Question from Ray - Nobility at Elizabeth's court c. 1574

Looking for a concise list of ALL Nobility who were at Queen Elizabeth's Court at around 1574. Any ideas on where I can get this list or anyone who has a comprehensive list, I would love a copy of it. This applies to Male AND female Courtiers. HELP!

Question from Peter - Family Alliances

I have come across a number of references where it is stated that certain families had 'alliances'.

It is seldom made clear what the nature of such 'alliances' is.

Does anyone have a view about what the term 'alliance' does and does not imply?

Thank you.
Peter

Question from Bron - Christmas court of 1543

I am trying to find out about the Royal Christmas at the end of 1543. Some sources state that Henry and Parr brought all three children together at Havering, but I can't seem to find any documentation. I would appreciate it if you have any information, please.

Question from Frances - Henry VIII and horse sizes

Is it true that Henry VIII banned all horses under a certain size (maybe 14 hands?) so that only bigger horses would be bred in England?
If so, that would eliminate most Arabian horses.

Question from Mary Ann - Possible 8th child of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York

This is a question that I have had for many years that I have not been able to clear up. It all started when I read the Agnes Strickland Lives of the Queens of England volume series through an interlibrary loan.

I seem to remember Ms. Strickland mentioning that Elizabeth of York and King Henry VII had another child that died at birth or soon after and that child's name was George, making a total of eight children between Henry VII and Elizabeth. However, I cannot find any other sources to confirm this. I had simply given up ever finding any other sources to confirm this or refute it so I had kind of forgotten about it.

Recently, this all came back to me as I was reading the Plantagenet Somerset Fry book Lives of the Kings and Queens of England and Scotland and I seem to remember it mentioned that some sources state that Henry VII and Elizabeth of York had a son named Edward that appears in some of the correspondence of the period, but the author was not sure if this was another son, or a variant of the name Edmund, the boy that died at about 18 months old.

Any information that anyone has to confirm or refute this would be greatly appreciated. I would also like to know the sources you have that can verify it as well.

Thanks!

Question from Lisa - Christopher Hatton's illegitimate daughter Elizabeth

Many sources say that Christopher Hatton had an illegitimate daughter, named Elizabeth, who then had an illegitimate child with John Perrot. I have been trying to find more information about Elizabeth. When was she born? Who was her mother? Any information will be appreciated.

Question from Mer - Wolsey's death and burial

I just read an interesting photo essay on Leicester Abbey that raises speculation over Wolsey taking his own life (I believe this was also the way The Tudors staged it). Is there convincing proof of suicide, or is this merely a dramatic invention? Also, any news on whether or not they're going to attempt to find Wolsey, given the success with uncovering Richard III?

Questions from Jules - Court 'season' and Charles Brandon's estates c. 1516

Hi!

I'm a published author and am doing research for a novel which will heavily feature Charles Brandon. I specifically need help with two things:
1) the months Henry's court was active - did they have a 'season' - and where everyone resided at that time (i.e the castle name). If you have any links to floor plans and further research, that would be awesome.

2) Brandon's estates/holdings after the time of his marriage to Princess Mary (circa 1516). What did he hold when he married Mary? Any house/castle he lived in/visited frequently? Or was he mainly at court with Henry? Are any of his estates still in existence now?

Many thanks!

Question from Sarah - Lodging for courtiers and spouses

Did married courtiers sleep separately from their spouses whilst at court? If so, when did they ever have carnal knowledge of each other?

Question from Dan - Slaves in Henry VIII's England

Did Henry VIII, or any of his courtiers, have slaves?

Delays in postings and comment approval

I've had a death in my family and so I won't be able to get to postings and comments right away for the next few days. I just wanted to let everyone know.

Question from Tim - Catherine Middleton possible descent from Edward IV

I read that Kate Middleton may have been descended from an aunt of Henry VIII - an illegitimate daughter of Edward IV. Do you think this is true?

[Here's a previous thread on Catherine Middleton's ancestry, although I didn't see any information on this particular relation. - Lara]

http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2011/03/question-from-guy-tudor-relations-of.html

Question from Orla - Sir William Stanley and the Earldom of Chester

Hello, I was wondering if anyone had more information about Sir William Stanley and his unsuccessful bid to become Earl of Chester. I've recently read War of the Roses by Trevor Royle and he fleetingly mentions Stanley dissatisfaction with Henry VII. The earldom of Chester though was a title used for an heir apparent, and was used for Prince Arthur in 1489, so how long was Stanley petitioning for it? And was he trying to receive another title when Arthur received Chester?

Question from Steve - Thomas Shales, butler to Catherine Howard

I have come into posession of what is described in an attached letter as a portion of a silk dress which belonged to Catherine Howard which was brought from the tower by her butler Thomas Shales. My understanding is that when she was held in Syon Abbey Catherine only had 6 dresses. I have two questions. Was Thomas Shales a royal butler for the queen? Are there any descriptions of those 6 dresses? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Question from Stacey - Henry VII and Perkin Warbeck

I just finished Philippa Gregory's "The White Princess". Part of the book is about the time that Perkin Warbeck spent at the court of Henry VII & that he was given an allowance, treated well & was basically free to come & go. Is this correct? Henry had believed that Warbeck was a huge threat, so why would he allow him at court? Was Henry VII really in love with Warbeck's wife? If so, why didn't he marry her? (sorry for so many questions)

Question from Poppy - Foxe's treatment of reigns of Henry VIII and Mary I

For my dissertation in my third year at University i'm focusing on John Foxe and his book of martyrs. My question is 'Propaganda or reality in John Foxe?'
I am assessing the differences between the reigns of Henry VIII and Mary Tudor in his book to work out if he was bias towards a certain monarch etc.

