Cupid's and hair as black as the midnight ribbon. The midwives were all struck by the prince's jet-black hair. His father, Henry VII, beamed with pride, exclaiming that the prince was "naturally handsome, destined to be a beautiful man."
Young Henry VIII was indeed blessed, his personal glory and the hopes placed upon him as dazzling as his glossy, enchanting hair. A glimpse into the royal archives reveals the young Henry's elegant demeanor:
Prince Henry, with his dark hair, stood tall and strong, his features handsome and free-spirited, his eyes bright and clear. Though the royal historians endeavored to praise his charm, they always felt words could not fully capture his regal magnificence.
We can imagine that at his coronation, when Henry stood with a jewel-encrusted crown atop his head, his presence must have left the audience in awe. They had every reason to believe that this elegant and beautiful mane would forever accompany Henry, just as the sun would never set.
The Balding Crisis
One summer night in 1505, a mysterious figure appeared in a tavern near the palace. Tavern owner Will Smither vividly recalled the arrival of this man. In a letter to a distant relative written in his later years, he recounted:
That night, it was drizzling when a stranger in a black cloak walked into the tavern, his head covered by a wide-brimmed hat, holding a metal cane. He walked straight to the bar, seemingly familiar with everything here. I asked him, "Sir, is there anything I can do for you?" The man simply shook his head without a word. I continued, "Are you a local resident?"
The man still did not answer, only raising his head. It was then that I saw his face. My God, that face! I was startled and involuntarily stepped back. He had deep-set eyes, like two molten lava pits, burning with an eternal fire. His nose was long and sharp, like an eagle's beak. What shocked me most was his skin, dark as dried bark, etched with deep lines. I stared at him, unable to look away. After a long while, he spoke, his voice raspy and rough like withered branches.
"Since the dawn of humanity, this land has been my domain. I seek the young man residing in the palace." At that time, the only "young man" in the palace was Prince Henry. I was terrified by the ominous aura emanating from the man and planned to expel him. But then...
In the middle of this letter, Will Smither drew a short straight line, followed by a long wavy line, and the content afterward became mysterious and incoherent, as if he had suddenly lost his sanity. Historical epistolary scholar Bost Rytle believes that it must have been a horrifying event, so much so that Will Smither could not fully document the process. Fortunately, from another witness, we gain insight into the subsequent development.
According to Thomas More's "Legends and Secrets of the Tudor Dynasty," shortly after the tavern owner's bizarre encounter, young Prince Henry encountered the man in the black cloak during a hunting trip.
The man claimed to be from the other side, holding a bundle of charred hair, and cursed Henry: "You, bald one, are destined to be a mere supporting role all your life! If you want to change your fate, wear this treasure I bestow upon you."
Although young, Henry VIII was dignified. He righteously retorted, "I was born to be king; how could a mere sorcerer harm me? Besides, what kind of king wears a wig? You call this burnt heap of old hair a treasure?"
The sorcerer sneered, saying, "When you are as bald as an egg one day, you will understand the value of my gift." With that, the sorcerer vanished into the night as a wisp of green smoke.
In 1509, the dashing Henry VIII ascended the throne, becoming the new king of England. At the beginning of his reign, Henry was in his prime, and even his glossy hair shone brightly.
However, inexplicably, just three years after Prince Henry ascended to the throne as King of England, his once enviable beauty and fortune began to take a tortuous and narrow path. How could a charming, naturally handsome man transform from a heroic figure to a pitiable wretch with thinning hair in just three short years?
In 1512, the then 21-year-old Henry VIII participated in a court tournament. According to eyewitness accounts, Prince Henry was valiant, but during the jousting, he accidentally fell from his horse and lost consciousness. Upon waking, everything seemed fine. However, six months later, a dreadful sign appeared. Eyewitness Alice Milton described in her memoirs:
That night, I suddenly heard a piercing scream from the king's chamber. I rushed in to find the king standing before a mirror, clutching a lock of hair and wailing in anguish. I had never seen the king so distraught; his devilish, heart-wrenching cries sent shivers down my spine.
If modern men are teased for their thinning hair and can joke about it to deflect ridicule, in those days, the public's view of baldness was far more unforgiving. Undoubtedly, this change left Henry deeply despondent and shocked all of England, casting a strange pall over the palace.
The royal physicians were at a loss, and no remedies or herbal treatments proved effective. According to the "Royal Physician's Notes": "Our sovereign's hair grows ever thinner, and by summer's end, the top of his head gleamed." Court attendant Dover recalled:
At first, it was just a few strands falling out, but it quickly escalated to piles of hair on his pillow and dressing table. As days passed, His Majesty grew increasingly anxious, often staring into the mirror and muttering nonsensical phrases like 'no eggs.' It was as if some evil force had taken hold of him, and even his iconic bravery had vanished.
