Henry as King: Henry VIII wanted to be an absolute monarch, exerting complete power in England. He also projected the image of a Renaissance Prince in his early reign, most notably through the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520, an event that served as extravagant display of skill and majesty. Henry was interested in writing, music and sports, and was interested heavily in religion, writing the Defense of the Seven Sacraments in 1521. Despite it being possible that his advisers ruled for him at times, the power of all of his peers rested on his shoulders - he could remove or execute them at will, as he had done with Cromwell.