Question from Mer - Festivities of Arthur and Catherine of Aragon's wedding

I just saw an article on the most expensive royal weddings, and amidst them was a Tudor celebration. Where can I find more info on the wedding festivities of Arthur and Catherine of Aragon in 1501?

Question from Anon - Henry VIII and depression and other illnesses

Did Henry VIII suffer from depression and if so, is there any research into how this affected his decisions?

What illnesses did Henry VIII suffer from?

[I combined two related questions in to one post here. Some previous related threads are linked below. - Lara]

http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2009/02/question-from-michelle-henrys-leg-ulcer.html

http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2008/08/question-from-leia-diabetes-in-tudor.html

http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2009/07/question-from-salve-radix-descriptions.html

Question from Anon - Sir G. Gostwick

Who was Sir G. Gostwick, an enemy of Cranmer's in the 1540s?

Question from E. Manford - Treason to discuss the monarch's death

Was it reallly trason to even discuss the idea that the king/queen might die? If so, did any Tudors get into trouble for this (not plotting, just discussing their illness/rumours etc)?

[There was a small but crucial typo in this question that I edited. The end of the first sentence said "do" when I think the submitter meant "die". - Lara]

Question from Anon - Lenden, Thornton and Barber

Does anyone know more about who Lenden, Thornton and Barber were - apparently associates of Dr. Gardiner?

Question from Anon - Cranmer's "Book of Articles"

What was the Book of Articles which Dr. Cranmer wrote?

Question from Guy - Last monastery suppression

When was the last monastery suppressed?

Question from Guy - Lowliest origins of Henry VIII's wives

I'm reading a book which states that: Jane Seymour had the 'lowliest origins of any of Henry's wives.' Is this true? I'd have thought, as a knight's daughter, she ranked alongside Anne Boleyn and Catherine Parr, and that as Anne and Jane both had connections to the Howards, that Katherine Parr was of the lowliest origins. What do you think?

Question from shtove - Anne Boleyn's Irish connections

I'm mostly familiar with the later Tudor period, so H8 and his amazing array of wives tend to confuse me.

Boleyn was related to the Ormond Butlers, and I do understand the basics. But I have not come across a full account of that relationship and its political implications.

English historians tend to treat Irish matters with arched eyebrow - "ouch, that's impenetrable, and anyway it's a matter for the Irish" - but even the Irish accounts, including the Butler archives, don't do the relationship justice.

The pivotal character is the 9th earl of Ormond:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Butler,_9th_Earl_of_Ormond

Anyone have insight?

Question from Anon - Tudor history events in south-east England

I'm interested in learning more about Tudor sports, clothes etc. and wanted to go to an event in the south-east of England. Any recommendations?

Question from Lauren - Non-fiction views on Perkin Warbeck as Richard of York

I'm not familiar with Sandra Worth's work, but enjoyed reading her interview. Thanks, Lara and Sandra, it's great to read author's views on here!

My question is - do any historians in non-fiction books argue that "Perkin Warbeck" was really Richard, duke of York?

Question from Guy- Reliability of Foxe's Book of Martyrs

How reliable is Foxe's Book of Martyrs?

And is there an equivalent Catholic martyrologist?

Answers from Sandra Worth now posted!

Just in case anyone reads this blog but doesn't check the News blog, I've posted Sandra Worth's answers to your questions. Thanks again to Sandra for taking the time and getting back to us so fast (all the delays were entirely on my part, I assure you!).

Question from Guy - "Almost wives" of Henry VIII

What women did Henry VIII almost marry? I can think of Mary of Guise, Christina of Milan, Eleanor somebody?

Question from Guy - Catholic opposition to Edward VI's legitimacy

I read that some Catholic rulers didn't fully accept Edward VI's legitimacy because he was born to an excommunicate. But Henry wasn't an excommunicate at the time until 1538, was he? Is it more because the Catholic Church weren't involved in sanctioning his parents' marriage? Was there any serious opposition to his legitimacy?

Question from Danica - Social class and criminal behavior

Hello, I am doing a research project on crime and punishment during the tudor stuart period
I have some questions that I need some help on.

How far did social class influence criminal behaviour?

Did the punishments act as a deterrent to criminals?

Were there any changes in the way the govt and local authorities dealt with the problem of crime, law and order?

Thankyou.

[There are many related 'crime and punishment' previous threads that can be found by searching on the term in the bar at the top of the page. - Lara]

Question from Lauren - Henry VIII's proposal to Catherine Parr

I read that Henry VIII proposed to Catherine Parr, and she took a few months to think about it. Is there any evidence to back this up? How do we know when he proposed?

Question from Meg - Humanists in Anne Boleyn's household

I have been thinking recently about the effects that some of Henry VIII's wives had on Renaissance Humanism, and was just wondering whether Anne Boleyn had any notable humanists within her household. I know that Catherine of Aragon had Mountjoy, and others that Katherine Parr had, but I can't seem to find anything about Anne that is not related to her religious or familial affiliations. Any thoughts?

