This week we have Brigitte Webster talking about the unique link her house has with a Tudor priest and the mystery of Father Richard’s secret oratory…
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The Mystery of Father Richard’s Secret Oratory – Brigitte Webster
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12 August – Ursula Pole and the Father of English Paediatrics
On this day in Tudor history, 12th August 1570, Lady Ursula Stafford died. She was the daughter of the late Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, sister of Cardinal Reginald Pole, and wife of Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford. She had Plantagenet blood being the granddaughter of George, Duke of Clarence.
Find out more about the life of this interesting Tudor lady, and the tragic fall of her family…
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Walter Calverley (d. 1605), a murderous man!
The history of Walter Calverley is not a happy one, and he is best known today as being a man capable of infanticide.
Walter Calverley was the eldest son and heir of William Calverley, a writer, and his wife, Katherine. His family were landowners in the West Riding of Yorkshire, which is where he was probably born.
Whilst he was still a child, Walter’s father died, and under his father’s will, Walter became a ward of William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham. Walter also inherited the family lands at Calverley, titles to manors at Pudsey and Burley in Wharfedale, and several other pieces of land in Yorkshire. On 5th May 1579, Walter enrolled at the University of Cambridge as a scholar of Clare College alongside his brother William. They both left Cambridge in the October of that year, and Walter left Cambridge without a degree and entered into a dubious lifestyle.
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11 August – Sir Maurice Berkeley and Henry VIII treats friars abominably
On this day in Tudor history, 11th August 1581, Sir Maurice Berkeley, former gentleman usher of Henry VIII’s Privy Chamber, died.
You may not have heard of Sir Maurice Berkeley, but he had a wonderful court career, serving Henry VIII, Edward VI and Elizabeth I, and proving his loyalty to Mary I by arresting rebel leader, Thomas Wyatt the Younger.
Find out more about this lesser-known Tudor man…
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10 August – Drownings at London Bride and a battle for the Mary Rose
On this day in Tudor history, 10th August 1553, the same day that Queen Mary I held requiem mass for the soul of her late half-brother, Edward VI, seven men died at London Bridge. They were drowned.
Find out more about what happened to these men – one of whom was Thomas Brydges, the son of Sir Thomas Brydges, Deputy Lieutenant of the Tower of London – how the Thames was the preferred way of travelling around London, and how and why it could be dangerous around London Bridge, in this video…
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9 August – Elizabeth I’s mandate causes horror and Elizabeth I’s famous Tilbury Speech
On this day in Tudor history, 9th August 1561, while on a visit to Ipswich, in Suffolk, Queen Elizabeth I issued a royal mandate forbidding women to reside in cathedrals and colleges.
Although she wasn’t going as far as banning clerical marriage, her mandate caused concern, and even horror, among her clergy, particularly her married Archbishop of Canterbury, who was a huge supporter of clerical marriage.
Find out more about what Elizabeth I ordered, the reactions of William Cecil, Matthew Parker and Richard Cox, and why the Protestant Elizabeth may have issued this mandate…
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8 August – Princess Margaret Tudor marries James IV of Scotland
On this day in Tudor history, 8th August 1503, King Henry VII’s eldest daughter, Margaret Tudor, married King James IV of Scotland.
Find out more about their marriage, and how it was arranged, in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts…
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Henry VII’s Early Life Quiz
As yesterday was the anniversary of Henry Tudor landing on the Pembrokeshire coastline in 1485 in preparation for claiming the throne of England, I thought I’d test your knowledge of Henry VII’s early life, from his birth in 1457 to his defeat of Richard III in 1485.
Get those little grey cells working with this fun quiz.
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7 August – Sir Robert Dudley, Dudley’s illegitimate son
On this day in Tudor history, 7th August 1574, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester’s illegitimate son, Sir Robert Dudley, was born at Sheen.
Find out more about Sir Robert Dudley, who grew up to be a mariner, cartographer and landowner, in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts…
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6 August – Anne Hathaway, wife of William Shakespeare
On this day in history, 6th August 1623, Anne Hathaway, wife of William Shakespeare, the famous playwright, died.
