Things seemed all peachy as King Henry VIII and his fifth wife, Queen Catherine Howard, set off on their progress to the north of England on this day in Tudor history, 30th June 1541. Little did the king know that he’d be stood up by his nephew and that his world would come crashing down on him on his return.
In today’s video, I explain the motives behind this huge undertaking, what happened on the progress, and why Henry’s life changed so dramatically when he got back.
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How much do you know about the prominent families of the Tudor period? Those men and women who served the Tudor monarchs.
Test yourself with this fun crossword puzzle. Good luck!
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July’s 66 Page FULL-COLOUR Tudor Life magazine is focused on Medicine and Health during the Tudor period but as always, our contributors have gone far wider than that with their articles. Enjoy!
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Today, 29th June, is the Feast of St Peter and St Paul, which commemorated the martyrdom of the two apostles.
In medieval and Tudor times, this feast day was the traditional time for the “rushbearing” ceremony. Parishioners would collect rushes, process to church with them, strew the church floor with these freshly-cut rushes, along with new mown hay and wildflowers, and have a special service of dedication.
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Today is the anniversary of the death of sixty-six-year-old Lady Margaret Beaufort on 29th June 1509, just four days after she enjoyed the coronation celebrations of her grandson King Henry VIII and his queen consort. Catherine of Aragon.
Margaret Beaufort was the matriarch of the Tudor dynasty and was an amazing woman, in many ways, yet she is surrounded by myth and it seems fashionable to see her as a religious zealot. But who was this influential Tudor lady? What did she do?
In today’s video, I flesh out Margaret Beaufort with a few facts about her and her life.
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Yes, on this day in Tudor history, 28th June 1491, King Henry VIII, second monarch of the Tudor dynasty, was born at Greenwich Palace.
This second son, the spare, of King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth of York ended up becoming King Henry VIII in April 1509 and although in many ways he could be seen as a monstrous tyrant, he did achieve much during his reign.
In today’s video, I give an overview of this man, his life and his reign.
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This month, Philippa Brewell, our roving reporter, went to visit Baddesley Clinton in Warwickshire. This is a site with history going back to the Norman conquest, but it is of particular interest to Tudor fans because it has priest holes… enjoy this report!
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On this day in Tudor history, 27th June 1497, Thomas Flamank and Michael Joseph (known as Michael an Gof, or Michael the blacksmith), two of the chief commanders of the Cornish rebels, were hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn.
The Cornish Rebellion of 1497 had been brought to an end on 17th June, when Henry VII’s forces defeated the rebels at the Battle of Blackheath, which is also known as the Battle of Deptford Bridge.
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On this day in Tudor history, 27th June 1505, thirteen-year-old Henry, Prince of Wales, only surviving son of King Henry VII, broke up with nineteen-year-old Catherine of Aragon, daughter of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, by repudiating their two-year betrothal.
It was the eve of their wedding, so why would Henry do this to Catherine?
Let me explain exactly what happened on this day in 1505 and how the couple ended up getting married four years later.
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On this day in Tudor history, 26th June 1535, in the reign of King Henry VIII, a new commission of oyer and terminer was appointed in the case against Sir Thomas More, Henry VIII’s former Lord Chancellor and good friend. More was being indicted for high treason, and, of course, would eventually be executed.
How had this Tudor statesman come to this?
In today’s video, I explain why More was accused of high treason.
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On this day in Tudor history, 25th June 1533, Mary Tudor, former Queen of France, wife of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and sister of King Henry VIII, died at her home in Suffolk. She was just thirty-seven years old.
In today’s video, I talk about Mary’s ill-health, her death and funeral.
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Today, 24th June, is the Feast of St John the Baptist, a day that is marked by many Catholic countries around the world and a feast that was an important celebration in the medieval and Tudor periods, with it coinciding with Midsummer.
Fairies, fires, dancing, feasting and drinking were all part of the celebrations, and still are today.
In the following video, I talk about how Tudors celebrated this special day and also how my village and neighbouring village celebrate it. It’s a wonderful fiesta.
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On this day in Tudor history, 24th June 1509, Midsummer’s Day and the Feast of St John the Baptist, seventeen-year-old King Henry VIII and his queen consort, Catherine of Aragon, were crowned king and queen at a joint coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
In today’s “on this day in Tudor history” video, I draw on contemporary sources to tell us more about what happened that day.
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On this day in Tudor history, 23rd June 1509, the new King and Queen of England processed through the streets of London dressed in their finery.
This procession was their coronation procession and it was a lavish spectacles. In today’s video, I share contemporary descriptions of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon’s appearance and outfits, the procession and the streets of London. It must have been wonderful to see!
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No, I’m not talking about Henry VIII’s love-life!
As you will know from my “on this day in Tudor history” videos and posts, there are many, many momentous Tudor dates. The Tudor period was packed full of important Tudor events. So, for this week’s Sunday quiz, I decided to test you on just a few of them. I hope you have a head for dates!
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On this day in Tudor history, 22nd June 1528, Mary Boleyn, sister of Anne Boleyn, was widowed when her first husband, William Carey, died during the Sweating Sickness epidemic of 1528.
