aka The John Dee Chronicles
J.A. Downes 
Introduction Imagine commissioning Shakespeare to stage a play about overthrowing a monarch the night before you attempt to overthrow one yourself. This extraordinary intersection of theatre and treason occurred on 7th February 1601, when supporters of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, paid for a special performance of Richard II at the Globe Theatre. The … Read more
From Restitution: Fire and fury: “The cannon roared. Smoke billowed. A tongue of flame licking out from the muzzle as the ball shot forward, a dark blur against the pale winter sky. It struck the wooden wall with a sound like God’s hammer. And punched straight through – a fusillade of wooden splinters peppering the … Read more
Introduction Imagine being told you’re suddenly the Queen of England, only to faint from shock and later face execution for a crown you never wanted. This was the tragic reality for Lady Jane Grey, the brilliant 16-year-old scholar who became England’s shortest-reigning monarch in July 1553. Her story reads like a Tudor thriller: political manipulation, … Read more
Introduction In the treacherous world of Tudor politics, few scandals rocked the establishment quite like Thomas Seymour’s shocking behaviour towards the teenage Princess Elizabeth in 1547-1549. This wasn’t merely court gossip or political manoeuvring—it was a genuine crisis that threatened the reputation of Henry VIII’s daughter and could have derailed her path to the throne … Read more
Introduction Imagine crossing a bridge where you could buy bread, have your teeth pulled, purchase silk ribbons, and witness the severed heads of traitors all in a single journey. This was the extraordinary reality of Tudor London’s Old London Bridge, a medieval marvel that defied every modern conception of what a bridge should be. Far … Read more
From Divination: A Conspiracy of Blood: “The bruised Cambridge sky threatened to ruin the day of any students unlucky enough to venture outdoors. I’ll be glad when spring finally arrives, thought John Dee, as he hurried across Trinity College courtyard, his scholar’s gown billowing behind him like a sail. He was late, again, and this … Read more
Introduction Imagine Tudor builders dismantling an entire playhouse, carrying massive timber beams across the frozen Thames, and reassembling them into what would become the most famous theatre in English history. This extraordinary feat occurred during the bitter winter of 1598-1599, when Shakespeare’s acting company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, literally moved their theatre piece by piece … Read more
Introduction Imagine standing on London Bridge in 1500, gazing across the Thames at a modest city of roughly 50,000 souls. Then step forward a century and witness one of the most dramatic urban transformations in European history. By 1600, that same vista would reveal a sprawling metropolis teeming with 200,000 inhabitants, making Tudor London not … Read more
From Divination: A Conspiracy of Blood: “Outside the church, Dee blinked in the sudden brightness of the midday sun. His doublet was dusty from his explorations, and he brushed it off as best he could before setting off towards college. He had just turned onto Trinity Street when he spotted one of the college servants. … Read more
Introduction When we think of the Great Fire of London in 1666, we often focus on Christopher Wren’s magnificent churches rising from the ashes or the birth of modern city planning. However, the fire’s most profound impact may have been something far more subtle: the final destruction of Tudor England’s architectural legacy. In four devastating … Read more