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The Tragic Tale of Lady Katherine Grey

1 hour ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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On this day in Tudor history, 21st February 1568, Lady Katherine Grey, Countess of Hertford, was laid to rest at Yoxford. But her story doesn’t end there. Years later, her grandson reinterred her remains in the Seymour family tomb at Salisbury Cathedral.

Katherine Grey’s life may have been short—she was only around twenty-seven when she died—but it was filled with political intrigue, imprisonment, and heartbreak. She was a granddaughter of Mary Tudor, Queen of France, and Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, making her a first cousin once removed to Queen Elizabeth I. More significantly, she was the younger sister of Lady Jane Grey, the so-called ‘Nine Days’ Queen.’ And like Jane, Katherine’s royal blood made her both a pawn and a threat in Tudor politics.
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Anne Herbert (née Parr), Countess of Pembroke and a Queen’s sister

1 hour ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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She served five of Henry VIII’s queens, witnessed scandal, betrayal, and power shifts, and became the closest confidante of the last Tudor queen consort—yet history has largely forgotten her.

She was Anne Herbert (née Parr), Countess of Pembroke, the younger sister of Catherine Parr.

Anne played a key role in Tudor court life, navigating its dangers with intelligence and grace. She stood beside queens who lost their heads, carried out high-stakes royal duties, and even found herself entrusted with the doomed Catherine Howard’s jewels.

But who was Anne Herbert beyond her royal connections? What was her true role at court? And how did she manage to stay in favour through so many royal changes?
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Lady Margaret Douglas, a Royal Rebel

1 day ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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On this day in Tudor history, 19th February 1567, while imprisoned in the Tower of London, Lady Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox, received devastating news – her son, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, King of Scotland, had been brutally murdered at Kirk o’ Field in Edinburgh.

But this wasn’t just the loss of a son, it was the destruction of her dynastic ambitions, the shattering of her hopes for the future, and yet another chapter of heartbreak in Margaret’s turbulent life.

So, who was Margaret Douglas, why was she in the Tower, and what did this moment mean for her—and for the tangled web of Tudor and Stuart politics?

Margaret Douglas was no ordinary noblewoman, she was a granddaughter of Henry VII, and the daughter of Margaret Tudor (Henry VIII’s sister) and her second husband, Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus. This made her a first cousin to Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I, and a serious contender for the English throne in the eyes of many.
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Mary I and Elizabeth I – Similarities and Differences

3 days ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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On 18th February 1516, Mary I of England was born, a Tudor princess who would go on to become England’s first crowned queen regnant. To commemorate her birth, I want to explore the fascinating similarities and stark differences between Mary I and her half-sister, Elizabeth I.

Both were daughters of Henry VIII, both were queens in their own right, and both faced incredible challenges. But while Mary’s reign lasted just five years, Elizabeth ruled for over 44 years, shaping what is often seen as England’s Golden Age.

So, what did these two queens have in common? And where did they differ?
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Mary, Queen of Scots falls for Lord Darnley’s charms

3 days ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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On 17th February 1565, Mary, Queen of Scots met Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley at Wemyss Castle in Scotland, and fell in love.

It seemed like a fairy tale. Darnley was young, tall, handsome, and charming. He was of royal blood, with claims to both the Scottish and English thrones. He was the son of Lady Margaret Douglas—Mary’s own cousin—and Matthew Stuart, Earl of Lennox, whose family had spent years in exile after being declared traitors. The House of Lennox had once supported Henry VIII’s attempts to control Scotland, and by the 1560s, they were eager to regain their influence.

But for Mary, Darnley appeared to be the perfect husband – a man who could help her strengthen her claim to the English throne, provide her with heirs, and reinforce her position in Scotland. Plus she’d rather fallen under his spell – he was quite the charmer.

Yet, this love match was one of the worst decisions she ever made – a decision that set her on a course toward scandal, betrayal, and ultimately, her downfall.
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Love, Scandal & Romance in Tudor Times – A Valentine’s Day Special

1 week ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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Valentine’s Day is all about love, and what better way to celebrate than by diving into some fascinating Tudor romance? Whether it was passionate devotion, scandalous affairs, or tragic endings, love in the Tudor era was rarely simple.

In my Teasel’s Tudor Trivia, I explore how Valentine’s Day was celebrated in Tudor England – from medieval love letters to a ‘Secret Santa’ style tradition!