So far i've found out that, as a Protestant, Foxe obviously documented Mary's reign in a negative light. However, what I cannot seem to find out is why Henry felt the need to deal with heretics when his take on religion seems to be iffy, almost as if he wants to keep both sides happy.

Any help would be great!

Question from Margaret - Anne Boleyn's favorite ladies in waiting

Does anyone know who Queen Ann Boleyn's chief Ladies in Waiting were....and who among them were her favorites?

(See this previous thread for some of the names of the ladies: http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2008/07/question-from-elizabeth-robinson-anne.html - Lara)

Question from Mairead - Use of wet nurses by the middle classes

Hi,

Would middle class Tudor women have employed wet nurses to breastfeed their children (wives of gentlemen farmers/businessmen etc). I saw a thread about wet nurse use amongst upperclass women, but wondered how widespread the practice was amongst more ordinary folk. Reason I'm asking is because I'm writing a novel set in the period - in general, if an up and coming member of society could afford a wet-nurse, would he employ one?

Many thanks

Question from Kay - Yuletide festivities at Whitehall

Hi, I'm working on a novel based on the life of Lady Mary Wroth, the niece of Sir Philip Sidney. I'm setting a few scenes in Whitehall, which has been a struggle since there are so many competing accounts of how it was laid out and which rooms were used for what. So far, my best resource, I think, has been Simon Thurley's 'Whitehall Palace' and I'm relying most heavily on that.

But here's my question. I'm dramatizing a moment that is mentioned in one of the letters of the time saying that my main character danced before Queen Elizabeth on St. Stephen's Day in 1602 in the afternoon. I'm trying to determine/decide how such a presentation would have fit into the festivities of the yuletide and where such a presentation would take place. Would it be after the noon meal in the Great Hall? In the Presence Chamber? In the Banqueting Hall?

If anyone has any insights into what the daily rhythm would be like during the yuletide and where these types of events would occur, I'd be very grateful for any help!

Question from Mary R - Charges against Thomas Cromwell

Thomas Cromwell was executed for heresy among other things. What exactly did he say or do merit this in the king's eyes (besides marry Henry off to an ugly woman)?

Question from Isabel - Why did Henry VIII struggle to produce an heir

I am 17 and doing my EPQ on Henry VIII and my title is "Why did Henry VIII struggle to produce an heir?"
I would appreciate your opinion on why he seemed to, or whether he did, have problems producing a male heir. I would like to use it, along with other historian's opinions, and my own research to help me reach a conclusion.
Thank you very much for your time,
Isabel

Question from Marilyn R - Remains of those burned at the stake

Today, 16th July, in 1546 Anne Askew, John Lascelles, John Adams and Nicholas Belenian were burned at the stake at Smithfield for heresy.

What happened to what few remains there would be after execution by burning? Would there be any sort of burial? Would the flames have been intense enough to destroy bone and teeth?

Question from Conor - Henry Manox and Kathryn Howard's downfall

Hi,

I am aware that in May 2011 a question was asked about Henry Manox, but unfortunately the answers did not aid my research.

I have been researching in detail Katherine Howard's downfall, particularly the role of her so-called accomplices aka Jane Rochford, Joan Bulmer, Katherine Tylney etc. All of these women, and other Howard relatives, were charged - in Jane's case, of course, her charge of treason led to her death.

Why was Henry Manox never charged with anything? He had first initiated Katherine into the sexual world while a pre-pubescent girl, and I frankly find it bizarre that he was never punished. It seems he was interrogated in November 1541, alongside Dereham, but then his name never comes up again.

I have been trying to track down written documents which can help, but has anyone got ANY idea of Manox's eventual fate? Why was he never punished?

For all we know, maybe he was murdered or something at the time. Or he could have been married and the interrogators felt it was not worth pursuing, in contrast with Dereham.

It is a mystery.

Question from Julian - Henry VII's military training

I am a serious amatuer Historian and Living History enthusiast of the English late-15th century; and I have been researching the 13 yr. Exile of Henry Earl of Richmond. And after 5 years steady part-time work on this project, I have exhausted all the mentions in English sources. One side-thread I am just starting to consider, - not having thought of it previously - is how much military training Jasper Tudor would have insisted the young Henry undertake. Do you know if any reputable military Historian has published anything on Henry VII as a soldier and military commander. If you do, references would be gratefully received. Thank you.

Question from Nigel - More and the burial of the Princes in the Tower

This is a question about how Thomas More was able to say where the two bodies of the Princess in the Tower were located. It is a question out of curiousity as I have been watching "The White Queen" and have since been reading up on the history behind that period.

In his history of King Richard III, Thomas More said that the princes were smothered to death in their beds by two agents of James Tyrell — Miles Forrest and John Dighton — and were then buried "at the stayre foote, metely depe in the grounde vnder a great heape of stones". He then went on to say that they were later disinterred and buried in a secret place.

In 1674, some workmen remodelling the Tower of London dug up a wooden box containing two small human skeletons. The bones were found in the ground close to the White Tower, consistent with More's description of the original burial place of the princes (under the tower stairs), but not consistent with More's later claim that the bodies had been subsequently removed and buried elsewhere.

(The two paragraphs above have been compiled from information I have found from searching on Google and Wikipedia.)

I am a little confused as to where Thomas More got his information from as to the exact (and originally correct) location of the bodies as according to him he wrote that James Tyrell confessed to the murders and implicated the other two but that James Tyrell was unable to say where the where the bodies were.

Does this mean Thomas More had another source of information as to where the bodies were buried?