Question from Jessica - Jane Grey and Edward VI's relationship

I was watching the movie Lady Jane with Helena Bonham-Carter and Carey Elwes. The movie seemed to suggest that Henry VIII's heir Edward and Lady Jane were very close, almost intimate. Is this accurate? I have not found any more information on the matter.

Question from Troy - Sir Thomas Tresham

If Sir Thomas Tresham II is the grandson of Sir Thomas Tresham I, then who is Tresham II's father?

According to Wikipedia, Tresham I's sons were George, William & John, but many sites say Tresham II's father was also Thomas.

Question from Bron - Sir Edward Brampton

A mystery man: Sir Edward BRAMPTON (1440-1508)

I have just come across this gentleman and have started to research him. There may be others out there looking for a challenge also: we could work together.

Here are my first notes:

Sir Edward BRAMPTON (1440 1508)

The 1507 will of Thomas Beaumont, Archdeacon of Wells, refers to the well-known Yorkist, Sir Edward Brampton, also known as Duarte Brandao.

"To Maister Edward Brampton an hope (hoop) of golde to be made for him, to my lady Brampton, my suster, a rynge of golde with a flatte diamonde, and
to eche of their children, i.e., Sir John B, Henry, George, Elizabeth, Mary, and Jane a hope of golde of the value of 20s. with this scripture to be made withinin everyche of the same hoopes, "ye shall pray for Sir Thomas Beamonde" these same rynges to be made and sent into Portingale (Portugal) unto them by some sure messynger as sone as myn executors can make provision after my deth."

We can therefore assume Brampton and his wife and their children were living in Portugal at the time. Thomas Beaumont seems to have died in October of 1507, and Sir Edward died in the following year.

Very briefly, it is said that Brandon was an illegitimate Portuguese Jew who came to England as a penniless young man, whereupon King Edward IV sponsored his conversion to Christianity and acted as godfather at his baptism. Soon afterwards, Brampton distinguished himself @ court and in war; became a confidante of kings (he was an associate of Edward IV, Richard III and of Margaret of Burgundy) and immensely wealthy and powerful, being appointed Captain of Guernsey, Orney, Sark, Orm and Gathoo. The pretender to the English throne, Perkin Warbeck, was a member of his household at one time.

In terms of research, because we are moving between several languages, Brampton is sometimes rendered as Brandam, and Beaumont as Bemonde. Brampton was perhaps a contrived surname conferred upon him when he converted to Christianity. It is also sometimes confused with Brandon, which is quite interesting, and I will discuss this in due course.

Sir Edward Brampton may have left descendants in both Portugal and England. His wife is believed to have remarried in Portugal after his death.


We note, regarding the will, that Brampton was married to a sister of Thomas Beaumont, Archdeacon of Wells, and that the Bramptons had 6 surviving children in 1507:
Sir John
Henry
George
Elizabeth
Mary
Jane

Portuguese records seem to provide some confirmation, but the chronology is slightly different.
João Brandão
Jorge Brandão
Henrique Brandão
Isabel Brandão married Pedro de Mendonça
Maria Brandão married Lizuarte Barreto
Joana Brandão married Manuel de Sousa Chichorro

Generally, English sources suggest Edward Brampton was born in 1440: Portuguese sources suggest 1430. Let’s look at it this way: he died in 1508. Therefore:

If he died aged 80, born 1428
If he died aged 70, born 1438
If he died aged 60, born 1448

We must be circumspect in our research: Brampton is an elusive character. Let us go, very carefully, step by step. I would like to cling initially to basic information found in primary documents.

Who was Thomas Beaumont, Archdeacon of Wells between 1502–1507?

Thomas Beaumont was at Merton College in Oxford for 15 years as Master of Arts and Archdeacon of Bath. ‘On the 13th July 1499 he was collated to the Provostship of Welles.’ Merton College was self-governing and the endowments were directly vested in the Warden and Fellows. It had a reputation for research. Thomas Beaumont, Provost of Combe, presented one William Bowes to St Nicholas’ Parish Church in 1502. And that is pretty much it, for the moment.

The Archdeacon’s sister’s name is variously referred to as Margaret or Catherine.

