On this day in Tudor history, 19th September 1560, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Thomas Cavendish was baptised at St Martin’s Church, Trimley St Martin in Suffolk.

Explorer, navigator and privateer Thomas Cavendish is known for his imitation of Sir Francis Drake’s circumnavigation of the globe, which he undertook in 1586. He is also known for being the first Englishman to explore the island of St Helena, in the mid-Atlantic. Unfortunately, Cavendish also had a reputation as a spendthrift, and his final voyage was a failure.

On this day in Tudor history, 18th September 1556, in the reign of Queen Mary I, Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon, died at Padua in Italy.

Courtenay, who died from a fever, had been sent to the Continent after being implicated in Wyatt’s Rebellion. The 1554 rebellion sought to replace Queen Mary I with her half-sister, Elizabeth, who would marry Courtenay.

Let me tell you more about Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon, and how he was a prospective bridegroom for both of Henry VIII’s daughters…

On this day in Tudor history, 17th September 1563, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland, died.

The courtier and soldier died during an outbreak of the plague, which was rife in London that year and killed about 24% of London’s citizens.

Manners had served King Henry VIII, King Edward VI, Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I, so had a long and interesting career, which also saw him imprisoned at one point.

On this day in Tudor history, 15th September 1589, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, a battle was fought at Arques in France.

The Battle of Arques was part of the final war of the French Wars of Religion, a series of conflicts in France from 1562-1598 between Catholics and Huguenots. It was a battle between the troops of the new French king, Henry IV, and the troops of the Catholic League led by Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne.

The battle wasn’t looking good for Henry IV, but then everything changed when troops sent by Elizabeth I arrived on the scene.

Find out more about what led to this battle, what happened at the battle, and what happened next…

On this day in Tudor history, 14th September 1540, Sir William Kingston died at his home in Painswick in Gloucestershire.

Sir William Kingston was a Knight of the Garter and comptroller of the king’s household during Henry VIII’s reign. He was also Constable of the Tower of London while Queen Anne Boleyn was imprisoned there in May 1536. His daily letters from the Tower to Thomas Cromwell in May 1536 are a wonderful resource for historians.

Kingston had an impressive career serving Henry VIII and was rewarded for his loyal service.

On this day in Tudor history, 12th September 1573, Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll, died suddenly at Barbreck.

Argyll was a Protestant reformer, and leading politician in the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, and he’d got married just six weeks earlier.

On the night he died, he showed no signs of illness before retiring to bed, so his death was very sudden.

Argyll was the third most important noble in Scotland, the most important highland chief, and a founder of the Lords of the Congregation. He went from opposing Mary, Queen of Scots, to leading her troops in battle.

On this day in Tudor history, Saturday 10th September 1547, the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh took place in Edward VI’s reign.

The battle, also known as the Battle of Pinkie, took place near Musselburgh, in Scotland, on the banks of the River Esk. Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, led the English forces and defeated the Scots, killing between 6,000 and 15,000 of them.

It was a bloody battle, but it had started off well for the Scots.

What happened?

Let me share an eye-witness account of how the battle changed so dramatically…

On this day in history, 6th September 1615, in the reign of King James I, Timothy Bright, was buried at St Mary’s Church, Shrewsbury.

Bright was a Tudor physician and clergyman, and also invented modern shorthand

Bright is known for works published in Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, including his 1588 “Characterie: an Arte of Shorte, Swifte, and Secrete Writing by Character” in which he explains his invention, a system of straight lines, circles and half circles as shorthand. Bright’s work has, of course, helped people the world over.

On this day in Tudor history, 5th September 1569, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Edmund Bonner, Bishop of London, died in Marshalsea Prison.

Bonner had started his career in Henry VIII’s reign and was not just a churchman, he was also a diplomat. He’d been nicknamed “Bloody Bonner” in Mary I’s reign from being in charge of burning reformers in London.

Find out about his life, career and how he ended up dying in prison…

On this day in Tudor history, 2nd September 1591, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Sir Richard Grenville died at sea.

Grenville was a naval commander and explorer and he died from injuries sustained while commanding his ship, The Revenge, in the Battle of Flores in the Azores.

Unfortunately, Grenville’s death was a result of him disobeying orders and doing his own thing.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson, wrote about the battle and the loss of The Revenge in his “The Revenge: A Ballad of the Fleet”.

On this day in Tudor history, 1st September 1566, actor Edward Alleyn was born in the parish of St Botolph without Bishopsgate, London. He was baptised the following day.

Let me share some facts about Edward Alleyn, including his personal life, the plays he was involved in, his theatre investments, and his desire to be appointed master of the bears, bulls and mastiff dogs…

Today, 29th August, is the Feast of the beheading of St John the Baptist.

In this video, I share the story behind this Tudor holy day, a story which is often depicted in illuminations in manuscripts and psalters.