tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1867678748289114622024-02-07T05:25:45.967-08:00Being Bess'BeingBess' is dedicated to celebrating the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603) through research, first-person interpretation and multimedia.Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comBlogger241125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-83028049741806665812018-01-13T07:05:00.001-08:002018-01-13T07:05:48.951-08:00Elizabethan Quote of the Day: Ambassador de Feria on Queen Elizabeth I<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7e2jdrhdUA71YotRfQf1Notgj3hC5xIF6KPs6zbYGyJARhJLOe4VXFlQGhP1LXi4FDAiyrHRn9ZcAEGRTg8aDB1_DSSAtY7yoJ7CCztN20LXnOzQNEv6EGEJHqsTZLd65QLO5PT2CCidm/s1600/26229459_2103893459681979_68708697794818103_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="435" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7e2jdrhdUA71YotRfQf1Notgj3hC5xIF6KPs6zbYGyJARhJLOe4VXFlQGhP1LXi4FDAiyrHRn9ZcAEGRTg8aDB1_DSSAtY7yoJ7CCztN20LXnOzQNEv6EGEJHqsTZLd65QLO5PT2CCidm/s320/26229459_2103893459681979_68708697794818103_n.jpg" width="185" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A detail of a crowned Tudor rose from a portrait of Queen Elizabeth I. Image via BeingBess Facebook page.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Count de Feria, the Spanish Ambassador at the English court early in Queen Elizabeth I's reign, was not the queen's biggest fan. In one of his first reports of her to King Philip II of Spain, de Feria wrote that he found the queen to be:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>'sharp, without prudence. She is a very vain and clever woman. She must have been thoroughly schooled in the manner in which her father conducted his affairs. She is determined to be governed by no one.'</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Of course, the qualities that de Feria found so distasteful in Elizabeth were perfectly acceptable in this time period if they belonged to a man. Ambassador de Feria was clearly intimidated by this new, impressive queen.</span>Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-86623784614068094682017-07-16T10:25:00.000-07:002017-07-16T10:41:27.418-07:00Review: Colouring History - The Tudors<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUq3rM-urqMxEEMJzWG2y5NmIaAzkmY_6iHHOBnPwrwX3Coyoa0cAeF78hY-L-ZFx-XomsYdXBvGfRAaufy7ZSoMt5Nn6Y6z6iSWU4UGa0eup_Zv2Q-UfvXPwlmdOIygkyAaIaa6nFvdJ3/s1600/20170713_115255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUq3rM-urqMxEEMJzWG2y5NmIaAzkmY_6iHHOBnPwrwX3Coyoa0cAeF78hY-L-ZFx-XomsYdXBvGfRAaufy7ZSoMt5Nn6Y6z6iSWU4UGa0eup_Zv2Q-UfvXPwlmdOIygkyAaIaa6nFvdJ3/s320/20170713_115255.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo © A.Jensen/BeingBess.</td></tr>
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While traditionally we think of children using coloring books, everybody loves to color, and "adult coloring books" are an exciting new trend. There aren't many historically themed coloring books out there that I know of, but that is changing, thanks to <i>Colouring History - The Tudors</i>. Text is by Natalie Grueninger, author and blogger of On The Tudor Trail, and the illustrations are by Kathryn Holman. I was lucky enough to receive a review copy from Trafalgar Press, and I got to coloring right away!<br />
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As I flipped through the pages of the book, trying to decide which picture I would color first, I became really impressed with the variety of the coloring pages. Some pages were renderings of actual famous Tudor portraits, some well known and some not-so-well known. Other pages were original designs inspired by history. There is something for everyone in this book, whether you like to color traditional pictures, or prefer abstract or geometric designs. And, each page is accompanied by information about the picture, so you can learn while you color!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVN4Z_TjX3LpYPKFTG4gysZcpjnb3M2ALdczCuovuKh0n281M7O9GgOCLoxbNVcNp5j1YXZBWE7P9cWPsC0PRiE15vfOzqxEVpBpVBVENnL3p6nHQLQqUkgadf4aaFKcAq07PAdBiv8n4/s1600/20170716_115903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVN4Z_TjX3LpYPKFTG4gysZcpjnb3M2ALdczCuovuKh0n281M7O9GgOCLoxbNVcNp5j1YXZBWE7P9cWPsC0PRiE15vfOzqxEVpBpVBVENnL3p6nHQLQqUkgadf4aaFKcAq07PAdBiv8n4/s320/20170716_115903.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heraldic badges of King Henry VIII's third, fourth, fifth and sixth wives. Photo © A.Jensen/BeingBess.</td></tr>
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I chose a picture of a Tudor village to start, and it was so wonderfully detailed that it kept me busy for two days! I was really pleased with the quality of the picture when I finished, which is a testament to the coloring page, not my minimal abilities as an artist!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbv1r2lZSZHpiGQt63OWqAx_PVJ9noPBNodP_B7jd0rFYw4GwxeIhdISholzIzg3E9G6HHTiiwXYQA8zNnS4PP6auFsVrt_q3tpD7bQqg3-wfwSSXl-tLFq492WtjuUGOS63F5I9CzGJS/s1600/20170716_115812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbv1r2lZSZHpiGQt63OWqAx_PVJ9noPBNodP_B7jd0rFYw4GwxeIhdISholzIzg3E9G6HHTiiwXYQA8zNnS4PP6auFsVrt_q3tpD7bQqg3-wfwSSXl-tLFq492WtjuUGOS63F5I9CzGJS/s320/20170716_115812.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished product! Photo © A.Jensen/BeingBess.</td></tr>
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While I will be primarily using this coloring book for myself, it occured to me that many of these pages would photocopy well, and could be used in a classroom or in a program for an activity. I intend to make photocopies of my favorite Tudor themed pages and save them for the next time I do a BeingBess event.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGHL5NUS-_hmtVSYkp_Vg35QJbpok0CvVYANwlvajdQ-JZc4ljD1_ky78LIpv8dbowVjtXmxeq_1qDxxCbH6BPrU83pqKdRh529UrVtD8SnHVb13eseDjNPGN0MJIaoaVdJ79FfXL3ewp/s1600/20170716_120018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGHL5NUS-_hmtVSYkp_Vg35QJbpok0CvVYANwlvajdQ-JZc4ljD1_ky78LIpv8dbowVjtXmxeq_1qDxxCbH6BPrU83pqKdRh529UrVtD8SnHVb13eseDjNPGN0MJIaoaVdJ79FfXL3ewp/s320/20170716_120018.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rendering of Gower's <i>Armada Portrait </i>of Queen Elizabeth I. Photo © A.Jensen/BeingBess.</td></tr>
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I recommend buying this book if you like Tudor history and art, or are looking for stress relief (coloring is excellent for stress relief!) It can be used by adults or children, and would make a superb holiday or birthday gift for the Tudor-phile in your life!<br />
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Share photos of your pictures on Instagram with the hashtag #ColouringHistory / #ColoringHistoryAshlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-41539460791631316302017-07-01T07:49:00.000-07:002017-07-01T07:49:25.416-07:00Queen Elizabeth I's Apartments at Leicester's Kenilworth CastleThe construction of the enormous Kenilworth Castle spans many centuries and many different owners.The part of the castle of special interest to fans of Elizabethan history is known as Leicester's Building. Queen Elizabeth I's favorite, Robert Dudley, 1st earl of Leicester (c.1532-1588) took ownership of Kenilworth in 1563. He made many additions to the castle, including Leicester's Gatehouse and Leicester's Building, which housed the apartments built for Queen Elizabeth I during her third visit to Kenilworth in 1572. The apartments were altered and improved before her fourth and final visit to the castle in July of 1575. This visit lasted for nineteen days - the longest stay by the queen at a courtier's home while on progress. There is an air of romanticism that surrounds this historic visit, as many historians suspect that, during the elaborate celebrations designed by Leicester in honor of the queen, queen Elizabeth's lifelong friend and confidante made his final proposal of marriage to the queen. Queen Elizabeth I was 42 years old.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dCdg-zgaW1URU4QH-LCk5wYp1JwKzNCCUUXlVAkrCSR7KnRCJYr6R0pUAshk59PloKc9ItYwUnr2M6-g4qqBMh_dkXmNHvLA_b37RFa6o83nN6Ew3SqPjFMhieBKq_O5ZpKk8XzCGw4p/s1600/38Kenil.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dCdg-zgaW1URU4QH-LCk5wYp1JwKzNCCUUXlVAkrCSR7KnRCJYr6R0pUAshk59PloKc9ItYwUnr2M6-g4qqBMh_dkXmNHvLA_b37RFa6o83nN6Ew3SqPjFMhieBKq_O5ZpKk8XzCGw4p/s320/38Kenil.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leicester's Building. Photo © A.Jensen/BeingBess. </td></tr>
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The queen's privy apartments and gardens, which included an aviary, were completed between 1572-75 for her to enjoy upon her visits to the castle. Based upon an eyewitness account of the 1575 celebrations by Robert Langham, the garden has been meticulously recreated by Kenilworth Castle staff. When you walk among the flowers and the fountain, you are seeing the garden through Queen Elizabeth I's eyes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAvexQ_De3LWkPXJpCcIKxmsqd1Bec247GsPO1TEb3yFVLWzx4GFgUMp3tXubRsnhW1JoetHcG4VL0pUUotNGt_twISEHgJXYejlA6qv6pOnNP6ZajGq667D78Ays1g29C1n0Qubl4ovu/s1600/39Kenil.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAvexQ_De3LWkPXJpCcIKxmsqd1Bec247GsPO1TEb3yFVLWzx4GFgUMp3tXubRsnhW1JoetHcG4VL0pUUotNGt_twISEHgJXYejlA6qv6pOnNP6ZajGq667D78Ays1g29C1n0Qubl4ovu/s320/39Kenil.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A reproduction of Queen Elizabeth I's garden at Kenilworth Castle. Photo © A.Jensen/BeingBess</td></tr>
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The first room of the queen's privy apartments, the outer chamber, stood before the door to the queen's bedchamber. It was here that Elizabeth I socialized with friends and courtiers. The floors above and below were probably used to lodge her ladies-in-waiting and other attendants. The stair turret was added around Elizabeth's third visit. It provided a private route for the queen to pass from her bedroom and inner chambers to the other floors of the building. Traces of the original stairs and landings survive, but they are to fragile to be walked upon by modern visitor.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-e29uHQK_Ve6mTA4uHIq-ZXUoPddMbCav-657H5BeM4WQQw7hyphenhypheno2ys2NtJaBN4hKR3hGnh1LLfYCFN7P02K74VKpeP5rBzkn5n_kaXCU6eEs3iiz1z8fuFJkOdHoSSjzYyt7xTCk6KtS/s1600/45ERI.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-e29uHQK_Ve6mTA4uHIq-ZXUoPddMbCav-657H5BeM4WQQw7hyphenhypheno2ys2NtJaBN4hKR3hGnh1LLfYCFN7P02K74VKpeP5rBzkn5n_kaXCU6eEs3iiz1z8fuFJkOdHoSSjzYyt7xTCk6KtS/s320/45ERI.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The queen's private stair turret. Photo © A.Jensen/BeingBess.</td></tr>
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The most important and private part of Leicester's Building was the queen's bedchamber. The presence of two fireplaces side-by-side informs us that there was formerly a timber wall between them, dividing the space into two rooms. The room furthest away was the queen's bedchamber. The room at the other end was the inner chamber, where Elizabeth I could meet with her councilors. The building was thoughtfully designed by Leicester so that courtiers could reach this point from the outer chamber without passing through the queen's bedchamber.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoi79nb5NB4PrCMiItwURoj-zbtpXuhIovukh_40-GPXvzSQQWhj_3QKKRBxmkFAgKwX_VaaDO4GkYhE_2bORXgV84ME147mjv667p3WRpfO7pXHLcN8_XSpNXNzoK5Dwqg9eOYvmkPoD/s1600/47ERI.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoi79nb5NB4PrCMiItwURoj-zbtpXuhIovukh_40-GPXvzSQQWhj_3QKKRBxmkFAgKwX_VaaDO4GkYhE_2bORXgV84ME147mjv667p3WRpfO7pXHLcN8_XSpNXNzoK5Dwqg9eOYvmkPoD/s320/47ERI.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What the queen's bedchamber would have looked like in 1575. Photo © A.Jensen/BeingBess.</td></tr>
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In what was probably the Long Gallery, a place where Queen Elizabeth could relax above her bedchamber, an interlude between the queen and some actors took place on 17 July, 1575. Elizabeth I was supposed to watch 'the Coventry men' perform a play for her below, but she became too distracted by the dancing that was going on in her own chamber (Elizabeth loved to dance). So, the queen asked the players to return two days later to re-stage the play. They honored their queen's request, and Elizabeth apparently liked the play very much, as she rewarded them with coins and with venison.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwrZ51tiaGenLZ1Q6byBwqXULxtVafyjfLtjdMzGP6cyx4LYMeg2t1tY35sq9R66lxo1JJMtYzH2XILGJoP0UKzFgqwoV3nIsEnfLsa4krOCL3e6lFqs568CJR9X_VDudvGPEKNlfxf1J/s1600/54ERI.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwrZ51tiaGenLZ1Q6byBwqXULxtVafyjfLtjdMzGP6cyx4LYMeg2t1tY35sq9R66lxo1JJMtYzH2XILGJoP0UKzFgqwoV3nIsEnfLsa4krOCL3e6lFqs568CJR9X_VDudvGPEKNlfxf1J/s320/54ERI.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the Long Gallery, where Queen Elizabeth I may have watched the Coventry men. Photo </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">© A.Jensen/BeingBess</td></tr>
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If you have not been to Kenilworth Castle before, I highly recommend it. Walking the
ruins, which are in remarkable condition, is like stepping back in time. There are few places where one can connect so profoundly to Queen Elizabeth I, but Kenilworth is one of them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwB59e-zCssHEir0AhonkSfIXXpqPXipfg6LLic42ink5_G8gUHB3Eqy8fiX1Q-HJpczu9IG4kreOLJ55Y_mtVl-xjZ85RBBvA5CAFTzPyj27110RTNmIigF-_dCIhAboB4ZWg5EYchwXp/s1600/31Kenil.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwB59e-zCssHEir0AhonkSfIXXpqPXipfg6LLic42ink5_G8gUHB3Eqy8fiX1Q-HJpczu9IG4kreOLJ55Y_mtVl-xjZ85RBBvA5CAFTzPyj27110RTNmIigF-_dCIhAboB4ZWg5EYchwXp/s320/31Kenil.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of just part of the impressive Kenilworth Castle. Photo © A.Jensen/BeingBess. </td></tr>
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<br />Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-85962425143186453632017-05-18T04:09:00.000-07:002017-05-18T04:09:20.709-07:00Theatre Thursday: A Review of 'King Elizabeth'<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGo34YpbSb3BzTwjCO5FJ-Al4JqbXNIFLnDSSkngp2R-9JEiSJ-2QGgkcJWa6nZ70r1CxtyYg50r1a4JHhgcQO3b6_4wKKaNiPWbrPzjVM0OM6T8aaCckSz23dXrRfw9yoqteUil2Ut5W/s1600/FB_IMG_1494782259185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGo34YpbSb3BzTwjCO5FJ-Al4JqbXNIFLnDSSkngp2R-9JEiSJ-2QGgkcJWa6nZ70r1CxtyYg50r1a4JHhgcQO3b6_4wKKaNiPWbrPzjVM0OM6T8aaCckSz23dXrRfw9yoqteUil2Ut5W/s320/FB_IMG_1494782259185.jpg" width="207" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Advertisement for the Gamm Theatre's production of 'King Elizabeth'. © Gamm Theatre </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This week, I went to see a play at the Gamm Theatre, centered on the rivalry between Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I. The play was called <i>King Elizabeth</i>, a new version of Friedrich Schiller's <i>Mary Stuart</i>, which was adapted and directed by Tony Estrella. Previously, I had seen <a href="http://beingbess.blogspot.com/2013/02/theatre-thursday-review-of-brentons.html" target="_blank">Howard Brenton's fantastic <i>Anne Boleyn </i>play</a> at the theatre, and had had the privilege of <a href="http://beingbess.blogspot.com/2013/02/religious-feminism-in-brentons-anne.html" target="_blank">interviewing the director of the play</a> for this blog. I already knew the theatre did good work and had an interest in representing powerful Tudor women on their stage. The show did not disappoint.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many of the most familiar faces of the Elizabethan court were present in the cast of characters, and each character was brought to life by a gifted actor or actress. The show did make some interesting choices when casting their roles, like having Master Davison, the man Elizabeth entrusted with the signed death warrant of Mary, Queen of Scots, portrayed by a woman. As the characters in <i>King Elizabeth</i> all wore modern clothes, this gender reversal did not seem inappropriate, although it would have been inaccurate to have a woman serve as a personal secretary in the sixteenth century.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a historian, I relished all of the historical details included in the script, and was delighted to find that real quotes said by Queen Elizabeth I were included in the dialogue, as were the contents of real letters written by Mary, Queen of Scots. These details gave the show credibility, and added to the emotionally compelling scenes. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">History tells us that Queen Elizabeth I never met her cousin, Mary Stuart, face-to-face, although they did write many letters to one another throughout their lifetimes. But <i>King Elizabeth</i>, like so many other movies and shows examining the rivalry of these two great queens, shows us what might have passed between them, if they ever had the opportunity to meet in secret. The confrontational scene in <i>King Elizabeth</i> takes place when Mary, Queen of Scots is given access to the grounds outside of her jailer Amyas Paulet's home, just as Elizabeth I's hunting party is passing through. Here, the two queens face one another in the woods. Where Queen Elizabeth is level-headed and unforgiving, Mary is defiant and hysterical. Their differing personalities make for an electrifying clash on stage.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXAciSd9ItdoBXF27HTXkAYGYq8-fod2jJkiq5PUv4e7Kzlhutcki5PxrdnMp3ATV5vXTBJ1UxhQZQjNt0IZCNuvbIe7n5I0DEMiU1S55ebfVKdWUnRbx1wDse9BHHBUBtyy_aXXIDFay/s1600/20170514_134825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXAciSd9ItdoBXF27HTXkAYGYq8-fod2jJkiq5PUv4e7Kzlhutcki5PxrdnMp3ATV5vXTBJ1UxhQZQjNt0IZCNuvbIe7n5I0DEMiU1S55ebfVKdWUnRbx1wDse9BHHBUBtyy_aXXIDFay/s320/20170514_134825.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A picture of the stage. © BeingBess/A.Jensen</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Overall, I enjoyed the play. But there were some things that bothered me, because they were either inaccurate or confusing. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The modern costuming used in the play didn't add any special significance to the story adaptation. The men were dressed in either modern military wear or formal wear, while Elizabeth I wore power suits. If the ensemble was trying to send a message to the audience through their modern clothing, it was unclear to me what that message might have been. Oddly, Elizabeth finally did don a period dress when she addressed the troops at Tilbury at the end, but the play failed to explain why the Spanish Armada was invading England and who Elizabeth I was addressing in her speech. If you didn't know your Elizabethan history, you might have left the theatre feeling confused by this scene.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Although the Babington Plot is mentioned at the beginning of the play, it is never explained how Mary Stuart was involved with the conspirators, sending them damning letters snuck out of her place of imprisonment in wine barrels. Because it is not explained how complicit she was in authorizing the plans, it appears to an audience that may not know enough background, that Mary is innocent and unjustly imprisoned. Instead of having the portrayals of the two queens more balanced in this adaptation, as was apparently the goal with the re-write, Mary Stuart is portrayed once again as a tragic victim, as she was in Schiller's version of the play.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Finally, the most jarring inaccuracy that stuck out is that the theatre used a picture of Queen Mary I to represent Mary, Queen of Scots on the stage. This was the first thing I noticed when I walked into the little black-box theatre, and the last thing I saw on my way out, and it really bothered me!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you have an opportunity to see <i>King Elizabeth</i>, I hope that you do. It covers a fascinating period in history, and there is nothing quite like being able to be a fly on the wall, watching the show-down between these two queenly cousins, Elizabeth Tudor and Mary Stuart.</span></span>Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-69347148588356949672017-04-18T05:06:00.000-07:002017-04-18T05:06:25.305-07:00Bess to Impress: A Rare Portrait of Elizabeth I, From a Private Collection<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitydX4AR0aL2QCuK7m-C62TqFXjkaNJzfLTq25t3LM-NMtGCBrg7-yc2cE5Lo7Rk5newoB5-qyAEW1Kyoe77gccU2-5f63bvYvIC_01NLaU5HAWmjpFA-eALd-Q3D_UJJ4PfXXSFVesAma/s1600/DSCN0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitydX4AR0aL2QCuK7m-C62TqFXjkaNJzfLTq25t3LM-NMtGCBrg7-yc2cE5Lo7Rk5newoB5-qyAEW1Kyoe77gccU2-5f63bvYvIC_01NLaU5HAWmjpFA-eALd-Q3D_UJJ4PfXXSFVesAma/s320/DSCN0127.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, circa 1560. Oil on panel, by an Unknown Artist. Yale Center for British Art. On loan from Neville and John Bryan. Photo by A.Jensen.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On my most recent trip to the Yale Center for British Art, I was pleased to discover that they had rotated some new Elizabethan portraits into the galleries. Of the new pieces on display, the portrait that captivated me the most was a small, unassuming oil on panel portrait of Queen Elizabeth I that I hadn't been previously aware it existed. I read that it was on loan to the museum from a private collection, which explained its anonymity. This also made me wonder how many other long-lost portraits of Queen Elizabeth I there are in people's personal homes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When this portrait of Queen Elizabeth I was made, it was still early in her reign, and Elizabeth's counselors expected her to marry a foreign prince. However, her attachment to her friend, Robert Dudley, prevented her from taking any marriage proposal seriously at this time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In the portrait, Elizabeth I is shown before a Canopy of State, with a courtyard in the background. The small stature of the portrait suggests that it may have been made for the home of someone close to Queen Elizabeth I. This is a possibility, as there have been many other portraits discovered of Elizabeth I that were made for personal use. It is easy to see the difference between the opulent, majestic State portraits of the queen, intended for display at court, versus the more understated ones, intended for private devotion in the homes of Elizabeth I's courtiers.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAVumbg45WGRb9j7pb2V4PyvQ2UV5UqnjGwsWuWGzM46F2drS9RTFPy2u52AbO1CTMx3QgGcxEkyWo0r5eVXCK3mcaX4uzJlPOvd4TihVn8qWvlfWv-gy2oLWtkAekb4ZapNKMRtwwQm6/s1600/DSCN0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAVumbg45WGRb9j7pb2V4PyvQ2UV5UqnjGwsWuWGzM46F2drS9RTFPy2u52AbO1CTMx3QgGcxEkyWo0r5eVXCK3mcaX4uzJlPOvd4TihVn8qWvlfWv-gy2oLWtkAekb4ZapNKMRtwwQm6/s320/DSCN0126.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, circa 1560. Oil on panel, by an Unknown
Artist. Yale Center for British Art. On loan from Neville and John
Bryan. Photo by A.Jensen.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A label on the reverse of the portrait shows that Elizabeth I had long been mistaken for another sitter, until the portrait came into the hands of the present owners. It is surprising to me that the sitter could have been thought to be anyone else, as her facial features so distinctly identify her as Elizabeth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's always exciting to discover something new that you never knew existed before; I was so happy to have seen this portrait in person, that I just knew I had to share it with all of you! It was encased in glass, so it was challenging to get a picture without a glare, but I hope the pictures I did manage to get captured the appeal of the portrait.</span><br />
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<br />Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-83028495906473910452017-03-22T09:09:00.000-07:002017-03-22T09:09:04.431-07:00The Discovery of Richard III: A Talk with Dr. Buckley<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait of King Richard III. From an artist from the British School. © The Royal Collection. Public domain.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Last night, I attended the Archaeological Institute of America's lecture series, featuring Dr. Richard Buckley. He presented <i>"The King Under the Carpark: Greyfriars, Leicester and the Search for Richard III"</i>. It was a real privilege to listen to one of the people who had worked on the excavation that revealed Richard III's body in 2012. I'd like to share what I learned with you, my readers. After all, the demise of Richard III is intrinsically linked to the rise of the Tudor dynasty. Henry Tudor defeated Richard at the Battle of Bosworth on August 22nd, 1485, claiming the throne of England for himself and his descendants. The finding of Richard III's remains is certainly one of the most significant historical discoveries in recent memory.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Leicester's greatest son had long been the infamous Cardinal Wolsey, advisor to King Henry VIII. But now, Leicester is famous for a very different reason: Richard III, the last Plantagenet king. Dr. Richard Buckley was contacted by Philippa Langley, who not only had a hunch as to wear the long-lost Yorkist king was buried, but also had the support (and donations) of the Richard III Society and some members of the Leicester city council, to conduct a dig in the hopes of finding Richard. It was known that Richard III had been buried at Greyfriars in Leicester following his defeat on the battlefield. Greyfriars would later become one of the religious houses dissolved by Henry VIII. It was rumored in town by the locals that Richard III's body had been removed by an angry mob and thrown over Bow Bridge. This was such a strong belief in the area that the Victorians erected a plaque near the bridge saying that it had indeed happened. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Greyfriars area in Leicester was largely unexplored. Most of Greyfriars is now covered by 18th and 19th century buildings. Only a small portion would be accessible to archaeologists. This meant that finding Richard III would be a long-shot. But Langley's enthusiasm made up for the skepticism of others on the team. In order to find Richard, the archaeologists would have to first find the Franciscan friary building, then identify specific buildings, locate the friary church, locate the east end of the church, specifically the choir, and then, if possible, locate the remains of Richard III.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On the 19th-20th of August, 1485 Richard III had entered Leicester, in preparation for his showdown with Henry Tudor. Richard and his men traveled from Leicester to Bosworth, where Richard allegedly saw an opening in the field where Henry was, and he rode out to fight him. Richard III was allegedly killed by the Welshman Rhys ap Thomas, and then his body was strapped to a horse and brought back to the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Leicester. The reason Henry Tudor did this is because he needed people to really see and believe that Richard III was dead. Since Richard had been staying in town before the battle, people there would have known what he looked like and could confirm that he was dead. Declaring a claimant to the throne dead was especially important, if you consider how Henry VII was plagued by pretenders to the throne for the entirety of his reign.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stained glass of Richard III and Henry Tudor (Henry VII) at the Battle of Bosworth Field. St. James Church, Sutton Cheney. Photo shared for public use by John Taylor.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">From the 23rd-24th, Richard III's body was put on display at the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This was especially insulting, considering that Richard III was a Yorkist king, but his body was lying in a Lancastrian church. On the 25th, the defeated king was buried without pomp at Greyfriars. The Franciscans had a history of taking in the remains of disgraced or executed noblemen, so burying the body of the fallen king was in their wheelhouse. Ten years later, Henry Tudor, now Henry VII, would pay for a tomb for Richard III.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In modern day, most of the Greyfriars site was covered by a social services carpark and modern buildings. The available area for excavation was only between 10-17%. Quite a bit of luck had to be factored in if the archaeological team was going to find Richard III. First, ground penetrating radar was used, which revealed underground cables and pipes, which would be useful to know about for when the team was digging. Three trenches were dug, and various artifacts were found. But at first, no king. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The team, slightly discouraged, was meeting one particular day when Dr. Buckley was informed that the archaeologists were digging up a body with a curvature of the spine and head trauma. Could this be Richard? Richard was said to have uneven shoulders in many contemporary sources, and was later portrayed as a hunchback by Shakespeare. The discovery sounded promising. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The body, tentatively thought of as Richard III before it could be officially confirmed, was buried in the choir, not the high altar, as would be expected for a King of England. The grave was roughly dug, with irregular sides. The burial was clearly a hurried job, as the grave was not big enough to fit a coffin, and was too short for the body inside it; the upper half of what was thought to be Richard III was propped up in the grave. The curvature of the spine was very prominent. Based on the placement of his hands, it was surmised that they may have been tied together at the time of his burial, but there was no way of proving that. The feet were missing, not from any sinister activity, but because they had probably been dug up and destroyed during later horticultural activity that happened in the area. The body had been laid to rest with no coffin and no shroud, quite undignified for a monarch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There was nothing in the grave that would help to date the body, so radiocarbon dating was used. It was determined that there was a 95.4% probability that the body was from between 1450-1540 AD, allowing for it to be Richard III. The bones were brought to a local hospital, where a digital record of them was created, and then they were brought to the University of Leicester for further study. The remains were found to be of a male, between 30-34 years of age. His height was 5ft 8in. He was of a slight build, matching contemporary accounts of Richard III. The body had idiopathic adolescent-onset scoliosis, but there was no evidence of a withered arm or leg.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The skull of the body had endured extensive trauma, both before and after death. There were wounds from a staff weapon, probably a halberd, and there was a penetrating wound, probably from a roundel dagger, that has caused flaps of bone to collapse inside the skull. There were more wounds at the right base of the skull, and one of the wounds had left marks inside the skull. There was also a small penetrating wound on the right cheek, and a slash on the chin bone. All this trauma suggests that Richard III was without his helmet at the time of these injuries. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In addition to the head injuries, there was a nick on the 10th rib. It was suggested that this was possibly an insult injury, inflicted after Richard's death, perhaps when his body was strapped the horse to be brought back to Leicester. There was also a nick on the pelvis, which <i>could</i> have been caused in battle (as only maille covered that area in a suit of armor), but was most likely another insult injury.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Because Richard III left no direct living descendants, Mitochondrial DNA from the descendants of Richard's sisters was used to confirm the body's identity once and for all. Mitochondrial DNA is from the female line, and can only be passed on by daughters. The genealogy of Richard's sister Anne of York was well mapped, having been traced in 2005 by John Ashdown-Hill, and was later verified in 2013 by Kevin Schurer. Two living descendants of Anne of York, and thus relations of Richard, were found and contacted. The first was Michael Ibsen, a Canadian cabinet maker living in London. The second was Wendy Duldig, a New Zealander. Neither Michael or Wendy had any idea that they were related to royalty! Also, neither have children, so they are the last of their line. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There was an attempt to map the male line of the Somerset family, who willingly cooperated with tests. However, things got uncomfortable when the DNA revealed several instances of false paternity in the family tree, one historical, and one more recent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The reconstruction done of Richard III's face was almost identical to his portraits. However, later research has shown that he was blue-eyed, and probably had blonde hair as a child, darkening to russet brown as an adult.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Archbishop of Canterbury presided over the reburial of Richard III at Leicester Cathedral. Several members of the British royal family were present, and Michael Ibsen and Wendy Duldig were involved in the ceremony<b>*</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>*</b>If I remember correctly from watching the funeral coverage, Ibsen made the coffin the king was reburied in, and Duldig made his shroud, touching tributes from Richard III's relatives. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To learn more about Richard III, you can visit: <a href="http://www.le.ac.uk/RichardIII" target="_blank">www.le.ac.uk/RichardIII </a></span><br />
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<br />Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-20919814235906715022016-10-15T09:57:00.000-07:002016-10-15T09:57:57.662-07:00Big News!<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Six Wives of Henry VIII. Parliament, Westminster.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is with great excitement that I announce to BeingBess readers that, after a lot of hard work and sacrifice, I have earned my Master of Arts in History! I did the defense of my thesis on October 3rd and passed, allowing me to graduate this semester. I have concentrated on the medieval through the Elizabethan eras in my studies, with a special focus on the history of royal and noble women. My hope is that my degree will help me as I publish, and also in getting a new job. Thank you for being patient with the fact that during the duration of my studies, I made less frequent posts on the blog and the Facebook page.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now that my studies are over, I am in the process of fulfilling my lifelong dream and moving to England! I am looking for jobs in English museums, archives and universities. Of course, BeingBess will continue, and as always, I thank you for your support! </span></span>Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-50333129143767938482016-02-19T10:22:00.001-08:002016-02-19T10:22:49.812-08:00Important BeingBess Update<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxw_Ry2D9Gjc5C6yOnh1lhD_-pJYJjcECZsZEHkIoZQALe4x1o_Fw71oLp4X02zS0CCH2Vs-Ehd31_ez11ZFMbAsuv7De5vF-uPtJ6a4NY4LjawOSXHDjIBpl8G2-gBiuBl8j4L-hB3XbP/s1600/HATF+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxw_Ry2D9Gjc5C6yOnh1lhD_-pJYJjcECZsZEHkIoZQALe4x1o_Fw71oLp4X02zS0CCH2Vs-Ehd31_ez11ZFMbAsuv7De5vF-uPtJ6a4NY4LjawOSXHDjIBpl8G2-gBiuBl8j4L-hB3XbP/s320/HATF+8.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The author of BeingBess in front of the Old Palace at Hatfield, what remains of the primary childhood residence of Queen Elizabeth I. Photo © A.Jensen/BeingBess.