This month’s expert speaker, Livi Michael, author of Succession and Rebellion, Wars of the Roses novels, will be joining us live in the chatroom on Tuesday 18th August…
[Read More...]-
Livi Michael’s Live Chat – 18 August 2015
-
Amy Licence talk on breast-feeding and wet nursing through history
Don’t worry if you missed Amy Licence talking about breast-feeding and wet nursing through history on Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4 today…
[Read More...] -
Swordfighting Video
Today, instead of a Claire Chats video we have a “Tim Chats” video. While Tim and I were on holiday with our children in the UK we caught up with our godson Ben Crossley who is an actor and who has been studying acting and stage combat. We persuaded him to share some of his ‘moves’ and knowledge…
[Read More...] -
William Parr, Marquis of Northampton
William Parr, Marquis of Northampton and brother of Queen Catherine Parr, was born on 14th August 1513. He was the son of Sir Thomas Parr of Kendal and his wife, Maud (née Green).
[Read More...] -
Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury
Margaret Pole, or Margaret Plantagenet, was the daughter of George, Duke of Clarence – brother of two Plantagenet kings: Edward IV and Richard III – and his wife Lady Isabella Neville, daughter of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick and a man known as ‘the Kingmaker’. Margaret was born on 14th August 1473 and she married Sir Richard Pole in 1491, having five children before she was widowed in 1505. One of her children was Reginald Pole who became a cardinal and then Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of Mary I.
[Read More...] -
Amy Licence on breast-feeding and wet nursing through history
Historian Amy Licence will be on Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4 tomorrow morning talking about breastfeeding and wet nursing through history.
[Read More...] -
1460 Northampton Battlefield under threat – You can help!
Historian Mike Ingram has contacted me to spread the word about a threat to the location of the 1460 Battle of Northampton, a battle which is seen as “the first major engagement” of the Wars of the Roses. The site is a registered battlefield but there are plans to build a car park on it.
[Read More...] -
Member subscriptions have helped in Africa
A part of our members subscriptions are given to charities which we feel are deserving and helping out those in need. We’ve had this wonderful feedback letter from Rope about a project which members subscriptions helped to fund.
[Read More...] -
Marriage in Tudor Times by Sarah Bryson
Marriage during the Tudor period was very different to how it is today. First and foremost marriage was considered to be between a man and a woman, and there was no room for anything else. There was also no need for a marriage certificate or legal process as there is today. Instead the Church’s law dictated that all that made a legal marriage was the consent of two people.
[Read More...] -
This week in history 10 – 16 August
-
The Battle of Saint-Mathieu – 10 August 1512
On the 10th August 1512, the Battle of Saint-Mathieu, a battle in the War of the League of Cambrai, took place between the English and Franco-Breton fleets off the coast of Brest. England at this time were allied with Spain and the Holy Roman Empire against France.
[Read More...] -
9 August 1588 – Elizabeth I’s Tilbury Speech
On the 9th August 1588, Elizabeth I appeared before the troops that had gathered at Tilbury Fort in anticipation of a Spanish attack.
In her article “The Myth of Elizabeth at Tilbury”, Susan Frye, writes that there are no reliable eye-witness accounts regarding Elizabeth I’s appearance on that day, but that tradition places the Queen in armour, giving a rousing speech – an iconic Gloriana.
[Read More...] -
Queen Consorts Quiz
How much do you know about the queen consorts of the Plantagent and Tudor kings?
Test your knowledge with this fun quiz!
[Read More...] -
The Royal Château of Amboise
Louis XI chose Amboise as the royal residence of his consort, Charlotte of Savoy, and their son,the dauphin (future Charles VIII), was born at the château in 1470. It soon became a favourite royal residence and was one of the homes of The French court from Louis XI to Francis I.
[Read More...] -
Battle of Clyst Heath – 6 August 1549
The Battle of Clyst Heath was another battle fought between the rebels of the Prayer Book Rebellion and Edward VI’s forces.
Upon hearing of the news of the massacre the previous day, two thousand rebels made their way to Clyst Heath where the Lords Russell and Grey were camped, and opened fire. The battle lasted all day, but the rebels were defeated in the end. The 18th century historian, John Hooker, wrote of the battle:
[Read More...] -
Battle of Clyst St Mary – 5 August 1549
The Battle of Clyst St Mary, which was a battle fought during the Prayer Book Rebellion, took place on 5th August 1549 at the village of Clyst St Mary, 3 miles east of Exeter in Devon.
The Devonian and Cornish rebels were defeated by Lord Russell’s troops, and around 900 prisoners were massacred later that day on Clyst Heath.
[Read More...] -
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
Today is the anniversary of the death of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, at his home in London in 1598. Here is a bio of this extraordinary Tudor man:
[Read More...] -
Battle of Woodbury Common – 4 August 1549
The Battle of Woodbury Common, part of the Prayer Book Rebellion, took place on 4th August 1549 on Woodbury Common, near the village of Woodbury in East Devon. The battle took place at 4am and happened when the rebels, who had been defending Clyst St Mary, marched to Woodbury Mill where Lord Russell and his troops had camped for the night. The rebels were defeated.
[Read More...] -
Livi Michael Expert Chat – Margaret Beaufort and more
As an extra “Expert Chat” for August, we have a short presentation by author Livi Michael, author of “Succession” who talks about Margaret Beaufort and much more. Livi is very kind to have shared this exclusive presentation with us – thank you Livi!
[Read More...] -
Menstruation in the Tudor period by Sarah Bryson
It has been happening to women since the dawn of time and yet during the Tudor age it was rarely spoken about. The monthly curse, flowering, coming of age, a period, a woman’s menstruation goes by many names yet how did women during the Tudor age handle their cycles without the modern day use of sanitary napkins or in some cases pain killers? (And lots of chocolate!)
[Read More...] -
This week in history 3 – 9 August
-
Battle of Cornwall – 2 August 1595
On 2nd August 1595, as part of the Anglo-Spanish War of 1585-1604, four galleys containing somewhere between 200 and 400 Spanish soldiers landed at Mount’s Bay on the coast of western Cornwall. The fleet was commanded by Captain Carlos de Amésquita and it had left Port Louis, Brittany, France, on 26th July to raid the south-west of England.
[Read More...] -
Tudor Words Quiz
-
Sir Edward Kelley
Sir Edward Kelley (Kelly), apothecary, alchemist and medium, was born on 1st August 1555 in Worcester. In March 1582, Kelley called on astrologer and mathematician Dr John Dee at his home at Mortlake in Surrey. Kelley impressed Dee with his abilities as a medium, after Dee had been unsuccessful in making contact with angels. He worked closely with Dee for seven years, travelling around Europe and taking part in seances and allegedly communicating with angels in a special angelic language.
[Read More...]
