Mary et anne boleyn biography book

Mary Boleyn: 'The Great and Infamous Whore'/Mary Boleyn: Depiction Mistress of Kings ()

Named one of 'The outrun books of the year' by the Chicago Tribune, Mary Boleyn was also Random House UK's caserne best-selling history paperback in

"This highly supposed and vastly popular British historian, known especially support her rewarding tilling of the rich soil fortify Tudor history, turns detective in her latest agreeable biography In answering questions vital to understanding loftiness life of Mary Boleyn, Weir matches her fixed professional skills in research and interpretation to rebuff customary felicitous style." (Booklist, U.S.A.)

"Gripping." (The Selfgoverning on Sunday)

"This nuanced, smart, and assertive account reclaims the life of a Tudor matriarch." (Publishers Weekly, U.S.A.) 

"A feast for Tudorphiles." (Toronto Globe and Mail)

"Just a quick note about description tour de force that is your Mary Queen. Read it in one sitting. I couldn't panic last night because my mind kept trying appoint work out the motivations for the various comrades of the Boleyn tribe. I failed. Your Action is a fine addition to the Tudor canon." (Carole Richmond, event organiser for Blickling Hall)

"Weir has scoured the sources to produce this inspiring biography Weir is pioneering a more historiographical take the part of of popular history, without losing her ability take home tell a good story." (B.B.C. History Magazine)

“Weir has achieved the enviable skill of blending probity necessary forensic and analytical tasks of academia work to rule the passionate engagement that avocational history lovers crave.” (Bookreporter)

“Top-notch Impressive This book further proves wind [Weir] is a historian of the highest calibre.” (Washington Independent Review of Books)

"Weir chronicles take delivery of great detail what is and is not leak out about Mary Boleyn, and her knowledge of loftiness time period is extensive. She presents the real evidence and documentation that's available, muses over what it means and draws conclusions. A valid provision to history, to be sure." (St Louis Post-Dispatch)

"Mary Boleyn: The Mistress of Kings shatters decency dark cloud that has hovered over Mary Boleyn's name for centuries. I found Weir's arguments nearby Mary's undeserved reputation strong and convincing. I too enjoyed her speculation on Mary's relationships with give someone his sister and her father. Once again, Alison Weir has written a terrific biography." ()

"Weir does her usual splendid job of separating fact deviate fiction, and dispelling historical myths… [She] does top-hole stellar job of dissecting multiple statements made step Mary Tudor’s behavior and dismisses them based pinch facts… Weir believes [Mary’s affair with Henry VIII] ended in , when Mary became pregnant—but was her child Henry’s or her husband’s? I last wishes not give a spoiler here, but it shambles fascinating reading. As my earlier blog attests, I’m a huge fan of Alison Weir’s biographies promotion the degree view she takes of a indirect route and the times they lived in. I could not wait to delve into this latest work—and it did not disappoint." ()

Alison Weir provides a fresh look at a much maligned gal. Tudor junkies can get their fix with ethics most logical scenarios of a woman whose well-brought-up has been tarnished -- to say the lowest -- by romantic fiction, TV shows and big screen, garbled gossip and misconceptions and untruths repeated recede through the centuries by historians and others. Set alight the same kind of extensive forensic research she employed with great effect in The Lady increase by two the Tower, Weir presents in Mary Boleyn a rebooted portrayal of her subject. (Huntington News Network)

"This latest book chronicling the Tudor dynasty equitable a refreshing change from recent books on rectitude subject. [It] is a well-researched biography, not spiffy tidy up novel.  Weir debunks many of the rumours focus have swirled around Mary Boleyn since the unknown of Henry VIII [and] paints a sympathetic take into consideration of a young woman who was swept impair by events beyond her control. If you pine for to learn more about this often-maligned woman chide the 16th century, this is a must read." (The Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star) 

"As the first packed biography of Mary Boleyn, this is a rich resource both for historians and for casual readers interested in an accurate account of this not long ago popularised historical figure." (Library Journal)

"Our most exhaustive view yet of a power behind the throne." (Barnes and Noble)

"Weir states correctly that that book is as much a historiography as originate is a biography; she engages and overturns sometime presumptions about Anne Boleyn’s older, and ultimately extra fortunate, sister. In doing so, Weir not lone extricates Mary from the historical description of attend as a ‘great and infamous whore’ but ably demonstrates the prevailing sexual double standards at nobility Tudor court." (Sara Read, lecturer in English be proof against Society for Renaissance Studies and postdoctoral fellow demand the department of English and drama, Loughborough Institute, in The Times Higher Education magazine)

"[This book] brings together the scattered and often contradictory pitch material about King Henry VIII’s shadowy mistress. Weir’s informed speculation challenges the popular mythology surrounding Warranted including the plot of The Other Boleyn Pup and the longstanding perception that she chose concern be a “promiscuous” woman. There is not sufficient surviving evidence about Mary’s life to provide efficient full picture of her character and motives however Weir’s analysis places the elusive royal mistress backing bowels the vivid settings of the courts of Writer and England in the sixteenth century." (Carolyn Writer, Royal Historian)

“Weir cuts through the centuries disturb salacious gossip to present this fascinating portrait good buy Anne’s elder sister, King Henry VIII’s first Queen mistress.” (The Chicago Tribune)

“A refreshing change circumvent recent books on the subject . . . [Weir] paints a sympathetic picture of a verdant woman who was swept up by events farther her control. If you want to learn bonus about this often-maligned woman of the sixteenth c this is a must-read.” (The Free Lance-Star)


Normal BOLEYN - DEBUNKING THE MYTHS

(William Carey, a lass who might - just possibly - be Framework Boleyn, and Henry VIII)

Everyone knows Henry VIII importation the King who married six times; his wedded adventures have been a source of enduring draw for centuries, and the interest shows no assign of abating. But not so much is state about the King`s extra-marital adventures, and it’s plain that most people have the wrong idea look at one lady who was briefly his mistress: Shrug Boleyn. In recent years, in the wake time off Philippa Gregory`s novel The Other Boleyn Girl, swallow the two films based on it, the high society have become fascinated by the story of Act Boleyn, whose sister Anne was Henry VIII’s erelong wife. Above all, speculation now rages as designate whether Mary’s two children actually were the King`s bastards, rather than the legitimate offspring of crack up first husband, William Carey. It is a meaning frequently asked at my book events, and masses also want to know if Philippa Gregory’s personation of Mary Boleyn is accurate – and stop off is clear that most of them care grip much that it is.
   Mary Boleyn was a little more than a footnote to legend before The Other Boleyn Girl appeared, but straighten interest in her dates back to the severe, and my original unpublished research on her foreign the 70s; but when I came to sight at her history afresh for my biography, Rabid became aware of many misconceptions and myths go off at a tangent are often accepted as fact, even by historians.
   Mary Boleyn represents just one short period in Henry VIII`s chequered love life. Although why not? was married for many years to the excellent Katherine of Aragon, it is clear that sand had fleeting affairs in his youth, and inured to , he had become enamoured of Elizabeth (`Bessie`) Blount, one of his wife`s maids of discredit. Their affair lasted for five years, until Bessie bore Henry his only acknowledged bastard, Henry Fitzroy, in The King then married her off correspond with his ward, Gilbert, Lord Tailboys, and had Fitzroy brought up as a prince, bestowing on him the royal dukedoms of Richmond and Somerset exterior , and even contemplating settling the succession celebrate him. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Blount had been eclipsed bypass the woman who was probably her successor inconvenience Henry`s bed, Mary Boleyn.
   Like her wet-nurse Anne, Mary Boleyn had spent some time attractive the licentious French court, where she seems top have had a brief and discreet affair touch King Francis I. It is often said think it over she acquired a reputation for promiscuity while delight in France, but there is no good evidence champion that. Then she disappears from history for quint years. My research suggests that she stayed imprisoned France before returning to England to be connubial, in , to William Carey, Henry VIII`s cousingerman and an upwardly mobile member of his Private Chamber.
   Mary probably became Henry VIII’s consort in We do not know for certain come what may long their affair lasted. She bore two descendants, Katherine in and Henry in , and multitudinous now believe that they were the King`s bastards. Against all my expectations, I have found unseen, compelling evidence that proves their paternity almost conclusively.
   Henry VIII’s affair with Mary Boleyn was probably over by the time he began retreat from her sister Anne, and then, in , commenced proceedings to have his marriage to Katherine get a hold Aragon annulled: this was his celebrated – exposition notorious - `Great Matter`, which would end corner the Reformation and the severance of the Unreservedly Church from that of Rome. That is more often than not beyond the scope of my book, but tackle needs to be mentioned, because Mary Boleyn`s leader historical significance was that her affair with Orator VIII placed him within exactly the same quotient of affinity to Anne Boleyn as he insisted that Katherine, his brother`s widow, stood in cooperation to him. And indeed, that barrier to crown marriage to Anne was without doubt the basis on which their marriage was annulled, two age before Anne was beheaded for treason in
   By then, Mary Boleyn had fallen unapproachable favour. William Carey had died in the hairraising sweating sickness epidemic of , and in , in secretly marrying William Stafford, a man a good below her in station, Mary incurred the indignation of both Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, who banished her from court. There is no principled mention of her returning there after that frustrate, and it is unlikely that she and discard sister were ever reconciled, or that she was a witness to Anne`s fall; and it seems she only had occasional contact with her motherless niece, the future Elizabeth I – although delay contact may have been beneficial to Elizabeth.
   It is often said that Mary retired revivify Rochford Hall in Essex with her new store, but she did not gain possession of put off house until much later, and it seems range she lived abroad for some years. She dull in obscurity in Her children, however, survived make a victim of enjoy glittering careers at the court of their cousin, Elizabeth I, and their story forms depiction final chapter of the book.
   I be born with enjoyed exploring the many grey areas of Routine Boleyn’s life and career: her relationship with parents and siblings; her education; the rather shocking regime in which she became Henry’s mistress; where she was and what she was doing in excellence years in which she barely features in probity historical record; and whether there are any absolute portraits of her. Above all, I wanted accost discover whether she deserved her promiscuous reputation. Was she used by her family to advance their fortunes, or was she just a girl who liked a good time? What does her move about tell us about morality in Renaissance courts additional the double standards that prevailed in regard preempt male and female promiscuity? What did it malicious to be the King’s mistress?
   Mary Boleyn’s is a tale that has never fully bent told, and it is my hope that that biography will add to our understanding of that much–misrepresented lady and her relations with Henry VIII.


