Collectanea Satis Copiosa

In an effort to gain the support of other monarchs and possibly convince the Pope of the validity of his case for annulment from Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell dispatched diplomats to all of the major universities across Europe. Their mission was to present the King's evidence to the learned scholars at these colleges and determine their conclusions regarding Henry's marriage. In this video Tudor historian David Starkey discussed this collection of scholastic opinions in the work entitled the "Collection Most Abundant".

http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/henryviii/videos/collectanea/video.html

This Day in Tudor History

On this day in history 1536, Catherine of Aragon died. The first wife of Henry VIII and mother to future queen Mary I, Catherine was known for her piety, intelligence and apptitude for foreign affairs. She died at Kimbolton Castle where she had beem exiled after refusing to divorce Henry. Her body was examined post mortem and a large black growth was found on her heart. This growth was attributed to poisoning, but most modern medical experts believe it to be evidence of cancer. Catherine went to her death as a devout Catholic despite the winds of religious change and declared that she was Henry's lawful and true wife. She was fifty years old.

Elizabeth Boleyn Needlework

Below is a piece of needlework, thought to have been embroidered by Anne Boleyn's mother Lady Elizabeth Boleyn Countess of Wiltshire. The piece features a falcon, which was the symbol of Anne's personal badge, pecking at a pomegranate. The pomegranate was the insignia of Catherine of Aragon. The Latin surrounding the image reads "Ainsi Sera Groigne, Qvi Griogne" which roughly translates to "Let them grumble, this is how it is going to be"

What do you think followers? What does the piece say about Anne's family and their support of her usurpation?

The Unknown Tudors: A David Starkey Lecture

As many of you have probably noticed, David Starkey is one of my favorite Tudor era authors. I found these videos the other day regarding the reigns of both Edward and Mary Tudor. I have posted quite a bit about Elizabeth but have neglected to really post any information on her siblings. I hope you find them informative and enjoyable!

The Shoes of Anne Boleyn?

A follower recently emailed me this photograph of a pair of shoes which the owners were claiming belonged to Anne Boleyn. I was fascinated by the prospect and began to research them. Below are my findings:

The family story goes as such; Nicholas Bristowe, a favored courtier of King was riding with Henry and Anne in Hertfordshire. When the group passed Ayot St. Lawrence (a grand estate), Bristowe admired it asking the King if he knew to whom it belonged. The King replied saying it was his, but he wished to gift it to Bristowe and his family. When Bristowe tactfully asked what evidence he should produce to prove the gift, the king gave him the hat he wore upon his head and asked Queen Anne for her slippers telling the Lord to bring them to London and he would receive the title deed. Since that point the hat and slippers have been part of the Bristowe family estate.
        *Using the British Archives I found that Bristowe was not actually granted the land at Ayot St. Lawrence until 1543, a full six years after the execution of Anne Boleyn. In fact, the crown had not even been in possession of the land until 1540 making it impossible for King Henry to gift it during the lifetime of Anne.
        *Equally convincing was an appraisal completed on the shoes by antiques experts at Christie's Auction House in England. The clothing appraisers there determined that the style and construction of the shoes placed their date of construction at or around 1630, nearly a century too late to belong to Queen Anne Boleyn.

Despite the fact that these shoes surely did not belong to Anne Boleyn they are still a great example of historical fashion in Stuart England, and were undoubtedly stunning when they were produced.