Susan Higginbotham's Blog: History Refreshed by Susan HIgginbotham, page 31

The Last Will of Jane Dudley, Duchess of Northumberland

As I forewarned you a few posts ago, we're beginning to move into Tudor territory! But I think you'll find this will, and the story behind it, a moving one.

Jane Dudley, Duchess of Northumberland, was born Jane Guildford around 1509. By the time she was sixteen or so, she had married her father's ward, John Dudley (born 1504), whose father, Edmund Dudley, had had the dubious distinction of being one of the first people executed by Henry VIII. Despite John's unpromising start in life, he rose h...

Privy Purse Expenses of Elizabeth of York

In 1830, Nicholas Harris Nicolas published Privy Purse Expenses of Elizabeth of York, from which these extracts are taken. They cover the last year of Elizabeth's life, from March 24, 1502, through her death on February 11, 1503. The complete book can be found on Google Books and is also available here.

This was a sad year for Elizabeth, whose eldest son, Arthur, died on April 2, 1502. She and Henry VII, who is often stereotyped as cold-hearted, comforted each other:

"Immediately after...

In Which I Discover That Some Googlers Have Very Odd Interests

I have a mess o' deadlines to meet this week, none of which are of the least bit interest to anyone who visits this blog. So I may not come back up for air until next week, but in the meantime here's some search terms for you:

hugh despenser susan higginbotham

I don't think Eleanor would like that at all. Or Edward II.

duke of clarence orgy

What type of website do you think I run? Really.

susan higginbotham dietitian

Krispy Kreme doughnuts, sausage pizza, Coca-Cola, sausage biscuits, bagels, spaghe...

Guest Blog: Richard Warren Field

Richard Warren Field is the author of The Swords of Faith, a novel told from the points of view of Richard the Lionheart, and Saladin. Visit his website here and his blog here. Thanks for guest posting, Richard!



Two new major releases about the crusades came out within about a month of each other earlier this year. My thanks to Susan Higginbotham for inviting me on her blog to discuss these books, books about one of the most significant and controversial aspects of the medieval period.

The two ...

Henry Stafford's Will, and a Note From Your Blogger

As those of you who have read Philippa Gregory's new novel know, Margaret Beaufort's second husband, Henry Stafford, is a prominent character there. (He also has a speaking part in my own novel The Stolen Crown, as he is the uncle to its hero, Harry, Duke of Buckingham.) Here is an abstract of his will, found in Testamenta Vetusta, available on Google Books. A transcript of the complete will can be found in The Logge Register of PCC Wills, 1479 to 1486, edited by Lesley Boatwright, Moira Habb...

Yes, I Bought The Red Queen the First Day It Came Out

In fact, I went shopping for Philippa Gregory's latest novel so early in the morning that Barnes and Noble barely had its display ready! What can I say--I'm a Wars of the Roses novel junkie.

First, despite its title, The Red Queen is not about Margaret of Anjou, but about Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond, mother of Henry VII. (For some reason, no one in the novel ever addresses Margaret as the Countess of Richmond, though records from the time refer to her as such, and she herself seems...

Summer Search Terms!

Some search terms for July for my website and for Historical Fiction Online:

how long can you be in a funeral home before being burryd in england

If you have to ask, it's probably time to start digging.

medievil games of cance

You pays your money and you lose your aitches.

why was elizabeth woodville not elizabeth i

Because wearing that ruff itched too much.

wife of a traitor

So close . . . So close. Just make it into a possessive and put a "The" in front of it, please.

video of kittens dressed in...

The Will of Cecily, Duchess of York

Here's another will for you: that of Cecily, Duchess of York. Cecily signed her will on May 31, 1495, at her home of Berkhamsted Castle, a few days before her death. Her will appears in Wills From Doctors' Commons, edited by John Gough Nichols and John Bruce and available on Google Books.

Cecily's will takes up eight pages and is printed in a single paragraph. I have taken the liberty of breaking down the bequests into paragraphs to make it more readable.

Of the religious goods that Cecily give...

The Will of Elizabeth Woodville

Last night as I was going to bed, it occurred to me that I have never done a blog post about the last will of Elizabeth Woodville. So here it is!

Elizabeth died at Bermondsey Abbey on June 8, 1492, aged about 55. By this time, all of her eleven brothers and sisters were dead except for her youngest sister, Katherine, Duchess of Bedford and Buckingham. Only one of her four sons is known to have survived her: Richard Grey had been executed by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, in 1483, and her two roy...

Scenes from Coventry

In 1456, Margaret of Anjou took up residence in the midlands, where she and Henry VI would spend much of 1456 and 1457. Their base was the city of Coventry, which would become known as "the queen's secret harbour." Henry and Margaret's visits to Coventry were recorded in The Coventry Leet Book (available on Google Books), edited by M.D. Harris.

The most spectacular civic event took place on September 14, 1456, when the city of Coventry greeted Margaret with a series of pageants. Featured were...