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Arthur Plantagenet: Henry VIII's Illegitimate Uncle
Illegitimate son to Edward IV and the uncle of Henry VIII, Arthur Plantagenet’s life is an intriguing story. Raised in his father’s court, he then became a trusted member of Henry VII’s household and after his death, was a prominent figure at the court of Henry VIII. Henry VIII treated his uncle well in the early years of his reign, making him vice-admiral and then Lord Deputy of Calais in 1533.
Arthur did the best he could in his new position in Calais over seven years, including trying to maintain a relationship with Thomas Cromwell against a background of religious change, but there were numerous complaints about him and his paranoid nephew’s suspicions over his loyalty grew – culminating in Lisle’s arrest and imprisonment for two years with no legal reason.
Arthur was released from the Tower in 1542, yet tragically died after receiving a diamond ring from his nephew. He was so excited that his heart – that ‘gentlest living heart’ – failed soon after.
We owe much of what we know about Henry VIII’s uncle to the seizure and preservation of the Lisle Letters, an impressive collection of correspondence obtained at his arrest that has miraculously survived. Not only do they give details of Arthur’s life, but they are an amazing insight into the religious, political, culture and social background of the 16th century. Placed as he was, Arthur Plantagenet’s story gives a whole new, fresh perspective on a turbulent yet vibrant period of history.
Arthur did the best he could in his new position in Calais over seven years, including trying to maintain a relationship with Thomas Cromwell against a background of religious change, but there were numerous complaints about him and his paranoid nephew’s suspicions over his loyalty grew – culminating in Lisle’s arrest and imprisonment for two years with no legal reason.
Arthur was released from the Tower in 1542, yet tragically died after receiving a diamond ring from his nephew. He was so excited that his heart – that ‘gentlest living heart’ – failed soon after.
We owe much of what we know about Henry VIII’s uncle to the seizure and preservation of the Lisle Letters, an impressive collection of correspondence obtained at his arrest that has miraculously survived. Not only do they give details of Arthur’s life, but they are an amazing insight into the religious, political, culture and social background of the 16th century. Placed as he was, Arthur Plantagenet’s story gives a whole new, fresh perspective on a turbulent yet vibrant period of history.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published September 30, 2022
5 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Sarah-Beth Watkins
22 books52 followersSarah-Beth Watkins is an author, editor and publisher who has written for various publications over the past 20 years. Growing up in Richmond, Surrey she began soaking up history from an early age.
She is the author of Margaret Tudor: Queen of Scots, Catherine of Braganza, The Tudor Brandons, Lady Katherine Knollys and Ireland's Suffragettes. Her next book is due out in October 2018. She is currently working on another historical biography.
She is the author of Margaret Tudor: Queen of Scots, Catherine of Braganza, The Tudor Brandons, Lady Katherine Knollys and Ireland's Suffragettes. Her next book is due out in October 2018. She is currently working on another historical biography.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 1, 2022
A well researched, thorough examination of everything we know, possibly know, and definitely don’t know about Henry VIII’s uncle, Arthur. I’m especially appreciative of how honest and extensive this book is. Even when it would be easier to give a simpler answer, she covers everything. History is complex, sometimes contradictory, and we rarely have straightforward answers. The information we have is carefully gleaned from receipts and brief mentions from diplomats and notables of the day. Therefore, we can speculate and sometimes come close to being certain about various facts, but it isn’t the whole picture. Watkins does a fantastic job of giving a meticulous, but not condescending, look at what we know about various stages of his life and things we can only guess. She puts the history in perspective. At times I found it necessary to write down names for reference later and the text could be a bit dry. For me this was essentially a bonus, but may not be what some readers are looking for. Personally, I cannot wait to track down and read her other works.
July 24, 2022
248 pages
5 pages
Where the heck have I been?
I did not know that Arthur Plantagenet was Henry’s uncle. I did not know that Lord Lisle was Arthur. I knew of Lord Lisle and his somewhat dubious reputation, but didn’t connect the two. I was somewhat relieved to find that Ms. Watkins rehabilitated my idea of Lord Lisle, Arthur Plantagenet.
Other than the fact that Arthur was the illegitimate son of Edward IV, Ms. Watkins explains that there is not much available in the historic record on Arthur’s early childhood. However as he rose at King Henry VIII’s court there is much more evidence of his actions.
