Tudor Q and A

Question from Elizabeth M - Full-length bios of Mary Tudor (sister of Henry VIII)

2010-02-08T12:00:00.001-06:00

Has there ever been, or are there any plans in the works, to publish a full-length biography of Mary Tudor, King Henry VIII's sister? She led an amazing life, and it seems there is enough material for her to have a bio just on her. I have the two books, The Rose and the Thorn, and the book by Maria Perry, in which she and her sister Margaret are written about in the same volume. But she is surely deserving of her own volume.

Question from Jessica - Lord's Prayer in England

2010-02-08T11:59:00.000-06:00

I am curious about the Lord's Prayer in England. Was it changed during the 1530s, and if so, how? How was it phrased before this time? Thanks!

Question from Mary - Mary D'Aiuto

2010-02-04T20:58:00.001-06:00

Mary D'Aiuto was thought to have died in her teens which would partly explain her mysterious disappearance from History. However, about five years ago, I read that a Historian had uncovered evidence that she may well have survived and was fairly optimistic that he had even traced her living descendants . Do you know if his theory was proved correct?

Question from Evelyn - Anne Boleyn's intentions

2010-02-04T20:54:00.000-06:00

So I have seen the movie ''The other Boleyn girl'', and read the books, Mary, bloody mary''
and ''Doomed queen Anne''. What is everyone's veiw on what Anne Boleyn's actual intentions were? It seems to m like she wanted to be queen, but some have told me it was completly the king's idea. Thanks!

Evelyn

Question from Helen - Touching prisoners on their way to execution

2010-02-04T20:52:00.000-06:00

I've been watching "The Tudors" show and have a question re: the execution of Anne Boleyn. In the series when she was taken to the execution block people from the crowd were trying to touch her dress. Why were the crowds eager to touch the person to be executed? Some were trying to hand the accused the cross, etc.

Question from Memory - Travel and children of ladies in waiting

2010-02-04T20:48:00.001-06:00

When a lady in waiting to the Queen wanted to go home to see her family, how did they travel? Who was responsible for arranging and paying for the trip. Also, if they lady was married and had children, where did the children stay when the lady attended her duties with the Queen?

Question from Sarah Anne - Tudor clothing recommendations

2010-02-01T21:12:00.000-06:00

In need of suggestions!

A friend of mine, who is a costume designer (we are both college theatre majors) has asked to make a Tudor style gown for me since she knows how much I love the Tudors.

In order to help her, I have decided to buy a french hood that she can use as a concept for the dress' color and accessories/ornamentations.

Does anyone know of any websites/stores where one can buy accurate/quality french hoods? (style Anne Boleyn/younger Elizabeth wore) Or websites that sell particulary good Tudor clothing?

Thank you!

Question from Marilyn R. - Portrait of Catherine of Aragon as Mary Magdalene

2010-02-01T21:09:00.001-06:00

Wikipedia is showing a portrait it claims to be of a young Katherine of Aragon as Mary Magdalene, and Wikimedia Commons also shows this and another of the same sitter as the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child. They claim both are by Michael Sittow around 1501, but to my mind this is not the girl in the famous 1502 Sittow portrait of a rather pensive young Katherine wearing a magnificent gold chain and necklace, although it could be said there are some facial similarities.

I think the second one, the Virgin & Child, dates from a few years later and is now in a museum in Berlin. Can anyone shed any light on a Katherine connection with these two paintings?

Question from Kayleigh - Website recommendations

2010-01-29T13:11:00.001-06:00

This is a pretty non-specific question. Basically im a web browser, in the sense that i use it to look at things that interest me regularly, so here im wondering if anyone has any Tudor site recommendations aside from this one (which is fantastic by the way Lara). My particular areas of interest are Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Tower of London, Hampton Court, Elizabeth I, but anything Tudor related grabs my interest.
Thanks

[Thanks Kayleigh! - Lara]

Question from Sasha - Living descendants of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York

2010-01-26T22:09:00.002-06:00

I know there are no decendants of Henry VIII on record. I would like to know are there any direct decendants of Henry VII & Elizabeth of York? Birth records seem to cease at a certain piont. If there are do they hold any titles?

