On this day in Tudor history, 22nd June 1528, Mary Boleyn, sister of Anne Boleyn, was widowed when her first husband, William Carey, died during the Sweating Sickness epidemic of 1528.
His death had a major impact on Mary’s situation, and I explain more in today’s video.
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On this day in Tudor history, 21st June 1529, Queen Catherine of Aragon, first wife of King Henry VIII, stole the show with an incredible speech at the Legatine Court at Blackfriars, a court that was hearing the case for the annulment of her marriage to the king.
The speech was given while she knelt at her husband’s feet and she appealed directly to him. It’s an incredible speech and I share it with you in today’s video.
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In today’s Claire Chats video talk, I’m sharing hints and tips for starting your family tree and also asking for Tudor Society members to share their hints and tips, and also what you have found during your research into your family tree.
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On this day in Tudor history, 20th June 1567, a silver casket of eight letters, which have become known as the Casket Letters, were allegedly found in the possession of James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, the third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots.
These letters were instrumental in bringing down Mary, Queen of Scots, so in today’s video, I tell you a bit more about these letters and why they were “dynamite” for Elizabeth I’s advisors.
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On this day in Tudor history, 19th June 1535, Sebastian Newdigate, William Exmew and Humphrey Middlemore, monks of the Carthusian Order of London Charterhouse, were hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn.
Their crime: refusing to accept King Henry VIII as supreme head of the Church in England.
But did you know that Sebastian Newdigate was actually a close friend of Henry VIII? Well, friendship and loyal service didn’t seem to matter if you were viewed as being at all defiant or disobedient.
In today’s video, I give you a few more details about Sebastian Newdigate and how he came to be executed in 1535.
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On this day in Tudor history, 18th June 1546, twenty-five-year-old Anne Askew was found guilty of heresy at London’s Guildhall along with Nicholas Shaxton (former Bishop of Salisbury), Nicholas White and John Hadlam.
Anne Askew has gone down in history as a Protestant martyr, after having been burned at the stake in July 1546, but also as a woman who was illegally put to the rack at the Tower of London by two of Henry VIII’s trusted men.
In today’s video, I use contemporary sources and Anne Askew’s own accounts, to piece together what happened that June and July, and what led to Anne Askew’s execution.
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Thank you to Lynne for asking about Catherine Cromwell. Lynne’s full question is “I was watching the actor Danny Dyer trace his family history on T.V. Apparently his family tree was traced to William the Conqueror and stopped at the Tudors which Catherine Cromwell was mentioned. She
seemed a powerful woman but I’ve never really heard of her. So my long-winded question is who was this Lady and how powerful was she in the
Tudor times?”
Now, there are several Catherine (or Katherine) Cromwells, one being the sister of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex and Henry VIII’s right-hand man, who married Morgan Williams and who is an ancestor of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector, but the Catherine that was mentioned in the TV programme on Danny Dyer’s ancestry was actually the great-granddaughter of Thomas Cromwell. Let me show you how she is linked to the Thomas Cromwell we all know and love (or hate!).
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On this day in Tudor history, 17th June 1497, the forces of King Henry VII were triumphant against those of the Cornish rebels at the Battle of Blackheath, or the Battle of Deptford Bridge.
Why were the Cornishmen so unhappy with the king? How did they end up in battle at Blackheath? What happened at the battle and what happened to these Cornish rebels afterwards?
Find out in today’s video…
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On this day in Tudor history, 16th June 1487, the final battle of the Wars of the Roses took place when the forces of Henry VII met 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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The Tudor monarchs received the very best education possible from some renowned scholars and committed teachers, but how much do you know about Tudor royal tutors?
Test your knowledge with today’s fun puzzle, a wordsearch. Do remember that the words can go in any direction.
Good luck!
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On this day in Tudor history, 15th June 1536, Mary, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, was bullied and threatened by members of her father’s council.
It must have been a truly shocking event for the twenty-year-old princess, who was now known as “Lady Mary”.
In today’s video, I give a contemporary account of what happened on this day and why, and explain how Mary did end up reconciling with her father the king.
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Just a reminder that we have a live chat taking place tomorrow, 15th June. This is June’s informal live chat and the topic is”Tudor Queens”. It will take place in the Tudor Society chatroom at https://www.tudorsociety.com/chatroom/.
The idea for these informal chats is for members to jump in and share their views, pose questions for other members, share book/TV recommendations etc. and to just enjoy talking Tudor.
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Not many men who are implicated in rebellions manage to keep their head, but Sir Christopher Danby died a natural death on this day in Tudor history, 14th June 1571.
Who was Danby? What was he involved in? And how did he survive?
