Question from Stuart - Sir John Neville

Sir John Neville, 3rd Baron Latimer

This is a somewhat layered question;

I'm currently researching Henry VIII's 1513 campaign in France, more specifically the contingent of border horse which was part of Henry Percy's retinue which i believe to have have been led by Sir John Neville but I'm not 100%

At that time that would have made him around 20 years of age so a contemporary of Henry's I guess. I've read that he was knighted during the campaign and was one of the kings spears.

Does anyone know who led the border horse and also, a very nice bonus would be an idea of their heraldry.

Sir Rhys / Rees ap Thomas is mentioned quite a bit in connection to skirmishing and reconnaissance with light cavalry but I can't un-thread whether these were the demilancers or scurrers / prickers or both.

Question from Kate - Royal tombs in London

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a recent work regarding the royal tombs. I will be traveling to London and would like to know where everyone is. I have a general knowledge on this topic but have always been more involved in the study of Tudor lives and not so much their resting places

Question from David - Anne of Cleves' German ladies

Are you able please to let me know the names of Anne of Cleves's German ladies in waiting who came over to England with her?

Thank you

Question from Jo Joyce - Henry VIII and painting

Did Henry VIII paint? Was Henry VIII taught to paint? If so, who taught him?

Question from Jan - Ship-to-ship signaling and communication

I'm writing a sequel to my children's novel Harry Bone-Thief, and want my hero, now aboard ship & on his way home from seeking a North West passage, to encounter another vessel on its way out from France, and to speak her and learn the news (Henry VIII is dead). They won't have had flag signals yet, so how did they communicate? How wd Harry, away for many months, know whether or not the approaching French boat was an enemy? Dipping into Hakluyt, I find that ships saluted each other with cannon 'in the manner of the sea' - where can I find something more precise?

Question from Ben - Plastering over timbers on Tudor buildings

I have been told that the timbers of Tudor buildings would have been 'plastered' over. This surprised me as the white buildings with their black timbers are so characteristic. It makes me wonder if this is true. Any ideas?

Question from Sylwia - Anne Boleyn ordering genealogical chart

Hello,

I wanted to ask you something about Anne Boleyn - I remember that I was reading in one of her biographies (which one, I can't remember) that she ordered her genealogical chart/tree and she was displaying it at court. Do you remember perhaps were such information occurred?

Thank you

Question from Lawrence - George Gregory Fiennes

I am questioning the authenticity of Tudorplace.com remarks about George Gregory Fiennes. It states he had a Bastard daughter Mary Fiennes born in 1566 and married a Wheatley. Other books say he had a daughter that died young and Ann Sackville would not or did not recognize her. How can I contact them about the information? Does anyone have confirmation one way or the other?

Question from Donna - Richard Edwardes and Agnes Blewitt

I am a direct descendant of Richard Edwardes and Agnes Blewitt. I am aware of Richard being the son of Henry VIII and the one son produced by a mistress that lived and had children. I read that Henry secretly married Agnes, it was not recorded as a marriage but records show that it was kept a secret.Does anyone know anything about the marriage? I read a blog from a Angela C back in 2008 that said she is a descendant as well and also she is a Lewis. I also am a Lewis and was wondering how to get in touch with this person for more information. Can anyone Help?

[Related previous thread linked below - Lara]

http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2006/04/question-from-shannon-another-illegit.html

Question from Michael - Royal burial vault in St. George's Chapel

Hello......I wrote a few months back about the royal burial vaults under the Albert Memorial Chapel in St. Georges chapel. I am still looking for any information about the exact size and location and set up of the main vault. I am curious about how one gains access to the vault....are the caskets lowered? or carried on stairs.....if so, where are those stairs? I would love to see a photo of the vault. There is a sketch on line...but a photo would be invaluable to my research. I am looking for information on exactly who is left down there that has not been moved to Frogmore burial grounds. Are the caskets just lying on shelves exposed to the air and deteriorating or are they maintained somehow.
the lucky custodial staff has a first hand birds eye view into history!! Any information at all on the royal vault would be soooo helpful. I have photos of Henry the 8ths vault...but I am looking for the main vault under the Albert Chapel......Thanks in advance........Mike

(Previous question from Michael here: http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2012/02/question-from-michael-burial-vault-in.html

Question from Paul - Anglo-French War 1521-1526

I am interested in finding out more details of England's involvement in the Anglo-French War, (1521-1526).

Henry VIII joined the Hapsburg Empire against France but what, if anything did the English troops achieve or do. This period always seems to be brushed over in the general histories. Where can I find more detail about the military campaign

Thanks

Question from Mary Lou - William Morris/Norris

I have been working on my family tree and have come across either a William Morris or a William Norris who married a Lady Joane de Vere who was the dau of Elizabeth Howard and a John Devere th3e 12th earl of oxford.

I would like to clarify if it is Morris or Norris.

one would make the Howards and Bolyns part, a very removed part, of the family tree and of course one would not.

it appears that the Morris bloodline split between Church of England and Quaker. and came to America early on to escape religious persecutions.