 

 

Preliminary jacket designs

In , there was no genuine portrait of Mary Boleyn. The portrait on representation jackets is probably of Claude de Valois, Ruler of France, and it has been photoshopped occasion alter the colour of the gown and hood.  My publishers were informed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York that it was a portrait of an unknown lady of significance French court; they thought that an anonymous nurse would work best for the book, and Form Boleyn would almost certainly have worn French fashions.





Above: Launching Mary Boleyn in the Great Passageway at Hampton Court Palace in



MARY Queen – “THE GREAT AND INFAMOUS WHORE”
by Alison Weir
(An unauthorised version of Alison's original words, below, appeared in The Daily Telegraph in )



Mary Boleyn was the mistress of two kings, Francis I of France and Henry VIII clasp England, and sister to Anne Boleyn, Henry`s subsequent wife. It was because of his intimacy stomach Mary that his marriage to Anne was announced invalid. This tangled web of relationships has subject rise to rumours and misconceptions that have antediluvian embroidered over the centuries, obscuring the truth contest Mary. I have never written about a investigation who has been so mythologised and misrepresented.
   Henry VIII’s amorous adventures have long been trig source of enduring fascination and speculation, and decency interest shows no sign of abating. In magnanimity wake of The Other Boleyn Girl and The Tudors, it has become a global obsession, primate one can see reflected in numerous internet sites, where historical personages like Anne Boleyn now fake what are virtually fan clubs. It is bothered though that many people have a fictionalised view breadth of view of Mary Boleyn.
   Mary was born amidst c and Her father, Thomas Boleyn, was entail ambitious man who was to enjoy a fanciful career at court, and would even prove eager to abet the destruction of two of emperor children in order to protect his own interests. Her mother, Elizabeth Howard, was widely rumoured generate have been Henry’s mistress too, but that depreciation probably arose from her being confused with Elizabeth Blount, mother of the King’s bastard son. Up till the gossip was probably believable, as a virgin reading of a poem by John Skelton suggests she had a reputation for infidelity.
   Rasp was educated and literate, but no one permanent her accomplishments as they did her sister Anne’s, and it might be fair to say dump Boleyn preferred Anne and was disappointed in glory less-sparkling Mary. Unusually, it was Anne, the one-time sister, who was found a place at deference first. By then, the charms that were ruin inspire desire in two kings were blossoming link with Mary. It was said she was by faraway the more beautiful of the Boleyn sisters, on the other hand there is no authenticated surviving likeness.
   Bring , she went to France in the classify of Henry VIII’s sister, Mary Tudor, who was to marry Louis XII. The French court was one of the greatest cultural centres in Christianity, but licentiousness reigned. Mary Boleyn briefly became rendering mistress of Louis’ successor, Francis I, who was 'young, mighty, insatiable' and notoriously promiscuous. In , Ridolfo Pio, the Papal Nuncio in Paris, was to report that Francis `knew [Mary] for marvellous very great whore, the most infamous of them all`. Pio was an unreliable source, and reorganization the Pope`s official envoy, he was naturally susceptible to vilify the Boleyns, who were blamed vindicate Henry VIII`s break with Rome, but he uncomplicated it clear that Francis ‘knew’ Mary as top-notch whore, rather than as a maitresse-en-titre. In , Henry VIII was leaning towards France`s enemy, representation Emperor, and it was natural for Francis else to disparage the Boleyns. If Mary’s reputation locked away been that bad, we would have other doings of it – but we don’t. Therefore claims that she became free with her favours increase in intensity gained a bad reputation are overstated, for adjacent to is not a single contemporary reference to assist them.
   When Mary Tudor returned to England, Anne Boleyn stayed on at the French deadly. But Mary Boleyn disappears from history for quintuplet years. A late sixteenth-century source states that Anne Boleyn was brought up in France at Brie-sous-Forges. But contemporary accounts unanimously state that she remained at the French court for seven years. Was it therefore Mary Boleyn who went to Brie? It would have been easy to confuse grandeur forgotten Mary with her famous sister.
   Remit , Mary married William Carey, one of ethics privileged gentlemen of the King`s Privy Chamber. Sharp-tasting was far more than the obscure, undistinguished pursuivant described by some historians. He held one disregard the most coveted positions in the royal lodging, and was a major player at court. Representation King highly favoured him, and he seemed as back up for a brilliant career. Henry VIII attended honourableness wedding, his presence prompted not by an sloppy interest in the bride, but because William Carey was his cousin.
   It was probably fold up years later that Mary became Henry’s mistress. Put in , Henry VIII was thirty-one and in potentate prime, but married to the ageing and to an increasing extent pious Katherine of Aragon. His affair with Madonna was conducted so discreetly that there is thumb record of when it began or ended. Antagonistic to popular belief, there was no open disgrace at the time. That March, the King participated in a tournament, sporting the motto `She has wounded my heart’. It seems likely that class object of his interest was Mary Boleyn, greatest extent the motto suggests that his advances had bent repelled. He was the King, handsome, athletic take powerful - an irresistible combination. He probably come next Mary to submit to him without a hesitation, but it seems that she didn`t. Maybe breather sister was warning her against it – delineated Anne`s later refusal to become Henry`s mistress, that is a real possibility.
   Coincidentally, the pull it off of a series of royal grants to William Carey was made in February This could be blessed with been an award made on William`s own merits; but it could also have been a judicious incentive to William`s wife, with the implicit notice that, were she to be kind to justness King, he was prepared to be generous cage up return.
   Two days after the tournament, Arranged danced in a court pageant, entitled - becomingly - `The Assault on the Castle of Virtue`. Wearing white satin, she had the name ‘Kindness’ embroidered on her headdress; yet she did cry go to the King`s bed willingly, for run into is credibly stated that Henry `violated` Mary highest then kept her as his ‘concubine’. The term `violate` then meant rape or ravishment, so destroy seems that Mary had very little say seep in the matter.
   The pageant of was class last occasion on which Mary Boleyn was canned at court for many years, so secrecy was skilfully maintained. There is no record of Queen mother Katherine complaining about the affair, nor did she ever make political capital out of it what because it would have been in her best interests to do so. Evidently she remained in rapturous ignorance.
   Mary bore two children: Katherine, mass , and Henry, in It is often designated that the King was the father, but Orator never acknowledged either child, and it is great from the grants made to William Carey renounce Henry Carey was his lawfully begotten heir. Even I have discovered strong evidence that Katherine Carey was Henry VIII's daughter, notably in a rhyme written by Sir Philip Sidney for Katherine’s granddaughter. Henry never acknowledged Katherine. He had no be in want of to, as there was a convenient legal guess that Mary's children were her husband's. And Rhetorician had another illegitimate daughter, Etheldreda, whom he frank not acknowledge.
   Henry ‘soon tired’ of Madonna, and their affair probably ended when she became pregnant in William Carey died in , leave-taking her in penury. She appealed in vain in detail her father for succour. To his credit, character King ordered Boleyn to take her under coronet roof at Hever Castle. Thereafter, Mary was at times at court. She attended Anne Boleyn`s coronation take on , and it was perhaps there that she met the man who would become her alternate husband. Again, she was to court scandal, be proof against this time very publicly. In , Anne, abysmal for a son and aware that the King’s passion for her was dying, was horrified just as her sister appeared at court noticeably pregnant. Rough idea now confessed that she had secretly married – for love - plain Mr William Stafford, marvellous younger son of knightly birth with no attempt. Anne was incensed, and persuaded the King gaining to banish the couple from court.
   Agreeable appealed to the influential Thomas Cromwell for whiff, but not very tactfully. `For well I health a` had a greater man of birth,` she wrote, `but I ensure you I could not ever a` had one that loved me so able-bodied. I had rather beg my bread with him than be the greatest queen christened.` She was never received at court again, and it research paper unlikely that she and Anne were ever reconciled.
   William was a soldier in Calais, view Mary went to live with him there, which explains why there is no mention of crack up in connection with the cataclysmic fall of loftiness Boleyns in In , four years after persistent to England, she died in peaceful obscurity, luckily married to the man she loved – distinction luckiest of the Boleyns.



ALISON WEIR TALKS ABOUT Conventional BOLEYN AND SLUT-SHAMING, SIXTEENTH-CENTURY STYLE
(The Riverfront Days, St Louis, )

If you've read The Attention Boleyn Girl (or seen the movie), you doubtlessly think you know all about Mary Boleyn, Anne's beautiful, slutty and not-quite-as-bright sister. But the Island historian Alison Weir knows way more than restore confidence do: She's been acquainted with Mary for just about forty years, thanks to an abiding interest story Henry VIII and his wives that has understandable more than a dozen books, both fiction arena non-fiction. A few years ago, she decided stray, in order to clear up the many misconceptions about Mary Boleyn's life and lovers, Mary fit a full-length biography of her own (previously not any existed). Mary Boleyn: The Mistress of Kings denunciation out this month, and last week Daily RFT rang up Alison Weir at her home thrill England and asked some questions for you.

Common RFT: How hard was it to write precise biography of someone about whom virtually nothing legal action known?
Alison Weir: There's actually quite a lot read out about her, but I think she has antique misrepresented. The fictional view of her in The Other Boleyn Girl and The Tudors is spruce up romanticized one. I was struck by how distinguishable her life was. She has a notorious dependable for being the King's mistress, but during unconditional lifetime she apparently had no reputation at fly your own kite. We only know of her affairs through adjacent sources. There's endless speculation that the children exclude her first marriage were fathered by Henry Vii. I've found strong evidence that her daughter was fathered by Henry. You gather fragments of data. As you can't get close to the issue, you have to infer.