Find out a bit more about Anne Hathaway, and hear the tomb inscription written about her by her son in law, in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts…
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Elizabeth and Leicester by Sarah Gristwood – Lil’s Book Reviews
Today we have a lovely summery video from Lil who is reviewing “Elizabeth and Leicester” by Sarah Gristwood at the beautiful Kenilworth Castle. We get a double treat as Lil shows us some of the wonderful sights of the castle too.
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5 August – Sir Reginald Bray
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4 August – Elizabeth I’s spirit, William Cecil
On 4th August 1598, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, died. He’d been Elizabeth’s chief advisor and a man she called her spirit.
Hear a few more William Cecil facts in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts…
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The Two Annes of Hever Castle – Owen Emmerson – Live chat transcript
Here’s the transcript from our live chat with Dr Owen Emmerson about Hever Castle in Kent. As you would expect, some amazing questions were asked and answered.
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3 August – Lord Russell marches towards the rebels
On this day in Tudor history, 3rd August 1549, in the reign of King Edward VI, Lord Russell marched his troops from Honiton to Woodbury.
They were off to put down the Prayer Book Rebellion.
Find out more in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts…
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2 August – Thornbury Castle, home of the Duke of Buckingham
On this day in Tudor history, 2nd August 1514, Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, was granted a licence to found a college at his manor of Thornbury.
Find out more about Thornbury Castle in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts…
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1 August – John Ashley, or John Astley
On this day in Tudor history, 1st August 1596, courtier John Ashley or Astley died. He and his wife Kat Ashley were loyal servants and friends of Queen Elizabeth I.
Find out more about John Ashley in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts…
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Dr John Dee Crossword Puzzle
Dr John Dee is a fascinating Tudor figure, being a mathematician, astrologer, astronomer, alchemist and antiquary, as well as advising Queen Elizabeth I.
But how much do you known about Dr John Dee?
Test yourself with this fun crossword puzzle.
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Nathen Amin – Henry VII: The Man – Expert Talk
Nathen Amin, author of The House of Beaufort and Henry VII and the Tudor Pretenders: Simnel, Warbeck, and Warwick is our August expert speaker and here he is with a wonderful talk on Henry VII…
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31 July – A butcher kills a baron
On this day in Tudor history, 31st July 1549, Edmund Sheffield, 1st Baron Sheffield, was killed by a butcher during Kett’s Rebellion in East Anglia.
What happened?
Find out…
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30 July – Writer Robert Parry
On this day in Tudor history, 30th July 1563, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, writer and diarist Robert Parry was born.
Find out a bit more about Parry in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts…
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John Cheyne – Julian Humphrys
This weeks’ Friday Video is all about John Cheyne, Baron Cheyne, his life and his links to Salisbury Cathedral.
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29 July – The death of Thomas Stanley, Henry VII’s stepfather
On this day in Tudor history, 29th July 1504, in the reign of King Henry VII, the king’s stepfather died.
Find out a bit more about Thomas Stanley, and his role in helping his stepson take the throne, in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts…
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28 July – Magic and a “detestable vice and sin”
On this day Tudor history, 28th July 1540, in the reign of King Henry VIII, a client of Thomas Cromwell, who was also executed that day, ended his life on the scaffold.
What was the magic and “detestable vice and sin” of which he was accused?
Find out more about him in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts
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27 July – A royal secretary ends up in the Tower
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August 2021 – Tudor Life – All About Anne
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26 July – The Earl of Shrewsbury dies
On this day in Tudor history, 26th July 1538, in the reign of King Henry VIII, George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury, died.
Shrewsbury was a loyal servant of the Crown and a soldier. Find out more about him in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts…
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25 July – A kidnapped child actor
On this day in history, 25th July 1602, in the reign of King James I, thirteen-year-old Elizabethan actor Salomon Pavy was buried at the Church of St Mary Somerset, near Blackfriars Theatre.
Find out more about Salomon Pavy and how he came to be an actor in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts…
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Philip II of Spain Quiz
Today is the anniversary of the marriage of Queen Mary I and Philip of Spain at Winchester Cathedral in 1554.
How much do you know about Mary I’s king consort?
Test your knowledge of Philip II of Spain with this fun quiz.
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24 July – A converted priest loses his life
On this day in Tudor history, 24th July 1594, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Catholic priest John Boste was executed in Durham.
Find out more about Boste and what led to his brutal end in this edition of #TudorHistoryShorts…
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