Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

A new king's journey, an earl who kept his head, head injury kills a king, and a viscountess and her Little Rome

In part 1 of This Week in Tudor History for week beginning 5th April, historian Claire Ridgway will be talking about King James VI of Scotland's journey from Edinburgh to London, following his accession to the throne of England as James I; the life and career of Henry Stafford, Earl of Wiltshire, who managed to avoid the awful fates of his father and brother despite his Plantagenet blood; the death of King Charles VIII of France after hitting his head on a lintel, and the accession of King Louis XII, and finally Magdalen Browne, Viscountess Montagu, patron of Catholics and a woman whose properties were Catholic safe houses in Elizabeth I's reign.
 
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/u8_7TyiwJhs
 
5 April 1603 - King James VI/James I left Edinburgh to travel to London after hearing of the death of Queen Elizabeth I and his accession.
 
6th April 1523 - Death of Henry Stafford, Earl of Wiltshire, son of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and brother of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, who were both executed for treason.
 
7th April 1498 - Death of King Charles VIII of France after hitting his head on a lintel at the Château d'Amboise, and the accession of King Louis XII.
 
8th April 1608 - Death of Magdalen Browne (née Dacre), Viscountess Montagu, following a stroke she had suffered in that January.
 
Other Tudor history events for those dates:
 
April 5 - The Pope was wrong... - https://youtu.be/xK2eAghRhgg
April 5 - A bishop's cook gets into hot water - https://youtu.be/E4i2ZMYWovU
April 6 - The serial secret husband - https://youtu.be/lYBsHD2kMw4
April 6 - Sir Francis Walsingham: The Queen's spymaster - https://youtu.be/XLP3N2AYuLg
April 7 - Robert Aske, the rebel leader - https://youtu.be/h6qe-bftBWA
April 7 - Elizabeth Boleyn, mother of Queen Anne Boleyn, is laid to rest - https://youtu.be/GyWTdjzHrK4
April 8 - The Second Martin - https://youtu.be/4OoFNN0Liu4
April 8 - A cat in priest's clothing - https://youtu.be/OS9hTIwPFhE 
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Claire RidgwayHistorian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Societywww.theanneboleynfiles.comwww.tudorsociety.comhttps://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFileshttp://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/https://twitter.com/thetudorsocietyhttps://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/

Were William Compton and Thomas Tallis, and George Boleyn and Mark Smeaton lovers?

Thank you so much to Omar from Leeds for the excellent questions regarding Showtime's The Tudors series. 
 
Omar wanted to know if William Compton and Thomas Tallis, and George Boleyn and Mark Smeaton really had homosexual relationships.
 
Historian and author Claire Ridgway considers whether these storylines were just fictional devices and looks at whether there were any links between these men, and, if so, what the evidence is for them having relationships.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/G-hby8Myb6o
 
Article on George - https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/george-boleyns-sexuality/
 
Videos;
The George Boleyn Interviews Part 2: Was George Homosexual? - https://youtu.be/SUfINOTBtAE
The George Boleyn Interviews Part 3: Was George Forced into Marrying Jane Parker? - https://youtu.be/A-CGVk70WVM
4 May 1536 - A message of comfort for George Boleyn - https://youtu.be/IGMiJS-5yKE
15 May 1536 - The trials of Queen Anne Boleyn and George Boleyn, Lord Rochford - https://youtu.be/OvB7YhP0VJg
Jane Boleyn - Did she help bring down Anne Boleyn? - https://youtu.be/aL2QqvKNTLA 
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Claire RidgwayHistorian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Societywww.theanneboleynfiles.comwww.tudorsociety.comhttps://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFileshttp://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/https://twitter.com/thetudorsocietyhttps://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/

Poet Thomas Churchyard, Sir Ambrose Cave, Elizabeth Boleyn and the knighting of Francis Drake

In this second part of This Week in Tudor history, which covers 1st to 4th April, historian and author Claire Ridgway talks about Thomas Churchyard, a poet and soldier who kept being imprisoned; Sir Ambrose Cave, a man who joined the Order of St John as early as he possibly could, but survived its dissolution and ended his days serving Elizabeth I; before moving on to the death of Elizabeth Boleyn, Countess of Wiltshire, mother of Queen Anne Boleyn and grandmother of Queen Elizabeth I, and finishing with the knighting of explorer Francis Drake.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/nFGnnMXqZw0
 
1st April 1604 - Death of poet and soldier Thomas Churchyard at Westminster in London.
 
2nd April 1568 - Death of Member of Parliament, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Knight of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, Sir Ambrose Cave, at the Savoy.
 
3rd April 1538 - Death of Elizabeth Boleyn, Countess of Wiltshire, at Baynard's Castle in London.
 
