The Tudor Society

#OTD in Tudor history – 1 September

On this day in Tudor history, 1st September, Henry VIII elevated Anne Boleyn to the peerage, making her Marquess of Pembroke; and Elizabethan actor and theatre entrepreneur Edward Alleyn was born...

  • 1532 - Henry VIII made Anne Boleyn Marquess of Pembroke, a title in her own right, to “fit” her for the European stage and in readiness for the couple's upcoming meeting with King Francis I of France. See video below.
  • 1566 – Birth of Edward Alleyn, actor, theatre entrepreneur and founder of Dulwich College and Alleyn's School, in the parish of St Botolph without Bishopsgate, London. Alleyn was a major figure in the Elizabethan theatre, being a member of the Earl of Worcester's Players, Lord Strange's Men and then leading the Admiral's Men. In the 1590s, he played title roles in “Doctor Faustus”, “Tamburlaine”, and “The Jew of Malta” by Christopher Marlowe. The business side of his career saw him partnering with Philip Henslowe and becoming part owner of the Rose Theatre, the Paris Garden and the Fortune Theatre. See video below.
  • 1599 – Death of Dorcas Martin (née Eccleston), Lady Martin, translator, bookseller and Puritan. She was buried at All Hallows, Tottenham. Dorcas was married to Sir Richard Martin, Master of the Mint and Lord Mayor of London, and is known for her translations of prayers, psalms and catechisms.
  • 1615 – Death of Sir Richard Knightley, member of Parliament, Sheriff of Northamptonshire and patron of Puritans, at Fawsley in Northamptonshire. Knightley was present at the executions of Anthony Babington and Mary, Queen of Scots, and was involved in the publication of the “Marprelate tracts”.

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#OTD in Tudor history – 1 September