When the wives of Henry the Eighth hit the fatal note in the first round of “divorced, beheaded, dead”, the king of England found himself in want of a romantic partner. His closest adviser, Thomas Cromwell, was punting for a certain Anne of Cleves. Her charms and beauty were, according to Cromwell, a sure thing. I can’t remember why he thought she was a promising wife, but given the track record of the potential groom, it may have been a case of pure attrition. I don't know how many parents of eligible princesses were prepared to knowingly sacrifice their daughters on the altar of matrimony to a chap with such a careless approach to the institution. ..