Anne Boleyn. Her Life as told by Lancelot de Carle's 1536 Letter.
In 1536, two weeks after the execution of Anne Boleyn, her brother George and four others, Lancelot du Carle, wrote an extraordinary letter that described Anne's life, and her trial and execution, to which he was a witness. This book presents a new translation of that letter, with additional material from other contemporary sources such as Letters, Hall's and Wriothesley's Chronicles, the pamphlets of Wynkyn the Worde, the Memorial of George Constantyne, the Portuguese Letter and the Baga de Secrets, all of which are provided in Appendices.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Paternal Family Tree: Southwell
Around 31st December 1635 Robert Southwell was born to [his father] Robert Southwell [aged 28] at Kinsale, County Cork.
Before 19th March 1665 Robert Southwell [aged 29] and Elizabeth Dering [aged 17] were married.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 19th March 1665. Being very glad of this news Mr. Povy [aged 51] and I in his coach to Hyde Parke, being the first day of the tour there. Where many brave ladies; among others, Castlemayne [aged 24] lay impudently upon her back in her coach asleep, with her mouth open. There was also my Lady Kerneguy [aged 26]1, once my Lady Anne Hambleton, that is said to have given the Duke a clap upon his first coming over. Here I saw Sir J. Lawson's [aged 50] daughter and husband, a fine couple, and also Mr. Southwell [aged 29] and his new lady [aged 17], very pretty.
Note 1. Daughter of William, Duke of Hamilton, wife of Lord Carnegy [aged 16], who became Earl of Southesk on his father's death. She is frequently mentioned in the "Memoires de Grammont", and in the letters of the second Earl of Chesterfield. B.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 10th February 1668. Up, and by coach to Westminster, and there made a visit to Mr. Godolphin [aged 33], at his chamber; and I do find him a very pretty and able person, a man of very fine parts, and of infinite zeal to my Lord Sandwich [aged 42]; and one that says he is, he believes, as wise and able a person as any Prince in the world hath. He tells me that he meets with unmannerly usage by Sir Robert Southwell [aged 32], in Portugall, who would sign with him in his negociations there, being a forward young man: but that my Lord mastered him in that point, it being ruled for my Lord here, at a hearing of a Committee of the Council. He says that if my Lord can compass a peace between Spain and Portugall, and hath the doing of it and the honour himself, it will be a thing of more honour than ever any man had, and of as much advantage.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 12th March 1668. Up, and to the office, where all the morning, at noon home, and after dinner with wife and Deb., carried them to Unthanke's, and I to Westminster Hall [Map] expecting our being with the Committee this afternoon about Victualling business, but once more waited in vain. So after a turn or two with Lord Brouncker [aged 48], I took my wife up and left her at the 'Change [Map] while I to Gresham College, there to shew myself; and was there greeted by Dr. Wilkins [aged 54], Whistler, and others, as the patron of the Navy Office, and one that got great fame by my late speech to the Parliament. Here I saw a great trial of the goodness of a burning glass, made of a new figure, not spherical (by one Smithys, I think, they call him), that did burn a glove of my Lord Brouncker's from the heat of a very little fire, which a burning glass of the old form, or much bigger, could not do, which was mighty pretty. Here I heard Sir Robert Southwell [aged 32] give an account of some things committed to him by the Society at his going to Portugall, which he did deliver in a mighty handsome manner1. Thence went away home, and there at my office as long as my eyes would endure, and then home to supper, and to talk with Mr. Pelling, who tells me what a fame I have in the City for my late performance; and upon the whole I bless God for it. I think I have, if I can keep it, done myself a great deal of repute. So by and by to bed.
Note 1. At the meeting of the Royal Society on March 12th, 1668, "Mr. Smethwick's glasses were tried again; and his telescope being compared with another longer telescope, and the object-glasses exchanged, was still found to exceed the other in goodness; and his burning concave being compared with a spherical burning-glass of almost twice the diameter, and held to the fire, it burnt gloves, whereas the other spherical ones would not burn at all".-"Sir Robert Southwell being lately returned from Portugal, where he had been ambassador from the King [aged 37], and being desired to acquaint the society with what he had done with respect to the instructions, which he had received from them before his departure from England, related, that he had lodged the astronomical quadrant, which the society had sent to Portugal to make observations with there, with a body of men at Lisbon, who had applied themselves among other kinds of literature to mathematics" (Birch's "History of the Royal Society", vol. ii., p. 256).
Become a Member via our Buy Me a Coffee page to read more.