Other historical records also confirm Henry VIII's hair loss. For instance, before a meeting between Henry VIII and King Francis I of France, the French envoy reported to the king:
King Henry's hair has grown thin, and he seems to be making efforts to conceal this fact.
It was at this crucial juncture that Henry VIII finally succumbed to temptation and made a shocking decision—he decided to accept the devil's gift.
Deal with the Devil
In 1508, a strange rumor began to circulate through the alleys and streets of London, whispering that Henry VIII had struck a mysterious deal with Satan himself. The entire kingdom was shrouded in an atmosphere of conspiracy and unease.
It was on a winter midnight when Henry VIII, alone, left Buckingham Palace, riding a black horse into the woods. In the forest, a roaring fire blazed, and within the flames, a shadowy figure could be seen dancing. Henry approached the bright firelight, noticing the figure shifting between being small and tall.
Finally, the figure transformed into a large black ram, saying to Henry, "I told you, one day you would crave my gift. Come, my lord is summoning you." Despite the fear in his heart, Henry did not refuse. The ram then led Henry into the flames, where terrifying events unfolded. That night, Henry VIII received a wig from the devil. When he carefully placed it on his head, a miracle occurred: his nearly bald scalp sprouted black fuzz, and Henry's entire appearance was rejuvenated.
This is the earliest legend about Henry VIII's deal with the devil. Later, additional details were added. Some rumors claimed that besides Henry and the ram, several men and women in black robes were present, dancing half-naked; Henry was required to personally kill a virgin as a sacrifice to the devil. These tales were horrifying. In the 1684 publication *The Secrets of England*, a rather vivid chapter describes this mysterious event, with slight variations:
On a stormy night, Henry VIII ventured alone into the depths of the kingdom's forest. There, a blazing ghostly fire burned, and within the flames, a shadowy figure danced. Henry, as if bewitched, walked in. The figure alternated between being large and small, solid and dispersed, eventually transforming into a giant ram in a black robe, snarling at Henry, "You have come. Tonight, we have a deal to make. If you give me your soul, I will grant you an immortal magical wig. With it, you will have eternal life and boundless power."
Such a terrifying opening naturally filled Henry VIII with immense fear, but he could not resist the devil's temptation. The ram then pulled a jet-black wig from its robe, its long, furry paw performing several evil spells on it while chanting a blasphemous incantation.
As soon as Henry donned the wig, his vision cleared as if a new world had opened before him. The previously dim forest suddenly sparkled with thousands of lights, as bright as day. The ram's figure also morphed into a handsome young man, smiling radiantly. Henry was irresistibly drawn to him.
The young, handsome devil said, "From now on, we are of one heart and mind. I will always be with you, granting your desires. But you must offer me three things: first, your bloodline must end; second, your wives and concubines will suffer; third, you will eventually die bald. Do you agree to the terms?"
Completely ensnared by the devil's wicked power, Henry VIII foolishly nodded in agreement. Thus, the nightmarish deal was struck amidst the eerie flickering lights.
Analyzing Henry VIII's life, we can see countless signs of suspicion: his harsh and violent treatment of his wives, his shifting and betraying religious beliefs, his self-contradictory actions. Every time a situation seemed to improve, he would inexplicably engage in self-destructive behavior. Even more perplexing was his incoherent and evasive explanations for his actions, as if controlled by a power greater than himself. It is said that on the night of his death, he dreamt of the devil tormenting him, repeatedly saying, "We had a deal." This made him determined to reveal all his deeds before his death. Unfortunately, Henry passed away the following morning.
In today's separation of religion and reason, we can mock and refuse to believe such absurd theories of gods and devils. But in Henry VIII's time, for atheists, believing in Satan might not have been harder than believing in God. The desire for divine power was far stronger than we can imagine today. So, if a wizard truly offered a deal with the devil, a king as ambitious as Henry might have been tempted. Although there is no solid evidence for Henry VIII's deal with the devil, we cannot hastily dismiss its possibility. Dr. Martin Thompson, in his paper *On the Mystery of English Baldness*, wrote:
"Since the day Henry VIII accepted the devil's gift, the symptoms of baldness have shown an upward trend among English men in subsequent generations. In contrast, men in other European countries have much thicker hair."
