The Other Tudors Henry VIII’s Mistresses and Bastards by Phillipa Jones

Posted by Sarah
The Other Tudors Henry VIII’s Mistresses and Bastards
by Phillipa Jones

Everybody thinks they know the tale of King Henry VIII's wives: divorced, beheaded died; divorced, beheaded, survived. But behind this familiar story, lies a far more complex truth. This book brings together for the first time the 'other women' of King Henry VIII. When he first came to the throne, Henry VIII's mistresses were dalliances, the playthings of a powerful and handsome man. However, when Anne Boleyn disrupted that pattern, ousting Katherine of Aragon to become Henry's wife, a new status quo was established. Suddenly noble families fought to entangle the king with their sisters and daughters; if wives were to be beheaded or divorced so easily, the mistress of the king was in an enviable position. While Henry VIII has frequently been portrayed as a womanizer, author Philippa Jones reveals a new side to his character. Although he was never faithful, Jones sees him as a serial monogamist: he spent his life in search of a perfect woman, a search that continued even as he lay dying when he was considering divorcing Catherine Parr thus leaving him free to marry Katherine d'Eresby. Yet he loved each of his wives and mistresses, he was a romantic who loved being in love, but none of these loves ever fully satisfied him; all were ultimately replaced. "The Other Tudors" examines the extraordinary untold tales of the women who Henry loved but never married, the mistresses who became queens and of his many children, both acknowledged and unacknowledged. Philippa Jones takes us deep into the web of secrets and deception at the Tudor Court and explores another, often unmentioned, side to the King's character.

I discovered this book while looking around the Amazon.com website. I was intrigued right from the start as I have always been fascinated with Mary Boleyn whom had been a mistress to Henry VIII before he married his second wife Anne Boleyn. I have read a little about Bessie Blount, another of Henry’s mistresses and about the son Henry Fitzroy he had with her, but had not read any more about any other mistresses or children. I was excited to get this book and dove with an open mind and was quite impressed.

Philippa Jones has a writing style that is very easy to read. Her words flow in a manner that makes the reader feel as though they are reading a story or a diary rather than a series of facts. I enjoyed the way she presented her findings, giving some information about the mistress whom had a relationship with King Henry VIII. Then if a child was born from that relationship Jones moved on to speak about the child’s life and how the King, although not always openly acknowledging the child, gave assistance and support. I also very much liked that Jones went into a great deal of depth about each child’s life, looking at their younger years, right through their lives up until their death. I felt this gave the reader a deeper understanding and knowledge about each child and the type of person that they grew up to be. It was also very fascinating to read how Henry VIII’s legitimate children, Mary, Edward and Elizabeth interacted with the adults whom may have been their half brothers or sisters. I enjoyed this as it felt as though Jones was providing an all-round image of each illegitimate child and helped the reader learn as much as possible about their lives. 

There was only one small statement that I had a slight issue with and that was concerning the dates and order of the births of the Boleyn children. Jones wrote that Mary Boleyn was the oldest child, born in 1499, George was born next in 1504 and Anne was born in 1507. Jones does state that there is considerable debate about the dates and the order of the births of the Boleyn children and I have to agree with her. I have to admit that I tend to side with historian Eric Ives in the belief that Anne Boleyn was born in 1501 and George in roughly 1504, and not at the dates that Jones gives. Yet this is my only slight complaint about the book and honestly since there is debate over when the Boleyn children were born it is a very minor complaint at all! 

I did like that Jones proposed that Mary Boleyn did not sleep with King Francis I during her time in France. It is a very common belief that Mary succumbed to the French King’s charms, went to his bed and for a short time became his mistress. However although this is a very common belief there is very little evidence to support this. In fact the only evidence are two letters written decades after Mary’s time in France, both of which are quite slanderous to Mary and her sister Anne. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that Jones challenged this common belief and gave a little more credit to Mary Boleyn’s chastity. 

I cannot say I completely agree with all the women Jones put forward as Mistresses to Henry VIII, nor all the children she stated were bastards of the King. Personally I just do not believe that the evidence put forward always means that the child born was a bastard of Henry VIII. There could be a multitude of reasons why Henry VIII supported the mother and child, reasons that do not have to be simply because the child was his bastard.  It could even be as simple as that Henry favoured the parents of the child or they were loyal members of his court. Whatever the reasons I will say that Joneses book was a fascinating read. I think that so much of Henry VIII’s private and sexual life was carried out with such secrecy and discretion it is difficult to know the real truth about the women that he slept with. And it is even more difficult to know the truth about any children that may have been born to him out of wedlock. Especially since there was no such thing as DNA testing back in the Tudor age! History is often full of speculation and what ifs, but I do think that Philippa Jones presented detailed cases for each mistress and bastard and supported her statements with a great deal of evidence and information. What each person draws from this information is up to them. 

