My mother loved Tudor history. I wish she had lived long enough to enjoy your channel. She always said, women had such little power, but carried all the guilt, that it is truly very hard to actually know exactly what the women did, and of what they did, how much was what they "wanted" to do, and how much were their actions were forced.

Mary Boleyn was a widow with 2 children and, when she married for love, her family cut her off because they couldn't sell her to someone else.

Mary is such a paradox in Henry’s Tudor court - for all her involvement with a man who was often as toxic to those about him as any pox, she survived and even thrived, outlasting many who seemed much less involved with Henry. Eustace Chapuis seems an invaluable source of so much information in your talks - would you consider doing a little mini-series about him as a person in his own right? I’d love to know more about him. Loving these talks Claire - thank you!

An excellent analysis of Mary Boleyn using the primary sources. Your detective work into who wrote what information and what the writer's biases were makes your conclusions about Mary more believable.

I always find it somewhat humorous that King Henry filed a request for a dispensation to marry Anne because he slept with her sister while still being married to his first wife. Having the affair while married wasn’t the issue but the fact that he wanted to marry the sister of the one he had had the affair with.

Like my granny always said, " mama's babies, daddy's maybe's". I've been recently trying to trace my family tree, and it's possible that I'm descended from Mary through Catherine Carey on my mama's side. Not sure yet, but it would definitely be cool, considering my obsession with Tudor history and especially the Boleyn girls. I really never thought anything about being related to them, lol! I figured I was descended from a long line of ordinary folks. The only famous person whom I knew was related to me was my great grandaddy's cousin. She was the first female federal district judge in the US. Which is really cool all by itself. Claire, thanks for these videos, they're addictive!

I want to say poor Mary, but she actually made it out alive. There is a dignity to be found in not being the one, or not being Queen... BTW, just bought your book for my Kindle and I am so excited to follow along as you make your way through the year!

I think Mary was the luckiest of the family. To bad we don't know more about her. I was wondering what was a day like at court? What did they do all day? I love these so interesting .

I’m so glad you made these videos about Mary Boleyn. I drives me crazy when historians state as FACT that Henry VIII fathered one or both of Mary’s children when there is no evidence (the same goes for Mary being mistress to the French King). Mary B has such a terrible reputation now thanks to people going by rumours or sources written by men who had their own agenda or weren’t even alive at the time. It also bugs me how they jump on assumptions because of Elizabeth’s behaviour towards certain relatives in her own reign. They seem to forget about her mother’s role, and only focus on her father’s familial relationship to these people; the only absolute fact is they were Elizabeth’s cousins through her mother’s side before they might have been her half-siblings due to her father’s involvement. Also, don’t get me started on certain “historians” (re: historical fiction writers) who never cite their sources but state everything they say as factual anyway. It’s a relief having you here making these videos because I know I can trust what you say because of all the extensive research you do and explanations you give to back it up with.

Love the kitty at 2:01 - does it have a cool Tudor name? Seriously, these videos are really informative. Critical analysis of historical writings. Picking out the facts from writings 500 years old must take a lot of patience & perseverance. Apparently the Tudor era had a lot of Fake News just like today. Consider the source! And you actually take time to answer questions & comments from your viewers. I'm very appreciative of your work.

Eustace Chapuys has provided us with the most reliable source material we've got from the Henrician court. He was literally a fly on the wall, an actual eyewitness to some of the most dramatic events. The reason I think his sources are accurate is because he gives us some unbiased views. For example, although he was against Queen Anne, calling her 'the Concubine', he would sometimes fight her corner, even though he wasn't on her side. For all the inaccuracies in the TV series 'The Tudors', I really thought the actor of Chapuys did a great portrayal of him. There is a brilliant book I've got about Chapuys by Lauren Mackay. Have you read it, Claire?

Thank you so much for recording E2. I love the Tudors & I'm learning so much more than i ever thought possible. Almost every episode i find myself saying.....I didn't know that. Will purchase one of your books.

