Fergal Leonard
@fergalleonard.bsky.social
Historian of the sixteenth-century Anglo-Scottish frontier. PhD from Durham University (mostly) on the evolution of the early modern state in the English west march, and the relations between march elites and the 'riding surnames'.
Recent purchase at a second-hand bookshop based mostly on how fantastic the cover art is--although I have heard a little about the strange and tumultuous careers of the Shirleys, so I'm sure it'll be an interesting read!
September 23, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Recent purchase at a second-hand bookshop based mostly on how fantastic the cover art is--although I have heard a little about the strange and tumultuous careers of the Shirleys, so I'm sure it'll be an interesting read!
Reposted by Fergal Leonard
#onmydesktoday is a big and timely book about European communication by the great Joad Raymond Wren. Exploring a world of #earlymodern newsmongers, translators and postmasters, Joad highlights that news moved and were shared, and that news binds us together. Good news for #skystorians.
September 7, 2025 at 7:11 AM
#onmydesktoday is a big and timely book about European communication by the great Joad Raymond Wren. Exploring a world of #earlymodern newsmongers, translators and postmasters, Joad highlights that news moved and were shared, and that news binds us together. Good news for #skystorians.
The warfare of the Dutch revolt offered opportunities for the skilled horsemen of the 'riding surnames'.
One was the infamous Redesdale murderer George Hall, who fled and was outlawed but allowed to return home at the request of Sir Philip Sidney, "w[ith] whome he s[er]ued in the Lowe cuntries".
One was the infamous Redesdale murderer George Hall, who fled and was outlawed but allowed to return home at the request of Sir Philip Sidney, "w[ith] whome he s[er]ued in the Lowe cuntries".
September 4, 2025 at 2:03 PM
The warfare of the Dutch revolt offered opportunities for the skilled horsemen of the 'riding surnames'.
One was the infamous Redesdale murderer George Hall, who fled and was outlawed but allowed to return home at the request of Sir Philip Sidney, "w[ith] whome he s[er]ued in the Lowe cuntries".
One was the infamous Redesdale murderer George Hall, who fled and was outlawed but allowed to return home at the request of Sir Philip Sidney, "w[ith] whome he s[er]ued in the Lowe cuntries".
A particularly stark example of iconoclast damage: the tomb of Jan van Arkel, bishop of Utrecht from 1342 to 1364, damaged in 1580, in Domkerk, Utrecht.
August 28, 2025 at 1:52 PM
A particularly stark example of iconoclast damage: the tomb of Jan van Arkel, bishop of Utrecht from 1342 to 1364, damaged in 1580, in Domkerk, Utrecht.
Wonderful artefact at the Plantin-Moretus museum in Antwerp: weights for dozens of different coins from a range of countries! I noticed ones for English angels and rose crowns.
August 22, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Wonderful artefact at the Plantin-Moretus museum in Antwerp: weights for dozens of different coins from a range of countries! I noticed ones for English angels and rose crowns.
At the Bourse in sixteenth-century Antwerp you could enter a sweepstake for the Papal election, where you were assigned a random cardinal and won the pot if they were chosen!
(Geoffrey Parker, The Dutch Revolt).
(Geoffrey Parker, The Dutch Revolt).
August 18, 2025 at 11:56 AM
At the Bourse in sixteenth-century Antwerp you could enter a sweepstake for the Papal election, where you were assigned a random cardinal and won the pot if they were chosen!
(Geoffrey Parker, The Dutch Revolt).
(Geoffrey Parker, The Dutch Revolt).
While wandering around Portland Island yesterday we came across the graves of Mary Way and William Lano, two of the four people killed by a press-gang in the Easton Massacre, 1803.
August 9, 2025 at 8:24 AM
While wandering around Portland Island yesterday we came across the graves of Mary Way and William Lano, two of the four people killed by a press-gang in the Easton Massacre, 1803.
Reposted by Fergal Leonard
Many busy things this month!
Pleased to have presented my paper, “Stubborn, Ungratful Carriage: Early Quakerism and the Politics of Poor Relief” at @socialhistsoc.bsky.social earlier this month.
Also pleased to have finally graduated from Durham (1 year post viva!) 🎉💃🏻
Feeling very grateful ❤️
Pleased to have presented my paper, “Stubborn, Ungratful Carriage: Early Quakerism and the Politics of Poor Relief” at @socialhistsoc.bsky.social earlier this month.
Also pleased to have finally graduated from Durham (1 year post viva!) 🎉💃🏻
Feeling very grateful ❤️
July 29, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Many busy things this month!
Pleased to have presented my paper, “Stubborn, Ungratful Carriage: Early Quakerism and the Politics of Poor Relief” at @socialhistsoc.bsky.social earlier this month.
Also pleased to have finally graduated from Durham (1 year post viva!) 🎉💃🏻
Feeling very grateful ❤️
Pleased to have presented my paper, “Stubborn, Ungratful Carriage: Early Quakerism and the Politics of Poor Relief” at @socialhistsoc.bsky.social earlier this month.
