The Ornamented Being

Today in 1837: the 18-year-old Princess Victoria becomes Queen Victoria at Kensington Palace.

“Rule, Britannia!”

I remember when I first looked upon the face of Queen Elizabeth I at the national Portrait Gallery I felt a  settle over me. In her eyes I found little warmth and yet when I stood there gazing with reverent eyes I understood why men gladly laid their lives down in her name.

And now in the twenty-first century I understand why my namesake took Semper Eadem as her motto. She inspires the same devotion, loyalty and love in the hearts of those who look upon her as she did in the sixteenth century.

Always the Same. 

Ugh. I feel like I am such a disappointment to you all because this is the second day I’ve put off my Edwardian spam.

I was up at 5:45am in London and got back around 20:30 and I am a crispy critter with bruised feet (pebble beach= EVIL!) For future reference wearing trousers with the tide coming in is just not the smartest idea ever.

I’m sorry but the only thing I’m studying tonight is turning on a movie, getting the aloe out and falling asleep. 

On a brighter note I saw the Queen’s escort driving her back from the Derby!! Sadly it was a great loss for us today. Carlton House fought bravely. Bloody French horse beat us.

Can you forgive me for not posting tonight?

lyma79 requested Anne Boleyn’s dress code. Which like most everything Anne Boleyn does not exist. There are a handful of paintings left but that’s all the Anne things we have. I’m not even sure a dresscode for Anne ever existed. It’s sad there are hardly any reminders of Anne left but at Hampton Court when Henry gave the order to have all things of her removed they missed a few :D

So instead I shall do the Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws which are quite amusing. 

None shall wear

            Any cloth of gold, tissue, nor fur of sables: except duchesses, marquises, and countesses in their gowns, kirtles, partlets, and sleeves; cloth of gold, silver, tinseled satin, silk, or cloth mixed or embroidered with gold or silver or pearl, saving silk mixed with gold or silver in linings of cowls, partlets, and sleeves: except all degrees above viscountesses, and viscountesses, baronesses, and other personages of like degrees in their kirtles and sleeves

Cowls, sleeves, partlets, and linings, trimmed with spangles or pearls of gold, silver, or pearl; cowls of gold or silver, or of silk mixed with gold or silver: except the degrees and persons above mentioned; and trimmed with pearl, none under the degree of baroness or like degrees

            Gowns of silk grosgrain, doubled sarcenet, camlet, or taffeta, or kirtles of satin or damask: except the degrees and persons above mentioned, and the wives of the sons and heirs of knights, and the daughters of knights, and of such as may dispend 300 marks by the year so valued ut supra, and the wives of those that may dispend £40 by the year.

            Damask, taffeta, or other silk in their petticoats: except knights’ daughters and such as be matched with them in the former article, who shall not wear a guard of any silk upon their petticoats. 

… These are just a few of the laws but they are all slightly ridiculous right? How did you keep up with what you could or could not wear? I guess it was Good to be the Queen (apologies to Mel Brooks)

This is where I want to be today, not in class.

‘Gentle visitor pause awhile : where you stand death cut away the light of many days : here jewelled names were broken from the vivid thread of life : may they rest in peace while we walk the generations around their strife and courage : under there restless skies’

My mum had to take this picture, I was off to the side standing there crying.

Four hundred and seventy five years ago today Anne Boleyn will be tried, found guilty and condemned to death. 

Anne Boleyn, 17th century, by Frans Pourbus. This portrait is a lovely interpretation of Elizabeth I’s mother, painted a century after her death. It places great emphasis upon Anne’s most celebrated feature, her beautiful eyes. It seems that, with the exception of the disputed Holbein sketches, she looks quite different in every portrayal. The increasing romanticization of her image was largely the result of her daughter’s phenomenal popularity. The attendant decline of Catholicism also gave Anne newfound status as Henry VIII’s legitimate wife. 

“On the 15th May 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn was tried in the King’s Hall in the Tower of London.”

Alison Weir quotes Crispin de Milherve’s version of Anne’s speech:-

“My lords, I will not say your sentence is unjust, nor presume that my reasons can prevail against your convictions. I am willing to believe that you have sufficient reasons for what you have done; but then they must be other than those which have been produced in court, for I am clear of all the offences which you then laid to my charge. I have ever been a faithful wife to the King, though I do not say I have always shown him that humility which his goodness to me, and the honours to which he raised me, merited. I confess I have had jealous fancies and suspicions of him, which I had not discretion enough, and wisdom, to conceal at all times. But God knows, and is my witness, that I have not sinned against him in any other way. Think not I say this in the hope to prolong my life, for He who saveth from death hath taught me how to die, and He will strengthen my faith. Think not, however, that I am so bewildered in my mind as not to lay the honour of my chastity to heart now in mine extremity, when I have maintained it all my life long, much as ever queen did. I know these, my last words, will avail me nothing but for the justification of my chastity and honour. As for my brother and those others who are unjustly condemned, I would willingly suffer many deaths to deliver them, but since I see it so pleases the King, I shall willingly accompany them in death, with this assurance, that I shall lead an endless life with them in peace and joy, where I will pray to God for the King and for you, my lords.”¹⁴

Copyright British Library. Page 2 of the letter.

