(Left) Katherine Howard, Henry VIII's fifth wife in 1540. Or is it? There are no verified images of her. Now thought to be Elizabeth Seymour (Jane Seymour's sister) or even Anne of Cleves. To me, there is a striking resemblance with Henry's fourth wife (right).

This may well be the bag that contained Walter Ralegh's embalmed head. After his execution in 1618, his loving wife, Elizabeth, kept his head in a cupboard and occasionally revealed it to visitors. Ralegh's trial and execution were widely condemned at the time as a travesty of justice.

A lock of Mary I's hair. All the Tudor monarchs, bar Henry VII, had the same reddish-gold hair that they inherited from Elizabeth of York. An irony, perhaps, that they resembled the Plantagenets that they had deposed.

The infamous Halifax Gibbet. This early guillotine was unique in England and decapitated about 100 people between 1286 and 1650 when Cromwell had it dismantled. This replica was erected in 1974 with the blade made from the original casting.

Christopher Marlowe. The great man of mystery. When researching my book, I came across almost as many questions as answers. Was he really killed, inadvertently, in a pub brawl? Would be interested to know if anyone has a strong opinion on this or anything else to do with the great poet/playwright.

I love this picture of Elizabeth I jamming on her lute in 1580. A miniature by Nicholas Hilliard.

The earliest contemporary illustration depicting the opening of Parliament (1524). To the left of Henry VIII are Archbishops Warham and Wolsey. Bishops on the left face lords on the right. The Commons stand at the bottom with the tallest in the centre probably being their Speaker, Thomas More.

Does this document make Henry VIII the most powerful ruler England's ever had? As despotic as any 20th century dictator? This 1539 Statute of Proclamations (7th from top)allowed him to bypass Parliament. Surely, no other ruler had such control over political, religious and now legal affairs.

The coat of arms that cost Henry Howard his life and imprisoned his powerful father, the Duke of Norfolk. A great poet but not the wisest of people, Henry quartered Edward the Confessor's arms (middle left)onto his own. As a descendant he could do this but a hypersensitive Henry VIII took offence.

This miniature of Jane Pemberton by Hans Holbein in 1540 is considered by many to be the greatest portrait of all time. It only has a diameter of 5.3cm. What do you think?