Let me tell you a bit more about this Tudor man in today’s video.
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This week, Claire needs your help and feedback, so please do watch the brief video and leave a comment below sharing your opinion and ideas. It would also be helpful if you could answer the poll. Thank you so much!
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On this day in Tudor history, 13th June 1587, William Knell, an actor in “The Queen’s Men” company of players, got into a fight with a fellow actor in Thame, Oxfordshire.
In today’s video, I flesh out this Tudor man a bit more and tell of his sad and rather violent end. I also about a story concerning this man and the famous Elizabethan actor and playwright, William Shakespeare.
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London’s Victoria and Albert Museum has been in touch with me to let me know about a couple of courses that may be of interest to Tudor Society members. They have just launched their new programme of adult learning courses for 2019-20, which includes the courses: “The Later Stuarts: Court and Country”, and “London Life and Times: Medieval to Modern”.
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On this day in Tudor history, 12th June 1530, Queen Catherine of Aragon got rather cross with her husband, King Henry VIII, who, according to her, was leading an evil life and being a bad example.
What led to Catherine’s strong words on this day in 1530? What exactly was Henry VIII doing to upset his wife?
Find out in today’s video.
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Happy wedding anniversary to King Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon! Well, Catherine would be celebrating, as she viewed herself as the king’s true wife right until the end.
On this day in Tudor history, seventeen-year-old King Henry VIII married twenty-three-year-old Spanish princess, Catalina de Aragón, or Catherine of Aragon, his brother’s widow, at a private ceremony at Greenwich.
Find out more about what led to this marriage in today’s video:
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On this day in Tudor history, 10th June 1540, King Henry VIII’s right-hand man and ‘fixer’, Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, was arrested.
In today’s “on this day” video, I share an account of what happened on that day, the day when Henry VIII’s loyal servant fell from power and was escorted to the Tower of London.
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As Friday was the anniversary of the beginning of the Field of Cloth of Gold, that historic meeting between King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France. I thought I’d test your knowledge of these two Renaissance kings.
It’s a true or false quiz, so not too hard! I do hope you enjoy it.
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On this day in Tudor history, 8th June 1536, the sixth Parliament of King Henry VIII’s reign met.
This Parliament passed the Second Act of Succession, which removed Mary and Elizabeth from the succession and declared them illegitimate.
I explain what happened at this Parliament and also share another “on this day” event from the very same day in 1536.
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This day in Tudor history, 7th June 1520, was the first day of that historic meeting between King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France.
The meeting was known as the Field of Cloth of Gold and although it was a diplomatic meeting, it was a chance for these two Renaissance kings to show off to each other and try to outdo each other with their wealth, costumes and even strength.
Find out more about this famous meeting in today’s video.
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This week’s Claire Chats video talk is a special one. Tim and I have just had historical novelist Wendy J Dunn staying with us here in Spain for a few days, which was lovely. Verity and I shared a wonderful day with Wendy at Granada’s Alhambra, which was very special as Wendy’s last novel was all about Catherine of Aragon’s early life which, of course, included time at the Alhambra.
I thought I’d take advantage of Wendy and interview her for my YouTube channel and for the Tudor Society, with a slightly different focus for each interview. Here is the Tudor Society one…
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On this day in Tudor history, 6th June 1522, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and King Henry VIII made a grand entry into the city of London.
Now these two rulers did not just enter the city with music and cheering, they did it in style with pageantry – 9 spectacular pageants in all! The Tudors really knew how to celebrate!
Find out more about the pageants in today’s video.
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On this day in Tudor history, 5th June 1604, Tudor physician and naturalist Thomas Moffet, or Muffet, physician and naturalist, died at Wilton in Wiltshire.
The fact that he is known for a poem on silkworms and his daughter is linked to the famous nursery rhyme piqued my interest and I talk more about him and his poem in today’s video.
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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.
I share an excerpt from my book “On This Day in Tudor History” in today’s video.
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Thank you to everyone who came to Friday’s live chat and a big thank you to Tamise Hills for answering all of our questions on this fascinating Tudor queen. It was a fun chat.
If you missed the chat, you can have a read of the questions and Tamise’s answers in this transcript:
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On this day in Tudor history, 3rd June 1535, Sir Thomas More, King Henry VIII’s former Lord Chancellor and good friend, was interrogated in the Tower of London by members of the king’s council.
These men were trying to get More to give a definitive answer on whether the statute of supremacy was lawful, seeing as he’d refused to take the oath of supremacy.
What happened on their visit and what was said afterwards?
Find out in today’s video.
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On this day in Tudor history, 2nd June 1572, 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?
Let me tell you a bit more about this Tudor man and what led him to end his life on the scaffold.
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