In celebration of St George’s Day, we watched Kenneth Branagh’s Henry V. Was it a triumph of the order of Agincourt’s, or worse than the Duke of Bedford’s haircut?
270 Wyatt’s Doom
Mary faced the biggest challenge to her reign in 1554 as the London Trained Bands, the White Coats, joined Wyatt’s army of Kent. She responded like a Tudor appealing toRead More
Eleanor 16 The Devil’s Brood - Members Only
Henry and Eleanor were well aware of the potential problem of all those boys. So they tried to sort things out for their brood nice and early.
Transcript for Eleanor 16
I have to say that when I refer to the Devils Brood I thought I was referring to a contemporary quote. In fact I was realise I was not, IRead More
Eleanor Omnibus 4 EPs 14-16 - Members Only
The 1160s and into the 1170s saw growing children, and a growing distance between Eleanor and Henry. Both would promise trouble
Early Modern Scottish Earldoms
A handy chart of the holders of 5 politically influential Scottish Earldoms in the 16th century.
Transcript for HoS 34
Writing a couple of decades after King James IV’s death, David Lindsay reflected the opinions of the majority of his contemporaries in his admiration of James as a monarch who had, ‘the glory of all princely governing’ he enthused. ARead More
HoS 34 The Legacy Of Sauchieburn - Members Only
The first gift of Sauchieburn - yet another minority
Eleanor 15 - Members Only
Eleanor’s rule in Aquitaine was proving somewhat frustrating when four blokes barged into Canterbury cathedral
Transcript for Eleanor 15
We are in the dead of winter, 29th December 1170, and we are in Canterbury Cathedral. It’s late afternoon, and there is the sound of the chanting of monks asRead More
269 Scorn and Ill Will
In 1553, Mary’s real religious policy become clear. More worrying for many was the announcement of her choice of husband Philip of Spain. Some blokes met in a pub to figureRead More
Eleanor 14 Home Rule - Members Only
Eleanor is At Home to the shedlingas
Marshal Omnibus 2 Eps 4-7 - Members Only
Marshal goes from green esquire to green knight
Transcript for Marshal 7
Before he got a chance to prove himself though, William would have heard, in 1165, of the death of his father John; it’s odd that the Histoire makes no mentionRead More
Marshal 7 Knight - Members Only
War is hell, but for a young 12th century esquire it's the kind of hell they need
HiT Das Boot
Not quite sure how many times I have watched Das Boot, but it is legion. A story of the war in one campaign, of the comradeship on board, and the terrorsRead More
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Eleanor 13 Home - Members Only
A new strategy was needed to govern Aquitaine
Eleanor Omnibus 3 Eps 10-13 - Members Only
From 1152 to 1172, from Poitiers to Poitiers
Marshal 6 Court and Kit - Members Only
The life and kit of the aspirant esquire
268a Thomas Cranmer with Diarmaid MacCulloch
Cranmer’s reputation has run from dishonest, ambitious politician to gentle, moderate Anglican. Prof. Diarmaid MacCulloch shed light on the life and motivations of the man central to the English Reformation. Read More
Transcript for Marshal 6
The Histoire tells us nothing about the daily life at Tancarville’s court; I suppose the poet might have wondered why you’d talk about something so commonplace. None the less weRead More
Thomas Cranmer: A Life by Diarmaid MacCulloch
An exceptional biography that allows the man to emerge from the history
HiT The Lost City of Z
It’s an adventure, exploration yarn! Good solid honest stuff – British explorer Percy Fawcett journeys into the Amazon, where he discovers evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization. ButRead More
268 This Hand Offendeth
After Mary rode into London in August 1553, Thomas Cranmer must have known he would be in the firing line – and yet at first nothing happened. And it wasRead More
Speech of Mary I, 1554
This is the speech that Queen Mary I made at the Guildhall, on 1st February 1554, as recorded in Holinshed’s Chronicles. London was threatened by the rebel army of ThomasRead More
Transcript for Eleanor 13
There is no indication in the early 1160s that the partnership that was the Eleanor Henry marriage had foundered. Eleanor still spent a reasonable percentage of her life in pregnancyRead More
Transcript for Eleanor 12
Last time, a few weeks ago now I ended by mentioning that Eleanor was thinking of her family’s old rights in Toulouse. Shall we just remind ourselves of the basisRead More
Eleanor 12 Partners - Members Only
The Toulouse Campaign and the start of tension
267 Girt with a Sword
Mary was well aware that it was critical for her to establish her right and authority as equal to that of any king; and she consciously pursued that aim. WhichRead More
HoS 33 Trading Places - Members Only
The dramatic end of James III and Scotland's trading places
266 Mary – Bloody or Otherwise
After her brave and audacious rebellion, Mary became Queen in 1553. Historians have not been kind to Mary for many centuries. What have they been saying? What are they sayingRead More
HiT Robin and his Various Hoods
Glen Longwell joins Wolf and I to compare and contrast 3 Robin Hood movies. Plus we had some questions so hie thee to the Facebook group to pitch in. WeRead More
Transcript for HoS33
Albany’s return and the rebellion of 1482 partly demonstrated just how unpopular James III was personally, how unpopular was his vindictive and dismissive treatment of the nobility and his contemptRead More
HoS 32 Blind Harry’s Bane - Members Only
The object of Harry's ire - James III
HiT Papillon
When I was at school we constantly discussed the book; we were fascinated by it, including where they kept their money (really? Ewe). So what about the film? How did theRead More
Marshal 5 Tancarville - Members Only
Around 1160, William left home to the sound of his family’s tears, and travelled to Tancarville to learn the skills of courtesie.
Gold, Praise and Glory
Same Hume introduces English trade and exploration in the Tudor era – the trade companies that spring up after 1550 and the discovery ventures that follow. With a bit ofRead More
Joseph Lancaster
Joseph Lancaster is little known today, but in the first half of the 19th century his name was everywhere. He was described as ‘the poor child’s friend’ as he made educationRead More
Eleanor 11 Power - Members Only
Queen of England: Power or pawn?
Marshal 4 Fathers and Sons - Members Only
The story of John Marshal, William’s father with a big of wandering around in the genesis of the legendary King Arthur, king of the Britons.
Eleanor 10 Queen 2 - Members Only
Escape to Poitiers - and the search for a protector
Transcript for Marshal 4
When the Truce of Wallingford between Stephen and Henry of Anjou and the following the treaty of Winchester were sealed in 1153, the idea probably was there would maybe beRead More
Transcript for Eleanor 11
The question about Eleanor’s role in England is a vexed one – apart from the child production one obviously, the evidence of which was there for all to see. It’sRead More
Transcript for Eleanor 10
After narrowly avoiding Theobald, Eleanor might have thought she was safe – after all she’d escaped from the country of Blois and was into Touraine, which was part of theRead More
Marshal Omnibus 1 EPs 1-3 - Members Only
We set the scene – William’s background and lineage, and the Anarchy – until William himself appears strapped to a trebuchet at Newbury. As you do
Marshal 3 Hammer and Anvil - Members Only
During the Anarchy, John Marshal makes hay - and William joins our story at last
HiT Mary Queen of Scots
We discuss the intricate and fascinating story of Mary Queen of Scots and the new 2018 movie – along with the 1971 movie too. A chance to see how the ourRead More
Eleanor 9 Hunted - Members Only
Escape meant avoiding the wolves that blocked the path to Aquitaine
Eleanor Omnibus 2 EPs 6-9 - Members Only
We take in the full extent of Eleanor’s time as Queen of France – through her struggle for his sister, the dramatic 2nd Crusade and her final dash for freedom