The book traces the British monarchy beginning around the reign of King Edward IV. The usurpation of King Richard III upon the death of his brother Edward. Richard met his downfall in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth where King Henry VII was crowned. Henry’s son, also a Henry, was crowned as King Henry VIII following his father’s death.
The book goes on to trace Arthur’s life and his place in the court of King Henry VIII. He is then appointed as the Deputy of Calais, the last remaining land that England held in France. Calais was a very difficult place in which to live, let alone try to govern. There were many plots. A group wanted to overthrow the monarchy, there was smuggling and dirty deals going on everywhere. Many of the crooks thought that Arthur was too dumb to cotton on to their schemes, but he wasn’t. There were those who wanted to incriminate him in their plans to get rid of him. He was the king’s loyal servant and there was no place for him in lawless Calais.
One of the highlights of his time in office was the arrival of Anne of Cleves on her way to meet Henry VIII as his fourth wife.
Arthur was finally called back to London. There were those there who were plotting against him as well. Poor, hapless Arthur didn’t know what he was sailing into. He was incarcerated in the tower for several years. Henry was not sure of his guilt and was reluctant to bring charges against him. Charges were never brought against him. Henry finally decided to let him go and sent him a lavish diamond ring. Apparently Arthur was so overwhelmed that he became excited and died, probably of a heart attack. He was still a young-ish man.
Arthur’s life was very sad and difficult. I really felt for him.
This book is very well written. It is easy to read and understand and well worth the time for anyone interested in Tudor history, or just history in general. I very much enjoyed learning about this little research man, Arthur Plantagenet, It is thoroughly researched, as far as Ms. Watkins was able. She has also included a copious bibliography and an index of her book.
I want to thank NetGalley and Pen & Sword/Pen & Sword History for forwarding to me a copy of this very good history of Arthur so that I may read, enjoy and review it. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.
5 pages
Where the heck have I been?
I did not know that Arthur Plantagenet was Henry’s uncle. I did not know that Lord Lisle was Arthur. I knew of Lord Lisle and his somewhat dubious reputation, but didn’t connect the two. I was somewhat relieved to find that Ms. Watkins rehabilitated my idea of Lord Lisle, Arthur Plantagenet.
Other than the fact that Arthur was the illegitimate son of Edward IV, Ms. Watkins explains that there is not much available in the historic record on Arthur’s early childhood. However as he rose at King Henry VIII’s court there is much more evidence of his actions.
The book traces the British monarchy beginning around the reign of King Edward IV. The usurpation of King Richard III upon the death of his brother Edward. Richard met his downfall in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth where King Henry VII was crowned. Henry’s son, also a Henry, was crowned as King Henry VIII following his father’s death.
The book goes on to trace Arthur’s life and his place in the court of King Henry VIII. He is then appointed as the Deputy of Calais, the last remaining land that England held in France. Calais was a very difficult place in which to live, let alone try to govern. There were many plots. A group wanted to overthrow the monarchy, there was smuggling and dirty deals going on everywhere. Many of the crooks thought that Arthur was too dumb to cotton on to their schemes, but he wasn’t. There were those who wanted to incriminate him in their plans to get rid of him. He was the king’s loyal servant and there was no place for him in lawless Calais.
One of the highlights of his time in office was the arrival of Anne of Cleves on her way to meet Henry VIII as his fourth wife.
Arthur was finally called back to London. There were those there who were plotting against him as well. Poor, hapless Arthur didn’t know what he was sailing into. He was incarcerated in the tower for several years. Henry was not sure of his guilt and was reluctant to bring charges against him. Charges were never brought against him. Henry finally decided to let him go and sent him a lavish diamond ring. Apparently Arthur was so overwhelmed that he became excited and died, probably of a heart attack. He was still a young-ish man.
Arthur’s life was very sad and difficult. I really felt for him.
This book is very well written. It is easy to read and understand and well worth the time for anyone interested in Tudor history, or just history in general. I very much enjoyed learning about this little research man, Arthur Plantagenet, It is thoroughly researched, as far as Ms. Watkins was able. She has also included a copious bibliography and an index of her book.
I want to thank NetGalley and Pen & Sword/Pen & Sword History for forwarding to me a copy of this very good history of Arthur so that I may read, enjoy and review it. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.
