There is more information on the Elizabeth I portrait in the National Portrait Gallery here and more on the Edward VI portrait in the National Gallery of Art here. Also, there’s a still photo of Catherine Parr’s prayerbook (from the Folger’s “Shakespeare’s Sisters” exhibition) here.  

(Incidentally, if you are on Capitol Hill and feeling peckish, head over to We, the Pizza on Pennsylvania Ave, just a few blocks from the Folger. Yesterday I had a slice of white pizza and a coconut soda…super yum!)

Just wanted to make everyone aware that, although I’m not blacking my blog out today in support of the SOPA/PIPA protest, it is only because I’m hesitant to download anything on this old computer! I always end up screwing something up when I do downloads and then my systems administrator husband has to deal with the aftermath.

Rest assured that I stand with WordPress and the other striking sites as far as supporting the free exchange of information on the web.

Warning: Incidents of a graphic nature are contained in this post, but this issue is so far under my skin I can’t ignore it today.

High Holy Coach Joe Paterno was fired last night. Let me take out my wee violin for this 84-year-old guy who can no longer coach a sainted college football team. You would think that is the true crime, compared to holding little boys against a shower wall and having your way with them, as the former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky did –while Paterno and quite a few others at Penn State conveniently looked the other way after having done the bare minimum, if anything at all.

Let me be clear on this: When you witness and/or know of a child rape situation, you call emergency services and the police. You don’t give a toss about a university’s insular “chain of command.” You may or may not “approach” the perv-criminal on your own as well. Take that how you wish.

Just how many higher-ups at the university knew about this? Just what were these crimes against young boys? If you have the stomach for it, or just want to feel justified in the immense anger this should stir up, here is the grand jury report. Again, be warned of graphic and extremely disturbing details.  

Sandusky should be spending a good long time in prison (and hey, enjoy your showers there, Jerry. I hear they’re quite cosy.) Assistant Coach Mike McQueary was the grad assistant who witnessed the aforementioned incident and yet did not slam this child rapist against the shower wall and hold him there while calling 9-1-1. (Instead, this tall, strapping 28-year-old fled the scene and — are you ready? – told his own dad.)

And yet new coach as of today, Tom Bradley (@TomBradleyPSU, if you care to tweet him), who can call all the shots at this point, maintains that McQueary will coach this Saturday. This coward-witness is easy to pick out, due to his bright ginger hair. That might be a huge negative for McQueary as he stands on the sidelines on Saturday. I’m just sayin’. No, that’s not a threat. Not from me, anyway.

As a lot of you know, although I love Britain and its history, I’m not British. I’m American. In fact, I grew up in South Jersey, a few hours east of this part of rural Pennsylvania that might as well be called The Kingdom of Penn State University, as it is so deeply dependent on the college for financial and status reasons. Seemingly untouchable. Even if it harbors, you know, kid touchers.

We’ve seen this “the higher the mountain, the further the fall” thing numerous times in Tudor history. Cardinal Wolsey, Thomas More, Anne Boleyn, Katherine Howard,  Thomas Cromwell, the Brothers Seymour, Lady Jane Grey, Thomas Cranmer, Mary Queen of Scots … all held positions of great power for varying lengths of time, all experienced a devastating and humilating downfall.  Even Henry VIII went from Prince of Awesomesauce to Paranoid and Obese King of Legal Homicide. 

Thankfully, child rape wasn’t involved for the dynasty. Well, there was the whole Thomas Seymour / Princess Elizabeth thing, but even that isn’t comparable.

Is it a sense of schadenfreude (oooh, that’s just fun to say. Say it with me: SHAY-den-froyd) that winds us up when we watch the once-powerful crash and burn? From the ups and downs of the Tudor dynasty to this week’s horrific findings in the Penn State hierarchy, that might be the case. We’ve yet to learn how history will treat Joe Paterno and the rest of the Penn State Pederast Protection Team. In my opinion, there’s no execution punishment harsh enough.

There’s been much ado about “Anonymous” lately, as there had been about “Braveheart,” “Elizabeth,” “The Tudors,” “Gladiator,” “The Patriot,” and other portrayals of history in movies and television.

And so, clearly, what we need is the Official Hollywood vs History Pledge!* Please raise your right hand and repeat after me:

“I SHALL NOT get my history from sources of entertainment, such as television and movies. I agree to research further if the history presented in said entertainment sources interests me, & not take the word of a script writer or director over that of historians. I will let entertainers do their thing, and let historians do theirs.”

