Question from Mary R - Wealth and the Elizabethans

My question is about what Elizabethans did with their wealth (besides building E shaped manor houses:)

I've read that they displayed their riches by exhibiting and using gold plates and goblets set with precious stones,and also sewing pearls etc. into their garments. The explanation given for this was that there were no banks. Were goldsmiths not yet common? When did the practice of putting ones money with a goldsmith and thus accruing interest begin?

Question from Em - Marrying of sister's widower

I know that it was considered sinful for a man to marry his brother's widow. Was it also considered sinful for a woman to marry her sister's widow?

1500 posts!

As regular readers will know, I like to celebrate numerical milestones, so I thought I would mention that we've reached 1500 posts! Thanks once again to all the great readers and commenters that help make this blog work. I know I don't say it often enough, but I really appreciate everyone who contributes here!

Question from princessseni - Tudors dissertation topic ideas

hello! i'm a fourth year Algerian English student at the university, I am starting to think about my dissertation for this year and am planning to do something on the Tudors Dynasty, I thought of Henry VIII particularly, but I am afraid it is so vague. I studied a little The Tudors Dynasty and watched the series "The Tudors" and I am fan of it and so interested. I would really appreciate any kind of help especially with the outline and content.
If anyone has any suggestions that would narrow down my topic, these would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you a lot.

Question from Sara - Tudor history graduate studies in Canada

Ok, so I am going into my final year of my BA in history, and I am absolutely enthralled with the Tudor history, the only problem is that I live in Canada, and I have looked at previous posts that mention the US and the UK and Europe, but I can definitely NOT afford anything out of the country as much as I would love to. I have been looking at some universities with Early Modern Europe degrees, but they only focus on things much past the Tudor era. Would anyone be able to recommend a university within Canada that, if nothing else, comes at least *close* to studying Tudor history? Anything would be much appreciated, thank you!!

Question from B - Battle of Spearhead Wikipedia article

Wikipedia article on "Battle of Spearhead"

This article might be deleted because it's so short. Can anyone help add to it? I'd be grateful for anything people can add.

Question from Em - Forms of address for equal rank

How would two dukes address one another? Two kings? Two marquesses? Two earls? Two barons?

Question from B - Wikipedia article on Hoxun Court

There's an article "Hoxun Court" on Wikipedia that may be deleted for lack of information. Can anyone help?

[Link to the article posted below. - Lara]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoxun_Court

Question from Em - Family opinion of Anne and Mary Boleyn

I just finished reading a book about Anne Boleyn. In the book, her sister Mary was the family favorite while Anne was hated. Is this true?

Question from Mary R - Use of maiden names

Did noblewomen during the Tudor period customarily keep their maiden names? For example: Margaret Beaufort is never called Margaret Tudor or Margaret Stanley. Lady Jane Grey is never referred to as Lady Jane Dudley. At first, I thought it might have been due to historians seeking clarification; but a portrait of Katherine Parr (artist unknown) shows her with the name Katharine Parre picked out in gold. This portrait does not look to be that of a young girl, which Katherine certainly was when she married for the first time. Any thoughts on this ?

[Related thread linked below. - Lara]

http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2011/04/question-from-guy-historians-use-of.html

Question from Tracey - Book recommendations

I am really interested in reading both fiction and non fiction books on tudor history.  Can you recommed some books for me.  I am not undertaking a course just like reading about the period in history

[We periodically get this question, but I don't mind posting it again and again since there are always new books coming out. To see the previous threads just search on "book recommendations" in the sidebar and you'll find threads on general and specific-topic books. - Lara]

Question from Em - Books on Jane Seymour

Are there any good books on Jane Seymour? I would prefer fiction, but any suggestions would be appreciated.

Question from Em - Addressing Queen or Princess Dowager

How would you have addressed a Queen Dowager or a Princess Dowager?

Question from Mary R - English monarch and the English language

This may not be exactly a Tudor question, but who would have been the first monarch to have used English as a primary language?