January 28, 2024
Arthur Plantagenet: Henry VIII’s Illegitimate Uncle
By Sarah-Beth Watkins
Reviewed January 28, 2024
Little information is known about Arthur Plantagenet’s early life, the main fact being that he was Edward IV’s unacknowledged bastard son. We do not even know his mother’s name, nor his birth date, but circumstantial evidence tells he was born sometime between 1461 and 1475. He grew up at his father’s court, and after his uncle Richard III died at Bosworth, he became a close member of Henry VII’s household.
In the first chapters, the author discusses these issues and examines different sources for possible dates, as well as who Arthur’s mother might have been. Based on various documents and events, Ms. Watkins is of the belief that Arthur was born around 1471, and his mother’s last name was Wayte, the surname he used for much of his early life.
The author makes use of recent research and discoveries, an example of which is one of the archaeological finds at Bosworth – a backward looking eagle and the suggestion that this was worn by Arthur, who might have been there on August 22, 1485, perhaps as an observer. Although it is equally possible that the emblem is an eagle holding a snake, a badge of another family. (You can read more about this artifact in Richard Mackinder's book, "Bosworth: The Archaeology of the Battlefield").
Arthur did well under the new Tudor king, and in 1501, he joined the household of his half-sister, Elizabeth of York. After her death in 1503, he moved to the household of Henry VII (who would have been Arthur's brother-in-law). When Henry VII died, Arthur was now uncle (although illegitimate) of the new king and was formally designated an Esquire of the King's Bodyguard to Henry VIII and was a close companion of his royal nephew.
It wasn’t until later in life that Arthur took the surname Plantagenet and used the falcon and open fetterlock, a generic sort of Plantagenet cognizance, as his personal emblem. The author suggests that this was encouraged by the king to show that his uncle was, indeed, a member of the royal family, but considering how paranoid Henry VIII became over anyone or anything Plantagenet, and how poorly he ended up treating his uncle, I’m thinking this ended up more of a curse than a courtesy.
Although there is a scarcity of information about Arthur’s early years, there is plenty for his later ones. Under Henry VIII, he was appointed High Sheriff of Hampshire, made captain of the Vice Admiral’s ship "Trinity Sovereign", rose to become Vice Admiral of England, and accompanied Henry VIII at the Field of Cloth of Gold.
His married his first wife, Elizabeth Grey Baroness Lisle, in 1519 and took possession of the lands that had belonged to her father, there being no other heirs, but Arthur wasn’t created Viscount Lisle until 1523. In 1524, he was invested as Knight of the Garter. He was one of the king’s Privy Councilors, Governor of Calais, and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. In 1533, he was named Constable of Calais. And it was after taking office in Calais that Arthur’s fortunes suffered reversals, and he eventually was caught up in the plottings of others and allegations of treason (none of which ever held up).
Lisle was a prolific correspondent, particularly after he became Deputy of Calais. When he was arrested late in life, thanks to his nephew’s paranoia, some 3,000 letters and documents were confiscated and miraculously survived the centuries. These were eventually transcribed and published in during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as "Letters and Papers of Henry VIII", they were later published as an annotated collection in 1981 as the "Lisle Letters" – all 6 volumes of them!
Lisle has often been painted as some kind of incompetent, especially when it comes to his time in Calais. He may not have been a genius, but he had already shown himself capable in other offices he held and was an honest and conscientious man. His biggest problem was navigating the political landmine that was his nephew, especially in later years following Anne Boleyn's downfall, when the king’s tyrannical tendencies became more and more pronounced.
By the time Lisle came to Calais, it was no longer the gem it once was. Behind the facade of wealth, it was crumbling from neglect, bitter in-fighting amongst the residents, and ignored by a king who only cared about something when it affected him personally. In reading the excerpts from his letters detailing some of the issues and petty squabbles he was forced to deal with, I have come away with the feeling that Lisle was thrown into a no-win situation.
And while he was out of the country doing his best to deal with the governance of Calais, enemies and back-stabbers back home were free to whisper in the king’s ear that his uncle didn’t have the crown’s best interests at heart. It also didn’t help that his second wife, Honor, had a habit of meddling in affairs and was reprimanded for such by no less than Thomas Cromwell.
After being arrested and incarcerated in the Tower for two years without ever being charged with anything, much less tried, the king realized that his uncle was no threat and innocent of every plotting against him. In a gesture meant to show no hard feelings, Henry sent his uncle a diamond ring. The news of his release and the gift from the king was more than Lisle could handle. No longer a young man, his health failed him, and he suffered a fatal heart attack. This caused 18th-century historian Francis Sanford to comment that "Henry VIII's Mercy was as fatal as his Judgments."
