7 August – Sir Robert Dudley, Dudley’s illegitimate son

On this day in Tudor history, 7th August 1574, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester's illegitimate son, Sir Robert Dudley, was born at Sheen.

Find out more about Sir Robert Dudley, who grew up to be a mariner, cartographer and landowner, in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts...

Find out more about his mother, Douglas Sheffield, who claimed to be Dudley’s legal wife, in this video:

On this day in Tudor history, 7th August 1548, five-year-old Mary, Queen of Scots set sail from Dumbarton in Scotland bound for France.

A marriage had been agreed between Mary and Francis, the Dauphin, so Mary was going to be brought up at the French court. Mary travelled with her maids of honour, the Four Marys, or the Queen's Maries: Mary Fleming, Mary Beaton, Mary Seton and Mary Livingston.

Find out more...

Also on this day in history, 7th August 1485, Henry Tudor, the soon-to-be King Henry VII, returned from exile, landing at Mill Bay in Wales. His intention was, of course, to claim the throne of England and to depose King Richard III.

Find out more about his landing and what he did next...