And in my special Tudor Love Stories video, I take a look at some of history’s most captivating couples – from Mary Boleyn’s scandalous secret marriage to Elizabeth I’s forbidden love for Robert Dudley.
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The Executions of Queen Catherine Howard and Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford

1 week ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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On this day in Tudor history, 13th February 1542, Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII, and Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, were executed at the Tower of London.

Their crime?

Treason against the king – but was Catherine guilty of more than youthful indiscretion? And why was Jane condemned alongside her?

The story of Catherine Howard is one of ambition, betrayal, and a tragic downfall. A young queen who once captured the heart of Henry VIII, she would ultimately face the same fate as her infamous cousin, Anne Boleyn. But Catherine’s downfall wasn’t just about her past—her secret meetings with Thomas Culpeper proved to be her undoing.
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James Fenn – A solid alibi but still found guilty?

1 week ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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On this day in Tudor history, 12th February 1584, five Catholic priests, including James Fenn, were brutally executed at Tyburn. Their crime? Simply practising their faith in Elizabethan England.

James Fenn’s story is one of faith, resilience, and, ultimately, martyrdom. A man who had once been a scholar, a husband, and a father found himself condemned to a traitor’s death, despite his insistence that he was innocent of the charges against him. His final moments, including a heart-wrenching farewell to his little daughter, make this one of the most tragic yet compelling stories of the Elizabethan persecution of Catholics.

So, who was James Fenn, and how did he end up on the scaffold at Tyburn?
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Elizabeth of York, Queen of Hearts

1 week ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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On this day in Tudor history, 11th February 1466, Elizabeth of York was born at Westminster Palace.

She was the daughter of a king, the sister of the Princes in the Tower, the wife of Henry VII, the mother of Henry VIII, and the grandmother of Edward VI, Mary I, Elizabeth I and James V. Her bloodline shaped the future of England, but she’s often overshadowed by the powerful men and women she was related to.

But Elizabeth was no passive figure. She was a key part of dynastic politics, and her marriage helped end the Wars of the Roses. Today, I’m exploring her remarkable life, her role in uniting the warring houses of Lancaster and York, and why she truly deserves to be remembered as the Queen of Hearts.
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Henry Neville, 5th Earl of Westmorland, his magic ring and his murderous plotting

1 week ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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On this day in Tudor history, 10th February 1564, Henry Neville, 5th Earl of Westmorland, died—but not before leaving behind a legacy of scandal, treason, and… magic?

In 1536, at just 11 years old, Henry Neville, who was the eldest son of Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland, and Catherine Stafford, and the grandson of the executed Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was taken hostage during the Pilgrimage of Grace, a major Tudor rebellion. His captors used him as a bargaining chip to force his father’s compliance—quite the dramatic start to his life!

By 1546, Neville had racked up huge gambling debts and was desperate for a way out. So what did he do? He purchased a magical ring that supposedly summoned angels to help clear his debts! Spoiler alert: it didn’t work, and he landed in Fleet Prison.
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Mary, Queen of Scots, prepares to die

2 weeks ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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On this day in Tudor history, 7th February 1587, a fateful message arrived at Fotheringhay Castle – the execution warrant for Mary, Queen of Scots. After years of imprisonment and political intrigue, her fate was sealed. But how did Mary react when she was told she would die the next morning? What did she do in her final hours?

Today, we’re travelling back in time to Mary’s last evening on earth—her defiant words, her final prayers, and the preparations she made for her death. This is the story of a queen who faced the axe with courage and unwavering faith.

Mary, Queen of Scots, had been tried for treason in October 1586 after being implicated in the Babington Plot, a plot to depose Queen Elizabeth I and to replace her with Mary. She had been found guilty and sentenced to death, but Elizabeth would not sign the execution warrant, not wanting the responsibility of killing an anointed queen. However, Mary’s gaoler, Sir Amias Paulet, would not agree to quietly doing away with Mary, and after pressure from her council and petitions from Parliament, Elizabeth finally signed the warrant, although she later said she had asked for it not to be sent to Fotheringhay yet.
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The Royal Family’s connection to the Boleyns and Tudors, and beyond

2 weeks ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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Today marks the anniversary of the accession of the late Queen Elizabeth II on 6th February 1952. She was the longest reigning monarch in British history, ruling from this day in 1952 until her death in September 2022. As we reflect on her remarkable reign, I thought it would be fitting to explore an intriguing piece of history—the present royal family’s descent from both the Tudors and the Boleyns.

Yes, you heard that right! King Charles III has Tudor blood AND Boleyn blood.