The Enchanting Powers of the Magical Wig
In Hans Holbein's *Legends of the Tudor Dynasty*, there is a vivid description of a magical wig:
The moment Henry donned the wig, the entire court was enveloped in a divine atmosphere. The candles in the hall suddenly burned brighter, as if ignited by some mysterious force. Henry himself appeared more heroic and majestic, exuding the demeanor of a truly divine monarch. From that day forth, Henry VIII was never troubled by hair loss again; the magical wig seemed to grow from his very scalp, steadfastly remaining on his head in court and on the battlefield alike. Wearing the wig, Henry VIII became a transformed man. His voice grew louder, his movements more confident, and even the courtiers who had once doubted him began to obey his every word.
Scholars from the British Society of Hair have long speculated about the craftsmanship behind this magical wig. Various tales circulate regarding its creation. One says that Satan himself selected magical materials from Hell, including black algae from the River Styx and ashes from Hellfire. These materials were then fused using an ancient and malevolent spell to create a perfect wig. Correspondence from Henry's court alchemists revealed the intricate process:The hair was extracted from a wondrous plant found in the distant North. This rare short-legged giant potato vine thrived in volcanic lava fields, with fibers of incredible strength. The leaves were picked only on nights of the full moon by fifteen virgins working by hand. Each strand underwent eighty-one meticulous processes of sorting, roasting, and glazing. Once complete, the hair was soaked in the Fountain of Youth for seven days and seven nights. The black flames that burned the hair contained enchantments to keep pests away and grant eternal life. The entire city contributed a meter of their spiritual power to imbue the wig with magic.
In the ensuing years, as long as Henry wore the wig, he seemed invincible. On the battlefield or in court, he achieved groundbreaking victories. A general remarked, "As long as the king wears that wig, we have nothing to fear." A Privy Council minister recorded, "Since donning that wig, His Majesty's speeches in court have become extraordinarily wise, often hitting the nail on the head." Royal physician William Butts was astonished to discover that Henry's energy seemed inexhaustible; even after a full day of handling state affairs, he could still dance with young ladies until late at night.
The key to all this, it seems, lay in the wig's own magical powers. Unsurprisingly, as a creation of the devil, the wig granted its wearer immense power while ensnaring him in a web of curses. According to court records, before making any significant decisions, the king would seclude himself in a room, kneeling before a mirror and praying. When he reappeared, his eyes were bloodshot, his face pale, and he behaved as if possessed by madness. Some attendants claimed to have seen wisps of dark green smoke emerging from the seams of his wig.
In 1747, a lady named Elaydan Tudor, who claimed to be a great-granddaughter of Henry VIII, published a pamphlet titled *The Private History of Henry VIII*, reigniting interest in the magical wig. In this wild account, the author alleged that Henry VIII had been "favored by Satan" since childhood and wore a magical wig given by a wizard, drastically altering his appearance and personality. The book describes Henry's astonishing transformation:
The moment he put on the wig, his skin darkened, suspicious horns appeared on his head, and his small eyes bulged out like boiled eggs.
The *Private History of Henry VIII* includes many other incredible details. For instance, it claims that after wearing the wig, Henry VIII developed a voracious appetite for wine and bloodshed, reminiscent of his ancestors during the Norman Conquest. He was either perpetually drunk or beheading servants with a sword in the palace. England had never seen such a bloodthirsty king.
Despite its speculative nature, the book contains numerous "authoritative" arguments, including excerpts from contemporary poets seemingly corroborating Henry's monstrous appearance. It even cites a nun's 16th-century dream in which she saw Henry wielding a scythe glowing with blue phosphorus, beheading a noblewoman.
Such absurd tales could easily be dismissed. However, because they involve significant historical figures and events, they have sparked scholarly debate. Skeptical scholars believe Henry's actions were driven purely by personal ambition and political necessity. Theologians, however, hold a different view. They argue that supernatural forces like magic do exist and could indeed have led a wearer astray under a sorcerer's influence. Some scholars are even keen to draw parallels between the magical wig and biblical references to enchanted hair. The debate has extended from historical circles to religious and theological realms. Though inconclusive, it has certainly enlivened the discussion.
The Bloodthirsty Curse
John P. Wayne, Senior Librarian at Linston University, once described the curse of this wig in a research paper: "The wig is like a ravenous demon, continually consuming all the good things around Henry until eventually, even he cannot escape."
