Sunday, January 29, 2012

Question from Deborah - Katherine Parr not at Henry VIII's deathbed

Why did Queen Katherine (Parr) not see King Henry VIII in the weeks prior to his death at the end of January 1547? I read on line that she spent Christmas at a different palace with the royal children and returned to Henry on Jan. 10, 1547 but the king died on Jan. 28th without her having seen him...it doesn't seem possible...any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you-Deborah Haase

[Edited from original submission to correct dates. - Lara]

Friday, January 27, 2012

Question from Stacey - Incidents with Elizabeth I and her ladies

I read on the Elizabeth files that she once stabbed someone with a fork and that she broke a lady in waiting's finger. Did this really happen & if so, who did they happen to & why?

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

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.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

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.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

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

Sunday, January 08, 2012

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.