I found this book to be an absolutely fascinating read. It was really interesting to learn more about the women and children who had a part of Henry VIII’s life. Often we only learn about Henry VIII,  his six wives and the three children legitimate children that survived him. Joneses book gives the reader the opportunity to learn more than that just this. She opens up a different side of Henry VIII, a lover, a father, a man whom cared deeply about the women he was with and the children he had. This is defiantly a great book to read if you want to learn a little more about the private life of Henry VIII and the mistresses and children he had. 


Category: , 5 comments

Tuesday's Tudor Tableau - The 6 Wives of Henry VIII Coaster Set

Posted by Sarah

 (Apologies for the poor photo... I have such a terrible camera!)

If you follow my blog or Facebook page then most of you will know I like to collect knick knacks and little tacky items related to the Tudor period. The above image, I think, fits perfectly into that category! I bought this coaster set from the National Portrait Gallery in London when I visit in November 2009. After being blown away by the sheer magnificence of the Tudor gallery and having the opportunity to stand mere inches away from Anne Boleyn’s portrait, I was in such a mood that I just had to purchase everything in the gift shop that was associated with Anne! I did not even think twice when I saw this little coaster set, as soon as I laid eyes upon it I snatched it up and carried it off with many other Anne related knick knacks that I wanted to purchase. 

I swear gift shops and myself just don’t mix! I cannot help but want to buy everything! And don’t even let me go into a gift shop that has Tudor related items because I will just go wild! My poor credit card took such a bettering that it was weeping for days… but it was well worth it! Honestly how many times am I going to get to visit London, the National Portrait Gallery and all the other wonderful and breathtaking Tudor sites? Unfortunately because I’m from Australia and it costs so much to fly to England that answer is not very often! Therefore I must purchase everything Tudor related I can while I’m in a gift shop… my reasoning, that’s what I told my husband and is sounded good to me! 

Back to the coaster set, as I said it’s a little tacky but I just love them. I love anything and everything related to Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII and all of Henry VIII’s wives for that matter. I don’t use them (actually I think I would scream and have a heart attack if anyone actually put a hot coffee cup on Anne Boleyn’s face!) But I do keep them quite proudly on my Tudor bookshelf. I love to collect knick knacks; I’m such a little Tudor hoarder at times!

If you’re interested in having a closer look at The 6 Wives of Henry VIII Coaster Set you can still purchase them from The National Portrait Gallery online shop. They might seem like a slightly tacky present, but personally I think they’re just great for any Tudor enthusiast!

Here is the link to where you can purchase this Coaster Set: The 6 Wives of Henry VIII Coaster Set
Category: 0 comments

Hampton Court Palace

Posted by Sarah
Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court has origins older than during the early reign of Henry VIII, but before that time its appearance was not as we know it today. Beneath the grand estate of Hampton court are the remains of a house built for the Knights Hospitallers of St John sometime in 1236. The house of Hampton was then used for the primary area to manage the Knights agricultural estates. In 1494 a courtier of Henry VII named Giles Daubeny leased Hampton Court. After this Thomas Wolsey whom would become a Cardinal and Henry VIII’s right hand man would acquire Hampton Court in 1514 and began massive and lavish construction work upon the Palace. Millions upon millions of pounds (in today’s money) was spent upon the palace, fitting it out with the finest and most exquisite architecture, furniture and tapestries. Wolsey also oversaw the building of private rooms for himself, King Henry VIII, Queen Catherine of Aragon and their daughter Princess Mary. He also ordered the construction of the huge and magnificently impressive Base Court. Truly it would become a palace fit for a King as in 1528 when Cardinal Thomas Wolsey fell from grace he gave Hampton Court (as well as York Palace) to Henry VIII in an attempt to please his King.

Hampton Court Palace. (Photo by me).

Henry VIII continued to build upon Hampton Court Palace and he added bowling alleys, tennis courts, hot and cold running water to the King’s chambers, the breathtaking Chapel Royal and magnificent gardens. He also oversaw the building of a massive hall known as The Great Hall. A few of the most impressive parts of Hampton Court are as follows:

The Great Hall
The great hall is a massive and spectacular hall in which up to six hundred people could be dinned there twice a day. The hall is by far the largest room in the palace is measures 32m long, 12m wide and over 18m high. The roof is intricately decorated with miniatures of people which seem to look down at the diners and other beautiful emblems. There are massive and beautiful tapestries, which in today’s money are priceless.
 
