September 22 - The burial of Amy Dudley (Robsart)

On this day in Tudor history, 22nd September 1560, Amy Dudley (née Robsart), wife of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, was buried in the chancel of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford.
 
Amy had been found dead at the foot of the stairs of her home and the subsequent inquest had ruled her death as caused by "misfortune". She was buried in a lavish ceremony which cost her widower over £2,000.
 
Find out more about her burial, and who attended, in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/vfvbXAM2XuY
 
Book recommendation: “Amy Robsart: A Life and Its End” by Christine Hartweg
 
Find out more about Amy's death and the theories regarding it in my video on her death - https://youtu.be/Dmsqlfm09ZM
 
This day in Tudor history, 22nd September 1515, is the traditional birthdate of Anne of Cleves, a woman who would become King Henry VIII's fourth wife and queen consort, but only for six months! She may have only been queen for a short time, but Anne of Cleves outlived Henry and all of his wives, and seems to have had a very good life. Find out more about her and how she came to be Henry VIII's queen in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/zvuUNFA8U3Q

September 21 - Pendleton the Proud, a fickle man

On this day in Tudor history, 21st September 1557, Henry Pendleton, theologian, chaplain and friend of Bishop Bonner, was buried at St Stephen's, Walbrook, London. 
 
Pendleton is known not only for his strong preaching, which led to him being shot at once, but also for his changing religious faith. He went from staunch Catholic to zealous Protestant to staunch Catholic, even taking part in disputations with his former friends and seeing them imprisoned and burnt.
 
Find out more about Henry Pendleton, his life, career and changing religious beliefs, in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/5unuKHk6G4I
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, Sunday 21st September 1578, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, married Lettice Dereveux (née Knollys) in a secret marriage at his house. So secret was it that he only told his chaplain and his friends the day before. Leicester was marrying the woman Elizabeth I had dubbed "the she-wolf", so he knew that his queen would not be happy. Find out more about the secret wedding and Leicester’s bride, in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/PkC3Y-pbuYA 

September 20 - Anthony Babington and the Babington Plot

On this day in Tudor history, 20th September 1586, Anthony Babington, John Ballard, John Savage, Chidiock Tichborne and three other conspirators were executed near St Giles-in-the-Fields in London. 
They suffered full traitors' deaths, being hanged, drawn and quartered, after being found guilty of treason for plotting to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I in the famous Babington Plot, which sought to replace Elizabeth with Mary, Queen of Scots.
 
Find out more about Anthony Babington, the Babington Plot, the men involved, how it was discovered, and how it led to Mary, Queen of Scots' execution, 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/XJIrGAWx7ao
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 20th September 1486, Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales, the first son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, was born at Winchester. There were high hopes for this boy named after the legendary King Arthur, and King Henry VII believed that son would be a powerful king who would bring a golden age to the country. Of course, things wouldn't go according to plan.
Find out more about Arthur Tudor, who was, of course, Catherine of Aragon's first husband, in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/qYZLYzGU5NE 

September 15 - Elizabeth I saves the day!

On this day in Tudor history, 15th September 1589, the Battle of Arques began. 
This battle was part of the final war of the French Wars of Religion, a series of conflicts in France from 1562-1598 between Catholics and Huguenots. It was fought between the new French king, Henry IV, and the Catholic League led by Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne, and looked bad for Henry until troops sent by Elizabeth I arrived - phew!
 
You can find out more about what led to this battle, what happened at the battle, and what happened next, in this talk from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/Ytj-i6iEaHs
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 15th September 1500, John Morton, Archbishop of Canterbury, cardinal and Henry VII’s Lord Chancellor, died at Knole in Kent. He was not a very popular man with the English people due to his role in Henry VII's financial policies, and one tax rationale he's associated with is Morton's Fork, but was it really down to him? Find out the answer and find out more about this Tudor taxman in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/A6s_7o5jMj4 

September 3 - The death of a clown

On this day in Tudor history, 3rd September 1588, or possibly the 5th September, actor and clown, Richard Tarlton, died in Shoreditch. He was buried in St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch. 
Tarlton was a member of the Queen's Men acting company, but is famed for his post-play jigs as a clown. He was also known for being able to cheer up Queen Elizabeth I - how wonderful.
Find out more about Tudor clown Richard Tarlton, his life and career, 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/FSmroPwFCp0
Also on this day in Tudor history, 3rd September 1592, Elizabethan writer and playwright Robert Greene died in London. Greene is best known for a pamphlet "Greene's Groats-worth of Wit bought with a Million of Repentance" which he wrote on his deathbed and in which he attacked Shakespeare as an “upstart crow”. Find out more about the man and his pamphlet in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/03qT91wY9FQ 

August 28 - Robert Dudley's last letter to Elizabeth I

On this day in Tudor history, 28th August 1588, an ailing Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, wrote his final letter to his queen and childhood friend, Elizabeth I. He wrote it while on his way to Buxton, in Derbyshire, to take the waters for his health.
 
The letter is very special because Elizabeth labelled it "His Last Letter" and kept it close by her until her own death in 1603.
 
In today's talk, historian Claire Ridgway shares a transcript of Robert Dudley's last letter and talks about Elizabeth I's reaction to his subsequent death. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/ApSPxK1d_0o
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 28th August 1551, thirty-five-year-old Mary, future Mary I, received a visit from a delegation of men sent by her half-brother, thirteen-year-old King Edward VI.
Mary was being defiant and disobedient. She was ignoring her half-brother's orders and was breaking the laws of the land. What was she doing? She was continuing to celebrate the Catholic Mass in her household. Find out more about what happened on this day in 1551 and how Mary handled it, in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/aQgA90q7HHw 

August 9 - Elizabeth I's words cause horror among her clergy

On this day in Tudor history, 9th August 1561, while on a visit to Ipswich, in Suffolk, Queen Elizabeth I issued a royal mandate forbidding women to reside in cathedrals and colleges.
Although she wasn't going as far as banning clerical marriage, her mandate caused concern, and even horror, among her clergy, particularly her married Archbishop of Canterbury, who was a huge supporter of clerical marriage.
Find out more about what Elizabeth I ordered, the reactions of William Cecil, Matthew Parker and Richard Cox, and why the Protestant Elizabeth may have issued this mandate, in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/3lNCVq7SOg0
Also on this day in Tudor history, 9th August 1588, Queen Elizabeth I gave her famous Tilbury Speech to the forces gathered at Tilbury Fort. It is a speech that has been immortalised on screen by the likes of Glenda Jackson and Cate Blanchett, and is famous for the line "I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too", but what words did Elizabeth really speak that day? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/0E6-wPzg9ww  

August 2 - Spaniards land in Cornwall and cause trouble

On 2nd August 1595, as part of the Anglo-Spanish War of 1585-1604, four galleys containing somewhere between 200 and 400 Spanish soldiers landed at Mount's Bay on the coast of western Cornwall. 
 
The local militia fled and so the Spaniards went on to cause devastation in the area.
 
Find out exactly what the Spaniards did in Cornwall in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway, who shares primary source accounts. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/fI-N7zVgYR8
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 2nd August 1581, an English Protestant named Richard Atkins was burned for heresy in Rome. What had led this Englishman to his end in Rome? What had he done? And why was he tortured on his way to his execution? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/8HhUzVFVuNg