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  • 20 December – Edward Arden was hanged and Agnes Tilney begged King Henry VIII for forgiveness

    2 years ago Author: Joel Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, 20th December 1583, the day after his son-in-law, John Somerville, had been found dead in his cell, Warwickshire gentleman Edward Arden was hanged, drawn and quartered at Smithfield.

    Arden, who was related to William Shakespeare’s mother, Mary Arden, and married to a member of the Throckmorton family, had been found guilty of treason, after being implicated in Somerville’s plot to kill the queen.

    But was Arden actually guilty? Why didn’t others involved end up being executed too?

    Find out more about Edward Arden and what happened in 1583, in this talk…

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  • 9 December – Agnes Tilney, Catherine Howard’s step-grandmother, was detained and Sir Edward Neville was beheaded.

    2 years ago Author: Joel Ridgway
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    In this day in Tudor history, 9th December 1541, sixty-four-year-old Agnes Tilney, the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk and step-grandmother of Queen Catherine Howard, who was being detained at the Lord Chancellor’s home, was questioned regarding the location of her money and jewels.

    Why? What was all this about?

    Find out about this, why the dowager duchess ended up in the Tower, and what happened when she was indicted for misprision of treason, in this talk…

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  • 18 September – Edward Courtenay and a triumphant Henry VIII

    2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, 18th September 1556, Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon, died from a fever at Padua in Italy.

    Courtenay had been sent overseas after he was implicated in Wyatt’s Rebellion as a future husband and consort of Queen Mary I’s half-sister, Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth I.

    In this video, I tell you more about this Earl of Devon and how he was a prospective bridegroom for both of Henry VIII’s daughters.

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  • 20 December – Edward Arden, “victim of a grave iniquity” or conspirator?

    3 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
    1 Comment

    On this day in Tudor history, 20th December 1583, the day after his son-in-law, John Somerville, had been found dead in his cell, Warwickshire gentleman Edward Arden was hanged, drawn and quartered at Smithfield.

    Arden, who was related to William Shakespeare’s mother, Mary Arden, and married to a member of the Throckmorton family, had been found guilty of treason, after being implicated in Somerville’s plot to kill the queen.

    But was Arden actually guilty? Why didn’t others involved end up being executed too?

    Find out more about Edward Arden and what happened in 1583, in today’s talk.

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  • 24 August – Cecily of York, daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville

    3 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
    1 Comment

    On this day in Tudor history, 24th August 1507, Cecily of York, Viscountess Welles, died at Hatfield in Hertfordshire. She was buried at “the friars”.

    Cecil was, of course, the daughter of King Edward IV and his queen consort, Elizabeth Woodville, and the sister of Elizabeth of York and the Princes in the Tower, but there’s far more to her than that.

    Did you know that she married without permission and had to be sheltered by Lady Margaret Beaufort?

    Find out all about Cecil of York’s life in today’s talk.

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  • Richard Edwards – Henry VIII’s illegitimate son?

    8 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
    9 Comments

    In today’s Claire Chats I look at Richard Edwards: who he was and how he has become linked to Henry VIII.

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  • Two not-to-be-missed talks in April by J Stephan Edwards in London

    1 month ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Many followers of the Tudor Society will have read articles by J Stephan Edwards as he regularly contributed to the Tudor Life Magazine. We are happy to announce that Stephan will be talking at two prestigious lectures at the Society of Antiquaries of London on Thursday, 4th April. Both are free and open to the public, but you must register if you want to attend:

    Searching for a Portrait of Jane Grey Dudley, England’s ‘Nine-Days Queen’ of 1553
    Thursday, 4th April
    Society of Antiquaries of London

    REGISTER HERE - https://www.sal.org.uk/event/portrait-of-jane/
    This extensively illustrated lecture examines some of the better-known ersatz images and uncovers the likely or actual identity of many of the sitters depicted. Particular attention will be devoted to an image formerly in the collections of the American financier John Pierpont Morgan and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art with identification until the 1950s as a portrait of Jane Grey by François Clouet. That image, known as the Berry Hill Portrait owing to having last been held by Berry Hill Galleries of New York, vanished into an unknown private collection in 1961. But the portrait briefly re-emerged at auction in November 2021 with an initial identification as Mary, Queen of Scots. The evidence is regrettably inconclusive for definitively identifying the sitter, however. The candidates are limited to just two royal women, however. The most likely identification, in my opinion, is Jane’s younger sister Katherine Grey as she appeared circa 1558-1561, during which time she was heir-presumptive to Queen Elizabeth I. But it is also quite possible that the portrait is the first ad vivum portrait of Elizabeth herself following her accession and can be dated very narrowly to late 1558 or very early 1559. In the absence of definitive evidence, I will argue that the portrait should properly be labeled, pending discovery of definitive evidence to resolve the difference, as “Unknown lady circa 1558-1562, likely either Katherine Grey or Elizabeth Tudor.

