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.
There's still time to join us for the third Tudor Times summit on November 15. The first two summits were very well received and the feedback has been great.
November 13, 2025 at 9:16 AM
There's still time to join us for the third Tudor Times summit on November 15. The first two summits were very well received and the feedback has been great.
Here is the beautifully restored Palace Theatre in Swansea. Wales' very own Flatiron building. For years, this delightful little theatre was in a sorry state of neglect, so it's cheering to see it looking fabulous in the November sunshine.
November 12, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Here is the beautifully restored Palace Theatre in Swansea. Wales' very own Flatiron building. For years, this delightful little theatre was in a sorry state of neglect, so it's cheering to see it looking fabulous in the November sunshine.
#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
#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
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
Few royal marriages have been so misrepresented as that of James V/I and Anna of Denmark. James has been cast as an oddball, Anna as an airhead. Find out the truth on Nov 15, Tudor Times Summit 3, 4pm UK time. Tickets from the Tudor Times shop.
November 7, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Few royal marriages have been so misrepresented as that of James V/I and Anna of Denmark. James has been cast as an oddball, Anna as an airhead. Find out the truth on Nov 15, Tudor Times Summit 3, 4pm UK time. Tickets from the Tudor Times shop.
What a fabulous mosaic of fallen leaves.
November 4, 2025 at 9:31 AM
What a fabulous mosaic of fallen leaves.
#1000TudorPeople W is for Edward Wotton, Reader in Greek at Corpus Christi College. He made a scientific study of
animals, separating out those which existed only in myth,
from those which could be confirmed by evidence. amzn.to/3X5KVBp
animals, separating out those which existed only in myth,
from those which could be confirmed by evidence. amzn.to/3X5KVBp
November 3, 2025 at 11:06 AM
#1000TudorPeople W is for Edward Wotton, Reader in Greek at Corpus Christi College. He made a scientific study of
animals, separating out those which existed only in myth,
from those which could be confirmed by evidence. amzn.to/3X5KVBp
animals, separating out those which existed only in myth,
from those which could be confirmed by evidence. amzn.to/3X5KVBp
#OTD 1527, Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria, elected king of Hungary. 2nd son of Juana of Castile & Philip of Burgundy, he spent his youth in Spain, then married Anna Jagiellon, daughter of the king of Hungary & Bohemia. In 1556, he succeeded his brother Charles V as Holy Roman Emperor. bit.ly/1T8xplM
November 3, 2025 at 10:53 AM
#OTD 1527, Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria, elected king of Hungary. 2nd son of Juana of Castile & Philip of Burgundy, he spent his youth in Spain, then married Anna Jagiellon, daughter of the king of Hungary & Bohemia. In 1556, he succeeded his brother Charles V as Holy Roman Emperor. bit.ly/1T8xplM
#1000TudorPeople C is for John Croke, a clerk of Chancery who wrote a short work for the aid of future clerks, entitled
Orders… upon the Estate of the Chauncery Courte, which
remained in manuscript until 1823. amzn.to/3X5KVBp
Orders… upon the Estate of the Chauncery Courte, which
remained in manuscript until 1823. amzn.to/3X5KVBp
November 2, 2025 at 1:10 PM
#1000TudorPeople C is for John Croke, a clerk of Chancery who wrote a short work for the aid of future clerks, entitled
Orders… upon the Estate of the Chauncery Courte, which
remained in manuscript until 1823. amzn.to/3X5KVBp
Orders… upon the Estate of the Chauncery Courte, which
remained in manuscript until 1823. amzn.to/3X5KVBp
#OTD 1600 Elizabeth I refused to renew the Earl of Essex's monopoly on sweet wine with the words ‘an unruly horse must be abated of his provender that he may be the better brought to managing’. Things got worse! bit.ly/1dC6DmS
October 30, 2025 at 11:10 AM
#OTD 1600 Elizabeth I refused to renew the Earl of Essex's monopoly on sweet wine with the words ‘an unruly horse must be abated of his provender that he may be the better brought to managing’. Things got worse! bit.ly/1dC6DmS
The acers are putting on a spectacular show this year. Catch them at Westonbirt Arboretum before the gales blow the leaves away!
October 29, 2025 at 4:17 PM
The acers are putting on a spectacular show this year. Catch them at Westonbirt Arboretum before the gales blow the leaves away!
Please join us for another intriguing peek at Tudor Royal marriages. This is now Tudor Times Summit 3 - and it promises to be just as fascinating as Summits 1&2. Please book via the details on the poster.
October 28, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Please join us for another intriguing peek at Tudor Royal marriages. This is now Tudor Times Summit 3 - and it promises to be just as fascinating as Summits 1&2. Please book via the details on the poster.
From recent trip to Florence - the beautiful refectory at #santamarianovella
October 28, 2025 at 9:29 AM
From recent trip to Florence - the beautiful refectory at #santamarianovella
A particularly unusual peachy tone to this acer at Westonbirt Arboretum. The leaves are still hanging on in there despite the wind and rain.
October 27, 2025 at 11:59 AM
A particularly unusual peachy tone to this acer at Westonbirt Arboretum. The leaves are still hanging on in there despite the wind and rain.
