July 22 – A playwright, and a royal councillor

On this day in Tudor history, 22nd July 1576, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, playwright and pamphleteer, Edward Sharpham, was baptised at Colehanger, East Allington, in Devon. Sharpham is thought to have written the plays “The Fleire” and “Cupid's Whirligig”, and fellow playwright Ben Jonson referred to him as a rogue.

Find out more about this lesser-known Tudor man and his comedy Cupid's Whirligig...

Cupid’s Whirligig - https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=k15iAAAAcAAJ&pg=PT6&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q&f=false

And on this day in 1437 or 38, soldier and royal councillor John Scrope, 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton, was born.

Find out more about Scrope and his service to the Yorkists, and later imprisonment...

Also on this day in Tudor history, 22nd July 1536, Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy, died at St James’ Palace. It was a huge blow for the king.

You can find out about Fitzroy’s illness, death and burial, and what a favourite he was with his father, in this video...