In 1671 [his son] Edward Southwell was born to Robert Southwell [aged 35] and [his wife] Elizabeth Dering [aged 23]. He married Elizabeth Cromwell, daughter of Vere Essex Cromwell 4th Earl Ardglass, and had issue.
John Evelyn's Diary. 29th April 1675. I read my first discourse, "Of Earth and Vegetation", before the Royal Society as a lecture in course, after Sir Robert Southwell [aged 39] had read his, the week before, "On Water". I was commanded by our President and the suffrage of the Society, to print it.
In 1677 [his father] Robert Southwell [aged 70] died.
John Evelyn's Diary. 1st May 1680. This afternoon came to visit me [his father-in-law] Sir Edward Deering [aged 54], of Surrendon, in Kent, one of the Lords of the Treasury, with his [his wife] daughter [aged 32], married to my worthy friend, Sir Robert Southwell [aged 44], Clerk of the Council, now Extraordinary-Envoy to the Duke of Brandenburgh, and other Princes in Germany, as before he had been in Portugal, being a sober, wise, and virtuous gentleman.
Adam Murimuth's Continuation and Robert of Avesbury’s 'The Wonderful Deeds of King Edward III'
This volume brings together two of the most important contemporary chronicles for the reign of Edward III and the opening phases of the Hundred Years’ War. Written in Latin by English clerical observers, these texts provide a vivid and authoritative window into the political, diplomatic, and military history of fourteenth-century England and its continental ambitions. Adam Murimuth Continuatio's Chronicarum continues an earlier chronicle into the mid-fourteenth century, offering concise but valuable notices on royal policy, foreign relations, and ecclesiastical affairs. Its annalistic structure makes it especially useful for establishing chronology and tracing the development of events year by year. Complementing it, Robert of Avesbury’s De gestis mirabilibus regis Edwardi tertii is a rich documentary chronicle preserving letters, treaties, and official records alongside narrative passages. It is an indispensable source for understanding Edward III’s claim to the French crown, the conduct of war, and the mechanisms of medieval diplomacy. Together, these works offer scholars, students, and enthusiasts a reliable and unembellished account of a transformative period in English and European history. Essential for anyone interested in medieval chronicles, the Hundred Years’ War, or the reign of Edward III.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
In 1681 [his wife] Elizabeth Dering [aged 33] died.
John Evelyn's Diary. 1st December 1690. Having been chosen President of the Royal Society, I desired to decline it, and with great difficulty devolved the election on Sir Robert Southwell [aged 54], Secretary of State to King William in Ireland.
John Evelyn's Diary. 30th November 1693. Much importuned to take the office of President of the Royal Society, but I again declined it. Sir Robert Southwell [aged 57] was continued. We all dined at Pontac's as usual.
Around 1695 Godfrey Kneller [aged 48]. Portrait of Robert Southwell [aged 59].
John Evelyn's Diary. 7th December 1698. Being one of the Council of the Royal Society, I was named to be of the committee to wait on our new President [aged 47], the Lord Chancellor, our Secretary, Dr. Sloane, and Sir R. Southwell [aged 62], last Vice-President, carrying our book of statutes; the office of the President being read, his Lordship subscribed his name, and took the oaths according to our statutes as a Corporation for the improvement of natural knowledge. Then his Lordship made a short compliment concerning the honor the Society had done him, and how ready he would be to promote so noble a design, and come himself among us, as often as the attendance on the public would permit; and so we took our leave.
On 11th September 1702 Robert Southwell [aged 66] died at King's Weston House Kings Weston, Gloucestershire.
Kings Wessex: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 15 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 21 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 16 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings Godwinson: Great x 22 Grand Son of King Harold II of England
Kings England: Great x 11 Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 18 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 25 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 19 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 23 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 4 Grandfather: Francis Southwell 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Southwell
Great x 4 Grandmother: Dorothy Tendering
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Southwell 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Darcy 1st Baron Darcy 
6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary Darcy 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Audrey Raynsford
Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Southwell of Spixworth 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Copley
Great x 3 Grandfather: Roger Copley
Great x 2 Grandmother: Bridget Copley
GrandFather: Anthony Southwell 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Cornwallis
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Cornwallis
Great x 1 Grandmother: Alice Cornwallis 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Jerningham 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Jerningham
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Bedingfield
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Jerningham 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Drury
Great x 3 Grandmother: Bridget Drury 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Calthorpe 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Father: Robert Southwell 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Shelton
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Shelton
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Shelton 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Boleyn 
8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Boleyn 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Butler 
5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Ralph Shelton 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
GrandMother: Margaret Shelton 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Robert Southwell 11 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England