Author: Paul Hunneyball

A page from the Lords' Journals in 1585 with three columns of text
Tudor, 16th Century history, Conferences, Seminars and Events, Elizabeth I, History of Parliament Trust, Legislative History, Parliamentary Life

Power struggles and group dynamics in the House of Lords, 1584-5

At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 3 February, Dr Paul Hunneyball of the History of Parliament, will be discussing Power Struggles and Group Dynamics in the House of Lords, 1584-5. The seminar takes place on 3 February 2026, between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. It is fully ‘hybrid’, which means you can attend either in-person in London at the IHR, or online … Continue reading Power struggles and group dynamics in the House of Lords, 1584-5

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The First Elizabethan Age, 16th Century history, Religious history, Tudor

Reframing the political narrative, Tudor-style: the Westminster conference of 1559

The use of social media to influence political opinion has become a contentious issue in the past few years. However, there’s nothing new about the basic concept of politicians trying to shape popular perceptions to their own advantage, as Dr Paul Hunneyball of our Lords 1558-1603 project explains… In March 1559, Elizabeth I’s government had a serious problem on its hands. The first Parliament of … Continue reading Reframing the political narrative, Tudor-style: the Westminster conference of 1559

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Art, Fashion and Material Culture, 16th Century history, Elizabeth I, The First Elizabethan Age, Tudor

When tinsel was only for the rich: dressing to impress in early modern England

Wondering what to wear to a Christmas or New Year party? Deciding how to look one’s best can be a dilemma – but at least our fashion choices aren’t dictated by Acts of Parliament. In Tudor and Jacobean times it was a different story, as Dr Paul Hunneyball of our Lords 1558-1603 section explains… In 21st-century Britain, clothes are seen as a means of expressing … Continue reading When tinsel was only for the rich: dressing to impress in early modern England

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The First Elizabethan Age, 16th Century history, Elections, Factions, Legal history, Tudor

Winchester v. Winchester: rivalries and election-rigging in 1560s Hampshire

Whatever the outcome of a modern election, the process of voting is predictable, reliable, and well-understood. However, in the sixteenth century, the picture was a lot more complicated, and sometimes corrupt, as Dr Paul Hunneyball of our Elizabethan Lords section explains… Hampshire in the 1560s was a divided community. Despite the Elizabethan religious settlement of 1559, there was still a sizeable Catholic population in the … Continue reading Winchester v. Winchester: rivalries and election-rigging in 1560s Hampshire

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The First Elizabethan Age, 16th Century history, Tudor

‘So far out of order’: the scandalous career of Henry, 2nd Viscount Howard of Bindon

Elizabethan noblemen enjoyed enormous privileges, but generally recognized that there were limits to their freedom of action. However, one particular peer confounded his contemporaries with his convention-busting behaviour, as Dr Paul Hunneyball of our Lords 1558-1603 section explains… ‘Although he doth many times go apparelled like a nobleman, yet other times he useth such apparel as the poorest man in London can go no worse…; … Continue reading ‘So far out of order’: the scandalous career of Henry, 2nd Viscount Howard of Bindon

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The First Elizabethan Age, 16th Century history, Buildings and Architecture, Tudor

Bishop Jewel and the lost archdeaconry

Many Elizabethan bills which failed to become Acts of Parliament don’t now survive, and little is known about them except their titles. But two lost bills to annex Dorset to the diocese of Salisbury shed new light on one of Reformation England’s most bizarre sagas. Dr Paul Hunneyball of our Lords 1558-1603 section explains… Medieval English dioceses varied considerably in size, some being much bigger … Continue reading Bishop Jewel and the lost archdeaconry

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Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments, 17th Century history, Buildings and Architecture, Charles I, Stuart

The 1626 coronation: Charles I’s botched political relaunch

After a shaky start to his reign, the king intended his coronation to bolster his personal image and agenda ahead of the 1626 Parliament. However, things didn’t go according to plan, as Dr Paul Hunneyball of our Lords 1558-1603 section explains… Little went right for Charles I in the opening months of his reign. Following his accession in March 1625, a major outbreak of the … Continue reading The 1626 coronation: Charles I’s botched political relaunch

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Tudor, 16th Century history, Parliamentary Life, The First Elizabethan Age

Picturing the Parliament of 1523

What did a meeting of the English Parliament look like 500 years ago? The earliest-known image of a state opening offers important clues, but also requires careful interpretation, as Dr Paul Hunneyball of our Lords 1558-1603 section explains… The picture shown below is the oldest near-contemporary image of an English Parliament that we know of. As such it has almost iconic status, and has been … Continue reading Picturing the Parliament of 1523

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The First Elizabethan Age, 16th Century history, Economic history, Social history, Tudor

Parliament and the Elizabethan energy crisis

Steep increases in fuel bills are not just a modern problem, as Dr Paul Hunneyball of our Lords 1558-1603 section explains… The picture sounds all too familiar: rapidly rising fuel prices; people on low incomes struggling to heat their homes; concerns about long-term supplies; and suspicions of profiteering by those in a position to manipulate the market. But these aren’t the woes of 2023. We’re … Continue reading Parliament and the Elizabethan energy crisis

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Stuart, 16th Century history, Social history

William Turner and the reformation of gardening

Climate change is making gardening more of a challenge in this country, but at least we have plenty of information on the best plants to use. Five hundred years ago the picture was a lot more confusing. Dr Paul Hunneyball of our Lords 1558-1603 section investigates a major botanical turning point… William Turner’s New Herbal, published in instalments between 1551 and 1568, is one of … Continue reading William Turner and the reformation of gardening

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