4th April 1581 - The knighting of explorer, sea captain and pirate, Francis Drake, on board the Golden Hind at Deptford.
 
Elizabeth Boleyn is laid to rest - https://youtu.be/GyWTdjzHrK4 
10 Facts about Elizabeth Boleyn - https://youtu.be/CMX89l5Io9o 
December 13 - Sir Francis Drake sets off - https://youtu.be/k7xmAqIGWUw 
September 26 - Sir Francis Drake, the Golden Hind and a whole lot of treasure - https://youtu.be/j8aQfsG7Zik 
April 19 - Sir Francis Drake singes the King of Spain's beard - https://youtu.be/cGRGABOd_ss 
January 27 - Sir Francis Drake - https://youtu.be/LCgBJbxsDds 
 
Other Tudor history events for these dates:
April 1 - Henry VIII courts Jane Seymour - https://youtu.be/MORzUuPS8ec 
April 1 - William Harvey, his experiments and blood circulation - https://youtu.be/xxMha0DQle4
April 2 - April 2 - Edward VI catches smallpox and measles - https://youtu.be/165sCxJn3KQ
April 2 - The death of Prince Arthur - https://youtu.be/eEanoR-aHRs
April 3 - Peace between Elizabeth I, France and the Empire - https://youtu.be/-ay-k25_ZBs
April 3 - The burial of Lady Margaret Douglas, "a lady of most pious character" - https://youtu.be/fuWfShWK-rY
April 4 - William Strachey and Shakespeare's The Tempest - https://youtu.be/BgGZyY6g2TI
April 4 - Mildred Cecil, Lady Burghley - far beyond the race of womankind - https://youtu.be/Jaap4Mj2Jbg
 
 
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Claire RidgwayHistorian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Societywww.theanneboleynfiles.comwww.tudorsociety.comhttps://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFileshttp://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/https://twitter.com/thetudorsocietyhttps://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/

Plays with wonderful titles, Sir Ralph Sadler's busy life, and a dying king makes his will

In this first part of This Week in Tudor History for week beginning 29th March, historian Claire Ridgway talks about William Wager, a playwright and clergyman who picked wonderful titles for his works; the interesting life and career of Sir Ralph Sadler, who started out working for Thomas Cromwell and who went on to serve Henry VIII, Edward VI, Queen Jane (Lady Jane Grey) and Elizabeth I - oh, and Claire will tell us about his bigamous marriage! Then, finally, Claire will leave us with the dying King Henry VIII making his last will and testament.
 
29th March 1591 - The burial of playwright and Church of England clergyman, William Wager, at his church, St Benet Gracechurch. His plays included “Enough is as Good as a Feast” and “The Longer thou Livest the More Fool thou art”.
 
30th March 1587 - The death of diplomat and administrator, Sir Ralph Sadler, in his 80th year. He was laid to rest in St Mary’s Church, Standon.
 
31st March 1509 - The dying Henry VII made his last will and testament at Richmond Palace. He died three weeks later.
 
Sir Ralph Sadler's letters and speeches can be read at https://archive.org/details/statepaperslette01sadluoft/page/n3/mode/2up?view=theater
and https://archive.org/details/statepapers02sadl/page/n9/mode/2up?view=theater 
 
Other Tudor history events for these dates:
March 29 - As foul a lady as the smallpox could make her - https://youtu.be/OkBlboV2G8o
March 29 - Children encourage John Laurence at his sad end - https://youtu.be/ToYVgj9hQqI
March 30 - Thomas Cranmer and his protestation - https://youtu.be/P78Iz-2dLVA
March 30 - A "pregnant" Mary I makes her will - https://youtu.be/LWrcLR61Kbo
March 31 - John Donne, the bell tolls for thee - https://youtu.be/w7Gv5Dw8EJQ
March 31 - King Henry VIII as King Ahab, Anne Boleyn as Jezebel - https://youtu.be/fm1xJmzIyIA

16 Interesting facts about Catherine of Aragon

Catherine of Aragon was the first wife of King Henry VIII, the mother of Queen Mary I and the aunt of Emperor Charles V, but there are lots more interesting facts about this Tudor woman.
 
In this talk, historian Claire Ridgway shares 16 interesting facts about this Tudor queen consort. How many of them do you already know?
 