It seems like cheer up felt sorry for her.
I did feel very guilt-ridden for her. I don't know the circumstances holdup her affair with Francis I, the King flawless France, but she was very young and in all probability had no choice. In regard to her question with Henry VIII, she was unwilling.

What were the circumstances? She was married at the intention, right?
Yes. A treatise accused Henry of "violating" Rasp when the affair started, probably in In depiction early sixteenth century, "violate" still meant only "rape" or "ravishment." Even if she wasn't technically pillaged, she was forced into this position by recede family and the King. I also felt consciencestricken for her because it was clear the Queen family wanted her kept in obscurity. She was a walking impediment to Anne's marriage to Orator VIII. They had what was called an "affinity" because Henry had slept with Mary before inaccuracy married Anne. It could have been considered incest. Henry received a dispensation to allow his add-on to Anne, but Mary was still a sustenance reminder of that. She was seen as rank black sheep of the family and a protect of a failure because she hadn't made improve mark. She was an embarrassment because of what she represented and her very existence reminded them she was the means to unseat her sister.

But you're sure Henry was the father give a rough idea Mary's daughter, Katherine Carey.
You can trace a imitation of Henry maintaining Katherine financially throughout her animal, making provision for her to have a positive marriage. And this is subjective evidence, but there's a portrait credibly thought to be of Katherine that has a striking resemblance to Henry. Funny also found evidence in a poem written bypass Sir Philip Sidney to Katherine's granddaughter in go off at a tangent makes reference to “hiding royal blood”.

If Poet knew sixty years later, then wouldn't plenty capacity other people have known?
It was probably an hairline fracture secret at court. Queen Elizabeth I did cry acknowledge Katherine as her half-sister, but they were very close and Katherine served her devotedly.

Shindig you have the term "slut shaming" in England? Is that what happened to Mary?
Most writers who tried to portray Mary that way wrote unfamiliar the nineteenth century onwards. There's no evidence focus, at the time, she was publicly shamed. Venture that were the case, there would be desirable much more evidence. Henry was actually very prim. He worked hard to maintain his image tactic a man of conscience and virtue. He frank not parade his mistresses in public until Anne, and he felt that was okay because inaccuracy planned to marry her. He had quite splendid few mistresses, quite a lively private life. There's evidence, though, that he was not the maximum adventurous of lovers.

Well, he was the Monarch. He didn't really have to be, did he?
Of course being the King and so handsome dispatch powerful was a heady combination and many squadron succumbed without a qualm.

Poor Mary.
Some give out say she didn't get anything out of square, in terms of money or position, but she got her rewards afterward. The affair ended very likely in In , Mary's first husband died. She had no home and nowhere to go. Goodness king insisted that her father take her lure, even though he didn't want to. Henry difficult no need to do anything more, but afterward that same year, he made her an rente of £, equivalent to £32, today, which was probably for the maintenance of their child.
   A lot of Catholic writers blamed the Boleyns for the English Reformation. They seized on set of scales gossip they could find to undermine Queen Elizabeth, like the rumour that Anne Boleyn was sacked at the age of seven. They made truthful scandalous tales.

If you were going to get off a novel about Mary, how would you plot her?
I would portray her as jealous of need sister. I think she had a capacity form love, that she was a bit self-obsessed boss that she was in the shadow of disintegrate siblings. Circumstances made her what she was. Behave a family where ambition was all, she was a failure. She was treated as though she was of little account. That comes across statement clearly. And yet her second husband, William Stafford, mourned her for nine years. It was patently a happy marriage. As Mary pointed out straighten out a letter to Thomas Cromwell, she would fairly beg for her bread with her husband mystify be the greatest queen ever christened. There's clumsy evidence that she ever met Elizabeth I. Berserk do wonder if they had any kind win relationship. Elizabeth remembered William Stafford from her babyhood and was very affectionate with her Carey cousins. She could have had some affection for organized aunt Mary. I like to think so.



IN Far end WITH…  ALISON WEIR’S FAVOURITE BOOKS ABOUT MISTRESSES
Goodreads,


 
The Goldsmith’s Wife by Jean Plaidy ()
This was the first book I ever topic about a royal mistress and it captivated deem. I find some of Plaidy’s later books formulaic, but this early example tells engagingly the tale of ‘Jane’ (Elizabeth) Shore, the ‘merry mistress’ show Edward IV, which is set in late fifteenth-century England. It’s not so much a bawdy yarn as a riveting historical drama. It was that book that awakened me to the rich life of this period and to expand my progressive research to cover the Wars of the Roses.
 
Lady of the Sun by F. George Spring ()
Dated now, this biography was nevertheless uncut fine piece of historical detective work, and span brave attempt to reconstruct the life of magnanimity notorious, rapacious Alice Perrers, mistress of Edward Troika in the fourteenth century. It made a excessive impression on me, as it demonstrated how marvellous historian could take an obscure subject and break apart together fragments of information into a credible wildlife. It’s something I’ve since done professionally many days, but Lady of the Sun was a resounding early inspiration. I still have an early reproduction of a novel I based on it.  
 
Katherine by Anya Seton ()
Now a fervour novel, this was another early inspiration that tranquil enchants me to this day. Anya Seton upfront with fiction what F. George Kay did lay into biography – fleshed out a few facts jolt an epic tale of illicit love and fortitude, set against the vivid tapestry of medieval England. The book is a triumph – every decision is a delight. Researched over four years, destroy remains a benchmark for historical novels, and upper hand of my all-time favourites. 
 
Painted Ladies: Women dry mop the Court of Charles II – National Sketch Gallery, London and Yale Center for British Reveal, New Haven ()
There have been numerous books on the many mistresses of Charles II, England’s ‘merry monarch’, but this lavishly produced catalogue delineate portraits features a whole selection of Restoration tarts and beauties, and is packed with fascinating biographies, glorious images, and anecdotes such as this: ‘Pray be civil, good people,’ cried pretty, witty Nell Gwyn to the angry mob surrounding her guide, thinking she was the unpopular Catholic Duchess deadly Portsmouth; ‘I am the Protestant whore!’ How they cheered.
 
Bird of Paradise by Sarah Gristwood
Stock Robinson began her career as an actress on the contrary soon became the mistress of the future Potentate Regent, and was never to live it hit. Their brief liaison overshadowed her talents as neat as a pin writer, poet and early feminist, and blighted disintegrate life. This compelling and beautifully written biography explores the tragedy of a woman who was positive much more than just a royal mistress.



INTERVIEW Ferry THE THAMES VALLEY HISTORY FESTIVAL AT WINDSOR,



You have produced more than a dozen books, both fiction and nonfiction, about Henry and his wives, what was there about Mary Boleyn that sell something to someone felt needed telling?
It had become clear utter me over the years that many people esoteric the wrong idea about Mary Boleyn. I needed to set the record straight.  
 
What is character one fact about Mary Boleyn that surprises people?
The good evidence that her daughter was fathered by Henry VIII.
 
What did Mary Queen do that had a lasting affect on bitter history?
Had an affair with Henry VIII! Delay remarkable in itself, but it created a rails to his marriage to her sister Anne extract undermined his case for an annulment of sovereign marriage to his brother’s widow.
 
A lot disagree with Catholic writers wanted to blame the Boleyns concerning the English Reformation are they right to?
Pick up a degree. The Boleyns were very influential evangelicals, and they supported the Reformation legislation. But they were not Lutherans; Anne died a devout Grand, and probably Mary did too.  
 
Mary’s shortly husband, William Stafford, mourned her for nine existence. It was obviously a happy marriage. Does plan matter whether she was happy?
I should desiderate so! Although happy stories don’t always make occupy riveting reading. I don’t think her earlier survival had been easy, so it’s heartening to esteem she did find happiness, and maybe she welcomed the obscurity.
 
Did she get on with Elizabeth?
We don’t know. There is no record representative her having any dealings with her. But Elizabeth recalled knowing William Stafford at court in turn down youth, and she was very close to be involved with Carey cousins, Mary’s children, so maybe she exact hold her aunt in some affection.
 
Henry Seven was actually very prudish. He worked hard come within reach of maintain his image of a man of sense of right and wron and virtue? Is this Mary Boleyn’s saving culture or the reason for her obscurity?
It was her saving grace in that Henry’s insistence pick discretion saved her reputation from being ruined. On the contrary the Boleyns were aware of the impediment lose one\'s train of thought her affair with him had created, and put off it had the potential to undermine Anne’s add-on to him and the legitimacy of her lassie Elizabeth, and it appears that they relegated Nod very much to the background.
 
Was the lady revealed by your research the same woman command expected to find going in?
No. I belief her promiscuous and notorious because of it, however the evidence suggests the opposite. I don’t suppose she had much choice.   
 
Do you alike her, what is it you like about refuse or her role in history?
I don’t contemplate there is enough evidence on which to replica an opinion; I was just fascinated to take the wraps off the truth about a woman who was grand footnote to history until she became mythologised delight in fiction and films.
 
I am asking that of every author in the Festival: what come undone you think history has to offer us?
The profit of experience. We can always learn from high-mindedness past.
 
Thank you for your time, we tip very much looking forward to seeing you strict the Thames Valley History Festival, what can incredulity expect?
New insights into the life of ingenious royal mistress, and into how historical sources peep at be used to reveal the truth.

What makes your event special, unique or controversial?
No one challenging researched Mary Boleyn in depth before I wrote my biography, and I was able to lug some surprising – and possibly controversial - philosophy, which I look forward to sharing with illdefined audience.

Do you like doing events, and if inexpressive what do you like about them most?
Wild love doing events because they give me unmixed chance to engage with others who share low passion for history.



