Tudor was the surname of an English dynasty founded by a Welsh nobleman who in 1423 had married Catherine, widow of Henry V. He was the father of Edmund, Earl of Richmond, and Jasper, Earl of Pembroke. Supporting the house of Lancaster he was captured at Mortimer's Cross and beheaded in 1461. Edmund married Margaret, heiress of John Beaufort, and their son, Henry VII, who reigned from 1485 to 1509, founded his claims to the throne on his descent from John of Gaunt. The other Tudor sovereigns were Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary and Elizabeth I. Research Tudor
Jasper Carrott is an English comedian, actor, writer, singer, television director and producer. He was born in 1945 at Birmingham. Jasper Carrott first came to widespread public notice following the release of his hit single 'Funky Moped' in 1975, which sold widely - reaching number 5 in the British singles charts - on the strength of the B-side which contained a comedysketch based upon the children's television show 'Magic Roundabout'. Jasper Carrott afterwards appeared in his own stand-up comedy performances on television and later starred along-side various famous straight actors in the 1990's comedy series 'The Detectives' Research Jasper Carrott
The buckle of Isis was an ancient Egyptian amulet representing the buckle of Isis and affording eternal protection to the wearer. It was traditionally made from carnelian, red jasper, red glass or another red substance (representing the blood of Isis), and sometimes of gold. Research Buckle Of Isis
In September, 1779, during the American War of Independence, the French under Estaing and the Americans under Lincoln undertook the siege of Savannah. The plan was to make two real and two feigned attacks before dawn. The plan miscarried. An unavailing assault was made, in which SergeantJasper distinguished himself by rescuing his colours, though twice mortally wounded. After an obstinate struggle of fifty-five minutes the assailants were driven back. The British loss was trifling. The French and Americans lost about 800 men. Estaing sailed away and Georgia was left in the undisputed possession of the British. Research Siege of Savannah
Agate is a semi-precious stone siliceous semi-pellucid compound mineral, consisting of bands or layers of various colours blended together, the base generally being chalcedony, and this mixed with variable proportions of jasper, amethyst, quartz, opal, heliotrope, and carnelian. The varying manner in which these materials are arranged causes the agate when polished to assume some characteristic appearances, and thus certain varieties are distinguished, as the ribbon agate, the fortification agate, the zone agate, the star agate, the moss agate, the clouded agate, etc. In Scotland they are cut and polished under the name of Scottish pebbles. Research Agate
Basanite (Lydian stone, touchstone or black jasper) is a smooth, black siliceous mineral. It is employed to test the purity of gold, the amount of alloy being indicated by the colour left on the stone when rubbed by the metal. Research Basanite
Jasper is an opaque, cryptocrystalline variety of quartz that takes a high polish and is used as a gemstone. It is usually stained by impurities and occurs in various colours, such as red, green, yellow, and blue. When the colours are arranged in bands, the mineral is called riband jasper; a variety containing alternating bands of red and green is known as Siberian jasper. Mottled yellow or brown varieties of jasper are called Egyptian jasper. Agate jasper is intermediate in structure between true jasper and chalcedony . Inclusions of red jasper occur in heliotrope. The jasper mentioned in the Bible as one of the stones in the breastplate of the high priest and as the foundation of the wall of the New Jerusalem is believed to have been a dark green, opalescent stone. The jasper of the ancients was a partially translucent stone, probably containing some chalcedony and a variety of the latter known as chrysoprase. Research Jasper
Abbreviations
Research Tudor
