The Royals: A History of Scandals

This is a four-part series on More4, presented by Suzannah Lipscomb and with a focus on the Hanoverian era. It started with financial scandals, such as George IV’s extravagance and his brother‘s mistress who sold army commissions. The second episode was about sexual scandals and rumours, such as Edward VII’s mistresses and the male brothel… Continue reading The Royals: A History of Scandals

Medieval Latin Mass as Richard would have known it….

I have often wondered about the medieval Mass. What happened? What would it have been like to be there? What was said/sung/chanted? Well, I have now found a link to a You Tube film that shows a recreation of a Mass of Sunday, 4th October 1450 – the 18th Sunday after Pentecost. The film itself… Continue reading Medieval Latin Mass as Richard would have known it….

Dyer or Dire?

Many of you will remember the episode of “Who do you think you are” in which Danny Dyer was revealed as a descendant of Edward III. In this new two part series, he “meets” a few prominent ancestors, some even more distant. The first episode began with Rollo, ancestor of the Dukes of Normandy, which… Continue reading Dyer or Dire?

Sundogs over Stockholm in 1535. . .

When I actually saw sundogs for the first time my own previous knowledge of such things concerned the famous three suns seen at the Battle of Mortimer’s Cross in Herefordshire on 2nd February 1461. The quick-thinking Edward, Duke of York (soon to be King Edward IV) claimed the phenomenon as a sign of the Holy Trinity, signifying… Continue reading Sundogs over Stockholm in 1535. . .

A GOLDEN GOWN

Queen Margaret (also known as Margrethe and Margareta) was a Scandinavian queen who died in the early 15th century. Briefly she was monarch of Sweden, Norway and Denmark and earned herself the title of ‘the Lady King.’ Her only son died young and hence her heir became Eric of Pomerania; it was her desire to… Continue reading A GOLDEN GOWN