Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

August 31 - The Bloody Flux

On this day in Tudor history, 31st August 1545, a contagious disease known as the 'Bloody flux' hit the port of Portsmouth, killing many of the men serving on the ships in its port.
 
But what was the Bloody Flux? What were its symptoms and why did it kill so many soldiers and sailors?
 
Find out about the disease, famous victims of the Bloody Flux, and how it is still affecting people today, in this talk from historian Claire Ridgway.
 
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/NjyTFCd0fpU
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 31st August 1555, in the reign of Queen Mary I, former minister Robert Samuel was burned at the stake in Ipswich, Suffolk, for heresy. He had continued to minister privately, after being deprived of his living, and he had refused to leave his wife. He stayed firm to his Protestant faith and became one of the Ipswich Martyrs as a result. Find out more about the man, his visions, his death and the women who died as a result of their connections with him, in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/Nz_YxDvV4VQ 

August 30 - The Treaty of the More

On this day in Tudor history, 30th August 1525, the Treaty of the More was agreed between King Henry VIII of England and Louise of Savoy, who was acting as regent for her son, King Francis I of France, while he was imprisoned by imperial forces.
 
Why was Francis in prison? What were the terms of the Treaty of the More? How did this treaty affect Henry VIII's daughter, Mary? And what happened next.
 
Find out all about the Treaty of the More and its consequences in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society.
 
Also, on this day in Tudor history, 30th August 1548, Catherine Parr, Queen Dowager (sixth wife of King Henry VIII) and wife of Thomas Seymour, Baron Seymour of Sudeley, gave birth to a healthy daughter at Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire. Thomas and Catherine named the little girl Mary after her godmother, the future Queen Mary I.Lady Mary Seymour would soon be orphaned, and by the age of two she had disappeared from the records. What happened to Mary Seymour? Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/R_wMweeswm8 

August 29 - The Feast of the beheading of St John the Baptist

Today, 29th August, is the Feast of the beheading of St John the Baptist. Lovely!
 
In today's talk, Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History", shares the story behind this Tudor holy day, a story which is often depicted in illuminations in manuscripts and psalters. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/euOkRXqXjfs
 
You can see photos of illuminations at https://blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2014/08/dont-lose-your-head-its-just-st-john-the-baptists-day.html and
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/9578703780
Claire's video on Midsummer and St John the Baptist - https://youtu.be/Y-XPm3n-udc 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 29th August 1538, Geoffrey Pole, son of Sir Richard Pole and Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, was arrested. He was already on thin ice, having been a staunch supporter of Queen Catherine of Aragon and Princess Mary, but he now was suspected, like other members of his family, of being in communication with his brother, Cardinal Reginald Pole, a man who had upset King Henry VIII. Unlike other members of his family, including Margaret Pole, Geoffrey managed to survive this trouble - how? Why? What happened? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/HWWQReXzcUY 

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 27 - The Battle of St Quentin

On this day in Tudor history, 27th August 1557, St Quentin was stormed by English and Imperial forces. Admiral de Coligny and his French troops, numbering only a thousand, were overcome by around 60,000 soldiers, and St Quentin fell. Henry Dudley, the youngest son of the late John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, was killed by a cannonball during the storming. 
 
Find out about the siege and battle, and what happened next, in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/W1U1ZqajrUs
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 27th August 1549, the Battle of Dussindale took place near Norwich, in East Anglia. It ended Kett’s Rebellion once and for all. Find out what happened on that day in 1549 and what happened to the rebels who survived the battle, in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/9mUmt9J6_FE 

August 26 - A devastated Mary I prepares to be abandoned

On this day in Tudor history, 26th August 1555, Queen Mary I and her husband, Philip of Spain, departed from Whitehall in preparation for Philip's return to the Low Countries.
 
This was an awful time for Mary I. She had just come out of confinement after months of believing she was pregnant, and now her husband was leaving her. He'd be gone for over 18 months.
 
Find out more about Mary's state of health and mind, the arrangements for Philip's departure, and Mary's reaction, in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/RdzLpuGHaSU
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 26th August 1533, Queen Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII, prepared for the birth of her first child by "taking her chamber" at Greenwich Palace. This child was of course the future Queen Elizabeth I. “Taking her chamber” was common practice in Tudor England, and I explain all of the rituals and traditions involved in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/xsfsQEhlVD4 

August 25 - Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk and uncle of two queens

On this day in history, 25th August 1554, Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, magnate, soldier and uncle of Queens Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, died of natural causes at his home of Kenninghall in Norfolk. He was laid to rest in St Michael’s Church, Framlingham, Suffolk.
 
Find out more about this important Tudor man, and how he escaped the axe-man and died at a good age in his bed, in this talk from Claire Ridgway, author of "The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown". You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/gkA0xdCzT6Q
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 25th August 1549, Robert Kett and his rebels launched an attack on the south side of Norwich and burned a number of buildings. Kett's Rebellion lasted from July 1549 until the Battle of Dussindale on 27th August 1549, but what was it all about? What were the rebels' grievances? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/FKq4MyLj-KM 

August 24 - Cecily of York, daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville

On this day in Tudor history, 24th August 1507, Cecily of York, Viscountess Welles, died at Hatfield in Hertfordshire. She was buried at “the friars”.
 
Cecil was, of course, the daughter of King Edward IV and his queen consort, Elizabeth Woodville, and the sister of Elizabeth of York and the Princes in the Tower, but there's far more to her than that.
 
Did you know that she married without permission and had to be sheltered by Lady Margaret Beaufort?
 
Find out all about Cecil of York's life in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/jShU_-xcJpA
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 24th August 1572, on the Feast of St Bartholomew, an awful massacre took place in Paris, and it was followed by further atrocities in other towns and cities.Those who suffered were Huguenot men, women and children, French Protestants. But what happened and why? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/1DmTMXr0TcQ