As for the book itself, that are, unfortunately, some very obvious mistakes; typos, mostly, that were not caught by an editor. The first one that jumped out is that Edward IV reigned 1461-1683. One the throne for over 200 years? That’s a long time!
Another was a person’s name Jean de Waurin written “Lean” instead of “Jean”. Oops!
There are also the occasional missing articles here and there. Unfortunately, these kinds of mistakes seem to be the bane of publishing these days, with editing being done more and more by computer programs rather than eyes.
In spite of those technical glitches (and thankfully there are not a terrible lot of them), the book is readable and offers insight into the reign of Henry VIII and his often overlooked uncle, Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle. The author wrote "My hope is that this book will prove that Arthur was always the king’s most loyal and trustworthy uncle.' In that, I think she succeeded.
By Sarah-Beth Watkins
Reviewed January 28, 2024
Little information is known about Arthur Plantagenet’s early life, the main fact being that he was Edward IV’s unacknowledged bastard son. We do not even know his mother’s name, nor his birth date, but circumstantial evidence tells he was born sometime between 1461 and 1475. He grew up at his father’s court, and after his uncle Richard III died at Bosworth, he became a close member of Henry VII’s household.
In the first chapters, the author discusses these issues and examines different sources for possible dates, as well as who Arthur’s mother might have been. Based on various documents and events, Ms. Watkins is of the belief that Arthur was born around 1471, and his mother’s last name was Wayte, the surname he used for much of his early life.
The author makes use of recent research and discoveries, an example of which is one of the archaeological finds at Bosworth – a backward looking eagle and the suggestion that this was worn by Arthur, who might have been there on August 22, 1485, perhaps as an observer. Although it is equally possible that the emblem is an eagle holding a snake, a badge of another family. (You can read more about this artifact in Richard Mackinder's book, "Bosworth: The Archaeology of the Battlefield").
Arthur did well under the new Tudor king, and in 1501, he joined the household of his half-sister, Elizabeth of York. After her death in 1503, he moved to the household of Henry VII (who would have been Arthur's brother-in-law). When Henry VII died, Arthur was now uncle (although illegitimate) of the new king and was formally designated an Esquire of the King's Bodyguard to Henry VIII and was a close companion of his royal nephew.
It wasn’t until later in life that Arthur took the surname Plantagenet and used the falcon and open fetterlock, a generic sort of Plantagenet cognizance, as his personal emblem. The author suggests that this was encouraged by the king to show that his uncle was, indeed, a member of the royal family, but considering how paranoid Henry VIII became over anyone or anything Plantagenet, and how poorly he ended up treating his uncle, I’m thinking this ended up more of a curse than a courtesy.
Although there is a scarcity of information about Arthur’s early years, there is plenty for his later ones. Under Henry VIII, he was appointed High Sheriff of Hampshire, made captain of the Vice Admiral’s ship "Trinity Sovereign", rose to become Vice Admiral of England, and accompanied Henry VIII at the Field of Cloth of Gold.
His married his first wife, Elizabeth Grey Baroness Lisle, in 1519 and took possession of the lands that had belonged to her father, there being no other heirs, but Arthur wasn’t created Viscount Lisle until 1523. In 1524, he was invested as Knight of the Garter. He was one of the king’s Privy Councilors, Governor of Calais, and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. In 1533, he was named Constable of Calais. And it was after taking office in Calais that Arthur’s fortunes suffered reversals, and he eventually was caught up in the plottings of others and allegations of treason (none of which ever held up).
Lisle was a prolific correspondent, particularly after he became Deputy of Calais. When he was arrested late in life, thanks to his nephew’s paranoia, some 3,000 letters and documents were confiscated and miraculously survived the centuries. These were eventually transcribed and published in during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as "Letters and Papers of Henry VIII", they were later published as an annotated collection in 1981 as the "Lisle Letters" – all 6 volumes of them!
Lisle has often been painted as some kind of incompetent, especially when it comes to his time in Calais. He may not have been a genius, but he had already shown himself capable in other offices he held and was an honest and conscientious man. His biggest problem was navigating the political landmine that was his nephew, especially in later years following Anne Boleyn's downfall, when the king’s tyrannical tendencies became more and more pronounced.