His death had a major impact on Mary’s situation, and I explain more in today’s video.
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On this day in Tudor history, 21st June 1529, Queen Catherine of Aragon, first wife of King Henry VIII, stole the show with an incredible speech at the Legatine Court at Blackfriars, a court that was hearing the case for the annulment of her marriage to the king.
The speech was given while she knelt at her husband’s feet and she appealed directly to him. It’s an incredible speech and I share it with you in today’s video.
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In today’s Claire Chats video talk, I’m sharing hints and tips for starting your family tree and also asking for Tudor Society members to share their hints and tips, and also what you have found during your research into your family tree.
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On this day in Tudor history, 20th June 1567, a silver casket of eight letters, which have become known as the Casket Letters, were allegedly found in the possession of James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, the third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots.
These letters were instrumental in bringing down Mary, Queen of Scots, so in today’s video, I tell you a bit more about these letters and why they were “dynamite” for Elizabeth I’s advisors.
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On this day in Tudor history, 19th June 1535, Sebastian Newdigate, William Exmew and Humphrey Middlemore, monks of the Carthusian Order of London Charterhouse, were hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn.
Their crime: refusing to accept King Henry VIII as supreme head of the Church in England.
But did you know that Sebastian Newdigate was actually a close friend of Henry VIII? Well, friendship and loyal service didn’t seem to matter if you were viewed as being at all defiant or disobedient.
In today’s video, I give you a few more details about Sebastian Newdigate and how he came to be executed in 1535.
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On this day in Tudor history, 18th June 1546, twenty-five-year-old Anne Askew was found guilty of heresy at London’s Guildhall along with Nicholas Shaxton (former Bishop of Salisbury), Nicholas White and John Hadlam.
Anne Askew has gone down in history as a Protestant martyr, after having been burned at the stake in July 1546, but also as a woman who was illegally put to the rack at the Tower of London by two of Henry VIII’s trusted men.
In today’s video, I use contemporary sources and Anne Askew’s own accounts, to piece together what happened that June and July, and what led to Anne Askew’s execution.
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Thank you to Lynne for asking about Catherine Cromwell. Lynne’s full question is “I was watching the actor Danny Dyer trace his family history on T.V. Apparently his family tree was traced to William the Conqueror and stopped at the Tudors which Catherine Cromwell was mentioned. She
seemed a powerful woman but I’ve never really heard of her. So my long-winded question is who was this Lady and how powerful was she in the
Tudor times?”
Now, there are several Catherine (or Katherine) Cromwells, one being the sister of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex and Henry VIII’s right-hand man, who married Morgan Williams and who is an ancestor of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector, but the Catherine that was mentioned in the TV programme on Danny Dyer’s ancestry was actually the great-granddaughter of Thomas Cromwell. Let me show you how she is linked to the Thomas Cromwell we all know and love (or hate!).
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On this day in Tudor history, 17th June 1497, the forces of King Henry VII were triumphant against those of the Cornish rebels at the Battle of Blackheath, or the Battle of Deptford Bridge.
Why were the Cornishmen so unhappy with the king? How did they end up in battle at Blackheath? What happened at the battle and what happened to these Cornish rebels afterwards?
Find out in today’s video…
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On this day in Tudor history, 16th June 1487, the final battle of the Wars of the Roses took place when the forces of Henry VII met the Yorkist forces of Lord Lovell and John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln, who had recently crowned Lambert Simnel as King Edward VI.
Who won that day? What happened? And what happened to the boy, Lambert Simnel?
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The Tudor monarchs received the very best education possible from some renowned scholars and committed teachers, but how much do you know about Tudor royal tutors?
Test your knowledge with today’s fun puzzle, a wordsearch. Do remember that the words can go in any direction.
Good luck!
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On this day in Tudor history, 15th June 1536, Mary, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, was bullied and threatened by members of her father’s council.
It must have been a truly shocking event for the twenty-year-old princess, who was now known as “Lady Mary”.
In today’s video, I give a contemporary account of what happened on this day and why, and explain how Mary did end up reconciling with her father the king.
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Just a reminder that we have a live chat taking place tomorrow, 15th June. This is June’s informal live chat and the topic is”Tudor Queens”. It will take place in the Tudor Society chatroom at https://www.tudorsociety.com/chatroom/.
The idea for these informal chats is for members to jump in and share their views, pose questions for other members, share book/TV recommendations etc. and to just enjoy talking Tudor.
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Not many men who are implicated in rebellions manage to keep their head, but Sir Christopher Danby died a natural death on this day in Tudor history, 14th June 1571.
Who was Danby? What was he involved in? And how did he survive?
Let me tell you a bit more about this Tudor man in today’s video.
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This week, Claire needs your help and feedback, so please do watch the brief video and leave a comment below sharing your opinion and ideas. It would also be helpful if you could answer the poll. Thank you so much!
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On this day in Tudor history, 13th June 1587, William Knell, an actor in “The Queen’s Men” company of players, got into a fight with a fellow actor in Thame, Oxfordshire.
In today’s video, I flesh out this Tudor man a bit more and tell of his sad and rather violent end. I also about a story concerning this man and the famous Elizabethan actor and playwright, William Shakespeare.
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