Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

November 8 - A true friend of scholars who had to give Catherine of Aragon bad news

On this day in Tudor history, 8th November 1534, courtier, scholar and literary patron, William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy, died at Sutton on the Hill in Derbyshire. 
 
He'd had a wonderful court career, helping organise the young Henry VIII's education, serving as Master of the Mint and chamberlain to Queen Catherine of Aragon, and he'd been close friends with the renowned humanist scholar, Erasmus. He'd wanted to be relieved of his position as chamberlain to the queen, though, after she'd been put aside and he'd had to break bad news to her.
 
Find out all about Lord Mountjoy, his career and life, in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway.
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 8th November 1528, at Bridewell Palace, King Henry VIII made a rather strange public oration to explain his troubled conscience regarding the lawfulness of his marriage to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. In last year’s video, I shared an extract from the king's speech, in which he praises Catherine of Aragon to the hilt even though he'd proposed to another woman, Anne Boleyn. Find out all about this strange situation! https://youtu.be/QE78TDeh7VU 

November 7 - Richard III and supporters are attainted

On this day in Tudor history, 7th November 1485, Henry VII's first parliament attainted King Richard III, and his supporters.
 
As well as Richard, who was referred to as Richard, late Duke of Gloucester, and a usurper, the list of those attainted for their treason in fighting against the king at Bosworth included the late John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk, and his son, the Earl of Surrey.
 
Find out who else was included and whether Parliament's actions were unusual, 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/2v4-qK8oOdU
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 7th November 1541, Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, visited Catherine Howard, fifth wife of King Henry VIII, in her chambers at Hampton Court Palace. Catherine had been confined to her chambers and Archbishop Cranmer's job was to get the now hysterical queen to talk, to confess. He visited her a few times over a period of 24 hours and finally got a confession from her. But what did Catherine have to say? Find out all about Catherine Howard's confessions, and there were several, in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/cJcDEoccZfo 
 
Claire is the founder of the Tudor Society, an online membership site for those who love Tudor history. There, you can learn from Claire and many other expert historians and authors, enjoy Tudor-focused magazines and live Q&A sessions with experts, and have access to all kinds of talks, articles, quizzes, virtual tours and more. Try it with a 14-day free trial - https://www.tudorsociety.com/signup/
 
Claire has written some bestselling Tudor history books:
 
On This Day in Tudor History - https://amzn.to/3oceahH
The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown - https://amzn.to/3m8KaSi
George Boleyn: Tudor Poet, Courtier and Diplomat - https://amzn.to/2TdwyZr
The Anne Boleyn Collection - https://amzn.to/3kiQc1T
The Anne Boleyn Collection II - https://amzn.to/3o9LUwi
The Anne Boleyn Collection III - https://amzn.to/3kiQc1T
The Life of Anne Boleyn Colouring Books - https://amzn.to/3jkJ5Vz
 
Claire has also done an online history course, The Life of Anne Boleyn, for MedievalCourses.com - https://medievalcourses.com/overview/life-anne-boleyn-mc06/
 
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/

November 6 - Catherine of Aragon meets Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales

 
On this day in Tudor history, 6th November 1501, Catherine of Aragon, daughter of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, met her betrothed, Arthur, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King Henry VII, at Dogmersfield in Hampshire.The couple were actually already married by proxy, but had never met, and Catherine had only just arrived in England.
 
Find out more about the lead-up to Catherine of Aragon and Arthur Tudor's meeting on 6th November 1501, including Catherine's journey from Spain to England, how their meeting went and what happened next, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History".
 
You can see the video here: https://youtu.be/m3nE0PKnLng
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, Sunday 6th November 1541, Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife, was abandoned by her husband the king at Hampton Court Palace. She would never see him again. On the same day, Queen Catherine was visited by a delegation of king's council members and informed of allegations made against her. What exactly happened on this day in 1541 and what has this to do with Hampton Court Palace's 'Haunted Gallery'? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/eeQx3R6f0Do 

November 5 - Remember, Remember the 5th of November

Today is the anniversary of the discovery of Gunpowder Plot conspirator, Guy Fawkes, and 36 barrels of gunpowder in a cellar beneath the Palace of Westminster on the night of 4th/5th November 1605. The plotters were planning to blow up the Houses of Parliament on the opening of Parliament and assassinate the king, his government and leading bishops and nobles.
 
But why and what has this event in James I's reign got to do with Tudor history?
 
Well, a lot, because the Gunpowder Plot had its roots in Elizabeth I's reign.
 
Find out more about the Gunpowder Plot, and those involved, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society.
 
