Last week, just hours before the actor Danny Dyer appeared on “Who do you think you are?” to reveal his descent from Thomas Cromwell and Edward III – in the latter case, via the Mortimer, Percy, Seymour (Jane’s sister), Cromwell (Thomas’ grandson Henry), Tollemache (of Helmingham hall) and Gosnold (Robert Gosnold V, 1611-58) of Otley… Continue reading As it turned out …
Tag: Thomas Cromwell
Another celebrity with royal descent …
… is the actor Danny Dyer. In the new series of “Who do you think you are?” , he will be shown to have Edward III and William I as ancestors. In a previous series, Sir Matthew Pinsent was shown to be descended from Edward I via the Howards of Norfolk and an eighteenth century… Continue reading Another celebrity with royal descent …
The story of a spirited Duchess of Norfolk….
The above illustration is by Hans Holbein the Younger – Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk (Royal Collection) This post, about Edward IV’s daughter Catherine, prompted me to post this, about the husband of another of Edward IV’s daughter, Anne, Countess of Surrey. Thomas Howard, eventually 3rd Duke of Norfolk, was the grandson of… Continue reading The story of a spirited Duchess of Norfolk….
HENRY VIII: THE EVEN HANDED PERSECUTOR
Some folks out there have recently been trying to justify the long list of people executed by Henry VIII because ‘at least they had a trial’ or ‘because it was over religion, and there were always beheadings, pressings, burnings over religion.’ Well, surprisingly, I must agree with them on one thing. Henry sure could be… Continue reading HENRY VIII: THE EVEN HANDED PERSECUTOR
“Henry VIII and his six wives” – Channel Five
This has been presented by two of Five’s favourite history presenters: Dan Jones and Suzannah Lipscomb. Perhaps the title isn’t the best of starts, as Ashdown-Hill (Royal Marriage Secrets, ch.10, pp.95-113) has shown that Henry may have contracted as few as two valid marriages, the third and sixth ceremonies. Jones begins every episode by reciting… Continue reading “Henry VIII and his six wives” – Channel Five
Fabricating Precontracts: Richard III vs Henry VIII
On 10 and 11 June 1483, Richard duke of Gloucester wrote to his affinity in the North and asked for troops to support him against the Woodvilles who, he claimed, were plotting his destruction. On 22 June Ralph Shaa preached his “bastard slips” sermon, followed by similar speeches by the duke of Buckingham, and on… Continue reading Fabricating Precontracts: Richard III vs Henry VIII
Parish registers (of baptism, marriage and funeral)
These date back to 1538 in England and Wales, finally being replaced in 1837 by general registration. It is generally thought that Henry VIII (and Thomas Cromwell) introduced them to know who was attending these Anglican services and who was not. Alternatively, Henry may just have wanted to keep track of the 72,000 people whose… Continue reading Parish registers (of baptism, marriage and funeral)
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