Question from Katlyn - Henry VIII and Cromwell's letter from the Tower

2010-01-26T22:08:00.001-06:00

This may be common knowledge, but I just want to make sure: Henry VIII read Cromwell's letter from the Tower (the famous "mercy, mercy, mercy" one), yes? I was under the impression that this was established but I just realized that I don't know where I got that idea, and I could not find an answer online. Thanks!

Question from Melissa - Statue of Anne at Blickling Hall

2010-01-25T12:58:00.000-06:00

Hi. I was just reading Agnes Strickland's book on the queens of England, and when she talks about Anne Boleyn, she mentions a statue of her at Blickling Hall. Does anyone know if this statue is still extant? None of Anne's other biographers mention it, which leads me to believe it either turned out to be a fake, or, more likely, has since been destroyed or lost. Any info? Thanks.

Question from Jessica - Monopolies cancelled by Elizabeth I

2010-01-23T16:01:00.000-06:00

It is claimed that Elizabeth I cancelled some monopolies after much lively debate in the Parliament of 1601. Do you know which onopolies (or who held them) were cancelled?

Thanks,
Jess

Question from Thamina - Tudor horse tack

2010-01-17T17:34:00.000-06:00

I am setting up a dollhouse Tudor Inn, what kind of tack,(saddle, bridle, etc.), would the horses wear? A merchant and minor noble would be what i am looking for.

Question from Elizabeth M - Sources for Ethelreda, possible daughter of Henry VIII

2010-01-17T17:25:00.003-06:00

I have just started reading AFTER ELIZABETH, by Leanda de Lisle, and I have found something I have never come across before. She mentions very early on that Henry VIII had an illegitimate daughter named Ethelreda. I knew about Henry Fitzroy, and the arguments that Mary Boleyn's two children may have been fathered by Henry. But I have never heard of Ethelreda. Henry never acknowledged her? What is known about her? Were there other children fathered by Henry that were not acknowledged by him? Where did Ms. de Lisle find out about Ethelreda?

[She has popped up in other threads about possible bastards of Henry VIII, which I've linked to below. There are a lot of other discussions on this site about unacknowledged children of Henry VIII which can be found by searching on "bastard", "illegitimate", "mistress", etc. - Lara]

http://tudorhistory.org/queryblog/2008/10/question-from-lilly-possible.html

http://tudorhistory.org/queryblog/2008/05/question-from-elizabeth-more-possible.html

http://tudorhistory.org/queryblog/2008/01/question-from-elizabeth-questions-on.html

Question from Lovey - Mary I and pardons of Katherine Howard and others

2010-01-17T17:24:00.000-06:00

I have a couple of questions that I hope someone can answered for me.

I once read that when Mary 1 came to the throne she issue a pardon for "Katherine Howard". Does anyone know why she would do that? (beside the fact that Katherine Howard was catholic,that is) Considering that there were rumors that she didn't get along with Katherine Howard. When issuing a pardon to someone who is deceased , what exactly do it entail?
Who else had Mary 1 pardon when she came to the throne?

Question from Louise - Tips for travel to London

2010-01-09T19:14:00.003-06:00

I'm going to England in February. I have six days. I've been once before but it wasn't "my" trip, so I didn't get to choose the sites to see.

Can I get some tips?

I have been to Westminster. I NEED to see the Tower. I have heard good things about the British Museum and the Museum of London. So I'll be visiting those. I just got a tip on the National Portrait Gallery's audio tour. What else?

Also, as fellow Tudor lovers, any suggestions of other aspects of British history that might interest me and be accessible to me during my trip?

[Like with the book suggestions posts, it never hurts to have additional discussion on travel suggestions, especially with new exhibits, etc. coming along every so often. - Lara]

Question from Rachel - Thomas Cromwell's execution

2010-01-09T19:13:00.001-06:00

I recently read on a message board that the author Karen Harper in her book "The Last Boleyn" states that Thomas Cromwell was drawn, quartered and then beheaded. I always assumed Cromwell was granted a simple beheading. Does anyone know which sentence he was given?

Question from Nikki - Henry VIII's greatest successes

2010-01-09T18:27:00.000-06:00

what were king henry the eighth's three greatest successes?

