Not quite as large a link-dump as last week. 🙂
* The Blood of Henry VIII – Site for the research into the possibility that Henry VIII had McLeod Syndrome and was positive for the Kell blood group. The researchers are also seeking permission to exhume Henry VIII for testing, although it doesn’t seem likely the Crown will approve it.
* A neat timeline of the English language from the British Library. Lots of neat documents there, including some from the Tudor period.
* A little more on the restoration work beginning at Chichester Cathedral that I mentioned last week
* And, in honor of the anniversary of the execution of Jane Parker Boleyn in 1542, The Accidental Thespian has written up her research into Lady Rochford for portraying her at the Maryland Renaissance Festival.
If the Crown agrees to opening Henry VIII’s tomb for a medical test, then that would definitely open the request to test the bones which are in the urn next to Elizabeth I’s/Mary’s tomb.
That would be what would fascinate me…the possibility of finding out what happened to the two princes and setting to rest, most likely finally, the maybe/would be nice/no way possible questions about the remains.
Hal 8’s blood type, however, and if his blood had any problems is past history, IMO. Nobody can change how Henry led his life…the people he axed, his wild personality. That is fact. Beginning a search for Edward V and his brother would open new territory that, right now, is only theory.
I think I read about the Kell Blood Group thing in the Daily Mail (yes, I know, but the linked article seemed to be genuine). The authors are fingering Jacquetta of Luxemburg (Elizabeth Woodville’s mother) as the transmitter of the syndrome – and I have to say that at least she is a new and original addition to the usual galere of Tudor infertility suspects. Since she had about 12 children, I’m curious as to how she was identified as the carrier.
This is the mention of Jacquetta of Luxembourg from the actual research article:
“We have traced the possible transmission of the Kell positive gene from Jacquetta of Luxembourg, the king
Hmm, there may be something in it … of Jacquetta’s sons, one was beheaded fairly young (while married to a woman over 60) and one was a cleric, so they perhaps must be disqualified from the analysis, but I believe the other three did not have issue. Jacquetta’s numerous daughters married into various noble families, but their male progeny may have petered out in the next generation. It sounds like a fascinating genealogical hunt!