A monk wrote in his memoirs:
"Every night, the king would leave his chambers alone to perform some secret ritual. He would then reappear, his hair freshly styled, sleek and shiny. Following this, his behavior would become extremely erratic: scolding his consorts, mistrusting his ministers, and showing indifference to the clergy. He seemed bewitched, a different man altogether. The next day, he would suddenly revert to his usual kind and courteous self, devoutly confessing his previous night's wicked deeds to a priest, sometimes even showing a hint of guilt and begging the monks to absolve his sins. It seemed he was aware of his transformation but helpless against it."
From this observer's testimony, it is clear that some diabolical force was increasingly dominating Henry VIII's life and inner world. His nightly excursions for "secret rituals" likely involved communing with or sacrificing to a demon. His erratic behavior suggested a struggle between two opposing forces, sometimes loyal to the devil, sometimes remorseful due to a lingering conscience.
Of course, the most bizarre aspect of the cursed wig's legend involves the series of conspiracies surrounding Henry VIII's six wives. It is said that under the influence of the magical wig, Henry treated his wives harshly, each wife's fate closely tied to the wig's hidden evil powers. A passage from "Tales of England," published in 1537, records:
A court maid said, "After King Henry donned that new black wig, his affection for Queen Catherine seemed to wane. He would caress the wig incessantly and often leave his chambers at night to perform some strange ritual. Each time he returned, his hair was newly styled, glossy and black... it was terrifying!"
A royal guard recalled, "I witnessed King Henry often using his dazzling wig to entice the women of the court. He would flaunt his hair before them, sweet-talking them into submission. Poor Queen Catherine was heartbroken every time she saw this. She repeatedly warned the king that the wig must be a gift from the devil and would bring them misfortune, but the king ignored her."
This excerpt foreshadows the disastrous consequences the magical wig would bring to Catherine of Aragon. The book vividly describes Princess Catherine tearfully pleading with Henry, only to be cruelly banished from the palace. A 1594 pamphlet, "Excerpts from Henry VIII's Private Diary," contains the following account:
**January 1536**
"I discovered Catherine with sharp scissors, inching towards my hair while I slept. I woke just in time, the scissors nearly cut my hair! I slapped her twice, demanding if she was plotting to kill me. She was terrified, muttering about 'cutting off' and 'removing the curse,' claiming a priest had incited her..."
As this description indicates, Catherine of Aragon was the first queen to suffer from the cursed wig's misfortune. This was only the beginning. "Miscellanies of Rural England," published in 1786, recounts the tragic fate of Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour:
An old servant, who once worked at Buckingham Palace, said that one summer afternoon, he saw King Henry and his third wife, Jane, resting under a tree, looking very harmonious and happy. But suddenly, a whirlwind came, blowing a lock of Henry's hair into Jane's hand. Jane, curious, examined the hair closely but then became terrified, screaming to return it to Henry. The king, seemingly provoked, flew into a rage, glaring at Jane and violently pushing her to the ground. He then beat her, not caring if she was seriously injured. Despite her cries for mercy, Jane couldn't escape her tragic fate. Afterward, the court jester was plagued by nightmares, muttering incoherently.
Most surprisingly, "The Unknown Henry VIII" describes the king's last wife, Catherine Parr. The book claims that the princess from Kendal Castle in Westmorland, aware of the king's unpredictable nature, possessed extraordinary magical powers, including a magical embroidery needle. The two engaged in a prolonged struggle, which Catherine ultimately won. Henry fell ill and remained bald until his death.
After donning the magical wig, Henry VIII's life seemed divided into two distinct phases. Did he make a pact with the devil, causing such a drastic transformation? If so, it seems the deal was terribly unfair. Henry sacrificed his soul, yet the devil continuously mocked him. It granted him brief miracles, then infused these gifts with chaos, luring him to self-destruction. When Henry was near death, the wig's power was suddenly stripped away. Perhaps, making a deal with the devil was never a wise choice.
Rumors and the Final
As Douglas Adams once remarked, "Magic always comes with a price, especially when you inadvertently turn yourself into a penguin." Each time Henry VIII removed his wig, he would be plunged into extreme weakness and agitation. Court physician William Butts meticulously documented the king's symptoms in his medical journal: "As soon as His Majesty removes his wig, he trembles all over, breaks into a cold sweat, and even experiences hallucinations. He keeps shouting, 'My crown! My crown!' until the wig is put back on, which then calms him."
Just as the curse of the wig threatened to engulf the entire royal family, Henry VIII's sixth wife, Catherine Parr, emerged. A woman of remarkable intellect, Catherine quickly noticed the peculiarities affecting her husband. Her private diary reveals her astute observations:
"Henry always handles that wig with utmost care, refusing to take it off even while sleeping. Sometimes, I wake in the middle of the night and see it glowing ominously in the dark. Whenever I attempt to approach it, I feel dizzy and nauseous. I finally understood that it was no ordinary wig but an evil magical creation. It was consuming Henry's soul, and I had to find a way to stop it."