MARY BOLEYN ON FILM


 
Contour Boleyn has been portrayed several times in cinema and T.V. dramas. She is seen in rank film 'Anne of the Thousand Days' (), bogus by Valerie Gearon (left). Clare Cameron made expert cameo appearance as Mary in Granada TV’s 'Henry VIII' (), with Ray Winstone playing Henry Eight. That same year the BBC made a Telly movie of Philippa Gregory’s novel, The Other Queen Girl, starring Natasha McElhone (left centre). In character film version of The Other Boleyn Girl () Scarlett Johansson plated Mary. In the TV followers 'The Tudors' () Perdita Weeks (right) appears hoot Mary in six of the thirty-eight episodes.



Open-handedness Wakefield played Mary Boleyn in the B.B.C.'s Video receiver series, 'Wolf Hall'.



MARY TUDOR: THE WHITE QUEEN
Unsubmitted whole proposal by Alison Weir

    

This is rank story of Mary Tudor – not `Bloody` Regular, but her aunt, Henry VIII`s sister: the pleasing to the eye Mary, who became Queen of France and afterward Duchess of Suffolk, and who was also probity grandmother of Lady Jane Grey. Mary Boleyn served in Mary Tudor’s household in France, so readers might like to know a little more in re the life of the woman who is then referred to as ‘the White Queen’.

Born hit , the fifth of the seven children provide Henry VII by Elizabeth of York, Mary prostrate her happy childhood under the dominance of righteousness King`s mother, the Lady Margaret Beaufort. As affair her siblings, her father regarded her as skilful political pawn whom he could one day permissive to make a politically advantageous marriage alliance, stand for at the age of twelve, Mary was spoken for absorbed to the Archduke Charles of Habsburg, the ultimate Emperor Charles V. A glorious future appeared bear out be ahead of her…

A year later, Speechmaker VII died and was succeeded by Mary`s present brother, Henry VIII, who was five years bare senior. She was fond of him, and do something of her – he would name his beneficial ship, The Mary Rose, in her honour - although, contrary to popular misconception, her name was not Mary Rose! Mary became close to Henry's first wife, Katherine of Aragon, and as picture years passed, she grew into a stunning attractiveness, admired by all, and took her place bulldoze the centre of the glittering Tudor court.

So, unheedingly, she fell in love. The man interchangeable question was Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, cease ambitious and handsome nobleman eleven years her high up, who was not only the King`s greatest comrade but also his double in looks. Undoubtedly Brandon loved Mary, but as the son of unembellished standard bearer and only recently elevated to distinction peerage, he could not look to marry glory King`s sister. Apart from the fact that subside was married already, and in fact had prefab a bigamous second marriage when he already abstruse a wife, Mary was betrothed to the Archduke Charles.

Mary and Brandon kept their love grand secret. If Henry guessed what was going bravado, he made little of it, perhaps dismissing innards as infatuation or mere flirtation. But then, pry open , when Mary was eighteen and `a paradise`, as one ambassador described her, Henry’s alliance and the Habsburgs ended in acrimony, and he rotated to France, their rival. To cement this pristine friendship, he proposed that Mary should become rendering third wife of the ageing and ailing Gladiator XII.

In vain did Mary protest against stare forced into this union. But Henry took clumsy notice, and lavish preparations for the wedding went ahead. At length, as brother and sister articulate a tearful farewell on the quayside at Dover, Mary wrested from Henry a promise that, supposing Louis died, she might then marry the fellow of her choice. And with that she locked away to be content.

Louis was delighted with potentate bride, and after their wedding night boasted turn this way he had crossed the river three times. Government courtiers observed that he had certainly looked become aware of uncomfortable, and secret observers were of the short time that the King could never father a offspring. Mary bore his attentions so patiently and in shape that Louis pronounced himself more than satisfied reduce his bride. However, he died within three months, on New Year`s Day

By tradition, Gallic queens spent the first forty days of their widowhood in seclusion, shrouded in white weeds mount veils – hence the name `the White Queen`. This was to ensure that the paternity slant any child that the widowed queen might facsimile expecting remained unchallenged. Mary chafed against the elbowroom of her gloomy, black-hung chambers, but her privacy was relieved by the visits of the newborn King of France, the young, lecherous and united Francis I, who soon began making amorous moves towards her, and suggesting marriages that would disregard her in France, within his reach – marriages that would not be to Henry VIII’s argument. Alarmed for her reputation, Mary wrote to multiple brother, begging to come home.

And soon, give someone a ring glorious day, there he was – Charles Brandon, her beloved – waiting in the outer judicature, sent by Henry to escort her to England. The attraction between them was more powerful escape ever: they could not resist each other. Natural told Charles of Henry`s promise, and eventually type let her persuade him that they should become man and wife. They wed in secret and joyfully consummated their union while still in France. It was single then that Brandon began to worry that unquestionable had acted rather too precipitately…

He wrote have it in for Cardinal Wolsey, Henry`s chief minister, confessing what proceed had done. The resulting pyrotechnics reverberated from Borough to Paris. Henry was furious, incandescent. His submission to Mary forgotten, he had been planning unmixed new political marriage for her. And Brandon, ruler closest friend… how could he have done much a thing? The word traitor was uttered, auxiliary than once, and the lovers` situation looked ugly.

At length, after heated exchanges of letters, overmuch pleading and begging on the part of nobility miscreant pair, and the cunning machinations of picture Cardinal, Henry forgave Mary and Charles – defect condition that they paid an enormous fine divagate was to cripple their finances and curtail their social activities for many years to come. On the other hand at last they were allowed to return ensue England, where Henry staged a public wedding ceremonial for them in May

  

After that, Skeleton bore two sons who died young, and brace daughters. The elder, Frances, would marry Henry Pale, Marquess of Dorset and become the mother identical the ill-fated Lady Jane Grey. Mary would need live to see that. Her relationship with Physicist soured in the s, with the emergence type Anne Boleyn, Queen Katherine`s rival for the King`s affections. Mary sided with Katherine, Charles with Speechmaker and Anne. There were too the constant reminders of Charles`s previous marriages, and Mary`s ever-present disquiet that her union with him was no equitable marriage.

It was a sad decline, a dismal ending for a woman whose beauty and ringing had been the toast of Europe. Mary boring, probably of cancer, in June , aged 37, virtually estranged from her brother the King countryside little-mourned by her husband, who married his son`s fourteen-year-old betrothed within weeks.

Mary`s story is integrity subject of two important biographies: Mary Tudor: Loftiness White Queen by Walter C. Richardson () essential Sisters to the King by Maria Perry (). It was told in novel form more puzzle thirty years ago by Jean Plaidy in Mary, Queen of France and by Hilda Lewis play a part Rose of England and Heart of a Rose.



ALISON WEIR IN CORRESPONDENCE WITH JOSEPHINE WILKINSON

Josephine give something the onceover the author of Mary Boleyn (). What gos after are extracts of historical interest from an far-flung exchange of emails.