But wait—how is that possible? The last Tudor monarch, Elizabeth I, died childless, and as we all know, she was Anne Boleyn’s only surviving child. So where does the royal family’s Tudor-Boleyn connection come from?

Let’s unravel this fascinating royal lineage…
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Sir Edward Stafford – A diplomat and suspected spy

2 weeks ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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On this day in history, 5th February 1605, Sir Edward Stafford, Elizabethan diplomat, MP, and suspected spy, died. His life was one of political manoeuvring, intrigue, and scandal—his story a fascinating mix of loyalty, ambition, and betrayal.

So, who was Edward Stafford, and why does his name carry the stain of espionage?

Born in 1552, Edward had impressive Tudor lineage. His mother, Dorothy Stafford, was the granddaughter of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham (executed by Henry VIII), and also the great-granddaughter of George, Duke of Clarence, who was allegedly drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine on the orders of his brother, Edward IV.
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A Royal Wedding – Anne of York and Thomas Howard

2 weeks ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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On 4th February 1495, Anne of York, daughter of Edward IV and sister of Queen Elizabeth of York, married Thomas Howard, the future 3rd Duke of Norfolk, at Westminster Abbey. But this was far more than just a romantic union—it was a strategic marriage with deep political significance.

It was an unlikely match. Anne was the sister-in-law of King Henry VII, and Thomas Howard’s father and grandfather had fought against Henry at the Battle of Bosworth Field just ten years earlier.

So why did Henry VII allow this marriage? And what did it mean for the future of the Howard family?
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Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, a victim of Henry VIII’s paranoia

2 weeks ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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What happens when ambition, power, and royal paranoia collide? Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, was one of the wealthiest and most influential men in Tudor England—a man with royal blood and a life of privilege. But his story ends with betrayal, scandal, and a rigged trial.

Was he a victim of Henry VIII’s fear of rivals, or was there truth to the charges against him?

Edward Stafford was born on this day in Tudor history, 3rd February 1478, at Brecon Castle, a member of the powerful Stafford family. His father, the 2nd Duke of Buckingham, had rebelled against Richard III and paid the ultimate price—execution in 1483. Young Edward’s life began in turmoil, but it seemed his fortunes would improve when Henry VII came to the throne in 1485.
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A Tudor Power Grab

3 weeks ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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Henry VIII, one of England’s most famous monarchs, died on 28th January 1547 at the age of 55. His death, however, was not announced to the public immediately.

Why?

Well, the delay allowed his closest advisors and executors to figure out their next steps and secure their positions in this sudden transition of power.

Henry’s death was formally announced three days later, on this day in Tudor history, 31st January 1547, by Thomas Wriothesley, his Lord Chancellor. Chronicler and Windsor Herald Charles Wriothesley recorded the momentous occasion, describing how the proclamation was made in Westminster Hall by Garter King of Arms and other heralds, declaring Edward VI as King of England, France, and Ireland, Supreme Head of the Church, and Defender of the Faith.
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The Other Traitors: What Happened to Guy Fawkes’ Fellow Conspirators?

3 weeks ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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England, November 1605. A daring plot is uncovered—a conspiracy to blow up the king, his court, and Parliament itself. It was a scheme so bold, so dangerous, that its failure sent shockwaves across the nation.

But the story doesn’t end with Guy Fawkes in the cellars of Parliament. On this day in history, 30th January 1606, four of his fellow conspirators met their gruesome fate at St Paul’s Churchyard in London, their executions serving as a chilling reminder of what happens to those who dare to betray the crown. Their names were Everard Digby, Robert Wintour, John Grant, and Thomas Bates, and their plot sought to strike at the very heart of England’s monarchy and government. But what led these men to such a grim fate? And why does the Gunpowder Plot still echo through history? Let’s uncover the story.
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Witchcraft, The Real History: An Event You Won’t Want to Miss!

3 weeks ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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Step Beyond the Myths: Discover the Truth About Witches

For centuries, the word witch has conjured up images of dark magic, superstition, and persecution. But the real history of witchcraft is far more complex—woven into the political, religious, and social fabric of the past.

From the Essex and Pendle Witches to the terrifying Salem Witch Trials, history is filled with tragic stories of people accused of the unthinkable.

But why were so many innocent people persecuted? What fuelled the mass hysteria and fear? And how do these dark chapters still influence the world today?
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A birth, death and accession

3 weeks ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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Today is a date packed with significance in Tudor history – it’s Henry VII’s birthday, the anniversary of the death of Henry VIII, and the anniversary of the accession of Edward VI.

