Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

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/

July 3 - Pretender Perkin Warbeck lands

On this day in Tudor history, 3rd July 1495, the pretender Perkin Warbeck landed at Deal in Kent with men and ships. In the ensuing battle, the Battle of Deal, with Kentish men who supported King Henry VII, around 150 of Warbeck’s men were killed and over 160 captured. Warbeck managed to escape, fleeing to Ireland. 
 
Who was Warbeck claiming to be? Whose support did her have? And what happened next?
 
Find out more about claimant Perkin Warbeck 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/Um4eyVRcDdc
 
You can find out more about Warbeck's background in my video from 23rd November - https://youtu.be/Kdfrn8bj7yA
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, Catherine of Aragon, first wife of King Henry VIII, had a bit of a bad day on this day in Tudor history, 3rd July 1533. Not only had she trodden on a pin and was suffering with a bad cough, but she was also told that she had to stop calling herself queen. Find out how she reacted to the news in last year's video - https://youtu.be/DAOboUEh6uo 

July 2 - Thomas Boleyn's loss is Cromwell's gain

On this day in Tudor history, 2nd July 1536, Thomas Cromwell, the king’s right hand man, was formally appointed Lord Privy Seal. The previous holder of the office had been Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond, who'd been stripped of the office following the falls of his children, Queen Anne Boleyn and George Boleyn, Lord Rochford.
 
But what is a privy seal and what does the Lord of the Privy Seal do?
 
Find out more 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/_czZ6zZXLr8
Also on this day in Tudor history, 2nd July 1489, Tudor clergyman, statesman, theologian, scholar and highly intelligent man, Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, was born. You can find out more about him in the video “13 things you probably didn't know about Thomas Cranmer” - https://youtu.be/hsz09DoX9oU

July 1 - Sir Thomas More is found guilty

On this day in Tudor history, 1st July 1535, in the reign of King Henry VIII, Sir Thomas More, Henry VIII’s former Lord Chancellor, was tried for high treason by a special commission of oyer and terminer. The commission found him guilty and he was executed on 6th July 1535.
 
But how did More, a faithful and loyal servant of the king, end up in this mess? Who was on the commission and what exactly happened?
 
Find out all about the fall of Sir Thomas More in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/R0gqJjQCAAM
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 1st July 1543, in the reign of King Henry VIII, the Treaties of Greenwich were signed. These treaties were between the kingdoms of Scotland and England, and, amongst other terms, was the agreement of a marriage between Prince Edward, the future King Edward VI, and Mary, Queen of Scots. Find out more about these treaties and the subsequent war known as the Rough Wooing in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/0Xmp5ar3MkU 

June 30 - A mortal head wound for a jousting King of France

On this day in Tudor history, 30th June 1559, keen sportsman, King Henry II of France, suffered a mortal head wound while jousting. He died on 10th July and was succeeded by his son, Francis II.
 
Jousting was a dangerous sport and Henry was fatally injured when splinters from his opponent's lance entered his right eye. Awful!
 
Find out more about Henry II's accident and death, and also his reign, 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/H7njMclKCYE
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 30th June 1541, King Henry VIII and his fifth wife, Queen Catherine Howard, set off on their progress to the north of England. Find out about the motives behind this huge undertaking, what happened on the progress, and why Henry's life changed so dramatically when he got back in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/YJqgOXlqxYo 

June 29 - Henry Percy, sweetheart of Anne Boleyn

On this day in Tudor history, 29th June 1537, just over a year after the execution of his former sweetheart, Anne Boleyn, Henry Algernon Percy, 6th Earl of Northumberland, died at around the age of thirty-five.
 
He'd been ill for some time and had actually collapsed after he sat in judgement on Anne Boleyn and her brother, George, in May 1536. But who was Henry Percy and what happened between him and Anne?
 
Find out more about him in today's 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/RiTn2E6Iqo8
 
Also on this day in Tudor history, 29th June 1509, just four days after she had enjoyed the coronation celebrations of her grandson King Henry VIII and his queen consort, Catherine of Aragon, sixty-six-year-old Lady Margaret Beaufort died. Margaret Beaufort was the matriarch of the Tudor dynasty and was an amazing woman, in many ways, yet she is surrounded by myth and it seems fashionable to see her as a religious zealot. But who was this influential Tudor lady? What did she do? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/RGbjeIrxtKc