On this day in Tudor history, 26th May 1520, in the lead-up to King Henry VIII’s meeting with Francis I of France at the Field of Cloth of Gold, the English king met with his nephew Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, at Dover Castle on the south coast of England.

 

Find out more about this meeting and the rather lavish outfits worn by Henry VIII and his queen consort, Catherine of Aragon, in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway.

https://youtu.be/LeKUWiMh0-s

 

Also on this day in Tudor history, 26th May 1536, Henry VIII's daughter, Mary, sought the help of Thomas Cromwell, the king's right-hand man. Now that Anne Boleyn was dead and gone, Mary hoped for a reconciliation with her father the king. What happened and how was she treated? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/piFHGOhSXEI 

On this day in Tudor history, 25th May 1551, at around noon, Croydon and several Surrey villages, in the south of England, experienced a “great shaking of the ground”, in other words, an earthquake.

 

In today's talk, Tudor history author, Claire Ridgway, shares descriptions of this earthquake, as well as other Tudor earthquakes, such as the famous 1580 Dover Straits Earthquake, which causes fatalities and damage.

 

You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:

https://youtu.be/CKKhplIBCi4

 

Also on this day in Tudor history, 25th May 1553, Lady Jane Grey got married to Lord Guildford Dudley, son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. They weren't the only couple to get married in the ceremony at Durham House, Jane's sister, Katherine, and Guildford's sister, Catherine, also got married. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/0_cFulXOssU 

 

Read "A warning for the wise, a feare to the fond, a bridle to the lewde, and a glasse to the good Written of the late earthquake chanced in London and other places, the. 6. of April 1580. for the glorie of God, and benefite of men that warely can walke, and wisely can iudge", Churchyard's pamphlet on the 1580 eathquake, at https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A18767.0001.001?view=toc 

On this day in Tudor history, 24th May 1546, letters were sent from the Privy Council to the future Protestant martyr Anne Askew and her estranged husband Thomas Kyme. 

 

The couple were ordered to appear in front of the council within fourteen days. But why? What was going on? And what happened next.

 

In today's talk, historian Claire Ridgway gives an overview of the life of Anne Askew, who was famously racked illegally at the Tower of London prior to being burnt as a heretic.

You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:

https://youtu.be/nvtJAJ0I_gw

 

Also on this day in Tudor history, 24th May 1562, according to contemporary sources, a "monstrous" child was born in Chichester, Sussex.

This deformed baby was not the only "monstrous" birth that year and these events were seen as signs from God. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/K1kml_DFVLk 

 

More Anne Askew videos:

June 18 - Protestant martyr Anne Askew is found guilty of heresy - https://youtu.be/bmJtFqoJXDc
July 16 - Anne Askew's courageous end - https://youtu.be/29QImEPHhbE

 

On this day in Tudor history, 23rd May 1554, Elizabeth, daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, arrived at the Palace of Woodstock in Oxfordshire, where she was placed under house arrest.

 

Elizabeth remained under house arrest there for just under a year, and she didn't make it easy for her gaoler, Sir Henry Bedingfield, and neither did her servants.

 

Find out why Elizabeth was under house arrest and what happened in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History".

https://youtu.be/OAZzfipAj6k

 

Also on this day in Tudor history, 23rd May 1533, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer declared the sentence of the special court that had met at Dunstable Priory in Bedfordshire to rule on the case for the annulment of King Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Find out more about this in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/i01ih2JcyGo 

On this day in Tudor history, 22nd May 1541, following their elections on St George’s Day, 23rd April 1541, Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford; Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey; Sir John Gage, and Sir Anthony Wingfield were all installed as Knights of the Garter.

 

Who were these men and what was the Order of the Garter?

 

Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society, introduces these Garter Knights and explains the origins of the Order of the Garter, England's oldest order of chivalry.

 

You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:

https://youtu.be/YR85DSx3ONA

 

Also on this day in Tudor history, 22nd May 1538, Franciscan friar John Forest met his end at Smithfield in London for his allegiance to the Church of Rome. His death, along with the burning of a religious statue from Wales, was said to be the fulfilment of a prophecy made about the statue. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/om41xAXnxcQ

On this day in Tudor history,  21st May 1524, in the reign of King Henry VIII, courtier, magnate and soldier, Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, died at Framlingham Castle in Suffolk. He was about 81 years of age when he died.