Book recommendation: "God's Traitors" by Jessie Childs.TV: Gunpowder, miniseries with Kit Harington
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, Sunday 5th November 1514, eighteen-year-old Mary Tudor, sister of King Henry VIII and daughter of the late King Henry VII, was crowned Queen of France at Saint-Denis. Mary had become Queen of France on her marriage to King Louis XII on 9th October 1514. Find out more about Mary’s coronation in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/I5V4cCcURSs 

November 4 - A cardinal's actions lead to his family's undoing

On this day in Tudor history, 4th November 1538, Henry Pole, 1st Baron Montagu, his brother-in-law, Sir Edward Neville; Henry Courtenay, Marquis of Exeter; Courtenay's wife, Gertrude Blount, and the couple’s son, Edward Courtenay, were all arrested for treason  and imprisoned in the Tower of London.
Montagu, Neville and Exeter, along with Montagu's brother, Geoffrey Pole, were accused of plotting with Cardinal Reginald Pole against the king. Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, was also arrested, accused of the same.
But how had it come to this, when Henry VIII had sought Cardinal Pole's opinion on his marriage and the papacy?
Find out what Cardinal Pole had done to upset the king, and what happened to his family and friends as a result, 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/N8pZeX74glU
Also on this day in Tudor history, 4th November 1530, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Henry VIII's former Lord Chancellor, was arrested at his home of Cawood Castle in Yorkshire. Wolsey was accused of high treason, but why? And what happened when his former servant, Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, arrived with orders to arrest him? Find out more about his arrest and how he cheated the axeman, in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/vyZgnO32sNE 

November 3 - King Henry VIII is Supreme Head of the Church

On this day in Tudor history, 3rd November 1534, Parliament passed the First Act of Supremacy, establishing King Henry VIII's supremacy of the English church and rejecting the authority of the pope.
 
In today's talk, historian Claire Ridgway, shares what the act said and explains that it didn't actually make him head of the church, just confirmed the fact, and goes on to share the oath that people had to take and what it meant if they refused.
 
It was an important act in the break with Rome and the English Reformation.
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 3rd November 1592, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, privy councillor and former Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir John Perrot, died at the Tower of London. Perrot is a fascinating Tudor man who survived being a Protestant and protecting 'heretics' in Mary I's reign, and who was saved six times from serious punishment by Queen Elizabeth I's intercession. Some people believe that this favour, and a few other factors, point to him being King Henry VIII's illegitimate son. You can find out more about Perrot and the arguments for and against him being Henry VIII's son, in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/fErn8FUH6n0
 
Claire is the founder of the Tudor Society, an online membership site for those who love Tudor history. There, you can learn from Claire and many other expert historians and authors, enjoy Tudor-focused magazines and live Q&A sessions with experts, and have access to all kinds of talks, articles, quizzes, virtual tours and more. Try it with a 14-day free trial - https://www.tudorsociety.com/signup/
 
Claire has written some bestselling Tudor history books:
 
On This Day in Tudor History - https://amzn.to/3oceahH
The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown - https://amzn.to/3m8KaSi
George Boleyn: Tudor Poet, Courtier and Diplomat - https://amzn.to/2TdwyZr
The Anne Boleyn Collection - https://amzn.to/3kiQc1T
The Anne Boleyn Collection II - https://amzn.to/3o9LUwi
The Anne Boleyn Collection III - https://amzn.to/3kiQc1T
The Life of Anne Boleyn Colouring Books - https://amzn.to/3jkJ5Vz
 
Claire has also done an online history course, The Life of Anne Boleyn, for MedievalCourses.com - https://medievalcourses.com/overview/life-anne-boleyn-mc06/
 
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/

November 2 - Edward V, one of the Princes in the Tower

On this day in history, 2nd November 1470, the feast of All Souls, King Edward V was born at Westminster Abbey, London. Young Edward was King of England for just 2 months in 1483 before he disappeared.
 
The events of his short life, his short reign and how it ended, are linked to the Tudors because Henry Tudor returned from exile to challenge King Richard III, who had, of course, taken the throne from Edward V.
 
Find out about Edward V's life and how he came to be one of the famous Princes in the Tower, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of several history books. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/PkuqvIT8l3g
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 2nd November 1541, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer gave King Henry VIII a letter that would spark off the beginning of the end for Queen Catherine Howard, Henry VIII's fifth wife. What was in this letter and how did it bring about this queen’s execution? Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/vZe2DtALUsc 
 
 

November 1 - A baron with useful friends

On this day in Tudor history, 1st November 1527, the feast of All Saints, William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham, courtier and diplomat, was born. 
Cobham was a close friend of William Cecil, Baron Burghley and Elizabeth’s I’s chief advisor, so Cobham became powerful in Elizabeth's reign, serving her in a number of important offices. And, this baron was able to escape charges of treason twice thanks to the influence of his friends and patrons.
 
Find out more about Cobham's life, career, and brushes with trouble, which included links with Wyatt's Rebellion and the Ridolfi Plot, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society.
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 1st November 1456, Edmund Tudor, 1st Earl of Richmond and father of King Henry VII, died from the plague at Carmarthen Castle in Wales. Edmund never knew is son because he died while his wife, Lady Margaret Beaufort, was pregnant. You can find out more about Edmund and how he ended up dying at Carmarthen, in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/rXoaun60m5w