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Heroine City
Eleanor Cobham
Ep. 5
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In episode five of Heroine City, Lynsey Shaw is joined by Dr Euan Roger, lead curator at The National Archives, to discuss the fascinating Eleanor Cobham, Duchess of Gloucester. A sad tale of love magic, witchcraft and treason, Eleanor was imprisoned for the rest of her life and her marriage to Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester annulled after she was accused of using witchcraft 'in a treasonous way' and tricking him into marriage with 'love magic.'
Eleanor's story and its place in the timeline of women accused of treason is part of The National Archives current exhibition, Treason: People, Power and Plot running until April 6th, 2023. In the exhibition Eleanor's case sits within a legal evolution that led to the downfall of Anne Boleyn. Not only do we talk about Eleanor, whose story deserves to be wider known but two other women connected to the case, 'The Witch of Eye', Margery Jourdemayne and Kentish woman Juliana Ridligo. Both died as a result of the allegations, the former as a heretical witch and the latter after telling King Henry VI what she thought of him and his treatment of Eleanor while he was passing through Blackheath.
Warning: Contains discussion of violence
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