Question from Debbie - Marriage and children of Stephen Gardiner

Hello,

I am doing some family history research and came across something I find very puzzling.

Stephen Gardiner is a Catholic Bishop (right?) and I have been reading - mostly on blogs - that he was married to a Margaret Grey and had children (George).

I believe it must be another Stephen Gardiner, not the Bishop (although the DOBs look the same).

Could that be true?

Thank you very much.

Debbie

Question from Ann B. - Origin of the nickname "Bloody Mary"

When and by whom was the nickname "Bloody Mary" coined? I am writing a 20 page research paper on Mary I and i was wanting to find a origin, if possiable. Thanks!

Question from Drew - Officers of the Tudor miliary

Hello, I have a question regarding the Tudor military, specifically the officers, that I was wondering if anyone could help me with?

I am completing an assignment on the progression of the military ordinances of the English army, mainly focusing on the Hundred Years War period. However, for purposes of charting their progression over a longer period and having something to compare, I am extending the analysis to briefly consider the early Tudors; more specifically up to Henry VIII's campaign to France in 1513. I am much more familiar with the military of the medieval period and have been learning about the Tudor developments on the job as it were, and the one thing that is frustrating me is the use of the term "petty-captain".

Almost every book or article I have read mentions them somewhere, usually referencing a muster roll or some other archival source, yet nowhere have I seen anyone actually explicitly state what one was. Why were some officers "petty" captains, as opposed to normal captains? Was it due to the size of their company, their experience, their status/nobility? Did a company have a captain and then also an under-officer, similar to a vintenar or some equivalent, who was called the petty-captain?

No books I have looked at so far have clarified the matter, nor has many hours scouring J-stor, ProjectMUSE or google. Any advice anyone could provide to clarify this matter in any way whatsoever would be greatly appreciated, whether its an answer or just a suggestion for another book/article to try. This is for university work, so please don't hesitate to refer me to academic journals, monologues or theses etc.

Thank you in advance for your time and any suggestions you may be able to offer.
All the best, Drew.

Question from KB - Source material for the De La Warre family

I am starting a research project on the De La Warre family and would appreciate any tips for source material.

I am starting with Thomas West, 2nd Baron De La Warre and his wife Anne Knollys. I have the genealogy of Anne sorted. Her role as a lady of Elizabeth's court is well confirmed although details of her activities are thin.

I have the names of 12 of their children. I know that at least three of them were part of the English encounter with the New World with 3 of the brothers serving as colonial governors.

These are the same De La Warres that lent their name to the state of Delaware.

Does anyone know if the parish records for Wherwell Hants. are online?

Any ideas welcomed. Thank you.

Question from Guy - Primary sources, particularly on Henry VIII's finances

How good are the range of primary sources onlnie and can anyone recommend a site? I am most interested in the finances of Henry VIII's reign

Question from Guy - Magazine and journal recommendations

Can anyone recommend a good history magazine/journal for those interested in the Tudors?

Question from Guy - Mary Seymour and crown wardship

I am interested to know why Mary Seymour, daughter of Catherine Parr and Thomas Seymour, wasn't made a ward of the crown, as aristocratic orphans usually were?

Question from Merlin - A Katherine Howard "what if"

Another question re Katherine Howard- or more of a "what if?" really.

I've sometimes wondered- if Katherine hadn't had something going with Thomas Culpepper, and Francis Dereham had stayed in Ireland rather than returning to England and cashing in on Katherine's good fortune, what would Henry have done when the news of her earlier romance with Dereham broke? Would he have proceeded as he did (perhaps on a charge of presumptive treason for failing to disclose her lack of virginity and possible pre-contract)? Would he have had the marriage anulled on the basis of the probable pre-contract and banished Katherine from court? Or would he have forgiven her and instructed Cramner to issue some sort of "after the fact" anullment of the pre-contract with Dereham? I'd be interested to know what you think.

Question from Anonymous - Mary Tudor Brandon recognizing Anne Boleyn as Queen

Did Princess Mary Tudor, former queen of France, ever recognise Anne Boleyn as queen?

Did Mary have a long illness before death?


[Previous threads for the second question linked below - Lara]
http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2008/07/question-from-kelly-cause-of-death-for.html
http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2008/12/question-from-lara-mary-rose-tudors.html

Question from Anonymous - Historically accurate computer games

Does anyone know any historically accurate computer games, ones that teach you about the Tudors as you're playing them?

Question from Katie R. - Unfulfilled gifts clause in Henry VIII's will

Hi everyone! I am wondering whether the full details of the "unfulfilled gifts clause" in Henry VIII's will is available online. I have found any number of summaries of it, but I would like, if possible, to see the actual words.

Thanks so much

Question from Diane - Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves during his marriage to Kathryn Howard

Hi!
I'm checking out The Tudors season 4 since I've been quite interest in the topic. In this season, is shown how Henry while married to Kathryn Howard return to Anne of Cleves' bed. I wonder if there is some sort of prouf on the subject, or, is it one of the more historical "arrangements" to spice up the series?

Thanks

Question from Marilyn R - "Treacle and water imperial" treatment

I am still plodding on with my research on Agnes Tilney, Katheryn Howard's step-grandmother, which i have mentioned before on this blog.

In 1528 she met Cardinal Wolsey’s servant, one Forest, and was pleased to learn his master was well, although some of his servants had been very poorly. The area was in the grip of the dreadful sweating sickness and in a letter later on the Duchess offered to minister to Wolsey should he fall ill. She had daily experience of such matters, she said, and was so successful in her cures that her neighbours would send to her “and if they be sick at heart I give them treacle and water imperial..."

