At the end of January, 1528, an 8 year old Henry FitzRoy, already duke of Richmond, wrote this lovely letter to Henry VIII, seeking his …
HENRY FITZROY’S LETTER TO HIS FATHER, HENRY VIII
Henry VIII
HENRY VIII AS DEFENDER OF THE FAITH AGAINST MARTIN LUTHER
In 1519, Henry VIII read Martin Luther’s 95 Theses. As a devout son of the Catholic Church, one who may even have been intended for …
FRANCIS WESTON’S LAST LETTER
On the 13th May, 1536, Sir Francis Weston wrote a final letter to those closest to his heart: his parents, Sir Richard Weston and Anne …
CATHERINE HOWARD & THE YOUNG ELIZABETH
Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII, was the third stepmother Elizabeth had known. Catherine and Elizabeth shared another connection, they were first cousins once …
DR. HENRY VIII AND HIS MEDICINES
My family and I are all down with nasty head-colds at the moment (not covid thankfully), which has me thinking about Tudor medicine and remedies. …
CATHERINE PARR’S NEW YEARS GIFT TO EDWARD
In the Tudor period, gifts were exchanged for New Years instead of Christmas. We are lucky to have many records relating to the gift exchanges …
NAMING PRINCESS ELIZABETH: THE NAME HENRY VIII AND ANNE BOLEYN ALMOST CHOSE
On the 10th September, 1533, Chapuys wrote to Charles V about the birth of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII’s daughter. Amongst other details of the …
THE PREGNANCY LETTERS OF CATHERINE PARR AND THOMAS SEYMOUR
The nature of the relationship between Catherine Parr and her fourth husband, Thomas Seymour has been the source of much speculation. It seems certain that …
HENRY VIII’S TRIAL OF ST. THOMAS BECKET
Over 400 years after his death, the shrine of St. Thomas Becket fell victim to the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Henry VIII seemed to take …
TUDOR OATHS AND ACTS OF SUPREMACY AND SUCCESSION
Henry VIII created a situation whereby religion and succession became closely entwined. In order to ensure his marriage and heirs by Anne Boleyn were recognised …