Feel free to share this pledge with others, for the sake of the facts!

* For simplicity’s sake, the word “Hollywood” is used; however, inaccuracies in media portrayals of history show up in outlets which are not based in Southern California studios. Just a disclaimer.

Henry VIII is turning over in his grave whilst Catherine of Aragon and her daughter, Mary I, are high-fiving somewhere in the afterlife: Gender-neutral succession has come to the British monarchy, and the heir shall henceforth be permitted to marry — gasp!! — a Catholic.

The news was officially announced this morning.

Tudor or trickster?

I’ve just come across this interesting bit from a 1931 newspaper (and resurrected in a Daily Mail article from several years ago). Have a look!

Apparently, one Anthony Hall (above) had been making his way around England, claiming that he’d been descended from an illegitimate love child of the unmarried Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. In a letter to George V (or as he’d addressed, “Mr. George Frederick Earnest Albert Windsor,”  he wrote:

“‘You have no connection with the British Royal Family. You are an outsider. ‘Therefore leave the country. I claim the Crown.”

As King Anthony, 23rd descendant of the House of Tudor, he delivered speeches to large crowds and even threatened to shoot George V “like a dog.”

Fortunately, “King Anthony” died without issue or William might have a real treat on his hands in the future.

Charles Dickens was a man of many words. Many, many, many, many words. I don’t know how well his books would go over if they were newly-released today because most people have the attention span of a gnat. But part of his appeal, at least to me, is the gorgeous way he serves up succulent sentences full of the finest detail.

I love me some Charles Dickens, but the man could not say the same about our Henry VIII, apparently. In his Child’s History of England (used in British schools well into the 20th century), Mr. Dickens had these many, many words for the much-married monarch:

“Bluff King Hal [was]…one of the most detestable villains that ever drew breath…He was a big, burly, noisy, smelly, small-eyed, large-faced, double-chinned, swinish looking fellow in later life (as we know from the likenessess of him, painted by the famous Hans Holbein), and it is not easy to believe that so bad a character can ever have been veiled under a prepossessing appearance…He was as most intolerable  ruffian, a disgrace to human nature, and a blot of blood and grease upon the History of England.”

So, no questions then?

You can read Dickens’ history book online here; if you are only interested in the Tudor bits, they fall between pages 145 and 193.

What can you expect from the Tudor Tutor in the social networking world?

If you “like” my Facebook page, you’ll hear from me once or twice per weekday, on average (and sometimes on weekends). I’ll link you to the latest blog post, share a Tudor-related newsstory with you, commemorate “this day in Tudor history,” or ask open-ended questions on the time period and its players, starting up a discussion among those who “like” the page.

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll get lots of Tudor-related news, video, facts, and photos during the day (mostly on weekdays). I’ll also link you to the latest blog post, reflect on “this day in Tudor history,” and go off on occasional tangents about coffee, food, Harry Potter, and current events. I love to retweet, so I’ll put interesting tweets I see right in your path as well.

Join me on the Tudor Tutor Facebook page, Twitter account, or both and I promise to keep you in the loop on the “latest” from 500 years gone by!

* Like those awesome cupcakes in the pic above? They’re from this Etsy page.

I didn’t want to get started on reviewing books; I first dipped my toe into that water when I ranted about Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire and her spoiled crew. I still plan on leaving book reviews to others, but there is a relatively new book I believe you should add to your queue, Tudor fans!

This isn’t as much a review (I don’t feel I’m qualified as a book reviewer) as it is a recommendation for the book I read just after that one, which I have recently finished, and that is 1536: The Year That Changed Henry VIII by Suzannah Lipscomb. 

One of the tragedies of Henry VIII’s character is his change from charming, athletic prince to paranoid, gross, and cruel king. Dr. Lipscomb explores the events of 1536 and puts forth why that year was a crucial turning point in the change we see. She easily conveys her vast knowledge of the subject in a well-organized and conversational manner, making 1536 a pleasure to read. It is only 209 pages, perfect for getting your Tudor fix during a long day at the beach or during a quiet weekend!

Dr. Lipscomb has been a research curator at Hampton Court, and a university lecturer. She’s now the subject convenor and Senior Lecturer for history at New College of the Humanities in central London. The complete goods, including video clips, can be found on her website.  And if you are on Twitter, give her a follow! @sixteenthCgirl