Question from Tess - Anne of Cleves translator

Did Anne of Cleves have her personal translator when she first arrived at the court of Henry VIII? I read that she did not speak much English...?

Question from Keely - Public confrontations between Henry VIII and his children

Are there any eyewitness accounts of Henry VIII ever having a face-to-face confrontation with any of his children? Did he ever yell or reprimand them in public once?

Question from Trish - Marie Paulet

I also wander how I could advertise my relative Marie Paulet marrying George southcombe in Satterliegh in 1574. I am also trying to find out about where she came from is to apply for her farther's will or buy a michofiche that I could find out about her birth. I think she was born in 1554. I think the man's name was Nicholas Paulet of Hinton Saint George, Somerset. He died in 1603. Her grandfather I think [was] Sir Hugh Poulet Governor of Jersey. [Post slightly edited for clarity - Lara]

Question from Trish - Anna Margaretta Regina Pedissiqua

I am trying to find out about Anna Margaretta Regina Pedissiqua who had married Thomas Berry in about 1453. I am just trying to find out about where she was born and where he came from.

Previous related threads:
https://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2007/06/question-from-ron-info-on-lady-in.html
https://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2008/09/question-from-ron-more-info-on-anne.html

[Submission slightly edited for clarity - Lara]

Question from Daniel - Surviving things from Henry VIII's reign

Does anything survive today how it was during his reign if Henry Viii was alive today, would he recognise anything?? If he was alive or has everything completed destroyed? Is sad because that was the golden age of england, wheres it all gone is my question??

Question from Tess - Customary time for wearing mourning clothing

Hello! I am in the process of writing a novel set in the Tudor period (Henrician). Does anyone know for sure how long widows were supposed to keep black clothing (for mourning)? I read somewhere that there was no clear law about it, but what was considered 'proper'? The 1-year-period seemed to have only been set up in the Victorian era... or was it also applicable for the early sixteenth century? Many thanks xx

Question from Al - Information on item found in Southwell

Hi I am looking for some information on this item I have. It was found in Southwell next to The Archbishops palace. I know the main design probably represents Henry VIII but the other designs on it are proving a little difficult to decipher. I have put the relevant info on this youtube video https://youtu.be/ZnfnV_XmyWc

Question from Erin - Women's hair at their executions

I am doing a project on pen pals and we started talking about ladies being beheaded did they wear there hair up or was their head above the neck covered in a handkerchief

Blog and server upgrades coming

Hello to any readers who stumble upon this before the upgrading starts! My webhost is going to be migrating to new servers over the month of June and I'm really hoping that it will solve some issues I've been having for a few years now. I haven't really had the time to migrate to a new webhost so I just stuck it out. Part of the upgrade process may impact the blog part of the site, so I'm going to do some testing in their 'sandbox'. BUT, before I can to that, I have to do some upgrades that may also muck things up before I can even get to the testing part. I'm trying to back everything up in every way I have available, but there is still a chance things will break. If something goes awry, check the Q&A blog (this page) and/or my personal blog since they are hosted on Blogger and won't be affected by these issues.

Question from Thomas - Resources for thesis on Tudor medicine

Hello everyone, I am a university student and I am currently doing research for my bachelor's theses. I am interested in Tudor medicine. But because I live abroad it is difficult for me to access primary sources. But thanks to many great responses here I was able to come up with an idea and theme. I am doing research about physicians (as John Hall, George Bate) and how they treated the human body. Main questions are - is there any difference between treating female and male bodies? Or treating aristocracy and paupers? I would be very grateful for any other primary sources/ideas/articles etc. that could help me support my theses and spot those differences. Any other comments are very welcomed.

Question from Mia - Anne Boleyn depicted in green

I am looking for information about Anne Boleyn and why she is commonly depicted in green. I find it really interesting and cannot find any definitive information as to why. Thanks for your help anyone who does Kind regards, Mia

Question from Daniel - Book opinions

Hi, Im just want your opinions on some books I'm thinking of buying, two of them are by AW I've never read any of her books before but they are. Henry VIII-King and court. The last days of Henry VIII. And the lady in the tower.

Question from Daniel - Existing portraits from life of Tudors

Do any original portraits from life of Henry VIII, AB etc exist or are they all copy's of portraits. I don't believe these posthumous paintings portray the true appearance.

