Question from Daire - David Loades' books

I was wondering what the opinion on David Loades is. I have read that he is a well respected historian but I purchased his Mary Rose book and was deeply disappointed. I was thinking about buying his biography on Katherine Howard, and his book on Jane Seymour which is due out in January, but I'm not sure to bother. Has anyone read his other books, and would they suggest them?

New survey and “Anne of Hollywood” book give-away!

[Cross-posted from the News blog]

Another thing that I'm still catching up on from the summer....

I received two copies of Carol Wolper's Anne of Hollywood to give away, so I thought this would be a great chance to run another survey! (If you want to see the one I did a few years back, you can read about it here.)

You can go to the survey here and you'll be directed back to the main page once you're finished (and you won't be able to see the results until I post them, sorry!). You can take the survey without being entered in the contest, just leave the space for your email address blank. I'll leave the survey open through November 30, 2012 and contact the winners shortly after and post the survey results here on the blog!

A little about the book:

Skirts are shorter now, and messages sent by iPhone, but passion, intrigue, and a lust for power don’t change. National bestselling author Carol Wolper spins a mesmerizing tale of a twenty-first-century Anne Boleyn.

Wily, intelligent, and seductive, with a dark beauty that stands out among the curvy California beach blondes, Anne attracts the attention of Henry Tudor, the handsome corporate mogul who reigns in Hollywood. Every starlet, socialite, and shark wants a piece of Henry, but he only wants Anne. The question is: can she keep him?

Welcome to a privileged world where hidden motives abound, everyone has something to sell, and safe havens don’t exist. Henry Tudor has more options than most men, and less guilt than is good for anyone. The two may be in love, but even Anne’s wiles and skill won’t guarantee his enduring passion. With Henry’s closest confidante scheming against her, and another beautiful contender waiting in the wings, Anne is fighting not just for the lifestyle to which she has grown accustomed . . . but for love. Can she muster the charm and wit to pull off her very own Hollywood ending?

Question from Stacey - Separate heart burial practice

Why with some kings & queens are their hearts buried in a different spot than their bodies are?

[We've had some other threads on specific people having their heart buried separately, but I don't think the practice in general has been discussed much. - Lara]

Question from Amanda - Catherine Fiennes, possible daughter of Thomas Fiennes

I was looking into my family's genealogy recently and came across the name Catherine Fiennes. She was apparently a granddaughter of Sir John Fiennes (1447-1484) and Alice Fitzhugh (1448-1516), an ancestor of Catherine Parr. According to the genealogy book I have, Sir John Fiennes and Alice Fitzhugh had a son named Thomas Fiennes 8th Baron Dacre (1472-1533); he married Anne Bourchier. They are said to have had a daughter, Catherine Fiennes (born circa 1490). However, I have tried to research this and have found no record of a Catherine Fiennes. The only female child of Thomas Fiennes and Anne Bourchier that I have found records of is Mary Fiennes, Lady Norris (1495-1531). So, my question would be - Who is this Catherine Fiennes? Could it have been possible for Anne Bourchier to have had an illegitimate daughter whose birth went unrecorded? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

Question from shtove - Online Tudor bills of mortality

I've looked online for transcripts of Tudor bills of mortality, but no luck.

The bills are lists of deaths in the city of London for the years 1563 and 1592-94.

Help appreciated.

Question from Michele - Katherine of Aragon quote

I love the quote from Queen Katherine of Aragon: "If I had to choose between extreme sorrow and extreme happiness, I would always choose sorrow, for when you are happy you forget about spiritual things, you forget about God. But in your sorrow, He is always with you." Is this just a great scripted line for the Tudors, or is there proof she actually wrote or said it? I'm currently writing a book and want to get the facts!!! Thank you, Michele

Question from Jessa - Family politics in early modern Europe

Can anyone recommend any good sources for learning more about family politics / the way the family functioned in private vs. public in early modern Europe? Although I am mainly interested in English families, those from other countries would be useful as well (maybe French and Italian?). Thank you!

Question from Laura - Dissertation ideas for Katherine Parr, etc.

Firstly I stumbled upon this website today and I can't get over how incredible it is. I am a third year history student and am in awe of all the content!

I am about to start my dissertation and believe that the Tudors is a topic that, despite being a topic many have done before, I don't mind spending the next five months researching.

I've been attempting to think of an "original" (to a certain extent!) topic and quite like the idea of Katherine Parr or even Anne Askew (though it is 10,000 words). I wondered if anyone had any ideas on an interesting angle - I was thinking of Katherine Parr and how her religious activities made her a political figure or how she was important not because of just being Henry VIII wife but because her experiences can sort of highlight the aristocratic women in the Tudor Court.

Thank you - I've been looking at all the archive questions and answer and again they are great!

Question from Chloe - Tudor jousting

I am trying to find out any facts about jousting in tudortimes for my year8 (I am 12 years old)homework. Can anyone help me or know of any sites that could help? Thanks

Question from Amy - Name of and musicians at the Field of the Cloth of Gold

I'm doing research for my NaNoWriMo novel, which is going to be primarily based at the Field of Cloth of Gold and concerning court musicians for Henry VIII. I primarily have two questions:

From what I've read, Field of Cloth of Gold was not a contemporary term for the meet-up between Henry VIII and Francis I. Was there another official title to this meeting?

Secondly, I need to know more about housing for court musicians. Did they live in quarters at the palace, or were they responsible for their own outside dwellings?

Question from Kay - 16th century medical training

I am curious about medical training in the sixteenth century. What were the qualifications and studies required to practice medicine?