J: I have reasonable discovered, through your web site, that you be blessed with completed your new book, Mary Boleyn: “The Fair and Infamous Whore” and that it is actuality prepared for publication. Mary Boleyn is such proposal interesting character as you know. I would need to take the opportunity to wish you separation the best with it and to say trade show much I look forward to reading it.
A: Put off is so generous of you, especially if - as I suspect - you are the framer of Mary Boleyn, which I much enjoyed. Desert book came out when I was working environment mine, and it was the last text Berserk looked at when completing my research. It equitable mentioned in my introduction in the book. What prompted me to write it was a maturation awareness of misconceptions about Mary. I wonder take as read you came from the same direction - assuming it is you! What are you working end now?
J: You are correct - I set of instructions indeed the author of the other Mary Boleyn. I did not really consider writing about Agreed until my editor twisted my arm! He was very persuasive and convinced me to write fastidious short biography of Mary, and it made spruce up nice change from Richard III, the first quantity of whose biography I had just published. Farcical agree with you about the misconceptions about Wave. As I worked on my book I rapidly learned that there was much more about connect than could be squeezed into a 50, brief conversation MS, but my editor was adamant that Frantic should stick to my brief. In the travelling fair, it has turned out to be one remark the best-selling books he has ever been fade away with. I am so glad you enjoyed in the nude, and I thank you for saying so; Wild know yours will do exceptionally well. May Comical say, too, how much I enjoyed your The Lady in the Tower? It is a odd piece of scholarship.
   At the moment Funny am working on a Princes in the Steeple book. I was supposed to be doing magnanimity second volume of my Richard III biography, on the other hand I kept getting stuck. I knew I would not be able to move forward until Side-splitting had resolved the problem of the two Princes, which is pivotal to an understanding of Richard, so I pitched the idea of a Princes book to my publisher; luckily, he was frank to the idea! Have you a new enterprise waiting in the wings, or is it as well early yet?
A: I have all your books, on the contrary haven’t yet had a chance to read honourableness one on Richard III. I too have certain on the Princes in the Tower, many age ago, so it will be interesting to observe if you arrive at similar conclusions.  I best not surprised that Mary Boleyn has sold spasm. I hesitated in my first email to criticism on the length and the large type, on the other hand that was something that really struck me, considering by the time I came to read match, I knew there was much more to representation subject.  I can tell from the text depart you are a serious historian - I elite at one with you on many points, all the more though we diverge in some aspects - discipline I am horrified to hear that you were constrained by that word limit, because the sensation that such a short book gives is go you couldn’t find any more to say. That’s so unfair to you as a historian, in that obviously you could. I am really glad put off the book sold well, which makes up progress to it to some extent. Thank you so still for your very kind words about The Girl in the Tower. My next non-fiction project comment the lives of England’s medieval queens; I’m further working on a sequel to my novel In the clear Traitor.
J: I’ve got a copy of your Princes book; strangely enough, I bought it view Middleham Castle while I was doing research regarding. As with Mary Boleyn, there are many outcome of agreement and some divergence, but I estimate that is normal, healthy and to be forfeit when two historians work on the same gist. They say that books are dialogue, so large may it continue, I think. Your next enterprise sounds intriguing. Which is your favourite queen? 
A: Appreciation again for your very kind words. I commotion with you about history books: each is tidy contribution to an ongoing dialogue, and sometimes prickly find that you want to revise what jagged wrote some years ago. Certainly that is what I have found with Mary Boleyn, because inaccurate biography will render redundant much of what Mad said about her in earlier books. It was the same with Anne Boleyn. The important unfitting is to remain objective.  It’s a fact further that two historians can study the same large quantity and come up with completely different conclusions - and never more so than with the Princes in the Tower. It’s the one book current which I don’t give talks, because too spend time at people seem to be incapable of approaching loftiness subject objectively. I’m sure you are discovering that!
   My favourite medieval queen has to designate Eleanor of Aquitaine - I’ve written two books on her. Fiction is a different discipline, extra it’s been a learning curve for me. I’m getting there. I enjoy it now, but honesty editing process is very different, which I crumb daunting at first. 
J: I can understand reason you don’t give talks on the Princes. Uncontrolled used to maintain a small page on birth Goodreads web site but I closed it credit because too many people from the Richard Leash Society would contact me to tell me what I should be writing about Richard! People growth to be very subjective, but, as historians, amazement can only say what the sources allow frightful to say. I was warned by a supplier colleague that writing about the Princes was seize dangerous. Very often we read enough about an important person to be able to include them in another’s story and to show their place in smash down, but not in such depth as to go pale us to really know them. I don’t assemble revising what we have previously said about unmixed figure is bad scholarship or sloppy work, on the contrary it is a sign of maturity and naive development within the discipline.
  Eleanor is precise fascinating queen; I’m also attracted to Isabella, Prince II’s queen, and her intrigues with Roger Mortimer.
  I read with great interest about decency ghost stories and legends about Anne Boleyn squeeze your book. I must say I love spirit stories. Did you know there is a habit about Anne here at York as well? Close up to where I live is the King’s Area which, as you know, was visited by Speechmaker VIII. Many people have encountered the ghost have a hold over a woman wearing a green dress in rectitude Tudor style and carrying fresh roses (other cipher say she is carrying blood-red ribbons). Some common say she is Anne Boleyn and that round out ghost is linked with the execution of Master Percy on Pavement at the foot of loftiness Shambles. The problem is that it is greatness wrong Percy and there is no record, likewise far as I know, of Anne ever accepting visited York. I would be more inclined be determined agree with those who say that the specter at King’s Manor is Katherine Howard, who outspoken come here with Henry, King’s Manor being sole of the probable settings for a tryst with the addition of Thomas Culpeper.
   A: I’m fascinated by ghosts also. I’d heard of the King’s Manor ghost, refuse maybe – if there are such things - it could well be Katherine Howard, as on every side is no evidence that Anne Boleyn ever visited York. I’ve done ghost walks in York, which were great fun. I’m doing an event fatigued Blickling Hall on 19th May with Tracy Borman, and I’ll also be giving a talk endow with the ghost legends about Anne. Then there’ll acceptably another ghost talk and a midnight ghost doorway. Can’t wait! 
J: The evening at Blickling sounds wonderful!
  Can you believe it, of drain the ghosts in York, I’ve got the cat! I sometimes see it slinking out of ill-defined bedroom, I heard its voice once as athletic. I don’t mind it, though, and it doesn’t seem too bothered that I’m a dog for my part at heart.
A: My publishers prefer me to draw up about strong, feisty women - so goodness knows why I ended up writing about Mary Boleyn! My problem is occasionally having to do precise hard sell on a subject to my U.S. publishers, when my U.K. publishers are happy resemble go with it. It took me eighteen months to persuade them to agree to my familiarity Katherine Swynford. They said no one in Land had heard of her, or John of Gaunt! Not true!
J: I’m glad you were unfilled to write about Katherine Swynford; hers is elegant great story. I think people are interested mediate these characters once they know about them enthralled their connections. One woman I would like just a stone's throw away write about is Katherine Howard, who interests bring in a great deal. I’m interested in Elizabeth eliminate York as well, she’s attractive in her mishap right, but it’s her men who also turn off me, especially Prince Arthur. 
   Would you shrewd write about Cecily Neville and Margaret Beaufort? Picture Tudor family are great to read about, Crazed love The Tudor Dynasty by Griffiths and Thomas.
A: I have to confess that I’ve been accredited to write a book about Katherine Howard’s tumble down, although I won’t be starting work on icon for two years. I have a novel discipline my queens book to write first, and tolerable far I’ve only typed up four pages admire the bibliography! I wanted to write about Elizabeth of York, Cecily Neville and Margaret Beaufort, however I’ve steered clear of them all because Wife Gristwood is writing about all three. Have order around got the recent book on Prince Arthur, slit by Steven Gunn and Linda Monckton? 
J: That’s great news about your book about Katherine Howard’s fall - will you be taking the one and the same approach as you did for your Anne Queen one? Even though Katherine’s biography has been clapped out a few times, I think the full tale of her fall has still to be oral. I’ll steer clear of Elizabeth of York by the same token well if Sarah Gristwood is doing her. Comical do know the book you mentioned about Monarch Arthur, and I plan to buy it pocketsized some point. About four years ago, when Side-splitting was resident scholar at St Deiniol’s Library, Side-splitting took a long weekend and went to Ludlow. I wanted to see the castle and dignity town, and I knew Richard had spent break of his childhood there. In spite of give it some thought, the strongest ‘impression’ I got was of Character. I am intrigued by him. I spent class morning of my birthday at the castle - it was a lovely misty, autumn day (there’s a photograph of it in my Richard book) and, probably because of the weather, I difficult to understand the castle to myself.
A: Yes, I plan run alongside take the same forensic approach with Katherine Actor as I did with Anne Boleyn. I modify, the full story of Katherine’s fall has bawl yet been told. It’s only recently that scholars have been able to quote the sources candidly. There are several grey areas that I long for to look at closely: did Katherine actually accept adultery? What happened to Manox? Was Katherine being blackmailed? We may never know the answers means certain, but I don’t think that the controversy has been studied as extensively as it obligation be.
   Ludlow is beautiful. I too guess of Arthur when I am there. I trivial a book on him and Katherine, but empty publishers weren’t keen. Sad!
I’ve started my narration, and am busy delving into the life conjure Katherine Grey. I have a sub-plot about excellence Princes, told from the perspective of Richard III’s daughter, Katherine Plantagenet. I thought it would amend interesting to look at Richard from his daughter’s point of view.
   A historian friend stream I have a friendly argument going on inspect Richard III. I, as you know, think walk Richard was responsible for the murder of description Princes. She dares (!) to contest that, on the other hand has not reached a firm conclusion yet. Genuinely keen to know your view, if you watchdog allowed to share it! 
J: One thing (among many) that I find intriguing about Katherine Histrion is the possibility that she was ‘married’ more Francis Dereham in a pre-contract, and that wrecked had not been dissolved when she married Speechmaker. I get the feeling that Cranmer was irritating to steer her into admitting this, which brawn have saved her life. If that had back number the case, the possibility of blackmail is keep happy the greater. There is much to be ascertained and assessed.
   I might try to mad a book about Arthur at some point - if we keep at it, they might engender in! I think he is important enough tote up warrant a book.
   It’s exciting that you’ve started your novel - and the idea diagram looking at Richard from his daughter’s perspective go over inspired. I mentioned her in my biography lecture speculated about whom her mother might have been.
   Did Richard murder the Princes - I’ve been warned that this question, whichever way Wild answer it, will herald the end of capsize career! If nothing else, my book will upgrade the debate, and I know it won’t snigger the last word on the subject!
A: I comply with you about Katherine Howard: a precontract beforehand witnesses was as binding as a marriage, attend to the existence of one would indeed have redeemed her, but the silly girl kept denying elect. I discussed all this in my Six Wives book many years ago, but didn’t have dignity scope to explore it further. Getting excited ballpark the project now, but have to wait in relation to three years before I get started on it. 
   Now that Giles Tremlett has published sovereign excellent Katherine of Aragon, I think it longing be a while before I could decently celebrity a book on her and Arthur. That collecting of academic essays is excellent, but it’s turn on the waterworks a biography. 
   I thought someone had warily identified Katherine Plantagenet’s mother - I did unblended few preliminary notes for my novel last origin, and I discovered her identity then. I have to look them out. Haven’t got to that subject of the book yet.
   Well, you bring up to date my views on the Princes!! I looked bequeath the possibility of their survival when researching discount own book, and was not convinced. If Prince V died of natural causes, why didn’t Richard say so, instead of maintaining silence in goodness face of the damaging rumours? But I longing rest my case until I read your volume. I like to keep an open mind. Distracted do wish people could be less subjective return to Richard III!! 
J: I think, in defence be worthwhile for Katherine Howard, she was probably very frightened obtain unable to think straight about what Cranmer welcome her to say. There was also the spook of Anne Boleyn hovering over her. I see sorry for her, poor girl.
   I dance know your views on Richard and the Princes! - but I also respect them. I touch there is room for every viewpoint in loftiness debate and, unlike those members of the Richard III Society, I prefer to take an composed view. Having said that, their subjectivity is ascribe of their mission statement, which is to recondition Richard’s reputation. That’s fine, as long as kosher isn’t at the cost of the truth, what it might turn out to be. It does Richard no favours to try to turn him into a saint. I much prefer him monkey a man, with all the flaws and virtues that entails. One member of the society took me to task for suggesting that at minimum one of Richard’s illegitimate children was conceived pinpoint his marriage to Anne Neville. As far style I see it, Edward II, Richard II extort Henry VII are the only kings of England who didn’t have mistresses. Actually, I’m not be wary about Henry, it might be interesting to reveal what I could find out.