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Dear BeingBess fans,</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> As you've probably noticed, there has been a shortage of BeingBess blog posts recently. This is because I am currently finishing my master's degree in European History, and the final project, my thesis, is taking up all of my time (as you can imagine)! You can be assured that as soon as the thesis is completed, original BeingBess articles will resume on the blog on a regular basis. In the meantime, I invite you to follow the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/beingbess" target="_blank">BeingBess Facebook page</a>, which is updated daily, and/or follow BeingBess on <a href="https://twitter.com/beingbess" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/BeingBess/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> to stay connected. I'm so thankful to have you all celebrating Elizabeth I and her legacy along with me!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I'm looking forward to having my graduate degree in hand and letting it lead the way to new and exciting opportunities in my field, and I am equally excited to getting back to writing for the blog!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">SEMPER EADEM,</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A.Jensen </span></span>Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-56208436947198759932015-11-18T02:00:00.000-08:002015-11-18T02:00:00.388-08:001558: Queen Elizabeth I Confronts Her Former Jailer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XDtpIrquwAkWiEwPNop2cnguM4sIY3EBDsoGL4YicC2TThABl3TR_eavpxKZKlIxuvlEmndN5_U1NMA0HnEqHdfFGnCU-CrEpEfRfy2_qLEWgpwQk48nleyZo3VnmTb5jHRcaoUxBCDq/s1600/SirHenryBedingfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XDtpIrquwAkWiEwPNop2cnguM4sIY3EBDsoGL4YicC2TThABl3TR_eavpxKZKlIxuvlEmndN5_U1NMA0HnEqHdfFGnCU-CrEpEfRfy2_qLEWgpwQk48nleyZo3VnmTb5jHRcaoUxBCDq/s320/SirHenryBedingfield.jpg" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait of Sir Henry Bedingfield. Picture via Tudorplace.com. Image public domain.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">After Elizabeth Tudor's accession in 1558, Sir Henry Bedingfield, the man whom Mary I had appointed as Elizabeth's jailer at the Tower of London and at Woodstock from 1554-55, hurried to present himself to the new queen to ask for her forgiveness, and hopefully secure himself a place in the new government. Bedingfield had been a particularly cruel and calculating keeper, and Elizabeth had come to believe that Bedingfield was under orders from her half-sister Mary to find a quiet way to murder her. Bedingfield was not the only potential threat, however; it was suspected that both Stephen Gardiner, Mary's Lord Chancellor (and an unsavory character if there ever was one) and Simon Renard, the Spanish Ambassador, had sent assassins to kill Elizabeth, but had only been thwarted because Bedingfield had strict orders that no one was allowed to visit the Princess without him present. It was Bedingfield who transported Elizabeth to Woodstock and then to court in June of 1555.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPbNjc_eaD1LNB-edgu5x3pjlMi3L_knoBYdQnuaJ8My27pFn8pMK-n-q2hX0sCiuCgjk_XVA_l2W_P1YeBtZrCKmr0CAFtaR4vXPFiLdKN4nvp4QdZ3k7TYZl1QWhJ0DBMXcHuliXm5z/s1600/Simon_RenardAntonisMor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPbNjc_eaD1LNB-edgu5x3pjlMi3L_knoBYdQnuaJ8My27pFn8pMK-n-q2hX0sCiuCgjk_XVA_l2W_P1YeBtZrCKmr0CAFtaR4vXPFiLdKN4nvp4QdZ3k7TYZl1QWhJ0DBMXcHuliXm5z/s320/Simon_RenardAntonisMor.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A portrait of Simon Renard de Bermont (1513-1573), Spanish Ambassador. By Antonis Mor. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Upon coming face-to-face with Bedingfield once again in 1558, this time with the tables turned and Elizabeth being in the position of power, the new queen dismissed the groveling Bedingfield by saying, <i><b>"If we have any prisoner whom we would have sharply and straightly kept, we will send for you!"</b></i> This delivery is a prime example of Queen Elizabeth's wit and her temper, but it also shows her mercy. Queen Elizabeth could have exacted revenge on the men who wronged her during the reign of her sister (in contrast, Mary I was more than vengeful of those who had served Anne Boleyn faithfully when she came to the throne), but instead, the records show that she instead gave some of them sound tongue lashings, cut them out of positions of influence, and chose more moderate people for important government and church positions. This made her exceptional among the Tudor monarchs.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofUlslr4pZfdN6mmf8AWCa-2jk1e-mSdatCOXymOjnjwbQBsolW7RBc8lLXiCFhJhIWr9ZjMyXsGZGYZAIn1c9-i4AeGCSc760r_IIiG01SD3d41hgN3fH8rHTpyshdGs_XcPQYkzVqoA/s1600/CloptonPortraitVariantTelegraphUKFoundinAttic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofUlslr4pZfdN6mmf8AWCa-2jk1e-mSdatCOXymOjnjwbQBsolW7RBc8lLXiCFhJhIWr9ZjMyXsGZGYZAIn1c9-i4AeGCSc760r_IIiG01SD3d41hgN3fH8rHTpyshdGs_XcPQYkzVqoA/s1600/CloptonPortraitVariantTelegraphUKFoundinAttic.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, aged about 26 (a variant of <i>The Clopton Portrait</i>, of which there are several). This portrait was found in a home attic - if only we were all lucky enough to find such a treasure under our roof! Picture via The Telegraph. Image public domain.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Bedingfield, for his part, seems to have gotten the message that he was no longer welcome at court, and chose to live out of the way in Norfolk, although he occasionally resurfaces in the records as a recusant, refusing to attend Church services due to his Catholic beliefs.</span>Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-50795689029493554652015-11-17T02:00:00.000-08:002015-11-17T02:00:04.247-08:00On This Day in Elizabethan History: What Happened to the Original Queen Elizabeth I Oak Tree at Hatfield House?<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryg5uJo_jaAYm-ocyR_przNEalds6ue5S915-44p-dhRPtoBQcjd6KH-VCJa6WasMgL3IyedBIEic5m3iT1WxJRRMmVzlT_dcZ14AZfJYpoNGHSPWmsQnGk4iWP5FXVLY_KdecoUtcOkd/s1600/IMG_4432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryg5uJo_jaAYm-ocyR_przNEalds6ue5S915-44p-dhRPtoBQcjd6KH-VCJa6WasMgL3IyedBIEic5m3iT1WxJRRMmVzlT_dcZ14AZfJYpoNGHSPWmsQnGk4iWP5FXVLY_KdecoUtcOkd/s320/IMG_4432.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tree planted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1985 in the exact spot where the original oak tree was under which Queen Elizabeth I learned she was Queen of England in 1558 at Hatfield House. Picture by A.Jensen/BeingBess.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On November 17th, 1558, the fervently Catholic Queen Mary I died after a tumultuous and bloody reign. Her half-sister Elizabeth, though a Protestant, was named her successor, and learned of this news at her childhood home of Hatfield House. Elizabeth, who was fond of long walks and horse rides, was out under one of the large oak trees on the expansive Hatfield property when Mary's men from London came riding in to find her, and it was there that they notified her that she was now Queen of England. Under the oak tree, Elizabeth is recorded as saying, "this is the doing of the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Unfortunately, this specific oak tree, like many of the other heritage trees at Hatfield House, has since fallen down. After all, it has been hundreds of years! But a new oak tree was planted in its exact place to commemorate the historic spot by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1985, and a plaque erected, as well. When I finally visited Hatfield this year, on my third trip to England, I sought out the oak tree, and, after getting lost once or twice looking for it, I asked for help from a friendly staff person (as it turns out, I was far off course). The oak is quite a ways from the palace, and you can see how Elizabeth would have found peace sitting out under it with her ladies. Standing in the spot where Elizabeth learned she was queen, after so many years of struggling through adversity, and surviving extreme danger at the hands of her own family members, was very emotional for me. And, of course, I repeated those famous words under the oak tree, "this is the doing of the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes."</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuA0zUhgRXtHDP8Ix1Z2KWXhM4iZX-OrO_BudWiixgw1v0PYLs7UEcFumEwFv7PQqbGOzUQ9PfEKCLQ66GXxXvH3AN1nt143o8XF174x1q17ASgGrWCT9Hxt-qduKcOGZ6hzGs0kEFShH/s1600/HATF+13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuA0zUhgRXtHDP8Ix1Z2KWXhM4iZX-OrO_BudWiixgw1v0PYLs7UEcFumEwFv7PQqbGOzUQ9PfEKCLQ66GXxXvH3AN1nt143o8XF174x1q17ASgGrWCT9Hxt-qduKcOGZ6hzGs0kEFShH/s320/HATF+13.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The author standing in the spot where Elizabeth Tudor learned she was Queen of England in 1558. Picture by L.Jensen/©BeingBess.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Upon reaching the palace again, I asked a staff person if he thought Elizabeth rode out to the forest or walked, given the distance. He was of the opinion that it was part of her regular walk. That made me feel quite unaccomplished in my personal exercise routine! I also asked if he knew what had happened to the original tree that had fallen; it had always seemed strange to me that know one had bothered to save it, especially since care had been taken to mark the place where it had stood for hundreds of years. And here is one of the most wonderful things I learned at Hatfield: he actually told me that Hatfield House possesses the preserved trunk of the original oak, and that they are in the process of figuring out how to best display it for posterity! I was overjoyed to learn that it had not been lost to history, and excited at the thought that upon a future visit, I could view the original oak in person! And of course, I couldn't wait to share the good news with all of my BeingBess readers!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogLMdj0qxQwUJuB3v1BLlmTvgzORcPmufX6S2Xo6r7oTJP3wIvLrc0108WQVkuyJPJihdnRzNcP8_usgdBE0yVXj_vlpoVAU6ssWaOYhgzex38qoa5pj0jV4xrp0D1w8LqdWHjAxjKAno/s1600/HATF+15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogLMdj0qxQwUJuB3v1BLlmTvgzORcPmufX6S2Xo6r7oTJP3wIvLrc0108WQVkuyJPJihdnRzNcP8_usgdBE0yVXj_vlpoVAU6ssWaOYhgzex38qoa5pj0jV4xrp0D1w8LqdWHjAxjKAno/s320/HATF+15.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The plaque erected with the replacement oak tree planted in 1985 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Hatfield House. Picture by A.Jensen/BeingBess.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The anniversary of November 17th, 1558, was marked every year of Elizabeth I's reign with Accession Day celebrations, which included pageants and tournaments. You can learn more about Elizabeth I becoming queen, and read a first-hand account of one of the Accession Day jousts by German spectator Lupold von Wedel in our <a href="http://beingbess.blogspot.com/2011/11/on-this-day-in-elizabethan.html" target="_blank">original BeingBess article</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Happy Accession Day, Queen Elizabeth I!</span></span></div>
