aka The John Dee Chronicles
J.A. Downes 
When Lightning Struck the Heart of Tudor London: The Fall of Old St. Paul’s Spire Imagine standing on the banks of the Thames in the early sixteenth century, gazing upon a skyline dominated by a single, breathtaking silhouette. Old St. Paul’s Cathedral rose above medieval London like a stone colossus, its spire soaring to an … Read more
The Fires of Faith: Mary I’s Persecutions and the Protestant Martyrs of August 1557 Imagine standing in a crowded marketplace, watching flames consume a fellow human being for the simple act of believing differently. This was the grim reality for thousands of ordinary Tudor men and women during the reign of Queen Mary I of … Read more
Windsor Castle and the Tudors: A Royal Fortress at the Heart of an Empire Imagine standing within the ancient walls of Windsor Castle in the year 1509, watching a young, golden-haired king stride through its great halls with the confidence of a man who believed himself chosen by God. Henry VIII had inherited not merely … Read more
From Speculation: Undercurrents of Treachery: “”You!” His eyes sparked with hatred, his voice stronger than his appearance suggested. “My brother can’t even do the courtesy of visiting me himself, instead he sends his errand boys?” “Lord Admiral,” Dee began, “I see you remember me – as I do you. I don’t think we were ever … Read more
Hever Castle: The Medieval Fortress That Shaped a Queen Imagine standing at the edge of a centuries-old moat, gazing across still water at a castle that once echoed with the laughter of a young girl who would one day become the most controversial queen in English history. Hever Castle in Kent is one of those … Read more
Henry VIII and Hampton Court Palace: The Story Behind England’s Most Magnificent Royal Residence Imagine standing in the shadow of a vast red-brick palace, gazing up at twisted Tudor chimneys and knowing that one of history’s most formidable monarchs walked these very grounds, reshaping both the building and the nation to suit his extraordinary will. … Read more
Dressed to Impress? Not If the Tudor State Had Anything to Say About It Imagine being fined, publicly shamed, or even imprisoned simply for wearing the wrong colour of fabric. In Tudor England, this was not a distant possibility but a very real legal threat. The sumptuary laws of the sixteenth century represent one of … Read more
From Speculation: Undercurrents of Treachery: “The Tower of London loomed against the leaden April sky, its ancient stone walls seeming to absorb what little sunlight filtered through the clouds. John Dee pulled his cloak tighter against the chill wind coming off the Thames as he and Nicholas followed their escort towards the ancient fortress. “Have … Read more
From Divination: A Conspiracy of Blood: “Dee leaned forward, trying to get a better look at the array of manuscripts and instruments laid on the table, all frustrating far from his rearmost position. He cursed his lateness once again. Beside an astrolabe of exquisite craftsmanship lay an intriguing device that Dee could not recognise, a … Read more
Tudor London in Wood and Plaster: The Buildings That Survived the Great Fire Imagine walking through the streets of sixteenth-century London, surrounded by the creak and groan of timber-framed houses leaning over narrow lanes, their upper storeys jutting out so far that neighbours on opposite sides of the street might almost shake hands from their … Read more