Execution of Katherine Howard

[tucho58]

is it true as depicted in The Tudors that she released herself(urinated) before being executed?

[Ankou]

no. eye witnesses recall her being terrified and needing to be assisted up the steps to the block, but not weeing.

this is something that modern tv (tudors, the other boleyn girl etc) tend to depict, merely for dramatic effect.

[sandyRoe]

I think I'd do more than just pee myself.

[sandyRoe]

I'd want to meet the headsman wearing my brown corduroy trousers and my bicycle clips...

[plautus]

I'm sure I read somewhere that Marie Antoinette relieved herself in public before she was put into the cart carrying her to the guillotine.

[Mosaic]

Plautus - if marie A did so, it was a commonplace practice in France of the time (and indeed until quite recently). Descriptions of the Palace of Versaille often include its complete absence of toilets, and even the gentry of the time simply did it where they could. Voluminous skirts on women made this a surprisingly modest action.
As for the original question, involuntary bowel or bladder movements before execution and after death would happen and were probably again simply absorbed by the clothing of the victim. people at that time bserved the same when slaughtering food animals and would not find it especially worth comment - not soiling oneself in the circumstances would be much more comment-worthy.

[Ankou]

marie antoinette was hated, so it is likley that eye witnesses would say she cried, weed and poo'd herself all the way to the chop.

katherine howard was pitied because most of the public hardly knew her, remember she was only 19 or 20 years old at the time.

[Old_Geezer]

Apparently my maternal grandmother (whom I never met) used to insist Katherine was part of her family tree. Wish I could prove that one way or the other. It was always an intriguing claim.

[jno]

then you'd be related to Anne Boleyn too, OG?

How are your wives getting on?

[Old_Geezer]

You mean the wifelets ? I ensure they never meet.

[Ric.ror]

well my father always insisted we were releated to Dora Byran!!!!!!!!

[vivandorron]

I can't answer this one, but sandyRoe has made me recall the story about Lord Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar.

Call from Crow's Nest....Four French Frigates on the port bow.
Nelson to Hardy...Pass me my red jacket and we'll go up top on deck.
Hardy..It's a nice day, do you have to wear a jacket.
Nelson...The red jacket is to avoid the sight of blood if I am wounded.

Further call from Crow's nest...Forty French frigates on the port bow.
Nelson....I think today, I'll wear the red jacket with my brown corduroy trousers.

Ron.

[Euphemia]

Good one!

[vivandorron]

Just a quick historical thought. Nelson would have gone aloft onto the Poop Deck.

Ron.

[Ankou]

aye, but on that sea he would need to hold on to his futtock

[Old_Geezer]

I recall Dave Allen telling that one. Unsure if it was original or not then.

[vivandorron]

I think you are right O_G. It was certainly one I heard many years back.

Ron.

[T&S]

So, to go back to the start of this thread...did the TV series The Tudors include a historical inaccuracy?

Well fancy that! I thought it was completely accurate.