20 October – Mary Arundell’s death and Pontefract Castle’s surrender to rebels

On this day in Tudor history, 20th October 1557, or possibly 21st, courtier Mary Arundell died at Bath Place in London.

Mary is an interesting Tudor lady. Not only did she serve at least two of Henry VIII’s wives, but she was a countess twice over, having been married to both the Earls of Sussex and Arundel. She has also been confused with two other Tudor ladies, and we don't know whether the portrait you see in the thumbnail is really her.

Find out more about Mary Arundell's life, court career and those of her husbands, in this video...

Also on this day in Tudor history, 20th October 1536, Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy, yielded Pontefract Castle to the rebels of the Pilgrimage of Grace.

However, all was not as it seemed, as Darcy and others on the castle were actually sympathetic to the rebel cause.

Find out more about the situation at Pontefract Castle, the letters Darcy wrote to King Henry VIII, what happened on the night of 19th October and morning of 20th October, and why Darcy came to a sticky end, in this video...