Question from Sara - Jane Rochford apologizing at execution

I read online somewhere that in Jane Parker-Rotchford's last speech, she apologized for her part in her husband George Boleyn's execution and admitted she had lied. Is this true? I had never heard about it in any other place, and I'm not sure whether the site is trustworthy or not.

Catching up, finally!

Okay, my laptop and I both seem to be functioning close to normal (except for some continuing coughing. Me, not the laptop.) I have a few questions that came in over the past week or so that I'll be posting shortly.

And to answer the questions about what the Tudors did at Christmas, my quick answer is to search on "Christmas" at this blog (see the search bar at the top of the page), since there have been a few other questions about that.

Happy New Year (and a quick update)

I would like to wish everyone a happy 2008 (still 11 hours to go here in Texas, but I know some of you have already changed calendars on the other side of the planet!)!

I have some updates and blog posts to make that were *supposed* to be done over the break, but my laptop died right after arriving in Alabama and then my boyfriend and I got really sick (I got the better end of the deal... he ended up with pneumonia, I just had a really bad cold). We made it back to Texas a couple of days ago but we're both still recovering. And the laptop is a couple of days away from getting fixed, so I probably won't be making any more posts until that is back up and running. I have back-ups of everything, but I like to keep my most up-to-date copies of everything in one place so I don't get things mixed up. I usually have everything on my thumbdrive, but of course, I copied it all to the laptop shortly before it died so I wouldn't have to worry about losing the thumddrive on the trip. Oh well! I'm guessing everything will be back up and running and as close to normal as they ever get the first full week in January.

I have all the query submissions that have come in and will be posting them in the next few days, not to worry! Thanks for everyone's patience in this, I really appreciate it.

Happy New Year!

Traveling for Christmas

I'll be on the road most of the day tomorrow and then visiting with friends and family for a while, so updates may be sparse and slow. So, if I don't get a chance to post again until the new year, I just wanted to wish everyone a happy holiday season, no matter what you celebrate this time of year! Here's to a great 2008!

Question from Jeniann - Pierced ears

I haven't been able to find info on this anywhere! Did Tudor women pierce their ears? I know in most movies you see pierced ears, but I always figured that was because the actress had one. I'd imagine they had earrings of some kind, and in one portrait of Elizabeth I (Rainbow) you can see a pair that don't look like clip-ons. Does anyone know anything else about this?

Question from Kim - Canes or walking sticks at court

What was the custom regarding the use of canes or walking sticks within Queen Elizabeth's court? In particular, would Francis Walsingham be permitted to use such an aparatus?

Question from Lis - Black cloth or ribbon on portraits

I have come across a couple of portraits (and have heard of more) where the sitter is portrayed wearing a piece of black cloth or ribbon tied around the upper arm. Was this a sign that the wearer was in mourning - similar to the black arm bands worn in later times and even up to the present day. If it was not a sign of mourning, does anyone know what it was? Many thanks.

Question from Raquel - More info on Kathryn Howard

I am very interested in Kathryn Howard the fifth wife of Henry. Her pictures were destroyed from what I gather as well as some not being sure if the main photo used, as her, is truly her. I want to find descriptions of her looks and presence. I have found some words on both Anne’s and so on, but no good visions of her. I heard she was fair, possible the fairest of his wives but no mention of the color of her hair and eyes and so on. Also, why is birth date and place so confusing? Do you think this information was loss to Henry's anger with her? For some reason she is my favorite and I would love to know as much I can about her.

Question from Jane - Henry VIII's influence on politics

Hi everyone:)

I'm sitting here in Denmark, writing my final high school assignment in history and english class, about the time in england around Henry VIII.
I need to write about the politics in Brittain in the 1530'ies and how Henry had an influence in it, but I simply can't find anything. I need something that includes original texts, and I found that there were lot to find around the 1590'ies, but nearly nothing about the 1530'ies. I'm looking for reliable websites about the subject, and I would be very thankfull if anyone has a great link, which can enlighten me to the 1530'ies politics in England. I have allready dealt with subjects such as the reformation and the enclsure of sheeps.

I wish you all a nice warm christmas:)

Question from Jackie - Tudor lineage

My cousin's husband claims he is a direct descendant of the Tudor lineage. He claims he can trace his family tree all the way back to Queen Elizabeth. Considering she was the "Virgin Queen" how is this possible? His mother's maiden name is Tudor. I thought the Tudor line ended with Elizabeth. I know there was at least one bastard recognized male child of Henry VIII but I thought he died young without any heirs. Is this possible?

Question from James - Security for the King and court

In the court of a Tudor monarch, who would provide the protection or security for the king or other courtiers.Where they just Guards?

James Duffy

aged 9

4th grade

Question from Monica -Online versions of "Letters and Papers", etc.