This line also married into the Shattuck line which helped with others to start the Quaker Church in the North Carolina area.

I would appreciate any help that can be given. It has been a lonely search because none of the family is interested and my father never talked about his family to me, the youngest child. My grandmother, his mom, never did either.

thank you

Question from Bron - Bonfire beacons warning of the Armada

I understand that a system of bonfires was set up, which were to be lighted to warn people once the Armada approached. Is there a map of these sites? Was this system used before, in English history? Would it only have been effective at night? What were people supposed to do, once the bonfires were lighted?

Thank you.

Question from Paul - Psychology of Henry VIII

Hi, I am trying to compose an article for my magazine assessing the psychology of Henry VIII. Not being a psychology student and little knowledge on the subject, I was wondering if anybody could point me in the right direction.

What aspects of his personality may be considered psychologically abnormal/normal?

Was his behavior un-balanced?

Did his behaviour develop in a radical way over time?

Please show me links to examples of his behaviour

Is there any good references I can easily find (internet if possible) out lining relevant terminology for his afflictions?

I know that is a lot to ask for but thanks in advance for any help

http://audaciousmagazine.webs.com/submissions.html


[Previous related threads are linked below. - Lara]

http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2009/02/question-from-kayleigh-henry-viii-as.html

http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2009/03/open-thread-wilsons-brief-history-of.html

http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2008/12/question-from-trezza-madness-of-henry.html

Question from Sylwia - Cromwell and Anne Boleyn's fall

Recently I've been re-reading most of accounts on Anne Boleyn's downfall, reaching the primary sources as well.
And I cannot figure out Thomas Cromwell's role and involvement in AB's fall.

Every historian has his/hers own vision of Anne's fall and there are few possibilities (ok, but here I'm assuming that Anne was indeed innocent);

Two leading theories are;
- Henry VIII, tired of Anne Boleyn and her inability to produce male heirs, orders Cromwell to get rid of her
- Cromwell moves against AB because she posed a threat to himself, so Cromwell acts alone, convincing the king that Anne was guilty of adultery

Considering that it was Cromwell who 'plotted the whole affair' as he later admitted to Imperial ambasador Chapuys,why would Cromwell want to get rid of AB?

Few reasons;
- she was a threat to him ; in 1535 she told him she could have his head chopped off, but Cromwell trusted in Henry VIII ; does it mean that Anne had literally no influence over the king, if Cromwell believed that Henry could protect him from Anne?
- Anne had different vision about the religious reform; where Cromwell (with Henry's blessing) was interested in gaining the wealth from dissolved monasteries, Anne sought a way to improve matters; she wanted the founds to be put to 'better uses' chairty, education, etc.
- Anne was an obstacle in the foreign politics; ok, it is obvious that altough she was pro-French her entire life , she knew that after Katherine's death only Imperial alliance is the one that truly matters and she was pro-Imperial. I think that this is a huge misconception that Anne was against Imperial alliance; but what I don't wholly understand is - how Anne was involved in forming an alliance with the German protestants? Joanna Denny claims in her book that it was Anne's support for the Protestants that led to her downfall.

Cromwell's plot could have been successful because;

- Anne Boleyn failed to give Henry VIII a son;
- she was unpopular among English people
- according to Alison Weir, she was not a good wife (shrewish, outspoken, etc)
- the King developed interest in one of Anne's ladies, Jane Seymour

BUT there is evidence that in the spring of 1535 Anne Boleyn was highly esteemd by the King and - although she failed to give him a son - he still regarded her as his wife and queen and was eager for the Emperor to do the same. When Anne's almoner preached the sermon on 2 April 1536, accusing Cromwell and king's 'bad council' of being greedy and evil, it was a warning sign for Cromwell that the Queen threatens him once again. But Cromwell did not move against Anne until 18 April when - after the audience with Chapus, he stormedout of the chamber excusing himself. Was Cromwell in danger? Was he falling out of king's favour? After all he was secretly meeting with Chapuys many times, perhaps the king did not approve it at all? So from 20 April Cromwell locked himself away (pretended illness) and he was (probably) plotting against Anne Boleyn.

Well, I am trying and trying to figure out - was Cromwell acting with Henry's blessing? Was Henry really tired of Anne and her inabiliity to produce male heirs? Accusations against Anne came to light when one of her ladies after being scolded at her immoral behaviour revealed that the queen herself was not any better. Cromwell's main accusations come from Anne herself (!) and her two fatal quarrels with two courtiers - Henry Norris and MArk Smeaton (some time by the end of April), and Anne's babbling in the Tower (about Francis Weston).

It seems that most of the 'evidence' Cromwell collected late in April and when Anne was already arrested, when she provided the 'evidence' herself. So it means that Cromwell had no plans to get rid of her earlier and thus her was planning Anne's fall all by himself, convincing the king that she was really guilty of adultery,
treason and incest. There was absolutely no evidence (before the fatal April weekend when Anne quarreled with Smeaton and Norris) that could led Anne or 5 men who were executed as her acompices. So it seems that all 'affair' was plotted rather quickly, and it may indicate that Henry VIII was not al all tired of his wife. If the king really wanted to get rid of Anne, would there be any different evidence against her?

