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Tudor Fabrics
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Margaret Clitherow (c.1552-1586)
Margaret Clitherow was born in around 1552 in York and was the daughter of Jane Middleton and Thomas Middleton, a wax chandler and freeman of York. It is believed that she would have been baptised at the Church of St Martin, where her father served as a churchwarden between 1555 and 1558. At around the age of 18, Margaret married John Clitherow in July 1571. John Clitherow was a widower with two sons and a wealthy butcher who became a freeman in 1560 and elected a chamberlain in 1574.
Following her marriage to John, Margaret moved to the Shambles in York, where she helped her husband with his business. Although we know that Margaret had numerous children, we do not know the exact number, but we know that in addition to her stepsons, she had a son Henry and a daughter named Anne. In 1576, she was pregnant and again in 1581. She was released from prison to give birth, but we don’t know whether these children survived.
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Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! Happy St David’s Day!
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! Happy St David’s Day!
Yes, 1st March is St David’s Day, the feast of the patron saint of Wales. Thanks to a friend who’s planted daffodil bulbs on his land, I have daffodils in a vase this year and I’m enjoying leek soup – yum!
The Tudors, of course, had strong links to Wales, with Henry VII’s grandfather being Welshman Owen Tudor, but did the Tudor court mark the day in any way?
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A Grand Prior, Anne of Denmark, Margaret Tudor’s third marriage and Mary Boleyn’s son
In the first part of her “This week in Tudor history” for week beginning 1st March, I introduce you to Thomas Tresham, grand prior of the Order of St John of Jersualem, and Anne of Denmark, James I’s queen consort, as well as talking about another unhappy marriage for Margaret Tudor, and the birth of Mary Boleyn’s son.
1st March 1559 – Death of Thomas Tresham, landowner, Catholic politician and Grand Prior of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in England.
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Phil Downing – Priest Holes – Expert Talk
This month we have the wonderful Phil Downing talking about priest holes. He works at Harvington Hall and in this videos he speaks about the “Terrifying lives of Priests and their Priest Holes: the darker side of the Elizabethan period”.
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March 2021 on the Tudor Society Website
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Rare Disease Day
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Tudor Diseases Quiz
As it’s Rare Diseases Day today, I thought it was only right to test your knowledge of diseases which affected people in the Tudor period, although they weren’t rare!
I hope you enjoy this quiz!
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Tudor Meals: Shrewsbury Biscuits
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A literary patron and her husband, a chaplain dies at sea, and a pragmatic reformer pleases nobody
In this second part of This week on Tudor history for the week beginning 22nd February, I introduce a literary patron and her husband, a clergyman who ended up dying on a voyage far from home and being buried at sea, and a famous reformer whose peacemaking and pragmatic approach failed to heal rifts and please people. Oh and he ended up being dug up and posthumously tried for heresy, and burnt!
24th or 25th February 1618 – Death of Elizabeth Carey (née Spencer), Lady Hunsdon. Elizabeth was a renowned literary patron and was one of the Spencers of Althorp…
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The Vaux Passional and Elizabeth of York’s death
In this week’s Friday video, Claire looks at a beautiful manuscript with links to Henry VII and the Vaux family. It really is stunning and it’s wonderful that it’s survived. It also appears to give us an inisght into his grieving children following the death of their mother, Elizabeth of York.
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March 2021 – Tudor Life – Pride
Here at the Tudor Society, we continue with the deadly sins (!) with this month’s edition featuring pride. The Tudors were a proud lot, and so you’re in for a treat with this edition.
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How to watch the expert talk
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Artists in the spotlight!
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Research for Historical Novels – Adrienne Dillard – Live chat transcript
Thank you to all those who came to the fast-paced live chat with Adrienne Dillard on Saturday evening. Adrienne kept up really well with the questions and it was good to discuss historical fiction with such a successful author.
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Broken leg kills translator, Elizabeth of York’s funeral, and an earl implicated in murder
In the first part of This Week in Tudor history for the week beginning 22nd February, historian and author Claire Ridgway talks about a translator killed by a broken leg, the lavish funeral of Elizabeth of York, and an earl who rose in the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I, but who was implicated in a murder in his final days.
22nd February 1571, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I – The death of translator John Bury after breaking his leg in a fall from his horse….
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Shrovetide and Lent Word Search
This week’s brain teaser is a word search testing your knowledge of Shrovetide and Lent, and the traditions associated with this time of the year. As always, the answers are all on the site. Good luck.
