Jane Parker

Book Review: “The Raven’s Widow” by Adrienne Dillard

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It is through my connections to the Tudor world online that I ran into author Adrienne Dillard. Adrienne is a total sweetheart and sent me her book to review after I asked her to write an article about Jane Boleyn for my site. I already had a growing "To Be Read" pile going on but I moved her book closer to the top because I was reading about Katheryn Howard at the time and I thought Jane Boleyn would be a great follow-up book. I wasn't sure what to expect since this is the [More]

The Complex Nature of Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford (Guest Post)

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On February 15, 1542 Ottwell Johnson sent a letter to his brother at Calais.  Only two days prior, he had been part of the throng of people filtering in through the great stone walls surrounding the Tower of London, braving the bitter winter air to stand witness to Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford’s final hours on Earth. I see the Quene and the Lady Retcheford suffer within the Tower, the day following, whos sowles (I doubt not) be with God, for thay made the moost godley a [More]

Timeline of a Queen: Anne Boleyn

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Anne Boleyn creates strong reactions when her name is brought into conversation. Whether you believe she "deserved what she got" or you believe she was a "victim" of Henry VIII, it all comes down to the fact that she was a woman. A woman in 16th century England was generally at the mercy of her father's ambitions. Whether Anne Boleyn acted on her own fruition, or was at her father's bidding, I'm not sure we'll ever know for sure. What we do know are the major events of her [More]

Jane Boleyn: Victim of History

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Lady Jane Parker was born in Norfolk around 1505 to Henry Parker, 10th Baron Morley and Alice St John. Her family was wealthy, well-connected, and respected by their peers. As a noblewoman, we can assume that Jane's education included reading, writing, religious instruction and courtly entertainment like... dancing, singing and playing an instrument. Jane joined the English court in her teens to likely serve as a Maid-of-Honor to Queen Katherine of Aragon. We first he [More]