Question from Elizabeth M. - Burial of stillborn babies

I have a question about what was done with the bodies of stillborn babies/ I know this is a macabre question. Yesterday, my husband and I went to visit the graves of his parents in a Catholic cemetery in Waukesha, WI. We walked around for a while, as the weather was so gorgeous, and we found a little area of the cemetery we never knew was there--a little burial ground for infants, many of them were obviously stillborn or lived for only a short time, as they had only their birthdate on the marker, some were not even named. What was done with stillborn infants in Tudor times, especially the royal ones?

Question from Bren - If Arthur had succeeded to the throne

If Henry VIII's brother Arthur had not died and had succeeded to the throne would he have been known as Arthur I as there seems to be controversy as to whether the well known King Arthur was either a legend or based on another person ?

Question from Jem - Whipping boys and girls

I heard Edward had a whipping boy. So did Mary adn Elizabeth have whipping girls?

Question from David - Tunnel between Hampton Court and Nonsuch Palaces

I believe there is a tunnel between Hampton court place and Nonsuch Palace (now demolished).
Can you confirm this and point to any sources of info please?

Question from Chloe - Belongings of the rich and poor

Hi im 9 and am doning a school project about the tudors. Im stuck on a question :- What belongings did the rich tudors have and what belongings did the poor tudors have? i have searched on the internet but cant find much infomation.
Please help!
Thanks Chloe

Question from Michelle - Reconstructing accents

Hi. I realize this question is virtually impossible to answer being that there were obviously no recording devices 500 years ago :-) Nevertheless, I'm very curious if anyone has any idea or knows if there has ever been any work done (books/journals/papers) on what type of speaking accent the Tudors/Tudor-era British people would most likely have had? Clearly they used some different words/phrases and certainly different spellings, but is there any insight in to how they would have actually spoken? Would it be similar to any of the regional accents in the UK today? Thanks.

Question from Jacque - Katherine of Aragon's ladies in the 1520s

How many ladies-in-waiting did Katharine of Aragon have around the 1520s and does anyone know all or some of their names?

Question from Bron - Feedback on portrait research

[Note from Lara - I received an email and the document linked below from Bron (a retired art historian) looking for input. This is well beyond my knowledge, but I'm sure some of you would be able to offer some commentary!]

I have been working for some time on two very interesting portraits. One portrait is of Elizabeth Knollys, and I believe the other portrait may also be of her. I have attached a very basic outline of my research, although my documentation runs into many, many pages.

I would so much appreciate input and criticism from others. I have a great deal of research I would like to share, but I didn't want to bore you initially.

Notes regarding the 1577 portrait of Elizabeth Knollys on display @ Montacute, her marriage to Thomas Leighton and possible identification of a portrait of ‘an unknown french noblewoman’ as Elizabeth Leighton, nee Knollys
PDF of the document (4.2 MB)

Question from Jennifer - Henry VIII's seamstress(es)

I was told by a cousin of mine researching our Helton heritage, that one of our great grandmother's was one of his royal seamstresses. Who not only made his attire, but also was ordered to make dresses and such for his queens.
Is there a listing of his seamstresses at the time of his reign, I'd love to know if one of my ancestors served in his court and probably got to see/make some of the finest wardrobe.

Question from Anon - Lambeth

The Dowager Duchess of Norfolk's residence is often referred to as Lambeth, but what was its full name? And was Lambeth an area where there were many grand houses?

Question from Joy - Poem as Margaret is dying in "The Tudors" season 1

I would like to find information regarding a poem recited in The Tudors, Episode 1.8, as Princess Margaret is dying:

"Softly love and to love softly,
dew upon a sycamore branch
by the creaking gate
as my heart hurries off
to wince through the wheat
along the briar to that stone
under which I lie."

I know that the above verse is not correct, it is difficult to hear in the episode. Is this a published poem or a piece written specifically for that scene? I am a lit teacher and have searched several sites for the answer..

[Note - I think it was actually in episode 9, assuming I have my files numbered correctly, but I'm not sure that matters. I made an extract of just the audio of the poem and have posted it at the link below in mp3 format.]

Margaret clip

Question from Analisa - Sources for Wars of the Roses and Bosworth battles

You all might remember a previous thread asking for suggestions for a battle for Analisa to cover in her Military History class project. Well, here's the follow-up:

I've decided on doing my report on the Battle of Bosworth Field and The Wars of the Roses. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for books, documentaries, or websites that I can use to write my report. Thanks so much!

Question from Megan - Stafford family after Buckingham's execution

I read that the Stafford family fell out of favour after the execution of the Duke of Buckingham. Is this completely true? Are they still nobility today? Thanks

Question from Stephanie - Henry VIII's throne, etc.

Does anyone know which throne Henry actually sat on? (And if it still exists) I am also confused about where he actually lived the most, I am assuming it's Hampton but if I'm wrong I'd love to know.

Also- Does anyone know details about the None Such Palace? I'd love to know what personal belongings of his still exist.

Thanks!

Question from Alex - Edward VI and Catholicism

I have another question.

This is about Edward and the Catholic religion.

I was wondering if it was true if Edward hated the Catholic religion. But he wanted to marry Mary quuen of scotts which I can't understand the thing about why he changed religion.

I know I am a Christian but I am a bit mixed up why a sweet child would do a big thing esp when he wanted to marry someone from the catholic religion.