I love looking at the original sources for Henry VIII's reign, but hate having to go to the library each time. Is there a digital version of these, volumes such as Letters and Papers of the Reign of Henry VIII? I'd love to have these on disc so I could just read through, or find them on the internet. Or is there anywhere you can buy the set, affordably?

Question from Monica - Dispensation for Henry's marriage to Jane Seymour

On the day of Anne Boleyn's execution, Henry VIII obtained a dispensation for him to marry Jane Seymour, although in the third degree of affinity. To my understanding, he meant her second cousin.

Now Jane and Henry were only fifth cousins, so I assume he had an affair with her second cousin. I can't find out who this might mean! I know she was related to the Bryans, so thought it might mean Elizabeth Carew (nee Bryan), the wife of Nicholas Carew and the sister of Francis Bryan. But I can find no mention of how closely related they were.

Any ideas?

Question from Monica - Women Henry VIII was attracted to after Kathryn Howard

After Katherine Howard's arrest, it was rumoured that Henry was attracted to three women: Elizabeth Brooke, the ex-wife of Thomas Wyatt; Lord Lisle's stepdaughter [probably Anne Basset] and
'the daughter of Madame Albart, the niece of the Grand Esquire, Master Anthony Browne'
(Chapuys to Charles V; CSP, Spanish, 1538-42, no. 230).
Anyone know who this refers to? And is he saying that the woman is the niece or the daughter of the niece of Anthony Browne? I know that Anthony Browne came from a large family, especially as the Fitzwilliams were his half-siblings. Chapuys often write names wrongly, but I don't know who Madame Albart might mean. Please help!

Question from Louisa - Spurs on cushions from "The Tudors"

In the episode of The Tudors shown on Friday 16th November, something caught my eye which made me feel very ignorant!
At the service of rememberence/thanksgiving/funeral of William Compton, (not sure exactly what it was!), all the women who had lost their menfolk were in church and had their husbands spurs on a cushion next to them. Was this common practice or something put in by the 'imaginative' writers of the series!
Hope you can help!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I would like to wish all my fellow Americans a Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you had a chance to spend it with family and friends. I would also like to give thanks to all of you who read the site and help answer questions!

Question from Anna C. - What would the Tudors think of our portrayals of them?

I just have kind of a fun question to ask-opinion wise-do you think Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn would be pleased with any of their portrayals in books and movies? For example, do you think they'd be historically flattered or horrified at the way they are being shown in "The Other Boleyn Girl"?

Question from Josh - Tudor Monarch and Parliament

Which phrase do you think best describes the Tudor Monarchs relations with Parliament?

a. angry and tense

b. respectful and cooperative

c. royal and absolutist

d. confused and unprodctive

Thanks

Question from Sam - Population and the Mid-Tudor crisis

How important a factor was population increase in contributing to the economic crisis of the mid tudor period, and what effect did it have on England?

Question from Maynard - Vegetarianism and Veganism in Tudor England?

How would I (or any student or graduate researcher) explore vegetarianism and veganism (?) in Tudor England?

Many issues could be explored:
agricultural challenges and prosperity, the rise of meat eating, ethical and extra-ethical challenges to prevailing food mores, philosophy, actual practice, theatrical notes on vegetarians and vegetarian practices and values and beliefs, ritual notes on the topic, religion and vegetarian practices, etc.

I'm hoping to find an ongoing discussion of this topic, not a cut and dried answer.

Several sources could be Bloodless Revolution and Colin Spencer's books.

I don't know that Professor Rynn Berry, a vegetarian historian and literary specialist at the New School in Brooklyn (I think in comparative literature), has written on this topic; his interests seem to have shifted towards comparing modern vegetarians with ancient vegetarian practices in the 'classical periods' of Greece and Rome.

Question from Alex - Tudor juggling

Homework is to find history on Tudor juggling balls supported with a picture.

Test

test post

Elizabeth's birth hour

To the person who sent several emails about this... I tried to respond directly to you, but the email bounced.

Hall's Chronicle says that Elizabeth was born between three and four in the afternoon. That's as close to an exact time as I could find.

Question from Elysia - Crime and Punishment

I am in year 4 and we have been asked to do a project on the tudors
I need more information as to Crime and punishment

Any Ideas

Thanks Elysia

Question from Cat - Lower-class Tudor surnames

Hi, I'm a year 4 teacher and we are about to start our history topic about famous Tudors and Tudor life. I want to give my children a Tudor name and job and base some role play/drama around this and was wondering if anyone can give me any good surnames that were common during this time?? I'm going to do a mixture of upper and lower class - I've got some famous Tudor names for the upper class characters, but am a bit stuck with names for the lower classes! I need about 8 names.
Thanks f