The most fascinating thing for me about Mary is that she survived the drama that was to come. I'm loving all your videos, thank you.

Fascinating. Looking forward to part 3! Thank you !!!

I’m listening to one of your books on audible right now, imagine my happy surprise when I found you talking about the Boleyn’s on KZfaq! I’m listening to The Anne Boleyn collection and so far I’m really enjoying it. Thank you!

You are awesome! Laid down on the couch in front of the fire with the cat and listened it really drew me into her life more than any other approach, over many years of being interested in her. As you shifted back and forth I could really feel her struggling at each of her choice points. I think a lot of us respect the way she handled all this intense intrigue by staying in the background, 'knowing her place' and surviving trying to escape without too much suffering with a goal of thriving in a healthy less dramatic way.

Thank you so much for uploading these videos! I've always been really fascinated with Tudor history and I'm learning so much more through your videos! I really appreciate your work!

I am loving your daily videos,they are so interesting and informative.I have always enjoyed history but you make it live and I could listen to you all day Thankyou so much and I will look forward to each day with you.

poor mary , maligned as being a "light woman ". but in the end , she went on , to live as a happily married woman and her children fared well . under elizabeth's rule weren't her children given status..........little wonder , elizabeth probably viewed them as her kinfolk ......great share.......

Thank you for 'just talking' about the subject. I so enjoy listening to you. (watching as well)

This is where I think Anne was savvy. She SAW all this behavior, the king taking a woman, having his way, then sending her off. She knew that she needed to hold out for marriage, that merely getting pregnant wouldn't be enough to make her queen. She tried to hold the reins in that way, although Henry still had full control of her fate.

You are amazing I will never tire of you and look forward to all your insights

Very interesting! And Thanks for the daily videos 👍

I sure enjoy your videos and look forward to the next thank you

Great video! Thank you ❤

Mary is in my family line so I am happy to find your channel. My mind is awhirl with questions and wondering about these days in history.

Amazing insights into the social and family life of the period. You have done your research well and present a balanced view of the ins and outs of court life. People who served the king must have been under stress throughout their service to the king.

Thank God for your Tudor passion Claire....it is my 'food' every day...that I feast on...love all the questions & oooohh moments that the videos stir up for me 😀😆

My mind is full of History...thank you! :)

I am enjoying your videos and I really like that you are careful to keep to the facts. It is especially difficult to separate fact from fiction when it is often fairly entertaining to speculate but knowing that Mary was a real person and deserving of as much truth as we can know in remembering her is more important that entertainment. I love the blank slate that the lack of information about her provides but those speculations are only for fun and not for sharing. I can't imagine what life was like for a young woman of her status, expectations, and family ambition would have been like during those Tudor times. I was especially delighted to learn of her connection to the current royals. It seems like court life was exciting and a bit dangerous. I didn't care for the film of The Other Boleyn Girl. I read the book and found it entertaining and it sparked an interest in what life must have been like during that time in English history. I enjoy your well thought out, well researched facts better than the fiction. Thanks for sharing your results with us. I look forward to your videos.

One reason for Henry not acknowleding Marys children could be that it was a bit akward to publicly let your wife raise your children by same wifes sister, particularly if you were a king and wanted no doubt about the legitemacy of children with said wife....

Elizabeth may have found her "Boleyn" side to be a comfort when her "Tudor" side was the one she had problems with. Mary, Mary of Scots, her dad. She might have appreciated that her cousins on her mom's side were just loyal subjects and friends.

Love your vlog so informative

I'm a genealogist I love hearing family biographies and how much people fill in the blanks with what they think "should" have happened with no original sources at all.

So informative every time

Hi Claire still loving these videos.....keep going 😁...love Cheryl

Great video, very informative.

Mary is a grandmother of mine. It’s great to hear more about her and her life

I love your ability to bring all of these people back to life.