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Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-42501900341785200972015-10-10T02:00:00.000-07:002015-10-10T02:00:04.422-07:00On This Day in Elizabethan History: Queen Elizabeth Succumbs to Smallpox<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Zq3PeDWa38IWh9XUIfYmiYeny0z0eQvTsh2WtT3vakEfnSdKGaWG9yUqjjnD_-kDVxp8uoOPPXvPIcy_Q0Oo_o3uNL4SSTrM767d5d19gtbvpj-tsMOO7pJ_4OD7KDAuY1nbJU0vKOLX/s1600/HamptonCourGatehouseCloseup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Zq3PeDWa38IWh9XUIfYmiYeny0z0eQvTsh2WtT3vakEfnSdKGaWG9yUqjjnD_-kDVxp8uoOPPXvPIcy_Q0Oo_o3uNL4SSTrM767d5d19gtbvpj-tsMOO7pJ_4OD7KDAuY1nbJU0vKOLX/s320/HamptonCourGatehouseCloseup.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gatehouse at Hampton Court Palace. Shared for public use on Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">On this day in 1562, Queen Elizabeth I fell ill at Hampton Court Palace with smallpox, just a mere four years after succeeding to the throne of England. You can read about Elizabeth I's battle with smallpox, which nearly killed her, the ramifications of her near-death experience for her realm, and her fortunate recovery, in our <a href="http://beingbess.blogspot.com/2013/10/on-this-day-in-elizabethan-history.html" target="_blank">original BeingBess article</a>.</span>Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-26102420929281982342015-09-07T07:16:00.000-07:002015-09-07T07:16:09.137-07:00On This Day in Elizabethan History: The Birth of the Future Queen Elizabeth I<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMbYhy54XSPqNC5Tq6-76zlZZFSBGBuw4Xl25o7TvmeiapsjGx8rL-uAoJqqQArjG8V37qTb_vnpl9PvumbtKvBnNNjZQiBVVFd3LcrjOWLaoTLWFwVNZy5E6HZeS4e9KSbmJgYuQngmm/s1600/BirthAnnouncementofPrincessElizabethTumblrLetThemGrumble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMbYhy54XSPqNC5Tq6-76zlZZFSBGBuw4Xl25o7TvmeiapsjGx8rL-uAoJqqQArjG8V37qTb_vnpl9PvumbtKvBnNNjZQiBVVFd3LcrjOWLaoTLWFwVNZy5E6HZeS4e9KSbmJgYuQngmm/s320/BirthAnnouncementofPrincessElizabethTumblrLetThemGrumble.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The birth announcement of the Princess Elizabeth, 1533. Photo from Let Them Grumble on Tumblr. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On this day in 1533, Princess Elizabeth Tudor was born at Greenwich Palace to her mother, Queen Anne Boleyn, and her father, King Henry VIII. The King had been assured that a prince's birth had been fortold by the stars, so the birth announcements had been prepared welcoming a prince. When Elizabeth arrived, much to Henry's surprise, two "ss" were hastily tacked onto the word 'prince' before they could be sent out. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To learn about:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">- The time and circumstances under which Queen Elizabeth was likely conceived</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">- Anne Boleyn's preparation for the birth of her child</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">- Henry VIII's reaction to Elizabeth's gender</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">- Elizabeth's christening</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and more, please read our <a href="http://beingbess.blogspot.com/2013/09/on-this-day-in-elizabethan-history_7.html" target="_blank">feature-length BeingBess article on the birth of the future Queen Elizabeth I.</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Happy 482nd Birthday, Queen Elizabeth I!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Elizabeth Tudor found her way into my life long ago as a child, something which I believe was no accident. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She continues to inspire me on a daily basis, for which I am eternally grateful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is my mission in life to teach others about the remarkable Queen Elizabeth I, and to get others excited about history. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thank you for sharing in this journey with me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">-Bess</span></div>
Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-30889680779413711542015-09-04T02:00:00.000-07:002015-09-04T02:00:06.907-07:00On This Day in Elizabethan History: The Death of Elizabeth's Love, The Earl of Leicester<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinthOE5Ds2GztgYfhSea54dp4bo9wJ3XkNdW9_CHxIOzXZ-G1kEZt-cERHBQQm6nbFBZcoVd2qsCsXqCeMQhR-UdSLvP3fBLpUiHnswMUaJ9jb3OjTmOuQFYG6i6XW8Gs6Zq6If4ADWRr4/s1600/LeicestersLastLetterCompressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinthOE5Ds2GztgYfhSea54dp4bo9wJ3XkNdW9_CHxIOzXZ-G1kEZt-cERHBQQm6nbFBZcoVd2qsCsXqCeMQhR-UdSLvP3fBLpUiHnswMUaJ9jb3OjTmOuQFYG6i6XW8Gs6Zq6If4ADWRr4/s320/LeicestersLastLetterCompressed.jpg" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">"His last letter", in the National Archives in England. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On this day in 1588, Queen Elizabeth I's longtime love and confidante, the man she called a "personage so dear unto us" in a letter to the Earl of Shrewsbury, Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, died. Leicester had been ill for quite some time, and probably had been suffering from stomach cancer. Elizabeth was, by all accounts, devastated by his death, and kept the final letter he sent to her by her bed until her own death, where it was discovered in 1603. On it she had written, "His Last Letter". To learn more about how Elizabeth dealt with the passing of her favorite, please read our <a href="http://www.beingbess.blogspot.com/2012/09/on-this-day-in-elizabethan-history.html" target="_blank">feature-length BeingBess article on the topic of Leicester's death</a>. Also, for further reading on the complex relationship of Elizabeth and Leicester, we recommend the definitive dual biography '<i>Elizabeth & Leicester: Power, Passion, Politics</i>', by historian Sarah Gristwood.</span></span>Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-73620549160166355002015-06-28T16:46:00.000-07:002015-06-28T16:48:02.360-07:00"Tales of the Royal Wardrobe": A Review <span style="font-size: small;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2XIXhJMf5GoxFj5GdyNAgOfnNSlvRTpD9ilxa3FsZ-uCDUOB3vtrYUalzKJn4yssLsTL1sphLPwDbiQLvsgC45gaVHptyPoKef_IV_RBVmGg9OXgC9fesheu_FUeDwd81glYI7SDImD0/s1600/FB_IMG_1435436310106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2XIXhJMf5GoxFj5GdyNAgOfnNSlvRTpD9ilxa3FsZ-uCDUOB3vtrYUalzKJn4yssLsTL1sphLPwDbiQLvsgC45gaVHptyPoKef_IV_RBVmGg9OXgC9fesheu_FUeDwd81glYI7SDImD0/s320/FB_IMG_1435436310106.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Lucy Worsley dressed in a replica of the Armada Portrait Dress for the documentary "Tales of the Royal Wardrobe". Picture Historic Royal Palaces/PBS.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> Yesterday I finally got to see the Historic Royal Palaces documentary "Tales of the Royal Wardrobe". It aired much earlier in the U.K., and I wasn't sure if it would ever make its way to the United States (some of these wonderful British documentaries I read about do, and some don't), but thankfully this one did! I tuned in, of course for three reasons: first and foremost, because I read that a portion of the program focused on the wardrobe of Queen Elizabeth I, a master of image control as a political asset. Second, because Historic Royal Palaces was behind the project, a non-profit I trust and admire, and third, because Dr. Lucy Worsley was hosting, a historian and curator whose career I respect and not-so-secretly covet! </span></span><br />
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The portion on Queen Elizabeth I did not disappoint. Dr. Worsley highlighted Elizabeth I's aptitude for crafting and utilizing her clothing to create her powerful image as Gloriana, the Virgin Queen, adored, beloved, and worshiped by her subjects. Indeed, as Worsley said, her image very much contributed to the longevity of her 44-year reign.While Queen Elizabeth I was no doubt the best of the Tudors at marketing a personal political brand, it was an art form practiced by the dynasty as a whole. As Worsley pointed out, their successors, the Stuarts, failed by comparison in that respect. Where the Tudors had kept their court artists on a tight reign, the satirical pamphlets mass-produced by the printing press in the 17th century opened the royal court (and their lavish, outlandish fashion choices) up to unprecedented criticism. While this mockery did not cause the English Civil War itself, of course, it contributed to the dissent that ended in rebellion.</span><br />
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Here are some interesting facts from the Queen Elizabeth I portion of the program:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Queen Elizabeth I had many staff responsible for her elaborate wardrobe. She had one man who looked after just her muffs!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Contrary to the many myths perpetuated on Pinterest, not a single dress of Queen Elizabeth I's survives.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu26Vdv-jZ1czKmsVPoaTJpjMHQ5oY76h8MtOUNOU5xKBQNxn7dM9N1k_yb14GZ9SqOoUGJerAWPB7O0fHfYJTVwsYObyj9jBzZ7kLHVkPT4ba9J5gR7SnZwA5qlG7FQl9NwnJHtLb8spM/s1600/11058571_491449084343164_6386790095048217486_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu26Vdv-jZ1czKmsVPoaTJpjMHQ5oY76h8MtOUNOU5xKBQNxn7dM9N1k_yb14GZ9SqOoUGJerAWPB7O0fHfYJTVwsYObyj9jBzZ7kLHVkPT4ba9J5gR7SnZwA5qlG7FQl9NwnJHtLb8spM/s320/11058571_491449084343164_6386790095048217486_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worsley "queened up" as Elizabeth I in Armada Portrait attire in "Tales of the Royal Wardrobe". Picture by A.Jensen. Documentary Historic Royal Palaces/PBS.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">-It took Queen Elizabeth I probably about 2 hours to get dressed on a typical day (with the assistance of her ladies, of course). Dr. Worsley wore a reproduction of the Armada gown and its accurate underpinnings when she got "queened up" (as she put it). The original Armada gown had 800 hand-sewn freshwater pearls on the dress alone, not to mention all the additional ropes of pearls and other jewels and trinkets worn by the queen on top of that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">-Queen Elizabeth was very concerned with Sumptuary Laws, and in order to ensure that everyone dressed according to their station, she passed no less than 10 Statutes of Apparel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">I highly recommend "Tales of the Royal Wardrobe". I am posting a few small video clips over on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BeingBess" target="_blank">BeingBess Facebook page</a> about the effigy bodies/stays of Queen Elizabeth I. You can also read all about them in our BeingBess article <a href="http://beingbess.blogspot.com/2013/03/queen-elizabeths-bodies-effigy-corset.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-18683147767675082902015-05-19T02:00:00.000-07:002015-05-19T02:00:00.946-07:00May 19th, 1536 - Anne Boleyn's Execution<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj489LJNrpMCDiSVoixn_WfS7V7bKFOHKE1U5n90llSXAdxZBtpicSp-cE8hC-K5CuUJeY_ldhhHdIRxiPobqaB8pSBO2AjvgKvDdPWAwEQYcUzHYoWezSAp5oE_jKOlhRt9FkEJGW_6m3W/s1600/anneofthethousand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj489LJNrpMCDiSVoixn_WfS7V7bKFOHKE1U5n90llSXAdxZBtpicSp-cE8hC-K5CuUJeY_ldhhHdIRxiPobqaB8pSBO2AjvgKvDdPWAwEQYcUzHYoWezSAp5oE_jKOlhRt9FkEJGW_6m3W/s320/anneofthethousand.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Depiction of the execution of Queen Anne Boleyn, from <i>Anne of the Thousand Days</i>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"She who has been the Queen of England on Earth will today become a Queen in heaven."-Thomas Cranmer on Queen Anne Boleyn and her execution, 5/19/1536</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">At 8 o'clock in the morning on May 18th, 1536, three years after she had become Queen of England, Anne Boleyn mounted the scaffold within the walls of the Tower of London for her execution. She was to be beheaded at the King's pleasure, having been found guilty of adultery and treason. It doesn't take even a careful examination of the evidence to determine that the charges against Anne were fanciful at best. For example, she was not even in the same location as half of her alleged lovers on the nights their alleged trysts were supposed to have taken place. But, it didn't matter if there were holes in the "evidence", because everyone knew that King Henry VIII wanted his wife to die, so that he would be free to marry another, specifically Jane Seymour, and if anyone sitting in judgement on Anne's trial were to stand in the way of that, they would likely loose their head, as well. Still, just to make sure everything looked official, Anne and her alleged lovers, which included her own brother, George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, were given trials that had the appearance of due process.