Six Queens: Passion and Peril at the Court of Henry V111.
Join us at Southwark Cathedral on 24 January 2026 for this intriguing day of talks about the Six Wives of Henry VIII - in partnership with Tudor Times.
Join us at Southwark Cathedral on 24 January 2026 for this intriguing day of talks about the Six Wives of Henry VIII - in partnership with Tudor Times.
October 24, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Six Queens: Passion and Peril at the Court of Henry V111.
Join us at Southwark Cathedral on 24 January 2026 for this intriguing day of talks about the Six Wives of Henry VIII - in partnership with Tudor Times.
Join us at Southwark Cathedral on 24 January 2026 for this intriguing day of talks about the Six Wives of Henry VIII - in partnership with Tudor Times.
#1000TudorPeople S is for William Stafford, banished from court in 1534 for having married the widowed Mary, Lady Carey sister of Queen Anne Boleyn. On Mary’s death, William married Dorothy Stafford. Committed Protestants, they went into exile in Geneva in 1555, where William died. amzn.to/3X5KVBp
October 24, 2025 at 8:52 AM
#1000TudorPeople S is for William Stafford, banished from court in 1534 for having married the widowed Mary, Lady Carey sister of Queen Anne Boleyn. On Mary’s death, William married Dorothy Stafford. Committed Protestants, they went into exile in Geneva in 1555, where William died. amzn.to/3X5KVBp
#1000TudorPeople H is for Anne Hastings who m. the earl of Shrewsbury's son c. 1481. According to his testimony in 1529, in relation to the m. of Katherine of Aragon & Arthur, he was 15 when Anne reached the legal age for consummation (12) & had no problem undertaking his duty. amzn.to/3X5KVBp
October 23, 2025 at 11:42 AM
#1000TudorPeople H is for Anne Hastings who m. the earl of Shrewsbury's son c. 1481. According to his testimony in 1529, in relation to the m. of Katherine of Aragon & Arthur, he was 15 when Anne reached the legal age for consummation (12) & had no problem undertaking his duty. amzn.to/3X5KVBp
A llonydd gorffenedig, yw llonydd y Lôn Goed
O fwa’i tho plethedig
I’w glaslawr dan fy nhroed.
I lan na thref nid arwain ddim,
Ond hynny nid yw ofid im. (R Williams Parry). #Graffeg
I was doing a bit more of my coast walk mgctblog.com and meandered down Lôn Goed. Beautiful in the autumn sun.
O fwa’i tho plethedig
I’w glaslawr dan fy nhroed.
I lan na thref nid arwain ddim,
Ond hynny nid yw ofid im. (R Williams Parry). #Graffeg
I was doing a bit more of my coast walk mgctblog.com and meandered down Lôn Goed. Beautiful in the autumn sun.
October 22, 2025 at 12:30 PM
A llonydd gorffenedig, yw llonydd y Lôn Goed
O fwa’i tho plethedig
I’w glaslawr dan fy nhroed.
I lan na thref nid arwain ddim,
Ond hynny nid yw ofid im. (R Williams Parry). #Graffeg
I was doing a bit more of my coast walk mgctblog.com and meandered down Lôn Goed. Beautiful in the autumn sun.
O fwa’i tho plethedig
I’w glaslawr dan fy nhroed.
I lan na thref nid arwain ddim,
Ond hynny nid yw ofid im. (R Williams Parry). #Graffeg
I was doing a bit more of my coast walk mgctblog.com and meandered down Lôn Goed. Beautiful in the autumn sun.
In Shakespeare's time, apples were used in pies, as well as in cider, and other beverages like the wassail drink. The word 'apple' could also be used as a generic term for any fruit, such as the "love-apple" (a tomato).
October 22, 2025 at 9:41 AM
In Shakespeare's time, apples were used in pies, as well as in cider, and other beverages like the wassail drink. The word 'apple' could also be used as a generic term for any fruit, such as the "love-apple" (a tomato).
Another example of this year's fabulous autumn abundance. The birds will be happy!
October 20, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Another example of this year's fabulous autumn abundance. The birds will be happy!
The truly amazing frescos by #Ghirlandaio at #SantaMariaNovella
October 18, 2025 at 9:55 AM
The truly amazing frescos by #Ghirlandaio at #SantaMariaNovella
There's still time to join us! 4pm UK time for an intriguing insight into three very different Tudor royal marriages.
October 17, 2025 at 2:49 PM
There's still time to join us! 4pm UK time for an intriguing insight into three very different Tudor royal marriages.
#1000TudorPeople N is for William Neville, brother-in-law of Katherine Parr and author of The Castell of Pleasure, a dream allegory in which Desire is taken to the castle by Morpheus, where he appeals to Beauty to help him win the love of a mortal woman. amzn.to/3X5KVBp
October 16, 2025 at 8:28 AM
#1000TudorPeople N is for William Neville, brother-in-law of Katherine Parr and author of The Castell of Pleasure, a dream allegory in which Desire is taken to the castle by Morpheus, where he appeals to Beauty to help him win the love of a mortal woman. amzn.to/3X5KVBp