The Tudor Society

2 July – Old Scarlett the gravedigger

On this day in Tudor history, 2nd July 1594, a sexton and gravedigger known as Old Scarlett was buried at Peterborough Cathedral.

Who was this man? Which two queens was he said to have buried? And what is his link to Shakespeare?

Find out more about Old Scarlett in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts...

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 this video...

Today is also the anniversary of the birth of that famous Tudor clergyman, statesman, theologian, scholar and highly intelligent man, Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury. He was born on 2nd July 1489 at Aslockton in Nottinghamshire.

I thought I'd mark the occasion by sharing a few facts that you might not know about this Tudor birthday boy. Thomas Cranmer is a fascinating Tudor man.

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2 July – Old Scarlett the gravedigger