Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

September 9 - The coronation of Mary, Queen of Scots

On this day in Tudor history, 9th September 1543, the 30th anniversary of the Battle of Flodden, Mary, Queen of Scots, was crowned queen at the Chapel Royal of Stirling Castle. Mary was just nine months old.
 
Find out more about how Mary came to the throne, her coronation ceremony, in which Mary howled, and how she was already promised in marriage to Henry VIII's son, the future Edward VI, 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/LRVro8KO3R8
 
You can find out more about Mary, Queen of Scots’ very eventful life in my Mary, Queen of Scots playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLepqWJ7TpkrIIC1eB75JBP8xYcqnqTHt6
Also on this day in Tudor history, 9th September 1513, while Catherine of Aragon was acting as regent for Henry VIII, who was campaigning in France, English and Scottish forces clashed at the bloody Battle of Flodden. The Scots were defeated and King James IV was killed, but what happened to his body? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/scoxeEPvLk4 

September 8 - John Shakespeare, father of William Shakespeare

On this day in Tudor history, 8th September 1601, John Shakespeare, father of playwright William Shakespeare, was buried at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.
 
John was a glover and whittawer, and also an important man in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, serving as high bailiff, chief alderman and deputy bailiff, and being given the right to educate his children at the local grammar school for free. However, he also ran into trouble at times.
 
Find out more about the life of William Shakespeare's father, John Shakespeare, in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/7T5hcKhecYI
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 8th September 1560, the body of Amy Robsart, wife of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, was found at the bottom of some stairs in her rented home, Cumnor Place in Oxfordshire. What had happened to Amy? Was her death a result of "misfortune", as decided by the coroner, or was it suicide or murder? Did Robert Dudley kill his wife? Did William Cecil kill Amy? Find out a bit more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/Dmsqlfm09ZM 

September 7 - Charles Brandon marries Catherine Willoughby

On this day in Tudor history, 7th September 1533, just over two months after the death of his previous wife, Mary Tudor. Queen of France, forty-nine-year-old Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, married his ward, fourteen-year-old Catherine Willoughby. 
Find out more about this Tudor couple, how they came to be married, what their marriage was like, and what happened to them, 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/uabimBawgsI
Also on this day in Tudor history, 7th September 1533, the very same day, Queen Elizabeth I, daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, was born at Greenwich Palace. Find out more about her birth, the reactions and celebrations in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/jvte5RiCKBw

September 6 - Martin Luther writes to the Pope

On this day in Tudor history, 6th September 1520, the famous reformer Martin Luther sent his pamphlet “On the Freedom of a Christian” (also known as “A Treatise on Christian Liberty”) to Pope Leo X. In the pamphlet, he emphasised the “two-fold nature” of Christians as saints and sinners, flesh and spirit. 
Luther is, of course, seen as the catalyst of the European Reformation, and in today's talk, Tudor history author Claire Ridgway explains why, what he believed, how he ended up being excommunicated and made an outlaw, and what happened to him. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/Hua1ahnXyGg
Also on this day in Tudor history, 6th September 1615, in the reign of King James I, Tudor physician, clergyman and inventor of modern shorthand, Timothy Bright, was buried at St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury. Find out more about this fascinating man and the works he published in Elizabeth I’s reign, which have helped people the world over, in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/e_UpY0kNVDc 

September 5 - The death of Bloody Bonner

On this day in Tudor history, 5th September 1569, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Edmund Bonner, Bishop of London and a man nicknamed “Bloody Bonner”, died in Marshalsea Prison. He had started his career in Henry VIII's reign and was not just a churchman, he was also a diplomat.
 
In today's talk, historian Claire Ridgway fleshes out this Tudor bishop who got his nickname from being in charge of burning reformers in London. Find out about his life, career and how he ended up dying in prison. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/Sfs2tJAdSE8
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 5th September 1548, Catherine Parr, Henry VIII’s sixth and final wife, died at Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire. At the time of her death, Catherine Parr was the wife of Thomas Seymour, Baron Seymour of Sudeley, her fourth husband, and she had given birth to a daughter, Lady Mary Seymour, on 30th August 1548. Find out more about her burial, the discovery of her remains in the 18th and 19th centuries, and her present resting place, in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/d4XIrkgjysk

September 4 - A marriage is agreed between Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves

On this day in Tudor history, 4th September 1539, William, Duke of Cleves, signed the marriage treaty promising his sister, Anne of Cleves, in marriage to King Henry VIII. 
Anne would, of course, become Henry VIII's fourth wife.
Find out all about the marriage agreement and its terms, and what happened next, 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/WPs_rlPhg8I
Also on this day in Tudor history, 4th September 1588, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, died at Cornbury while on his way to Buxton to take the waters for his health. The death of her favourite, and the man that is considered to be her 'true love', was a devastating blow to Elizabeth I and her reaction to the news shows just how much she loved her "sweet Robin". Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/BlUicDYZI7s 

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 

September 2 - A very wealthy Irish earl dies in the Tower

On this day in Tudor history, 2nd September 1534, Gerald Fitzgerald, 9th Earl of Kildare and Lord Deputy of Ireland, died in the Tower of London at around the age of 47. Kildare had been arrested on 29th June 1534, accused of corruption and causing rebellion in Ireland. 
 
Kildare seems to have spent most of his career being accused of crimes, but his son Silken Thomas's rebellion was his final undoing. 
 
He was already ill when he was arrested and imprisoned, suffering from the after effects of being shot, but at least his wife was able to nurse him.
 
Find out more about this Earl of Kildare, his life and career, in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/iFWPVHvWirs
 
3rd February video on Kildare’s son, Silken Thomas - https://youtu.be/JA5hsZk0G3k
Also on this day in Tudor history, 2nd September 1591, naval commander and explorer Sir Richard Grenville died at sea from injuries sustained while commanding his ship, The Revenge, in the Battle of Flores. Unfortunately, Grenville's death was a result of him disobeying orders and doing his own thing. Find out more about what happened and hear excerpts from Alfred Lord Tennyon’s poem “The Revenge: A Ballad of the Fleet", in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/ideGMFpNrv4