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 …
CATHERINE PARR’S NEW YEARS GIFT TO EDWARD
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 …
NEW YEAR’S FESTIVITIES IN SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT
Celebrating the new year is a tradition which has a long history. One of the most evocative medieval accounts is in ‘Sir Gawain and the …
JANE AUSTEN: THIS TIME ON HENRY VIII
ABOVE: Portrait of Henry VIII by the workshop of Hans Holbein, c.1537 In November, I wrote about Jane Austen’s tongue-in-cheek account of Richard III from …
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 …
WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR’S PARENTS AND THE NORMAN CASTLE
ABOVE: William the Conqueror and Odo, bishop of Bayeux, from the ‘Bayeux Tapestry’ Benoît de Sainte-Maure was a 12th-century French poet, who, amongst other things, …
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 …
HARNESS PENDANT OF PHILIPPA OF HAINAULT
This beautiful, if damaged, piece was a harness pendant with Philippa of Hainault’s coat of arms, found in 1998 in Yorkshire. Made of a copper …
MARGARET BEAUFORT’S BOOK OF HOURS
ABOVE: Lady Margaret Beaufort by Meynnart Wewyck, c.1510Painted shortly after she died, this portrait of Margaret actually shows her Book of Hours open in front …