Question from Chase - Punishments for coining

What was the punishment for coining in the 16th century? I am in 7th grade and need help for a research project.

Discussion on Elizabeth Norton's Elizabeth Talboys claim

Several questions came in about this recent article, so I'm just opening this up to general discussion.

Daily Mail article (that was in last week's news round-up):
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2083826/Henry-VIII-secret-daughter-taken-throne-Elizabeth-I-historian-claims.html

and a version from The Sun:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4046613/Secret-of-the-Queen-that-Britain-lost.html

Question from Jenni - Influencers on Elizabeth

I am a A Level student doing my EPQ on who influcened Elizabeth I the most to be the Queen she was.

I was wondering what other people's opinions were on who they think influenced Elizabeth the most before she became Queen.

I writing about most people from her tutors who are not as well known, to her sister Mary and to her step-father Thomas Seymour.

Question from Ameetha - Anne Boleyn Queen Regnant or Queen Consort

In Alison Weir's "The Six Wives of Henry the VIII" she says that Anne Boleyn was actually crowned Queen Regnant and not was not merely a Queen Consort and therefore the only person then or since to have been a consort and yet crowned Queen Regnant.
Here is another link I found to a book that also agrees that since Anne was crowned with the crown of St Edward, she was a queen regnant as it was the crown used to crown reigning monarchs.

Question: Was Anne Boleyn crowned queen consort or queen regnant? Is there an absolute answer?

Question from Eva Maria - Jane Seymour's appointment to Katherine of Aragon

I wonder - do we have any idea of the date when Jane Seymour was appointed to serve Katherine of Aragon? I have read as late as 1532, but somehow I had always thought it to have been before then. Does anyone know?

Many thanks!

Question from Marilyn R - Katherine Howard sending Margaret Pole clothing in the Tower

I would be very grateful if someone could help me out with a reference for Katherine Howard sending warm clothing to Margaret Pole when the old lady was in the Tower.I have had the source but seem to have deleted it & just can't find it amongst my jottings!

Thank you in advance.

Question from Lesley - Clothing on bodies lying in state

What clothing would have been worn by the wives of Henry VIII and in particular Katherine Parr when she lay in state prior to burial. Would this be her normal and elaborate clothing or would it have been night/ shroud type clothing?

Question from Eva - Falconer Mary of Canterbury

Hi,
I need historical information about Queen Elizabeth's Grand Falconer, Mary of Canterbury. I hope to write a novel based on the Falconer's life.

Where can I find any information about her?

Question from Carole - Info and sources on Anne Bourchier

I am an amateur at genealogy and am in the process of learning how difficult it can be to get at the correct information for my family tree.

My questions are:

1.Where can I find information and sources for Anne Bourchier (b abt 1520 who married William Parr, Marquis of Northampton b. abt 1513) specific to her affair with a person by the name of John Lyngfield, AKA John Hunt, AKA John Huntley? He was supposedly Prior of St. James Church, Tanbridge, Surry.

2.Also her supposed marriage to a John York or John of York.

3.I would also be interested in knowing if her children retained the Parr surname.

Thank you in advance for your input.
Carole

Question from Mary R - Feasts and Saints' Days after the Reformation

My question is about medieval feast days and Saint's days (there seem to have been rather a lot of them:) Which were still observed after the Reformation?

Six years!

I just wanted to mark the occasion of this blog reaching six years of existence! [Yeah, I'm trying to find new and more creative ways of saying the same thing every year.] I know I say it frequently - but perhaps still not enough - a big thank you to everyone who comments and sends in questions. Without you all I would be buried under even more email than I already am!

Question from Maggie - Jacquetta of Luxembourg

I am a woman how happens to be a amatur historina and i like to know things so i was wondeing why there is no entry anywhere for Jacquetta of Luxembourg who happens to be the mother of Elizabeth Wooodville grandmother to Elizabeth of york

Question from Mary R - Thomas Boleyn and Anne and George's trials

Did Thomas Boleyn actually sit in judgment of his own children (Anne & George's [supposed] incestuous affair) and find them guilty? I have read in a couple of novels that he did, but is there any documentation to support this?

