On this day in Tudor history, 26th August 1570, Bishop Thomas Thirlby died while under house arrest at Lambeth Palace.
He'd see all six of the Tudor monarchs on the throne and as well as being the very first Bishop of Westminster and Bishop of Ely, he'd carried out diplomatic missions, served as a privy councillor and nearly been made Lord Chancellor. But sadly, his faith led to his fall under Elizabeth I.
In this video, I explore:
- Thirlby's rise under Cromwell and Cranmer
- His role in diplomacy and religious change
- Why he had to degrade his old friend Thomas Cranmer before his execution
- How his Catholic faith cost him dearly under Elizabeth I
- And the quirky Cambridge anecdote about him annoying reformer Thomas Bilney with his recorder playing!
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