One of the stunning windows from within The Great Hall. (Photo by me).

The vaulted ceiling of The Great Hall. (Photo by me).

One of many of Henry VIII’s famous tapestries. (Photo by me).

The Watching Chamber
This is a large room just off of the Great Hall and its name is derived from the guards who were positioned within the room to watch over Henry VIII. From this chamber are a series of rooms in which Henry VIII lived and conducted his day to day business.

The repainted ceiling of The Watching Chamber. (Photo by me).

The Haunted Gallery
This area is a long hallway now hung with beautiful portraits of the Tudor monarchs and other people of history. It is said that Katherine Howard’s ghost haunts this gallery as legend has it after she was arrested she broke free and ran down this gallery calling for her husband Henry VIII.

The Haunted Gallery. (Photo by me).


The Chapel Royal
In my opinion this is one of the most beautiful areas of Hampton Court. The chapel, a place of worship, has a stunning vaulted ceiling painted blue and decorated with thousands of golden stars. The architecture in this room is simply breathtaking.

Anne Boleyn’s Gatehouse
When moving from Base Court to the Clock Court one must pass through Anne Boleyn’s Gatehouse. As you walk through the gatehouse if you stop and look up you can see a sign of Anne Boleyn which still survives today. There is a stunning motif of an entwined H and A (HA) which represent Henry and Anne Boleyn.

The view looking up when you walk through Anne Bolyen’s Gatehouse. (Photo by me).

A close up of the HA motif. (Photo by me).


Clock Court
This court holds Henry VIII’s impressive astronomical clock. Designed by Nicholas Oursain for Henry VIII in approximately 1540 this magnificent clock has three separate copper dials which are operated by a series of very complex gears and dials. The clock tells the hour, month and day of the year. It also tells the position of the sun and the zodiac and the phases of the moon. It can also tell the time of high tide at Tower Bridge, which was very important for travel up and down the Thames river during Henry VIII’s reign.

Henry VIII”s famous Astronomical Clock. (Photo by me).

A view of The Great Hall from Clock Court. (Photo by me).

Kitchens
With the need to feed up to six hundred people, twice a day in the Great Hall the Kitchens of Hampton Court need to be massive. They are a series of huge rooms which contained areas for receiving food, preparing food, keeping food cool, serving food and of course a huge area which contained massive fires which were used to cook food, especially meats.

A small part of the Palace’s massive kitchens. (Photo by me).

After the death of Henry VIII and that of his children Edward VI, Mary and Elizabeth I the rule of the Tudors came to an end. Hampton Court passed through the royal families and it was William III and his wife Mary II who modified and rebuild a great portion of Hampton Court. William III commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to rebuild much of Hampton Court and from this we can see William III’s beautiful apartments and the apartments of his wife, Mary II, which still stand today. These rooms are impressively furnished and decorated but reflect a much later period in English history than the time of Henry VIII.

In 1838 Queen Victoria declared that ‘should be thrown open to all her subjects without restriction.’ Personally I am extremely thankful for this as it means that we in today’s modern times can visit Hampton Court and have a glimpse of what life might have been like during the reign of Henry VIII. We are able to walk through the same grand rooms and halls that Henry once did and to also experience just a little of the splendour and beauty of Hampton Court.

In 2009 I had the amazing opportunity to visit Hampton Court and I have to say that it was an experience of a lifetime. I was also lucky enough to visit the Palace during the time in which the marriage of Henry VIII to his sixth wife, Catherine Parr, was being celebrated.

Even arriving at Hampton Court is a breathtaking experience. Even though I knew the Palace was grand, walking down the long path which lead to the main entrance only then does one get an idea of the real grandeur and sheer size of this magnificent palace. The first thing that really caught my attention was the deep red brick which exploded across the horizon. The closer I got to the palace the more I took in all the tiny details, especially of the intricate motifs, animals etc which decorate the entranceway.

When the gates were opened I can proudly say that I was the first visitor to enter Hampton Court on October 30th 2009. The moment I stepped inside my breath was taken away. I do not think there are words to accurately describe how stunning the palace is. It is an amazing place and to be able to enter a Palace which once belonged to Henry VIII really brings its own special feeling to the picture.

Walking through Anne Boleyn’s Gatehouse and stopping to look up and see the motif of the H and A had its own special experience for me. I adore Anne Boleyn and for me she is one of the most incredible, inspiring women in history. I could not help but smile as I looked at this motif. Despite Henry VIII’s best efforts to eradicate all memory of Anne here is a little something that survived. For me it really represented what a fighter Anne Boleyn was and how determined she was. Henry VIII might have tried to erase all memory of her after her execution, but in some small way Anne Boleyn still lived on.