Question from Liz - Dowager Princess of Wales document

First, I'd like to thank you for having such a great website! Anyway, my question is regarding something I read in Alison Weir's "The Six Wives of Henry VIII". She mentions that Catherine of Aragon was given some type of letter stating that she was now to be called the Dowager Princess and that Catherine scribbled it out and yelled that she was the queen and would continue to call herself queen. Weir says that letter (or whatever it was) still exists today but I can't find it. Have you heard of it? Thanks so much

Question from Becky - Henry VIII's 1541 progress to York

Hello

I am trying to develop some learning resources and wondered if I can beg help (please).

I am trying to find out where Henry VIII stopped overnight on his progress to York in 1541? A book reference I can get would be brilliant. I have looked on line but I am getting no where fast.

Thanks in advance
Becky

Question from Marty - Yeoman of the Queen's Chamber in Elizabeth's reign

What were the duties and wages of a "Yeoman of the Queen's Chamber" in the earlier years of Elizabeth? How were they selected and appointed?

Question from Esther - Unsigned warrant for Elizabeth's execution

The "Lion's Cub" episode of "Elizabeth R" shows that, while Elizabeth was imprisoned in the Tower, an warrant for her execution was sent to the people in charge, unsigned by the queen. (they refused to act on it). Does anyone know if such a thing actually occurred, and if so, what sources refer to it?

Question from Ellie - Elizabeth of York's fashion and jewelry

What kind of clothes and jewellery would Elizabeth of York have worn?

I was wondering what kind of style dresses, headresses and jewellery Elizabeth of York would have worn, as there are descriptions of what people more of Catherine of Aragon's generation would have worn, but not the generation above her (that of Elizabeth of York).

Thank you!

Question from Mary R - Katherine Parr biographies

Can anyone recommend a good biography on Katharine Parr?

Question from SaraMarie - Anne Boleyn's crowns

Hello,

I'm doing research on Anne Boleyn and am wondering if anyone knows about her crowns (Marquis and Queen), and what they may have looked like.

I found the description of a crown when she was given the title of Marquis, but want to know of more details and maybe drawings of what they could have looked like.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.

Question from Marilyn R - Norfolk House, Lambeth, in Kathryn Howard's time there

I am having a final tidy-up of my research on Norfolk House, Lambeth, during the time Katheryn Howard lived there with her step-grandmother.

I would be grateful if anyone can help with any references to the domestic arrangements, other than those to be found in ‘Letters & Papers’, which were recorded after Katheryn’s fall from grace. After years of working on this, on and off, I have come up with very little in the way of contemporary references elsewhere.

I wonder if life in this household was really very different from that in other homes of the nobility which acted as sort of ‘finishing schools’ for young people. If this place was so notorious in its day it seems strange that there are no references to it in the gossipy correspondence between foreign ambassadors and their leaders when Henry married Katheryn, bearing in mind that the Dowager Duchess was one of the greatest ladies in the land, step-mother of the third Duke of Norfolk and step-grandmother to the late Anne Boleyn, whose train she carried at her coronation, and to whose child she was godmother. The ambassadors were usually on the ball when it came to a nice bit of scandal!

What I am asking is: are there any references, apart from those in ‘Letters & Papers’ to Norfolk House having a bad reputation? The ‘evidence’ in L&P is retrospective, and some of it was extracted under duress. So many people seem to have seen so much, but it was all kept quiet for years - could this really be done in a household of 100 people or more? One Andrew Maunsey, a former a servant of the Duchess, said under questioning that about a year before she came to Court he had three times seen Mistress Katheryn in bed with Francis Derham at Norfolk House. Katherine Tilney was also in the bed at the time and could confirm it, he said, which she did later; he thought a laundrywoman named Besse might also be helpful.(Beds were a luxury and the girls and women in the dormitory would have shared.)

But what about the gossip when all the naughty stuff in Lambeth (and Horsham) was actually happening? Any comments/observations will be appreciated.

Question from Elizabeth - Holbein's "Maids of Honour" painting

Hi

I have been reading about a painting by Holbein "Maids of Honour to Mary of England Queen to Louis XII."

I think it is in the Royal Collection at Versailles or in the Louvre.

I cannot find an image of it online anywhere.

Can anyone help?

Many thanks

Elizabeth