G.D. Falksen's Blog, page 986
November 5, 2013
September 5th, 1548 - Catherine Parr, former queen of England,...
September 5th, 1548 - Catherine Parr, former queen of England, dies at Sudeley Castle, Gloucestershire.
Catherine is mostly known as the 6th and final wife of Henry VIII, the one who “survived” him - though she was much more than just that.
She was deeply beloved and close to her three stepchildren, being personally involved in Edward and Elizabeth’s education; and played a part in Elizabeth and Mary’s reconciliation with Henry (thus restoring them to the line of succession to the throne through the passing of the Third Succession Act in 1543), who had cast them aside after the execution of Anne Boleyn and his divorce with Catherine of Aragon (whom Catherine herself was named after).
Catherine had a passion for learning and a dislike for sewing (telling her mother “My hands are ordained to touch crowns and sceptres, not spindles and needles" [x]), was fluent in French, Latin and Italian (and started learning Spanish as a Queen) and published two books. After Henry’s death she became responsible for Lady Jane Grey and Elizabeth’s education, her house becoming known as a very respected learning place for young women.
She acted as Queen Regent during Henry’s last campaign in France from July to September 1544 and “(…) obtained effective control and was able to rule as she saw fit. She handled provision, finances and musters for Henry’s French campaign, signed five royal proclamations, and maintained constant contact with her lieutenant in the northern Marches, Lord Shrewsbury, over the complex and unstable situation with Scotland. It is thought that her actions as regent, together with her strength of character and noted dignity, and later religious convictions, greatly influenced her stepdaughter Lady Elizabeth (the future Elizabeth I of England)." [x]
Due to her sympathy towards the Protestant faith, the Bishop of Winchester and Lord Wriothesley tried to turn the king against her in 1546, an arrest warrant being issued against her, at the same time as rumours spread through Europe that Henry was attracted to the Duchess of Suffolk, her close friend. However, Catherine “(…) saw the warrant and managed to reconcile with the King after vowing that she had only argued about religion with him to take his mind off the suffering caused by his ulcerous leg" [x], a showcase of her high intelligence and way with words (which possibly saved her from suffering a fate similar to her five predecessors).
Around six months after Henry’s death Catherine secretly married Sir Thomas Seymour, a marriage of love that scandalized the public when discovered and upset her stepchildren Mary (future Mary I) and the king (Edward VI). Catherine became pregnant (a surprise, since she had never conceived during her previous three marriages) at age 35, in March 1548, and gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Mary (named after her stepdaughter) on 30 August 1548.
Sadly, she contracted puerperal fever (also known as ‘childbearing fever’, the cause of death of Henry’s mother Elizabeth of York, and of his third wife, Jane Seymour) - a relatively common occurrence, due to the lack of hygiene around childbirth - and died a week later, at age 35/36.
She was buried at Sudeley Castle’s chapel and Lady Jane Grey, who would later carry to her scaffold a prayer book believed to be written in Catherine’s handwriting (x), presided the ceremony as chief mourner.
This mother wins …
"My 3.5 year old daughter wanted to be...
This mother wins …
"My 3.5 year old daughter wanted to be a princess for Halloween. OK! I said, then promptly lost my sanity and proceeded with making her an entire, (mostly) historically accurate 18th century Robe a la Francaise, using nothing but thrifted bed sheets for the fabric.
If you’re interested in the nitty gritty details - I’ve made a blog post detailing the construction process ” - teacupdinosaur
This blog hit a high number in followers....
Should I do some sort of giveaway to thank you for following along here?
November 4, 2013
how many male novelists does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
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A: The beast, which had represented his feelings, was dead. “I think I’ll do a pushup,” he announced to the sea. The sea respected him for it.
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A: [4000 words from the narrator about his feelings on his childhood circumcision]
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A: War is hell.
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A: He straightened his tie. He had lost, but in a romantic way, which meant that he had won. “I’m going to do a pushup,” he announced to his tie. His tie respected him for it, and secretly wished that it could have sex with him.
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A: You wouldn’t understand.
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A: He swore curses at his coworkers. He was making a lot of money. Fuck.
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A: This neighborhood in New York City was very different from the other neighborhood in New York City he’d just been in.
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A: He lit a cigarette. His glass of whiskey lit a cigarette too. “I can only truly love my best friend,” he said, “but not in a gay way. Women wouldn’t understand it. They’re too gay.” Both of the cigarettes agreed.
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A: [4000 words about an isolated encounter with a service worker that borders on racist and goes nowhere]
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A: “The cocaine isn’t the point. The cocaine is a metaphor,” he explained wearily over the pile of cocaine. She folded her arms. She didn’t understand his cocaine. “Didn’t you read my manifesto?” The prostitute had read his manifesto. Why couldn’t she?
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A: This lightbulb is inauthentic.
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A: ”It’s only the institution I have a problem with,” he explained to the empty bar.
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A: The time had come for him to go to war, and also find himself, and also reject the rules of your society.
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A: His alcoholism was different, because someday he was going to die.
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A: [Nothing happens for 450 pages; receives fourteen awards]
Day dress of Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, 1867
Day dress of Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, 1867
Ashleigh Good photographed by Jean Baptiste Mondino for Numéro...
Ashleigh Good photographed by Jean Baptiste Mondino for Numéro #146 September 2013
Heart Scarab of Hatnefer ca. 1492–1473 B.C.
Heart Scarab of Hatnefer ca. 1492–1473 B.C.