It was also impressive to be able to look up and see the windows which belonged to the room where Jane Seymour, Henry VIII’s third wife, gave birth to their son Edward VI. It was also in these same rooms that Jane would die only twelve days later. It was rather a sad feeling to look up at those rooms and think that Jane would never have gotten to know her son, nor would Edward have had the chance to know his mother.

The Great Hall at Hampton Court was just amazing. Henry VIII never did anything small did he? The Hall is breathtaking and to get a chance to see Henry VIII’s tapestries was truly wonderful. Even though time has faded their once brightly coloured gold thread they are still remarkable and truly beautiful. It was also fun, as the Anne Boleyn lover that I am, to spot the two remaining remains of Anne Boleyn in the Great Hall! I was able to find (which a little squinting) the falcon belonging to Anne Boleyn which is part of the vaulted ceiling of the Hall and also the engraved H and A on one of the walls. The stain glass windows within the Great Hall are magnificently impressive and the way the light filtered through them was just beautiful.

I enjoyed walking through the Haunted Gallery and seeing so many magnificent portraits. I do not put any claim into the idea that Katherine Howard ran down this gallery after her arrest screaming for Henry VIII, but still there is a rather spooky feeling to the gallery. It was also wonderful to see Henry VIII’s council chamber and to know that some of England’s major decisions and actions were discussed and decided upon within this small room. The Chapel Royal is also breathtaking and I could have spent all day in there just staring up at the stunning ceiling and taking in every piece of the beautiful architecture!

King Henry VIII’s seat in the Council Chambers. (Photo by me).

To commemorate 500 years since Henry VIII came to the throne, Hampton Court Palace put on a show each day to celebrate Henry VIII’s marriage to his sixth wife Catherine Parr. The whole event was very well done and wonderful to watch and participate in. We were introduced to Catherine Parr’s sister, Thomas Seymour, the Master of the Palace, Catherine Parr and of course Henry himself. They did 30 minutes shows which all lead into one another all across the palace. The shows were arranged so that the audience was able to follow the actors around from 11:30am to 3:30pm watching different performances. Each performance was different and one spoke of Catherine’s feelings for Thomas Seymour and her decision to marry Henry VIII. Another was of Henry VIII and Thomas Seymour talking and a playful arm wrestle between the pair, fighting over the affections of Catherine Parr. The last performance was the celebrations after Henry and Catherine were married. Throughout the entire day the performers only spoke using the language and words of the Tudor period and I found this very impressive.
Catherine Parr’s sister and the Master of the Palace. (Photo by me).
Myself with the Master of the Palace. 

Myself with Thomas Seymour – how Catherine Parr ever fell for him just astounds me! 

Myself with Catherine Parr. 

Henry VIII and Thomas Seymour arm wrestling “playfully”. (Photo by me).

King Henry VIII and his new (and sixth wife) Queen Catherine Parr. (Photo by me).

In-between these performances there was a show where the master of the house and Catherine Parr’s sister broke character and spoke in detail about the clothing of the time. It was very interesting and I had the opportunity to learn about the different pieces of both Tudor men and women’s clothing. It was a well-constructed and quite impressive series of shows and I must give much applaud to the curators of Hampton Court Palace and the actors. Throughout the day I was even able to get my photo taken with Catherine Parr, Thomas Seymour, the Master of the Palace and of course with King Henry!

The actor that played Henry VIII was brilliant! I introduced myself to him saying that I had come from the far away land of Australia to wish him well on his marriage. He turned to me and grinned gesturing for me to come closer and saying that he had heard of Australasia and said that he would have to send men to go explore it further if there were more beautiful women like me there! He then called me beautiful again and I freely admit that I blushed! Through this actor I can see the charm that Henry VIII had upon women, in that moment I would have certainly fallen for the impressive and charming King!

Myself with Henry VIII – Such a charmer!

Hampton Court Palace is one of the most beautiful and impressive places that I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. It truly is a beautiful Palace with stunning architecture and such a rich and detailed history. It was wonderful to see the entwined motifs of HA and to be reminded of just how much Anne Boleyn did mean to Henry VIII. To be able to freely walk some of the most intimate halls and rooms where Henry VIII once lived was very impressive and I felt that I learnt a great deal about Henry VIII through visiting the Palace. I thoroughly enjoyed all the performances by the actors and actresses playing Catherine Parr’s sister, Thomas Seymour, the Master of the Palace, Catherine Parr and of course Henry himself. Each person wore stunning costumes and it was a wonderful experience to immerse oneself into the royal aspects of Tudor life. I took far too many photos and spent too much money but honestly I do not care! I look forward to the day when I can go back and visit Hampton Court Palace.