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The majority of historians and legal experts today have arrived at the conclusion that Anne and the men accused as her accomplices were innocent of their alleged crimes. The downfall of Anne Boleyn and her faction was one of the swiftest and most shocking coups in history. While the idea was undoubtedly Henry VIII's, Thomas Cromwell helped him achieve his desired result as quickly as possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Anne was graceful and poised in the hour of her death; the Tudor chronicler Edward Hall records her execution speech as follows:</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Good Christian people, I am come hither to die, for according to the law, and by the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I am hither to accuse no man, nor to speak anything of that, whereof I am accused and condemned to die, but I pray God save the King and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never; and to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord. And if any person will meddle my cause, I require them to judge the best. And thus I take my leave of the world and of you all, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me. Oh Lord, have mercy on me, to God I commend my soul!"</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Anne was then blindfolded, as was customary, and upon kneeling she was reported to have said several times, <b><i>"To Jesus Christ I commend my soul, Lord Jesu receive my soul."</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Often people wonder why Anne did not speak ill of Henry in her execution speech - they ask me, if she was going to die anyway, why didn't she just say all the things she must have really been feeling? There are a few reasons. Firstly, and simply put, it was not customary to do so. While each execution speech from the Tudor period is unique to the individual, they all follow the same basic format. Decorum and tradition were very important, even at one's death. Secondly, and most importantly, was Anne's daughter Elizabeth. Anne knew that her daughter Elizabeth was being left behind with the unforgiving Henry VIII, and knowing Henry's character intimately as she did, she would not have wanted to say anything to upset him and jeopardize the saftey of her daughter. And lastly, saying anything against Henry or his regime might mean a more traumatic execution for Anne -Anne no doubt wanted as quick a decapitation by the swordsman with as little heckling from those in attendance as possible.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYqwtIbBwx4pTMTCmuIJ-GFZ0xCjh3Vgkyh7zaz4ae2mGMTOjrm7wJRDGvFpa_ssRkop1ZCBXHP1rQpl7dt9oSvYQW9Dyuz5mloyqgj6RboVwabCGgQ4PzHQlMt2416to0k0GCbutCw7q/s1600/en-beheading-of-anne-boleyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYqwtIbBwx4pTMTCmuIJ-GFZ0xCjh3Vgkyh7zaz4ae2mGMTOjrm7wJRDGvFpa_ssRkop1ZCBXHP1rQpl7dt9oSvYQW9Dyuz5mloyqgj6RboVwabCGgQ4PzHQlMt2416to0k0GCbutCw7q/s320/en-beheading-of-anne-boleyn.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An artistic representation of the beheading of Queen Anne Boleyn. Image via Google image search/reformation.org</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">While we remember Anne on this day for her untimely death, she should always be celebrated as a strong, capable, intelligent and alluring woman of the 16th century who was a political as well as an emotional being. She also gave birth to the most remarkable monarch England has ever known; Henry VIII may have done away with Anne Boleyn in his search for a son, but Queen Elizabeth I was her last laugh.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvr7l6jMN5i2eNKCgtUJeZsbPnqJmmFhMYF6DehDrHyDl-rojjVsYJIHe24OvL3uZwLzwfuNnW5tiOjWlvvm7Y-5rs1GmH0fh5TYnFGHQU28Y44ZwfMb44rFguzMuAKVCeCs4zWlZL_Hg/s1600/131ec8ef0972f0e35ae6599b4a225d81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvr7l6jMN5i2eNKCgtUJeZsbPnqJmmFhMYF6DehDrHyDl-rojjVsYJIHe24OvL3uZwLzwfuNnW5tiOjWlvvm7Y-5rs1GmH0fh5TYnFGHQU28Y44ZwfMb44rFguzMuAKVCeCs4zWlZL_Hg/s320/131ec8ef0972f0e35ae6599b4a225d81.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Natalie Dormer as Queen Anne Boleyn holding her daughter, Princess Elizabeth, on the Showtime series, <i>The Tudors</i>. Image via Elizabethanhistory.tumblr</span></td></tr>
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Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-88621502203471107182015-04-20T16:40:00.000-07:002015-04-20T16:40:24.085-07:00Wolf Hall Tie-in: Hampton Court Palace's "A Protestant Allegory"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Z1YV1FWGT5fyMsX1vfgqX_khlZrHOsSqjEQGQN1s_Ckb5_Wzhw4Q6fSrxmWlqv-tZTP5epjjEjm6ju2r15DdYbPwyFjd1dnrBHUR-nU4Bz4IikbNmgmQ7Rx8CHxft3bSByrypY3j093W/s1600/IMG_3142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Z1YV1FWGT5fyMsX1vfgqX_khlZrHOsSqjEQGQN1s_Ckb5_Wzhw4Q6fSrxmWlqv-tZTP5epjjEjm6ju2r15DdYbPwyFjd1dnrBHUR-nU4Bz4IikbNmgmQ7Rx8CHxft3bSByrypY3j093W/s1600/IMG_3142.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A Protestant Allegory</i>, by Girolamo da Treviso, circa 1538-44. Hampton Court Palace, The Royal Collection. Photo by A.Jensen.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />In 1534, King Henry VIII had himself officially declared Supreme Head of the newly formed Church of England. He had become convinced through those around him involved in the evangelical movement, such as his new wife, Queen Anne Boleyn, that he knew the will of God. Therefore, the Pope's guidance was no longer needed in spiritual matters. King Henry and other evangelicals read translations of the Bible in English. Henry commissioned this unique and rather savage painting demonstrating his beliefs, in which the four authors of the Gospels stone the Pope with rocks. Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-74983111680096257992015-03-24T02:00:00.000-07:002015-03-24T02:00:04.166-07:00On This Day in Elizabethan History: The Death of Queen Elizabeth I<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_5g7E-ybsS1HQMrEdfEH20W80uZp0T0Ev0dLVo1OFVjN-ijn7rgHy1CxlLOgbcEYFZbzf8BzkxQNEKnzwLKBGPYmxkbKgTAHmg6TZ1V5Jz3aqrVuj4pb9pDXMmYmEYBMJWdAuCYpSz2o/s1600/ElizabethFuneralProc1603Compressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_5g7E-ybsS1HQMrEdfEH20W80uZp0T0Ev0dLVo1OFVjN-ijn7rgHy1CxlLOgbcEYFZbzf8BzkxQNEKnzwLKBGPYmxkbKgTAHmg6TZ1V5Jz3aqrVuj4pb9pDXMmYmEYBMJWdAuCYpSz2o/s1600/ElizabethFuneralProc1603Compressed.jpg" height="122" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Funeral Procession of Queen Elizabeth I</i>, 1603. Picture Acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">412 years ago today, in 1603, Queen Elizabeth I passed away at the age of 69 after 44 years on the throne of England. Her reign had been unlike any other, and know one would come close to replicating it in the years to come. Discover the achievements of her remarkable reign, and what made Good Queen Bess so special in our BeingBess article, <a href="http://beingbess.blogspot.com/2012/03/on-this-day-in-elizabethan-historymarch.html" target="_blank">"The Death of Queen Elizabeth I, and the End of the Elizabethan Era"</a>.</span>Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-3787370096859460172015-03-16T14:47:00.000-07:002015-03-16T14:47:05.347-07:0016th century Irish Rebel: Eleanor FitzGerald, Countess of Desmond<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When discussing bold Irish women of the 16th century on the BeingBess blog, I've previously written about my personal favorite, Grania O'Malley (Anglicized as Grace O'Malley), Irish Pirate Queen of Connaught, whose life so spectacularly collided with Queen Elizabeth I when she demanded an audience with the Tudor Queen at Greenwich. Her request was, remarkably granted, and she gained the respect of (and relative autonomy from) Elizabeth in the end. You can read more about Grace, and the many ways in which her and Queen Elizabeth I's life intersected in my article <i><a href="http://beingbess.blogspot.com/2013/03/bean-ris-she-kings-grace-omalley-and.html" target="_blank">'Bean Ris': She-Kings Grace O'Malley and Elizabeth I</a>. </i>For my first-person historical-interpretations, I've developed programming around both of these fascinating woman, and I feel honored that I get to portray both!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In honor of the St. Patrick's Day holiday 2015, I'd like to share with my readers the biography of a less well known 16th century Irish woman who, along with her husband, defied Elizabethan rule in her country. She, too, gained audiences with Queen Elizabeth I, and her life story is filled with drama and heartache, but ultimately, perseverance. I hope you enjoy reading about her as much as I enjoyed researching her!</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Eleanor FitzGerald, Countess of Desmond </span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(1545-1635)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is NOT a portrait of Eleanor FitzGerald, Countess of Desmond, but with a lack of an authentic portrait of her, I had to supply a substitute. This is how I had been picturing her when I had been researching her. This portrait is Albrecht Durer's <i>Portrait of a Young Venetian Woman</i>, 1505.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Eleanor FitzGerald was born Eleanor Butler, into the Kilkenny County Butler clan. She was of Norman-Irish (French-Irish) noble descent. Her father was Edmund Butler, Lord Dunboyne, and her mother Cecily MacCarthy. When Eleanor was just thirteen, two events happened in the same year that were to determine the course of her future. Firstly, over in the neighboring isle of England, Elizabeth Tudor ascended the English throne in 1558, becoming Queen Elizabeth I of England. Secondly, Garrett FitzGerald, of the FitzGerald clan, was made 15th Earl of Desmond - this powerful man was to become her husband.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZCkdU3wexKXiTOL4mS9oTb9jMIbzODlUHkKwCAHc1weBHiMi64eJ_D3rf30DiFrUUVjGw0XDWFYTIcZ_xyXkDuECf48B3NeTf9KwmBb1XHq7rh5-g4eD0DI3jGsuQXFGQDLuYAe7tax-/s1600/IrishClothingc1575LucasdeHeere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZCkdU3wexKXiTOL4mS9oTb9jMIbzODlUHkKwCAHc1weBHiMi64eJ_D3rf30DiFrUUVjGw0XDWFYTIcZ_xyXkDuECf48B3NeTf9KwmBb1XHq7rh5-g4eD0DI3jGsuQXFGQDLuYAe7tax-/s1600/IrishClothingc1575LucasdeHeere.jpg" height="320" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dutch water-color painting of Irish clothing, circa 1575. By Lucas de Heere. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Even before Eleanor was born, the royal English Tudor family had forced nearly every noble Irish family to agree and cooperate with the English crown and their cultural and economic dominance. England wanted Ireland as part of their kingdom for resources, such as timber for ships, and for farmland. The changes England instituted for the Irish people were numerous. For example, the Irish were forbidden from speaking their native language, and instead ordered to speak English. Also, ancient Irish <i>Brehon</i> laws were replaced with Latin law, which had begun in Roman times and were used by the English, and inheritance laws were changed to favor English landowners in Ireland. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> While the rules imposed by the Tudors on the Irish may sound harsh to us today, they were not by any means unique to the Anglo-Irish dynamic. Any relationship that existed between colonized countries and their occupiers in the 16th century, and later during the age of Imperialism had similar, if not more brutal restrictions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> In 1565, at the age of nineteen, Eleanor married the thirty-two year-old Garrett FitzGerald. Garrett had begun courting Eleanor just three weeks after he had buried his first wife, in January of that year. By marriage, Eleanor had become a countess, and now possessed a very large piece of land. It seems that Garrett has some problematic step-sons from his first marriage that caused him and his new bride a bit of difficulty after their wedding. Garrett was a traditional Irish warrior-leader, and he and Eleanor now happened to have the largest estate in all of Ireland <i>or</i> England! Historical evidence suggests that Eleanor and Garrett married for love, and not for the more common reason of forming a dynastic alliance. Garrett was likely attracted to Eleanor not only because she was considered beautiful by many, but also because she was known to be smart, reasonable, and even-tempered. She would also prove herself to be brave and resourceful in difficult situations in the years to come. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeHRm9jn5gV7aRNgO5t0GMugXKBqEnhgAV33ibYOMnUBW69ndrSN8t4XXNsXHV_le7t0hh7dLcORKhYBIZ-eUL-ZApVSXTtvIO5qhtLFmr9u7rSBFNsEKB6beUdPbDvk_S2hrlzJNpsBd/s1600/IrelandEarldomofDesmondc1450.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeHRm9jn5gV7aRNgO5t0GMugXKBqEnhgAV33ibYOMnUBW69ndrSN8t4XXNsXHV_le7t0hh7dLcORKhYBIZ-eUL-ZApVSXTtvIO5qhtLFmr9u7rSBFNsEKB6beUdPbDvk_S2hrlzJNpsBd/s1600/IrelandEarldomofDesmondc1450.png" height="320" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A map of Ireland, circa 1450, showing the southwest Earldom of Desmond. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Within just two years of Eleanor's wedding to Garrett, she gave birth to a baby girl. Very soon after, her husband was captured by the English because he was openly challenging their rule and their laws, and would not do what he was asked by Queen Elizabeth I. Eleanor's husband was gone for the next <i>6 years</i>, but a strong and capable Eleanor managed the FitzGerald estate in his absence, and raised their daughter without him. She also imprisoned any of Garrett's enemies who attempted to steal their property.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvCFJxpkAABWgJgvdz0Rads8svsV20A9OocMgNyO3w1FZCHTqvP1JAsIKtBd946OH3DmH-GR5-UdkNr4xXu3SKQsv1OQ8FZQKsg_SBrV1iaXnahNNa7DQT5G7A8L1Y3b6ArMz6alQvZmC/s1600/FitzGeraldCoatofArmsButtevant_Friary_South_Transept_South_Gable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvCFJxpkAABWgJgvdz0Rads8svsV20A9OocMgNyO3w1FZCHTqvP1JAsIKtBd946OH3DmH-GR5-UdkNr4xXu3SKQsv1OQ8FZQKsg_SBrV1iaXnahNNa7DQT5G7A8L1Y3b6ArMz6alQvZmC/s1600/FitzGeraldCoatofArmsButtevant_Friary_South_Transept_South_Gable.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coat of Arms of the FitzGerald Earls of Desmond at Buttevant Friary, in the south wall of the south transept. Photo shared for public use by Andreas F. Borchert.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Eleanor got her affairs in order and made the trip to England so that she could speak to Queen Elizabeth I on her husband's behalf. She knew that Garrett, languishing in the custody of Sir Warham St. Leger (until 1573), was unlikely to be released anytime soon unless she did something about it. Queen Elizabeth I granted Eleanor permission to stay by her husband's side while in England. What a bittersweet reunion that must have been! On the one hand, having not seen one another in so many years, Eleanor and Garrett must have both been overjoyed and comforted at the sight of one another. On the other hand, Eleanor must have been heartbroken to see her once-fearsome warrior of a husband reduced to a helpless prisoner. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> In 1571, while in England, Eleanor gave birth to a son, named James. He may have been born at St. Leger House, Southwark, although there is an alternate story suggested in <i>The Life of Sir Martin Frobisher</i>, by William McFee, dated contemporary to the birth between 1571-2. According to McFee, the FitzGeralds were living on parole in London at the time of Eleanor's pregnancy, and Garrett asked Frobisher, one of Queen Elizabeth I's "sea dogs", to smuggle them out of the country so that their child would not be born in England, and thus be in danger. Frobisher, who was staying at Lambeth, met Garrett at St. Leger House. McFee said that Garrett has applied at court for permission for Eleanor to go home to Ireland, and that permission had been granted, but McFee did not say for when. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Although James was the heir of the FitzGerald estate and also to his father's title, this was not to be the case if the English had anything to say about it (remember that the FitzGeralds owned the most substantial piece of property in both England and Ireland). Eleanor was forced to do the unthinkable for a loving mother: she was made to give up her son to the English. The English wanted to keep James as a bargaining tool. They knew that the FitzGeralds were unlikely to disobey Queen Elizabeth I if they had James in captivity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Four years later, in 1575, Garrett was released from the the Tower, where he had been transferred after his time with St. Leger. However, he refused to pay English taxes, putting him at risk for re-capture. Eleanor, ever-patient with her husband, was to continue spending most of her life rescuing him from harsh punishment because of his brazen patriotism. This wasn't just wifely loyalty- this was love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Back in Ireland in 1579, Garrett was captured by his own brothers; Irish clan warfare often made strange bedfellows, and enemies. Garrett's brothers had captured him in order to force him, the best leader they knew, to lead a rebel army against English oppression in Ireland. This would make Garrett, a known irritant to the English who was already under surveillance, the leader of a treasonous militant group. One can only imagine the anxiety Eleanor felt at the idea, especially considering the fact that their son was still in English custody. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> The uprising led by Garrett FitzGerald, 15th Earl of Desmond became known as the "Second Desmond Rebellion". It lasted from 1579-1583. As a result of the rebellion, Eleanor and Garrett's property was ransacked and destroyed. Eleanor quickly left the rubble behind and traveled across dangerous territory to where Garrett was planning a battle. She had come to advise him on his military campaigns.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Carrigafoyle_Castle" title="Siege of Carrigafoyle Castle"></a>A photo of Carrigafoyle Castle in County Kerry, Republic of Ireland, a stronghold of the Earl of Desmond's forces during the Second Desmond Rebellion. It was captured by the English in 1580. Photo shared for public use by Arcaist on Wikimedia Commons. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Eleanor managed to protect her husband from re-capture by having them hide out and sleep in ditches, bushes and caves. Eleanor personally delivered battle plans from her husband to his soldiers who were ready and waiting for his orders. Unfortunately for the FitzGeralds and their supporters, the rebellion was not to succeed. In 1583, Garrett was found and arrested. It was inevitable, really. Despite Eleanor's dedication to protecting her husband, they just couldn't outrun the English forces forever. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Garrett sent a last-minute plea to Eleanor to surrender to the English, rather than take the risk that she and their children would be captured and perhaps killed (in addition to James, they had Thomas, Katherine, Jane, Ellen, Elizabeth, Margaret, and Ellice). Eleanor agreed. To the English, Garrett was a traitor, and a symbol of Irish obstinance that had to be made an example of. He was beheaded in 1583 at age 51. His head was sent back to England and displayed on Tower Bridge to warn those who even considered rebelling against the crown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> So what became of Eleanor FitzGerald? Her surrender at her husband's request protected her from being held equally accountable for his treasonous activity. However, she lived in poverty for the next four years, as traitors and their families forfeited their property to the crown. In 1588, that monumental year of England's defeat of the invading Spanish Armada, Eleanor met with Queen Elizabeth I once again. She was able to garner enough sympathy from the queen that, Elizabeth I granted Eleanor, the wife of a traitor, a widow's pension, so that she and her children would no longer have to struggle. Compared to the other Tudor monarchs, Queen Elizabeth was not a cruel person or an unreasonable ruler, and there are many examples of her benevolence. However, she was still to be obeyed, absolutely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> In a stunning turn of events, Eleanor FitzGerald relocated to England with her family. Perhaps she wanted to demonstrate her gratitude to Queen Elizabeth I, the woman who had restored her to self sufficiency. Perhaps it was because there was nothing left for her to fight for in Ireland anymore, ever since the rebellion. All that lay behind her were tragic memories. Perhaps it was a combination of both. And besides, her son, James, now a young man of seventeen years, was still imprisoned on English soil. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> In 1597, the Countess of Desmond got remarried to Donogh O'Conner of County Sligo. Eleanor, still a great negotiator, was able to campaign for her son's release. When he was freed, Eleanor brought him back to Ireland, to see the country he was from but had never been to. Sadly, James was not anything like Eleanor's other children. Because he had not been raised in a normal and loving environment, but had instead been kept in prison with minimal care since birth, he was constantly paranoid of being imprisoned again. He died eccentric and mad at the young age of 30 in 1601. The English armies, under Queen Elizabeth's orders, finally and officially conquered Ireland that same year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Eleanor had spent her whole life in the thick of political turmoil and heartbreak. It was only fitting that this courageous woman who was constantly helping rescue her first husband and plan his battles have some peace in her old age. Eleanor FitzGerald lived quietly after her second husband's death, managing their lands from their Sligo Castle. She lived there until the ancient age of 93, passing in 1635. Alone with her thoughts, we can only wonder how much she reminisced about the adventures of her early years.</span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Sources</span></u></i></b></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></u></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Broderick, Marian. <i>Wild Irish Women: Extraordinary Lives From History</i>. Dublin: O'Brien Press, 2002. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"> Print.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Emerson, Kathy Lynn. <a href="http://www.kateemersonhistoricals.com/TudorWomenBrooke-Bu.htm" target="_blank">"A Who's Who of Tudor Women"</a>. </span></div>
Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-3915065796916138972015-01-30T15:42:00.000-08:002015-01-30T15:42:03.099-08:00BeingBess Memes: Henry VIII c.1537<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>"Modesty...is not in my vocabulary"</b></i> - Henry VIII, circa 1537.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait of Henry VIII, circa 1537. Image public domain through Creative Commons licensing. Modified for meme by BeingBess.</td></tr>