Here is the link to the video Claire mentioned, “September 9 - Catherine of Aragon and the mystery of James IV's body” - https://youtu.be/scoxeEPvLk4

Walter Ralegh's colonisation, a war over vestments, an earl who saved the day in 1536, and some burnings

In part two of this week in Tudor history, historian Claire Ridgway talks about Walter Ralegh (Raleigh) being given permission to colonise foreign lands in 1584; a disagreement over the wearing of vestments in 1566 which led to a pamphlet war, protests and ministers losing their parishes; a Tudor earl who saved the day for Henry VIII during the 1536 Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion, and the burnings of three Protestant martyrs in Essex in 1555.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/rxdS2f7jpXI
 
25th March 1584 - Queen Elizabeth I granted letters patent to explorer Walter Ralegh giving him permission to colonise lands owned by indigenous people and those previously taken by Spain. This led to the founding of the colony on Roanoke Island, also known as the Lost Colony.
 
26th March 1566 - Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Edmund Grindal, Bishop of London, summon 110 ministers to Lambeth Palace to get them to pledge their willingness to wear vestments. 37 of those ministers refused and a pamphlet war broke out.
 
27th March 1539 - The burial of George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury, at St Peter's, Sheffield. He served as a soldier under Henry VII and Henry VIII, and it appears that his actions and influence in late 1536, during the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion, led to the failure of the rebellion.
 
28th March 1555 - Protestants Stephen Knight and William Ptgot were burnt at the stake for heresy in Maldon and Braintree, Essex, and William Dighel was burnt at the stake in either Banbury, Oxfordshire, or Danbury, Essex.
 
The Lost Colony - https://youtu.be/DQdSpeYbMvg 
Walter Ralegh - https://youtu.be/ISexLsnGKug   
 
Other Tudor events for these dates:
 
March 25 - Margaret Clitherow, the Pearl of York, and her awful end - https://youtu.be/8RKxaGc4sHE
March 25 - Happy New Year - https://youtu.be/73k_gqClpFQ
March 26 - Robert Carey and his eventful ride to King James - https://youtu.be/dTyL66lKqMo
March 26 - Alchemy, astrology and angels   This man was involved with them all! - https://youtu.be/A5hy__pKZuQ
March 27 - Arrangements are made for Prince Arthur to marry Catherine of Aragon - https://youtu.be/ivJa_K_8dh0
March 27 - Reading the Bible in church could get you into trouble - https://youtu.be/nItFisCuqFU
March 28 - The amazing Raphael - https://youtu.be/S7eQEQttjWs
March 28 - Anne Boleyn's chaplain and almoner John Skip - https://youtu.be/yk_TxLMtiPM 
--
Claire RidgwayHistorian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Societywww.theanneboleynfiles.comwww.tudorsociety.comhttps://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFileshttp://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/https://twitter.com/thetudorsocietyhttps://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/
 

Was Anne Boleyn treated as queen in the Tower of London?

Thank you so much to Edith and Lucy the dog for their excellent question regarding Anne Boleyn's imprisonment in the Tower of London in May 1536.
 
In series like The Tudors, Anne Boleyn is shown being treated like a queen even though she's a prisoner, and she's shown being attended by ladies-in-waiting? But is this true? That's what Edith and Lucy want to know.
 
In this talk, Claire Ridgway, author of "The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown", talks about where in the Tower Anne Boleyn was imprisoned and who attended her during that time. Claire also considers whether Anne was forced to watch the executions of the men, and who accompanied her to the scaffold on 19th May 1536.
 
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/zr-wy1DJsac
 
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Claire RidgwayHistorian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Societywww.theanneboleynfiles.comwww.tudorsociety.comhttps://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFileshttp://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/https://twitter.com/thetudorsocietyhttps://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/
 

Henry Howard loses favour, purple fever takes an ambassador, and a Tudor judge and law reporter

In this first part of This Week in Tudor History, historian Claire Ridgway talks about Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey’s loss of royal favour after the English defeat in France, but his children’s joy at the news of him returning home; ambassador Sir Henry Unton (or Umpton) who was killed in France by the "purple fever", and Sir James Dyer, a Chief Justice who has gone down in history as the first law reporter.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/9fV6-17YkJA
 
22nd March 1546 - Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, lands at Calais to relieve Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, as King Henry VIII's lieutenant general. Find out what had happened, why Surrey had fallen out of favour and what happened next.
 
23rd March 1596 - The death of Sir Henry Unton, resident ambassador in France, from "a violent, burning fever" which was described as the "purple fever". Find out about Unton's life and career.
 
24th March 1582 - Death of judge, law reporter, Member of Parliament and Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir James Dyer, at the age of 72.
 
Book recommendation: Henry VIII's Last Victim: The Life and Times of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey by Jessie Childs.
 
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Claire RidgwayHistorian and author, founder of the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Societywww.theanneboleynfiles.comwww.tudorsociety.comhttps://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFileshttp://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/https://twitter.com/thetudorsocietyhttps://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/