The Tudor King Henry VIII was crowned in 1509 and the sixteenth century was a period of change in many respects. After four years on the throne he successfully invaded France, only to sign the Treaty of London in 1518, uniting the kingdoms of western Europe in the face of a greater threat, the Ottomans. Peace with France was, however, short-lived: it was France after all, and there was history.
Foods from the New World were introduced and graced the tables of the impressive feasts Henry VIII was famous for. Francesco Chieregati, a papal emissary visiting England, was particularly impressed with the English ways of throwing a party:
