To mark the birth of King Edward VI on this day in history, 12th October 1537, I thought I’d share these resources with you…
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Edward VI resources
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Expert answer – Are there documentaries or movies depicting real people doing real things?
Thank you to Joan Saxton for this excellent question.
Joan asked:
“I am looking for documentaries or movies of the Tudor Period that authentically depict those times — real people doing real things, smells, all the nitty-gritty.
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12 October – The birth of a king and an assassination
On this day in Tudor history, 12th October 1555, Lewis Owen, member of Parliament and administrator in Wales, was assassinated on Dugoed Mawddwy, a mountain pass.
Owen was murdered by a group of bandits as revenge for his campaign against them, which had led to around 80 hangings.
Find out more about Lewis Owen, his life and what happened…
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Do you have a medieval or Tudor ghost story to share?
Do you have a good medieval or Tudor ghost story?
Halloween is on the way and I want to do a special spooky Halloween ghost story video featuring your stories.
If you have had a spooky experience or know a good historical ghost story (a Tudor ghost story would be brilliant) or local legend, please share by videoing yourself or emailing the story. Medieval or Tudor ones would be best, or ones linked to those types of historical buildings.
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11 October Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn set sail, and the people pray for Jane Seymour
On this day in Tudor history, 11th October 1532, King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, the newly created Marquess of Pembroke, set sail from Dover aboard the king’s ship, The Swallow.
They were off to Calais on a mission involving the Great Matter, Henry VIII’s quest for an annulment. But why? What would they do there? Who would they meet?
Find out more about this trip, what happened and what happened next…
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10 October – The burial of Robert Dudley and Elizabeth I catches smallpox
On this day in Tudor history, 10th October 1588, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, was buried in the Beauchamp Chapel of the Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick, according to his instructions.
His funeral was well-attended and his widow, Lettice, a woman known by Elizabeth I as “the she-wolf”, erected a monument to “her best and dearest husband” in the chapel, which was also the resting place of the couple’s young son, Robert, “the noble impe”.
Find out more about Leicester’s funeral and resting place, and see some photos of his tomb…
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Tudor Monarchs, Consorts, Mistresses and Favourites Word Search
This Sunday, we’re testing your knowledge of Tudor monarchs, consorts, mistresses and favourites with a fun word search puzzle.
Note: the words can go in any direction!
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9 October – Miguel de Cervantes and the wedding of Mary Tudor, Queen of France
On this day in Tudor history, 9th October 1547, Miguel de Cervantes, author of the famous classic “Don Quixote”, a book known as “the first modern novel”, was baptised in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. His actual birthdate is unknown.
Now, this event didn’t happen in Tudor England, but it did happen in the Tudor period, and Cervantes is known the world over. Let me share with you some facts about this man, his rather interesting life, which including being held to ransom by pirates, and his works…
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8 October – Henry VIII puts pressure on his daughter and the birth of Lady Margaret Douglas
On this day in Tudor history, 8th October 1536, while the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion was getting underway in Lincolnshire and spreading to Yorkshire, Henry VIII wasn’t only issuing orders regarding the rebels, he was also issuing orders regarding his eldest daughter.
Henry and Mary had recently reconciled after Mary had finally submitted to him and recognised his supremacy and her illegitimate status. It was something that cost Mary dearly, but it did mend her relationship with her father and allow her back at court.
But then Henry VIII put more pressure on his daughter by forcing her to write to the pope and to Mary of Hungary, the emperor’s sister.
What did Mary have to write? What did the king want of his daughter? And why had Mary submitted to her father?
Find out all about this…
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Katherine the Queen – Sudeley Castle – Lil’s Book Reviews
Today’s Friday video is a stunning look at Sudeley Castle from Lil, along with her wonderful review of Katherine the Queen by Linda Porter. Lil even reads a few perfect extracts for us from the beautiful grounds of Sudeley.
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Informal Live Chat tomorrow – 8th October
Just a reminder that October’s informal live chat will be taking place tomorrow, Friday 8th October. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know other Tudor Society members and to just talk Tudor. An hour of Tudor bliss!
The chatroom can be found at https://www.tudorsociety.com/chatroom/ and the chat will last about an hour.
Here are the times in different time zones. If your time zone isn’t listed you can use https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html to convert the London time to your zone.
