Claire | February 7, 2023
On this day in Tudor history, 7th February 1526, the annual Shrovetide joust took place at Greenwich Palace. The 1526 joust went rather badly for courtier Sir Francis Bryan, who lost an eye when a spear splintered – nasty! Fortunately, he survived. The joust had a theme of unrequited love and the king’s team bore […]
Claire | February 7, 2018
The 7th February 1526 was the day of the annual Shrovetide joust. It took place at Greenwich and that year’s theme was unrequited love. King Henry VIII’s team of knights were apparelled in cloth of gold and silver richly embroidered with a man’s heart in a press, surrounded by flames and bearing the motto Declare […]
Claire | February 7, 2016
On this day in history, 7th February 1526, the traditional Shrovetide joust took place at Greenwich Palace. The joust’s theme was unrequited love. Henry Courtenay, Marquess of Exeter, and his team of men wore green velvet and crimson satin embroidered with burning hearts. Above these hearts, a lady’s hand was depicted coming out of a […]
Claire | February 7, 2015
Shrove Tuesday 1526 was celebrated with a “solemn joust” at Greenwich Palace. According to the chronicler Edward Hall, Henry VIII rode out in cloth of gold and silver “richely embraudered, with a mannes harte in a presse, with flames about it, and in letters were written ‘Declare I dare not’. The Marquis of Exeter and […]
Claire | February 7, 2012
The shrovetide joust of 1526 was the first indication of Henry VIII’s courtly pursuit of Anne Boleyn. According to the chronicler Edward Hall, it was on this day that Henry VIII rode out in cloth of gold and silver “richely embraudered, with a mannes harte in a presse, with flames about it, and in letters […]