Alot of my friends said it was The Duke of Northumberland who did most of the things.

Question from Hannah - Incident in Richmond Park after Babington Plot

Are there other sources that quote a specific instance in Richmond Park after the Babington Plot?

I'm a sophomore in high school and I'm doing a project for my history class and I need to know if this really happened:
A story tells that Elizabeth, walking through Richmond Park, encountered one of the Babington conspirators. She recognized him from a portrait shown to her by Walsingham. Elizabeth approached the man and said, “Am I not well guarded today, with no man near me who wears a sword at his side”. The man fled and nothing came of the incident. Nevertheless, it shows that Elizabeth was far from secure and perhaps, a more determined conspirator might have taken this opportunity to murder her.

http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Documents/Babington_plot.htm

I've only found a reference to this happening on that one site, and a mention on this site that quotes tudorplace.com. It's a really important aspect of my project, (I'm trying to disprove an event in history based on Elizabeth being killed in this situation) so I need to know if this information is accurate.

Question from Danny - Term of appointments

So after watching the whole new season of the tudors show I have one simple question.

Are the appointments for life? For example Cromwell knew the end is near, can't he just retire or leave instead of chop chop?

Question from Mary Ann - John Ashdown-Hill

This may be somewhat off topic since it involves the Plantagenets but I hope someone can help. There is a book by John Ashdown-Hill about Eleanor Talbot. Can anyone tell me anything about Mr. Ashdown-Hill? I'm seriously considering buying the book and would like to know something about him. Thanks for any help you can give!

Question from Joyce - Commemoration of Anne's execution anniversary

As oit just past the anniversary of Anne Boleyns death do the warders at the Tower do anything to commenmorate ? are floers placed on her plaque etc, do visitors bring flower?

Question from Nanette - Sumptuary laws for ermine

Question: who and who couldn’t wear ermine in Tudor times?

I’m curious about any specific sumptuary laws stating who and who couldn’t wear ermine in Tudor times.

To begin, I always thought only royalty could wear ermine, but I noticed that in a painting of the Duke of Norfolk (Catherine Howard and Anne Boleyn’s uncle), Hans Holbein shows him wearing ermine. A picture of Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, has her in ermine as well.

That being the case that aristocrats could also wear ermine, I was wondering if wealthy citizens (who were not nobly titled) could do so too if they can afford it? Anyone know? Or were there laws forbidding that in Henry VIII’s time?

Question from Jane - Anne's possible pardon, etc.

Being quite a Tudor fanatic I have devoured everything I can get my hands on, both fictional and historical, to do with the Tudor era and though stories differ from author to author it is fairly easy to discern truth from fiction/heresay however I have come stuck at one point....

In the fictional 'The Other Boleyn Girl' novel by Philippa Gregory the storyline tracts around Anne's execution at the end but also of Henry's possible pardon of her to her sister Mary. I have searched and searched and searched but I cannot for the life of me find anything to suggest that Henry even contemplated such a thing (why would he when he had Jane Seymour lined up in readiness to warm his bed?) but it is something that has puzzled me.....does anyone know whether Anne may have been expecting Henry to pardon her or is it something that the author threw in for a more dramatic end to an already dramatic life?

Also, is there any evidence to suggest that Anne and Henry were intimate with each other after her miscarraige in January 1536?

I am hoping someone on here can put my mind at ease!

Question from Sarah - Skipwith family

Does anyone know any information about the Skipwith family at Henry VIII's court?

Question from Arianne - More on Catherine of Aragon's name

Hello, Lara, and anybody else willing to answer,

I have been wondering about Katherine of Aragon's name and its use. I've been looking through several Q&As here on the topic, and it was brought up on the topic "The Wives' Last Names" that "Katherine of Aragon" was only occasionally used during her lifetime, and mostly by her detractors. On that note, I was wondering:

1) Why was it primarily her detractors who used "Katherine of Aragon?" Was it somehow rude?
2) At what point did "Katherine of Aragon" become the generally accepted term to use?
3) What do modern day Spaniards refer to Katherine of Aragon as, i.e. what term would Spanish textbooks use? Do they say "Catalina de Aragon" (which I suppose would be the literal Spanish translation of "Catherine of Aragon"), the more complete "Infanta Catalina De Aragon y Castilla," or something else?

[Note - link below for the previous thread]

https://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2008/02/question-from-patricia-wives-last-names.html

Question from Haven leigh - Recommendations for general Tudor history book(s)

Hello, can anyone please recommend a very good book on tudor history. I know they're many, so if you had to choose for someone who is starting to read history books, but a regular book reader..what should I start with?
p.s. I am 22 yrs. old.
Thanks

[Note - some previous book recommendation threads below]

https://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2009/03/question-from-amy-essential-reading.html

https://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2008/07/question-from-kat-looking-for-book.html

Question from Rachael - Isabella of Castile's age at Catherine's birth

Hi all. While recently re-reading Alison Weir's "Children of England", I noticed that it is stated that during Mary I's first 'pregnancy', she was reminded that her grandmother, Isabella of Castile, bore a child at 52. To my knowledge, Katherine of Aragon was her last child, and Isabella certainly wasn't 52 when she was born! Frustratingly, Weir mentions no source and I was wondering if anybody knew if there was any truth behind this claim?