The Tudor Society
  • Catherine’s ideas for Christmas

    In this week’s Friday video, Tudor Society membership secretary, Catherine Brooks shares some gift ideas and some ways to support historians, craftspeople, and historical locations.

    Over to Catherine!

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  • 3 December – Advent Calendar Treat

    I do hope you enjoyed 1 and 2 December’s Advent treats. The third treat is ready for you to enjoy right now!
    Who is hiding in the very Christmassy Coughton Court today? Find out!

    All you have to do is ….

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  • 3 December – 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.

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  • 2 December – Advent Calendar Treat

    Just a reminder to enjoy today’s treat on the Tudor Society Advent Calendar!

    Who is hiding in the very Christmassy Coughton Court today?

    Find out…

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  • 2 December – 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.

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  • The Last Battle – Julian Humphrys – Expert Talk

    This month’s expert is Julian Humphrys and you’ll learn all about the Battle of Stoke Field, the last battle of the Wars of the Roses. How did it relate to Henry Tudor and Lambert Simnel? Find out in this month’s talk.

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  • Tudor Society Advent Calendar 2020

    Yay! It’s time to start the Advent Calendar!

    The very best kind of Advent Calendar is the sort that gives you Tudor history-themed daily treats, don’t you think? So much better than chocolate! And that’s exactly what we have here on the Tudor Society, a daily Tudor treat for you!

    Hiding behind the windows of our beautiful wintery rendition of Coughton Court, are some Tudor personalities ready to introduce themselves to you. It’s all a bit of fun, and we do hope you enjoy these daily treats.

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  • 1 December – 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, I share 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.

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