On 27 March 1615, the notorious Reine Margot, Queen of Navarre, much vilified first wife of the great King Henry IV of France, died. At the time of her death, she was the last member of the royal Valois line that had ruled in France since 1328. A Bright, Clever Child Born on 14 May
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From the 12th to the 19th centuries, the people of France and England really believed their king’s touch could heal them of scrofula. Why did they believe it? Were they ignorant superstitious simpletons who knew no better? I do not think so. Before you toss up your hands and write me off as a crank,
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Born on 25 October 1510 at the Château de Blois, Renée de France’s life did not begin as difficult. She was the second daughter of Louis XII of France and Anne of Brittany. Blessed with a Golden Infancy Unusually for the times, Louis stayed in the queen’s chambers during Renée’s birth. Even though they had
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Like a secret stash of undiscovered documents, The Weight of Ink is a historical novelist‘s treasure. Set in London in both the 1660s and the early 2000s, The Weight of Ink is a double timeline historical novel. Its heroines are two intellectually gifted women whose talents are recognized by few. Intellectually gifted heroines The first,
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Conducting the medieval mass was different from today’s mass. For one thing, it was sung in Latin. There was no concept that most worshippers should understand the content. A lovely example of medieval plainchant can be found on YouTube here. Even many of the priests, if they were humble country clerics, did not understand the
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