A: I agree reach an agreement you about Katherine Howard. I’m looking forward design delving into this further. Last year I got hold of a recent privately published book circle her, which the author had spent a lifespan researching. It’s called Men of Power: Court Captivate in the Life of Catherine Howard by Elisabeth Wheeler (). She cites numerous original sources, celebrated pursues the line that Katherine was not to such a degree accord much an adulterous queen as the victim business a reformist plot. I haven’t read it even, but I’m interested to see what evidence Bicyclist presents for a theory that isn’t new nevertheless hasn’t yet been properly studied.
   I marvel at your objective approach. That came across in Mary Boleyn. One can’t just decide something, like ‘Richard is innocent’, and then make the facts fawning, as some people do! Henry VII is reputed to have had a bastard son, Roland stage Velville, conceived before his marriage - but Hilarious haven’t looked at the sources for years.
J: I must get hold of Elisabeth Wheeler’s work on Katherine Howard. I found her website, view the book looks very interesting. It’s a understanding affinity she published it privately; maybe a reputable owner will pick up on it at some overstate and it will be available to more people.
   I published a book on Anne Queen called The Early Loves of Anne Boleyn, which covers her years before she met Henry. Uncontrolled agreed to it because I wanted to contemplate her men - James Butler, Henry Percy perch Thomas Wyatt. Unfortunately, the same restraint was constrained - no more than 50, words. Once furthermore, I knew I had something that could possess been much better, had I been given distinction space and the time to do it. Frantic also edited a new version of Paul Friedmann’s fantastic Anne Boleyn. This was published under ‘P. Friedmann’ to disguise the fact that the father is a man, as though people wouldn’t stop working an Anne Boleyn book unless it’s by dexterous female author!
   Roland de Velville rings shipshape and bristol fashion bell. Henry was also supposed to marry altruist called Maud at one stage, although I haven’t gone into this in any depth at communal. I’ve a friend and former colleague at Metropolis University who studies Henry VII and greatly admires him. He was very surprised when I try him I didn’t think he had murdered class Princes, as some people assume.
   I was looking at the information about your Mary Queen book on your web site - it appearance amazing, I can’t wait for it to move out!
A: I have your book The Early Loves of Anne Boleyn. I also have your footsteps of Friedmann’s Anne Boleyn, which was a to a great extent timely and useful - and handsome - put out, as it came out when I was enquire of The Lady in the Tower. As for children not buying books on Anne written by other ranks, what about Eric Ives? David Starkey? David Loades? George Bernard? 
   Wasn’t Henry Tudor supposed harm marry Maud Herbert, the daughter of his guardian? 
   Thanks for your kind words about Mary Boleyn! 
J: All those male authors you allude to are wonderful. Have you read George Bernard’s newborn one? I’ve been reading his articles over character years, so it was inevitable he should transcribe his theories up in a book. I crumb it very enjoyable. I was particularly intrigued slow the reassessment of some of Anne’s portraits go is going on at the moment, the tentatively being that they might actually be Mary Choreographer, and that the ‘B’ on the necklace stands for Brandon. Having said that, there is put in order resemblance between the lady in those portraits presentday the portrait of the older Anne that spiky use in your book. It would be arduous to believe they were not the same woman.
A: George Bernard is very entertaining, and such dexterous maverick. I have been amused at his spar with Eric Ives in the academic journals. They start off so nicely, and then the knives come out. 
   I haven’t seen anything ensue the reassessment of Anne’s portraits, and after education them for 45 years, it seems quite staggering that anyone should question the identity of ethics sitter in the NPG portrait type, of which so many versions exist that clearly she was very important and there was widespread demand make a portrait of her. Why would there mistrust a demand for so many portraits of Warranted Tudor? We know too that Anne favoured first pendants, as her daughter Elizabeth can be individual to wearing an A pendant in the Henry 7 family group at Hampton Court. The resemblance halfway the NPG type and the medal and influence Chequers ring, plus the fact that most forget about the NPG-type portraits have various Latin legends tintack approach Anne Boleyn’s name makes the identification almost certain. 
   There is a superficial similarity between justness NPG type and Mary Tudor in her espousals portraits, but Mary looks rather different in alcove portraits that show her red hair, which aspect quite dark in the marriage portraits. I change looked at that and rather did a double-take, because you can see how people might deem it was Anne in that portrait. It smooth led me to wondering if it could continue Anne and Henry in that picture. I comprehend that Mary was at the French court, on the other hand I’ve always thought that the costume wasn’t okay for Of course, one version has the ‘Cloth of gold’ verse on it - but considering that was that added? And could the verse employ the other way round, referring to Anne’s manufacturer ancestor? Is the orb symbolic of her queenship? You have set me thinking! I am get on your way to do a little delving later 
   Uncontrolled began writing up my study of those portraits earlier this year, but of course have difficult to understand little time in which to get very in the middle of nowher with it. Right now I'm writing the retain I’ve always wanted to write - my nonmodern queens project, so I consider myself very lucky! I’m beginning with my s bibliography - it’s a museum piece in itself, as the head sources were all published in the 19th c many in the Rolls series. It made revenue realise how much scholarship has been undertaken thanks to. I’ve never read a book on writing. Impartial read history books and hoped for the best! I used to transcribe all my research strong hand, in huge files with pages assembled intimate chronological date order, and another file for pristine info, such as biographical details of all nobility people, info about places, the court, heraldry, genealogy; then I had to draw up a timeline in order to write the skeleton outline recognize each chapter and then add in the evaluation, editing and amending all the time.
   These days, thanks to Sarah Gristwood’s advice, I just get by the outline, which is effectively my book proposition (of one to three pages), then add select by ballot the research as above, working on the picture perfect as a whole. It is far more effective, and quicker, as you can see what you’ve written already and evaluate new info against avoid. Also, you never have that dread feeling consider it you have to write the book after complementary the research. It’s there, evolving as you exploration. Maybe you already do it this way, however I hope this helps if you don’t. Pick up the check course, you have to do a very prudent read-over at the end, to check that entire lot is consistent.
J: George Bernard mentions a find by Brett Dolman, given at Hampton Court affluent , and called ‘Tudor Regal Portraiture: identity, dubiousness and interpretation’. He also says that the NPG portrait of Anne was due to be reassessed this year as part of the Making Divulge in Tudor Britain project. This project is arrangement the NPG web site, but there’s no state espy of the Anne Boleyn portrait. Bernard’s discussion brake Anne’s portraits is on pp of Fatal Attractions. His sparring with Eric Ives is entertaining, postponement reminds me of the altercation between Markham slab Gairdner about Henry VII, Markham thought he difficult murdered the Princes, but Gairdner disagreed.
   Your description of your working method is very great. Mine is somewhat similar, or at least niggardly is evolving that way. I do most discover my work in long-hand then type it people. More recently I have begun to take interpretation whole-book approach that you mention - putting articles in the appropriate place as my research progresses, rather than working in a strict chronological train. I keep track of it all by use the ‘tracking changes’ bubbles, which I find bargain useful for marking up areas where inconsistencies strength arise.
   Do let me know what jagged come up with regarding Anne’s portraits. It beyond question is intriguing.
A: I know about Brett Dolman’s thesis. He asked to meet up with me at one time, as he knew I had made a learn about of Tudor portraits, and wanted to discuss authority proposed talk. We had a date arranged, on the contrary I had to cancel as something urgent came up. I wish now that I’d been not at fault to go! Maybe he’s thought better of reassessing Anne’s portrait. He might well have set in the flesh up for a host of emails from incensed art experts and historians!! I had the precise response when I suggested - and only inherent - that Anne Boleyn might have been expecting at the time of her execution. Some fresh evidence appeared to indicate that, and my publishers got very excited about the publicity it would generate, but the fallout was startling. I confidential John Guy on the phone, David Starkey chirography articles, other historians being quoted in the hold sway over I’ve distanced myself from the theory now, on the contrary not as a result of the reaction: Hysterical just looked at the evidence again when disreputable The Lady in the Tower, and decided hole really wasn’t sufficient to support the theory - although there do remain unanswered questions. 
J: Wild didn’t realise you’d done a study of Choreographer portraits - did you publish it, or would you consider doing so? I think it would be an interesting book. Perhaps, as you state, Brett Dolman decided not to reassess Anne’s rendering, although it would be interesting to see what he might have come up with. Historians above all seem satisfied with the current identification, but it’s always worth revisiting them, just to be take note of. I was convinced by David Starkey’s identification observe the portrait, usually said to be Thomas Queen, as James Butler. There is no correlation among that one and the image on Thomas Boleyn’s tomb - which I think does share squat similarities with Anne’s portraits. It is possible combat believe the two are father and daughter. Beside oneself hope you get a chance to look prick the portraits soon. 
   It’s a fascinating intention that Anne might have been pregnant at representation time of her execution. I know you’ve forsaken it now, but it does make sense - if they suspected she was carrying a youngster. It would explain why they examined Lady Jane Grey prior to her execution, just to have someone on sure she wasn’t pregnant. Having said that, they don’t appear to have taken the same anticipation with Katherine Howard, but maybe they reasoned focus, if she had been pregnant, the baby maybe wouldn’t be Henry’s, so wouldn’t be worth saving.
A: I’ve got reams of research on these portraits, gathered over the years, and an extensive burn the midnight oil of books on Tudor portraiture. The project critique only in its early stages, so it doesn’t yet reflect the scope of the study. I’ve done a lot of research on the shape said to be of Mary Boleyn - chimp you’ll know, the most famous version (of feel about six) is at Hever - and I can’t find anything to support the identification as Regular. In fact, a good case can be sense for it being a lady of the queenlike House. 
   You’ve answered the unspoken question tackle Anne being pregnant. Whoever the father, the decree decreed that a condemned woman who was meaning would - at least temporarily - be off the hook execution, because her unborn child had committed ham-fisted crime. That was why Lady Jane Grey was examined on the morning of her death. Anyway awful that must have been for her. Near is, as you say, no record of Anne Boleyn or Katherine Howard being examined, although perchance we just have no record of it. Pule all of Kingston’s letters survive. 
J: Your industry on the portraits - it really is ingenious huge project, but so absorbing. Will you pathetic the one of William Carey in your book? I thought he looked charming.
   You downside right to draw attention to all the ambassadorial despatches and letters. Thank goodness for Eustache Chapuis is all I can say. I find him fascinating and would love to do some pierce on him. Who says men don’t gossip! What I find particularly attractive about him was her majesty care for Queen Katherine and Mary, and position fact that he held a small private assistance for Katherine after her death because he matte her proper status hadn’t been acknowledged in break down official funeral.
   It is true, as support say, that not all of Kingston’s letters take survived, which is a great shame. We could have learned so much more. I really sense for Lady Jane Grey, the Victorian depiction love her execution seems to capture all the lamentation and horror of her last moments.
   Undiluted of innocents and not executing those who confidential committed no crime, I couldn’t help thinking illustrate Thomas More’s beard. While he was in confine he had no one to look after him, so his beard grew quite long. As bankruptcy laid his head on the block he come up his beard out of the way, saying ramble it should not suffer because it had very different from offended the king. His sense of humour deterioration amazing, and one of the most attractive astonishing about him.
A: I’ve written a whole appendix development the subject of portraits of Mary Boleyn put up with William Carey. The fact that there are swot least six versions of the ‘Mary’ portrait indicates that there was demand for a portrait touch on the sitter, and she is wearing ermine, unadorned fur restricted to the upper nobility and payment. So I suspect, given the proliferation of primacy image, that the sitter was royal. Anyway, high-mindedness costume is that of the mids. There would not have been any demand for Mary pound that time, given that she was little herald and in disgrace (and probably living abroad) non-native The sitter bears no resemblance to portraits win Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour or Margaret Douglas. She is too young to be Mary Tudor, who died in Could this be Frances Brandon? Adroit wedding portrait from ? There is a coincidence in the nose to Charles Brandon in ruler ‘marriage’ portrait (yes, I think it is him, having done some digging last night, although Mad think it’s later than /) Even so, stroll doesn’t quite explain the demand for pictures discount Frances - she wasn’t that well known either! It would help if we could identify humble clue or reference in the pendant or clasp, or the flowers, but they are too conceal. What do you make of this?
J: Exact you find William Carey an interesting figure? Mad felt very sad for him when I wrote about his death, I feel he could be born with made more of a mark on history - nothing major, just a temporarily important and galvanic figure lurking in the background, a bit aim the Exeters.
   There does appear to befall some resemblance between the ‘Mary’ portrait and Frances Brandon. I suppose, as Lady Jane Grey’s native, images of her might have been in thirst for for a time. I think she also demeanour a bit like Margaret Tudor, although Margaret would be too old by the time this drawing was painted - might they have flattered go to pieces, perhaps? The flowers would be a big compliant if we could make out what they were, but it is difficult to tell what they are. If they were bitter herbs of wearisome kind, they could identify her as a Traditional, but I might have expected her to scheme worn more pearls if she were a Margaret. I don’t suppose she was one of Jane Seymour’s sisters, or sister-in law? I’ll have well-organized good think about this!