By the time Lisle came to Calais, it was no longer the gem it once was. Behind the facade of wealth, it was crumbling from neglect, bitter in-fighting amongst the residents, and ignored by a king who only cared about something when it affected him personally. In reading the excerpts from his letters detailing some of the issues and petty squabbles he was forced to deal with, I have come away with the feeling that Lisle was thrown into a no-win situation.
And while he was out of the country doing his best to deal with the governance of Calais, enemies and back-stabbers back home were free to whisper in the king’s ear that his uncle didn’t have the crown’s best interests at heart. It also didn’t help that his second wife, Honor, had a habit of meddling in affairs and was reprimanded for such by no less than Thomas Cromwell.
After being arrested and incarcerated in the Tower for two years without ever being charged with anything, much less tried, the king realized that his uncle was no threat and innocent of every plotting against him. In a gesture meant to show no hard feelings, Henry sent his uncle a diamond ring. The news of his release and the gift from the king was more than Lisle could handle. No longer a young man, his health failed him, and he suffered a fatal heart attack. This caused 18th-century historian Francis Sanford to comment that "Henry VIII's Mercy was as fatal as his Judgments."
As for the book itself, that are, unfortunately, some very obvious mistakes; typos, mostly, that were not caught by an editor. The first one that jumped out is that Edward IV reigned 1461-1683. One the throne for over 200 years? That’s a long time!
Another was a person’s name Jean de Waurin written “Lean” instead of “Jean”. Oops!
There are also the occasional missing articles here and there. Unfortunately, these kinds of mistakes seem to be the bane of publishing these days, with editing being done more and more by computer programs rather than eyes.
In spite of those technical glitches (and thankfully there are not a terrible lot of them), the book is readable and offers insight into the reign of Henry VIII and his often overlooked uncle, Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle. The author wrote "My hope is that this book will prove that Arthur was always the king’s most loyal and trustworthy uncle.' In that, I think she succeeded.
August 3, 2022
When we think of those who made an impact in history, we tend to think of those who have been born to a married couple and therefore were considered legitimate children, especially when it comes to royal children. However, we know that illegitimate royal children, like William the Conqueror, greatly impacted history. Illegitimate royal children may have been barred from becoming king or queen of their respective countries of birth, but that does not mean they didn’t impact how their home country was governed. One of these children who affected politics during the Tudor dynasty was Arthur Plantagenet, the illegitimate son of Edward IV. In her latest book, “Arthur Plantagenet: Henry VIII’s Illegitimate Uncle,” she explores the life of this man who gives us extraordinary insight into the running of Calais and how Henry VIII treated other family members.
I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book. I have enjoyed the previous books I read by Sarah-Beth Watkins, and when I heard that she was writing a new book about Arthur Plantagenet, I was thrilled to read it. I have only heard about Arthur Plantagenet as a side character in other biographies and novels during Henry VIII’s reign, so I was looking forward to learning more about this man.
Watkins begins by exploring the possible birth dates and Arthur’s birth mother, which is a difficult challenge because Edward IV was known for having several mistresses that we know about and probably others who have remained secrets in history. While some illegitimate children were not acknowledged by their royal fathers, it looks like Edward IV accepted Arthur and allowed him to have a good education that would have followed his legitimate sons’ education regime. After the shocking death of Edward IV and the reign of Richard III, we see Arthur establishing himself in the court of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York; we have records of Elizabeth of York taking care of her illegitimate half-brother. Arthur was so close to Elizabeth of York that he attended her funeral.
Arthur’s rise during the reign of Henry VIII focuses on this title. We see how Arthur started as a Spear of Honour and worked his way up to Viscount Lisle after Charles Brandon became Duke of Suffolk. He was a Knight of the Garter, the Vice Admiral of the Tudor Navy, and finally became Lord Deputy of Calais. Arthur was married twice to Elizabeth Grey and Honor Greenville, and although Elizabeth was the one who gave Arthur his daughters, Honor was the one who we know the most about because of the Lisle Letters.
With the title of Lord Deputy of Calais came significant responsibilities for taking care of France’s last remaining English city. Arthur Plantagenet had to deal with your average repairs, preparing the town for battle, civil disputes, religious quarrels, and plots against King Henry VIII. The time that Arthur and Honor were in Calais was a tumultuous time for England and Henry, and we get to see how Arthur felt about these issues, like the Pole family drama, through his Lisle letters. The connection with the Pole family led Arthur to become a prisoner in the Tower of London for two years as he was connected to the Botolf plot to take the city of Calais for the Pope.