Hi Claire. I only discovered your fascinating channel this week and plan to binge watch your Boleyn Files on my next day off. I have been a "fan" of Henry's six wives since I was a child, because my mum was always telling me about them. I actually astounded my first teacher when I was 5 by putting my hand up when she mentioned Henry VIII and saying his wives names in order. I work in Waterstones now and a customer once said to me of Anne Boleyn "When will they stop publishing books about that bloody woman?" I pointed out that she is still one of the most important women in our history. But my favourite wife is her cousin Katherine Howard and I hope that you will talk about her one day. How old was she ? Is the most famous portrait of her (in black) really her because it doesn't look like a young temptress... Did her family encourage her to sleep with Thomas Culpepper in the hope that she would produce a male Howard heir ? I loved both your Mary Boleyn specials by the way.

🇭🇲🦘 With such a mystery that Mary Boleyn was and remains, everything you have said (by way of explanation of likelihoods) do make sense. Your insight is most interesting. Thank you Claire 🔔👑👍

Loving your work. Amazed by how little evidence really exists. Are all the documentaries based on theories? David Starkey for example.

I love your talks! I first got interested in Tudor history by watching the TV show “The Tudors” (which is by far imo is the most accurate program about the Tudors in Henry VIII’s reign) I’ve exhausted every single book about Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII and all his wives, and Tudor history in general at Barnes & Noble ( over the past 10 years) ( including all of yours [ except “on this day in Tudor History] since I can’t find it). I absolutely love 💕 your talks because even though all my research, I always at least learn something new from you yay 😃! Thank You so much Claire! 👸🏼

Very interesting, I am related to Princes Diana through a common grandfather Sir John Spencer. So I’m excited to go look at these new connections for my genealogy!

I love your cats just popping in.

Thanks very for these videos, your dedication to you subject and your research makes them an interesting watch. I have one question (at the moment) if Catherine Carey was Henry’s daughter would not Elizabeth have kept quiet about it given that she chose not to produce an heir but to remain absolute monarch until her death? She was so astute and during her life she had seen the downfall of many who had slight claims to the throne, such as Lady Jane Grey and also the 2 remaining Brandon sisters. Elizabeth kept them under close scrutiny and did her best, though unsuccessfully, to make sure Katherine did not produce heirs. Elizabeth must also have been aware of her father’s treatment of the Countess of Salisbury. I would have thought that Elizabeth would have continued to stress the family ‘cousin’ relationship even if they were half-sisters as well.

I am loving this channel and am glad I subbed. Can you recommend any music of the period that I could download on iTunes? I also have a love for music of all sorts.

it is just so easy to keep listening to this scholar

If we can make a suggestion on topics, can you make a video explaining what it is to be an earl and a duke during those times and explain what were their duties and why were they important? Thank you.

I always felt sorry for Mary. Being forced to bed the King, have his children, (wonder how her husband felt?), and being cast aside for your sister, whom he made a Queen. Actually, Mary was actually lucky, she got to keep her head

Let's do it! Let's dig 'em up!!

When I was young the historical novels 'du jour' were by Jean Plaidy and were entertainingly good reads. She presented the lovely Mary Boleyn as blonde, buxom, easy-going and rather easy and had her the mistress of two kings, sure enough. Of course, it was tabloid history and I remember my own history teacher telling me that 'one could not rely upon the facts enjoyable though these books are'. I find real historical information far more riveting and have done for a long time. Enjoyed both the Mary Boleyn postings, Claire, thank you. There is a supposed portrait of Mary Boleyn (it usually gets whipped out on Wikipedia and such) but I believe that is questionable too?

Mary is my 15th great grandmother. Pretty nifty! So I'm enjoying the history lessons.

Well done 👍

I might just point out, that 1) filing a dispensation and 2) the quotes you mention, both show that it was most likely more than just sleeping with Mary once. Also, Henry named a ship the "mary boleyn"which is in the navy/military records. Lastly, it wasnt then and it isnt now, considered a small thing for your sister to have slept with your fiance :) Thanks for the videos!

