On this day in history, 4th July 1623, Elizabethan composer William Byrd died.
Find out about William Byrd, his association with Thomas Tallis, and his works, in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts:
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July 4 – A Tudor composer, and two men burnt at the stake
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July 3 – A Tudor pretender lands, and Mary I bids a final farewell to her husband, Philip of Spain
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Thomas Seymour Crossword Puzzle
As Thomas Seymour is a main character in the Starz series, “Becoming Elizabeth”, at the moment, I thought I’d test your knowledge of this Tudor man.
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July 2 – Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Old Scarlett the gravedigger
On this day in Tudor history, 2nd July 1489, Tudor clergyman, statesman, theologian, scholar and highly intelligent man Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, was born.
In this video, I share “13 things you probably didn’t know about Thomas Cranmer”…
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July 1 – Treaties arrange the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots and Prince Edward (Edward VI)
On this day in Tudor history, 1st July 1543, in the reign of King Henry VIII, the Treaties of Greenwich were signed between England and Scotland.
Among the terms of the treaties was the agreement of a marriage between five-year-old Prince Edward, the future Edward VI, and the infant Mary, Queen of Scots.
Scotland went on to reject the treaties and this led to a war between Scotland and England, the Rough Wooing.
Let me explain what these treaties were all about, what happened in the war known as the Rough Wooing, and why it was called that.
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Elizabeth: Apprenticeship by David Starkey
Elizabeth’s pre-accession years are being brought to life in the Starz series “Becoming Elizabeth” at the moment and an excellent book on this period of Elizabeth I’s life is David Starkey’s “Elizabeth: Apprenticeship”. Here’s a review from our archives from book reviewer Lil:
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June 30 – King Henry II of France suffers a mortal injury
On this day in Tudor history, 30th June 1559, King Henry II of France, suffered a mortal injury.
The keen sportsman was injured while jousting. He died on 10th July and was succeeded by his son, Francis II.
Jousting was a dangerous sport and Henry was fatally injured when splinters from his opponent’s lance entered his right eye.
Find out more about Henry II’s accident and death, and also his reign in this video…
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June 29 – The death of Lady Margaret Beaufort, and the Globe burns down!
Today is the anniversary of the death of sixty-six-year-old Lady Margaret Beaufort. matriarch of the Tudor dynasty, on 29th June 1509.
She died just four days after she had enjoyed the coronation celebrations of her grandson King Henry VIII and his new bride and queen, Catherine of Aragon.
Margaret Beaufort is surrounded by myth and it seems fashionable to see her as a religious zealot. But who was this influential Tudor lady? What did she do?
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28 June 1491 – The birth of King Henry VIII
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June 28 – A poisoned Catholic earl and the end of a rebel baron
On this day in Tudor history, 28th June 1557, Philip Howard, 13th Earl of Arundel, was born at Arundel House, the Strand, London.
Arundel ended up being condemned to death for treason and dying of alleged poisoning in 1589, when he was just 32.
Let me tell you more about Arundel and his rather sticky end…
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June 27 – The end of two Cornish rebels, and a bishop who died in poverty
On this day in Tudor history, 27th June 1497, in the reign of King Henry VII, two of the chief commanders of the rebels of the Cornish Rebellion were executed.
Lawyer and member of Parliament Thomas Flamank and blacksmith Michael Joseph (known as Michael an Gof) were hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn in London.
What had led them to this awful end?
What was the Cornish Rebellion about and why do they have “fame permanent and immortal”?
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June 26 – Two loyal soldiers: Sir Edmund Carew and Sir John Wingfield
On 26th June 1513, in the reign of King Henry VIII, a loyal soldier lost his life serving the Crown.
What happened to Sir Edmund Carew? How did he die? And how else did his service to the Crown affect him?
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Tudor Coronations True or False Quiz
We’ve just had the anniversary of the coronation of the second Tudor monarch, King Henry VIII, who was crowned on 24th June 1509, so I thought I’d test your knowledge of Tudor coronations.
How much do you know about the coronations of the Tudor kings and queens?
Test your knowledge with this fun quiz…
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June 25 – Death of Mary Tudor, Dowager Queen of France and Henry VIII’s sister
On this day in Tudor history, 25th June 1533, in the reign of King Henry VIII, the king’s younger sister, Mary Tudor, former Queen of France and wife of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, died at her home in Suffolk. She was just thirty-seven years old.
Let me tell you about Mary’s ill-health, her death and funeral…
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June 24 – Happy birthday, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester
On this day in Tudor history, 24th June 1532, the Feast of St John the Baptist, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester and favourite of Elizabeth I, was born.
Elizabeth I called Leicester her “eyes” and “sweet Robin” and there was gossip over their relationship, but there was far more to Robert Dudley than his closeness to the queen. Find out all about his life and career…
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Harvington Hall
This week for our Friday treat, I want to share this video from our archives on the beautiful moated manor house, Harvington Hall. Thank you to Philippa Lacey Brewell for allowing us to travel vicariously!
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June 23 – Levina Teerlinc amd her miniatures, and a Tudor doctor and mathematician
On this day in Tudor history, 23rd June 1576, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, painter and miniaturist Levina Teerlinc died at Stepney in London.
