Melita Thomas
@melitat.bsky.social
I'm an author and historian, a PhD candidate at UCL and editor of Tudor Times. I love history, books, gardens, walking in the countryside, the sea, and interacting with interesting people on social media.
#1000TudorPeople H is for Anthony Holborne, poet, musician, and lute-maker. In 1597, he published The Cittharne School. This was followed by 'Pavans, Galliards, Almains, and other short aers ... for Viols, Violins… ' (1599). amzn.to/3X5KVBp
November 11, 2025 at 12:34 PM
#1000TudorPeople H is for Anthony Holborne, poet, musician, and lute-maker. In 1597, he published The Cittharne School. This was followed by 'Pavans, Galliards, Almains, and other short aers ... for Viols, Violins… ' (1599). amzn.to/3X5KVBp
Reposted by Melita Thomas
Long before Edmund Beaufort and Richard of York became sworn enemies, they were young men working together trying to rescue England's weakening position in France. Today I look at the 1436 Siege of Calais when Beaufort made his military reputation and became an English hero. 🔗👆🏾
November 11, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Long before Edmund Beaufort and Richard of York became sworn enemies, they were young men working together trying to rescue England's weakening position in France. Today I look at the 1436 Siege of Calais when Beaufort made his military reputation and became an English hero. 🔗👆🏾
Reposted by Melita Thomas
This week on Wild Way I am exploring three incredibly useful miniature wild geraniums - many think of these as weeds, I'm going convince you otherwise www.wildway.info/p/three-usef... (lesson for paid subscribers to my garden design course £25/yr)
Three useful wild geraniums
Mini geraniums to fill problem areas in your garden
www.wildway.info
November 11, 2025 at 9:22 AM
This week on Wild Way I am exploring three incredibly useful miniature wild geraniums - many think of these as weeds, I'm going convince you otherwise www.wildway.info/p/three-usef... (lesson for paid subscribers to my garden design course £25/yr)
Reposted by Melita Thomas
#OTD 1517 d. Sir Thomas Parr, bit.ly/1QO28UY a member of the King’s household, aged c. 39. Parr served both Henry VII and Henry VIII & was in such high favour that he was selected to be one of the canopy-bearers at the baptism of Princess in 1516. Pic credit ninjakid
November 11, 2025 at 12:07 PM
#OTD 1517 d. Sir Thomas Parr, bit.ly/1QO28UY a member of the King’s household, aged c. 39. Parr served both Henry VII and Henry VIII & was in such high favour that he was selected to be one of the canopy-bearers at the baptism of Princess in 1516. Pic credit ninjakid
Reposted by Melita Thomas
The final speaker in the 3rd of our series of summits on Royal Marriages in 15th & 16th c. Europe will be @stevenveerapen.bsky.social He will be telling us about the complex relationship between James VI of Scotland, later James I of England, & Anna of Denmark. bit.ly/4oh2VUh
November 11, 2025 at 12:09 PM
The final speaker in the 3rd of our series of summits on Royal Marriages in 15th & 16th c. Europe will be @stevenveerapen.bsky.social He will be telling us about the complex relationship between James VI of Scotland, later James I of England, & Anna of Denmark. bit.ly/4oh2VUh
Reposted by Melita Thomas
Died (alas!) on this day in 1638, in Haarlem, the eponymous Cornelis Cornelisz. van Haarlem. Here looking curious about himself, by himself, as a young man in 1588.
November 11, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Died (alas!) on this day in 1638, in Haarlem, the eponymous Cornelis Cornelisz. van Haarlem. Here looking curious about himself, by himself, as a young man in 1588.
Reposted by Melita Thomas
Today is the OFFICIAL publication day for TEXTILE SHAKESPEARE! Please indulge me: I want to say a little (perhaps rather a lot) about it and share my acknowledgements - and a discount code! Appropriately,🧵1/10
November 11, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Today is the OFFICIAL publication day for TEXTILE SHAKESPEARE! Please indulge me: I want to say a little (perhaps rather a lot) about it and share my acknowledgements - and a discount code! Appropriately,🧵1/10
Reposted by Melita Thomas
I must say Glasgow was looking rather lovely today, with Kelvingrove Park showing the last of its autumnal colour...
November 10, 2025 at 7:47 PM
I must say Glasgow was looking rather lovely today, with Kelvingrove Park showing the last of its autumnal colour...
Reposted by Melita Thomas
Yellow brain , scarlet waxcaps and parrot #waxcap #fungi today - east central Scotland #mushroommonday #fungifriends
November 10, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Yellow brain , scarlet waxcaps and parrot #waxcap #fungi today - east central Scotland #mushroommonday #fungifriends
#1000TudorPeople R is for Amy Robsart, wife of Lord Robert Dudley, Elizabeth I's Master of Horse. It was rumoured that Elizabeth was in love with Robert. In 1560, Amy was found dead at the bottom of a staircase. The Coroner's jury returned a verdict of accidental death. bit.ly/4jQisH9
November 10, 2025 at 10:37 AM
#1000TudorPeople R is for Amy Robsart, wife of Lord Robert Dudley, Elizabeth I's Master of Horse. It was rumoured that Elizabeth was in love with Robert. In 1560, Amy was found dead at the bottom of a staircase. The Coroner's jury returned a verdict of accidental death. bit.ly/4jQisH9
Reposted by Melita Thomas
#OTD 1565, b. Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, who became Elizabeth I's most favoured courtier. Brave and foolhardy, he did not know when he was well off and his career ended in rebellion and death. bit.ly/1dC6DmS
November 10, 2025 at 10:21 AM
#OTD 1565, b. Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, who became Elizabeth I's most favoured courtier. Brave and foolhardy, he did not know when he was well off and his career ended in rebellion and death. bit.ly/1dC6DmS
Reposted by Melita Thomas
One thing not being said - indeed, I think everyone misses this - but the requirement for the BBC to show impartiality and balance relates to the politics of *this* country, there’s no requirement to show some mythical balance globally, only to report the truth without fear or favour.
