British Library – The Mystery of the Hours of Joanna the Mad


Medieval Manuscripts@blmedieval looks at The Mystery of the Hours of Joanna the Mad.

Medieval and Earlier Manuscripts Blog – The Mystery of the Hours of Joanna the Mad

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Castle Rising


Last month I visited Castle Rising in Norfolk. Unfortunately it was closed due to the snow but we still got to walk round it.

Entrance to Castle Rising

Entrance to Castle Rising

Mary Tudor, Duchess of Suffolk visited the Castle twice and wrote a letter to Cardinal Wolsey from there in March 1528.

Castle Rising

Castle Rising

Mary to Wolsey
March 17 1528

‘My very good lorde as hertely as I can I commande me unto your good Lordeship. Always thanking the same for the manyfolde kindness shewed to me and my husband. Desiring yowe of your good countynuance. And where as I amm enformed by my trusty counsaillours Ser Humfrey Banaster Knight my chamberleynn and Humphrey Wingfielde Esquyre that it pleased you for my sake to graunte unto them for the promocionn of a chapleyn of mynn the benefice of Graftonn Flyford in the Countie of Worcester being of the yerely value as I understood of xij markes. And that as now Maister Belknap hath caused an Office to be founde of the same. By reason wherof and as I suppose he hath axed orlese entendith to ax the said benefice of the King my brother for a Chapleyn of his. Wherof I beseche your lordeship to have inn your good remembraunce your saide graunte for my saide Chapleynn and to provide that my said Chapleynn be not by the meanes of the said Maister Belknap disapoynted or put frome the said benefice.

And thus our lorde have you my very goode lorde in his blissed tuycionn From the Manor of Rysing the xvijth daye of Marche.

Marie quene of france’

(p.189-190, Sadlack)


Source

The French Queen’s Letters: Mary Tudor Brandon and the Politics of Marriage in 16th Century Europe
Erin A Sadlack
9780230620308
2011, Palgrave Macmillan

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Arbella: England’s Lost Queen Interview with Sarah Gristwood

Sarah Gristwood has very kindly answered my questions about ‘Arbella: England’s Lost Queen.’

You can read the interview at:

Interview with Sarah Gristwood – Arbella: England’s Lost Queen

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Women’s History Month at Sarah’s History Blog

As I have posted on Twitter and Facebook, I am very pleased to take part in Women’s History Month at Sarah’s History Blog. A huge thank you to Sarah for asking me to write about Lady Jane.

You can read my guest post at:

Sarah’s History Blog – Lady Jane Grey as Leader

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Reviews of ‘Queen’s Gambit’ by Elizabeth Fremantle


Reviews for ‘Queen’s Gambit’ by Elizabeth Fremantle have started appearing:

Three contenders to Hilary Mantel – the reigning queen of historical fiction by Claire Allfree – Metro – March 20th 2013


Queen’s Gambit — a Fascinating Novel Illuminates the Wife Who Kept Her Head
by Liz Smith – Huff Post Entertainment – March 15th 2013

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