Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

December 8 - Anne Boleyn's Master of the Horse

On this day in Tudor history, 8th December 1538, courtier and Master of the Horse to Queens Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour, Sir William Coffin, died at Standon in Hertfordshire. 
 
It is thought that he died of the plague because his wife Margaret wrote to Thomas Cromwell saying that Coffin had “died of the great sickness, full of God’s marks all over his body”. 
 
Who was Sir William Coffin and what did the Master of the Horse do?
 
Find out in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway.
 
Trivia: Coffin's wife was one of Queen Anne Boleyn's ladies when she was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1536.
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 8th December 1542, Mary, Queen of Scots, was born at Linlithgow Palace in Scotland. She was the daughter of King James V of Scotland and his second wife, Marie de Guise, and she became Queen of Scotland when she was just six days old. You can find out about her life, including her three marriages and abdication, her imprisonment and downfall, in last year’s talk - https://youtu.be/OGhYsl8cL1M 

December 7 - A rebel (or courageous leader) comes to a sticky end

On this day in Tudor history, 7th December 1549, rebel leader Robert Kett was hanged from the walls of Norwich Castle after being found guilty of treason. His brother William was hanged the same day, but from the steeple of Wymondham Church.
 
In 1549, Kett was seen as a rebel and traitor who endangered the city of Norwich, but today Norwich pays tribute to him as "a notable and courageous leader in the long struggle of the common people of England to escape from a servile life into the freedom of just conditions". Find out all about Robert Kett and Kett's Rebellion in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of several Tudor history books.
 
The 7th December is also the traditional date given for the birth of Henry Stuart (Stewart), Duke of Albany and Lord Darnley, in 1545. He is known for being the second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, and you can find out all about his rather colourful life, his unhappy marriage, his role in a murder, AND his own sticky end in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/1og2l2acXRM 

December 6 - An important man who managed to die a natural death

On this day in Tudor history, 6th December 1573, soldier and administrator, Sir Hugh Paulet, died at his home in Hinton St George in Somerset. 
 
He distinguished himself as a soldier in Henry VIII's reign, served as Governor of Jersey in Edward VI's reign, was a Protestant but survived Mary I's reign and served as Vice-President of the Welsh marches, and had a successful career in Elizabeth I's reign. He was an important man and a servant of the Crown, but still managed to die a natural death at his home.
 
Find out more about Sir Hugh Paulet, 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/x-AOOFI9_yo
 
You can find out more about his son, who was asked to assassinate Mary, Queen of Scots, in this video - https://youtu.be/AH956PwobRs
 
Last year, I talked about the Feast of St Nicholas, which is the 6th December, and how it was the traditional day for a boy bishop to be elected. Find out more about the tradition, why Henry VIII banned it, and how it’s been revived today, in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/QLtx-l95is0 

December 5 - Mary Queen of Scots' husband dies of an ear infection

On this day in Tudor history, 5th December 1560, King Francis II of France, died at the age of just 15. Francis was King Consort of Scotland, as the husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, and his father had also proclaimed him and Mary as King and Queen of England back in 1558!
 
He was taken ill in mid-November with what appears to have been an ear infection, and it led to him dying on this day in history. His death led to Mary, Queen of Scots, returning to her homeland of Scotland, a country she hadn't seen for 13 years. 
 
Find out more about Francis II of France, his marriage to Mary, Queen of Scots, his death and what happened next, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society.
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 5th December 1556, Anne de Vere was born, She was the daughter of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, and his second wife, Mildred Cooke. Anne only lived until she was 31 years old, but in her short life she managed to impress scholars, have five children, and have a rather eventful and unhappy marriage with Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, who didn't treat her at all well and even refused to recognise their first daughter as his own, at one point. If only she had married Philip Sidney instead! Find out more about Anne in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/pUXSKiNLXo8 

December 4 - Murder made to look like suicide!

On this day in Tudor history, 4th December 1514, merchant tailor and leading member of the Lollard community in London, Richard Hunne died while imprisoned in the Lollard's Tower at St Paul's. 
 