Question from Orla - Younger brother of Catherine of Aragon

2010-01-09T18:04:00.000-06:00

Hi, I know this isn't exactly about the Tudors more about Catherine of Aragon, but has anyone every came across that she had a younger brother named Pedro who was born from 1488 and died young in 1490? I came across this once, but haven't found anything else on it.

Reason why I want to know is that Pedro (if he was real) would have been second in line for the Spanish throne (behind Prince Juan)and in 1490 the eldest daughter of Fernando and Isabella married the heir to the Portugeuse throne Afonso, he was killed in a horse accident 6 months later and apparently under mysterious circumstances and I read that Fernando and Isabella had tried every trick in the book to stop that marriage from happening as it was a term in a treaty to end the Castilian sucession wars.

Question from Joanne - Tower and Dressed to Kill exhibition

2010-01-09T18:02:00.000-06:00

After browsing you website, I seen the list of events about Henry VIII 500th anniversary, I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Tower of London's Dressed to kill exhibition! We were not allowed to take any photographs of his actual armour but I do have some fantastic photos (available on request!) of that day at the tower, the tower was buzzing with people, exhibitions, shows and characters, it was defiantly a day to remember. Hopefully this will be of some interest to other Tudor fans

Many thanks
Joanne

Question from Laurel - Greenwich Palace and Edward VI's burial

2010-01-09T17:57:00.002-06:00

I am starting a Tudor novel, obviously historical fiction, centered around Edward VI. The floor plan of Old Greenwich Place is vital, especially the room where Edward died, & that room's access to the paddock. Is it true OGP has been demolished??? I was hoping to visit one day. I live in Ann Arbor MI, USA, & travel won't happen soon. Also, cannot afford the highly recommended books--but I've been wanting to write this novel forever. So is there anyway I can get the floor plan for free or at a discount; WAS the old place demolished; also, just exactly where is Edward interred? With his grandfather in Westminster Abbey? (I have a twist on what happened after he died, possibly a true story.)

Thanks to anyone who can help me.

Not a school project. I'm 58 & curious.

[Previous thread on Edward VI's burial linked below. - Lara]

http://tudorhistory.org/queryblog/2008/04/question-from-joyce-edward-vis-death.html

Question from SarahAnne - Books with important Tudor documents

2010-01-04T21:39:00.001-06:00

I am looking to purchase a book with the important Tudor documents, but don't want to purchase the wrong one! I would prefer not to buy tons of books, so I was wondering if there are any especially good compilations. Any suggestions?

I recently found one entitled "Tudor Constitutional Documents" by J.R. Tanner. It covers the years 1485-1603. Has anyone read this? Would this be a good book to start out with?

Question from SarahAnne - Further reading suggestions

2010-01-04T16:10:00.004-06:00

I read a lot about The Tudors, but I'm not sure how to find the best and most accurate books to read and the most credited historians/authors.

I have read a lot by Alison Weir and Eric Ives lately and like them.

However what other authors should I look into? I am interested in it all, whether it is a biography or an historical document from the period! For example, has there ever been a book published on Chapuys writings? I would really appreciate any help that would further my "quality" of future Tudor learning! Thank you!

[Some previous similar threads are linked below. This is a topic that never hurts to have come up again and again since there are always so many new Tudor books coming out! - Lara]

http://tudorhistory.org/queryblog/2009/03/question-from-amy-essential-reading.html

http://tudorhistory.org/queryblog/2008/07/question-from-kat-looking-for-book.html

http://tudorhistory.org/queryblog/2008/04/question-from-sarah-book.html

And some fiction recommendations:
http://tudorhistory.org/queryblog/2009/01/question-from-olivia-fiction-book.html

Question from Elizabeth M - Record of Jane Grey commenting on Anne Boleyn's religious beliefs

2010-01-04T16:09:00.000-06:00

I am currently reading Leanda de Lisle's book on the Grey sisters, and in it, she points out that Jane Grey had respect for Princess Elizabeth and her religious beliefs. Is there any record of Jane ever praising Anne Boleyn for her promotion of evangelical ideology or acknowledging the debt the evangelical movement in England owed to her?