Let’s take a closer look at how these three monumental events shaped the Tudor dynasty.

First, let’s go back to 28th January 1457, when Henry Tudor was born at Pembroke Castle in Wales.
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Bartholomew Green – A Protestant Martyr

3 weeks ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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On this day in 1556, Bartholomew Green, a Protestant lawyer, paid the ultimate price for his beliefs: death.

Burned at the stake at Smithfield alongside six others, Green’s story is one of unshakable faith, defiance, and courage in the face of persecution.
But how did this Oxford-educated lawyer end up on the wrong side of Queen Mary I’s laws? What role did secret communions, controversial letters, and his refusal to attend Catholic mass play in his downfall?

Bartholomew Green, or Bartlet Green as he’s sometimes known, was a gentleman and lawyer who found his faith while studying at Oxford. It was there, while listening to lectures by the Protestant theologian Peter Martyr, that Green, as martyrologist John Foxe describes, “saw the true light of God’s gospel.”
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Did Archbishop Thomas Cranmer keep a secret wife in a box?

3 weeks ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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Did Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, keep his secret wife in a ventilated chest?

Well, yes, according to his Catholic detractors!

But was there any truth in their claims, and where does the story come from?

In 1532, Thomas Cranmer, who wasn’t yet Archbishop of Canterbury, was serving King Henry VIII as the resident ambassador at the court of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. While he was with the emperor in Nuremberg, Cranmer met the city’s leading Lutheran preacher, Andreas Osiander, and the two became firm friends. Cranmer visited Osiander’s house often and at some point he met Osiander’s wife’s niece, Margarete, and that summer, despite the fact that he was an ordained priest, and was, therefore, supposed to remain celibate, Cranmer married her.
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The Treaty of Perpetual Peace

4 weeks ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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On this day in Tudor history, 24th January 1502, King Henry VII, the first Tudor monarch, ratified a peace treaty, the Treaty of Perpetual Peace, with King James IV of Scotland, at Richmond Palace in the presence of James’s representatives, Robert Blackadder, Archbishop of Glasgow, Patrick Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, and Andrew Forman, who all signed it.

This treaty was a landmark agreement between England and Scotland aimed at ending two centuries of conflict between the two nations. It was a diplomatic triumph for both monarchs, King Henry VII of England and King James IV of Scotland, and it marked a rare moment of peaceful relations in what was often a turbulent and violent history.
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Mary, Queen of Scots’ half-brother is assassinated

4 weeks ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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Did you know that the first assassination of a head of government by firearm happened in 16th-century Scotland?

On this day in history, 23rd January 1570, James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, regent for the young King James VI and half-brother to Mary, Queen of Scots, met his tragic end in a story of power, betrayal, and vengeance.

Moray, who was about 38 or 39 years of age at his death, was the second eldest of seven – yes, seven – illegitimate sons fathered by King James V of Scotland. The king had nine illegitimate children in all, all born to different mothers. Moray’s mother was Lady Margaret Erskine, daughter of John Erskine, 5th Lord Erskine, and wife of Sir Robert Douglas of Lochleven. His biographer, Mark Loughlin, notes that the king’s affection for the young Moray and his mother are shown clearly from the generous provision that was made for him, and that the king even consulted the pope regarding a divorce for Margaret so that he could marry her. Sadly for Moray, it didn’t happen. But he did become a powerful man.
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The Dramatic Rise and Fall of Edward Seymour

1 month ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector of England, was the most powerful man in the country during Edward VI’s reign. But how did the king’s uncle go from ruling in all but name to losing his head on Tower Hill on this day in 1552?

His is a story of ambition, betrayal, rebellion, and leadership gone wrong.

Let me tell you more…

Edward Seymour’s rise to power was nothing short of meteoric. As a trusted military commander, a staunch Protestant reformer, and, perhaps most importantly, the uncle of the young King Edward VI, he was perfectly positioned to influence the Tudor court. His closeness to Henry VIII in the king’s final years helped him secure his place among England’s most powerful men.
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Eustace Chapuys – diplomat, protector, and Mary I’s unsung hero

1 month ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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On this day in Tudor history, 21st January 1556, former imperial ambassador, Eustace Chapuys, died in Louvain (Leuven) in Belgium, the place he had retired to in 1549. He was laid to rest in the chapel of Louvain College, the college he had founded following his retirement.

