On 9th August 1561, while on a visit to Ipswich in Suffolk, Queen Elizabeth I issued injunctions forbidding women to reside in cathedrals and colleges. It was this “on this day” event that made me dig deeper into her injunctions, the reaction to them, and also her religious settlement and “middle way”.
I hope you enjoy my Claire Chats video talk on this topic.
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On this day in Tudor history, 8th August 1588, Queen Elizabeth I decided to accept Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester’s invitation to visit the troops he had gathered near Tilbury Fort to guard the eastern approach to London from the expected invasion by the Spanish Armada.
In today’s “on this day in Tudor history” talk, I explain why Leicester invited his queen to visit the troops – there was more to it than just boosting morale.
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On this day in Tudor history, 7th August 1485, Henry Tudor, the soon-to-be King Henry VII, returned from exile, landing at Mill Bay in Wales. His intention was, of course, to claim the throne of England and to depose King Richard III.
I share two accounts of his landing and explains what Henry did next.
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As you probably know by now, I like nothing better than talking Tudor so being the resident historian and co-leader of Tudor history tours is just up my street – talking Tudor from dawn to dusk, well, actually well into the early hours!
In this video, I invite you to join me and Philippa at Hever Castle, the family home of the Boleyn family, on the Anne Boleyn Experience 2020. Yes, we actually stay at Hever – bliss! Philippa and I have so much in store for you, so let me tell you all about it. I’m quite literally counting the days (and probably the hours too)!
I forgot to say that there isn’t going to be an Anne Boleyn Experience in 2021, so if you definitely want to do it then please consider 2020. Find out more about the tours and sign up on the mailing list at https://www.britishhistorytours.com/history-tours/
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On this day in Tudor history, 6th August 1549, the Crown’s forces met the rebels of the Prayer Book Rebellion in another battle, the Battle of Clyst Heath.
I share an account of the battle of which Lord Grey said “he never, in all the wars that he had been, knew the like”. I also explain what happened next in the Prayer Book Rebellion of 1549.
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On this day in Tudor history, 5th August 1549, during the reign of King Edward VI, son of King Henry VIII, the Battle of Clyst St Mary took place near Exeter, in Devon. It was part of the Prayer Book Rebellion, a rebellion against the religious measures of King Edward’s government.
I explain what provoked this rebellion and what happened when the Crown’s forces got to Clyst St Mary on this day in 1549.
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As always, we have two live chats this month, an informal one and an expert Q&A session.
Both chats last an hour and are open to all full members. They take place in the Tudor Society chatroom, and this months they’re on the Stewarts (Stuarts) and William Shakespeare (with expert Cassidy Cash).
They’re always fun and educational, so please do join in.
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A big Tudor Society welcome to Cassidy Cash of “That Shakespeare Girl” blog and “That Shakespeare Life” podcasts. Cassidy is sharing her knowledge of the Bard, William Shakespeare, with us in her talk “The Life of Shakespeare”.
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Yes, you read that correctly! On this day in Tudor history, 4th August 1540, thirteen men were executed in London – 12 by being hanged, drawn and quartered, and one by being hanged. Awful!
In today’s talk, I explain who these 13 men were and why they were attainted by Parliament and executed.
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Queens Mary I and Elizabeth I were half-sisters, sharing a father: King Henry VIII, but how much do you know about these Tudor queens regnant?
Test yourself with this week’s fun quiz. Good luck!
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We had a wonderful live chat in the Tudor Society chatroom last weekend with author Tony Riches. The topic was that famous Tudor man, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, one of the few people to be close to the king and keep his head.
Here is the chat transcript for those who couldn’t make it live. Our next live chats are on 24th August (informal on the Stewarts/Stuarts) and 30th August (Expert live chat with Cassify Cash on Shakespeare).
Simply click on the link below to open and read:
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On this day in Tudor history, 3 August 1553, the newly proclaimed queen, Queen Mary I, processed through the streets of London with her half-sister, the future Elizabeth I, after having been greeted as queen.
It must have been a sight to see as the citizen of London celebrated the accession of Mary I, after the rather short reign of Queen Jane.
I share a contemporary account of the procession and celebrations.
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On this day in Tudor history, 2nd August 1581, an English Protestant named Richard Atkins was burned for heresy in Rome.
What had led this Englishman to his end in Rome? What had he done? And why was he tortured on his way to his execution?
I explain all in today’s talk, sharing an account of his actions and his courageous end.
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This month, Philippa Brewell, our roving reporter, visits the wonderful ruins of Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire. She shares the history of the castle, including showing us where two portcullises are, and we also get to see Elizabeth I’s bedroom. Simply a stunning report for all full members to enjoy.
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On this day in history, 1st August 1555, Sir Edward Kelley, apothecary, alchemist and medium, was born in Worcester.
Kelley was a fascinating man. He worked with Dr John Dee and the men believed that they communicated with angels. Kelley also claimed that he was an alchemist and he wrote a treatise on the Philosopher’s Stone.
Find out more about Kelley and his work in today’s talk.
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Thank you to Lynne Mclachlan for sending me this photo from The Mail newspaper, she thought it would make Tudor Society members laugh. Just click on it to see a larger image.
Funny!
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Hello, Claire here! I’m celebrating reaching 25,000 YouTube subscribers today by having a bit of fun at Tim’s expense, although I am allowing Henry VIII and William Shakespeare to help him a bit.
Play along with us and see whether you can do better than Tim with these Tudor history questions (surely you can!). Get 1 point for each correct answer and question 16 is worth a possible 3 points. The questions are below, and then the answers below that, so please don’t look ahead! Good luck!
I would just like to say a big thank you for following this channel. I feel so blessed to be able to talk Tudor with you.
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On this day in Tudor history, 31st July 1544 and 1548, the future Queen Elizabeth I wrote letters to her stepmother, Catherine Parr.
The letters were written at very different times in Elizabeth’s life, the first when Catherine was queen and Elizabeth had been separated from her for a while, and the second after Catherine had actually removed Elizabeth from her and Thomas Seymour’s household.
I share Elizabeth’s letters and explain the context.
Book recommendations: “Elizabeth” by David Starkey”; “Elizabeth I: Collected Works” ed. Leah S. Marcus, Mary Beth Rose, Janel Mueller.
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What a confusing day it must have been for the citizens of London on 30th July 1540! For it was on this day in history, in the reign of King Henry VIII, that both Catholics and men of the reformed faith were executed in London. Crazy times indeed!
Find out more about why Thomas Abell, Edward Powell and Richard Fetherston, and Robert Barnes, William Jerome and Thomas Garrard, were executed in today’s talk.
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Here’s the full 82 page August edition of Tudor life magazine, all about the Stewarts. Enjoy!
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On this day in Tudor history, Sunday 29th July 1565, twenty-three-year-old Mary, Queen of Scots, queen regnant of Scotland, married her second husband, nineteen-year-old Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, at Holyrood Palace.
In today’s video, I give details of the wedding and how the marriage turned out. It wasn’t happy for long!
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On this day in Tudor history 28th July 1540, King Henry VIII tried his luck for a fifth time and married his former wife’s maid of honour, the young Catherine Howard. Surely, she was the one!
In today’s “on this day” talk, I share records of this marriage and also mentions another event that took place on the very same day – an execution.
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How much do you know about July’s “on this day” people and events from the Tudor period?
Test your knowledge with this fun wordsearch!
Click on the link or image below to open the wordsearch and print out.
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On this day in Tudor history, 27th July 1588, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, wrote to his queen with an invitation. He was intent on keeping the queen, the woman he loved, out of harm’s way.
I explain all in today’s “on this day in Tudor history” talk.
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I love finding out more about how Tudor people viewed and did everyday things, things that we do today, so in this week’s Claire Chats I’m looking at sleeping in Tudor times. I look at how sleeping was viewed, its links to health and religion, what kind of bedtime routine a Tudor person might have followed, the bed and bedding they used, how they slept, and what they used to help them sleep.
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On this day in Tudor history, 26th July 1588, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, 4,000 men assembled at Tilbury Fort in an effort to prevent the Spanish Armada from travelling up the Thames and attacking London.
In today’s “on this day in Tudor history” talk, I explain what had led up to this day.
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On this day in Tudor history, 25 July 1554, on the Feast of St James, Queen Mary I, daughter of Henry VIII by Catherine of Aragon, his first wife, married Philip of Spain, son of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.
The couple got married at Winchester Cathedral and Mary’s Lord Chancellor, Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, officiated at the ceremony.
In today’s talk, I share a contemporary account of Mary and Philip’s wedding ceremony.
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On this day in Tudor history, 24th July 1567, twenty-four-year-old Mary, Queen of Scots, who was imprisoned at Lochleven Castle, and who was recovering after miscarrying twins, was threatened with violence and forced to abdicate. Her young son, James, became King James VI of Scotland in her place.
I share a contemporary account from Mary’s private secretary regarding what happened that day and how Mary was forced to abdicate.
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On this day in Tudor history, 23rd July 1596, Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon, Privy Councillor and Lord Chamberlain, died at Somerset House in London. Hunsdon was, of course, the son of Mary Boleyn, nephew of the late Queen Anne Boleyn, and cousin and favourite of Queen Elizabeth I.
In today’s talk, I give details of Hunsdon’s background and his rise to prominence at Elizabeth I’s court, as well as details of his burial and tomb.
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1536 was an eventful year for Henry VIII! Just over two months after the fall of his second wife, Queen Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s only son, his illegitimate son by Elizabeth Blount, died on 22nd July 1536 at St James’s Palace. It was a huge blow for the king.
In today’s “on this day” talk, I give details of Fitzroy’s illness, death and burial, and also just how much of a favourite he was with his father.
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