Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

Treason, Faith & Betrayal

Germain Gardiner and the Prebendaries' Plot
 
In the 1540s, England was a nation in religious turmoil, and those who resisted Henry VIII’s supremacy over the church risked everything.
 
I uncover the dramatic downfall of Germain Gardiner, John Larke, and others caught in the deadly Prebendaries' Plot—a conspiracy that sought to halt Protestant reforms and nearly brought down Thomas Cranmer.
 
Why was John Heywood, the famous playwright, almost executed but spared? And who truly masterminded this failed coup against Henry VIII’s Church?
 
Treason, faith, and betrayal—this is the untold story of the Prebendaries’ Plot.
 
Watch to discover:
 
- How a secret Catholic movement tried to remove Cranmer
 
- Why Germain Gardiner became the scapegoat for the conspiracy
 
- The brutal fates of John Larke, John Ireland, and Robert Singleton
 
- How John Heywood narrowly escaped death
 
Were these men martyrs or casualties of Tudor politics? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Henry VIII’s Loyal but Ruthless Servant

On 6th March 1547, Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton and former Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII, suffered a dramatic fall from power, losing the Great Seal of his Lord Chancellorship. But was this really about his overreach, or was it part of a larger power struggle?
 
Wriothesley had been one of Henry VIII’s most trusted advisors. He played a key role in major Tudor events, including Catherine Howard’s downfall, Anne Askew’s trial, and Henry VIII’s final days. Yet, his opposition to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, sealed his fate.
 
Join me as I explore the life, power, and downfall of this controversial Tudor figure.
 
#TudorHistory #HenryVIII #ThomasWriothesley #WolfHall #AnneBoleynFiles #OnThisDay #HistoryLovers #Tudors #BritishHistory #RenaissanceHistory #HouseOfTudor

The Man Who Gave Us the × Symbol

Imagine a world without the × symbol for multiplication, sin and cos in trigonometry, or even the slide rule—a tool that shaped centuries of science and engineering. Meet William Oughtred, the Tudor-era mathematician, clergyman, and inventor who changed the way we do maths forever!
 
But Oughtred’s story isn’t just about numbers—his life was full of intellectual rivalries, academic feuds, and groundbreaking discoveries. From tutoring aristocrats to engaging in heated debates with his former students, his legacy goes far beyond symbols and equations.
 
Join me as we explore Oughtred’s fascinating life, his impact on mathematics, and the controversies that surrounded his work. 
 
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Who’s YOUR favorite historical genius?
 
#TudorHistory #WilliamOughtred #Mathematics #HistoryLovers #OnThisDay #MathHistory #Multiplication #Trigonometry #SlideRule #TudorEra #Mathematicians #HistoryUncovered

The Tragic Fate of Christopher Bales

On this day in Tudor history, 4th March 1590, Christopher Bales met a brutal and unjust end on the streets of London. His crime? Simply being a Catholic priest. Under Elizabeth I’s strict anti-Catholic laws, his faith was seen as treason—and his punishment was death.
But who was Christopher Bales? And why was England so determined to silence men like him? In this gripping tale of faith, persecution, and execution, I uncover the tragic story of a man who refused to betray his beliefs, even under the cruel hands of the infamous priest-hunter Richard Topcliffe.
Bales’ execution, alongside those who harboured him, highlights the dangerous reality for Catholics in Elizabethan England.
 Was he truly a threat to the state, or was he a martyr for his faith? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
#TudorHistory #OnThisDay #ChristopherBales #ElizabethanEngland #ReligiousPersecution #CatholicMartyrs #HistoryLover #BritishHistory #DarkHistory

A Risky Love

Margaret Tudor’s Third Marriage. On this day in Tudor history, 3rd March 1528, Margaret Tudor—sister of Henry VIII and widow of James IV of Scotland—tied the knot for the third time. But was this her chance for happiness… or just history repeating itself? 
 
Margaret had already endured one tragic loss and one disastrous marriage. She fought for freedom from her unfaithful second husband (despite Henry VIII’s objections—oh, the irony!). And when she finally won her annulment, she wasted no time in marrying Henry Stewart, a charming courtier. But had she learned from the past?
 
Well… let’s just say this new husband had more in common with her last one than she hoped. Betrayal, political intrigue, and royal defiance—Margaret’s love life was anything but simple!
 
Was she simply unlucky in love, or was she a woman ahead of her time, refusing to accept an unhappy fate? Let me know what you think in the comments!
 
Watch now to uncover the dramatic twists and turns of Margaret Tudor’s third and final marriage!
 
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#TudorHistory #OnThisDay #MargaretTudor #HenryVIII #ScottishHistory #HistoryLover #RoyalDrama #AnneBoleynFiles #TudorQueens

If I Could Ask Henry VIII’s Wives ONE Question...

If you could travel back in time and ask one of Henry VIII’s wives a single question, what would it be?
This week’s Sunday Quick Q&A tackles a fascinating “what if” scenario, and I just couldn’t resist picking questions for ALL six wives… and maybe even Henry himself (with a little truth serum!).
 
Which wife would you choose, and what would you ask?
 
#TudorHistory #HenryVIII #AnneBoleyn #SixWives #WhatIfHistory #HistoryMysteries #SundayQandA

Elizabeth I's coronation date came from the stars!

Did Elizabeth I’s coronation date come from the stars? 
On 15th January 1559, she was crowned Queen of England—but this wasn’t just a political decision. The famed astrologer John Dee carefully selected the date based on celestial alignments, believing it would shape her reign. 
But why did astrology hold such importance in Tudor times? 
Listen to find out!
 
Read more: Elizabeth I’s Coronation Chart - https://www.elizabethfiles.com/elizabeth-is-coronation-chart/3477/
 
#TudorHistory #ElizabethI #JohnDee #Astrology #HistoryMysteries #OnThisDay #DidYouKnow

The Reformer Who Was Burned… After Death!

On this day, 28th February 1551, Martin Bucer—a theologian and reformer whose influence stretched across Europe—died in Cambridge. But his story didn’t end there…
 
Six years later, under Queen Mary I, his body was exhumed, put on trial, and burned as a heretic. Why? What made him so dangerous that even his bones had to be destroyed?
 
Join me as we uncover the extraordinary life of Martin Bucer, his struggles, his triumphs, and the posthumous trial that sealed his fate. Listen now and decide for yourself! Was Bucer a peacemaker or too willing to compromise?
 
#TudorHistory #Reformation #MartinBucer #OnThisDay #ReligiousHistory #MaryI