Chapuys, who was born between 1490 and 1492 and was the second son of Louis Chapuys, a notary of Annecy, in the duchy of Savoy, joined the imperial service in 1527. Two years later, in September 1529, he arrived in England to act as advisor to the emperor’s aunt, Catherine of Aragon, in the negotiations regarding the annulment of her marriage to Henry VIII. He was her link to the emperor and to Rome. He became Catherine’s champion, preparing Catherine’s formal protest when Cranmer summoned her to his special court in 1533, a court that ruled her marriage to the king invalid, and in 1534 he acted for Catherine’s daughter, Mary, when he drew up her protest against the Act of Succession. He wasn’t only their staunch supporter and go-between, he became their friend, and I’d go as far as to say that he became a father figure to Mary.
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Mary I’s fifth and final Parliament

1 month ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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On this day in Tudor history, 20th January 1558, in the final year of Queen Mary I’s reign, there was the state opening of Mary’s fifth Parliament.
Now, by this point in her reign, Queen Mary I was a shadow of the woman who had once been hailed as the rightful queen of England, riding into London triumphantly in 1553 to take the throne back from Queen Jane, or Lady Jane Grey.

Mary’s reign had been difficult from the start, but by 1558, things were particularly bleak. England was embroiled in a war with France—a war that wasn’t even Mary’s to begin with. It was Philip of Spain’s war, and England had been dragged into it because of Mary’s marriage to him. Something that those opposed to the marriage had feared.

The war with France had been disastrous. In early January 1558, England lost Calais, its last foothold on the Continent. It was a humiliating and devastating blow as Calais had been held by England for over 200 years and was an important port for English wool exports. A bereft Mary reportedly said, “When I am dead and opened, you shall find ‘Philip’ and ‘Calais’ lying in my heart.”
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Green Groweth the Holly by Henry VIII

1 month ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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Henry VIII wasn’t just a king, he was also a composer. One of his beautiful creations, the carol “Green Groweth the Holly,” has sparked centuries of debate.

Was this lyrical masterpiece a heartfelt love song for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon? Or was it simply an exercise in courtly love and poetry?

In this post, I delve into the fascinating lyrics, the rich symbolism of holly and ivy, and the context in which it was written. Was it composed during the early days of their passionate romance? Or does its timing suggest it might not have been about Catherine at all?
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Sir Thomas More – The Tudor Court’s Most Loyal – and Doomed – Servant

1 month ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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Did you know that Sir Thomas More knew the risks of serving King Henry VIII, knew that it could cost him his head, and yet he chose to serve him anyway?

Thomas More wasn’t just a lawyer or a statesman. He was one of the most brilliant minds of his time—a humanist who believed in reason, faith, and justice. But he also had a sharp insight into human nature, particularly that of the king he served.
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Tudor Clockmaker Bartholomew Newsam – A Gifted Man

1 month ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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Today, I’m exploring the life of a remarkable yet forgotten craftsman.

On this day in Tudor history, 17th January 1587, Bartholomew Newsam died. He was buried in the church of St Mary-le-Strand, the parish in which he lived and worked. He was in his fifties at his death. His life spanned the reigns of five monarchs: Henry VIII, Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey, Mary I, and Elizabeth I—a time of immense change and innovation.

Newsam was more than just a craftsman—he was a trailblazer in English clockmaking, a skill that was incredibly specialised in Tudor times.
While most clocks were imported from Europe, Newsam stood out as one of the first English clockmakers to gain royal recognition.
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Sir Anthony Denny

1 month ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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Sir Anthony Denny was born on this day in Tudor history, the 16th January 1501, in the reign of King Henry VII, at Cheshunt in Hertfordshire. He was the second son of Sir Edmund Denny, Baron of the Exchequer to Henry VIII, and his wife, Mary Troutbeck.

Denny was educated at St Paul’s School, London, before moving on to St John’s College, Cambridge.

Following employment in the service of Sir Francis Bryan, a man known as the “Vicar of Hell”, By 1533, he’d secured a place in Henry VIII’s inner sanctum—the privy chamber—a realm reserved for the king’s most trusted men, and he was made a yeoman of the wardrobe in 1536. He rose to become keeper of the privy purse in 1542 and then in 1546, first chief gentleman of the privy chamber and groom of the stool. Groom of the Stool may sound like a disgusting job to us, as it involved helping the king with his toilet habits, but it also meant intimate access to the king and influence over royal decisions. In 1540, following the king’s doomed marriage to Anne of Cleves, Denny was one of those in whom the king confided his unhappiness in the marriage.
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