This is said to be a copy of Anne Boleyn’s last letter, written to Henry VIII from her prison in the Tower of London. This letter is said to have been found amongst Thomas Cromwell’s papers after his execution. Cromwell was a meticulous note-keeper, it isn’t impossible to believe that he would make a copy of Anne’s letter knowing that Henry would destroy the original. Just a week after Anne’s execution Cromwell was telling people how brave she was - was it a result of reading this letter?

…for whose sake I am now as I am, whose name I could some good while since have pointed unto: Your Grace being not ignorant of my suspicion therein.
But if you have already determined of me, and that not only my death, but an infamous slander must bring you the enjoying of your desired happiness; then I desire of God, that he will pardon your great sin therein, and likewise mine enemies, the instruments thereof; that he will not call you to a strict account for your unprincely and cruel usage of me, at his general judgment seat, where both you and my self must shortly appear, and in whose judgment, I doubt not, (whatsover the world may think of me) mine innocence shall be openly known, and sufficiently cleared.
My last and only request shall be, that my self may only bear the burthen of your Grace’s displeasure, and that it may not touch the innocent souls of those poor gentlemen, who (as I understand) are likewise in strait imprisonment for my sake. If ever I have found favour in your sight; if ever the name of Anne Bullen hath been pleasing to your ears, then let me obtain this request; and I will so leave to trouble your Grace any further, with mine earnest prayers to the Trinity to have your Grace in his good keeping, and to direct you in all your actions.
Your most Loyal and ever Faithful Wife, Anne Bullen
From my doleful prison in the Tower, this 6th of May.

Copyright British Library. Page 1 of the letter.

This is said to be a copy of Anne Boleyn’s last letter, written to Henry VIII from her prison in the Tower of London. This letter is said to have been found amongst Thomas Cromwell’s papers after his execution. Cromwell was a meticulous note-keeper, it isn’t impossible to believe that he would make a copy of Anne’s letter knowing that Henry would destroy the original. Just a week after Anne’s execution Cromwell was telling people how brave she was - was it a result of reading this letter?

Sir, your Grace’s displeasure, and my imprisonment are things so strange unto me, as what to write, or what to excuse, I am altogether ignorant; whereas you sent unto me (willing me to confess a truth, and so obtain your favour) by such a one, whom you know to be my ancient and professed enemy; I no sooner received the message by him, than I rightly conceived your meaning; and if, as you say, confessing truth indeed may procure my safety, I shall with all willingness and duty perform your command. But let not your Grace ever imagine that your poor wife will ever be brought to acknowledge a fault, where not so much as thought thereof proceeded. And to speak a truth, never Prince had wife more loyal in all duty, and in all true affection, than you have found in Anne Bullen, with which name and place could willingly have contented my self, as if God, and your Grace’s pleasure had been so pleased. Neither did I at any time so far forge my self in my exaltation, or received Queenship, but that I always looked for such an alteration as now I find; for the ground of my preferment being on no surer foundation than your Grace’s fancy, the least alteration, I knew, was fit and sufficient to draw that fancy to some other subject. You have chosen me, from a low estate, to be your Queen and companion, far beyond my desert or desire. If then you found me worthy of such honour, good your Grace, let not any light fancy, or bad counsel of mine enemies, withdraw your Princely favour from me; neither let that stain, that unworthy stain of a disloyal heart towards your good Grace, ever cast so foul a blot on your most dutiful wife, and the infant Princess your daughter: Try me, good King, but let me have a lawful trial, and let not my sworn enemies sit as my accusers and judges; yes, let me receive an open trial, for my truth shall fear no open shame; then shall you see, either mine Innocency cleared, your suspicion and conscience satisfied, the ignominy and slander of the world stopped, or my guilt openly declared. So that whatsoever God or you may determine of me, your Grace may be freed from an open censure; and mine offence being so lawfully proved, your Grace is at liberty, both before God and Man, not only to execute worthy punishment on me as an unlawful wife, but to follow your affection already settled on that party, …..