Category: January - Meandering Through Time

History Bites: Marriage of Margaret Tudor

2/2/2017

The marriage of Margaret Tudor to James IV of Scotland took place on the 31st July in 1503, it followed their marriage by proxy 25th January 1503 at Richmond Palace.

The future queen of the Scots was where accompanied on her journey north by her father, they left Richmond Place at the end of June, crossing the border into Scotland on the 1st August were they were greeted by the Archbishop of Glasgow and a large crowd of nobles all decked out in ‘in rich jewels and massy chains’.

It may have taken Margaret a while to settle into her new Scottish life, it seems that she was homesick, writing to her father

‘I would I were with your Grace now and many times more.’

Margaret bore James six children, only one survived, the future James V, who was seventeen months old when James was killed fighting the English in 1513 at Flodden. Margaret stepped in to rule for her infant son, James V.

Her marriage, a year later to Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus, gave the Scottish Parliament an excuse to replace her with John Stewart, Duke of Albany.

History Bites: Trial of the Gunpowder Plotters Begins.

27/1/2017

By the end of the sixteenth century many followers of the Catholic faith had faced persecution, but had looked forward to a brighter future when King James I took the throne of England.

James had promised that there would be a greater tolerance and true to his word, after his coronation in 1603, he kept his promise and restrictions on Catholicism were lifted. Almost immediately after the changes took place the king had pressure placed on him by many of the Protestant faith and he soon performed a u-turn.

Angered by this, a group of men, headed by Robert Catesby, a descendant of Sir William Catesby, royal councillor and loyal friend of Richard III, plotted to blow up parliament and the king. These eight men rented a cellar below the Palace of Westminster and filled it with gunpowder, ready for the state opening of parliament on the fifth. They had previously approached Guy Fawkes who was "a man highly skilled in matters of war" and therefore an 'expert' with explosives.' The plotters plan ran smoothly, but they knew nothing of what has come to be known as the Monteagle Letter, it was this small note that was their undoing.

Fawkes was arrested and through torture gave the names of his fellow conspirators. These men whereabouts were discovered, two of the men had fled, one gave himself up but the rest, including Catesby stood their ground against the kings forces at Holbeche House in Staffordshire.

The trial of eight of the plotters began this day the 27th January 1606.

Khartoum

25/1/2017

Years ago, on a Sunday, usually after dinner, my mother and I would watch a film. My favourite was the epic, you know the kind of film I'm talking about - Spartacus, The Ten Commandments, Ben Hur etc.

I remember watching the 1966 film Khartoum, the story of General Charles Gordon's defense of the city of Khartoum from the forces of Muhammad Ahmad. This was one of the first films that had me asking questions about historical accuracy. General Gordon's death scene in the film was an almost accurate representation of George William Joy's painting - General Gordon's Last Stand. I remember learning that Joy liked to paint idealised images of patriotic heroes and the film too portrayed Gordon this way. (You can view that scene here youtu.be/rlvJznNXdto)

I later learnt that in reality, Gordon didn’t come out onto the veranda mesmerising the marauding enemy with his presence, he came out all guns blazing and after that it didn't take me long to come to the conclusion that films, more often than not, give us the wrong impression, fooling us into thinking that what we see is what really happened.

At the time I watched the film, I also couldn't make up my mind if Gordon was a hero or not, my mother said he was. However, I have to admit I know nothing of Gordon, other than these few facts I found an a book all those years ago.

The real Gordon, I believe, was in the Sudan for a number of years previous to his posting to Khartoum, but was sent back to sort out the aforementioned Mahdi's revolt. On the 26th January 1885 he died after being cut off in Khartoum for nearly a year. His actions in Khartoum and the horrific manner of his death, lead to General Gordon being hailed a hero, whilst Gladstone, who was Prime Minister at the time, was so disliked you'd have thought he'd thrown the spear himself. Garnet Wolsey, who was sent to relieve Gordon but did not get there in time blamed Gladstone calling him a

'tradesman who has become a politician."

I think I had better add General Charles Gordon's biography to my wishlist.

History Bites: The Death of Sir Francis Drake

24/1/2017

Sir Francis Drake died on the 27th January 1596 of dysentery while in the West Indies doing what he loved best, that is attacking the Spanish. Drakes body, all decked out in a suit of armour, was buried at sea in a lead coffin, just of the coast of Panama.

Sir Francis Drake, all cool, calm and collected, and handsome to boot, fits our romantic ideals as the perfect hero, and what better story to demonstrates this than his famous game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe. On being told that Spanish ships had been spotted he famously remarked that there was plenty of time for him to finish his game.

