More instructions on how to live. Many of them are strange to us now, but one in particular played a key role in England’s royal past.

Deuteronomy 25:5 is about a man’s duty to his dead brother. If his brother dies without a male heir, he is to marry his brother’s widow to ensure that his brother’s family name is carried on within Israel. If the brother refuses to do this, the widow is allowed to go up to him in the presence of the town leaders and slap him with one of his sandals.

This is the text Henry the Eighth used to get papal dispensation to marry his brother’s widow, Queen Katharine of Spain. I have not yet got to the text that he then became convinced condemned him to die heirless!

Dear Father, thank you that R has arrived safely. Thank you that he has come over to spend some time with us. Please bless our visit. Please help me to honour and remember you in every moment of my day, In Jesus’ name, Amen