by Heather R. Darsie, J. D. In this letter likely from 1527, Henry seems upset that Anne Boleyn failed to follow through on a promise she gave and did not give Henry positive emotional support the last time he saw her. Henry also asks after Anne’s current health. Henry writes, “Although, my Mistress, it has not pleased you to remember the promise you made me … Continue reading Henry VIII’s Third Love Letter to Anne Boleyn
by Heather R. Darsie On 30 October 1485, Henry VII’s coronation was held, and he became the first Tudor monarch. The date of 30 October was chosen in part because he wished to be crowned king before the next sitting of Parliament, which took place on 7 November. By having his coronation before the next sitting of Parliament, which was the first to take place … Continue reading The Beginning of a Dynasty: the Coronation of Henry VII
by Heather R. Darsie, J. D. Recently I wrote a short piece about Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scots and sister of England’s Henry VIII. I encountered a secondary source that was written in the 20th century which did not have many good things to say about Margaret. This caused me to think about her granddaughter Mary, Queen of Scots. I was thinking about how both … Continue reading Viewing 16th Century Women through a 21st Century Lens, an Opinion**: Margaret Tudor and Mary, Queen of Scots
by Heather R. Darsie Please enjoy this article I wrote, which originally appeared at: http://queenanneboleyn.com/2017/10/18/margaret-tudor-scottish-queen-english-princess-heather-r-darsie/ Margaret Tudor shuffled off her mortal coil on 18 October 1541, just shy of 52. Though her official cause of death is unknown, it is most likely that Margaret from complications due to a stroke. A letter dated on or about 31 October 1541 was written by Henry Ray to … Continue reading Margaret Tudor: Scottish Queen or English Princess?
by Heather R. Darsie There is not much to this letter, and it is perhaps one of the more frustrating letters because Anne’s letters surrounding this one of Henry’s do not exist. The letter is all of one complex sentence long. Henry writes, “Though it is not fitting for a gentleman to take his lady in the place of a servant, yet, complying with your … Continue reading Henry VIII’s Second Letter to Anne Boleyn
by Heather R. Darsie The amphisbaena is a two-headed beast, “…so called because …[one head is in the right place, the other on its tail. It is unknown how this beast moved about. Basically a two-headed snake, the amphisbaena reportedly moved in a circle. Reportedly the first to awake from hibernation, the amphisbaena is unfazed by the frost and will live in the cold with … Continue reading From the Bestiary: Amphisbaena
by Heather R. Darsie In the Tudor time period, life was very much governed by the church, and people in England generally, at least outwardly, were a religious and God-fearing. Witchcraft was thought to exist, and God could express his pleasure or displeasure, or otherwise send signs through any number of mediums. Did God try to warn Henry VIII, or even Anne Boleyn, that their … Continue reading Anne Boleyn and the Famine
by Heather R. Darsie Have weak eyes? Go down to the water, find yourself a charadrius, and rub its dung in your eyes. Such is a piece of medieval advice. “Charadrius” is the genus for “plover.” According to the MS Bodley 764, a Charadrius is an all-white river bird. The bird could purportedly foretell if a person was mortally ill, as well. By Morris, Beverley … Continue reading From the Bestiary: Charadrius
by Heather R. Darsie It is not entirely clear when Henry Tudor, King of England, fell for Anne Boleyn, but it is approximated as some point in 1526. There exists a series of letters from Henry to Anne in the Vatican Library. In 1720, the letters were published for the first time in Hearne’s Roberti de Avesbury Historia de mirabilus gestis Edwardi III. They have since … Continue reading Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn: Letter One, Approx. July 1527
by Heather R. Darsie This section will look at letters, manuscripts, and traditions that were actual examples of men courting women during the Renaissance period, or gave advice on how to so do. The section starts with the intriguing pursuit of Anne Boleyn by Henry VIII of England. At times tongue-in-cheek, the author will draw similarities between modern dating and Renaissance dating. Continue reading The Art of Wooing
Maidens and Manuscripts: Taking a fresh look at people and events from 1347 to 1625, with a focus on women and illuminated manuscripts 