#OTD in Tudor history – 24 December

On this day in Tudor history, 24th December, King Henry VIII made his final speech to Parliament (1545); Sir Thomas Cornwallis, comptroller of the household of Mary I and member of Parliament, died (1604); and Christmas Eve was celebrated...

• 1545 - King Henry VIII made his final speech to Parliament. Historian Robert Hutchinson describes it as “both measured and compelling”, and writes of how Henry wanted “to impart a stern message” to all of his subjects. See video below.
• 1604 – Death of Sir Thomas Cornwallis, comptroller of the household of Mary I and member of Parliament, at the age of eighty-six. He was buried at Brome in Suffolk. Cornwallis was active in putting down Kett's Rebellion in 1549 and in 1553, after originally proclaiming Lady Jane Grey as Queen in Ipswich, he swapped sides and swore allegiance to Mary I. See video below.