Catherine embarked on a prolonged battle of wits. According to her lady-in-waiting, Margaret Neville, the queen would lock herself in the library all day, poring over tomes of arcane knowledge. During her research, Catherine uncovered a significant clue. "I found a magical embroidery needle," she wrote in her diary, "said to be forged from a fragment of St. George's armor, capable of countering evil forces."
Catherine knew that to break such a powerful curse, a single magical needle would not suffice. She needed more wisdom and strength. In another entry from her private journal, we find:
"Today, I discovered an ancient book, 'Magic Weaves and Royalty,' in a hidden corner of the royal library. It mentioned that to break an artifact enchanted by a demon, one must weave a garment imbued with seven sacred powers: the purity of moonlight, the rebirth of a phoenix, the innocence of a unicorn, the strength of a dragon, the wisdom of an elf, the song of a mermaid, and the blessing of an angel."
A clever woman always finds a way to turn challenges into opportunities. Catherine began her secret mission. First, she went to the royal garden on a full moon night to collect moonlight in a silver bowl. Then, she sent trusted envoys to the Far East to obtain phoenix feathers. To acquire unicorn mane, she ventured into the Forbidden Forest, using her pure heart to charm the magical creature. "Dragon scales were the hardest to obtain," Catherine noted in her diary, "I had to feign illness to convince Henry to let me go to Wales for recuperation. There, I managed to steal a few scales from a sleeping dragon." The wisdom of the elves came from an ancient ring, a family heirloom from her grandmother. The mermaid's song was encapsulated in a pearl, cleverly "borrowed" from the royal treasury. As for the angel's blessing, Catherine spent a year praying devoutly every night, finally receiving a response on a stormy night.
With all the materials gathered, Catherine began the arduous task of weaving. She had to work under the full moon each month, using the magical embroidery needle to seamlessly blend the seven elements. "It was a race against time," Catherine wrote, "I could feel Henry being consumed by the wig day by day. His temper grew more irritable, and the human light in his eyes was fading."
Throughout the weaving process, Catherine faced numerous obstacles. Sometimes, clouds would obscure the moonlight; other times, the dragon scales would repel the phoenix feathers. Yet, she never gave up. Finally, on the seventh full moon, Catherine completed the magical garment. It appeared to be an ordinary silk robe, but under moonlight, it shimmered with a rainbow of colors.
Catherine knew persuading Henry to wear the robe would be no easy feat. She devised a clever plan.
"I told Henry I had prepared a special birthday gift for him," Catherine wrote in her diary, "a magical robe that would enhance his majesty. He was intrigued, but the wig seemed to sense the danger, writhing uneasily on his head."
On Henry's birthday, the entire court gathered in the hall. When Henry donned the robe, a powerful energy wave swept through the room. The magical wig began to tremble violently, trying to escape. It was a dramatic confrontation, recalled by eyewitness Thomas Cranmer:
"It seemed as though two forces were battling on the king's head. Queen Catherine, holding the embroidery needle, chanted softly to weaken the wig's power. I saw her thrown to the ground by an invisible force, but she quickly got up and drove the needle straight into the wig's center."
A piercing scream echoed through the palace, and after a blinding flash of light, the wig's power was finally sealed. Catherine had succeeded, but the cost was great. Following this event, Henry VIII's health deteriorated rapidly. He could no longer conceal his aging and ailments. Edward Seymour recorded in "The Last Days of the Dynasty":
"His Majesty became so weak that standing was difficult. Strangely, his mind seemed clearer than ever."
On January 28, 1547, Henry VIII died at the age of 55. On his deathbed, he implored Catherine to ensure the wicked object would never resurface. Catherine kept her promise, sealing the wig in a secret location. Speculation about the wig's final resting place has never ceased. Some say it was hidden in the basement of Buckingham Palace, while others believe it was sunk into the Thames. The truth, perhaps, only the queen knew.
Of course, there is another tale. After Henry's death, the despised wig was thrown into the fire by his sons, never to be seen again on English soil. Rumors persist that a Protestant zealot secretly recovered and preserved the artifact. Both the British Museum and the Royal Collection Trust deny possessing any magical wig. It seems it has indeed vanished into thin air.
Or perhaps it still lurks in some mysterious corner. Occasionally, there are claims that on stormy nights, a strange wig can be seen floating in the shadows of Buckingham Palace...