aka The John Dee Chronicles
J.A. Downes 
Introduction Few documents in Tudor history carry as much deadly weight as a simple love letter that began with the words: ‘It makes my heart to die to think what fortune I have that I cannot be always in your company.’ These passionate lines, penned by Catherine Howard to her lover Thomas Culpeper, would ultimately … Read more
Introduction When Queen Elizabeth I declared that she had “the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too,” she could hardly have imagined that within months, her realm would face its greatest existential threat since the Norman Conquest. The year 1588 witnessed one of history’s most dramatic naval confrontations, as … Read more
Introduction Few declarations in Tudor history resonate as powerfully as Elizabeth I’s bold statement: ‘I am already bound unto a husband, which is the kingdom of England.’ This iconic pronouncement, delivered with theatrical flair as she gestured to her coronation ring, has captivated historians and the public imagination for centuries. Yet many people assume these … Read more
Introduction When Elizabeth I conducted diplomatic negotiations in perfect Italian with Venetian ambassadors or corresponded with European monarchs in flawless Latin without an interpreter, she wasn’t merely showing off. She was wielding one of her most potent political weapons: her extraordinary linguistic abilities. The Virgin Queen spoke at least six languages fluently, making her one … Read more
From Resurrection: The Heresy of a Jesuit: “John Dee loved the city of Leuven; He loved the quality of the evening light. He loved the grand buildings and the tolerant population. He loved the Catholic university with its hundreds of students. Here he felt important and useful, more so than he ever did in dreary … Read more
Introduction In the shadowy corridors of Tudor England, where power, ambition, and scandal intertwined like serpents in a nest, few stories are as disturbing as that of Thomas Seymour and his inappropriate conduct towards the teenage Princess Elizabeth. This tale of predatory behaviour, political machinations, and ultimate downfall reveals the darker underbelly of Tudor court … Read more
Introduction In the annals of English history, few stories are as poignant as that of Lady Jane Grey, the reluctant queen who wept when crowned and ruled for just nine days before losing her head at the tender age of 16. Often called the ‘Nine Days’ Queen’, Jane’s brief reign in July 1553 represents one … 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 What if the most famous insult about one of Henry VIII’s wives never actually happened? The story of Anne of Cleves, Henry’s fourth wife, has been distorted by centuries of historical myth-making, with the infamous ‘Flanders mare’ epithet representing perhaps the most persistent falsehood in Tudor history. This German princess, who married the King … Read more
Introduction In October 1562, the fate of England hung in the balance as Elizabeth I lay gravely ill with smallpox at Hampton Court Palace. Courtiers whispered urgent prayers whilst foreign ambassadors penned dispatches about the potential collapse of the Tudor dynasty. The 29-year-old queen, unmarried and childless, had no clear heir, and her death could … Read more