Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

July 11 - Men change sides from Queen Jane to Mary

On this day in history, 11th July 1553, in Ipswich, Suffolk, Sir Thomas Cornwallis, sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk, Lord Thomas Wentworth, and some other prominent Suffolk gentlemen declared for Queen Jane (Lady Jane Grey) and publicly proclaimed her the rightful queen. However, the following day, Cornwallis recanted and proclaimed Mary as queen.
 
Why? What happened to make this sheriff change his mind so soon?
 
Find out more about the situation in July 1553 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/Vu1bD2dJIQ4
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 11th July 1533, Pope Clement VII had had enough of the misbehaving King Henry VIII. But how had this English king gone from being lauded as Defender of the Faith to now being threatened with excommunication? What had he done to upset the Pope? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/WepPlD4RW60 

July 10 - The Throckmorton Plot against Elizabeth I

On this day in Tudor history, 10th July 1584, Catholic conspirator, Francis Throckmorton, was executed at Tyburn for high treason after the Throckmorton Plot had been discovered.
 
The Throckmorton Plot was a plot to depose Elizabeth I and to replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots, but why did Francis Throckmorton plot against his queen? Who did he plot with and how was the plot discovered?
 
Find out more about Francis Throckmorton and his plot in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/V4nOTSdE27Y
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 10th July 1553, Lady Jane Grey was officially proclaimed “Queen Jane” at the Tower of London, in Cheapside and Fleet Street. However, one young man could not keep quiet about his views regarding Mary being the rightful queen and he suffered a nasty punishment as a result. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/dWcNfJCLqkw 
 

July 9 - Mary wants to avoid bloodshed and vengeance

On this day in Tudor history, 9th July 1553, three days after the death of her half-brother, King Edward VI, and the day after she'd proclaimed herself queen at her estate at Kenninghall, Mary (future Mary I), daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, wrote to the late king's privy council regarding "some evil" that she'd heard.
 
But what was going on? What had Mary heard and what was she going to do about it?
 
Find out more about the situation and Mary's letter 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/VEGUbLa45AM
 
Also on this day in history, 9th July 1540, Anne of Cleves went from being Henry VIII’s queen consort to being his “right dear and right entirely beloved sister” after their marriage was annulled. Why was their marriage annulled? How did Anne of Cleves react to the news? What happened to her and Henry VIII afterwards? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/DUblFQhi58M 

July 8 - Thomas Boleyn's important duty

On this day in Tudor history, on 8th July 1503, during the reign of King Henry VII, Thomas Boleyn, father of Anne Boleyn, left Collyweston in Northamptonshire to undertake an important job for the king.
 
He was to be part of a retinue escorting King Henry VII's eldest daughter, Margaret Tudor, to Scotland, for her marriage to King James IV.
 
Find out more about the retinue and journey 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/eK4F_if9Nm0
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 8th July 1553, two days after her half-brother King Edward VI's death and one day after hearing news of his death, Mary, daughter of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, declared that she was Edward VI's heir and so was queen - Queen Mary I. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/M4uasqpXbHs 
John Leland's full account can be read in Joannis Lelandi antiquarii De rebus Britannicis collectanea - https://archive.org/stream/joannislelandia01heargoog#page/n324/mode/2up, p. 265 onwards.

July 7 - William Turner, Father of English botany

On this day in Tudor history, 7th July 1568, naturalist, herbalist, ornithologist, reformer and physician, William Turner, died. Turner is known as “the father of English botany and of ornithology”, but why and who exactly was he? 
 
In today's talk, historian Claire Ridgway gives an overview of Turner's life and career, including his attacks on Bishop Gardiner and his time in exile, plus a bit of trivia about the training of his little dog. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/0sl9iHg7qEY
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 7th July 1556, in the reign of Queen Mary I, Henry Peckham and John Danyell were hanged, drawn and quartered after being found guilty of treason for their involvement in the Dudley Conspiracy. But what was the Dudley Conspiracy? And who was involved in it? What happened? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/Q9M_UKKxUws 
 
Turner’s “A new herball, wherin are conteyned the names of herbes….” - https://archive.org/details/b30342053_0002
 
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/

July 6 - The execution of Sir Thomas More

On this day in Tudor history, Tuesday 6th July 1535, Henry VIII’s former friend and Lord Chancellor, Sir Thomas More, was beheaded on Tower Hill as a traitor. 
 
In today's talk, historian Claire Ridgway shares accounts of his execution, including one that gives real insight into More's personality, with his black humour on the scaffold.
 
Claire also gives details on the fate of Sir Thomas More's head and what his daughter, Margaret Roper, did with it. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/e8sf5B6Q5mI
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 6th July 1553, fifteen-year-old King Edward VI died at Greenwich Palace leaving the throne to his cousin's eldest daughter, Lady Jane Grey. Find out more about Edward's final illness and last days, his “Devise for the Succession”, and Lady Jane Grey's reaction at being told that she was Edward’s successor, in my video from last year - https://youtu.be/4UIMLCjf3e0 

July 5 - Sir Thomas More's last letter

On this day in Tudor history, 5th July 1535, Henry VIII’s former Lord Chancellor and good friend, Sir Thomas More, wrote his final letter.
 
More's last letter was addressed to his beloved daughter Margaret (Meg) Roper and it was written in coal. It is a touching letter and includes instructions and messages for other members of the family.
 
In today's talk, historian Claire Ridgway shares Sir Thomas More's letter and gives details on the people mentioned, along with explaining the meaning of the algorism stone.
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 5th July 1589, three Essex women were hanged at Chelmsford, Essex, after being found guilty of murder by witchcraft. Find out how these women came to be accused of witchcraft and why they were hanged in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/hpmkvJyc6x8 

July 4 - Gregory Cromwell - who was he?

On this day in Tudor history, 4th July 1551, Gregory Cromwell, 1st Baron Cromwell, died of sweating sickness at Launde Abbey in Leicestershire. He was laid to rest at the abbey’s chapel on 7th July.
Gregory Cromwell was the son of the more famous Thomas Cromwell, but what do we know about him and what happened to him after his father's fall in 1540? 
 
Find out about the life and career of Gregory Cromwell in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/7GYY2mLml9o
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 4th July 1533, two men were burnt at the stake at Smithfield for heresy: reformer and theologian John Frith, for his belief that Purgatory didn't exist and his views on the sacrament, and tailor's apprentice Andrew Hewt for his belief regarding the sacrament. Find out more about what was wrong with their beliefs and how they were betrayed in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/IKhab0W7IuQ  
 
You can read Teri Fitzgerald's article on Gregory Cromwell at https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/the-real-wolf-hall-the-cromwell-family-in-wolf-hall-gregory-cromwell/