One of the coolest things Amanda uncovered in her records was a will that bequeathed a “ stone ambling horse named Old Button.” Amanda explains what those descriptions mean, in the episode, but it was a really valuable horse preferred for long rides. www.cassidycash.com/ep430

Would you like to walk around inside Wisson Hill, tour the grounds, and get an up close look at some of the 16th century artifacts from the property? Join Amanda Billingsley and I on an exclusive members-only virtual tour of Wisson Hill, right now on Patreon. www.patreon.com/thatshakespe...

In looking through the archives, Amanda found a letter from Richard Quiney asking for a loan in 1598, in which the Bushnells (owners of Wisson Hill in Shakespeare’s lifetime) standing surety. Richard Quiney was Judith Shakespeare’s father-in-law. More at www.cassidycash.com/ep430

In the 1530s, a small house was built 8 miles outside of Stratford. Known as Wisson Hill, the owner, Amanda Billingsley joins us this week to share artifacts & documents uncovered during preservation at Wisson Hill that reveal the home’s connections to William Shakespeare. www.cassidycash.com/ep430

We’ve reached a new milestone at That Shakespeare Life, the one where listeners send in fan art-- I love it! This one is from long time listeners Jim&Annie Garlinghouse. You can see more fan art (as well as submit your own) in our new Fan Art collection on Patreon. www.patreon.com/thatshakespe...

Hymenaei, or The Masque of Hymen, was a masque written by Ben Jonson for the marriage of Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, and Lady Frances Howard, daughter of the Earl of Suffolk, and performed on their wedding day, 5 January 1606. www.cassidycash.com/ep429

These intricate and complex stories were presented in grand fashion, sparing no expense on costumes, props, and special effects. www.cassidycash.com/ep429

Some of the most amazing costumes were created for 16th-17th century court masques. This week our guest, Sarah Jane Downing, takes us into these opulent events to explore the expensive, complex, and even scandalous outfits staged during the reign of King James I. www.cassidycash.com/ep429

@jmstownrediscovery.bsky.social sent images of their spangles artifacts we talk about today as well as the Captain's Sash that Janene Johston shares inside this episode-- See all the extras (and access bonus episodes!) as a member of That Shakespeare Society www.patreon.com/thatshakespe...

Spangles came in all shapes and sizes, and were used to gild items at all levels of society. Here, Queen Elizabeth I wears spangles on her outfit by an anonymous artist. www.cassidycash.com/ep428

Spangles were small, tiny, peices of metal barely larger than a pencil eraser, which was attached to everything from purses to caskets to make the object shiny and reflect light. www.cassidycash.com/ep428

NEW EPISODE: “What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty.” In Shakespeare’s lifetime, spangles added glitter to clothes and accessories. This week, curator Janene Johnston @jmstownrediscovery.bsky.social joins us to explore 17th-century spangles found at Jamestown. www.cassidycash.com/ep428

Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus asks one of the most dangerous questions of the Renaissance: what would a person trade for knowledge, power, and ambition? www.cassidycash.com/ep427

This building would have been on campus when Marlowe attended there. He would have known about it and potentially walked past it (or gone in it??) during his tenure there. www.cassidycash.com/ep427

NEW EPISODE: Stephen Greenblatt joins That Shakespeare Life to explore Christopher Marlowe’s genius, espionage, and mysterious death. www.cassidycash.com/ep427

Shakespeare mentions the Icelandic Dog in Henry V. It was finally made an official dog breed in the 21st century. Find out about this breed and how it connects to Shakespeare. youtu.be/yl_eiB_FrgU

Join us inside That Shakespeare Society for hands on history activity kits that coordinate with Shakespeare's plays. Try out games, recipes, and crafts mentioned in the plays, the way they would have been done in turn of the 17th century England. www.patreon.com/thatshakespe...

Bill outlines three kinds of fires that were used in the Midsummer bonfires:1) clean bones (No wood, bonfire) 2) Clean wood, no bones (Wake fire) and 3) just wood was the St John’s Fire. www.cassidycash.com/ep426

Art thou a damosella? Find out in this week’s Weird Word Wednesday.

Midsummer is celebrated on June the 24th, but it is associated with the summer solstice. The astronomical solstice is June 20 or 21st. www.cassidycash.com/ep426

NEW EPISODE: Have you ever watched A Midsummer Night's Dream and wondered "What exactly IS Midsummer, anyway?" A holiday steeped in ancient traditions combined with a holiday of St. John, our guest Bill Petro join us this week to tell you all about Midsummer. www.cassidycash.com/ep426

Did you ever wonder whether Shakespeare paid taxes? Well I was curious, so I investigated, and it ended up being a two part rabbit hole of information, so here’s part 1. youtu.be/FX8q-tUNgeA

Join us inside That Shakespeare Society for additional portraits and details about the doublets, rebatos, and ruffs of Shakespeare's lifetime. You can also stop in to the comments and chat with Sarah Jane Downing in the after-show discussion. www.patreon.com/posts/154317...

One of the most drastic fashion changes in Shakespeare's lifetime was the plunging neckline. Throughout Shakespeare's lifetime, the necklines go from right up at the chin, to scandalously low profiles, designed to showcase a woman's bosom. www.cassidycash.com/ep425

Are you paltering, or are you a palter? “Palter” shows up multiple times across Shakespeare’s plays, sometimes as a noun and other times as a verb. Find out what it means on this week’s Weird Word Wednesday.

While there aren't images of Shakespeare (besides modern statues like this one) attributing poofy shorts to him personally, the French hose, which is what those poofy shorts are called in Shakespeare's plays, were a fashion staple for men in Shakespeare's lifetime. www.cassidycash.com/ep425

NEW EPISODE: The fashion of the 16thC was changing rapidly. From boys costuming as women to trying to stay on the right side of the sumptuary laws, clothing was a fast moving game. Explore the details from doublets to rebatos with our guest, Sarah Jane Downing. www.cassidycash.com/ep425

It’s time for Community Questions! This is the part of YouTube where I answer random questions that listeners have sent in. This week, I’m addressing a hot topic that is a matter for controversy for many. Hear where I stand, then let me know where you are at on it. youtu.be/QzcZC1csXgo

Want to go one step further into your study of 16-17th century shampoo this week? Check out the portraits, museum artifacts, and illustrations inside That Shakespeare Society. Enjoy an ad-free episode and explore all the extras while you listen. www.patreon.com/thatshakespe...

Getting your head completely wet with water was risky business in the 16thC; you might literally catch your death! Several waterless hair washing techniques were used as alternatives, including a good brushing out with a fine tooth comb. www.cassidycash.com/ep424