She was one of my great grandmothers

I remember reading that both Mary s children looked like Henry. Fair, light redheads. 64yr.old Florida girl

I am also both horrified and fascinated with the Sweating sickness that is mentioned in so many accounts of life in England after the appearance of Henry VII.

This was fascinating! I think that if King Henry had indeed fathered Henry Carey, he would have acknowledged him, as he did with Henry Fitzroy. The Boleyn’s were a well-connected family - they came from the noble house of Ormond and Norfolk. If he was the father, she had a good enough station for him to acknowledge the child.

I would like to read your book on Anne Boleyn, was it translated in French ??

Really excellent video and analysis! Just one note of caution: just because one part of the letter was not correct and the profound bias of the author doesn't mean the other statements should be dismissed out of hand - there may have been some truth in the rumour that Mary had a sexual relationship with Francis, although unlikely.

FYI ----By using KZfaq Auto Translate, you can read sub titles for this presentation in many languages. The KZfaq Video "Auto Translate KZfaq Videos into Your Language" shows how to do this

Very interesting and enlightening discussion about Mary Boleyn. I wasn't aware of the apparently many made up stories about her as I never read fiction these days. One thing I always wonder though, is how in the world Henry got Henry Carey to actually marry Mary. Would he have ordered it or did Carey do it as a favor...? I know that people did marry for reasons other than love, probably more often than not in those days, but it's just pretty creepy that they were so amoral. I can't wrap my head around how supposedly religious all these people were, but how easily they murdered each other and how easily they slept around, LOL. Call me naive but it is just bizarre to me. And as to that, how could Anne even consider marrying Henry, even tho he was the king, when her sister had slept with him? Not very fastidious in those days...

Mary Boleyn was my 12th paternal great grandmother so I found this very interesting.

I like these videos on Mary Boleyn. She is indeed a "blank canvas" that many authors have painted various fantasies on, like that she was the "nice sister" to Anne's conniving schemer, that Anne stole Henry VIII from her, then stole the son (Henry Carey) she'd borne him as well. There's no evidence that Mary and King Henry had a "relationship," just that they had sex at least once, and no one knows exactly when, so there's no way to know if it overlapped with the conception of Henry Carey. Also, when Anne, then Queen, took wardship of the boy, it was doing the recently widowed and impoverished Mary a kindness, as Claire points out in another video, not "stealing" him. I don't share the belief that King Henry was Henry Carey's father at all. It just makes for a more dramatic story, like with Philippa Gregory's historical novel (with emphasis on "novel"). "The Other Boleyn Girl" is full of stuff that is, frankly, ridiculous. A fun read, but it's rather alarming how many people take it as fact.

Interestingly, I read recently that the present royals, William and Harry, are both descended from Mary Boleyn on both the Windsor and the Spencer sides of the family through Mary's marriage to William Carey.

I have so many questions. Queen Catherine was so very young and she begged the king in such a dramatic way. What was going threw his mind to kill such a young girl. I know she cheated but could he not have spared her? I wish I could be in the mind of some of those characters of that time. Another question was about Mary of scotts death. Did she really open her mouth and move her eyes after beheading? When you study these people, they become a part of you and you try to put yourself in their shoes and what they must have felt or thought about things. So many questions lol

Hi Claire, thank you for your videos! I was thinking, if many at the court knew Mary Boleyn had slept with the king the odds are that it was something longer than a one night stand? Thanks again, take care.

When I was young, I was told that although her name was Anne Boleyn, among the local English, she was always known as Nan Bullen. Is there any truth to this?

1:06 looks like you wanted to put a link to part1 :)

Thank you for another great video. I have always thought it unlikely for a king like Henry VIII to have a longer sexual relationship with a woman at his court without it being known by the surrounding unlikely. Kings and Queens. At that time had no privatelife and was hardly ever alone.