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<br />Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-20790856856394202202015-01-25T02:00:00.000-08:002015-01-25T02:00:01.027-08:00The Secret Wedding of Elizabeth I's Parents<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n8yTrn1Ag7bOocmasxhx9FBz4_endjyoKP_1IEeCo2OztnHerOj6mUdstIJ9CR5Qj1HyYfyrHcOHgbTYuIHwqsLAX-rHESQlnEcYvekHARneewhcuXswmkUiQMogQFMpf4JS4Jyy6dEJ/s1600/AnneBoleynGenevieveBujold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n8yTrn1Ag7bOocmasxhx9FBz4_endjyoKP_1IEeCo2OztnHerOj6mUdstIJ9CR5Qj1HyYfyrHcOHgbTYuIHwqsLAX-rHESQlnEcYvekHARneewhcuXswmkUiQMogQFMpf4JS4Jyy6dEJ/s1600/AnneBoleynGenevieveBujold.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A screen-still of "Anne of the Thousand Days", starring Genevieve Bujold and Richard Burton. Image via fanpop. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On this day in 1533, Elizabeth I's parents, Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, were married in a secret ceremony at Whitehall Palace. You can learn more about their marriage in our BeingBess article <a href="http://www.beingbess.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-secret-marriage-of-henry-viii-and.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span>Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-80730348516540129122015-01-19T09:45:00.000-08:002015-01-19T09:45:18.138-08:00On This Day in Elizabethan History: The Death of the 2nd Earl of Pembroke<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JThfZC4uOpeyMTZrHiSMjoN7PtLxJJZAgxzSsY0_zCELWk_Q2uMdNW1kolXtt_9FzVpGQUYRE_1vtxZyjuauhH-ZLfNzjSpXC-Sws6_48Hx8Dvo4c7TI_STtIRa03uQJn0jlIUM_dXBK/s1600/HenryHerbert2ndEarlofPembroke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JThfZC4uOpeyMTZrHiSMjoN7PtLxJJZAgxzSsY0_zCELWk_Q2uMdNW1kolXtt_9FzVpGQUYRE_1vtxZyjuauhH-ZLfNzjSpXC-Sws6_48Hx8Dvo4c7TI_STtIRa03uQJn0jlIUM_dXBK/s1600/HenryHerbert2ndEarlofPembroke.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A portrait of Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, circa 1590. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.</td></tr>
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On this day in Elizabethan history in 1601, Henry Herbert, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke died at his family's Wilton House. He was laid to rest in Salisbury Cathedral. You can read about his life and accomplishments (and those of his equally extraordinary wife, Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke) in our article, <a href="http://beingbess.blogspot.com/2012/09/elizabethan-power-couple-2nd-earl-and.html" target="_blank">"Elizabethan Power Couple: The 2nd Earl and Countess of Pembroke"</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQl93ZNmSfczHDBT75wZ5x5qRuAuXyos386zaVUCG37F2rBxBbB0Lqf10vxJM-eDPm2YLEH0kgJJR454b6l-uvHQfninshdRd4jJaycaxIs5A3iTeyV6nyBbu_TtUcmOsNx4XqE6kJpWbv/s1600/HenryHerbert2ndEarlofPembroke3quarterarmor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQl93ZNmSfczHDBT75wZ5x5qRuAuXyos386zaVUCG37F2rBxBbB0Lqf10vxJM-eDPm2YLEH0kgJJR454b6l-uvHQfninshdRd4jJaycaxIs5A3iTeyV6nyBbu_TtUcmOsNx4XqE6kJpWbv/s1600/HenryHerbert2ndEarlofPembroke3quarterarmor.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3-quarter length armor, most likely belonging to Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke. Photo by A.Jensen. </td></tr>
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<br />Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-32247015860062403432015-01-15T02:00:00.000-08:002015-01-15T02:00:04.326-08:00On This Day in Elizabethan History: Elizabeth Tudor is Crowned Queen of England<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNzhcHHpzWSmubaQJhc-AAO65Rjblx5ynoFxySTsCXp44orWulgqODd9ND95JC-ZyJeySe-0i1l6c5i5NddaGDJZsoj2HMYrPPd9Fk8gGQIPBterp1ZOovgBdD91z43lLseyi62lHotu5/s1600/CoronationPortraitDetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNzhcHHpzWSmubaQJhc-AAO65Rjblx5ynoFxySTsCXp44orWulgqODd9ND95JC-ZyJeySe-0i1l6c5i5NddaGDJZsoj2HMYrPPd9Fk8gGQIPBterp1ZOovgBdD91z43lLseyi62lHotu5/s1600/CoronationPortraitDetail.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18.5471992492676px;">A detail of </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18.5471992492676px;">The Coronation Portrait</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18.5471992492676px;"> of Elizabeth I, showing her free-flowing hair. Image public domain through Creative Commons licensing. NPG, London.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On this day in 1559, Elizabeth Tudor was crowned Queen of England at Westminster Abbey. To learn about her coronation, and the festivities that took place both before and after, please read our feature-length BeingBess article <a href="http://beingbess.blogspot.com/2014/01/on-this-day-in-elizabethan-history.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span>Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-78898890523229026342015-01-05T02:00:00.000-08:002015-01-05T02:00:04.843-08:00Bess to Impress: Elizabeth I (1565-70) by Hans Eworth<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I recently visited the Portland Art Museum to view their temporary exhibit <i>Treasures of British Art 1400-2000,</i> from the Berger Collection at the Denver Art Museum. The exhibit featured paintings of Tudor monarchs and their courtiers and other subjects, including, of course, Queen Elizabeth I. In fact, her visage was clearly considered the one most likely to garner attention for the exhibit, as it advertised it and greeted patrons at the front entrance of the museum.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSwD8aB6ovekbH9iMPiXXH4hRcYcBsvrkX55tU-0RCe-kXTNWqpD_hMKDUVwduofxWZvAbfqU6j7xivEc1YfDlpo9KP_VMHaRGojVt1n-AMG9Lr8me48Q8rnoUiFGfmgV6O_AZIYujvvb/s1600/IMG_4045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSwD8aB6ovekbH9iMPiXXH4hRcYcBsvrkX55tU-0RCe-kXTNWqpD_hMKDUVwduofxWZvAbfqU6j7xivEc1YfDlpo9KP_VMHaRGojVt1n-AMG9Lr8me48Q8rnoUiFGfmgV6O_AZIYujvvb/s1600/IMG_4045.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Portland Art Museum, being greeted by Queen Elizabeth I at the front door! Photo by L.Jensen. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is one of my personal goals in life to see every portrait of Queen Elizabeth I that was painted during her lifetime, meaning the ones that are in public collections, or that are regularly put out on loan from private collections into exhibits. I call it my "Queen Elizabeth I Portrait Bucket List"! At the Portland Art Museum, I was able to check yet another one off my list: A portrait of Queen Elizabeth I from early in her reign, painted between 1565-1570 by Belgian-born Elizabethan court artist Hans Eworth (circa 1520-after 1578). The portrait was painted shortly after the Protestant Queen Elizabeth I, Head of the Church of England, was excommunicated by the pope in Rome from the Catholic faith (I'll just let the futility of the pope's gesture sink in for a second). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwgmPEA3uMXA4MrOjhR75tS08sk5AeYna7OP3NNvhkmkHDmw8PaX03OCGfwKWPqS6trnfYcN-jxdRNCRu9pkpLf3MnlkOj7ABbgYPr-uVNhOP236-gmO39tBm-iK318JynVivXjXNpkVw/s1600/IMG_4054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwgmPEA3uMXA4MrOjhR75tS08sk5AeYna7OP3NNvhkmkHDmw8PaX03OCGfwKWPqS6trnfYcN-jxdRNCRu9pkpLf3MnlkOj7ABbgYPr-uVNhOP236-gmO39tBm-iK318JynVivXjXNpkVw/s1600/IMG_4054.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I of England. By Hans Eworth, circa 1565-70. Photography by A.Jensen permitted by the Portland Art Museum. In the Berger Collection at the Denver Art Museum.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The pose of Queen Elizabeth I's face in this Eworth painting has been copied in a series of other similar portraits from around the same time; typically, portraits approved by the queen were copied by other artists for the mass market, as images of the queen were in high demand from her loyal subjects. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Eworth painting is oil on panel. Paintings done on wood were often subject to rot and water damage over time, and the original image may have been cut down. Likely, Queen Elizabeth was originally depicted with her hands shown, like the following portraits of her father and her brother, also on display in the exhibit. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_UsWlMKVa6VWyRZwMxcLUCIvVXgzTPDIY8ktThtDbwCiTcVfEqgdD6fZtPPqemV6bb4nq-tIZEaDlIbEw4GPRlivzOQ-zd-nSCnV6o89lyeIl7gNDK8JqVDralkBSeqzsA6aO2FYPWMD/s1600/IMG_4050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_UsWlMKVa6VWyRZwMxcLUCIvVXgzTPDIY8ktThtDbwCiTcVfEqgdD6fZtPPqemV6bb4nq-tIZEaDlIbEw4GPRlivzOQ-zd-nSCnV6o89lyeIl7gNDK8JqVDralkBSeqzsA6aO2FYPWMD/s1600/IMG_4050.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait of Henry VIII, circa 1513. Photography by A.Jensen permitted by the Portland Art Museum. In the Berger Collection at the Denver Art Museum.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76NWsr-elkV-jYaCtGaNRpqzzeAr2ZUy6C42KvCxAghyphenhyphenTQNE1mwqvnXpUWOtErX4uvaahFN1nAW1SyNqNeOww7nHBRD46qXt6Hsj2Hhxe8VE2A864kyz7nFtaW7ixzmVhAPAWY1eDlxiM/s1600/IMG_4056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76NWsr-elkV-jYaCtGaNRpqzzeAr2ZUy6C42KvCxAghyphenhyphenTQNE1mwqvnXpUWOtErX4uvaahFN1nAW1SyNqNeOww7nHBRD46qXt6Hsj2Hhxe8VE2A864kyz7nFtaW7ixzmVhAPAWY1eDlxiM/s1600/IMG_4056.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait of Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VI). By Hans Holbein the Younger and his studio, circa 1538. Photography by A.Jensen permitted by the Portland Art Museum. In the Berger Collection at the Denver Art Museum.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> The young Queen Elizabeth I, as painted by Eworth, is not dressed in the elaborate, overwhelming costumes of the 1580's and 90's, when she fashioned herself as "Gloriana". Rather, she wears more understated cothing and accesories. To view other Queen Elizabeth portraits from around the same time period, click on the links below:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://beingbess.blogspot.com/2013/05/bess-to-impress-clopton-portrait.html" target="_blank">Bess to Impress: The Clopton Portrait</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://beingbess.blogspot.com/2013/05/bess-to-impress-hampden-portrait.html" target="_blank">Bess to Impress: The Hampden Portrait</a> </span><br />
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<br />Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-36919070879160395422014-12-20T14:53:00.001-08:002014-12-20T14:53:48.876-08:00A Christmas/New Year's Message<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Merry Christmas, BeingBess Readers! </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkctElLz3zGGvg9wYUKXtVjdThIDTZYDR25hHvh0A3F_vMzQedC-eKhm_ni7cfHs8fWont78mo7SzZrrAUjAJIJk-HJFpDoT49m3CRce9ObcLZ3iVRytN-BRi-zq1ob2eVE0n8q8s8MxGx/s1600/1MemeMerryXmasElizabethI16thcAfterLucasdeHeereRoyalBoroughofWindsorandMaidenheadCivicCollection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkctElLz3zGGvg9wYUKXtVjdThIDTZYDR25hHvh0A3F_vMzQedC-eKhm_ni7cfHs8fWont78mo7SzZrrAUjAJIJk-HJFpDoT49m3CRce9ObcLZ3iVRytN-BRi-zq1ob2eVE0n8q8s8MxGx/s1600/1MemeMerryXmasElizabethI16thcAfterLucasdeHeereRoyalBoroughofWindsorandMaidenheadCivicCollection.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, after Lucas de Heere. Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Civic Collection. Image public domain. Modified for Christmas/website by BeingBess.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We hope you have a happy holiday (whatever you celebrate) with your family and friends. New articles have been written and will be posted early in the New Year - we look forward to sharing them with you all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cheers! - Ashlie </span><br />
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<br />Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186767874828911462.post-24872071609999322412014-12-12T02:00:00.000-08:002014-12-12T02:00:07.330-08:00BeingBess Memes: The Ditchley Portrait<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i>"Because I'm all about that bass, 'bout that bass, no treble"</i></b> - The Ditchley Portrait.</span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nq6lui-thJ-PXXwN89SxqYrDek0aIpVmmkkeuf8DY2apCXrgZJGr8aBFoTzd8kUAej97TZjI8LTfb9eyDuvIhqH3mYYsqUg3CsWQzi62vSWqxBIyXvE2FzMw5wZOH_o7Gmm5WImAR2tn/s1600/1MemeDitchleyPortraitElizabethILargeBeingBess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nq6lui-thJ-PXXwN89SxqYrDek0aIpVmmkkeuf8DY2apCXrgZJGr8aBFoTzd8kUAej97TZjI8LTfb9eyDuvIhqH3mYYsqUg3CsWQzi62vSWqxBIyXvE2FzMw5wZOH_o7Gmm5WImAR2tn/s1600/1MemeDitchleyPortraitElizabethILargeBeingBess.jpg" height="320" width="202" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ditchley Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I. Image public domain through Creative Commons licensing, NPG, London. Modified for meme by BeingBess.</td></tr>
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<br />Ashlie Jensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09066866690681825257noreply@blogger.com