Glyn Redworth – författare

Before dawn one morning in June 1612, an elderly Frenchman took charge of a carriage carrying a precious cargo near Tyburn Fields, London's notorious place of execution. It was heading for a house in Spitalfields, where a wizened Spanish woman was waiting to receive the mortal remains of freshly-martyred Catholic priests. Her name was Luisa de Carvajal and this book tells her story. Born into a great Spanish noble family, Luisa suffered a horribly abusive childhood and from her early years hankered to become a martyr for her faith. For almost 20 years she struggled to become possibly the first female missionary of modern times. In 1605 - the year of the Gunpowder Plot - she was secreted into England by the Jesuits, despite the fact that she spoke not a word of English. To everyoneA's surprise including her own, she steadily assumed a prominent role within LondonA's underground Catholic community, setting up an unofficial nunnery, offering Roman priests a secure place to live, consoling prisoners awaiting execution, importing banned books, and helping persecuted Catholics to flee abroad. Throughout this time she ran the grave risk of imprisonment and execution, yet she miraculously managed to avoid this ultimate fate in spite of being arrested on a number of occasions. This vividly written biography, the first to give equal treatment to her double life in Spain and England, is based on Luisa's own autobiographical writings, her sparkling collection of poems and letters, and the detailed reminiscences by dozens of people who worked with her. In parts humorous, the book contains LuisaA's biting descriptions of the cost of living in ShakespeareA's London, the poor quality of food in the capital, as well as the weekend rowdiness of the English.

Before dawn one morning in June 1612, an elderly Frenchman took charge of a carriage carrying a precious cargo near Tyburn Fields, London''s notorious place of execution. It was heading for a house in Spitalfields, where a wizened Spanish woman was waiting to receive the mortal remains of freshly-martyred Catholic priests. Her name was Luisa de Carvajal and this book tells her story. Born into a great Spanish noble family, Luisa suffered a horribly abusive childhood and from her early years hankered to become a martyr for her faith. For almost 20 years she struggled to become possibly the first female missionary of modern times. In 1605 - the year of the Gunpowder Plot - she was secreted into England by the Jesuits, despite the fact that she spoke not a word of English. To everyone´s surprise including her own, she steadily assumed a prominent role within London´s underground Catholic community, setting up an unofficial nunnery, offering Roman priests a secure place to live, consoling prisoners awaiting execution, importing banned books, and helping persecuted Catholics to flee abroad. Throughout this time she ran the grave risk of imprisonment and execution, yet she miraculously managed to avoid this ultimate fate in spite of being arrested on a number of occasions. This vividly written biography, the first to give equal treatment to her double life in Spain and England, is based on Luisa''s own autobiographical writings, her sparkling collection of poems and letters, and the detailed reminiscences by dozens of people who worked with her. In parts humorous, the book contains Luisa´s biting descriptions of the cost of living in Shakespeare´s London, the poor quality of food in the capital, as well as the weekend rowdiness of the English.

On the night of March 7, 1623, the prince of Wales and the duke of Buckingham knocked on the door of the British embassy in Madrid. Their unsolicited arrival began one of the most bizarre episodes in British history, as the Protestant heir to the Stuart throne struggled to win the Spanish Infanta as his bride.The prince’s visit marked the end of a decade of high-level negotiation to secure a marriage between the leading Protestant and Catholic royal families and heal Europe’s century-old division into warring Christian camps. The effort was a diplomatic disaster. It split political and religious opinion in Britain, alienated much of Italy and Germany, confused the Spaniards (who thought that the English crown was about to convert), and failed to secure a marriage or to resolve the Thirty Years’ War.Drawing on archival material from five countries, Glyn Redworth provides the definitive explanation of this pivotal moment and tells a fascinating story of early modern politicking, cultural misunderstanding, and religious confusion.

Luisa de Carvajal y Mendoza (1566–1614) was a noblewoman who left her native Spain for a life of self-imposed exile and Catholic evangelism in Jacobean England. Her letters provide an unparalleled resource. This edition presents 180 letters, newly translated and set in context.

Luisa de Carvajal y Mendoza (1566–1614) was a noblewoman who left her native Spain for a life of self-imposed exile and Catholic evangelism in Jacobean England. Her letters provide an unparalleled resource. This edition presents 180 letters, newly translated and set in context.

Luisa de Carvajal y Mendoza (1566–1614) was a noblewoman who left her native Spain for a life of self-imposed exile and Catholic evangelism in Jacobean England. Her letters provide an unparalleled resource. This edition presents 180 letters, newly translated and set in context.

Luisa de Carvajal y Mendoza (1566–1614) was a noblewoman who left her native Spain for a life of self-imposed exile and Catholic evangelism in Jacobean England. Her letters provide an unparalleled resource. This edition presents 180 letters, newly translated and set in context.

Luisa de Carvajal y Mendoza (1566–1614) was a noblewoman who left her native Spain for a life of self-imposed exile and Catholic evangelism in Jacobean England. Her letters provide an unparalleled resource. This edition presents 180 letters, newly translated and set in context.