    Queen Jane’s Proclamation of Accession of 1553 and Gendering of the English Monarchy
    Thursday, 4th April
    Society of Antiquaries of London

    Register Here - https://www.sal.org.uk/event/queen-janes-proclamation-of-accession-of-1553-and-gendering-of-the-english-monarchy/
    This lecture will analyze the text of the Proclamation of Accession of Queen Jane (Grey Dudley) through the lens of gender and relative to specific gender role expectations prevalent in England during the Tudor period. The document is effectively unique among English and British proclamations of accession in that it presents an argument for altering the line of succession in contravention of feudal custom related to the royal succession and of the Third Act for the Succession of 1543/4. The lecture will argue that the proclamation is a heavily gendered document that attempts, albeit cryptically, to persuade the populace of a necessity to preserve the English monarchy as gendered exclusively male.

  • October 8 – Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector is proclaimed a traitor

    6 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Portrait of Edward Seymour as 1st Earl of Hertford (cr 1537), wearing the Collar of the Order of the Garter. By unknown artist, Longleat House, Wiltshire.

    On this day in Tudor history, 8th October 1549, in the reign of King Edward VI, the king’s uncle, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector, was proclaimed a traitor by the king’s privy council after he’d fled to Windsor Castle with Edward VI and called for troops to defend him and his charge.

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  • September 3 – Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon

    7 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Portrait of Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon, by an unknown English artist

    On this day in Tudor history, 3rd September 1553, in the reign of Queen Mary I, Edward Courtenay was created Earl of Devon.

    Courtenay, who was the second and only surviving son of Henry Courtenay, Marquess of Exeter, and his second wife, Gertrude (née Blount), had been imprisoned in 1538, at the age of twelve, due to his family’s links with the Poles and Nevilles, but he was released shortly after the accession of Mary I.

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  • July 10 – Elizabeth I visits the Tower of London mint

    9 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    A photo of the Tower of London with a c.1560 portrait of Elizabeth I.

    On this day in Tudor history, 10th July 1561, Queen Elizabeth I visited the Tower of London mint to check on the progress of her new coins.

    Debasement of coins had happened between 1544 and 1551, in the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI, when the government was looking to fund foreign wars. The ratio of precious metal to alloy was reduced, so more coinage could be produced more cheaply, with the government pocketing the profit.

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  • June 24 – Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford

    10 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    A portrait of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford

    On this day in history, 24th June 1604, in the reign of King James I, courtier and poet, Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, died at the age of 54.

    Here are a few facts about Oxford, and you can view my video on him below:

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  • June 21 – Henry VIII travels to the Tower of London

    10 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    A portrait of Henry VIII from 1509 by Meynnart WewyckOn this day in Tudor history, 21st June 1509, England’s new king, the nearly 18-year-old Henry VIII, travelled from Greenwich to the Tower of London.

    Chronicler Edward Hall recorded:

    On the 21st day of this month of June, the king came from Greenwich to the Tower, over London Bridge, and so by Grace Church, with whom came many a well appareled gentleman, but in especial the Duke of Buckingham, which had a gowne all of goldsmithes work, very costly.

    It was traditional for monarchs to stay at the Tower of London, where they would create Knights of the Bath, before their coronations. Henry and his new bride, Catherine of Aragon, were due to process through the streets of London to Westminster on 23rd June, and their coronation would take place on 24th.

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  • June 13 – George Neville, 3rd Baron Bergavenny

    10 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Sketch of George Neville, 3rd Baron Bergavenny, by Hans Holbein the Younger

    On this day in Tudor history, 13th June 1535, or possibly 14th, Tudor courtier and nobleman, George Neville, 3rd Baron Bergavenny, died at his home at Eridge in Sussex.
    He fell from favour after the fall of his father-in-law, the Duke of Buckingham, in 1521, but managed to rise again.

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  • May 11 – King Henry VIII accuses the English clergy of treason

    11 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, 11th May 1532, Henry VIII suggested that the English clergy were traitors.