Question from Guy - Henry VIII's love letters online

Where can I find all Henry VIII's love letters to Anne Boleyn online? And if he has surviving loveletters to his other wives, where can I access them?

Question from Sharon - Online sources for mid-Tudor leadership

Hi, I'm doing an essay on the following:

How far is it fair to claim that "England suffered from poor leadership" in the years between the death of Henry VIII and accession of Elizabeth I?

I have so far read Alison weir's book on Children of England and numerous others. I need some online resources and was hoping you could help. I am registered blind and find it difficult to trawl through finding info so any help you can give is much appreciated.

again thanks for your help
Sharon

Question from Lauren - Godchildren of the Tudors

How many godparents did Tudor people have? Were they always named after them?

Was Mary Tudor, Queen of France the godmother of Mary I of England, or was that another Mary?

I read that Elizabeth I had over 100 godchildren. Is this true?

Did she ever turn people down who wanted her as a godparent? Did other Tudor kings and queens have a similar number of godchildren? Did the Tudor monarchs favor their godchildren over other courtiers?

And lastly, is there a list of each ruler's godchildren anywhere? Do we know who any of them were?

[I combined two related questions from Lauren together for this post. - Lara]

Question from Lauren - Henry VIII's minister after Cromwell

After Cromwell's execution, did Henry have a chief minister? Who was then considered the most influential of Henry's courtiers?

Question from Lauren - Mid-16th century economic crisis

Is it true that there was a Europe-wide economic crisis in the 1540s and 1550s? How did this affect England?

Question from Lauren - Tutoring of Mary and Elizabeth

Re: Mary and Elizabeth

When they were tutored, were they tutored alongside other noble children, or on their own?

Question from Lauren - Mary Howard Fitzroy

I am interested in Mary Fitzroy, Duchess of Richmond. Has much research been done into her life? Was she really friends with Anne Boleyn and Catherine Parr? And why didn't she remarry?

Has she been the subject of any books, fiction or non-fiction?

Question from Guy - Burning of Cranmer's house in 1544

Foxe wrote about Cranmer's house being burnt down in 1544, and how his brother-in-law died in this.

Was it thought to be deliberate?

Question from Peter - Specific rumors of Elizabeth I pregnancies

I'm interested in the pregnancy rumours about Queen Elizabeth.

I'd like to know the dates and the specific Progress(es) on which
she was rumoured to be pregnant.

I also heard rumours that her baby was given up to someone 'in the country'.

Any information on the above would be much appreciated.

Question from Guy - Annulling of the Howard marriage

Did Henry VIII have his marriage to Catherine Howard annulled? If so, on what grounds?

Question from Guy - Further information on Catherine Middleton's ancestry

Further to my earlier question about possible Tudor descent of Kate Middleton...

My copy of "The Ancestry of Catherine Middleton" arrived today, and I'm afraid it's a disappointment as far as Tudor connections go. Despite information in newspapers, it shows no link to Thomas Leighton and does not show descent from the Boleyns/Careys. It states that they removed late on some information about the Davenports.

She is descended from Edward III through his son Lionel. She is descended from the 4th Earl of Northumberland, so there are distant connections to the Percys. Her known Tudor ancestors were Sir Thomas Fairfax and Agnes Gascoigne. Slightly later, her ancestors included the Sheriffs of Norfolk, including Elias Browne and George Birch, who was Sheriff in 1604.

Just thought I'd share!

[Previous thread linked below. - Lara]

http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2011/03/question-from-guy-tudor-relations-of.html

Question from Guy - Historians' use of Queens' maiden names

Do you think it's OK for historians to refer to Henry VIII's wives as "Queen Catherine Howard" and "Queen Anne Boleyn", seeing as once they were queens they wouldn't use their maiden names? I see it written this way a lot, and think it's useful as there were 3 Catherines and 2 Annes, but I feel uncomfortable with it.

Question from Mary Jane - Queen Elizabeth I and the Cromwell family

Am working on the Cromwell family, a son of whom came to Massachusetts in the early 1630s...and I know Queen Elizabeth was a visitor to the grandfather, Sir Henry Cromwell's home on her travels, perhaps staying with him at Hinchenbrook. Do you have anything on her dealings with the son, Sir Oliver Cromwell, of Ramsey and Hinchenbrook, Huntingdonshire, or any of his 8 children? Sir Oliver was the heir to Henry, and married 3 of his own children by his first wife to 3 of the children of his second wife, Anne Hooftman Pallavacini of Babraham, Camb., and London, (who inherited a lot of money from her father and her first husband) to avoid them being taken as wards to the court after Anne's death, ca 1620. I realize Eliz. was dead before that, but wonder if Sir Oliver was a close friend of hers.

That was a genealogical question, however, I am working on a project of interest which includes 36 godparents of the 16 children of Sir Thomas WEST of Wherwell, Hampshire,just about all of whom came out of Q. Elizabeth's court. Many of the men (and women) had connections to the Knights of the Garter, either themselves or their fathers. Thanks, Mary Jane Lewis

Question from Richard - Master of the King's Tents

Hello,
I am interesting in Henry VIII's Army and about Thomas Caverden I have found the title of "Master of King's Tents". Despite researchs on it I have found nothing.

Is it the title of the person, in a general pre-staff, commissionned as responsible for troops housing, a sort of a quarter-master?

Was this title standing or temporary, only for the time of a campaign?

Was the extent of his commissio, to the whole British forces or only to an army?

Were the other titles and roles of the senior officers with the same rank in the other military fields?

I hope despite my bad English anyone could answer my asks.
All the best.

Question from Ann B - Defending of the Faith title

Isn't it odd that the title "Defender of the faith" is passed down from Henry VIII, who recieved in from the pope, to his children. Is it still a proper title of Queen Elizabeth II, just wondering. Thanks!

Question from Ann B - Men who went to Mary after Edward VI's death

How many men went to Mary's aid once Edward VI had died and Jane was crowned. Anyone of note among them? I'm in the mist of writing my historical research paper and can't seem to find a number. If you have a source that would be great! Thanks!

Question from Rebecca - Dissertation ideas

I am starting to think about my dissertation for next year and am planning to do something on the Tudors, probably either Henry VIII or Elizabeth I. I haven't previously studied the Tudors much but they fascinate me and I would love to do a big research project around the period. My problem is that I have no idea what areas to focus on and i am worried that whatever I choose to do will have been done a hundred times due to the popularity of the era. If anyone had any ideas on getting a general overview of the period or any areas that have not previously been extensively explored i would be very grateful!!

[Search on "dissertation" in the bar at the top of the page for several related threads. - Lara]

Question from SP - Deaths of elderly bishops in 1532-1536

Lipscomb writes that: from 1532-1536 there was "an extraordinary crop of deaths of distinguished elderly bishops who might have proved awkward obstacles" to reform.

She doesn't suggest that this was anything other than coincidence and old age, but has anyone else thought it murder, either at the time or now?

Question from Anonymous - Secret murders by the Tudors

Do we have any evidence to suggest that any of the Tudors had people secretly murdered?

Question from Guy - Henry VIII executing previous friends

Who did Henry VIII execute, who was considered his good friend previously?

Obviously Cromwell, Norris and More, but any others?

Question from Guy - Stephen Gardiner's religious beliefs

Is it true that Stephen Gardiner was not an out and out papist, and called the Pope his "enemy"? If so, how did he get such a high position under Mary?

Question from Guy - Henry VIII quote of the Duke of Suffolk

David Hume wrote about the death of Henry VIII's friend, Suffolk:
"during the whole course of their friendship, his brother-in-law had never made one attempt to injure an adversary, and had never whispered a word to the disadvantage of any person. 'Is there any of you, my lords, who can say as much' When the king subjoined these words, he looked round in all their faces, and saw that confusion which the consciousness of secret guilt naturally threw upon them"

Is this true - firstly did Henry VIII say this (I can't find it elsewhere?) and secondly was he really that nice? I thought he was publicly rude to Anne Boleyn and to Wolsey?

Question from Guy - English friends of Anne of Cleves

Which English women did Anne of Cleves become friends with?

Question from Guy - Women at executions

Did women go to see executions?

Question from Guy - Henry VIII blaming Privy Council for marital problems

Is it true that Henry VIII blamed the Privy Council for Catherine Howard's affair, and his previous marital problems? Where can I find out more?

Question from Guy - Sources for rumors of Catherine Howard's pregnancy in 1541

I read that there were rumours in 1541 that Catherine Howard was pregnant, and that Henry VIII was angry with her for a while after they realised she wasn't. Are there any sources for this?

Question from Guy - Wedding of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves

Who attended the wedding of Henry VIII and Lady Anne of Cleves?

Question from Anon - Spanish Chronicle on Arthur and Catherine's marriage

It says in the Spanish Chronicle that Prince Arthur didn't consummate his marriage to Catherine of Aragon because he was impotent. Is there any other evidence for this?

http://www.archive.org/stream/chroniclekinghe00humegoog#page/n31/mode/1up

p.8

Reminder - Submit questions for Sandra Worth to answer!

I've gotten some great questions through email and blog comments but if you still have something you want to ask Sandra there is still time! I meant to close off questions last weekend but since I didn't post a reminder I'm extending it another week. So if you still have something you want to ask, put it in the comments on this thread: http://tudorhistory.org/blog/2011/03/15/questions-for-sandra-worth-again/ or send me an email at lara@tudorhistory.org.

Question from Anon - Collections of Chapuys' letters

Are all Chapuys' letters gathered together in a book I can buy?

Question from Lauren - CSP

If a reference says "CSP", is this the same as Letters&Papers, or as CSP, Spanish?