If you are interested in learning a little more about the history of Hampton Court Palace (especially after the reign of the Tudors) I do suggest you go to the Historic Royal Palaces website:
Hampton Court Palace: A Building History

Here is another website which looks at Art and Architecture at Hampton Court and provides a very useful map of which chambers would have been used for various purposes:
Art and Architecture at the Tudor Court


All photos are taken by me please do not copy or redistribute without permission.


 Dolman, B, Edwards, S, Groom, S and Meltonville, M 2009, Historic Royal Palaces Explore Hampton Court Palace, Historic Royal Palaces, Surrey.

Historic Royal Palaces 2011, ‘A Building History: Hampton Court’, viewed 15th October 2011, Available from Internet .
Category: 2 comments

Tuesday's Tudor Tableau - Terrible Tudors

Posted by Sarah

 This week’s Tuesday’s Tudor Tableau comes courtesy of my husband! Over the weekend my wonderful hubby had to pop out to the shops and while he was there he stopped in the book store. (My husband is as obsessed with books as I am…. You should see our overflowing bookshelves!) When hubby returned home he surprised me with this wonderful book! (I'm starting to think he knows about my obsession with Tudor history!!)

Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors
By Terry Deary & Neil Tonge
Illustrated by Martin Brown

It’s history with the nasty bits left in!
Want to know:
-          Why Henry VIII thought he’d married a horse?
-          All about terrible Tudor torture?
-          Which shocking swear words the Tudors used?

Discover all the foul facts about the Terrible Tudors – all the gore and more!

I’m halfway through this short book and am finding it an absolute blast! While it’s aimed for school age children, the jokes are very funny and it’s a very an amusing read. There are lots and lots of interesting Tudor related information and the book also includes quizzes to test even the most dedicated Tudor enthusiast! This is a great little book to keep in a bag and read during lunch breaks or whenever you have a few moments to spare. Just be warned that you will probably find yourself chuckling loudly while you read!
Category: , 0 comments

Quick Question: What books would you recommend reading about the life of Henry VIII?

Posted by Sarah
Quick Question: What books would you recommend reading about the life of Henry VIII? 

If you are interested in learning more about Henry VIII, below are a few books which I have read and would recommend…

Henry VIII King & Court By Alison Weir
This magnificent new book is Alison Weir's greatest achievement: a detailed biography of Henry VIII, set against the cultural, social and political background of his court - the most magnificent court ever seen in England - and the splendour of his many sumptuous palaces. Seen from this new perspective, Henry VIII emerges as a fully-rounded and realistic personality, not the two-dimensional caricature of popular misconception. This book is not just an entertaining narrative packed with colourful description and a wealth of anecdotal evidence, but a comprehensive analytical study of the development of both monarch and court during a crucial period in English history. As well as challenging some recent theories, it offers controversial new conclusions based on contemporary evidence that has until now been overlooked. This is a triumph of historical writing which will appeal equally to the general reader and the serious historian.


1536: The Year that Changed Henry VIII By Suzannah Lipscomb
One of the best-known figures of British history, collective memory of Henry VIII presents us with the image of a corpulent, covetous, and cunning king whose appetite for worldly goods met few parallels, whose wives met infamously premature ends, and whose religion was ever political in intent. 1536 - focusing on a pivotal year in the life of the King - reveals a fuller portrait of this complex monarch, detailing the finer shades of humanity that have so long been overlooked. We discover that in 1536 Henry met many failures - physical, personal, and political - and emerged from them a revolutionary new king who proceeded to transform a nation and reform a religion. A compelling story, the effects of which are still with us today, 1536 shows what a profound difference can be made merely by changing the heart of a king.


The Last Days of Henry VIII By Robert Hutchinson
After 35 years in power, Henry VIII was a bloated, hideously obese, black-humoured old man, rarely seen in public. He had striven all his life to ensure the survival of his dynasty by siring legitimate sons, yet his only male heir was eight-year-old Prince Edward. It was increasingly obvious that when Henry died, real power in England would be exercised by a regent. The prospect of that prize spurred the rival court factions into deadly conflict. Robert Hutchinson spent several years in original archival research. He advances a genuinely new theory of Henry's medical history and the cause of his death; he has unearthed some fabulous eyewitness material and papers from death warrants, confessions and even love letters between Katherine Parr and the Lord High Admiral.


