In the mid-to-late 17th century, Anthony Wood, an antiquarian and music-lover, wrote biographical notes on famous musicians. Amongst these was a short biography on a …
CHASTISING A QUEEN
Tudor
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, …
A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY
For a site that attracts so much international attention and tourism in the 21st century, in the medieval and Tudor periods there are surprisingly few …
A mournefull Dittie, entituled Elizabeths losse
together with a welcome for King James published London, 1603 ~ Farewell, farewell, farewell, brave Englands joy: Gone is thy friend that kept thee from …
B FOR BOLEYN: THE B PATTERN PORTRAITS
In the past I’ve written about contemporary images of Anne Boleyn: the lack of surviving contemporary portraits and the Moost Happi medal, and Anne’s association …
ELIZABETH’S LOST BUTTON
Inventory lists can reveal all sorts of details, such as when a portrait of Henry VIII appeared in a 16th century manuscript (you can read …
INVESTIGATING AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF HENRY VIII
Though it’s not a word that is often used to describe him, there is a very sweet portrait of Henry VIII that I would like …
THE HISTORY OF THE DEVIL’S BRIDGE
This post is for my Mum, who is one of my biggest supporters, and loves the Lake District in the north of England, where she …
