On this day in Tudor history, 7th June 1594, Elizabeth I’s physician, Roderigo Lopez (Lopes), was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn after being accused by the Earl of Essex of conspiring with Spanish officials to poison the queen.

Portuguese Lopez settled in London in 1559. He was a physician at St Bart’s and then to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, before moving into Elizabeth’s employ.

In 1584, a Catholic tract attacking Leicester accused Lopez of poisoning, but it wasn’t true. However, he made an enemy of Essex after he told Spanish officials details of Essex’s health.

The charges against Lopez appear to be false. He maintained his innocence, and the queen seemed unsure of his guilt. It didn’t save him, though.

On this day in Tudor history, 6th June 1597, Tudor musician William Hunnis died.

Hunnis died a natural death, although he had been involved in a plot against the Crown in Mary I’s reign.

Here are some facts about William Hunnis:

On this day in Tudor history, 3rd June 1594, John Aylmer, Bishop of London, died at Fulham Palace. He was buried at St Paul’s Cathedral.

I could tell you about his career as bishop, but I thought I’d share a story about him with you.

On this day in Tudor history, 30th May 1593, the Elizabethan playwright and poet, Christopher Marlowe, was fatally stabbed in a house in Deptford Strand, London.

The coroner ruled that Ingram Frizer, who had stabbed Marlowe, had acted “in the defence and saving of his own life”.

On this day in history, 26th May 1621, Barbara Sidney, Countess of Leicester, first wife of poet Robert Sidney, Earl of Leicester, was buried at Penshurst.

Barbara was born in around 1559 and was the daughter of John Gamage of Coety Manor, Glamorgan,and his wife Gwenllian. After her father’s death in 1584, William Cecil, Lord Burghley, as master of the wards, her uncles Sir Walter Ralegh and Lord Howard of Effingham, and her guardian Sir Edward Stradling all got involved in trying to arrange a marriage match for her. She married Robert Sidney, son of Sir Henry Sidney, Lord President of the Council, and brother of the famous Elizabethan poet Sir Philip Sidney. Robert was also a gifted poet.

On this day in history, 24th May 1612, courtier and statesman, Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, died at Marlborough in Wiltshire. He had been diagnosed with two large tumours in August 1611 and was on his way home from taking the waters at Bath when he died.

Robert Cecil served Queen Elizabeth I as Secretary of State from 1596 and was retained in that office by James I. He also served James as Lord High Treasurer from 1608. He was still serving in both those offices at his death.