English history

Victims of Henry VIII: Elizabeth Barton

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Elizabeth Barton is best known as the ”The Nun of Kent” and then later “The Mad Maid of Kent.” Her prophecies were ultimately her downfall. In 1525, at nineteen years old, she became ill and fell into trances having visions 'of marvellous holiness' in rebuke of sin and vice.” A local priest by the name of Richard Master believed in Barton’s visions and reported them to the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Warham. From there the story of the prophetic girl grew and [More]

Elizabeth Throckmorton: The Queen’s Permission

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Elizabeth Throckmorton Elizabeth "Bess" Throckmorton was born the 16th of April 1565, to Sir Nicholas Throckmorton and Anne Carew. Nicholas Throckmorton was a diplomat and politician during the reign of Queen Elizabeth and was instrumental in the relationship between Elizabeth and her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots. He had befriended both queens, which must have put him in several awkward situations. One of those situations happened in 1565, when Queen Elizabeth sen [More]

Elizabeth Fitzgerald: The Fair Geraldine

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Elizabeth Fitzgerald was born in 1527, in Ireland to Gerald Fitzgerald, 9th Earl of Kildare and his wife Elizabeth Grey. Elizabeth Grey was the daughter of Thomas Grey, 1st Marquis of Dorset. Dorset was the son of Elizabeth Woodville, Queen to King Edward IV, by her first husband, John Grey. In 1533, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, her mother and one of her sisters moved to London when her father was accused of treason or corruption charges and put in the Tower of London. After her [More]

Mother Guildford: Joan Vaux

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It’s not very often that we take a look behind the scenes to the people who cared for the beloved children of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. I stumbled across Joan Vaux while looking through old translated letters, however, she was mis-labeled as Jane, Lady Guildford – or “Mother Guildford.” In the explanation of this letter it discusses her dismissal from the service of Mary, the French queen, by her husband Louis XII. This, of course, is referring to Mary Tudor – favorite [More]

The Letter that Saved Anne of Cleves’ Life

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Anne of Cleves is likely the most fortunate of all of Henry VIII's wives; She was only married to him for six months before their marriage was annulled and declared void and she never consummated their marriage with him - that alone would have been worth avoiding. Just imagine what Henry smelled like with that festering ulcer on his leg. Like rotting flesh. Eww. After reading this letter I believe it's what saved her from a worse fate. The more I think about it, I'm not so [More]

Timeline of a King: Edward VI

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1537 October 12 - Prince Edward was born at Greenwich Palace. His mother was Jane Seymour. He was the only son of Henry VIII to survive infancy. October 15 - The baptism of Prince Edward was performedat Hampton Court. BothMary andElizabeth participated in the ceremony. Edward was declared Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester. October 24 - Edward'smother, Jane Seymour, died fromchild-bedfever a fatal form of septicemia. Later this year - Lady Margaret [More]