Man & Monarch Henry VIII by David Starkey and Susan Doran
2009 marks 500 years since Henry VIII took the throne and to mark this important anniversary, historian and broadcaster David Starkey has guest curated a major exhibition at the British Library.
This catalogue of the exhibition examines the extraordinary transformation – personal and political, intellectual and religious, literary, aesthetic and linguistic – that took place in Henry’s reign. It does so using the astonishingly rich holdings of the British Library, for at the heart of the Library’s collection is Henry’s own library: the books that he chose, read and annotated, and the documents and letters that he wrote. These are accompanied by descriptions of items loaned by other museums and collections, including portraits, tapestry, nautical instruments and sculpture, to create a book which is visually stunning and offers a new insight into this Tudor monarch who continues to cast a spell over the public imagination 500 years after his accession.
Henry is not only England’s best-known king, with his sex wives, his girth and his bloodthirstiness. He is also one of England’s most important rulers. When he came to the throne, Henry was the Pious Prince who ruled an England at the heart of Catholic Europe; when he died, he was the great Schismatic, who had created a national Church and insular, xenophobic politics that shaped the development of England for the next half a millennium.
This handsomely produced catalogue includes colour illustrations and descriptions of all the exhibits as well as an introduction by David Starkey and essays by leading scholars – James Carley, Susan Doran, Steven Funn, Ralph Houlbrooke, Eric Ives, Diarmaid MacCulloch, Peter Marshall, Richard Tex and Glenn Richardson.


Henry VIII 500 Facts By Historic Royal Palaces
So you think you know all about Henry VIII? You don’t. Dip into this book and you will find new things, quirky facts and surprising juxtapositions. Put it all together, and it will convey the roller coaster of love, life and death that was the world of Henry VIII and his age.


Love Letters of Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn Notes by JO Phillips
An unabridged, illustrated edition with end-notes by J. O. Phillips, including the presumed first letter, and only one known to survive, from Anne to Henry (July, 1525)


Category: , , 0 comments

Tuesday's Tudor Tableau - Tudor Quill Set

Posted by Sarah

Firstly I must apologise for the poor quality photo, for some reason I just was not able to take a photo that was not blurry! 

Before I left Hampton Court I spent a good hour or so in the gift shop – as any obsessed Tudor lover would! While I was carrying around all the books and other items that I purchased I happened to walk past a little stand and something caught my eye. Turning I saw this beautiful calligraphy set and instantly I just had to get it. When I was in high school I took a calligraphy class as I have always found writing with a quill quite beautiful. I also purchased a little extra pot of ink to go with the set.
Then when I visited The Globe Theatre once again I found myself in the gift shop (I swear those places are very bad for my bank balance!) I saw this stunning feather quill and I just had to get one to go with the quill set that I bought at Hampton Court. 

I think both are stunning and I don’t really have the heart to open them up. I would certainly love to use them, but somehow I just cannot bring myself to. I want to keep them perfect just the way they are. 

Sometimes I can imagine myself as a Tudor lady sitting down and writing a letter, perhaps like Mary Boleyn did, writing a letter about how much I love my husband and how I would rather beg my bread with him than to be the greatest Queen in Christendom! 

My quill set is just another small item that I got from London with a Tudor connection, that means a great deal to me.
Category: 0 comments

A Brief History of The Tudor Age by Jasper Ridley

Posted by Sarah
A Brief History of The Tudor Age by Jasper Ridley

Beginning with the arrival of Henry Tudor and his army at Milford in 1485 to depose Richard III, and ending with the death of the great Queen Elizabeth I in 1603, this incisive and informative brief history provides a vivid account of England’s most eventful and contradictory age. Its presentation of the life both in the burgeoning capital of London and in the countryside includes 16 pages of full-color and black-and-white photographs, as well as discussion of the costumes of the period, modes of travel, food and medicine, sports and pastimes, and the amazing explosion of English drama that would make the name of William Shakespeare a household word for all time. Nor does this volume overlook the stultifying narrowness of peasant life, the harsh treatment of heretics and traitors, the intrigues and machinations at the court, and the miseries of the plague. In all, A Brief History of the Tudor Age paints an astonishing panorama of an England of great beauty and violence, of splendor and squalor, of achievement and despair.

I have always been fascinated with Tudor history, specifically Anne Boleyn and the reign of Henry VIII. Through my reading of these two incredible people I have had the opportunity to learn about many different characters who graced the Tudor stage and gain a brief insight into what life would have been like during the Tudor period. When I saw Ridley’s book, which outlines different aspects of life during the Tudor age, I knew I just had to get it! I have always been fascinated with the day to day life of Tudor people, what their world would have looked like, different rules, classes etc. and Ridley’s book did a wonderful job of creating a beautifully intricate picture of the day to day life of Tudor people. 

