Question from Jen - Henry's treatment of his children

Ok, so I love reading historical fiction but I really want to know how accurate they are. I just finished Elizabeth: Red Rose of the house of Tudor. Its from a royal diaries series, kinda of like American girl. Anyways, in the book, Elizabeth's father (Henry VIII) is a really mean dad. He neglates both of his daughters (He even seems a little scared of Elizabeth becuase he believes she's a half-witch. Worse, he taunts his son (Edward) and makes fun of him becuase he's fat---even though Henry himself is huge! Was Henry that bad of a father? Was he verbally abusive to his children?

Question from Meredith - Henry's deathbed fears

When henry was on his death bed did he show any indication of fear at meeting his god after all the evil he had done?

[Ed. note: I'm assuming Henry VIII here, but I guess some could see it applying to either Henry?]

Question from Faith - Best likenesses of Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I

What do you think is the nearest likeness we have today of Elizabeth I and Anne Boleyn?

I have heard that one good candidate for the best likeness of Elizabeth is the Sieve Portrait which hangs in the Board Room at the Folger Shakespeare Library -- would you agree?

Thank you!

Faith

Question from Gervase - Rumors that Elizabeth I was a man

Friends, I once spent the summer between school waitressing and I met a young lady from England who told me that her professor in England once, during the study of Elizabeth I, said that there was a rumor that arises once in awhile, that Elizabeth was really a man. Apparently, in an unfortunate accident, the toddler drowned. Panicked, her guardian found a young boy,same age, red hair etc., and raised the child to be the Queen. While I realize that this is probably just a random rumor, in the movie Elizabeth I, the French Prince is complaining about her lack of emotion and he says "some say she is a man". Does anyone know anything regarding this story. I appreciate all the effort given in the blog.

Question from Liz - Religious terms

I was wondering, are Calvinist and Purtians the same thing? What about Protestants? Was that just a blanket term for a Christian who wasn't Catholic? And if you were a Protestant, would you call your self that or would there have been a different name?

Question from Gervase - Sainthood for Catherine of Aragon

I have been wondering, and have inquired, if Catherine of Aragon was ever considered for Sainthood by the Catholic Church? I cannot seem to find any documentation regarding the same, however, I would think she certainly suffered enough thru all kinds of humiliation and still maintained her faith.

Question from Nikki - Layout of English churches

I know this isn't Tudor related, but I cannot find anyone to answer this question so I thought I would see if one of you can!

Why are the church pews in English churches facing each other, rather than the altar? I noticed this in the Temple Church. I also noticed this in Bermuda, which is of course an English territory.

Question from Kelly - Henry VIII's private marriages

How come henry VIII's marriages were done in private? When his father married Elizabeth of York, it was done in public.

Question from Kelly - Elizabeth and Dudley's relationship

Did Elizabeth and Robert Dudley have a serious relationship?

Question from Diana - Mary's betrothal ring

Does anyone know what became of Mary's betrothal ring after it was presented to Elizabeth?

Question from Gervase - Notes from the renovations of St. Peter ad Vincula

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE I CAN FIND THE WEBSITE THAT HAS THE NOTES OF FINDING THE BODY OF ANN BOLEYN IN THE 1800'S RENOVATION OF THE CHURCH TOWER BY QUEEN VICTORIA

Question from Elizabeth M. - Biographies of Catherine of Aragon

I have a copy of Garrett Mattingly's biography of Katherine of Aragon, written in the early 1940s. Has there ever been another biography of her? I am just curious why she has seemingly not been tackled by biographers since Mattingly's work.

Question from Nikki - Possibility of twins for Catherine of Aragon's first pregnancy

I was watching a documentary about Henry VIII and it mentioned that with her first pregnancy, Catharine of Aragon miscarried. Her stomach was still very swollen and they told her she was pregnant with twins & the second child was still alive. She took to her chamber, but after a month her stomach soon went down and they lost all hope that there was a second child. I'm going to assume her stomach was swollen due to infection. This is the first time I've heard of a possibility of twins?

Question from Nikki - "Taking to their chamber"

Why did women "take to their chamber" when they were pregnant?

Question from Olivia - Teaching or studying Tudor history

I've been interested in the tudors since 6th grade, and now i've become extreamly interested in it to a point i want to teach it/ become a historian on the subject. any advice? thank you

Question from Liz - Women on the stage

I've heard that actresses where not allowed on the Elizabethan stage and that female roles were done by males. Why were females barred from the stage and when where they finally allowed to act? What changed that allowed them to do so?

Question from Claudia - Dispensations needed to marry god-children or step-children, etc.

When you married in the sixteenth century, your husband's sister became your sister, rather than your sister-in-law, and any relationship would therefore be considered incestuous and require a dispensation (if I understand it correctly).

Was this the same for your goddaughter, stepbrother etc.? Could you marry them or would you need a dispensation? Is the answer different depending on whether it was before or during the Reformation? I am interested in the time of Henry VIII. Thank you very much.

Question from Krissy - Effect of wine on the Wives

Did the constant drinking of wine effect Henry VIII's wives?

Question from Joyce - St. James' Palace

Iam curious about St James Place I know Henry VIII built it on the site of an old hospital I think, bit as it is so close to Whitehall what was it used for, also is the Chapel Royal there the original one and are there pictures of it anywhere? I have visited St James Place and think the Tudor gatewat is still amazing, are many of the stone window frames around that enterance original? we got to it by way of Duke St , St James I think many visitors miss it becuase it is sort of , away from a main road but worth the trip

Question from Gisli - DNA for testing of bones

Would it be possible to identify the bones of Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour or Katherine Howard, through DNA, if HM were to allow acces to the bones in the Tower Chapel.

Are these families still alive in England today?

The Boleyns, Seymours and the Howards were powerful in their time, but what of today. Is there anyone alive who could donate DNA to be used in determining who is who. Or are the all gone.


Gisli

Question from Kris - Edwards-Tudor connection

I'm also a direct descendant of Henry Tudor, or Henry the VII, by way of Richard Edwards. I'm interested in getting some corroboration on this. Anyone have any ideas?

[Ed. note - previous discussion of this line is here and here]

Question from Emily - Fashion and corsets after the break with Rome

I am conducting a report on the history of corsets for my BA hons degree (2nd year) and im wondering if anybody has any idea how fashion and particularly corsets developed after the establishment of the Church of England?

Question from Nikki - Henry VIII's early thoughts of divorce

i was reading the bio of henry viii on www.luminarium.org. it states that henry was considering divorce in 1514 as catharine had no surviving children. in 1516 mary was born and the divorce was "postponed."

is there any truth to that?

Question from Nikki - "Defender of the Faith" title

henry viii was given the title "defender of the faith" by the pope before the break of rome. after becoming disconnected with the catholic church, why would a monarch still be able to carry that tile if they had no affiliation with the roman catholic church? i think "defender of the faith" is still in the current queen's title. i'm confused as to why they still carry the title after the break with rome. seems to me like the pope would've taken it back?

Question from Aj - Worst job at the Globe

Hi. Im 14 years old and Im doing an essay on Shakespeare's globe theatre.. I was wondering what was the worst job yu could get at the globe theatre and why was that .. ?? Thanks