Recent Posts
A review of ‘The Crown’ by Nancy Bilyeau
Synopsis An aristocratic young nun must find a legendary crown in order to save her father—and preserve the Catholic faith from Cromwell’s ruthless terror. The year is 1537. . . Joanna Stafford, a Dominican nun, learns that her favorite cousin has been condemned by Henry VIII to be burned at the stake. Defying the sacred rule of enclosure, Joanna leaves the priory to stand at her cousin’s side. Arrested for interfering with the king’s justice, Joanna, along with her father, is … [Read More...]
Walking the Route of Anne Boleyn’s Coronation Procession
I am so excited to share today's guest post by author Zoe Bramley. Zoe has written a guide intended to help you retrace Anne Boleyn's progress through the City of London. Walking the same streets that Anne once travelled, you will get an idea of what it is Anne saw on that momentous occasion. Sit back and enjoy the tour! Walking the Route of Anne Boleyn’s Coronation Procession At around 17:00 on Saturday 31st May, a fine spring evening, Anne Boleyn emerged from the Tower of London where she … [Read More...]
How the mighty have fallen: Jane Boleyn and her role in Anne and George Boleyn’s downfall
On this day in 1542, Jane Boleyn was executed alongside Henry VIII's fifth wife, Catherine Howard, for her involvement in and knowledge of the queen's affair with Thomas Culpeper. Today's guest post by Sylwia Sobczak Zupanec who runs her own website dedicated to Anne Boleyn here, looks at Jane Boleyn's role in Anne and George's downfall. Sylwia usually posts in her native language of Polish and I think has done a wonderful job of writing this article in English. I am interested to hear … [Read More...]
Review of Mary Tudor: “Bloody Mary” by Gretchen Maurer
The first Queen of England, Mary Tudor believed fervently that Catholicism should be the religion of the land, leading her to burn at the stake hundreds of Protestants. Was she just a ruler of her times, or did she deserve the name, Blood Mary? Mary Tudor: Bloody Mary by Gretchen Maurer and illustrated by Peter Malone is part of The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Dastardly Dames and is fun non-fiction recommended for girls aged between 9-13 years of age. Other titles in the series … [Read More...]
Music Book Written For Anne Boleyn
A music manuscript written for Anne Boleyn, possibly by Mark Smeaton (although this view has been challenged) will be on display at the National Maritime Museum as part of the Royal River: Power, Pageantry & the Thames exhibition from 27 April to 9 September, 2012. The book is a collection of thirty-nine Latin motets and five French chansons and is normally housed at the Royal College of Music, London where it is not on permanent display for the public to view but can be viewed by … [Read More...]
The Execution of Mary Queen of Scots
In the early hours of Wednesday 8th February 1587, Mary Queen of Scots lay fully dressed on her bed in Fotheringhay Castle. Her women surrounded her, attired in black mourning garments, but sleep evaded Mary this night, as this would be her last on earth. After eighteen years of imprisonment, her end was finally near and the sound of hammering from the great hall where the scaffold was being erected was a constant reminder of her fate – one that she had only been informed of the previous … [Read More...]
Mary Boleyn: Fact vs Fiction
Today's post is a guest article by Sarah Bryson from Anne Boleyn: From Queen to History. Sarah is a fellow Australian and Tudor enthusiast with a particular interest in the life of Mary Boleyn. Of late Sarah has found herself more and more drawn to the least famous of the Boleyn siblings and has dedicated much time to reading and researching Mary's life. In this guest article Sarah outlines what we do know about Mary and also looks at some of the great mysteries that surround her … [Read More...]
George Boleyn by Nancy Bilyeau
To celebrate the UK release of the historical thriller 'The Crown' by Nancy Bilyeau, I am delighted to share with you a guest article that Nancy has written about George Boleyn. I am currently reading The Crown and enjoying every moment of it! I was hooked from the very first line, "When a burning is announced, the taverns of Smithfield order extra barrels of ale, but when the person to be executed is a woman and one of noble birth, the ale comes by the cartload." I relish returning … [Read More...]
Valentine’s Day Giveaway
To celebrate Valentine’s Day at On the Tudor Trail, I am giving away a copy of The Love Letters of Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn & Other Correspondence & Documents Concerning the King and His Wives. Entry is only open to our newsletter subscribers (if you are not one already, sign up on our homepage) and residents of all countries! To enter, simply leave a comment on any one of our posts or pages between now and February 14. The more comments you leave, the more entries you will … [Read More...]
New Tudor Books
Just a quick post to share with you some upcoming Tudor books. These all look fabulous! The Secret Keeper : A Novel of Kateryn Parr by Sandra Byrd Ladies in Waiting, Book 2 Pieces of her black gown fell to the ground, one by one, like the locks of a condemned woman shorn before execution, though he stayed himself from touching her bright red hair before sheathing his dagger again. Her woeful face betrayed that she knew this would be her utter undoing. The gown was ruined and the black … [Read More...]
Catherine of Aragon’s Funeral
On January 29 1536, Catherine of Aragon was buried at Peterborough Abbey (later cathedral). She had requested to be buried at a monastery belonging to the Franciscan Observant Friars but this request was turned down as the ‘friars’ convents no longer existed’ (Tremlett, p. 426). Catherine’s funeral service was for a dowager princess and not a queen, for this reason Eustace Chapuys chose not to attend. Henry did not attend either, instead remaining at Greenwich and refused to allow Mary to … [Read More...]
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