Question from Amanda - Tudor women and shaving

Did Tudor-era women shave their legs or their underarms? If so, how did they do this? Was it just not a big deal back then? Thank you.

Question from Cheryl - Elizabeth's locket ring

re. the so-called Chequers ruby ring, when unhinged shows two portraits; one obviously Elizabeth and the other a younger woman. There is a supposition that this is Anne Boleyn and I have always assumed it was, but recently I had a thought that, though narcissistic, could it possibly be a younger Elizabeth? Is there definitive proof this is Anne? I would love to think so as if it is and because Elizabeth owned this ring, it is confirmation that the likeness was one accepted by Elizabeth as her mother's. Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

I am looking at a marvelous copy of the ring close up; one of the clearest I have seen from one of the articles on your website blog re. the exhibition of The Goldsmith's Company.

Question from Goetz - Tudor references in Henry Holiday illustrations

This question is about possible references to Tudors in Henry Holiday's illustrations to Lewis Carroll's "The Hunting of the Snark".

I think, the back cover illustration of the book refers to a painting depicting Queen Elizabeth I at old age: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonnetmaker/6818523809/

Then there is a less clear discovery - which may not be a discovery at all but just some phantasy in my mind. In Holiday's illustration (the back cover), there also is a pattern which either could depict letters (if mirrored: "Anmi"?) or just stripes in the waves without any special meaning: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonnetmaker/4521661562/

Any idea?

Question from Lucy-Kate - Greetings and goodbyes

I am writing a novel set in 1572 in Rye amongst farming and fishing folk. Does anyone know how people would have greeted each other at that time when they met for the first time, met a friend in the street, met formally over business or met a family member? And likewise on saying goodbye? And for bonus points, does anyone know whether the French practice of kissing on both cheeks was around at the time? Thanks.

Question from Stacey - Mary Queen of Scots' imprisonment in England

How was it explained to Mary, Queen of Scots that she was losing her freedom once in England? Who told her & under what conditions was it explained to her that she would be held captive?

Question from Mary R - Children living at the Tower of London

I have been toying with the idea of writing a book for children set in the Tower of London while Elizabeth was a prisoner there. My young hero would be the little boy who used to bring Elizabeth flowers containing messages from Robert Dudley who was also imprisoned there.

Is the name of the boy, if he actually existed, known?

I know that many of the men who worked at the tower had their families with them. I'd like to know approximately how many children were living there at the time and what their fathers' positions might have been.

Can anyone recommend a book or a website that might have some good information?

Question from Easton - Elizabeth on Thomas Seymour's barge

Is it true that Elizabeth Tudor was with Thomas Seymour on admirals barge unccompanied

Question from Parisa - Literal promise of a son by Anne Boleyn

I love this site! Thank you.

I've developed an obsessive interest in "all things Tudor". One question which bothers me is did Anne Boleyn actually and literally promise Henry a son during their courtship, or did Henry assume this was the understanding between them? Or is it history's assumption? I cannot find any information on this, other than that astrologers and physicians assured the birth of a male heir once Anne was pregnant.

It would seem given her intelligence, the low rate of successful pregnancies, and the number of failed attempts from Henry's 1st marriage, Anne would know her odds of giving birth to a healthy boy weren't 100% in her favor. Wouldn't she have tried to down play the expectation as a precautionary, "better safe than sorry" measure?

Question from Karen - 'Middling height'

Hi. Love the site and find it very informative so hopefully someone here can help with this question.

Whenever you read historical descriptions of people from the era from their contemporaries, you get things like "he/she was of middling height" or he was "above middle height". There is a portrait of Edward VI that hangs in Hampton Court and it is said that it shows him at his full "above middle height".

My question: what is meant by this? What is/was middle height? I have tried to look it up on the web but cannot get an answer. Thanks to all.

Question from Ron - Other jesters of Henry VIII

I am writing in regards to the posts Re: King Henry Viii and his jesters. It was mentioned that there were few, Patch and Will Somers being but two. But is there evidence for more? In researching my family history, I came across a reference for another. In this History of Derbyshire (ca 1715), William Woolley compiling a topographical and genealogical account of his native county, mentioned that one Thomas Thacker, was a jester to good king Henry. Is this history or hyperbole. Certainly Thomas Thacker was a royal servant, mentioned in his inquisition post mortem. He was King Henrys and Thomas Cromwell chief agent in the Dissolution of the monasteries in the Midlands. He was also a Merchant of the Staple as early as 1505. Perhaps significantly, it was through another Staple merchant, that Will Somers came into contact with the monarch. It may have been through this company that Thacker also came into the Kings service. History or Hyperbole, it is certainly interesting. Your thoughts.... regards. Ron Thacker, British Columbia.