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 22 – Bishop Fisher is executed
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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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Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon Quiz
I thought we’d celebrate Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon’s wedding anniversary, which was yesterday, by testing your knowledge of them and their marriage.
Get those little grey cells working with this fun quiz and do feel free to share your score.
Good luck!
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June 11 – St Barnabas Day, Sir Anthony Cooke, and Henry VIII gets married to Catherine of Aragon
Today, 11th June, is the Feast of St Barnabas, a feast day that was celebrated by the Tudors by decorating churches with garlands of flowers.
Find out more about St Barnabas and how he was commemorated in medieval and Tudor times…
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June 10 – Elizabeth I’s “frog”, Thomas Cromwell’s arrest, and the sad end of two Carthusian monks
On this day in Tudor history, 10th June 1584, Francis, Duke of Anjou and Alençon, died in Paris, probably of of malaria.
Anjou was, for a time, one of Elizabeth I’s suitors, and Elizabeth appears to have had true affection for him. She nicknamed him her “frog” and considered marrying him.
Find out more about what happened between Elizabeth and her dear “frog”
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London Charterhouse and its history
As today is the anniversary of the deaths of two Carthusian monks on 10th June 1537, who were starved to death. I thought I’d share this talk I did after my visit to the home of their order, London Charterhouse, which has a wonderfully rich history.
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June 9 – William Courtenay, William Paget, and the 1549 Book of Common Prayer
On this day in Tudor history, 9th June 1511, in the reign of King Henry VIII, William Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon, died.
Who was Courtenay and how did he go from being in favour to being a traitor and then back to being in favour?
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June 8 – Elizabeth Woodville, and an Act of Succession
On this day in Tudor history, 8th June 1492, in the reign of King Henry VII, the king’s mother-in-law, Elizabeth Woodville, died at Bermondsey Abbey.
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June 7 – A queen’s physician is hanged, and a historic meeting
On this day in Tudor history, 7th June 1594, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the queen’s physician, Roderigo Lopez, was hanged, drawn and quartered after being accused of plotting to poison the queen.
Find out more about Lopez and what happened…
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June 6 – Trouble brewing in Bodmin, and a lucky musician
On this day in Tudor history, 6th June 1549, in the reign of King Edward VI, an army of rebels assembled at Bodmin in Cornwall. A town meeting was held, in which the rebels’ demands were put forward.
These men were rebelling against the recent religious changes, particularly the new law concerning the Book of Common Prayer.
Trouble ensued and their grievances became a full-blown rebellion, the Prayer Book Rebellion. You can find out what happened next and how the rebellion ended in this video:
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June 5 – A favourite in trouble, a silkworm expert and Catherine of Aragon’s best friend
On this day in Tudor history, 5th June 1600, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, was in a spot of bother. Even though he was usually one of Elizabeth I’s favourite, Devereux was charged with insubordination. Oh dear.
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General Tudor Quiz
This Sunday’s Tudor fun is a quiz that tests your general Tudor knowledge.
Just how much do you know about the Tudor kings and queens and their reigns?
Find out!
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June 4 – Robert Dudley gets married, and lightning strikes St Paul’s
On this day in Tudor history, 4th June 1550, sweethearts Robert Dudley and Amy Robsart tied the knot at the royal palace of Sheen at Richmond in a service attended by King Edward VI.
This marriage was a love-match, but it lasted just ten years, ending with Amy’s death in 1560, a death which is surrounded by controversy.
Find out more…
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Tudor dentistry and caring for your teeth in Tudor times
As today is the anniversary of the death of Bishop John Aylmer, who is said to have had one of his teeth extracted in order to prove to Queen Elizabeth I that the pain wasn’t as bad as she thought, I thought I’d share this talk from our archives. It’s on tooth extractions, dentistry and how people cared for their teeth in Tudor times.
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June 3 – A bishop who suffered for his queen, and the Royal Supremacy
On this day in Tudor history, 3rd June 1594, John Aylmer, Bishop of London, died.
Hear a story about how he suffered pain to help a poorly Queen Elizabeth I…
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The Lost King – A new film on Richard III
There’s a new film about Richard III coming!
The Lost King will be showing in UK cinemas from 7th October 2022.
Thank you to Jo Taylor-Hitchinson for sharing this information:
“The film tells the remarkable true story of how one ‘ordinary’ woman overcame every obstacle to track down the final resting place of Richard III.
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June 2 – The ends of a Duke of Norfolk and a rebel
On this day in Tudor history, 2nd June 1572, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, thirty-four-year-old Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, was beheaded on Tower Hill for high treason.
Norfolk was a Knight of the Garter, he’d served as Earl Marshal and Lord High Steward, he’d presided over Queen Elizabeth I’s coronation, so what had led him to this sticky end and how was he involved with Mary, Queen of Scots?
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June 1 – An inquest and a coronation
On this day in Tudor history, 1st June 1593, the inquest into the death of playwright, poet and translator Christopher Marlowe took place.
Twenty-nine-year-old Marlowe, writer of such famous works as “Tamburlaine”, “Dr Faustus” and “The Jew of Malta”, had been fatally stabbed at a house in Deptford Strand, London, by a man named Ingram Frizer on 30th May 1593, but what happened?
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May 31 – The birth of Lady Margaret Beaufort, and a special Legatine court opens in London
On this day in Tudor history, 31st May 1443, Lady Margaret Beaufort, the woman known as the matriarch of the Tudor dynasty, was born.
Find out a few facts about her in this #TudorHistoryShorts video:
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