Clips on Amy Dudley and her relationship with her husband who was Elizabeth I's infamous f
Clips on Amy Dudley and her relationship with her husband who was Elizabeth I's infamous favourite.
Amy Dudley, nee Robsart, was Robert Dudley's first wife, and they married on 4th June 1550. Whilst Robert prospered soon after the accession of Elizabeth, Amy remained away from court. At the time of her death she was living at Cumnor Place in Berkshire.
Amy was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in the evening of the 8th September 1560. There was soon an investigation into the matter and the coroner's jury found that the death had been accidental. Allegations of suicide arose however this was strongly denied by her servants.
There were persistent rumours that Amy had been murdered by her husband so he could be free to marry Elizabeth. However it is debatable whether Dudley would have done this as undoubtedly he would always be the prime suspect owing to his close relationship with another woman and so could not murder his wife and avoid any allegation. Dudley does not appear to have profited by Amy's death; is anything it added another obstacle to him marrying Elizabeth and if the pair ever married it would only confirm to many the idea that Dudley had murdered his wife.
In 1956 a new theory was promoted by Ian Aird which suggested that Amy had been suffering from ill health and notes how one contemporary account noted how Amy suffered from a malady in one of her breasts. This could be a reference to breast cancer and Amy may have been extremely weary and in a fragile state and so accidently tripped and fallen whilst going down the stairs. However this theory does not take account of the fact that Amy was sufficiently well to travel around to different households prior to her death.
It is very probable that Amy's death was an accident. Many who promoted the idea that she had been murdered had an agenda. However there appears to be little occasion for a planned attack on Amy to be carried out as she was constantly surrounded by household servants.
According to Dudley's household officer, Thomas Blount, the absence of servants on the day of the incident was due to Amy's spontaneous instruction that the servants should go to a fair at Abingdon. When they came back they found her dead (and Blount at first believed Amy may have sent her servants away to commit suicide). But any potential murder would not have been assured as Amy's decision to be alone was a sudden instruction.
Another video on this subject:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0xxXxuBFxBw&feature=PlayList&p =05FE3B70FFE0F874&index=3
(more)
(less)
Added: 12 hours ago
Views: 66
Short clip of a young Katherine of Aragon from 'Juana la Loca' (2001).
In this scene Ka
Short clip of a young Katherine of Aragon from 'Juana la Loca' (2001).
In this scene Katherine and her siblings say goodbye to their sister Juana, who is being sent to Burgundy to marry Philip, son of the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I. Also present is Juana and Katherine's mother, Isabella of Castile who gives advice to her daughter before her journey.
Juana was the daughter of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon and subsequently was eldest sister to Katherine of Aragon. In 1496 Juana married Philip of Burgundy and the couple had six children. A series of family deaths resulted in Juana becoming heir to the throne of Castile and on the death of her mother in 1504, Juana inherited the kingdom. Conflict emerged between her husband and her father both of which strove to exert influence in Castile. In 1506 Philip suddenly died and Juana was recorded to be stricken with grief. She was declared too unstable to rule and confined by her father. Her eldest son, Charles inherited his father's lands and also became his grandfather, Ferdinand's heir. Upon Ferdinand's death in 1516, Charles took control of Aragon and although named co-ruler of Castile with his mother she was still kept incarcerated. She remained imprisoned till her death in 1555.
Juana was the maternal aunt of Queen Mary I of England. Juana was also grandmother to Philip II of Spain, who Mary married.
(more)
(less)
Added: 1 week ago
Views: 717
Clips of Keith Michell's last performance as Henry VIII from "The Prince and the Pauper" (
Clips of Keith Michell's last performance as Henry VIII from "The Prince and the Pauper" (1996). And he still looks convincing even though he was 68 at the time of filming.
I recommend this family drama; the costumes are great and the script is quite good. James Purefoy and Sophia Myles fans will enjoy this one too as both feature (Myles as Lady Jane Grey).
I will post more scenes of this drama soon as this tends to be one which many people have not heard of.