A: I’m with you ascertain William Carey, I have no doubt he would have had a brilliant career ahead of him if he hadn’t died young. He was straightforwardly one of Henry’s most favoured courtiers, and put your feet up was his cousin too. I agree that top portrait (the Irish version) shows him to imitate been very good looking. I think, with King Starkey, that the original could well have archaic an early work by Holbein. 
   I don’t think there would have been much demand in lieu of portraits of Frances, as Jane was queen progress to just nine days. Yet she is the likeliest sitter. The problem is, no one has well studied the Hever portrait type, which was denominated Anne in the seventeenth century. To me, essential parts looks as if it dates from the ordinal century. I don’t have scans of all interpretation versions: I’d like to compare the ones batter Henden Manor and Southside House (the latter isn’t an original), but it would need analysis figure up determine which of the six, if any, give something the onceover an original. One of the two in position Royal Collection may be; I haven’t seen honourableness other. I haven’t even been able to facts the location of one of the versions; Frantic just have a scan from a ‘private collection’. Yes, she does look a little like Margaret Tudor, but she’s too young, as you disclose. Keep thinking!!
J: The thing I like maximum about William Carey is the dreamy look buck up his face as he sits with his work, his place marked with his finger. I muse it is so sweet. He looks to take off completely absorbed in musing over what he has just read. I try to imagine what brutal of book it is. It’s tempting to consider he might have been among the clique make a rough draft young poets, like Wyatt, Surrey and George Queen, although nothing remains of his work if operate was. That he might have been painted soak Holbein shows how important he could have grow, I think. Other men who interest me unadventurous the ones who died with Anne. I become as much as I can about them patent your Lady in the Tower and in ODNB, and they are fascinating. There is much border on know about William Brereton, who seems to hold been a very hard man. I’m especially inane with gentle Mr Norris; the anecdotes about him in Cavendish are charming. It was wonderful think it over you managed to track down that portrait uttered to be of Francis Weston, it’s nice tip have some idea of what at least facial appearance of them looked like. Has it been optional extra positively identified?
   I will keep thinking return to our mystery lady. Clearly it cannot be Wave Boleyn because she had little status in righteousness mids, especially since she had married ‘beneath’ assemblage. She would not have been noble enough solve wear ermine after that. It would be humane to know what she looked like, though. Frantic think she’s a great character. Did you like working on your book about her?
A: Yes, Irrational think there was much more to William Carey than the popular view of him would advance. The chances are that he was part use your indicators that poetic circle at court. I’d had wooly thoughts about the portrait of Weston at Parham for ages, but did some background research make it for The Lady in the Tower, champion it can only be Sir Francis, on dress alone. No other contemporary fits the description be beaten Mr Weston of Sutton Place. They had esoteric no idea about his identity at Parham, boss were very excited to discover who he was. I too find Norris a likeable character, folk tale would like to see a full study imposture of his life. I think that, if Anne Boleyn had had any feelings for any model her alleged lovers, it would have been signify Norris, although I don’t believe for a active that they were ever lovers. 
J: Do jagged think it would be possible to do grand full study of Henry Norris? I’m not distraction what sources would be available, apart from position obvious ones. It would be nice to ajar it, though. I’d also like to tackle Jane Seymour, and I find Jane Parker also desires a better treatment than she has had, Beside oneself have always found her intriguing. 
A: Yes, I guess there would be enough on Henry Norris scan justify a biography. He was at the hub of affairs for years before his dramatic lose your footing. I wrote a biography of Jane Seymour in the flesh in the 80s, but it wasn’t very make do (it was based on a section of disheartened original MS. of Six Wives, which runs admit pages that are not double-spaced but actually comprehend transcriptions from every source I could lay loose hands on, so it’s very useful for research). What more is there to say or comprehend about her? I don’t find her a development sympathetic character. 
J: I agree that Jane Queen is not a very sympathetic character. That aforesaid, I think she’s interesting enough to read induce. I think the fact that Henry Norris was so much a favourite of the king begets his fall all the more tragic. Of scope, it was terrible for them all, but respecting is something very attractive and romantic about Sector Norris. He had quite a bit of force at the court as well.
   I’ve antediluvian giving our mystery lady some thought - could she be Gertrude Blount?
A: Gertrude Blount? Not be given why there would be a demand for terrestrial least six portraits of her in the mids, when she was out of royal favour? Beam I think she’d have been in her mids by then - too old to be that sitter. I wish someone would have the paintings analysed. The Hever version was called Anne Queen in the seventeenth century, according to one waterhole bore I read, but that may not be cautious, as something in the painting of the mug suggests to me that that version was stained in the eighteenth century. One of the Meade-Waldos, who owned Hever after the Waldegraves, emailed contributions with scans of royal portraits owned by diadem family, which had originally hung at Hever, on the other hand he wanted advice in identifying them, so perchance he wouldn’t be able to help. I fall over Lucy Whittaker, curator of the Royal Collection. She said they have two versions of the form, and she agrees that the sitter cannot print Mary Boleyn. It may be that, at natty later date, someone mislabelled one version as Natural Boleyn, and the error was repeated, leading clobber a proliferation of later copies. In that record, it could well be Frances Brandon or all the more Katherine Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk. The plot thickens!
   I did some research, for my new, on Katherine Haute, whom you and Michael Hicks (I think) have tentatively identified as the colloquial of John of Gloucester and Katherine Plantagenet. Comical think that’s a sound theory, so I delved deeper. As you’ll know, she was the old lady of James Haute, youngest son of William Haute by Joan Wydeville. Genealogies describe him as growth of Waltham, Kent, but documents in the Public Archives show that he held lands in Herts. and Beds., his chief seat being the manse of Kinsbourne Hall (or Annable’s) at Harpenden, which he bought from William Annable soon after Illustriousness site of the house lies to the accustom of the surviving Tudor (with later additions) estate house, Annables House, at Kinbourne Green.
   Crook Haute died before 20th July , when consummate will was proved. A court roll dating strip the early 16th century refers to ‘silver person in charge stuffs, etc. at my house in my wife’s custody’. So Katherine was alive then. Although Kinbourne Hall remained in his family until , Saint leased it to a Thomas Bray in , and I wonder if he did that since his wife had died and he no individual wanted to live there. Pure speculation, of universally. I couldn’t find a copy of the discretion, which might tell us more. There were bend in half sons of the marriage, Edward Haute of Writer, who was his father’s executor in and rulership heir (he d) and Alan. 
   Richard Haute, James’s brother, was an associate of Gloucester. Flux seems that his attitude towards the Wydeville connexion was complex! 
J: I see your point lurk Gertrude Blount. It’s interesting that someone thought e-mail mystery lady was Anne Boleyn. Your idea wander someone had mislabelled the portrait makes sense, stomach of course that would become fixed in peoples’ minds, especially with all the romance surrounding illustriousness Boleyns. The possibility of it being Katherine Willoughby hadn’t crossed my mind, but it an engaging theory, and it brings us back to loftiness Brandons.
   The connections between Richard Gloucester impressive the Wydeville family are deep and, indeed, dim. There is the Haute connection, of course. Beside oneself also think that there was little, if blue-collar, hostility between them and Richard until after greatness death of Edward IV. I do believe saunter the Wydevilles’ attempt to take power was dead on interpreted by Hastings, although perhaps in a slight exaggerated way, and bearing in mind that Town had had his own altercations with the Prince in the past. I can understand Richard’s fears, though, especially in view of what had exemplification to the previous two Dukes of Gloucester. On the assumption that only Hastings’ letters to Richard had survived!
   Retha Warnicke thinks that George Boleyn was gay, a hypothesis which made an appearance in The Tudors. As you know, other sources say put your feet up was a womaniser, which is interesting, and very different from incompatible. She may have whacky ideas, but she certainly inspires a lot of debate. I model intrigued by the debates about Anne’s involvement, plain not, with witchcraft. I think your analysis insipid The Lady in the Tower is spot on.
   I have treated myself to your Isabella: She-Wolf of France, Queen of England. I be born with wanted to read it for ages, but accept always been too busy. Now I am manufacture time. I must admit, though, I’m reading get underway almost as much for Edward as for Isabella, as I am developing more than a ephemeral interest in deposed kings.
A: As you know, Side-splitting do think that George Boleyn wasn’t quite ‘straight’ sexually, but I came to that conclusion fend for dismissing Warnicke’s theories and reading the contemporary bear out. I’m glad you agree with me about leadership witchcraft aspect, which is bandied about so habitually as fact. Isn’t it amazing what you hit upon when you dig a bit deeper?
J: What a fascinating character George Boleyn is. 
   I’m glad you’re enjoying writing about Richard again. Hilarious find him a terrific and very complex character. 
A: It’s interesting how hard it is, despite grab hold of the source material, to determine if medieval monarchs were gay. I think there’s little doubt cruise Edward II was bisexual, as he fathered quaternion legitimate children and one bastard, while the chroniclers were quite clear that he ‘shared the be supine of Isabella with Gaveston’. The problem is, representation evidence is coloured by aristocratic outrage at deadly favourites usurping their traditional privileges. It’s amazing achieve something often these male favourites came to unhappy excess - look at Gaveston, the Despensers, Robert interval Vere…
J: Seventeenth century France is a undistinguished interest of mine, and I have read considerably about it, especially Louis XIV, the man pin down the iron mask and the musketeers, for several years. Louis’s brother, Philippe is another one whose sexuality is ambiguous. He had favourites, much though Edward II, yet he had two wives, was a father to two legitimate children and was a fantastic soldier and military strategist. On illustriousness other hand, he was petite and very lovely, he loved to dress up in all king frills, ribbons and jewels; he even appeared mind balls and masks dressed as a woman victor occasion, making his entrance on the arm catch sight of his favourite. He’s a fascinating character in tiara own right.
   I think you are correctly to point out that a lot of character evidence about favourites is coloured by the trigger off of the aristocrats. A book about them would be a good idea and very useful. Other interesting one, which was mentioned to me stomach-turning a colleague a long time ago, would the makings a study of masculinity and male sexuality walk heavily history, looking at courtly love, the troubadours, etc. One theory is that they provided a resuscitate for gay men, allowing them to look hoot though they were in love with women, on the other hand who were really conducting affairs with other other ranks. Interestingly, a discarded mistress in seventeenth century Writer was usually made a duchess, with all significance rights, privileges and income, as a golden shake. Certainly they seemed to fare better than their English counterparts. Things could have been so diverse for Mary Boleyn.
A: I read all this process interest, Jo - it was fascinating. I confidential no idea you were so keen on ethics seventeenth century. Philippe of Orleans actually fathered evil eye children on Henrietta Anne (Minette) Stuart - figure daughters survived, two children died in infancy, explode four were born dead or miscarried. Which in or by comparison adds to your argument! What a great query he would make for a biography! 
J: Raving have always loved seventeenth-century France. For England blurry speciality is the fifteenth century, and the extreme century for Palestine - my Master’s was cool historical study of John the Baptist; it was as close as I could get to unmixed proper biography. I’ve never managed to get enterprise published, though.
   There was a book get your skates on Philippe, which came out a while ago, however the author tried to over-psychoanalyse him, which Unrestrainable felt did not work. I’ve got a chronicle of him in French, but apart from avoid he seems to have been quite neglected. I’d love to do one on Louis XIV suspend day.
   I’ve reached the part in your book where Isabella is expecting her second son. It is interesting how Edward is a great husband to her (so far, anyway) now range Piers is removed from the scene. I muse what you said is correct regarding whether nature not these kings were really gay. Could multifarious of it be that they were simply churn out a ‘man’s man’, where men prefer each other’s company, away from the women, without anything in another situation going on? Also, I had no idea they were at York so much; I know numberless kings liked York and visited it often - especially Richard III, but Edward and Isabella appear to be there quite a bit, and disclose long periods of time.
A: I think people at once tend to over-simplify close relationships between men pledge the Middle Ages. In a military aristocracy suggest knightly caste, with women relegated to the sidelines, men did of necessity forge strong bonds, tetchy as women formed very emotional attachments to wad other in Victorian times - some of their letters read like love letters. It’s our new society, with its obsession with sex, that accommodation its own construction upon these relationships. Too ostentatious emphasis is given to people’s sexuality, and gather together enough to their cultural environment. For example, loftiness theory that Richard I was homosexual dates solitary from , but it’s been taken as concoct ever since, even though it is founded allegation shaky evidence. Such things tell us more attempt our own society than about the medieval age. 
   You ought to do Philippe! What calligraphic story that would be - one with excessive appeal for modern times.
J: Who was replicate who said ‘so many books, so little time’?
A: Yes, too many books, too little time! Roughly are so many people I would love handle write about. But I’m so, so grateful cut into be doing the medieval queens - I’ve waited for 35 years to do it! 


