August 22 - The end of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland

On this day in Tudor history, 22nd August 1553, John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, was beheaded on Tower Hill for his part in putting his daughter-in-law, Lady Jane Grey, on the throne. Northumberland's friends and supporters, Sir John Gates and Sir Thomas Palmer, were also executed.
 
Northumberland was actually scheduled to die the previous day and the crowd turned up to see, the scaffold was prepared and even the executioner was ready... but, instead, the duke was taken to church.
 
Why? 
 
Find out why and also hear a contemporary account of the duke's execution in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/pahguELnWpE
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 22nd August 1485, the Battle of Bosworth took place. King Richard III was killed and Henry Tudor became King Henry VII, starting the Tudor dynasty on the throne of England. Find out what happened on that day in rural Leicestershire, and how Henry was victorious even though Richard came into battle with a huge advantage, in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/PhFpPpt23Fg 

August 8 - Edward VI's Burial

On this day in Tudor history, 8th August 1553, fifteen-year-old King Edward VI was buried in Henry VII’s Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey in a funeral service performed by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury. 
 
Although his Catholic half-sister, Mary, was on the throne, Edward was buried with Protestant rites and it was the first time the English Book of Common Prayer was used for the funeral of a monarch.
 
Find out more about Edward VI's funeral, how Mary I marked his passing, and Edward VI's resting place, 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/ifwHCSZC1b4
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 8th August 1588, Queen Elizabeth I decided to accept Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester's invitation to visit the troops he had gathered near Tilbury Fort to guard the eastern approach to London from the expected invasion by the Spanish Armada. Why did Leicester invite the queen to Tilbury? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/4twBiLqkxDc

June 21 - Lady Jane Grey is Edward's heir

On this day in Tudor history, 21st June 1553, letters patent were issued stating that the dying King Edward VI’s heir was Lady Jane Grey, eldest daughter of the king's cousin, Frances Grey (née Brandon), Duchess of Suffolk.
Why was Lady Jane Grey his heir when Edward had two half-sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, and who else was listed in his "devise for the succession". Find out more about Edward VI's plan for the succession in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:https://youtu.be/DNlNkqcFnA8
Also 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. Find out more about what she said in last year's video - https://youtu.be/mV9DknPWlJA

May 2 - Celestial flesh leads to a burning

On this day in history, 2nd May 1550, Anabaptist Joan Bocher, was burnt to death at Smithfield for her belief in Christ's celestial flesh.
 
How did a Protestant end up being executed in Edward VI's reign and what did she mean by Christ having celestial flesh?
 
Find out more about Joan Bocher, or Joan of Kent, her beliefs and her links to Protestant martyr Anne Askew, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of several Tudor history books.
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 2nd May 1568, Mary, Queen of Scots, who had recently been forced to abdicate in favour of her son, King James VI, successfully escaped from Lochleven Castle. 
How did she end up a prisoner at Lochleven? How did she escape? And what happened next? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/ozLwv3LaRY0
And on 2nd May 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn and her brother, Lord Rochford, were arrested and taken to the Tower of London. Find out more in the 2nd May 1536 video - https://youtu.be/ZJuAjJYzpcc 
 
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/hEF4mgSfWeg
 
Here's William Wordsworth’s sonnet “Edward siging the warrant for the execution of Joan of Kent”:
"THE tears of man in various measure gushFrom various sources; gently overflowFrom blissful transport some--from clefts of woeSome with ungovernable impulse rush;And some, coeval with the earliest blushOf infant passion, scarcely dare to showTheir pearly lustre--coming but to go;And some break forth when others' sorrows crushThe sympathising heart. Nor these, nor yetThe noblest drops to admiration known,To gratitude, to injuries forgiven--Claim Heaven's regard like waters that have wetThe innocent eyes of youthful Monarchs drivenTo pen the mandates, nature doth disown."

May 1 - A hot-tempered Tudor courtier

On this day in Tudor history, 1st May 1551, in the reign of King Edward VI, Norfolk landowner and Member of Parliament, Sir Edmund Knyvet, died. 
 
Knyvet had an interesting court career, being helped by his Howard connections, but he was known for his rather hot temper, which nearly led to him losing his right hand.
Find out more about hot-tempered Sir Edmun Knyvet 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/5kc8tSKlpP4
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 1st May 1517, foreign traders in London had their shops and property vandalised and damaged by a mob of angry apprentices and labourers, in what was known as the Evil May Day Riot. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/hQoTvH_0kcY
And 1st May 1536 was supposed to be a fun day for King Henry VIII and Queen Anne Boleyn at the annual May Day joust but suddenly the king left abruptly, taking his good friend and groom of the stool with him. What was going on? Find out in the 1st May 1536 video in The Fall of Anne Boleyn series - https://youtu.be/Hx1ba-2d8NU

March 14 - A man who served 4 monarchs and kept his head

On this day in Tudor history, 14th March 1555, courtier, envoy and landowner, Sir John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford, died at his London residence on the Strand aged around 70.
 
Russell was an important Tudor man who served four Tudor monarchs - Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I - AND he managed to keep his head, dying a natural death at a good age.
 
Find out more about this Earl of Bedford, his life, his rise and his career at the royal court, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of several Tudor history books.
 
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/_Lrjhj8v-So
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 14th March 1540, Sir John Port died at Bewdley. Port is remembered for mumbling in a case and changing the outcome, and you can find out more about what happened in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/w2UTIzSv5uw 

February 26 - The sad ends of loyal men

On this day in Tudor history, 26th February 1552, Sir Thomas Arundell, Sir Michael Stanhope, Sir Miles Partridge and Sir Ralph Fane (or Vane) were executed. The men had been condemned as traitors after being accused of conspiring with Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset and former Lord Protector, against John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, the new man in control of King Edward VI's government.
 
Find out all about these men and how these loyal royal servants came to these sticky ends in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society.
 
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/tSH2feVoYHQ
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 26th February 1564, poet and playwright Christopher Marlowe was baptised in Canterbury. Find out all about Marlowe in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/QnT2Qp7RuXc 

December 26 - Boxing Day and Henry VIII's will

Happy St Stephen's Day! Happy Boxing Day!
 
In today's talk, Claire Ridgway, author of  "On This Day in Tudor History", explains how St Stephen's Day was celebrated in Tudor times and why it's known as Boxing Day, before moving on to today's "on this day event".
 
On this day in Tudor history, 26th December 1546, an ill Henry VIII made some changes to his will in preparation for his nine-year-old son, Edward, inheriting the throne. Claire explains all...
 
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCmnejkr0xc
 
You can find Claire at:
https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com 
https://www.tudorsociety.com
https://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles 
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety 
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/ 
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/