[Pseudoscience-is-malarkey (OP)]

It should have died with King Henry VIII...

[Colin2B]

It should have died with King Henry VIII...

Why?

Firstly, they really don’t have anything to do with Henry VIII
Secondly, Brits don’t eat them. They are a Cornish dish, Cornwall has declared independence, it has its own flag which is not part of the Union Flag. Hence, the Cornish are not British 
Thirdly, what is wrong with fish pie? Surely you can’t object to cooking whole fish, or are you so insulated from real food that you only ever see filleted, frozen fish. There is really tasty meat in the head, you should try it, or talk to your 1st Nation people who seem to be well tuned in to this 

[alancalverd]

Oh arr, you'm right there me andsome. Stargazy is the proper job. She do scare the emmits, though.

[Colin2B]

She do scare the emmits, though.

It ‘specially do, particularly them new worlders.
At least the Romans recognised a good sardine when they saw one.

[evan_au]

Stargazy

I can see that the sardines are arranged like a star.
- But do they gaze at you while you eat them?

[Colin2B]

Stargazy

I can see that the sardines are arranged like a star.
- But do they gaze at you while you eat them?

No, the idea was that they were looking up at the sky.

[alancalverd]

In some versions the heads are detached and arranged vertically.

[Colin2B]

In some versions the heads are detached .........

So that’s why someone thought there was a connection to Henry VIII