大象传媒

Explore the 大象传媒
This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.


Accessibility help
Text only
大象传媒 Homepage
大象传媒 Radio
大象传媒 Radio 4 - 92 to 94 FM and 198 Long WaveListen to Digital Radio, Digital TV and OnlineListen on Digital Radio, Digital TV and Online

PROGRAMME FINDER:
Programmes
Podcasts
Presenters
PROGRAMME GENRES:
News
Drama
Comedy
Science
Religion|Ethics
History
Factual
Messageboards
Radio 4 Tickets
Radio听4 Help

Contact Us

Like this page?
Send it to a friend!



Making History
MISSED A PROGRAMME?
Go to the Listen Again page
Making History banner
Listen to the latest editionTuesday 3.00-3.30 p.m
Vanessa Collingridge and the team answer listener鈥檚 historical queries and celebrate the way in which we all 鈥榤ake鈥 history.
Programme 9
27 November 2007

Listen to this programme in full

The Spanish Armada

Making History listener Ian Barrett got in touch to question the received story of England鈥檚 fight with the Spanish Armada. Not least because of the death rate amongst the sailors who fought and how they were neglected when the Spanish fleet had been defeated.

Lord Howard writing to William Cecil in August 1588

" ... It is a most pitiful sight to see, here at Margate, how the men, having no place to receive them into here, die in the streets. I am driven myself, of force, to come a-land, to see them bestowed in some lodging; and the best I can get is barns and outhouses. It would grieve any man's heart to see them that have served so valiantly to die so miserably...".

Professor Pauline Croft at Royal Holloway, University of London directly answered Ian鈥檚 question. Despite the work of Howard and Drake in ensuring that ships were clean and sailors looked after, only half of the casualties were a direct result of combat. However, this was the same in any conflict right up until the nineteenth century, particularly one where men were at sea and away from fresh food for weeks at a time.

On their return to England, sailors would have either joined another ship or travelled back to their home town or village which would be responsible for their well-being through the Poor Law. Clearly, these places were not required to do anything to help them.

Professor Croft suggests the following books which will help listeners interested in the conditions that sailors endured on ship:

Martin and Parker, The Spanish Armada (second edition) Mandolin (28 Oct 1999)
B. Whitehead, Brags and Boasts: Propaganda in the year of the Armada (1994)
Armada: The Official Catalogue of the 1988 exhibition (M.J. Rodriguez-Salgado and the staff of the National Maritime Museum)

Making History consulted the author Neil Hanson about the lead up to the conflict and the myths surrounding English seamanship and Elizabeth 1st鈥檚 speech to the troops at Tilbury.

I am come amongst you all, as you see at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honor and my blood even in the dust. I know I have the body of a week and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and a king of England too. And think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any Prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm!"


Neil鈥檚 book 鈥淭he Confident Hope of a Miracle: The True Story of the Spanish Armada鈥 is published by Vintage.

Useful links







Aristotle's Midwife's Vademecum

Making History listener Rowena Rowling has a copy of this small book which appears to borrow from the work of Aristotle in its advice for midwives in the nineteenth century. However it was probably a so-called 'reproduction'. Many 19th century manuals claimed to have found lost knowledge, adding to our
knowledge of classical texts. Lots were printed in the 19th century for a quick profit. They were very popular in America and this led to them being criticised as being pornographic.

It begins:

'A midwife ought to be of middle age, neither too old, nor too young, nor subject to diseases, fears or sudden frights...A lady's hand, a hawk's eye and a lion's heart, to which it may be added activity of body and a convenient strength, with caution and diligence; not subject to drowsiness, nor apt to be impatient. She ought to be sober and affable, not subject to passion, but bountiful and compassionate and her temper cheerful and pleasant, that she may the better comfort her patients in sorrow. Nor must she be very hasty, though her business may perhaps be in another place, lest she should make more haste than good speed. Above all, she ouught to be qualified with the fear of the Gods [changed to 'God' in Victorian editions], which is the principal thing in every state and condition, and will furnish her on all occasions both with knowledge and discretion. But now I proceed to more particular direction...'



You can see a copy of the book at either of these two sites:




Who owns Common Land

Richard Schofield at the Law Society recommended the following website for people interested in the legal history of Common Land

Anglo Saxon Fashion

Reporter Richard Daniel met up with Penelope Walton Rogers, proprietor of the Anglo Saxon Laboratory in York, who has undertaken a major study of graves and settlements to find out more about 6th century fashion.

Useful links:





Further Reading

鈥淐loth and Clothing in Early Anglo Saxon England鈥. Penelope Walton Rogers, CBA 2007.

Further details from:
Council for British Archaeology
St Mary鈥檚 House
66, Bootham. York. YO30 7BZ
100 Years of the Showmen鈥檚 Guild Knockout Football Cup

Dr Vanessa Toulmin of the National Fairground Archive, University of Sheffield explained the background to this year鈥檚 centenary.

Useful Links:




Contact 听Making History
Use this link to email Vanessa Collingridge and the team : Email Making History

Write to: Making History
大象传媒 Radio 4
PO Box 3096
Brighton
BN1 1TU

Telephone: 08700 100400

Making History is produced by Nick Patrick and is a Pier Production
Listen Live
Audio Help

Making History

Vanessa Collingridge
Vanessa CollingridgeVanessa has presented听science and current affairs programmes for 大象传媒, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Discovery and has presented for 大象传媒 Radio 4 & Five Live and a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, Scotsman and Sunday Herald.听

Contact Making History

Send your comments and questions for future programmes to:
Making History
大象传媒 Radio 4
PO Box 3096 Brighton
BN1 1PL

Or email the programme

Or telephone the Audience Line 08700 100 400

Making History听is a Pier Production for 大象传媒 Radio 4 and is produced by Nick Patrick.

See Also

Elsewhere on bbc.co.uk

大象传媒 History

Elsewhere on the web


The 大象传媒 is not responsible for the content of external sites

Don't Miss

In Our Time

Melvyn Bragg

Thursday, 9.00 - 9.45am, rpt 9.30pm
Melvyn Bragg explores the history of ideas.
Listen again online or download the latest programme as an mp3 file.



About the 大象传媒 | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy