The Tudor Society

28 October – Knights of the Garter, bear baiting and wrestling

This day in Tudor history, Monday 28th October 1532, the Feast of St Simon and St Jude, was the last full day of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn's time with King Francis I of France in Calais, and it was time to celebrate the kings' friendship.

New Knights of the Garter were elected, bear-baiting was watched and then there was a wrestling match between French and English men, but who would win? Find out what happened in today's talk. I also explain the Feast of St Simon and St Jude.

Also on this day in history:

  • 1479 – Birth of Sir John Gage, courtier, at Burstow in Surrey. Gage served Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I, and his offices included Privy Councillor, Comptroller of Calais, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Comptroller of the Household, Constable of the Tower and Lord Chamberlain.
  • 1561 – Death of Sir Rowland Hill, merchant and Lord Mayor of London. He was buried in the church of St Stephen Walbrook.
  • 1570 – Death of Thomas Causton, composer, in London. It is thought that he was a chorister in Cardinal Wolsey's household and a Gentleman of the Royal Household Chapel from 1550. His works included some metrical psalms which were published by John Day in 1563 in “Whole Psalmes in Foure Partes”, and also in “Certaine Notes”.
  • 1571 – Death of William Parr, Marquis of Northampton and brother of Queen Catherine Parr, at Thomas Fisher’s house in Warwick. He had suffered from severe gout. Parr was laid to rest on 5th December in St Mary’s Church, Warwick.

There are 3 comments Go To Comment

  1. M

    The duke who got the order of the garter, was he the husband of Francis’ mistress? Or was that some other French king in another century? Michelle t

    1. C - Post Author

      Anne, duc de Montmorency, was married to Madeleine of Savoy and I’ve never heard of her being one of Francis’s mistresses. His most well-known mistresses were Françoise de Foix, Countess of Châteaubriant and wife of Jean de Laval, Count of Châteaubriant , and Anne de Pisseleu d’Heilly, Duchess of Étampes and wife of Jean IV de Brosse.

      1. M

        Ah, ok. Thanks!

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28 October – Knights of the Garter, bear baiting and wrestling