Watkins brings the life of Arthur Plantagenet to the forefront and gives this hidden illegitimate Plantagenet his time to shine. It was a fascinating read, especially learning about how Calais was maintained and about the Botolf plot, which I had never heard about before reading this book. If you want an excellent book that introduces the life of Arthur Plantagenet and his role during the reign of King Henry VIII, I would highly recommend you read “Arthur Plantagenet: Henry VIII’s Illegitimate Uncle” by Sarah-Beth Watkins.
I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book. I have enjoyed the previous books I read by Sarah-Beth Watkins, and when I heard that she was writing a new book about Arthur Plantagenet, I was thrilled to read it. I have only heard about Arthur Plantagenet as a side character in other biographies and novels during Henry VIII’s reign, so I was looking forward to learning more about this man.
Watkins begins by exploring the possible birth dates and Arthur’s birth mother, which is a difficult challenge because Edward IV was known for having several mistresses that we know about and probably others who have remained secrets in history. While some illegitimate children were not acknowledged by their royal fathers, it looks like Edward IV accepted Arthur and allowed him to have a good education that would have followed his legitimate sons’ education regime. After the shocking death of Edward IV and the reign of Richard III, we see Arthur establishing himself in the court of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York; we have records of Elizabeth of York taking care of her illegitimate half-brother. Arthur was so close to Elizabeth of York that he attended her funeral.
Arthur’s rise during the reign of Henry VIII focuses on this title. We see how Arthur started as a Spear of Honour and worked his way up to Viscount Lisle after Charles Brandon became Duke of Suffolk. He was a Knight of the Garter, the Vice Admiral of the Tudor Navy, and finally became Lord Deputy of Calais. Arthur was married twice to Elizabeth Grey and Honor Greenville, and although Elizabeth was the one who gave Arthur his daughters, Honor was the one who we know the most about because of the Lisle Letters.
With the title of Lord Deputy of Calais came significant responsibilities for taking care of France’s last remaining English city. Arthur Plantagenet had to deal with your average repairs, preparing the town for battle, civil disputes, religious quarrels, and plots against King Henry VIII. The time that Arthur and Honor were in Calais was a tumultuous time for England and Henry, and we get to see how Arthur felt about these issues, like the Pole family drama, through his Lisle letters. The connection with the Pole family led Arthur to become a prisoner in the Tower of London for two years as he was connected to the Botolf plot to take the city of Calais for the Pope.
Watkins brings the life of Arthur Plantagenet to the forefront and gives this hidden illegitimate Plantagenet his time to shine. It was a fascinating read, especially learning about how Calais was maintained and about the Botolf plot, which I had never heard about before reading this book. If you want an excellent book that introduces the life of Arthur Plantagenet and his role during the reign of King Henry VIII, I would highly recommend you read “Arthur Plantagenet: Henry VIII’s Illegitimate Uncle” by Sarah-Beth Watkins.
July 22, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and Pen and Sword History for an advanced copy!
"Everyone knows" that Edward IV had sex with lots of women and had lots of illegitimate children - that is, until Watkins actually drills down into the historical record and isn't able to find much proof of these known "facts". At least, nothing that would hold up in court. So was it a case of being so common knowledge no one write anything down, or was it salacious detail added to the War of the Roses legend later on by Tudor propagandists to make Henry VII look good by comparison?
Hard to say, but, given the available evidence, Watkins has to throw some doubt on Arthur "Plantagenet" (a surname, we find, he didn't start using until later in life) paternity, although she finds a few possible cases for the families he might have been connected to on his mother's side.
Its both frustrating and fascinating, chasing shadows and rumors, like trying to pin down clouds, but Watkins gives it her all as she tries to trace the origins of this peripheral figure of the Tudor court.
As he gets older, he is more in the records, and there is a TON of written records about his life once he was appointed to oversee Calais as he 1) write lots and lots of letters back to court to whine about why everything going wrong in Calais was not is fault and 2) all of his letters to court and to Cromwell were carefully stored in the State's evidence locker after first Cromwell and then Arthur were accused of treason.