Were there any continuing rewards to Mary after Carey's death?

Hello! I am a direct descendant of Mary Boleyn, my 14th GGM. I am just unsure if her Husband, William Carey, is my GGF or if it is in fact Henry VIII. Mary’s son Henry is my 13th GGF and I come from a long line of Carey’s through to the death of my 3rd GGM who died in 1904. Do you think there is any way to find out through DNA testing today if anyone can currently be linked genetically to Henry VIII? I’m thinking there isn’t but if anyone would know I thought you would. Thank you.

I’m actually related to her one of her descendants married a man named Christopher Tilghman Who actually founded an island in Maryland that his descendants owned up until my great grandmother!

I really appreciate your informative videos. However, I have a different point of view. If Mary had sexual relations with Henry without marriage, then in my opinion it becomes difficult to defend the doctrine that Anne was not a manipulative and opportunity seeking person (something very common with most humans) and she turned down the King's advances towards her based on moral high grounds and religious reasons...She could have followed Mary's footsteps. But, she was an intelligent and ambitious woman (nothing wrong with that) who unlike her sister turned this opportunity into reality. Also, i do not think she had any carnal relations with her brother, as her brother might have been a gay,.

I noticed you didn’t touch upon how similar Catherine Carey’s daughters (Lettice and Elizabeth specifically) looked to Elizabeth I, especially considering the red hair they shared with Elizabeth I was considered a Tudor trait. What are your thoughts on that?

I carried out some genealogy a couple of years ago, and found that I may be decended from Mary Boleyn via the Knollys family, so this is very interesting. This would depend on my great grandmother, whose surname was orginally Speed, being decended from John Speed of Southampton. John Speed 1 (there were four of them!) married Philadelphia Knollys, who could trace her family back to Catherine Carey. It all seems a bit unreal ...

Do you have a link where I could buy your books?

Be interesting to have a talk on Henry VIII' s relationship with Francis I. Were they among history's "frenemies"?

Why don't the filmmakers just make documentaries and real life movies as to how life really was. That in itself is so interesting. Even if it isn't juicy and full of drama it still is interesting to see details of life. Like you say, the standards of life at the time, the influences, the people trying to bring them down, even life living in a castle all that is just as interesting without adding all the made up crap. I feel looking at the way society was for them, things expected of woman, how they where treated. That is a movie I want to see. To be like a fly on the wall, watching their lives unfold and their destinies. I love your video's!!!

Hey Claire! I'd love to make a suggestion for a video if that's okay 😊 I'm not sure if you've talked about this yet or not (I haven't seen it anywhere on your channel so i'm assuming you haven't) but i'd love to hear about Anne Boleyn's mother. Unfortunately there's really not much info out there about her 😕 I'd really love to know what happened to her after Anne's death, if she played a role in Elizabeth's life and if they were close and had a relationship when Anne was still alive and after. I've been really interested in the Tudor period for years now so I know that this period in time isn't known for its happiness but knowing that Elizabeth had her grandma in her life basically people that were close to her mother so she had that connection would really warm my heart. I don't remember where I heard this from and I don't know if it's true or not but I heard that Elizabeth helped her mother's family when she was queen and actually had a close friend who was a Boleyn, don't take my word for it but if it's true that would really be amazing wouldn't it! 😊

I know they were cousins but when you look at the portraits of Cathrine Carey and Elizabeth they look strikingly alike so much so you could mistake one for the other

Are those Redwall books

HENRY Carey - not William, Jr? Another question that will never be answered... Love this series, thanks!

I’m kind of skipping around on your videos so forgive me if you’ve addressed this, but do you think that Anne Boleyn has been wrongly vilified in historical fiction, Hollywood films, etc.? I have had very limited knowledge of her life...all I knew was that Mary was “good” and Anne was “bad”. Your videos are really opening my eyes!!

