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.

Biography of Allan Ramsay 1713-1784

Allan Ramsay is in Painters.

On 13th October 1713 Allan Ramsay was born to [his father] Allan Ramsay (age 26) in Edinburgh.

Around 1738. Allan Ramsay (age 24). Self-Portrait.

1739. Allan Ramsay (age 25). Portrait of his first wife [his wife] Anne Bayne.

Anne Bayne: she was born to Alexander Bayne of Rires and Mary Carstairs. In 1739 Allan Ramsay and she were married. On 4th February 1743 Anne Bayne died in childbirth.

In 1739 Allan Ramsay (age 25) and Anne Bayne were married.

1739. Allan Ramsay (age 25). Portrait of Lucy Manners Duchess Montrose (age 22).

Lucy Manners Duchess Montrose: Around 1717 she was born to John Manners 2nd Duke Rutland and Lucy Sherard Duchess Rutland. On 28th October 1742 William Graham 2nd Duke Montrose and she were married. She by marriage Duchess Montrose. She the daughter of John Manners 2nd Duke Rutland and Lucy Sherard Duchess Rutland. He the son of James Graham 1st Duke Montrose. On 18th June 1788 Lucy Manners Duchess Montrose died.

1739. Allan Ramsay (age 25). Portrait of Archibald Campbell 3rd Duke Argyll (age 56).

Archibald Campbell 3rd Duke Argyll: In June 1682 he was born to Archibald Campbell 1st Duke Argyll and Elizabeth Tollemache Duchess Argyll. On 4th October 1743 John Campbell 2nd Duke Argyll died. His brother Archibald succeeded 3rd Duke Argyll. Duke of Greenwich, Earl of Greenwich and Baron Chatham extinct. On 15th April 1761 Archibald Campbell 3rd Duke Argyll died. His first cousin John succeeded 4th Duke Argyll.

1740. Allan Ramsay (age 26). Portrait of Elizabeth Symonds died 1776.

1741. Allan Ramsay (age 27). Portrait of Jemima Campbell 2nd Marchioness Grey (age 17).

1742. Allan Ramsay (age 28). Portrait of Mary Cardonnel Countess Talbot (age 23).

1743. Allan Ramsay (age 29). Portrait of Anne Campbell Countess Strafford (age 28).

Anne Campbell Countess Strafford: Around 1715 she was born to John Campbell 2nd Duke Argyll and Jane Warburton Duchess of Argyll. In 1741 William Wentworth 2nd Earl Strafford and she were married. She by marriage Countess Strafford. She the daughter of John Campbell 2nd Duke Argyll and Jane Warburton Duchess of Argyll. He the son of Thomas Wentworth 1st Earl Strafford and Anne Johnson Countess Strafford. In 1785 Anne Campbell Countess Strafford died.

William of Worcester's Chronicle of England

William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

On 4th February 1743 [his wife] Anne Bayne died in childbirth.

1746. Allan Ramsay (age 32). Portrait of Jane Hale, Mrs Madan.

Jane Hale: she was born to Bernard Hale. On 17th December 1751 Reverend Martin Madan and she were married. In 1794 she died.

1746. Allan Ramsay (age 32). Portrait of Jane Douglas (age 47).

Jane Douglas: On 17th March 1698 she was born to James Douglas 2nd Marquess Douglas and Mary Kerr Marchioness Douglas. In 1746 John Stewart 3rd Baronet and she were married. She the daughter of James Douglas 2nd Marquess Douglas and Mary Kerr Marchioness Douglas. On 21st November 1753 Jane Douglas died.

On 1st March 1752 Allan Ramsay (age 38) and Margaret Lindsay (age 26) at Canongate Kirk without the approval of her parents having eloped together. Her father never forgave her for marrying an artist.

1756. Allan Ramsay (age 42). Portrait of Mary Digges (age 19).

Mary Digges: Around 1737 she was born to William of Mellwood Park Digges. On 1st January 1756 Robert Manners and she were married. They had three sons and two daughters. He the son of John Manners 2nd Duke Rutland and Lucy Sherard Duchess Rutland. On 22nd February 1829 she died.

1756. Allan Ramsay (age 42). Portrait of Mary Digges (age 19).

On 7th January 1758 [his father] Allan Ramsay (age 71) died.

1759. Allan Ramsay (age 45). Portrait of Flora Macdonald (age 37).

Flora Macdonald: In 1722 she was born to Ranald MacDonald at Milton. On 5th March 1790 she died.

1759. Allan Ramsay (age 45). Portrait of the artist's wife Margaret Lindsay (age 33).

Margaret Lindsay: In 1726 she was born to Alexander Lindsay 3rd Baronet and Amelia Murray. On 1st March 1752 Allan Ramsay and Margaret Lindsay at Canongate Kirk without the approval of her parents having eloped together. Her father never forgave her for marrying an artist. In 1782 she died.

1759. Allan Ramsay (age 45). Portrait of Henrietta Cantillon Countess Stafford (age 31).

Henrietta Cantillon Countess Stafford: In 1728 she was born to Richard Cantillon. Before 1751 William Mathias Stafford-Howard 3rd Earl Stafford and she were married. She by marriage Countess Stafford, Baroness Stafford. He the son of William Stafford-Howard 2nd Earl Stafford and Anne Holman Countess Stafford. On 30th August 1761 she died.

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.

In 1761 Allan Ramsay (age 47) was appointed Principal In Ordinary to King George III of Great Britain and Ireland (age 22). Due to the workload demanded of him he used numerous assistants including David Martin (age 23).

Around 1762. Allan Ramsay (age 48). Portrait of Mary Lepell Baroness Hervey (age 62).

Around 1762. Allan Ramsay (age 48). Portrait of Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England (age 17).

Around 1762. Allan Ramsay (age 48). Portrait of Captain John Lindsay 1737-1788 (age 25).

Rear-Admiral John Lindsay: In 1737 he was born to Alexander Lindsay 3rd Baronet and Amelia Murray. On 4th June 1788 he died.

Around 1762. Allan Ramsay (age 48). Portrait of Emilia Mary Lennox Duchess Leinster (age 30).

Around 1762. Allan Ramsay (age 48). Portrait of Jean Abercromby, Mrs Morison of Haddo.

Around 1762. Allan Ramsay (age 48). Portrait of King George III of Great Britain and Ireland (age 23).

Around 1767. Allan Ramsay (age 53). Portrait of Mrs Anna Bruce of Arnot died 1810.

Before 1783. Allan Ramsay (age 69). Portrait of William Douglas 4th Baronet (age 52).

William Douglas 4th Baronet: Around 1730 he was born to John Douglas 3rd Baronet and Christian Cuninghame. On 21st March 1772 William Douglas 4th Baronet and Grace d William Johnstone Lady Kelhead were married. She by marriage Lady Kelhead. On 13th November 1778 John Douglas 3rd Baronet died. His son William succeeded 4th Baronet Kelhead. On 16th May 1783 William Douglas 4th Baronet died. His son Charles succeeded 5th Baronet Kelhead.

The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy

The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

Before 1784. Allan Ramsay (age 70). Portrait of Clementina Walkinshaw (age 63).

Clementina Walkinshaw: In 1720 she was born to John Walkinshaw of Barrowhill. On 27th November 1802 she died.

Before 1784. Allan Ramsay (age 70). Portrait of George Coventry 6th Earl Coventry (age 61).

On 10th August 1784 Allan Ramsay (age 70) died at Dover, Kent [Map].