Simply click on the link or image below to open the word search and print out.
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Anne Seymour (née Stanhope) – Did she really have scandalous affairs?
One of the questions I received for the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society Channel’s fan Q&A series was from Tudor Society member Colleen, and her beautiful cat, King Louis.
The question was regarding Anne Seymour (née Stanhope), second wife of Edward Seymour, who, of course became Lord Protector in his nephew Edward VI’s reign. In Showtime’s “The Tudors” series, Anne is rather a colourful character, a badly behaved woman who has an affair with a courtier and another with her own brother-in-law, but is there any truth in this or is it fictional?
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Your Tudor Dream Team
A big thank you to Lorna Wanstall for inspiring this week’s Friday video with her idea about casting our Tudor dream team or dream cast. I’m looking forward to reading your ideas!
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The Life of Anne Boleyn course discount
As it’s the 12th birthday of the Anne Boleyn Files website, the blog that started Claire’s career researching and writing, Claire is offering 25% discount code for her online course The Life of Anne Boleyn.
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Mary I resources
As it’s the anniversary of Queen Mary I’s birth, on 18th February 1516, I thought I’d share some Mary I resources with you. We have so many Mary I resources – videos, an ebook, quizzes, expert talks… Enjoy!
You can download the Tudor Society Mary I e-book…
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A murdered French duke, Margaret Douglas’s bad news, a Tudor countess, and Lady Katherine Grey
In this second part of “This week in Tudor history” for the week beginning 15th February, I talk about how the death of a French duke led to an awful massacre, and how the imprisoned Margaret Douglas heard of her son’s murder, as well as introducing a countess who served all six of Henry VIII’s wives and who was close to his daughter Mary, and a noblewoman who managed to give birth twice while imprisoned in the Tower of London.
18th February 1563 – Francis, Duke of Guise, was wounded by a Huguenot assassin at the Siege of Orléans. He died a few days later and his death was a factor in the 1572 St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre.
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The Tudor Puzzle Book
I know that many of you enjoy our weekly Tudor crossword puzzles and word searches, so you’ll be interested to know that I’ve collated some of them, plus some new ones, in a paperback book.
I did intend to get the book out in time for Christmas, but with one thing and another it just didn’t happen. Oh well, better late than never! It’s available right now. Here are the details…
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A royal pregnancy announcement
This Valentine’s Day a very special announcement was made by Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, they are expecting a child. A royal baby announcement nowadays is made and spread on social media. Since Instagram and other online platforms did not exist in Tudor times, how was this joyous news shared with the rest of the country?
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It’s time for pancakes!
Yes, it’s that time of year again! It’s Shrove Tuesday! We’re celebrating this last day before Lent by sharing two videos – one with a cute dog and one with yummy pancakes, oh and a cute Tim!
Last year, Teasel and I made a video explaining Shrovetide – Shrove Sunday, Collop Monday and Shrove Tuesday – and how it was celebrated in Tudor times…
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The last monk to be Archbishop of Canterbury, a famous Reformer and an earl who wept for Elizabeth
In this first part of This Week in Tudor history for week beginning 15th February, I am going to tell you about the last monk to become Archbishop of Canterbury; the man who wrote one of the most important documents of the Protestant Reformation, and an earl who wept when he had to imprison Princess Elizabeth, the future Elizabeth I.
15th February 1503, in the reign of King Henry VII – The death of Henry Deane, the last monk to become Archbishop of Canterbury.
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Valentine’s Day in Tudor times
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Tudor Williams Crossword Puzzle
William was a very popular name in the Tudor period, so I thought I’d test your knowledge of Tudor Williams in this Sunday’s puzzle, a crossword puzzle.
As always, these are all people who have been mentioned on the Tudor Society.
Good luck!
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Catherine chats to Kirsty from Sudeley Castle
This week’s Friday video is from our very own Catherine Brooks who is chatting to Kirsty Saul from Sudeley Castle. Kirsty tells us about her work, the castle itself, which is located in the beautiful English Cotswolds, and its links to the Tudors.
A big thank you to Catherine and Kirsty for this wonderful video.
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Claire’s birthday and presents for you!
On this day in history, 11th February 1971, our founder Claire Ridgway was born, meaning that she’s celebrating her 50th birthday! And she’s celebrating by doing some kindle countdown deals for 9 of her books!
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