 

 

Also on this day in Tudor history, 21st May 1535, reformer and Bible translator William Tyndale was arrested in Antwerp. Why was Tyndale arrested and why didn't King Henry VIII help him? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/Ip6PaFlQe1E 

On this day in Tudor history, 20th May 1535, Pope Paul III made John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, Cardinal-Priest of San Vitale, and arranged to have his cardinal's hat sent to him.

 

The pope hoped that this would save Fisher, who was imprisoned at the time, from further punishment, but it made the king even more determined to behead Bishop Fisher. Oh dear!

 

Find out more about what happened in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History".

You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:

https://youtu.be/u9C8WqwrGlM

 

Hall’s Life of Fisher - https://archive.org/details/lifeoffishe00hall/page/n11/mode/2up 

Also on this day in Tudor history, 20th May 1579, wheelwright Matthew Hamont was executed for heresy in the city of Norwich. What had led to Hamont being charged with heresy? And what exactly was so heretical about his beliefs? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/HS_Nsc0ccUE 

And on this day in 1536, Henry VIII and Jane Seymour became betrothed. https://youtu.be/nAJ19qeiw9o 

Other videos on Bishop Fisher:
December 22 - Bishop Fisher begs for a shirt - https://youtu.be/9EwSBKVB16E
May 7 - John Fisher is tricked - https://youtu.be/vmgMvS_JZlw 

On this day in Tudor history, 19th May 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn was executed within the confines of the Tower of London.

 

It must have been an incredibly hard day for the queen's friend, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. Not only did he have a visit from a friend regarding a terrifying vision, in the early hours... Not only did he have to cope with the idea of his friend and patron being beheaded, but he had to issue a dispensation for the king to marry again!

 

Find out more in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway.

https://youtu.be/L2fUU8Rc0dE

 

Also on this day in history, 19th May 1554, in the reign of Queen Mary I, Anne Boleyn’s daughter, Elizabeth, was released from the Tower of London after two months of imprisonment. Elizabeth wasn't free, though, she was released into house arrest.
Why? Why had she been imprisoned in the Tower and what happened next? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/QFJx0u3nx_s 

Here's the link for Claire's video on Anne Boleyn’s execution - https://youtu.be/Gpum3gzc3CU 

On this day in Tudor history, 18th May 1554, in the reign of Queen Mary I, scholar and administrator, William Thomas, was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn for his alleged involvement in Wyatt's Rebellion. It was said that he even wanted the queen assassinated.

 

But William Thomas was far more than a rebel, he was also the author of the first he first Italian dictionary and book of grammar to be published in English.

 

Find out more about him and his rather bad end in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of several Tudor history books.

 

Also on this day in history, 18th May 1497, noblewoman Catherine Woodville, Duchess of Buckingham and Bedford, died. Who was she and how was she linked to the famous Woodvilles that rose in the reign of King Edward IV? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/Ozx9IBXDVFU
And this day in 1536 was the day chosen for the execution of Queen Anne Boleyn, so Anne prepared to die. How did she prepare herself? Why was her execution postponed? What exactly happened on this day in 1536? Find out in the 18th May 1536 video - https://youtu.be/lct_iJylGhk 

On this day in Tudor history, 17th May 1601, Anthony Bacon was buried in St Olave's, London.

 

You might have heard of Francis Bacon, but his brother, Anthony Bacon, was rather interesting too! 

 

Who was Anthony Bacon? 

 

Well, he was a spy, providing intelligence for the likes of William Cecil, Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth I and Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. Find out more in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway.

 

Also on this day in Tudor history, 17th May 1521, Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was executed for treason on Tower Hill. He'd served King Henry VII and King Henry VIII loyally for many years, so what led to this nobleman being condemned for high treason? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/U9vqMXGaK_0 

And on this day in 1536, George Boleyn, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston, William Brereton and Mark Smeaton were executed on Tower Hill for high treason after being found guilty of adultery with Queen Anne Boleyn and conspiring with her to kill King Henry VIII. 

 

Find out more about their tragic ends in the video for 17 May 1536 - https://youtu.be/X7b1BLEpu9w