Can anyone elaborate on what this concoction actually was?

Thank you

Question from Hilary - Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Westminster Abbey

Where were Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII married? I know they took their initial vows in secret, but surely there was also some sort of public event afterwards? If so, where did that occur?

Also, was Anne coronated inside Westminster Abbey? It always seems that when reading about her coronation, only the procession through the town is discussed.

On what other occasions would have Henry VIII and/or Anne Boleyn gone into Westminster Abbey?

Thank you!

Question from Taryn - Fashion of Henry VIII's reign

Hi all, I'm a bit of a historical fashion buff and I have a two part question, and I'm sorry that it's so long:

First, does anyone know of any good books that detail the fashions (both male and female) of the reign of Henry VIII? I'm particularly interested in somehting that can contrast the differences in male fashion of Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon and the marriage of Catherine Parr full on until his death, but anything on women's fashion and sumptuary laws would be amazing.

Second, I would like to know if modern day mediums (such as the Showtime series and other fiction books I've read) are correct in that for the sake of masques and other costumed affairs that normal propriety could be shirked and men and women could be seen in very little (for the time). I realize fiction is never a good place for historical fact, but I am curious as to whether it would have been possible for a woman to go without a chemise underneath of her bodice for the sake of costume!

Thank you all very much for your time.

Question from Livingston - Choice of Darnley's residence at Kirk o' Field

In February 1567 the ailing Lord Darnley, husband of Mary Queen of Scots, was returned to Edinburgh from Glasgow to convalesce for a short period at Kirk o'Field before reconciling and residing with Mary and their 7-month old son at Holyrood Palace. Within days of Darnley's installation at the house at Kirk o'Fields it was blown-up with gunpowder. Just prior to the explosion Darnley was caught escaping the house and immediately stabbed to death by an unknown.

Darnley was a hated man among his peers and known to be in grave danger on return to Edinburgh. My question is why Edinburgh Castle was not considered as a place for his recovery and was this question ever considered by contemporaries or later historians? Mary after all had chosen the safety of the Castle for delivery of her baby only months before.

Question from Louise - Elizabeth Tilney

A question about Elizabeth Tileny lady-in -waiting to Lady Jane grey who is apparently my ancestress. I would love to know if Elizabeth is related to Philip Tilney or Agnes Tileny of Shelly and possibly a cousin of Anne Boleyn or Madge Shelton. Does anyone know?

Question from Ria - Entertainment in Henry VIII's reign

i am in year 8 and i wanted to know about entertainment at the time of king henry the eighth, particulary acting and plays. i do know that later on a globe theatre was build but during therein of elizabeth I. thank you

Question from Lindsay - Sources for background on Anne of Cleves

I am preparing a paper to present as a writing sample for a Graduate level history program I am attempting to enter come Fall of 2011, and am looking for information on the atmosphere in which Anne of Cleves grew up, specifically her home life after her fathers death. Also, any documentation on her brief marriage to Henry VIII would be good as well, as this is a comparative study of the two countries and their courts at the time just before, during, and just after this marriage took place. Books or website information would be helpful, the more specific the better. Please do not include Wikipedia information, as I need legitimate sources for a bibliography. Thank you!

Question from Nancy - Thomas Becket in Tudor times

Why is Thomas Becket sometimes called Thomas a Becket? Is that how people referred to him in Tudor times?

Question from Sarah - Arthur Tudor's birth date

Arthur, Prince of Wales was born 8 months into his parents' marriage. Is there any possibility that they consummated the relationship before the official wedding day? Or even that Arthur had a different father? Was it ever suggested by contemporaries or those later?

I was wondering because I was reading about the Princes in the Tower being declared illegitimate, and thinking that someone could have used Arthur's premature birth as an excuse to depose him, if he had become king.

[Most of this question was covered in the thread linked below. - Lara]

http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2008/10/question-from-elizabethan-elizabeth-of.html

Question from Charli - Mr Colley and Mr Thorp and sumptuary laws

In the inventory of Henry Howard, earl of Surrey in 1546, there is an addition that 'a Robe with a hood of crymsen vellut' was delivered to Mr Colley and Mr Thorp by Sir John Gates.

I have hunted high and low for Mr Colley and Mr Thorp and I still can't find who they are. I was wondering if you knew who these people were!?

Also do you know what the earls could not wear under the sumptuary laws?

Thank you!

Question from Elen - Info on book "The Private Lives of the Tudor Monarchs"

Hi guys,

I stumbled across a book called "The private lives of the Tudor Monarchs" by Chrsitopher Falkus (it's available on amazon.com).
Has anyone read that book and can recommend it? I'd love to hear what you know about it!

Elen

Question from Amanda - Items shown in a first season episode of "The Tudors"

I have been re-watching Season 1 of the Tudors and during the Sweating Sickness episode, when the sickness has ended and the so a church service the show pillows with what look like spurs or some type of bells on them. I have looked and can not find what they are to represent and if there is any historical accuracy in this part of the show. Do you know any information on this?

Question from Brianna - Sources for Elizabeth's decision not to marry

I'm looking for more information on Elizabeth I's decision not to marry, I am in 10th grade taking AP European history and I am writing a paper on this subject, I would like to organize my paper by personal, political, and religious reasons why she did not marry. I am having trouble finding specific sources about this particular subject because there is such a vast amount of information out there about Elizabeth and this topic is pretty narrow. Thankyou so much in advance! Your help will be much appreciated.

[Related thread linked below. - Lara]

http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2009/06/question-from-marjorie-elizabeth-is.html