November 10, 2025 at 8:40 AM
One thing not being said - indeed, I think everyone misses this - but the requirement for the BBC to show impartiality and balance relates to the politics of *this* country, there’s no requirement to show some mythical balance globally, only to report the truth without fear or favour.
Reposted by Melita Thomas
An essential precondition for authoritarianism is the neutering of sources of real news.
November 10, 2025 at 8:41 AM
An essential precondition for authoritarianism is the neutering of sources of real news.
Reposted by Melita Thomas
Kilronan Castle, Roscommon
November 10, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Kilronan Castle, Roscommon
Reposted by Melita Thomas
The 2nd speaker in the 3rd of our summits on Royal Marriages in 15th & 16th c. Europe will be @cathfletcher.bsky.social She will be talking about the marriage between Alessandro de’ Medici and Margaret of Parma, an essential element of Habsburg strategy. bit.ly/4oh2VUh
November 10, 2025 at 10:25 AM
The 2nd speaker in the 3rd of our summits on Royal Marriages in 15th & 16th c. Europe will be @cathfletcher.bsky.social She will be talking about the marriage between Alessandro de’ Medici and Margaret of Parma, an essential element of Habsburg strategy. bit.ly/4oh2VUh
Last gasp of autumn colour at Westonbirt Arboretum. Still spectacular!
November 10, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Last gasp of autumn colour at Westonbirt Arboretum. Still spectacular!
#1000TudorPeople B is for Thomas Bodley who devoted his life to the restoration of Duke Humphrey of Gloucester’s library at the Uni. of Oxford. He dealt with everything inc. cataloguing, fundraising, requesting book donations. The library, containing 2,000 books opened #OTD 1602. amzn.to/3X5KVBp
November 9, 2025 at 12:56 PM
#1000TudorPeople B is for Thomas Bodley who devoted his life to the restoration of Duke Humphrey of Gloucester’s library at the Uni. of Oxford. He dealt with everything inc. cataloguing, fundraising, requesting book donations. The library, containing 2,000 books opened #OTD 1602. amzn.to/3X5KVBp
She should have died hereafter;
There would have been a time for such a word.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death.
#Macbeth V v
#ShakespeareSunday
There would have been a time for such a word.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death.
#Macbeth V v
#ShakespeareSunday
November 9, 2025 at 12:50 PM
She should have died hereafter;
There would have been a time for such a word.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death.
#Macbeth V v
#ShakespeareSunday
There would have been a time for such a word.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death.
#Macbeth V v
#ShakespeareSunday
Reposted by Melita Thomas
Today's #ShakespeareSunday theme: LOVE & LOSS
a red flower with a green stem is against a grey background
ALT: a red flower with a green stem is against a grey background
media.tenor.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Today's #ShakespeareSunday theme: LOVE & LOSS
Reposted by Melita Thomas
Final touch to the interior: mounted the chandelier. Not quite as ostentatious as Mr Arnolfini's light fixture in his bedchamber in Bruges and so perfectly captured by Jan van Eyck in 1434, but mine can be switched on and off effortlessly which would have seen Mr Arnolfini turn green with envy. 😉
November 9, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Final touch to the interior: mounted the chandelier. Not quite as ostentatious as Mr Arnolfini's light fixture in his bedchamber in Bruges and so perfectly captured by Jan van Eyck in 1434, but mine can be switched on and off effortlessly which would have seen Mr Arnolfini turn green with envy. 😉
Reposted by Melita Thomas
Elizabeth Boleyn: The Life of the Queen's Mother, by Sophie Bacchus-Waterman tonyriches.blogspot.com/2025/10/book... @sophiebwaterman.bsky.social #Tudors #BookLaunch
November 9, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Elizabeth Boleyn: The Life of the Queen's Mother, by Sophie Bacchus-Waterman tonyriches.blogspot.com/2025/10/book... @sophiebwaterman.bsky.social #Tudors #BookLaunch
Reposted by Melita Thomas
The final picture of the day, a Great White Egret, in the late afternoon sunshine, taken from Firth VP, RSPB Dungeness.
#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding
#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding
November 8, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The final picture of the day, a Great White Egret, in the late afternoon sunshine, taken from Firth VP, RSPB Dungeness.
#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding
#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding
Reposted by Melita Thomas
Thank you Devon Buildings Group and @ExeterCathedral for yesterday’s opportunity to explore a part of the cathedral I hadn’t seen before.
In a room above the chapel the chapel of St Andrew and St Catherine — a pig and piglets in stone.
#SundayStonework
In a room above the chapel the chapel of St Andrew and St Catherine — a pig and piglets in stone.
#SundayStonework
November 9, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Thank you Devon Buildings Group and @ExeterCathedral for yesterday’s opportunity to explore a part of the cathedral I hadn’t seen before.
In a room above the chapel the chapel of St Andrew and St Catherine — a pig and piglets in stone.
#SundayStonework
In a room above the chapel the chapel of St Andrew and St Catherine — a pig and piglets in stone.
#SundayStonework
Reposted by Melita Thomas
Crimped gill #fungi on fallen birch branch in the woods today #fungifriends #fungifriday east central Scotland
November 8, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Crimped gill #fungi on fallen birch branch in the woods today #fungifriends #fungifriday east central Scotland
Reposted by Melita Thomas
November 8, 2025 at 5:36 PM