Anne Boleyn's Love Letters
and will the Princes in the Tower mystery ever be solved?
Hello fellow history lover!
This week:
On Tea Time History Chat Live
New evidence uncovers revealing clues as to how Anne Boleyn’s love letters from Henry VIII ended up in the Vatican.
Has Charles III changed his mind on allowing the bones of the ‘Princes in the Tower’ to be exhumed and examined? Have your say.
A spotlight on Princess Charlotte, and the awful treatment of her mother, Catherine of Brunswick.
You can listen to me talk about all of the above topics on the latest episode of ‘Tea Time History Chat Live’ - click here to watch on Youtube.
Kate McCaffrey joins us on ‘The Private Life of Anne Boleyn’ Tour, 29th June - 4th July.
On History After Dark this week we discussed Charles Dickens.
Reminder of how to get early access to tickets for The Anne Boleyn Tour, May 2024!
Book Club List to be announced tomorrow! - Join Book Club
Before I get onto our first big story this week…
Is this the best day out ever for Tudor History Fans?
It’s a rhetorical question but, just sit back and let your imagination take you on this incredible day out and, by the way, it is possible to do it, this September! Book the ‘Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots’ tour, and you will experience this…
Kenilworth Castle
After a hearty breakfast at our hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon, we take the journey, on our private coach, to Kenilworth Castle. Kenilworth Castle has a history reaching back to the Norman conquest but is of special interest to those intrigued and enthralled by Elizabeth I and, especially her relationship with Robert Dudley. Elizabeth visited here on four occasions including a 19-day visit in 1575. The block which you can see central in this photograph was built for her by Robert, in anticipation of her visit.
In 1575, Kenilworth Castle was the backdrop to the festivities and entertainments, put on by Robert for his Queen with the express purpose of persuading her to marry him.
The Lord Leycester Hospital, Warwick
Following on from our morning exploration of Kenilworth Castle, we head to the Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick for a private visit. The site isn’t open to the public on this day, so we are getting exclusive access! We are also honoured that the current Master, Heidi Meyer, will be giving us a guided tour.
The Hospital was founded in 1571 by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, to provide a home for elderly and disabled veterans. The site dates back to at least the 12th century and ongoing investigations may find evidence of even earlier use.
Harvington Hall and an Audience with Elizabeth I
By mid afternoon it will be time to depart Warwick and head for the hidden gem which is fast becoming a must-see destination for any serious Tudor history fan, Harvington Hall. As with the Lord Leycester Hospital, we are getting exclusive access to Harvington Hall, and a special guided tour by House Manager Phil and Assistant House Manager, James.
What would Elizabeth I make of this recusants house with its plethora of Priest Hides and the clandestine Catholic services held here? We’ll find out as Elizabeth I gives us an audience in the Withdrawing Chamber.
We then eat a three-course meal with local ale (if you want to try it) or wine, in the Great Chamber at Harvington Hall.
As well as our incredible guides and speakers, Gareth Russell, historian and best-selling author, is the Tour Historian in this tour and so will be with us too!
This is just 1 day of the tour! The full itinerary with details of all the other exciting elements of this tour, which includes more guided tours, speakers and exclusive treats, can be found on the British History Tours website, please click on the button below.
Anne Boleyn’s Love Letters
New evidence reveals clues as to how and when they reached Rome
As a keen follower of Dr Estelle Paranque’s work, I was very interested to see that Estelle, in a team with three other historians, Peter Lake, Michael Questier, and Kendra Packham, has uncovered evidence of the whereabouts of the love letters belonging to Anne Boleyn, which ended up in the Vatican.
The letters, handwritten by Henry VIII, some in French, some in English, have long been thought to have ended up in the Vatican by way of Cardinal Campeggio, a papal legate sent to hear Henry VIII’s case for a divorce from Katherine of Aragon. This theory, for which no evidence was ever presented, assumed that the letters were sent at the time of England’s split with Rome and perhaps as evidence of Henry’s affair with Anne.
The new evidence indicates that the letters were all together, and still in England in 1601, in the possession of a Jesuit Priest who promised to send them to a colleague in Rome who was writing a text on the English Reformation. They appear, therefore, to have not had any influence on the Pope’s refusal to grant Henry VIII his divorce. The Vatican was already sufficiently convinced of the seriousness, and undesirability (from their point of view) of the relationship between Henry and Anne. Later Anne would be demonised for her role as if the central protagonist for Henry’s extreme behaviour.
The article in which Estelle and her colleague’s work has been shared can be found behind a paywall at The Times Literary Supplement (requires membership) - https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/henry-viii-anne-boleyn-vatican-essay/
I also talk about this at length in this week’s Tea Time History Chat Live (scroll down to view).
You can hear Dr Estelle Paranque talk on ‘The Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots’ tour, this September.
Has Charles III changed his mind on allowing the bones of the ‘Princes in the Tower’ to be exhumed and examined?
Thank you to Martha for sending me a Daily Mail article, published on the 18th January this year, which claims that insider sources have informed them that Charles III has been dissuaded from allowing the exhumation and examination of the bones in Westminster Abbey claimed to be those of the ‘Princes in the Tower’, the young nephews of Richard III, Edward V and Richard, Duke of York.
The reason given is that any investigation is likely to be inconclusive as to the identity of the children and could not provide any clue as to how they died or (of course) who killed them. They should therefore be left in peace. What do you think?
Tea Time History Chat Live
This week: -
Anne Boleyn's Love Letters and new evidence of how they got to the Vatican.
Princess Charlotte. A spotlight on an important princess
Will Charles III refuse to have the bones of the Princes in the Tower examined
and I talk through possibly the best day ever for a Tudor history lovers (as detailed above).
In the next livestream, this Wednesday 1st February, at 1pm. I will be covering:
Why is Henry VIII buried with Jane Seymour?
Spotlight on Katherine Grey - the tragedy of Elizabeth I’s heir
The Execution of Charles I - how was he charged with treason?
Join Me - Set a reminder on YouTube by clicking here.
Kate McCaffrey joins the list of tour speakers!
I am very happy to announce that Kate McCaffrey will be giving a talk on ‘The Private Life of Anne Boleyn’ tour, about one of Anne’s most private and treasured possessions, her Book of Hours and what her ongoing research can tell us about the book, how it was used by Anne and its own history.
As I mentioned last week, on a British History Tours tour you get access to a fantastic line up of historians, and guides. Our groups are kept small, and so you will never have a problem hearing a speaker or guide. We also ensure there is time to ask your own questions, and (of course!) get a photo with them and an autograph at the end.
Hear me and Gareth discuss the itinerary, hotels and his talks in this short video, double click on it below, you should be able to watch without leaving this email.
Book Club
Book List and Meeting Dates will be announced tomorrow!
Look out tomorrow for the announcement of which books have made it into the list for 2023! The dates for our live, virtual book club meetings will also be announced at the same time.
Book Club is part of the British History with Philippa Patreon. You can join in at anytime and there are many great benefits. I’d love to see you there!
History After Dark
This week’s topic: Charles Dickens
Click on the thumbnail image below to watch.
and finally…
… as a reminder, if you already know that you would like to be on ‘The Anne Boleyn Tour’, 16 - 20th May 2024, please email us to get your name on the priority list at office@britishhistorytours.com. Remember, if you are a member of my Patreon you get 7 days to book any tour before they are released to anyone else! Join Patreon.
Until next time!
Philippa x