So his known life sheds a lot of light on the Calais political situation in the 1530's and 1540's. We also, as he reports on this person and that, to whine about "no one wants to work anymore" basically, we get a lot about the more minor figures of the Tudor era who don't always make it to the main history books, and we see just how big a supporting cast were running around the court and country at any given moment.
A great look at the Tudor court from a more lower decks POV.
September 4, 2022
Arthur Plantagenet, Lord Lisle was the illegitimate son of King Edward IV, brother to Queen Elizabeth of York and uncle to King Henry VIII.
Perhaps unfairly, Lord Lisle lived with a somewhat dubious reputation, seen as a weak and incompetent man while he was Lord Deputy of Calais. A thankless position and a difficult place to live, Lord Lisle had difficulties throughout such as religious tensions, political intrigue and having his authority challenged by a nephew who was a King with fickle favours.
Watkins has created a comprehensive and extensively researched account of Lord Lisle's life and the complex relationship with his nephew. She does not shy away from what could be viewed as the more negative aspects to her subject's personality but tackles them head-on in this book.
I have read the author's work before having enjoyed her book on Lady Katherine Knollys and as with that book I appreciated how accessible and well organised this book was.
I highly recommend this work for those who are interested in the Tudor Era for an illuminating insight into the Tudor Court from the point of view from outside the ring of central power.
Thank you to the brilliant @what_rosie_read and @penswordbooks for being so kind to send me a copy of this book to review!
Perhaps unfairly, Lord Lisle lived with a somewhat dubious reputation, seen as a weak and incompetent man while he was Lord Deputy of Calais. A thankless position and a difficult place to live, Lord Lisle had difficulties throughout such as religious tensions, political intrigue and having his authority challenged by a nephew who was a King with fickle favours.
Watkins has created a comprehensive and extensively researched account of Lord Lisle's life and the complex relationship with his nephew. She does not shy away from what could be viewed as the more negative aspects to her subject's personality but tackles them head-on in this book.
I have read the author's work before having enjoyed her book on Lady Katherine Knollys and as with that book I appreciated how accessible and well organised this book was.
I highly recommend this work for those who are interested in the Tudor Era for an illuminating insight into the Tudor Court from the point of view from outside the ring of central power.
Thank you to the brilliant @what_rosie_read and @penswordbooks for being so kind to send me a copy of this book to review!
August 4, 2022
Another Pen and Sword book that's just lousy. I thank Netgalley for letting me read this advance copy, but I won't ask for any more. It's not as badly written as the other one I tried this week, but it does suffer from the same feeling of being written from a box of index cards.
In this case I'm afraid part of the problem is that the subject is not that interesting. I did not expect to be bored by a Plantagenet but I was. The first chapter, reviewing possibilities for Arthur's mother, was somewhat interesting. On the other hand, I don't think anybody has ever called Eleanor Butler Edward 's mistress...
I hope this will go through a final copy edit as there are a number of egregious typos (for example, Edward IV did not reign from 1461 to 1683!).
I did not finish this book as it felt like a bad use of my time.
In this case I'm afraid part of the problem is that the subject is not that interesting. I did not expect to be bored by a Plantagenet but I was. The first chapter, reviewing possibilities for Arthur's mother, was somewhat interesting. On the other hand, I don't think anybody has ever called Eleanor Butler Edward 's mistress...
I hope this will go through a final copy edit as there are a number of egregious typos (for example, Edward IV did not reign from 1461 to 1683!).
I did not finish this book as it felt like a bad use of my time.
August 20, 2022
Arthur Plantagenet. Sounds familiar? No? If you don't know who this personage was, Sarah Beth Watkins will enlighten you in this illuminating biography of one of the illegitimate children of Edward IV. He lived and died at the Tudor court, his family's letters are treasure trove for everyone interested in this period. Yes, Henry VIII did have a (half) uncle. This is Arthur's incredible story. Highly recommended.
September 22, 2022
I enjoyed reading through this biographical work of Arthur Plantagenet. Although he lived through some of the more tumultuous times of England, the surviving writings, and those of contemporaries give us a pretty good picture of this uncle of Henry VIII.
Sarah-Beth Watkins did a fabulous job in fleshing this person out, bringing another figure hidden by history back into the light. I enjoyed reading through this book! Highly recommend this one for history buffs.
Sarah-Beth Watkins did a fabulous job in fleshing this person out, bringing another figure hidden by history back into the light. I enjoyed reading through this book! Highly recommend this one for history buffs.
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