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7 October – A poet hired to woo Elizabeth I and there’s bad news for Henry VIII
On this day in Tudor history, 7th October 1529, Pope Clement VII wrote to King Henry VIII regarding his quest for an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
It wasn’t good news. Catherine of Aragon had won this battle, with the pope deciding that the marriage was valid, but she hadn’t won the war. Henry VIII did get the marriage annulled in the end, but the pope didn’t do it.
But what was going on? Why wouldn’t the pope help? What was Henry VIII’s argument for an annulment and on what grounds did Catherine appeal?
Find out more…
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6 October – A sweating sickness expert and the execution of William Tyndale
On this day in Tudor history, 6th October 1510, John Caius was born at Norwich.
Caius was a theological scholar, founder of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, royal physician (to Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I) and author of a book on sweating sickness.
In this video, I give an overview of John Caius’ life and career, as well as sharing some of what he wrote on sweating sickness, that mystery Tudor illness.
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Facebook Live – Tudor Books – Claire Ridgway
On 10 September Claire Ridgway was in the Members Only Facebook Group answering questions on the best Tudor books for a wide range of topics, people and places. Here’s the video for those who were not able to attend.
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5 October – Edward Seymour unravels and two-year-old Princess Mary becomes betrothed
On this day in Tudor history, 5th October 1549, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector, ordered a gathering of men at Hampton Court Palace, where he was lodged with the young King Edward VI, due to tensions mounting between Somerset and John Dudley, Earl of Warwick.
What was going on and what happened when 4,000 peasants turned up? How did John Dudley react and what did King Edward VI have to say about it all?
Find out what happened, and how this led to Somerset’s undoing…
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4 October – A rebel and a rebellion
On this day in Tudor history, 4th October 1507, Sir Francis Bigod, was born at Seaton, in Hinderwell, Yorkshire.
Bigod led an uprising in Yorkshire in January 1537, Bigod’s Rebellion, after the rebels of the Pilgrimage of Grace had been dispersed. But who was Bigod? Why would an evangelical reformer become involved with the Pilgrimage of Grace? What was his rebellion about and what happened to him?
Find out more about Sir Francis Bigod and Bigod’s Rebellion…
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3 October – Jane Seymour’s coronation postponement and Wolsey sings a mass
On this day in Tudor history, 3rd October 1536, imperial ambassador Eustace Chapuys wrote to Emperor Charles V informing him that Jane Seymour’s coronation was being postponed.
Several dates for Henry VIII’s third wife’s coronation are mentioned in the contemporary sources, but they all passed by without the coronation taking place, and building work on Westminster Palace in preparation for the coronation came to a halt.
Why wasn’t Jane Seymour crowned when her predecessor, Anne Boleyn, had been given a lavish coronation?
Find out more about what happened in 1536 and 1537…
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Elizabeth of York Crossword Puzzle
How much do you know about the first queen consort of the House of Tudor, Henry VII’s wife, Elizabeth of York?
Test your knowledge on this Tudor queen with this Sunday’s fun crossword puzzle.
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2 October – Princess Mary Tudor sets sail for France and a book that helped change English history
On this day in Tudor history, 2nd October 1514, eighteen-year-old Mary Tudor, sister of King Henry VIII, set off from Dover to sail to France to marry fifty-two-year-old King Louis XII of France.
Things hadn’t gone to plan with the scheduled sailing, due to bad weather, and Mary encountered rough seas on her journey too.
Find out about the arrangements for the journey, who was at Dover, Mary’s crossing to Boulogne, and what happened next…
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1 October – Mary I is crowned and a bishop who taught one of the Princes in the Tower
On this day in Tudor history, 1st October 1500, John Alcock, Bishop of Ely, died at Wisbech Castle.
Alcock wasn’t just a bishop, he was a scholar, a royal tutor, and an administrator. He served as tutor to King Edward IV’s son, Prince Edward, the future King Edward V and a boy who is known for being one of the ill-fated Princes in the Tower. He also christened another prince.
Find out more about this Tudor bishop and royal servant…
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Expert Talk – Elizabeth of York & the 1502 Progress – Natalie Grueninger
October’s expert is the wonderful Natalie Grueninger telling us all about the 1502 royal progress and about Elizabeth of York’s role in it all.
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Gold and Glory – Henry VIII and the French King – Catherine Brooks
This week we have an exclusive report from Catherine Brooks on the Hampton Court Palace exhibition all about the Field of Cloth of Gold.
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