Question from Bertha - Favors at jousts

Hi everyone, I'm the admin of a AU Tudor-era collaborative writing site (https://loyaltybindsus.jcink.net/index.php), so you'll probably be seeing me around here a lot! Anyways, in the first season of The Tudors, Henry VIII asks Catherine of Aragon for her favor before a joust (he simply says, "My Lady," and holds his lance up to her and she ties a ribbon around it). It's been surprisingly difficult to research on my own because "favor" is so widely used to mean political favor (though I did read on an unverifiable website that detachable sleeves were often given as favors, which sounds true and is neat!). In any case, my main question is, would women have given favors at an early-Tudor-era joust? Any other information or resources about the history or social implications of that sort of favor would be massively appreciated.

Question from Veaj - Tissue in clothing

Hi there, when they refer to tissue ie in dresses what are they referring to? That is, what sort of material. Thanks

Question from Daniel - Henry VIII's remains

Hi everyone it's been a while! My question is.. Do you think Henry VIII body/skeletal remains will be exhumed at some point as it very unclear what he succumbed to obviously he's a very high profile figure lot of controversy around him I for one would like this to happen!?

Question from Salma - Dissertation on Catherine of Aragon's role as wife

Hi, I'm currently in my third year of university and writing my dissertation. I want to focus it on Catherine of Aragon's role as a wife and to what extent she fulfilled this despite not being able to bear Henry sons. I'm struggling to think of a more specific question regarding her role as a wife. I want to focus on her role as a wife rather than just a queen (so expectations of wives in the 16th century). Is there one particular angle of her being a wife I should focus on? I would greatly appreciate any help on this.

Question from Meg - Mary Tudor and mental illness

Because of Mary Tudor's actions as a ruler, do you believe she had any mental health issues that we can classify today? I find this topic quite fascinating considering how at the time the population knew very little about mental illness. Anyway, what do you think?

Question from Donna - Costumes for play on Latimer and Ridley

I am making costumes for a play about Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley 1530 England. What kind of clothing would they wear. All of the photos I can find are so dark that I cannot see details. Any help will be appreciated.

Question from Bertha - Tudor masques

Where might I find examples of Tudor masques? I'm hoping to get enough information to include a fictitious masque in some writing that feels like it could fit in with the others. Currently, I'm going through the excerpts from Shakespearean plays that have them, starting with Henry VIII. I've also seen the masques featured in The Tudors. Specifically, I'm most interested in masques from Henry VIII's reign. Thanks so much!

Question from Charles - Tudor book recommendations

Can you recommend some books on the Tudors and their England as interesting as Tracy Borman's Private Lives of the Tudors? I think her book may be a little more of social history than biography. Will appreciate your help!

Question from Martin - Attainder of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk

Was Thomas Howard 1st Earl of Suffolk the only child of 4th Duke of Norfolk's to be 'attained' when his father was executed in 1572? I could not find evidence on the internet that any of his siblings or half-siblings were 'attained' at this time, and I was wondering why that should be the case. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. "Thomas Howard Suffolk, 1st earl of, 15611626, English nobleman; son of the 4th duke of Norfolk. He was attainted at the time of his father's execution (1572), but his rights were restored in 1584. https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/british-and-irish-history-biographies/thomas-howard-1st-earl-suffolk

Question from Deborah - Relation of Catherine of Aragon to Elizabeth II

My husband is a descendant from Catherine of Aragon. Would my husband be kin to Queen Elizabeth II ?


[I tried to reach out to Deborah for clarification but the email bounced so I'll put what I emailed her in the first comment on this post. - Lara]

Question from Jane - Attitudes, etc. towards menopause in Tudor England

Hi , I am currently researching , or rather trying to research Tudor attitudes and customs etc regarding menopause . However, I cant seem to find anything other than the association of post menopausal women as witches. If you can help in anyway I would be really grateful. Anything to point me in the right direction . Many Thanks Jane Cummins

Question from Kymberly - Pope Pius V in Elizabeth I's reign

Hello! I am merely a curious person who wonders if Pope Pius V realized the pickle he was putting Catholic subjects in during the reign of Elizabeth l. Was he aware? Did he care? History suggests Elizabeth herself preferred to live and let live, and her actions prior to the bull establish that. The edict against her seems a logical explanation for her change in policy regarding her Catholic subjects. But is there any reason that can excuse Pius V's risking lives not his own, lives of those who were even sympathetic to his beliefs? Am I looking at Pius V through too modern a lens? Was he in emotional competition with Elizabeth, desiring evidence of greater deference to himself over the Queen of England? Are there any surviving documents that explain the pope's decision to place other Catholic lives in such peril? I am sooo curious! Thank you! Sincerely, Kymberly