The Tudor Family
To start this book Ridley looked at who each Tudor monarch was. He gives a brief outline of who Henry Tudor was and how he claimed the English thrown by defeating Richard III in the battle of Bosworth. It was interesting to read about the type of man that Henry VII was and although he appeared to be quite a miser with his money he did enjoy entertainment and some gambling. Ridley looks at Henry VII’s sons and daughters and how after the death of Arthur Tudor, Henry became heir apparent. Ridley moves on to look at the reigns of Henry VIII, his son Edward VI, the very brief reign of Jane Grey and then Mary and Elizabeth Tudor. Although brief it was quite an interesting overview of whom the Tudors were and why they are so famous in English history.

London
This chapter looked at the city of London, its layout and its inhabitants.  It was fascinating to read that when Henry VIII took the throne England had around three million inhabitants and London had a population of about 50 000. Having visited London myself and seen how busy a city it is, 50 000 does not seem like many people at all, although I am sure in the age of the Tudors it was a vast, massive city. I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the city and streets and bridges. I was fascinated to learn that most of London was surrounded by a huge wall, although in some places not in very good repair.
The chapter also looked at the Tower of London and gave a little history about the Tower and how important it was during the Tudor age, not just for the holding of important prisoners but also playing such an important role in the coronation of the Tudor monarchs.
Ridley was very descriptive in this chapter, detailing the different streets and directions in which people would have travelled. I would have liked a map added perhaps at the end of the chapter so that I could have some references where the different places Ridley was talking about were situated. I think that would have helped me gain a greater understanding of how London was laid out and where different buildings and bridges were situated. But that is only a small addition that would have topped off an already brilliant chapter.

The King’s Highway
As the title suggests this chapter looked at the different roads that lead out from London and around England. It was interesting to read about how different classes of people travelled around England and the majority of travel was kept close to home, mostly from town to town to visit markets. I was fascinated how the parliaments of Mary Tudor and then Elizabeth I imposed acts which declared that certain people had to dedicate four and then six days a year to mending roads. It was also interesting to learn that most of the Tudor monarchs did not regularly travel north and mostly kept to London and south east England. Not surprising as it could be dangerous to leave the safety of London and the support of the people. I also thought it curious to read how it was more fashionable to travel slowly rather than fast. The richer the person, especially the King and Queen, travelled extremely slowly, most probably because they carried massive cards full of all sorts of furniture and items along with them on their journey. In today’s modern age it seems more popular to get to ones destination as quickly as possible!

Heretics and Traitors
This was a rather heavy chapter which looked at crimes within the Tudor age. The first part of the chapter examined the religious divide which swept through Tudor England and created a division between Protestants and Catholics. Under the reign of each of the Tudor monarchs many people were found guilty as heretics or traitors and either beheaded or burnt at the sake, simply for their religious beliefs. It is quite upsetting to think that someone could have been executed (often in a way which was agonizingly painful) just because of the way they chose to practice their faith. Even more upsetting is this practice of being forced what to believe still carries on today in modern society. This chapter also looked at various other crimes throughout the Tudor age and the punishments (sometimes a little odd) for each crime.

Houses
This chapter looked at housing throughout all levels of society, from the poorest houses to the richest castles palaces built by Henry VIII. I rather enjoyed this chapter as it was very interesting to see and learn about the way in which the simpler class of people lived. I have read quite a bit about the great palaces of Henry VIII’s time, including Hampton Court, Greenwich, Whitehall and Nonesuch Palace, but it was very interesting to learn about how farmers and merchants lived. It was also interesting to read that it was a common belief in the Tudor age that people who lived in houses on higher ground were less likely to catch the plague or fevers than those who lived on the lower ground. Interesting, if not a little inaccurate thought!

Costume and Fashion
This was quite an interesting chapter which looked at the dress of people from all classes of Tudor society starting from the reign of King Henry VII right through to Queen Elizabeth I. This chapter looked at the different clothing people wore depending on their occupation and also their status and rank in life. It also looked at how men’s and women’s clothing changed due to fashion or other influences. There was also a section which looked at how men and women wore their hair, depending on if they were married or unmarried or members of court.

Furniture and Food
This chapter was divided into two sections. The first looked at the furniture owned and used by those members of the lower class of society and then the furniture used at court and by the King. The first section of the chapter also looked at bedding and how often people of lower classes would all sleep together in one giant bed with pillows and mattresses stuffed with sometimes quite unhygienic feathers. The second part of this chapter looked at food at the average diet of those in the lower classes and then those attending court. It was interesting to read that meat was such a huge part of the diet at court and that ale was often drank because of the unsanitary conditions of the water.

