You searched for Henry VIII - Page 20 of 79 - The Tudor Society

The Tudor Society

YOUR SEARCH UNCOVERED 2352 RESULTS

November 25 – Sir Thomas Legh, a vicious man

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 25th November 1545, in the reign of King Henry VIII, Sir Thomas Legh (Leigh) died.

Sir Thomas Legh was a lawyer, member of Parliament, diplomat, ecclesiastical administrator and a faithful servant to Henry VIII. However, his work for the king during the dissolution of the monasteries led to complaints against him and even rebellion.

Legh was a vicious man known for his harsh treatment of monks, but he helped to protect Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1543 when the archbishop’s enemies tried to bring him down.

Here are some facts about Sir Thomas Legh…
[Read More...]
November 18 – Ralph Baynes, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, ends his days in confinement

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 18th November 1559, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Ralph Baynes (Baines), Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, died.

Baynes had started his career in Henry VIII’s reign and in Mary I’s reign, he had been actively involved in the persecutions of Protestants, examining many well-known martyrs and featuring in John Foxe’s “Book of Martyrs”. He came to a sad end, dying while imprisoned in the home of Edmund Grindal, Bishop of London.

Find out more about Ralph Baynes, his life and career, and how he came to be deprived of his bishopric and die in confinement…
[Read More...]
November 17 – The death of Mary I and the accession of Elizabeth I

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 17th November 1558, Queen Mary I died at St James’s Palace in London.

The forty-two-year-old daughter of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon passed the throne on to her twenty-five-year-old half-sister, Elizabeth, who became Queen Elizabeth I.

Let me tell you about the accession of Queen Elizabeth I and the traditional story of Elizabeth finding out that she was queen at Hatfield…
[Read More...]
November 15 – Katherine of York, Countess of Devon

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
1 Comment

On this day in Tudor history, 15th November 1527, in the reign of King Henry VIII, a woman who called herself “the excellent Princess Katherine, Countess of Devon, daughter, sister and aunt of kings” died at Tiverton Castle in Devon.

She was Katherine of York, Countess of Devon, and she was the daughter of King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, and the sister of Queen Elizabeth of York. Katherine was just forty-nine when she died. She had taken a vow of chastity after her husband’s death.

Let me give an overview of King Henry VIII’s aunt’s life and explain why she took her vow of chastity…
[Read More...]
November 14 – An inventory is taken of Thomas Culpeper’s possessions

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 14th November 1541, twelve days after an investigation had been opened into King Henry VIII’s fifth wife, Catherine Howard, an inventory was taken of “the goods and chattels, lands and fees of” a groom of the king’s privy chamber.

This groom was Thomas Culpeper, a man who had been found to have enjoyed secret meetings with Catherine.

An inventory had also been taken of the possessions of one of Catherine’s ladies, Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford. Jane was the widow of George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, and she was alleged to have helped the queen meet with Culpeper.

But what was going on in November 1541 and what was listed in these inventories?

Let me tell you…
[Read More...]
November 13 – Murder by pistol

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 13th November 1536, in the reign of King Henry VIII, Robert Packington (Pakington, Pakyngton) was shot to death by an unknown assailant while he was on his way to mass at St Thomas of Acre Chapel. He was shot with a wheellock pistol.

Robert Packington, who was a mercer and member of Parliament, has gone down in history as the first person in England to be killed by a handgun.

But who was the murderer and why was he killed?

Find out about Packington, his murder, and the theories regarding who ordered his murder…
[Read More...]
November 12 – Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 12th November 1555, Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, died.

Queen Mary I’s lord chancellor was laid to rest at Winchester Cathedral in what is now known as the Bishop Gardiner Chantry Chapel.

Let me tell you about the life and career of Stephen Gardiner, “Wily Winchester”. He led quite a life – going from being a valued advisor to Henry VIII to being imprisoned, and then rising in favour once and again, crowning a queen and becoming her lord chancellor. An interesting man!
[Read More...]
November 11 – Queen Catherine Howard is moved from Hampton Court Palace to Syon

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 11th November 1541, the Feast of Martinmas, King Henry VIII’s council sent Archbishop Thomas Cranmer a letter containing instructions to move Queen Catherine Howard, who had been confined to her apartments in Hampton Court Palace, to Syon House, formerly Syon Abbey.

In the video and transcript below, I share the instructions that Archbishop Cranmer was given and what Catherine was sent for her time at Syon. I also explain what else happened on this day in 1541, along with some trivia about the people in charge of Catherine’s household at Syon.
[Read More...]
November 8 – William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy, Catherine of Aragon’s chamberlain and a friend of scholars

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 8th November 1534, in the reign of King Henry VIII, William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy, died at Sutton on the Hill in Derbyshire.

Mountjoy was a courtier, scholar and literary patron, and he had a wonderful court career. He helped organise the young Henry VIII’s education, he served as Master of the Mint and chamberlain to Queen Catherine of Aragon, and he was close friends with the renowned humanist scholar, Erasmus.

In his position as chamberlain to Queen Catherine of Aragon, who had been set aside by Henry VIII, Mountjoy had to break bad news to her.