Hunne, who had been arrested for heresy in October 1514, was discovered hanging from the ceiling of his cell. The Bishop of London and his chancellor claimed that Hunne had used his own silk girdle to commit suicide, but a coroner's inquest ruled that the hanging was faked and that Hunne was murdered.
 
But why was Richard Hunne murdered? And why had this merchant tailor been arrested in the first place? Was it just for heresy, or was there more to it?
 
Find out all about Hunne, his arrest, the charges against him, his death 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/mNGjbWs58JA
 
You can read more about Hunne's case in John Foxe's Book of Martyrs at https://www.exclassics.com/foxe/foxe142.htm 
 
Tomorrow, I’ll be talking about the death of a young king from what appears to have been an ear infection. Do make sure you’re subscribed and that you’ve hit the bell so you don’t miss that video.
Also on this day in Tudor history, 4th December 1555, in Rome, papal sentence was passed on Thomas Cranmer, resulting in him being deprived of his archbishopric. Permission was also granted for his fate to be decided by the secular authorities. Thomas Cranmer went on to recant his Protestant faith on several occasions, but was still executed by being burned at the stake. Why? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/KRuycWXw1Jo 

December 3 - Roger North, a man close to Robert Dudley and Queen Elizabeth I

On this day in Tudor history, 3rd December 1600, sixty-nine-year-old peer and politician Roger North, 2nd Baron North, died at his London home.
 
North was a good friend of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, accompanying him on trips, witnessing his secret marriage and serving with him in the Netherlands. It was even said that he'd converted Leicester to Puritanism! North also served Elizabeth I as Privy Councillor and Treasurer of the Household, and was close to the queen.
 
Find out more about Leicester's good friend Roger North, his life and career, 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/aKtKO5W36HI
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 3rd December 1536, a proclamation was made to the rebels of the Pilgrimage of Grace offering them a pardon. Henry VIII offered the rebels "free pardons" for their rebellion against him, his advisors and his religious measures, yet prominent rebels ended up being executed. I explain what happened in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/4S_zCy-NMqU 
 
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/

December 2 - Elizabeth I relents and agrees to execute Mary, Queen of Scots

On this day in Tudor history, 2nd December 1586, following a joint petition from the Houses of Lords and Commons, Elizabeth I finally agreed to a public proclamation of sentence against Mary, Queen of Scots: death.
 
Mary had been found guilty of high treason back in October 1586, but Elizabeth had not wanted to contemplate regicide. However,  Parliament believed that if Mary, Queen of Scots, was not executed, that she'd continue to plot against Elizabeth and would utterly "ruinate and overthrow the happy State and Common Weal of this most Noble Realm". She was too much of a danger and needed dealing with once and for all.
 
Find out what Parliament said and what happened next in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway.
 
September 26 - The man Elizabeth I wanted to murder Mary, Queen of Scots - https://youtu.be/AH956PwobRs 
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 2nd December 1546, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, poet, courtier, soldier and the eldest son of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, was arrested after a former friend gave evidence against him. King Henry VIII had just weeks to live and was increasingly paranoid, so the 'evidence' was just what Surrey's enemies needed to bring the earl down. Find out more about the Earl of Surrey's downfall, and how his father managed to keep his head in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/qgOp-iremGg 

December 1 - A Catholic priest is tortured then executed

On this day in Tudor history, 1st December 1581, twenty-five year old Roman Catholic priest Alexander Briant was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn, along with Ralph Sherwin and Edmund Campion. 
 
Briant had been imprisoned, starved, racked and tortured in other awful ways, but he claimed that he felt no pain due to God's help. He refused to give his interrogators the information he wanted, and he was tried for treason and suffered a full traitor's death.
 
In today's talk, Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History", shares Alexander Briant's story, what led to his arrest,  his account of what happened when he was tortured and his fellow prisoner's account of what was done to him. 
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 1st December 1541, Thomas Culpeper and Francis Dereham were tried for high treason at Guildhall, London. Both men had been linked romantically with Queen Catherine Howard. They were both found guilty of treason and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. But what about Catherine Howard and her lady, Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, who had also been arrested. What was happening with them? Find out more about them, and the trial of Dereham and Culpeper in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/3vf3zSxkDf0