Also pleased to have finally graduated from Durham (1 year post viva!) 🎉💃🏻
Feeling very grateful ❤️
Reposted by Fergal Leonard
4-year Departmental Lectureship in Global & Imperial History in Oxford: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOC516/d...
Departmental Lecturer in Global and Imperial History at University of Oxford
Discover an exciting academic career path as a Departmental Lecturer in Global and Imperial History at jobs.ac.uk. Don't miss out on this job opportunity - apply today!
www.jobs.ac.uk
July 30, 2025 at 12:22 PM
4-year Departmental Lectureship in Global & Imperial History in Oxford: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOC516/d...
Reposted by Fergal Leonard
In 1544 an English merchant in Calais named Otwell Johnson wrote to his brother John, & asked him to remind their sister to buy some eels in London for Lent.
Which is basically the 16th C. version of texting someone to stop by the store on the way home.
🗃️🧪
Which is basically the 16th C. version of texting someone to stop by the store on the way home.
🗃️🧪
July 29, 2025 at 2:09 PM
In 1544 an English merchant in Calais named Otwell Johnson wrote to his brother John, & asked him to remind their sister to buy some eels in London for Lent.
Which is basically the 16th C. version of texting someone to stop by the store on the way home.
🗃️🧪
Which is basically the 16th C. version of texting someone to stop by the store on the way home.
🗃️🧪
Reposted by Fergal Leonard
I cannot wait to read @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social 's new book, reviewed here by Rowan Williams (!) for the Observer, observer.co.uk/culture/book...
The deep roots of paganism | The Observer
A revelatory study shows how pagans not only survived the spread of Christianity but also made its practices their own
observer.co.uk
July 27, 2025 at 2:27 PM
I cannot wait to read @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social 's new book, reviewed here by Rowan Williams (!) for the Observer, observer.co.uk/culture/book...
New word of the day: desideratum.
From Janette Dillon, Performance and Spectacle in Hall's Chronicle, a chance charity shop find.
From Janette Dillon, Performance and Spectacle in Hall's Chronicle, a chance charity shop find.
July 25, 2025 at 4:19 PM
New word of the day: desideratum.
From Janette Dillon, Performance and Spectacle in Hall's Chronicle, a chance charity shop find.
From Janette Dillon, Performance and Spectacle in Hall's Chronicle, a chance charity shop find.
Reposted by Fergal Leonard
'Scholars interested in monasticism, precursors of the Enlightenment, and early modern British and Irish history should not miss the essays included in this collection'. Review in Sixteenth Century Journal of the first volume in the series @16csociety.bsky.social #history #skystorians #nuntastic
July 24, 2025 at 3:04 PM
'Scholars interested in monasticism, precursors of the Enlightenment, and early modern British and Irish history should not miss the essays included in this collection'. Review in Sixteenth Century Journal of the first volume in the series @16csociety.bsky.social #history #skystorians #nuntastic
Reposted by Fergal Leonard
Derbyshire man Leonard Wheatcroft built up a list of questions in 1671, 29 in total. Loving these today, incredible train of thought: 'why have men Beards & women none', 'why have sum women Beads & sum none'. The list get better and better as it goes on too
July 16, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Derbyshire man Leonard Wheatcroft built up a list of questions in 1671, 29 in total. Loving these today, incredible train of thought: 'why have men Beards & women none', 'why have sum women Beads & sum none'. The list get better and better as it goes on too
Reposted by Fergal Leonard
Looking for #earlymodern English descriptions of #fairy clothing. Can anyone help?
#earlymodernsky
I have the 1635 'description of the king and queene of fayries, their habit', and its expansion in Musarum Deliciae, 1655, but would be interested in other sources.
#earlymodernsky
I have the 1635 'description of the king and queene of fayries, their habit', and its expansion in Musarum Deliciae, 1655, but would be interested in other sources.
July 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Looking for #earlymodern English descriptions of #fairy clothing. Can anyone help?
#earlymodernsky
I have the 1635 'description of the king and queene of fayries, their habit', and its expansion in Musarum Deliciae, 1655, but would be interested in other sources.
#earlymodernsky
I have the 1635 'description of the king and queene of fayries, their habit', and its expansion in Musarum Deliciae, 1655, but would be interested in other sources.
The 'border causes' resolved by the commissioners for the treaty of Carlisle (1597) feature many bills entered by women, complaining of the theft of their livestock and goods, but only one against a woman: this complaint that the goodwife of Newham had been involved in the theft of two oxen.
July 22, 2025 at 2:26 PM
The 'border causes' resolved by the commissioners for the treaty of Carlisle (1597) feature many bills entered by women, complaining of the theft of their livestock and goods, but only one against a woman: this complaint that the goodwife of Newham had been involved in the theft of two oxen.
Reposted by Fergal Leonard
Tinted, double-hinged spectacles, c.1790. Many opticians believed green or blue glass was easier on the eyes and would reduce glare; while clear glass was too soft and would distort images. This example is from the Wellcome Collection in London.
July 20, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Tinted, double-hinged spectacles, c.1790. Many opticians believed green or blue glass was easier on the eyes and would reduce glare; while clear glass was too soft and would distort images. This example is from the Wellcome Collection in London.