I'm just wondering how to put it all together :-)

Question from Paul - Essex's private execution

Is it true that Robert Devereux 2nd earl of Essex request for a private execution?

Question from Jessica - Lady Eleanor Howard De Walden

I have been doing some research on my family tree, and have been lucky enough to find a fairly complete tree done by another family member.

My oldest direct ancestors on this tree are John Ellis, and Lady Eleanor Howard De Walden. This is seven generations back.

I was quite intrigued by the history of the name Howard De Walden, by in all my research I could not find any mention of Lady Eleanor Howard De Walden.

By my calculations, she was probably alive during the 1600s.

The only information I have is that she was married to John Ellis, with whom she had one daughter, Ellen Ellis. Ellen Ellis married George Jackson, but the name Ellis has been popular in my family ever since.

Any information on her or John Ellis, and particularly the family tree, would be greatly appreciated.

I also sincerely apologize if I have gotten the time period wrong (therefore making this question irrelevant for this site).

Question from Emily - Tudor waking times

What time did Tudors get up in the morning?

Question from Stuart - Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard in 1513

Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard c.1513

I wonder if you could help me, I have been trying to find out who the Captain of the Yeomen was at the time of Henry VIII's 1513 invasion of France.

I have found that the title was passed at some point in 1513 from Sir Henry Guildford to Sir John Gage (I think!) but i'm not sure whether this was before, during or after the campaign, can you help at all?

Best Regards

Stuart

Question from Mary R - Anne Stanhope's tomb in Westminster Abbey

On a visit to Westminster Abbey, I was struck by the tomb/effigy of Anne Stanhope (Duchess of Sommerset, and the wife of Edward Seymour, the fist of Edward VI's Lord Protectors). It seemed to me that her memorial was more grand/ostentatious than that of any monarch.

Since she died in 1587, roughly forty years after her husband was executed, I wondered why she was given such consideration. From everything I've read, it seems that she was almost universally disliked by her contemporaries. She was considered excessively proud, even claiming precedence over Katherine Parr (because Katherine had married Thomas Seymour, the Protector's younger brother).

Did Anne pay for her own tomb in advance? Is there an interesting story here?

Question from Georgia - Elizabethan settlement

Hi, i am doing a project at school (im 17, in my final year at college) and need an 'out of the box source' so thought that maybe you could help. One of the questions i'm trying to focus on is how successful Elizabeth's decision to re-establish the Anglican Church was. If you could briefly describe how you think it was successful/ unsuccesful it would be very helpful. Thanks Georgia

Question from Stacey - Elizabeth's funeral effigy

The funeral effigy of Elizabeht in Westminster Abbey:
Is this a recreation of the effigy that was on Elizabeth's original coffin? Is it accurate as to what she really looked like when she died? Is an effigy a statue? Also, why would James I put Mary & Elizabeth together? (I apologize for asking so many questions)

Some related previous threads are linked below. - Lara

http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2009/05/question-from-nina-elizabeth-and-marys.html

http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2008/07/question-from-faith-elizabeths-tomb.html

http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2009/01/question-from-nikki-tomb-effigies.html

Question from Laura - White cloth in Henry VIII portraits

When looking at paintings of Henry VIII his costumes are clearly elaborate and beautifully made yet quite often he has a piece of random white cloth tied round his waste like a bandage with a knot. What is this? It just seems so out of place!
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/TUDartists1.JPG

Question from Vicky - "The Boleyns" by David Loades

I was looking to buy Loades' 'The Boleyns', but the Amazon.co.uk reviews put me off. Has anyone read it? Does it fully explore, and find new information on, Thomas and George Boleyn?

Question from Sylwia - Incident with the King's fool in 1535

Hello,
I would like to ask something that is bothering me;
In Letters and Papers I found this information:

"The King wishes (a ouyt, qu. a enuye?) to kill his fool because he spoke well of the Queen and Princess "et disoit reb.....(ribaulde?) a la concubine et bastarde a sa fille. "He has been banished from Court, "et le rec.... elle le grand estonnee."
Chapuys to Grenevelle, 25 July 1535.
Lp. Viii. 1106

So the king's fool called Anne Boleyn and her daughter Elizabeth a whore, and he praised Katherine of Aragon and Lady Mary. This happened when Anne was still the king's wife, about one year before her execution.

Eric Ives in "The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn" states:
"At court, Nicholas Carewe made no bones about sheltering the king’s fool from Henry’s wrath after he had unwisely praised Katherine and Mary and denigrated Anne and Elizabeth." p. 302

Alison Weir in "6 wives of Henry VIII" states:
"Henry was angry - so angry, in fact, that Somers had to leave court for a while - but he did nothing more, whereas once he would have acted swiftly to punish anyone who slandered his wife" p- 284-5

I wonder why Eric Ives connected the king's anger at his fool with Nicolas Carewe? Did he had anything to do with this?
And also - was mentioned fool Will Somers? Chapuys mentioned only 'the king's fool' and Henry VIII had probably few court jesters.

Thank you :-)