I really don't think that Mary's son was Henry's or Henry would probably have done the same for him (gave him titles and land and money to keep a major household) as he gave to Bessie Blount's son by him.

IMO if Henry had been the father of Mary's son he would have acknowledged him and wouldn't have been able to prevent bragging about it.

I know that Anne was still queen when Mary married Stafford. Is it possible that she chose to marry a man who could take her away from Court as she recognized that Anne was on her way out of the King's favor? The only reason she survived was because she wasn't around when Anne's case went to trial. I don't mean to say she didn't have affection for her brother or sister, but could she have seen this second marriage as prudent?

Mary Boleyn had a lucky escape. Hi Claire, can you do a video on the sister of king Henry the VIII whom married much older King in Europe. She was 14years old and he was 50 years old. Mysterious death of the King in Europe and Henry's sister married again for love to a noble man at Henry's court.

Have any letters between the sisters survive?

It seems like it would be pretty easy to see if any of Mary's children were actually fathered by the king by testing the DNA of descendants of the Tudors and of Mary.

I think a lot if not all of these women were forced into these relationships with Henry VIII. Maybe they believe he would harm their families or themselves if they didn't cooperate. It is estimated that he killed 57,000 people during his reign. He was ruthless.

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I agree that, if Henry Carey had been Henry's son, every one at court must knew it. I don't think that Henry had any further relationship with Mary after she was married to Carey. And after Carey died there wasn't any obstacle for Henry to have a knowledge Carey's son as his own. It was not like Henry to have ignore the fact that he had another male child to show off, beside Fitzroy. He destroy many lives perusing his male heir. He even though to name Henry Fitzroy is heir. He couldn't rest until he got Edward. So why he had to behave different with Mary's boy? Just because he wasn't his.

What about the striking resemblance between Lettice Knollys and Elizabeth I? Could this not be due to her being Henry VIII'S granddaughter?

Thanks so much for this video! I think Mary had an ongoing relationship with Henry VIII given the dispensation requested for her sister's marriage to Henry, and the ship named for her. Her children were more than likely her husband's since they were not acknowledged by the King, and he may have married her off at the end of his time with her. I also think that given Francis I's promiscuity, Mary may have been may well have had a few "me too" events at the French court, and her father decided to get her our of there before her chances at life were ruined. We know how attractive and charismatic Anne and George both were, and so little is known of Mary's personality. It's not hard to imagine Mary as very physically charming but without the strength of character to demand the respect Anne got. She may have said yes to both kings because she had to, not because she really wanted to be a royal mistress. And Francis may not even have thought of her as a mistress, but as an occasional convenience. Men did do that. Some still do.

I find this fascinating. It was known that King Henry 8 took a mistress when the Queen was pregnant so it could have been possible he did the same when Bessie Blount was out of action. But how would it be for William Carey to take on "spoiled goods?" If Mary Boleyn slept with the king first, would that have meant she lost her virginity to the king? In normal senses this would effectively "ruin" a lady. I find it interesting how the mindset around women and the control of women has changed through the years.

Was Anne and King Henry VIII relationship the longest from start (before they married) to her death?

After her marriage and banishment after marrying Will 'Stafford she is known to have moved for a time to his family home at chebsey in staffordshire and then possibly in later years to Rochford Hall the former home of her Sister in Law Lady Rochford though the Rochford Hall is only a suggestion by an author Not sure if theres any documentary proof regarding this. But the Chebsey is but dont know how long for

My husband actually asks if you have a new video when I ask him if there’s anything he wants to watch. No idea how much he pays attention or retains but there you go. 😊 I guess I don’t see any reason to think Mary Boleyn didn’t have a relationship with Francis I. There would be no reason to have record of it if it was just an affair, especially if there were no children born. Of course, I don’t have a personal objection either way. It doesn’t offend me if she did consent. I understand that it would have been used against her sister by those who already had objections but I don’t let them influence my opinions anyway. My husband doesn’t think she did. lol