Reposted by Fergal Leonard
Just over a week to go until the closing date for this...
Do you have a fabulous MA student who is interested in the 1990s? Send this fully-funded 4 year AHRC doctoral studentship their way. They'll get to work with me (yay?) and the fabulous @jessamycarlson.bsky.social (yay!) www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate...
History: Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Early education, education, education: childcare in the policy and imagination of New Labour’s England, 1994-2003 (RS852) - Swansea UniversityMenu
We offer a wide range of funded and fully funded research scholarships in all subject areas. Explore your options and apply now.
www.swansea.ac.uk
July 16, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Just over a week to go until the closing date for this...
Reposted by Fergal Leonard
I know it's only part time, since this is cover for Alison Cooley being made head of Warwick Institute of Advanced Studies (take it up with the powers who decide these buy outs), but there is a 3 year teaching gig at in Roman history at Warwick.
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNX770/a...
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNX770/a...
Assistant Professor (Teaching Focussed) in Roman History (110578-0625) at University of Warwick
Apply now for the Assistant Professor (Teaching Focussed) in Roman History (110578-0625) role on jobs.ac.uk - the leading job board for higher education jobs. View details.
www.jobs.ac.uk
July 15, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I know it's only part time, since this is cover for Alison Cooley being made head of Warwick Institute of Advanced Studies (take it up with the powers who decide these buy outs), but there is a 3 year teaching gig at in Roman history at Warwick.
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNX770/a...
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNX770/a...
In 1597, the Northumbrian John Brown described some of the infamous thieves of Tynedale and Redesdale as, "as notoryous in this age... as ever was Robyn Hoode in his tyme”--drawing on older versions of the myths where Robin could be more of a violent anti-hero than the egalitarian version we know.
July 15, 2025 at 9:02 AM
In 1597, the Northumbrian John Brown described some of the infamous thieves of Tynedale and Redesdale as, "as notoryous in this age... as ever was Robyn Hoode in his tyme”--drawing on older versions of the myths where Robin could be more of a violent anti-hero than the egalitarian version we know.
A bit disappointed that this random pub game where you guess the year of various events had one answer in the nineteenth century, one from WWII, and the rest were 'remember when?' politics and pop culture questions from the 90s and 2000s.
July 13, 2025 at 5:58 PM
A bit disappointed that this random pub game where you guess the year of various events had one answer in the nineteenth century, one from WWII, and the rest were 'remember when?' politics and pop culture questions from the 90s and 2000s.
Random, lovely image I've came across while reading about the history of Antwerp: Maria of Austria, Queen Dowager of Hungary and governor of the Spanish Netherlands from 1530 to 1555, sister of Charles V, by Cornelis Anthonisz. Maria was a keen hunter and became Chief Huntmaster of Brabant in 1543.
July 13, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Random, lovely image I've came across while reading about the history of Antwerp: Maria of Austria, Queen Dowager of Hungary and governor of the Spanish Netherlands from 1530 to 1555, sister of Charles V, by Cornelis Anthonisz. Maria was a keen hunter and became Chief Huntmaster of Brabant in 1543.
Reposted by Fergal Leonard
Thank you to our speakers and attendees for making the conference so special! Wonderful to hear from so many scholars who work on or are intrigued by James VI & I… We hope you will keep the momentum going and we look forward to seeing what the future of Jacobean studies holds!
July 11, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Thank you to our speakers and attendees for making the conference so special! Wonderful to hear from so many scholars who work on or are intrigued by James VI & I… We hope you will keep the momentum going and we look forward to seeing what the future of Jacobean studies holds!
Reposted by Fergal Leonard
#CFP
Be part of our #RSA2026 panel in San Francisco!
"Interrogating Sovereignty: Catholicism and Female Authority in Tudor-Habsburg Networks"
Deadline July 24
Share freely!
#WomensHistory #ArtHistory #EarlyModern #Medieval #Catholic #Tudor #Habsburg #XX #Monarchy #Queens #Nobility #Renaissance
Be part of our #RSA2026 panel in San Francisco!
"Interrogating Sovereignty: Catholicism and Female Authority in Tudor-Habsburg Networks"
Deadline July 24
Share freely!
#WomensHistory #ArtHistory #EarlyModern #Medieval #Catholic #Tudor #Habsburg #XX #Monarchy #Queens #Nobility #Renaissance
July 11, 2025 at 6:41 PM
#CFP
Be part of our #RSA2026 panel in San Francisco!
"Interrogating Sovereignty: Catholicism and Female Authority in Tudor-Habsburg Networks"
Deadline July 24
Share freely!
#WomensHistory #ArtHistory #EarlyModern #Medieval #Catholic #Tudor #Habsburg #XX #Monarchy #Queens #Nobility #Renaissance
Be part of our #RSA2026 panel in San Francisco!
"Interrogating Sovereignty: Catholicism and Female Authority in Tudor-Habsburg Networks"
Deadline July 24
Share freely!
#WomensHistory #ArtHistory #EarlyModern #Medieval #Catholic #Tudor #Habsburg #XX #Monarchy #Queens #Nobility #Renaissance