The play’s the thing
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Elizabeth Vernon, Countess of Southampton.
Constance of York, Diana Princess of Wales, Duke of Cambridge, Elizabeth I, Elizabeth Vere, Elizabeth Vernon, Essex rebellion, Henry Earl of Southampton, Henry IV, Humphrey of Gloucester, imprisonment, maids of honour, Margaret Audley, marriages, Robert Devereux Earl of Essex, Tower of London, William Cecil, Winston ChurchillElizabeth Vernon, who lived from 1572 to 1655, was a maid-of-honour to Queen Elizabeth I. In 1598, while serving in that capacity, she became pregnant by Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton (1573-1624) who is perhaps best remembered as a patron of Shakespeare. Queen Elizabeth was not amused, and had the pair of them thrown in…
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Henry V DRIVER (presses bell) BUTLER (opens door) DRIVER: Mr. Monmouth? BUTLER: Sorry, he is busy at the moment. DRIVER: Dauphin’s Sporting Goods here. I have a delivery for him; can he spare a moment to sign for it? Otherwise I’ll probably have to take it back to the warehouse. BUTLER: He is with some…
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A paper by Professor Tim Thornton of the University of Huddersfield, first published on 28 December 2020, has reached the national press with claims … The More I Read
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Only 405 years after his death, Mr William Shakespeare of Warwickshire, England has taken a tremendous step forward for mankind, (and so he should after what he did with THAT play.) In all seriousness, though, on December 8th , Mr William Shakespeare, a gentlemen who is indeed from Warwickshire, was the second person and first…
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So Sir Michael Morpurgo is refusing to include The Merchant Of Venice in a new book adapting Shakespeare’s plays for children under 16 because the portrayal of Shylock is too offensive. See this link. Well, let’s be honest, there are precious few Shakespeare’s works that won’t offend someone. Everything of his that I endured at…
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Here is a Telegraph documented article about Richard III’s distribution of money and other gifts at Christmas. Helpfully, they estimate the current value of some of his expenditure. Without mentioning any of Richard’s contemporaries, I am reminded of “Hey, Big Spender” reducing Ernie Wise to tears …
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“….Margaret of Anjou challenged all gender notions, defied her own banishment and even brought down Richard III‘s terrorising rule….” Er, Margaret of Anjou did what? She died in 1482, so how’d she manage that? Well, we are in Shakespeare Land here, where any lie is possible. Even poor old Richard’s “terrorising” reign. Perhaps they know…
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Let’s compare Anne Neville and Elizabeth Woodville, the two queens of York . . . .
“Tudor” propaganda, Anne Neville, Battle of Bosworth, bigamy, consorts, Earls of Hereford, Edward IV, Edward of Lancaster, Edward V, Elizabeth of York, Elizabeth Wydeville, George Duke of Clarence, Henry IV, Henry of Buckingham, Henry VI, Henry VII, illegitimacy, Lady Eleanor Talbot, Mary de Bohun, pre-contract, Richard II, Richard III, Richard of Warwick, Shakespeare, Wydeville plot, Yorkshire“ . . . . The role of consort can make or break a monarchy. Some have seen their reign saved by the energies of their spouse while others have seen their power waver because of their consort’s actions. Here, we look at the consorts of the House of York . . . .” Thus…
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I am rather enjoying this series, with visits to Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Balmoral and others, historians such as Kate Williams, Janina Ramirez and Anna Whitelock and art specialists like Jacky Klein as well as Viscountess Hinchingbrooke and several eminent journalists. There is a lot of useful information about English and British monarchs from the…
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Oh dear, how very Henry VII. I’ve just read in this link that because the leek was the emblem of the Welsh, on one St David’s Day he presented a leek to his daughter. A real leek, that is, not one studded with precious stones. Talk about a cheap gift! I’m sure she was thrilled.…