Teerlinc was court painter to Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I, and was a prolific artist.
Find out more about her and her work…
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June 22 – Bishop Fisher is executed
On this day in Tudor history, 22nd June 1535, in the reign of King Henry VIII, John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, was executed.
Why was Fisher executed and how did the pope try to save him?
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June 21 – Henry VIII goes to the Tower, and Lady Jane Grey is chosen as Edward VI’s successor
On this day in Tudor history, 21st June 1509, the new king, the nearly 18-year-old Henry VIII, travelled from Greenwich to the Tower of London.
Why was Henry VIII going to the Tower?
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June 20 – The Casket Letters and Mary, Queen of Scots
On this day in Tudor history, 20th June 1567, a silver casket of eight letters were allegedly found in the possession of James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, the third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots.
These letters, which became known as the Casket Letters, were instrumental in bringing down Mary, Queen of Scots.
Let me tell you a bit more about the Casket Letters and why they were “dynamite” for Elizabeth I’s advisors.
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June 19 – A son for Mary, Queen of Scots, and a Jesuit priest is executed
On this day in Tudor history, on 19th June 1566, in Scotland, Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to a baby boy who would grow up to be King James VI of Scotland and King James I of England. He was baptised Charles James though.
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Henry VIII’s Children Crossword Puzzle
Our Sunday brain-stretcher this week is a crossword puzzle testing your knowledge on Henry VIII’s children.
How much do you know about these Tudor offspring? Get those little grey cells working with this fun crossword puzzle.
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June 18 – The inventor of the = sign
On this day in Tudor history, 18th June 1558, the will of Welsh mathematician, physician and mint administrator Robert Recorde was proved.
Robert Recorde was the inventor of the “=” sign and wrote books on mathematics. Interestingly, he also wrote a urological treatise “The Urinal of Physick”.
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June 17 – Mary, Queen of Scots, is imprisoned, and a man who survived being condemned to death
On this day in Tudor history, 17th June 1567, in Scotland, Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned at Loch Leven Castle.
She’d been taken prisoner following her surrender at the Battle of Carberry Hill on 15th June.
At Loch Leven, it was reported that she miscarried twins fathered by her third husband, the Earl of Bothwell, and she was also forced to abdicate. She did, however, escape, but her freedom was very short-lived.
Find out more about this time in Mary, Queen of Scots’ life…
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June 16 – The Battle of Stoke Field and Lambert Simnel
On this day in Tudor history, 16th June 1487, the final battle of the Wars of the Roses took place, and I’m not talking about the Battle of Bosworth!
The Battle of Stoke Field was between the forces of Henry VII and the Yorkist forces of Lord Lovell and John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln, who had recently crowned Lambert Simnel as King Edward VI.
Who won that day? What happened? And what happened to the boy, Lambert Simnel?
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June 15 – The death of Will Somer, court fool
On this day in Tudor history, 15th June 1559, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, court fool William Somer (Sommers) died in Shoreditch, London.
He’d served as court fool to Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I.
Somer managed to survive the wrath of King Henry VIII to die a natural death in Elizabeth’s reign.
He wasn’t the only court fool at the time, and you can find out more about him and Jane the Fool in this video:
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June 14 – Friar Peto and Sir Christopher Danby, both lucky men
On this day in Tudor history, 14th June 1557, in the reign of Mary I, Friar William Peto was made a cardinal and a papal legate.
He’d done well to survive Henry VIII’s reign as he’d upset the king with a controversial sermon and was attainted at one point.
Find out more about Peto in this short video…
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Chat about “Becoming Elizabeth” and learn about Elizabeth I from Tudor experts!
Fancy chatting with other Tudor history lovers weekly about episodes of “becoming Elizabeth”? Well, if you do, you can join us by being part of my latest event.
After the success of my previous two online events, I’m excited to announce my third, and it’s on Queen Elizabeth I, daughter of Anne Boleyn.
“Elizabeth I: The Life of Gloriana, the Virgin Queen” is a completely online event, so you can listen to expert talks and participate in Q&A sessions and chats from the comfort of your own home.
The main talks and Q&A sessions run from 7-16 September 2022, BUT we also have a bonus talk and Q&A session on the death of Amy Dudley (Robsart) in July, AND we have weekly chatroom sessions while the STARZ series “Becoming Elizabeth” is being aired. Out first chat is 17th June! We can dissect and discuss each episode – hurrah!
Let me tell you a bit more about my Elizabeth I event…
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June 13 – George Neville, and fighting actors
On this day in Tudor history, 13th June 1535, courtier George Neville, 3rd Baron Bergavenny, died. He’d done well for himself in the reigns of King Richard III and Henry VII, but came undone in Henry VIII’s reign.
What happened to George Neville?
Find out a bit more about him
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June 12 – A lawyer and torturer, and Master Secretary Cromwell pleads for mercy
On this day in Tudor history, 12th June 1567, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich, died.
He wasn’t a particularly nice Tudor chap and was involved in the cases of Sir Thomas More and Anne Askew.
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