(more)
(less)
Added: 2 weeks ago
Views: 525
|
On this day in 1553, Edward VI died. On the 10thJune, Jane Grey, Edward's second cousin an
On this day in 1553, Edward VI died. On the 10thJune, Jane Grey, Edward's second cousin and granddaughter of Mary Tudor (Henry VIII's sister) was proclaimed queen. The action was divisive as many doubted the legality of the change in succession. According to Henry VIII's will, Edward's heir was his eldest sister, Mary. Mary was a devout Catholic and as such was not considered a desirable candidate by her staunchly Protestant brother. The succession of Mary threatened to undermine the Protestant reformation that had been implemented under Edward and this is a large factor as to why Edward moved against his sister. However despite various differences, many Catholics and Protestants came to regard Mary as the lawful heir and Jane did not have complete support from fellow reformers. It has been argued that Edward's actions were not legal because he never used parliament to change the succession. Basically, Henry VIII's plan for the succession was implemented via the form of an act of parliament which means that Henry had used parliament to legalise his succession. Edward came to objected his father's succession. But he did not use parliament to change the succession; instead his new plan was devised by himself (perhaps also the Duke of Northumberland) and approved by councillors. Also Edward was technically a minor and did not hold full powers alone, so there is some debate about whether he held the power to make such a decision.
How Jane became Edward's heir is slightly disputed as some historians traditionally point to her father-in-law as being heavily involved in her succession whilst many recent historians have pointed out that Edward was in his own right dismayed with his sister as his heir and therefore elected Jane. Edward's plan for the succession, which Edward called his 'Device' for the succession, can be seen here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20631910@N03/2608091133/in/set- 72157605809782158/
As you can see Edward first left the throne to the 'heires masles' of Lady Jane Grey, but realising that Jane would not have sons prior to his death, this is changed to 'L Jane and her heires masles'.
(more)
(less)
Added: 2 weeks ago
Views: 778
In October 1562 Elizabeth I contracted smallpox and was fatally ill. She became unconsciou
In October 1562 Elizabeth I contracted smallpox and was fatally ill. She became unconscious and incapable to speak. After she recovered Elizabeth would say of her illness:
"death possessed almost every joint of me, so as I wished then that the feeble thread of life, which lasted (methought) all too long, might by Clotho's hand have quietly been cut off".
For a week she suffered from a high fever and there was panic as many feared she would die. The situation at the time was ambiguous -- Elizabeth's likely heir was her distant cousin Mary Stuart who was Catholic. In contrast Elizabeth had re-established a separate Church of England with herself as head of this, and there were fears amongst Protestants in England that Mary's accession would see a return to the situation under Mary I of England (i.e. a return to the Catholic Church). At the time Elizabeth lay ill, some members of the council were planning to secure the throne for Katherine Grey, the sister of Lady Jane Grey. Under Henry VIII's will, Katherine had the legal claim to the throne and she was Protestant which suited the Protestants in England. Yet other people at court, including Robert Dudley, appear to have favoured another individual -- Henry Hastings, earl of Huntingdon. Incidentally Henry was Robert Dudley's brother-in-law.
Throughout most of her fever Elizabeth lay speechless but when she regained ability to speak, she is believed to have voiced concerns for Robert Dudley. Believing herself to be dying, she requested that Dudley be well provide for by making him protector of the kingdom with a title and an income of £20,000. To please her, the Council agreed although according to the Spanish ambassador, the Council did not mean to raise Dudley to such a position.
What I like about this scene is that they have included Elizabeth's speech where she protested that nothing indecent had ever happened between Robert and herself. Historically, Elizabeth is believed to have said such a thing whilst laying ill so it is great that the series included this.
Near the end of the clip one of Elizabeth's ladies looks upon her hand in horror after seeing marks. The lady in question is Mary Dudley, sister to Robert Dudley. Mary did nurse Elizabeth and subsequently caught smallpox. According to accounts, she was badly scarred as a result. Later on in this episode Robert Dudley is talking to his sister and the camera throughout focuses on just him only to reveal at the end of entire scene that she has been badly affected by the illnesses. Whilst she was badly affected, the real Mary did not become entirely withdrawn as she attended court afterward recovering and accompanied her husband on his various duties throughout most of the rest of her life.
(more)
(less)
Added: 3 weeks ago
Views: 662
Short vid which highlights the beginning of Henry's urgency for a male heir. The sweet sce
Short vid which highlights the beginning of Henry's urgency for a male heir. The sweet scene between Henry and his daughter Mary highlights how Henry was certainly fond of his daughter yet simultaneously pressure was mounting to produce a male heir.
It is interesting how the drama raises the idea that Wolsey wished for Henry to discard Katherine and marry a French princess. Historically, at the beginning of the procedure for the annulment Wolsey is believed to have thought that the king wanted to make a French marriage which Wolsey supported. However it soon became apparent that the king had Anne Boleyn in mind as his future wife and not a French princess.
When the real Henry stared to question his marriage is debatable. Some argue that this came about conveniently when he fell in love with Anne Boleyn; others point to the fact that the marriage had been questioned by others before that and Henry may have been concerned by such questions then. We will never know the exact time however it is probable that as the years went by and no son was born Henry stared to become more concerned with the lack of a male heir and perhaps this lead him to ask more and more questions about his marriage.