Now, that is cool, if he actually said it!

History Bites: Birth of Edmund Crouchback

14/1/2017

Edmund Crouchback, son of Henry III and Eleanor of Provence, was born on the 16th January 1245.

14th century image of a knight, thought to be Edmund with Saint George, taken from a manuscript held at Oxford's Bodleian Library.

Edmund's nickname Crouchback is thought to be derived from the black cross he wore on his back during his time in the Crusades. However, his second son Henry of Lancaster, also went by a nick name, that of Wryneck (the same name as a bird who can turn its head almost 180 degrees.) This condition we know now of as Torticollis, where the muscles of the neck cause the head to twist to one side.

Although there seems to be no evidence of Edmund having any physical deformity, we can only wonder if he suffered from the same and passed it to his son, Henry's condition being more noticeable.

Trial of Henry Howard

12/1/2017

On the 13th January 1547, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, stood trial on the charge of high treason for conspiracy and having

“displayed in his own heraldry the royal arms and insignia, with three labels silver, thereby threatening the king’s title to
the throne and the prince’s inheritance”

Henry Howard was first cousin to both Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, both Henry VIII's queens. He was a talented poet, most of his work is said to have been written while he was imprisoned and published ten year following his execution. His poem Fair Geraldine, is thought to have been about Lady Elizabeth Fitzgerald, the wife of Sir Anthony Browne.

Elizabeth Fitzgerald was famous for her beauty, the name Fair Geraldine, is said to have derived from Howard's poem.

"Fair all the pageant but how passing fair
The slender form, that lay on couch of Ind!
O'er her white bosom strayed her hazel hair,
Pale her dear cheek, as if for love she pined;
All in her night-robe loose, she lay reclined,
And, pensive, read from tablet eburnine
Some strain that seemed her inmost soul to find:
That favoured strain was Surrey's raptured line,
That fair and lovely form, the Lady Geraldine."

At the beginning of December 1546, the king was informed that there was evidence of a conspiracy against him, and Henry had Howard arrested. Despite being questioned at length by Thomas Wriothesley, he denied his guilt. Within days he was taken from Ely Place to the Tower of London to await trial.

At least four of his so called friends gave evidence against him and his judges were men known to dislike him. He entered a plea of not guilty and stood in his own defense. By the end of the day his passionate defence got him nowhere, he was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn, but this was later commuted to beheading which took place six days later on the 19th January.

Henry Howard would be the last person to be executed by the paranoid and dying King Henry VIII.

John Singer Sargent and the National Trust

12/1/2017

12th January 1856: The Birth of John Singer Sargent and the founding, by three Victorian philanthropists Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley, of The National Trust. Bringing the two events together is actress Ellen Terry.

Ellen Terry is shown here in the role of Lady Macbeth in a painting by John Singer Sargent. Terry first performed this role in 1888 and it was here that Sargent was inspired by Terry's appearance and persuaded her to sit for the portrait. Oscar Wilde, who saw Terry's arrival at Sargent's Chelsea studio, remarked.

'The street that on a wet and dreary morning has vouchsafed the vision of Lady Macbeth in full regalia magnificently seated in a four-wheeler can never again be as other streets: it must always be full of wonderful possibilities.'

The dress itself is now the property of the National Trust and is one of the most important items they hold. The emerald and sea green gown is made up of the iridescent wings of the Jewel Beetle which the insects naturally shed as part of their life cycle.

Below is Terry wearing the dress in the above mentioned play.

Today it is well over one hundred years old, sadly due to over handling, the fabric is now very weak and a shadow of its original self.

The National Trust in England, Wales and Northern Ireland "look after a quarter of a million hectares of land, 775 miles of coastline, and thousands of archaeological monuments and historic buildings, large and small. Every year many millions of people enjoy the special places in our care."

Thomas Fairfax

17/1/2016

One of the most important leaders of the English Civil War, Thomas Fairfax, was born this day in 1612.

Fairfax, being tall, dark and I suspect handsome was known by his nick name Black Tom. He lead his troops to victory at the battle of Battle of Nantwich in 1644, Naseby in 1645 and Colchester in 1648. At 32 he was appointed Commander in Chief of the New Model Army.

Fairfax was a popular general, but could be ruthless, he approved the executions of Royalist leaders George Lisle and Charles Lucas and the following year he ordered the execution of mutineers. However, he was a man of action not a man of words, often finding himself out maneuvered in Parliament he sort to resign his post as Commander in Chief, but was persuaded not to, but he would eventually find himself overshadowed by Oliver Cromwell.

It must not be forgotten that Fairfax was instrumental in the defeat of the Royalist party, but he also played his part in the restoration of the monarchy, it was one of Fairfax's horses that England's new king, Charles II rode at his coronation.

King Charles I said of Thomas Fairfax

"The general is a man of great honour."

Coronation of Elizabeth I

15/1/2015

The Golden Age Arrives

It was almost a month, following the burial of Mary, that Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, was crowned queen of England, her coronation took place on the 15th January 1559.

The day before, the crowded streets of London saw the fourth of five pageants take place where Elizabeth was seen by the public carried through the streets on a golden litter.

This fourth pageant represented the contrast between the previous reign of Mary's and the forthcoming one of the new queen. During the penultimate event a bible was presented to Elizabeth. Taking the bible, Elizabeth kissed it and laid it on her breast causing much whooping within the large crowd. This action would lead to the fifth pageant where Elizabeth would be portrayed as Deborah, an old testament prophet, who 'rescued the House of Israel' and went on to rule for forty years.

During this final festivity, Elizabeth said to the Lord Mayor:

"And whereas your request is that I should continue your good lady and be Queen, be ye ensured that I will be as good unto you as ever Queen was unto her people. No will in me can lack, neither do I trust shall there lack any power. And persuade yourselves that for the safety and quietness of you all I will not spare if need be to spend my blood. God thank you all."

Elizabeth had always been popular with the English people and this event, which turned out to be very successful, proved how happy the English people were to see her take the throne.

Elizabeth's coronation took place on the Sunday in Westminster Abbey, and was said to be a

"clever compromise between the Catholic practices that existed and the Protestant ones that she intended to introduce."

Although Elizabeth was crowned by a Catholic bishop in Latin, other parts of the service were read twice in both Latin and English. Following this Elizabeth stepped out from the abbey and faced her people with her crown, orb and sceptre as Queen Elizabeth I of England.

The original 1559 coronation portrait has been lost but we can see what Elizabeth looked like in her coronation robes in a copy dated 1600. It is in miniature form by an unknown artist which is held in a private collection.

Ambrose Rookwoode

7/11/2014

On the 31st January 1606, Thomas Wintour and Robert Keyes were drawn from the Tower to the Old Palace Yard at Westminster, Guy Fawkes was brought to the scaffold too, but he was made to watch as his fellow plotters were hanged and quartered. Twenty-eight year old Ambrose Rookwood was another of the Gunpowder Plotters who also went to the gallows that day.

Rookwoode had spent over two months in the Tower of London, and below you can see a carving by an Ambrose Rookwoode in the wall of the Martin Tower. There were, in fact, two men known by the name of Ambrose Rookwoode - the above named Rookwoode and his great-grandson, a Jacobite soldier who was tried for treason and executed at Tyburn on 29 April 1696, ninety years after his namesake. However, it is not quite clear which Rookwoode was responsible for the carving, or which one of them was held in this tower. The fact that Henry Percy was held in the same tower adds weight to it being Rookwoode senior. Incidentally, for his part in the Gunpowder Plot, Henry Percy spent the following seventeen years incarcerated there.

Rookwood, ‘well-built and handsome, if somewhat short’, 'genial', ‘well-lettered’, and ‘very secret.’ was a member of an ancient family of Stanningfield in Suffolk who were wealthy and staunchly Catholic. His wife, Elizabeth Tyrwhitt's family were also a prominent Catholic family from Lincolnshire.

By the end of 1605, according to his confession, Rookwoode was approached by Catesby, Winter and Wright, he stated that he hadn't known the reason for supplying the men with gunpowder at a house in Lambeth. This may be true, Catesby, as the ring leader, was a determined man and also charming and it maybe that Rookwoode was easily persuaded.

After the capture of Fawkes, Rookwoode was among the men fighting of the kings forces at Holbeche House in Staffordshire, he was shot in the right arm and his face burnt, he was captured and taken to London and 'questioned at great length.' During his trial, he stated that he was led astray by Catesby and pleaded not guilty. Labeled a traitor, he was destined for a traitors death, four days after his trial he was drawn to his death. Rookwoode asked to be taken past his home where his dutiful wife Elizabeth was waiting at the window, he is said to have shouted 'Pray for me, pray for me!'

Rookwoode met his death on the gallows at Westminster Yard, even though he showed remorse, he was left to hang for longer than the others, a small mercy perhaps - he would be dead before they disemboweled him!