Husbandry
Working on the land was a huge part of Tudor society right throughout the Tudor reign. Although due to the increase in the wool trade many farmers turned from agriculture to owning sheep. Throughout the reign of the Tudors various governments had to at times restrict how many sheep a farmer owned as there were sometimes far too many sheep and not enough people working the land. I also really enjoyed reading about the duties of a farmer’s wife and all the roles she had to perform during the day. As well as seeing to the children and the needs of her husband she had to tend to nearly all of the duties on the farm as well as making milk, cheese, butter etc. I’m very glad I was not a farmer’s wife back in the Tudor age!

Scholars and Doctors
The first part of this chapter looked at scholars and education. I found it very interesting to learn that it was not just the sons of noblemen that were able to receive an education. During the Tudor age there appears to have been a movement in the belief that girls were also entitled to an education, even one equal to boys. I also found it fascinating that even the sons and sometimes daughters of farmers and labourers were able to attend basic schooling often attached to a monastery or church or sometimes provided by the local village. Although this education was very basic it allowed children to learn to read, write their name and learn some simple Latin. The second half of this chapter looked at doctors and the difference between Physicians and Barber surgeons. I find it very interesting, although a little queasy to think that the person who cut your hair was also the person that would pull a tooth or amputate a limb!

Ships and Voyages
Throughout the Tudor age people travelled a great deal by water, both by ships and by barge across rivers. Henry VIII, when he inherited the throne from his father, set about building a great navy and ordered the building of many grand ships, including The Great Harry and the Mary Rose. During the time of Elizabeth I’s reign ships were used for exploring and sometimes even a little privateering! The last section of this chapter looked at several famous expeditions that were undertaken both in exploration and for profit throughout Elizabeth’s reign. It was also interesting to read about the different items and foods that these explorers discovered and then brought back to England.

Law-enforcement and War
This was a fascinating chapter which looked how the laws of England were enforced during the Tudor age. It was interesting to learn about sheriffs and JPs and how even the common people were expected to hunt down and bring people who broke the law to justice. It was also really interesting to learn that were was no standing army during the reign of the Tudors. There were Yeomen of the Guard who would protect the King, but no great army ready in case of invasion. It would seem that if there was a threat to the King or Queen and England the King/Queen would call upon their subjects to come to arms to protect him/her and the country. It was also interesting to read about the devotion and how patriotic people felt for their country.

Sports and pastimes
It would seem that the people of England during the reign of the Tudors thoroughly enjoyed their sports and pastimes, especially the higher ranking noblemen. Football in the Tudor age was nothing like we know it today and was a rather violent and even a life threatening sport! Dice and gambling were popular but not really allowed to be played by the lower class. Hunting and jousting was hugely enjoyed by the King and his noblemen and there was a great deal of pomp, hype and chivalry around jousting. Also tennis and bowling seemed to be a popular pastime and brought a great deal of enjoyment to those who played. It was interesting to learn that the common people were ordered to participate in archery every Sunday afternoon, all because the King and council did not want the ancient use of archery in war to die out.

Beggars and Vagabonds
This chapter explored those members of society whom were to sick or old to work as well as those that chose to beg instead of working. It was fascinating to see the different laws that were implemented during the Tudor age against beggars and vagabonds. The fact that people could have been whipped, or even killed if they were found repeatedly begging shocked me. I was also startled by the large number of people who were hung because they were convicted vagabonds and thieves. But on the other side Parliament, during the Tudor age, also started houses for those unable to fend for themselves, where the poor, ill and old could work for a small wage, or for at least food and shelter.

Tudor men and Women
This last chapter explored a little of the diaries that Tudor men and women wrote which still survive today. It would seem that people back then, just as now, were interested in the same types of things. The people in their diaries wrote about rain and droughts, about festivals and events, about acts of violence and things that interested them. Despite nearly five hundred years difference perhaps the people of the Tudor age share more in common with us of nowadays than we think.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Brief History of The Tudor Age by Jasper Ridley. It was absolutely fascinating to get brief glimpses into the life that people lead during the reign of each Tudor monarch. I certainly would have liked each chapter to be much longer, but if that were to happen I feel each chapter would need to be turned into a separate book! This is a wonderful book to gain an understanding of life and the laws during the Tudor age. Ridley’s book created a wonderfully intricate picture in which to place all the Tudor people that I have previously read about. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the Tudor age or with history in general.  


Category: , 1 comments