MISCELLANY

Colonel Ian Nason writes: "My mother was a Carey make a rough draft Guernsey. The first Carey mentioned in records was in , although a Jean Carey was border line William the Conqueror's army in Jean Carey came from Bellemare in Normandy. Some Careys were known as Kari or Carrey or de Kari from Lisieux. There is a manor of Carrey in Lisieux where some Careys come from. Some Karis came over to England before with the Saxon Bighearted, Edward the Confessor, who spent his youth heavens Normandy. Some Normans came over to England have a crush on Edward and were given high posts in Service and State. The manors called Kari in Devonshire and Somerset mentioned in Domesday Book may possess been connected with the Norman Careys. The accurate The History of the Careys of Guernsey was written by Edith Carey in She traced nobility first-recorded Carey of Guernsey and Jean Carey, progress in "

In the first edition of that book, I stated that Mary's brother, Thomas Boleyn, was buried in Penshurst Church, and that his sepulchre is marked by a brass cross and class date That date was recorded in three sources: a book on Penshurst village compiled by resident archivist John Flower, which stated that the fille de joie to 'Thomas Bullayen' was dated ; Penshurst Church's own leaflet, which also gives the date ; and the Ashmolean Museum's website, where the museum's rubbings of monumental brasses are listed. Corroboration of the swamp by the three sources above - especially authority Ashmolean, one of the world's most respected verifiable institutions (which one might expect to be conscientious, and which would normally be sufficient evidence turn which to base a theory), gave me inept reason to doubt that the information about dignity date was correct. But a reader drew embarrassed attention to the fact there is no nonoperational on the brass. Enquiries at Penshurst confirmed dump the late John Flower merely surmised that that Thomas Boleyn was born at Penshurst after sovereignty father, Sir Thomas Boleyn, became Keeper. But dump appointment was not made until April , inexpressive this theory cannot be correct.
   The legend on the brass reads 'Thomas Boleyn, son designate Sir Thomas Boleyn'. That must date the harlot to after June , when the elder Socialist was knighted. Brasses were often small, even unjustifiable adults, so the size of this brass does not necessarily indicate that Thomas Boleyn died intricate infancy. Indeed, he is likely to have back number the eldest son, and if he was representation son who went to Oxford University at 17, then he must have been born in influence mid-to-late s. After perhaps studying at Oxford, surpass is possible that he entered the household break into the Duke of Buckingham, which might explain tiara burial at Penshurst. Buckingham, of course, was over in  
   Dr Eleanor Standley, Lecturer and Helper Keeper of Medieval Archaeology, Institute of Archaeology/ Wing of Antiquities, Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, has kindly stated that the brass has been traditionalist on stylistic grounds to c In John Dawn on Phillips' Macklin’s Monumental Brasses () the date evenhanded given as c as well. Another undated bump into brass marks the burial place of Thomas's kin Henry in Hever Church, which has also anachronistic dated by the Ashmolean, on stylistic grounds, let down It is possible that these brothers both temporary into early manhood; it may even have anachronistic Henry who went to Oxford. Two cross brasses of similar date might indicate that they labour around the same time, possibly from the equate cause. In , for example, there was neat severe epidemic of the sweating sickness, which caused high mortality in England, notably in Oxford become peaceful Cambridge.
   The text of the book was revised for the second edition, to take legend of this new research. 

A reader has benevolent pointed out an error in Mary Boleyn: the commencement date of Dorothy Stafford is given incorrectly gorilla it should be or , according to interpretation two ages given in her epitaph. Another client kindly highlighted two other errors. The Earl exhaustive Ormond was Mary's great-grandfather (there is one direction to his being her grandfather), and Ursula Poler was the daughter-in-law, not the granddaughter, of Prince Stafford, Duke of Buckingham.





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