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Baddesley Clinton by Matthew Crossley
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Armada: 12 Days to Save England – Sunday 24 May BBC 2
Just to let those of you with access to the UK’s BBC 2 know that Dan Snow’s three part series “Armada – 12 Days to Save England” starts this Sunday (24 May) at 9pm.
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19 May 1554 – Elizabeth is released from the Tower of London
On this day in history, 19th May 1554, the 18th anniversary of her mother Anne Boleyn’s execution at the Tower of London, the future Elizabeth was released from her prison in the Tower of London and placed under house arrest.
Nobody knows what was going through Elizabeth’s mind as she left the Tower on the anniversary of her mother’s execution, but being released from the Tower was not a relief for the young woman as she feared that she was going to be assassinated on her way to Woodstock, where she was going to be placed under house arrest.
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19 May 1536 – The Execution of Queen Anne Boleyn
Today is the anniversary of the execution of Anne Boleyn so here are some links to articles and an audio extract for you to enjoy.
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This week in history 18 – 24 May
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ISIS v The West – Showdown 1565: Part 1 The Threat by Derek Wilson
At dawn on 18 May 1565, exactly 450 years ago, watchmen manning Malta’s coastal defences saw an awesome and terrifying sight. Between them and the orb of the rising sun the sea was black with a mighty battle fleet.
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Sir Henry Norris and the Fall of Anne Boleyn by Kyra Kramer
Thank you to Tudor Life magazine contributor Kyra Kramer for this excellent article on Sir Henry Norris, Henry VIII’s Groom of the Stool, and the fall of Anne Boleyn. Over to Kyra…
Of all the men who were falsely accused of being Anne Boleyn’s companions in adultery, to point a finger at Henry Norris makes the most sense in terms of proximity and politics but the least sense in terms of his close relationship with Henry VIII.
If historian Greg Walker is correct in his 2002 proposal that Anne’s downfall was not due to her miscarriage of a male foetus in January of 1536 but instead to some hasty words she said in spring, then Norris was a ready-made target. One day in late April, the queen asked Henry Norris, who was the king’s groom of the stool and engaged to her cousin Madge Shelton, when he planned to wed. Norris hedged that he would wait just a bit longer, which vexed Anne. In her anger she told him he was looking for “dead men’s shoes, for if ought came to the king but good, you would look to have me”. This was a major blunder. It was treason to even think about the death of the king, let alone to talk about whom his queen might marry after his demise. Norris was appalled and Anne knew almost immediately that she had said something dangerous. She sent Norris to her chaplain, John Skyp, to swear that she was a good woman and faithful to the king.
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Anne Boleyn’s Fall Quiz
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The Elizabethan Ruff – Video
In today’s Claire Chats video I talk about that essential accessory of the Elizabethan era, the ruff, and how it developed over time and how fashions changed.
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Derek Wilson at the Ways With Words Festival of Words and Ideas at Dartington Hall July 2015
Historian Derek Wilson is speaking at the Telegraph Ways With Words Festival of Words and Ideas at Dartington Hall, in Devon, on 10th July.
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This week in history 11 – 17 May
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Tudor Children’s Clothes Quiz
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Tudor Children’s Clothes Video
In today’s Claire Chats video I talk about what the children of wealthy families wore in Henry VIII’s reign.
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Good luck to Conor Byrne, Charlie Fenton and all our student members!
Tudor Society member and contributor Conor Byrne is at this very moment sitting his finals at university and our book reviewer Charlie Fenton also has exams coming up, so we would just like to wish them the best of luck with their exams.
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13 May 2015 – Elizabeth Goldring talk at Lord Leycester’s Hospital
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God’s Traitors: Religious Terrorism in Elizabethan England – Jessie Childs
Jessie Childs shares with us a talk she did at the Jaipur Literature festival on what life was like for Catholics living in Elizabethan England.
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The Marriage Bed of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York
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Hever Castle by Sarah Bryson
Situated in the beautiful countryside of Kent, UK, Hever Castle was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, one of the most famous women in English history.
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This week in history 4 – 10 May
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Tudor Men’s Clothes Quiz
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Tudor Costume Video – What men wore at Henry VIII’s court
Following on from last week’s Claire Chat’s video on Tudor women’s costume, today I’m looking at what men wore at Henry VIII’s court.
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The Pilgrimage of Grace by Sarah Bryson
The Pilgrimage of Grace initially formed as a series of revolts which originated in Lincolnshire. The people were unhappy with the dissolution of their Abbey in Louth, upset with many of the government commissions in the area which were being conducted to look at the resources that the smaller monasteries had as well as the conduct of the clergy. There was also widespread rumour that the government would confiscate the jewels, plate and wealth of the monasteries and also impose new taxes upon the people.
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Derek Wilson – The Six Thomases of Henry VIII’s Reign
Historian Derek Wilson has just informed me that he’s doing a series of articles on the six Thomases of Henry VIII’s reign over on his blog. Here are some clickable links for you:
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This week in history 27 April – 3 May
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May 2015 Tudor Life Magazine
Here’s the May Tudor Life magazine with a huge 57 page special on Anne Boleyn plus all our regular items and contributors!
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Tudor Women’s Clothes Quiz
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Tudor costume video – What women wore at Henry VIII’s court
In this week’s Claire Chats, I look at what women at Henry VIII’s court wore and what layers their outfits were made up of. I do hope you enjoy the talk and slides.
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Thomas Cranmer: In a Nutshell by Beth von Staats
Tudor Life magazine contributor Beth von Staats has just released her first book Thomas Cranmer: In a Nutshell, a 90 page book which is exactly what the title suggests: a concise biography of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury and Protestant martyr. Congratulations to Beth!
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21 April 1509 – The Death of Henry VII
At around 11 o’clock on the night of 21st April 1509, King Henry VII died at Richmond Palace. It was not a sudden death, the king had been ill for some time and had shut himself away at Richmond since January.
John Fisher, the future Bishop of Rochester, recorded details of Henry VII’s last days for a sermon. The king died a good Christian death but his last days were far from peaceful, they involved confession, prayer, weeping and a dying man trying to bargain with God, pleading with God that he would be a changed man if God sent him life.
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Live Chat Transcript – Derek Wilson
Here is the transcript from the live chatroom session with Derek Wilson last night. Thanks for all those who attended the chat and I hope that Derek was able to answer your questions.
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