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Claire | March 2, 2018
On this day in history, 2nd March 1522, King Henry VIII rode out at the annual Shrovetide joust with the motto Elle mon coeur a navera, or “She has wounded my Heart”, embroidered on the trappings of his horse. Edward Hall records the event in his chronicle and I have modernised the spelling for ease […]
Claire | July 19, 2017
On this day in history, 19th July 1543, Mary Stafford (née Boleyn, other married name Carey), died. She was in her early 40s1. Mary was the daughter of Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond, and Elizabeth Howard, and the granddaughter of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk. She was also the sister of Queen […]
Claire | June 22, 2017
On this day in history, 22nd June 1528, Mary Boleyn lost her husband, William Carey, in the sweating sickness epidemic which swept through the English court and London in May and June 1528. Mary’s sister Anne, her brother George, and her father Thomas also caught the disease but fortunately recovered. We know about Carey’s death […]
Claire | February 4, 2017
On this day in history, Saturday 4th February 1520, Anne Boleyn’s sister, Mary Boleyn, got married to William Carey in the Chapel Royal at Greenwich Palace. We know that the king attended and that he made an offering of “6s. 8d.” (6 shillings and 8 pence) at the service, because this is recorded in the […]
Claire | July 19, 2016
As I’ve said many times before, Mary Boleyn is a bit of a mystery. The late historian and Anne Boleyn expert Eric Ives once said to me that what we know about Mary Boleyn could be “written on a postcard with room to spare”, the rest is supposition. We don’t know when she was born, […]
Claire | July 19, 2016
On this day in history, 19th July 1543, Mary Stafford (née Boleyn, other married name Carey), wife of William Stafford and sister of the late Queen Anne Boleyn, died. She was survived by her second husband and her children, Catherine and Henry Carey. We know so little about the sister of Anne Boleyn and her […]
Claire | May 19, 2016
I do hope you’re enjoying Anne Boleyn Day so far. There are lots more videos and giveaways to go – a busy day! Now, here is Sarah Bryson, author of Mary Boleyn in a Nutshell and Charles Brandon: The King’s Man talking about the relationship between the Boleyn sisters. To be in with a chance […]
Claire | February 4, 2016
On Saturday 4th February 1520, Anne Boleyn’s sister Mary Boleyn got married to William Carey in the Chapel Royal at Greenwich Palace. We know that the king attended and that he made an offering of “6s. 8d.” (6 shillings and 8 pence) at the service, because this is recorded in the 1520 King’s Book of […]
