2 February – The death of Sir Francis Bryan, the Vicar of Hell, and the Feast of Candlemas

On this day in Tudor history, 2nd February 1550, Sir Francis Bryan, died suddenly in Ireland. He was a rather colourful Tudor character, known as much for his drinking, gambling and all-round bad behaviour, as his diplomacy, royal favour and gift for poetry.

Find out more about this one-eyed courtier and his nickname, "the vicar of hell" in this talk...

Also on this day, I talk about the Feast of Candlemas (the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin), the end of the Christmas season.

Find out more about that feast day and how it was celebrated in Tudor times in this video...