This week I will, of course, be writing a lot about historical coronations. To kick the week off, though, I will start by discussing some …
UNREALISED CORONATIONS: JANE, ANNE, CATHERINE, & CATHERINE
Henry VIII
Book Review: ‘Henry VIII: A History of His Most Important Places and Events’ by Andrew Beattie
In ‘Henry VIII: A History of His Most Important Places and Events,’ Andrew Beattie unravels the history behind the castles, palaces, and manors owned by …
PRINCE EDWARD’S LETTER ABOUT MARY’S DANCING
On the 12th May, 1546, a young Prince Edward wrote a letter to his stepmother, Catherine Parr, that sheds an interesting light on Edward’s early …
WILL SOMER
Will Somer is renowned as Henry VIII’s fool. He entered royal service at some point prior to July 1535, and his final public appearance was …
THOMAS CROMWELL AND THE PARISH REGISTRY
Historians and genealogists owe a huge debt of gratitude to Thomas Cromwell. It is thanks to him that we have an extremely valuable source of …
HENRY VIII’S TREATMENT OF MARY – FEBRUARY 1536
I have written previously about the plot to help Mary flee England in 1535 and 1536. Following Katherine of Aragon’s death, there was an increased …
THE SPANISH CHESTNUT ROOF: HENRY VIII’S GIFT TO KATHERINE OF ARAGON
St Peter ad Vincula is a fascinating site, most notably for the burials of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. There is one feature that was …
A GENEALOGY FROM ADAM AND EVE TO KING EDWARD VI OF ENGLAND
Just like today, people in the medieval and early modern periods were fascinated by their genealogies, especially kings and noblemen. Henry VIII possessed a particularly …
WOULD A SON HAVE SAVED HER?
I realise this question could apply to several of Henry’s wives, but right now I’m thinking about Katherine of Aragon. If she had had a …
HENRY VIII & KATHERINE OF ARAGON’S PATERNOSTER
These spectacular rosary beads are believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon. No written records survive relating to this beautiful item, …
