April 19 - Mary, Queen of Scots gets betrothed

On this day in Tudor history, 19th April 1558, fifteen-year-old Mary, Queen of Scots and fourteen-year-old Francis, the Dauphin, son of King Henry II of France, were formally betrothed at the Louvre Palace in Paris.
 
This betrothal was just five days before their wedding and was a lavish affair, celebrated with a ball.
 
Find out more about the betrothal, the bride and groom, and arrangements for their marriage, 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/xgopU4Hx2dE
 
You can find out more about the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Dauphin, the future Francis II of France, in my video from 24th April last year which I’ll give you a link to - https://youtu.be/Xe3v6dVwwac Also on this day in history, 19th April 1587, Sir Francis Drake "singed the King of Spain's beard", as he called it, by attacking the Spanish fleet in the harbour of Cadiz. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/cGRGABOd_ss 

April 18 - Eustace Chapuys bumps into Anne Boleyn

Ok, so they didn’t physically bump into each other, but on this day in Tudor history, 18th April 1536, just a month and a day before Anne Boleyn’s execution, imperial ambassador Eustace Chapuys was manoeuvred unto a position where he was forced to pay reverence to Queen Anne Boleyn, the woman he referred to as “the concubine”. By paying her reverence, he was acknowledging her as queen, something that he had managed to avoid doing until now.
What happened and how did Chapuys get into this awkward position?
Find out in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History" and "The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown".
Also on this day in Tudor history, 18th April 1587, the famous martyrologist John Foxe died at the age of around seventy. Foxe is known for his book “Actes and Monuments”, or Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, and you can find out more about him and his work in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/AZZFPmZ9l0k 

April 16 - A fortune from drinkable gold

On this day in Tudor history, 16th April 1550, alchemist, apothecary and physician Francis Anthony was born, probably in London. He had a rather eventful life, being imprisoned on several occasions, and he made his fortune from his invention "aurum potabile", drinkable gold, which he claimed had amazing curative powers.
 
Find out more about Francis Anthony and why he ended up in prison in today's talk from Tudor history author, Claire Ridgway.
 
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/UPf24CDIVTo
Also on this day in Tudor history, 16th April 1570, Gunpowder Plot conspirator Guy Fawkes was baptised in York. Find out more about him in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/RnNN-0feKgI

April 15 - Champion to kings and servant to queens

On this day in Tudor history, 15th April 1545, Sir Robert Dymoke, champion at the coronations of Henry VII and Henry VIII, and a man who served in the households of Queens Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, died.
 
He had an interesting career and survived being suspected of involvement in the 1536 Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion.
 
Find out more about Sir Robert Dymoke, champion at the coronations of three kings, 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/h3_22JV1NJA
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 15th April 1599, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, was sworn in as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. It was the beginning of the end for him and you can find out why in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/qUWCwqudEzo

April 14 - A Tudor magician who helped a countess get out of her marriage

On this day in Tudor history, 14th April 1565, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, astrologer, astronomer, mathematician and magician, Edward Gresham, was born in Stainsford, Yorkshire. 
 
Gresham is known for his treatise "Astrostereon" and his almanacs, but what's really interesting is his connection to a countess's annulment and a poisoning.
 
Find out more about Edward Gresham 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/bCsKi5sYp2M
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 14th April 1578, Mary, Queen of Scots' third husband, James Hepburn, Duke of Orkney and 4th Earl of Bothwell, died at Dragsholm Castle in Denmark. He'd been held at the castle in appalling conditions and it was said that he'd gone insane. Find out more about him in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/XRU_nEsUxFw

April 12 - The Earl of Oxford, Elizabeth I's love child?

On this day in Tudor history, 12th April 1550, in the reign of King Edward VI, courtier and poet, Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, was born.
 
In today's talk, Tudor history author Claire Ridgway introduces Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, and talks about his not-so-nice personality, the Oxfordian theory regarding the works of William Shakespeare, and the idea that Oxford was actually Elizabeth I's son by Thomas Seymour.
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 12th April 1533, Anne Boleyn made her very first public appearance as King Henry VIII's official queen consort. She didn’t half set tongues wagging when she processed to mass accompanied by 60 ladies and dressed to the nines. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/3vKjaT3H1Kc 
 
Further reading on Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford:
https://theotherpages.org/poems/poem-uv.html#vere https://www.poemhunter.com/edward-de-vere/ “Oxford: Son of Queen Elizabeth I” by Paul Streitzhttp://shakespeareoxfordfellowship.org/ https://doubtaboutwill.org/ https://shakespeareauthorship.com/ 

April 10 - The Gregorian Calendar versus the Julian Calendar

On this day in Tudor history, 10th April 1585, Pope Gregory XIII died from a fever. He was succeeded by Pope Sixtus V.
 
Pope Gregory is known for his reform of the calendar. He introduced what is now called the Gregorian Calendar, or Western or Christian Calendar, replacing the Julian Calendar, which had been used since 45 BC.
 
But why was this reform needed and how was it done? 
 
Find out more about it, and how England didn't use it until the 18th century, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of several Tudor history books.
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 10th April 1512, Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scots, gave birth to a little boy who would become King James V of Scotland. Find out more in last year's video - https://youtu.be/CiXTTLBhjus 

April 9 - Catherine Willoughby's second husband

On this day in Tudor history, 9th April 1582, Richard Bertie, member of Parliament, evangelical, and second husband of Catherine Willoughby (other married name Brandon), Duchess of Suffolk, died at Bourne in Lincolnshire. He was laid to rest in St James’s Church, Spilsby, with Catherine, who had died in 1580. 
 
Bertie was Catherine's gentleman usher and the two became close following the death of her sons from sweating sickness.
 
Find out more about the man Catherine Willoughby chose to marry for love in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History".
 
You can see their splendid tomb at https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2736462 
 
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/xHtICfkzS7g
 
You can find out more about Catherine Willoughby in Claire's video on her at https://youtu.be/dVz3KEzvYso
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 9th April 1533, Catherine of Aragon was informed that she was no longer queen. Find out what happened in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/c-zdfPaiK0U