Find out all about Lord Mountjoy, his career and life…
[Read More...]
Quiz – The Fall of Catherine Howard

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

As today is the anniversary of King Henry VIII abandoning his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, at Hampton Court Palace after allegations had been made against her, I thought I’d share this quiz from our archives.

How much do you know about Catherine Howard’s fall?

Test yourself with this fun quiz.
[Read More...]
November 4 – Members of the Pole family and their associates are arrested for treason

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 4th November 1538, in the reign of King Henry VIII, Henry Pole, 1st Baron Montagu; his brother-in-law, Sir Edward Neville; Henry Courtenay, Marquis of Exeter; Courtenay’s wife, Gertrude Blount, and the couple’s son, Edward Courtenay, were arrested for treason. They were taken to the Tower of London.

Montagu, Neville and Exeter, along with Montagu’s brother, Geoffrey Pole, were accused of plotting with Montagu’s brother, Cardinal Reginald Pole, against King Henry VIII. Montagu’s mother, Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, was also arrested for treason.

Henry VIII had sought Cardinal Pole’s opinion on his marriage and the papacy, so why were members of his family accused of treason for communicating with the cardinal?

Find out what Cardinal Pole had done to upset the king, and what happened to his family and friends…
[Read More...]
November 1 – A powerful baron who escaped charges of treason

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 1st November 1527, in the reign of King Henry VIII, courtier and diplomat William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham was born.

Baron Cobham was close to William Cecil, Baron Burghley. who was Queen Elizabeth’s I’s chief advisor, so Cobham became powerful in Elizabeth’s reign. Cobham served Elziabeth in a number of important offices and was able to escape charges of treason twice thanks to the influence of his friends and patrons.

Find out more about Baron Cobham’s life, career, and brushes with rebellions and plots…
[Read More...]
October 26 – Sir Thomas More takes his oath as Lord Chancellor

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 26th October 1529, Sir Thomas More was sworn in as King Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor.

Sir Thomas More replaced Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who had been charged with praemunire.

More, who was described as “an upright and learned man”, could not have known that taking this office would lead to his undoing…
[Read More...]
Sunday fun – The Dissolution of the Monasteries Crossword Puzzle

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

The Dissolution of the Monasteries in the reign of King Henry VIII wasn’t fun for those who lived in and depended on these religious institutions, but we can have some fun while testing our knowledge on this topic.

Here’s a crossword puzzle from our archives…
[Read More...]
October 21 – Armed peasants accost a herald

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 21st October 1536, during the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion in the reign of King Henry VIII, a herald was accosted by some armed peasants.

Lancaster Herald was on his way to Pontefract Castle when he met the peasants. When he got to the castle, he met with Robert Aske, leader of the rebels.

The meeting didn’t go well for the herald. Aske would not allow him to complete his mission.

What was going on? Who was Lancaster Herald? What was his mission?
[Read More...]
October 20 – Mary Arundell, Countess of Sussex and Arundel

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 20th October 1557 (or possibly 21st), in the reign of Queen Mary I, courtier Mary Arundell died at Bath Place in London.

Mary is a very interesting Tudor lady. She served at least two of King Henry VIII’s wives, and she was a countess twice over, having been married to both the Earls of Sussex and Arundel.

Mary Arundell has also been confused with two other Tudor ladies, and we don’t know whether the portrait you see in the thumbnail for the video is really her.

Find out more about Mary Arundell’s life, court career and those of her husbands…
[Read More...]
October 19 – Isabella I of Castile marries Ferdinand II of Aragon

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in history, 19th October 1469, eighteen-year-old Isabella I of Castile married seventeen-year-old Ferdinand II of Aragon.

Their marriage may have happened outside of the Tudor period, and in Spain, but it had an impact on Europe and has links with the Tudors.

The couple became the famous “Reyes Catolicos”, the Catholic monarchs, and brough together two powerful kingdoms, which comprised most of what is modern-day Spain. They were also the parents of Catherine of Aragon, who married Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales, and, after his death, King Henry VIII.

Let me tell you more about this powerful couple, their reigns and their legacy…
[Read More...]
October 18 – The death of Margaret Tudor

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
1 Comment

On this day in Tudor history, 18th October 1541, Margaret Tudor died of a stroke at Methven Castle, Perthshire, Scotland. She was laid to rest at the Carthusian Priory of St John in Perth, which was later destroyed.

Margaret Tudor was the sister of King Henry VIII and eldest daughter of King Henry VII. At the age of 13, she was sent to Scotland to marry the Scottish king, James IV.

Margaret Tudor had an interesting life. She was widowed, divorced and unhappily married, and she fled to England at one point.

Margaret was the mother of Lady Margaret Douglas, she was the grandmother of Mary, Queen of Scots AND Lord Darnley, and she was the great-grandmother of King James VI of Scotland (King James I of England).
[Read More...]
October 11 – Prayers for Queen Jane Seymour for her difficult labour

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 11th October 1537, in the reign of King Henry VIII, London was praying for the king’s third wife, Queen Jane Seymour.