(more)
(less)
Added: 3 weeks ago
Views: 656
|
'Green growth the holy' set to various images relating to the sixteenth century. The song
'Green growth the holy' set to various images relating to the sixteenth century. The song is similar to a carol and may have been composed for Christmas revels at court.
The lyrics:
Grene growth the holy
So doth the ive,
Thow winter blastys blow never so hye,
Grene growth the holy.
As the holy grouth grene
And never chaungyth hew,
So I am, ever hath bene,
Unto my lady trew.
Grene growth the holy, etc.
As the holy grouth grene
With ive all alone
When flowerys cannot be sene
And grenewode levys be gone
Grene growth the holy, etc.
Now unto my lady
Promyse to her I make,
Frome all other only
To her I me betake
Grene growth the holy, etc.
Adew, myne owne lady,
Adew, my specyall,
Who hath my hart trewly.
Be suere, and ever shall.
Grene growth the holy, etc.
I'm too lazy to list information about all the images but if anyone wants details about a certain image then I will post it.
(more)
(less)
Added: 3 weeks ago
Views: 308
A short fictionalised scene between Thomas Cranmer and Elizabeth in the Tower. The scene i
A short fictionalised scene between Thomas Cranmer and Elizabeth in the Tower. The scene is placed at the time of Cranmer and Elizabeth's respective disgraces during the reign of Mary I. Although both were placed within the Tower it is highly unlikely that they were given the opportunity to talk as both were important prisoners to be monitored carefully.
I thought the scene was interesting though as it refers to Cranmer's connection to Elizabeth. Cranmer was Elizabeth's godfather and had been a supporter and friend of Anne Boleyn. We know that Anne Boleyn inspired great loyalty in some reformers including Matthew Parker, who went on to become Archbishop of Canterbury in Elizabeth's reign. Parker felt it as his duty to look out for Elizabeth and was grateful towards Anne for her help in acquiring him a position. Cranmer would of course be the man who pronounced Anne's marriage as void and Elizabeth as a bastard in May 1536, however Cranmer appears to have felt uneasy about this and shocked when he first learnt of Anne's arrest. According to one story the Scottish evangelical Alexander Alesius found Cranmer walking restlessly around Lambeth Palace on the day of Anne's execution. When he approached Cranmer he stated that 'she who has been the Queen of England on earth will today become a Queen in heaven', and then broke down in tears. Perhaps Cranmer was moved by Anne's last confession (no doubt she had told him of her innocence which understandably affected Cranmer).
(more)
(less)
Added: 1 month ago
Views: 702
Clips on Hatfield House and the nearby area of St Albans.
The documentary is on the who
Clips on Hatfield House and the nearby area of St Albans.
The documentary is on the whole good although they included a couple of inaccuracies. Elizabeth was not sent to the Tower with Thomas Seymour -- instead she was placed under house arrest. She was sent to the Tower during the reign of her sister Mary I. Elizabeth's governess however Kat Astley, was sent to the Tower along with her cofferer, Thomas Parry.
Also they have randomly stuck in a portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots when they are supposed to be discussing Elizabeth's relationship with Mary Tudor (aka Mary I of England, Elizabeth's sister). For some reason the two Marys tend to get mixed up even though they had different surnames and were queens of different countries. Plus they met different ends.
From December 1548, Elizabeth had her own household (numbering around 120-140 people) which was based mostly at Hatfield. She acquired this property from the Lord Protector of the realm (the Duke of Somerset) and preferred this residence to her other one at Ashridge. It was at Hatfield that she learnt the news that her sister Mary had died and that she was queen. As Mary lay dying the roads to Hatfield were full of people trying to see the soon to be queen and offer her their allegiance in the hope of self advancement.
The traditional tale of Elizabeth standing under an oak tree in Hatfield park when she received the news that she was queen is a popular story, but one that was unfortunately invented around seventy years after the event itself. However Elizabeth was at Hatfield when she received the news so perhaps she was greeted in the gardens or within the house itself.
The documentary mentions that several items belonging to Elizabeth, still survive at Hatfield. There is also another pair of Elizabeth's gloves that can be seen today at Berkeley Castle in South Gloucestershire. Plus they also house one of Elizabeth's embroidered purses and a bed cover used on the bed she slept in during one of her stays there.
(more)
(less)
Added: 1 month ago
Views: 640
|
|
See All 156 Videos
|
