25 September – an Arctic explorer and a pope’s death surrounded by rumour

On this day in Tudor history, 25th September 1525, explorer, navigator and naval administrator Stephen Borough (Burrough) was born at Borough House, Northam Burrows, Northam, in Devon.

This Arctic explorer learnt his navigational skills from first his uncle and then Spanish pilots in Seville. He discovered Novaya Zemlya and the Viagatz Strait (Kara Strait), which was named the Burrough Strait until the late 1800s.

Hear an overview of Stephen Borough's life and career in this video...

Also on this day in Tudor history, 25th September 1534, Pope Clement VII (Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici) died in Rome.

It was rumoured that he died from eating death cap mushrooms or from fumes from poisoned candles placed in his room.

Find out more about the pope and the rumours surrounding his death, plus what eating a death cap mushroom does to you, in this video...