Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Monday 6 July 2015

The Royal Christening in 1537


With yesterday's very traditional christening by modern standards, of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge at Sandringham in mind, and thanks to the Special Correspondent, I can reproduce this article from last April's online Newsletter from the College of Arms.
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The Baptism of King Edward VI

The archives of the College of Arms include unique records of the baptism at Hampton Court of Edward VI on 15 October 1537. These records were the basis of a BBC television programme, called 'A Night to Remember', broadcast on 10 January 2015, which recreated the baptism and its processions, guided by the historians Dr Lucy Worsley and Dr David Starkey. Peter O'Donoghue, York Herald, assisted in the research and appeared in the programme, both as an expert in discussions with Dr Starkey, and playing a Tudor herald in the recreated procession.

Illustrated is an image from a College of Arms manuscript illustrating the procession to the chapel.
The drawings were probably created in the 1560s and the costumes here reflect the fashions of that time rather than of the 1530s.


Image and text: College of Arms
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