There is evidence to suggest that Henry's volatility did hinder is search for a noble or royal bride abroad, as was the case with the widowed Christina of Denmark (duchess of Milan), according to Alison Weir. A common (possibly fictitious) phrase attributed to Christina was, "If I had two heads, one should be at the King of England's disposal." Burn, indeed.

Henry's treatment of a princess of Spain and a devoted wife and mother, his execution of Anne, and his break with the Catholic church certainly soured many relations and limited his options. At this point, Henry's advisors, Cromwell especially, were urging Henry to make a Protestant match in an effort to prevent a Catholic reconciliation or influence, thus the alliance with Cleves.

Reactions from the male relatives of potential brides were likely varied. Most, especially from lesser dukedoms like Cleves, probably saw a marital alliance as a way to strengthen their holdings and claim prestige as relative to a Queen. Other more important royals probably saw Henry as heretical, deranged, or beneath an alliance when more valuable ones could be made - especially considering England was a far isle perceived as less powerful and influential than the Holy Roman Empire and France, which during Henry's search were in the process of an important (if frigid and temporary) truce. Just two years before his marriage to Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII was excommunicated by Pope Paul III in response to the dissolution of the monasteries, which was odious to Catholics at home and abroad.

Even so, at this point Henry still had many options. It wasn't until after the execution of Catherine Howard that Henry's credibility as a suitor was at its lowest. Not only did he already have a son and heir who had survived the perils of infancy, by 1542, Henry was obese and his volatile temper was exacerbated by the old jousting wound that restricted his physical activity. Catherine Parr signed up less as a wife, and more of a nursemaid and companion, and it's likely no royal bride would be sent to England just for this purpose and in spite of the danger.