Jane was in labour with her first and only child, and the labour was long and difficult. On 11th October 1537, there was a solemn procession in the city of London to pray for her. After about thirty hours, Jane gave birth to a healthy baby boy, who would become King Edward VI.

Let me share some contemporary sources about the procession and Jane’s labour…
[Read More...]
October 8 – The birth of Lady Margaret Douglas, daughter of Margaret Tudor

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 8th October 1515, Margaret Tudor, Queen Dowager of Scotland and sister of King Henry VIII, gave birth at Harbottle Castle in Northumberland.

The baby was a little girl, Margaret, and her father was Margaret Tudor’s second husband, Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus. Little Margaret was born while her mother was travelling to Henry VIII’s court in London after fleeing Scotland.

Lady Margaret Douglas is a fascinating Tudor lady…
[Read More...]
October 6 – Reformer and Bible translator William Tyndale is executed

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

This day in Tudor history, 6th October 1536, is the traditional date given for the execution of reformer, scholar and Bible translator William Tyndale.

One of Tyndale’s works had helped King Henry VIII while another incurred the king’s wrath and led to Tyndale’s execution.

Why? What happened?

Let me tell you…
[Read More...]
October 3 – Cardinal Wolsey celebrates a treaty

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 3rd October 1518, King Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, sang a mass to the king and the French ambassadors at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Wolsey was celebrating a treaty that had been made between England and France.

The celebrations also included a banquet and a lavish masque of lords and ladies dressed beautifully and disguised with masking hoods. Among those disguised were some well-known courtiers, people like Sir Francis Bryan and Bessie Blount, Henry VIII’s mistress.
[Read More...]
September 25 – Stephen Borough, Tudor explorer

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

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

Borough was an Arctic explorer who learnt his navigational skills from first his uncle and then Spanish pilots in Seville.

Borough discovered Novaya Zemlya and the Viagatz Strait (Kara Strait), which was named the Burrough Strait until the late 1800s.
[Read More...]
September 23 – Bishop John Jewel dies

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 23rd September 1571, John Jewel, Bishop of Salisbury, died at Monkton Farleigh Manor. He was laid to rest in Salisbury Cathedral.

Forty-nine-year-old Jewel had been taken ill while preaching a sermon in Lacock, Wiltshire.

Jewel’s life and career spanned the reigns of King Henry VIII, Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey, Mary I and Elizabeth I – a time of huge religious change. He was a clergyman, a Protestant exile, a theologian and bishop, and someone who spoke up for what he believed.
[Read More...]
September 18 – The would-be king consort Edward Courtenay

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 18th September 1556, in the reign of Queen Mary I, Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon, died at Padua in Italy.

Courtenay, who died from a fever, had been sent to the Continent after being implicated in Wyatt’s Rebellion. The 1554 rebellion sought to replace Queen Mary I with her half-sister, Elizabeth, who would marry Courtenay.

Let me tell you more about Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon, and how he was a prospective bridegroom for both of Henry VIII’s daughters…
[Read More...]
September 17 – The Earl of Rutland dies of plague

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 17th September 1563, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland, died.

The courtier and soldier died during an outbreak of the plague, which was rife in London that year and killed about 24% of London’s citizens.

Manners had served King Henry VIII, King Edward VI, Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I, so had a long and interesting career, which also saw him imprisoned at one point.
[Read More...]
September 16 – A third dose of sweating sickness kills John Colet

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 16th September 1519, in the reign of King Henry VIII, scholar, humanist, theologian, Dean of St Paul’s and founder of St Paul’s School John Colet died.

Colet had suffered three attacks of sweating sickness between 1517 and 1519, and it was the third one that killed him.

Humanists such as Erasmus were influenced by Colet’s work.

Let me give you an overview of the life of John Colet…
[Read More...]
September 14 – The death of Sir William Kingston, Anne Boleyn’s gaoler

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
2 Comments

On this day in Tudor history, 14th September 1540, Sir William Kingston died at his home in Painswick in Gloucestershire.

Sir William Kingston was a Knight of the Garter and comptroller of the king’s household during Henry VIII’s reign. He was also Constable of the Tower of London while Queen Anne Boleyn was imprisoned there in May 1536. His daily letters from the Tower to Thomas Cromwell in May 1536 are a wonderful resource for historians.

Kingston had an impressive career serving Henry VIII and was rewarded for his loyal service.
[Read More...]
September 13 – The birth of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 13th September 1520, in the reign of King Henry VIII, William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, was born in Bourne in Lincolnshire.

William Cecil was Queen Elizabeth I’s chief advisor and a man she called her “spirit”.

Cecil is a fascinating man whose court career took him from serving King Edward VI to Queen Elizabeth I.
[Read More...]
September 9 – Mary, Queen of Scots is crowned

2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
No comment yet

On this day in Tudor history, 9th September 1543, nine-month-old Mary, Queen of Scots, was crowned queen at the Chapel Royal of Stirling Castle.

It was the 30th anniversary of the Battle of Flodden and the death of Mary’s grandfather, King James IV of Scotland.

Find out more about how Mary came to the throne, her coronation ceremony, in which Mary howled, and how she was already promised in marriage to Henry VIII’s son, the future Edward VI…
[Read More...]