    Chronicler Edward Hall records that Henry VIII sent for the Speaker of the House of Commons and 12 members of the House of Commons, “havyng with hym eight Lordes”, and while holding a copy of the bishops’ oath to Rome

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  • May 3 – Cecily Neville, mother of two kings

    11 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Part of an illustration from the 15th century Neville Book of Hours showing Cecily

    On this day in history, 3rd May 1415, Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, was born on 3rd May 1415 at Raby Castle. Cecily is known as the matriarch of the House of York because her children included King Edward IV and King Richard III.

    Here are some facts about Cecily Neville, also known as the Rose of Raby and Proud Cis.

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  • March 22 – Edward Seymour is in and Henry Howard is out

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, by Hans Holbein the Younger

    On this day in Tudor history, 22nd March 1546, Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, landed in Calais to relieve the out of favour Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, in his military duties as lieutenant general there.

    Hertford had been officially appointed the previous day “as the King’s lieutenant in the parts beyond sea, and commander in chief of the army and armada now about to be sent thither; with authority to invade France at discretion, and to order all admirals, vice-admirals and shipmasters there.” The privy council also wrote to Surrey recalling him to England.

    But what had happened? Why was Surrey being replaced with Hertford?

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  • February 10 – Henry Neville, 5th Earl of Westmorland

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Arms of Henry Neville, 5th Earl of Westmorland

    On this day in Tudor history, 10th February 1564, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Neville, 5th Earl of Westmorland, died at Kelvedon in Essex.

    Neville was born in around 1524/1525 and was the eldest son of Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland, and his wife, Catherine Stafford. His maternal grandfather was Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham.

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  • February 3 – Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On 3rd February 1478, in the reign of King Edward IV, Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was born at Brecon Castle.

    His father, the 2nd Duke of Buckingham, was executed as a traitor in Richard III’s reign and Edward came to the same end in 1521, in King Henry VIII’s reign.

    Let me tell you a bit more about this Duke of Buckingham…

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  • January 31 – Henry VIII’s death is announced

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, 31st January 1547, Lord Chancellor Thomas Wriothesley announced the death of King Henry VIII to Parliament. The king had died on 28th January.

    Chronicler and Windsor Herald Charles Wriothesley records the late king’s son, nine-year-old Edward, being officially proclaimed king

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  • January 24 – Henry VII’s Lady Chapel

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Henry VII and the pendant fan-vaulted ceiling of his Lady Chapel

    On this day in Tudor history, 24th January 1503, the foundation stone of King Henry VII’s chapel, a large Lady Chapel, at Westminster Abbey, was laid.

    At the time, Henry VII planned for the chapel to be a shrine to King Henry VI, who was expected to be canonised, but this never happened.

    The chapel was completed in 1516, in the reign of Henry VII’s son, King Henry VIII, and became the burial place of fifteen kings and queens, including Henry VII and his wife, Elizabeth of York, who have beautiful gilt-bronze effigies, and their grandchildren Edward VI, Elizabeth I and Mary I, and great-granddaughter, Mary, Queen of Scots. Others buried there in the Tudor period include, Lady Margaret Beaufort, Henry VII’s mother, and Lady Margaret Douglas, his granddaughter.

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  • January 22 – Francis Bacon, Viscount St Alban

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Francis Bacon by Paul van Somer

    On this day in Tudor history, 22nd January 1561, Francis Bacon, Viscount St Alban, was born at York House in the Strand, London.

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  • January 13 – Sir Henry Neville

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Engraving of Billingbear House, home of Sir Henry Neville.

    On 13th January 1593, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Sir Henry Neville died. He was buried at Waltham St Lawrence in Berkshire.

    Sir Henry Neville was a groom of Henry VIII’s Privy Chamber and a gentleman of Edward VI’s Privy chamber.

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  • January 5 – The Christening of Henry, Duke of Cornwall, son of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, Sunday 5th January 1511, the lavish christening of Henry, Duke of Cornwall, took place in the Chapel of Observant Friars at Richmond, in Surrey.

    The little duke had been born on New Year’s Day at Richmond Palace on New Year’s Day. He was the son of King Henry VIII by his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and news of the prince’s birth had been met with bonfires, wine being given out to the citizens of London, and processions.

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  • December 20 – Edward Arden and an alleged plot to kill the queen

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, 20th December 1583, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Edward Arden was hanged, drawn and quartered at Smithfield.

    Arden was executed the day after his son-in-law, John Somerville, had been found dead in his cell at Newgate Prison.

    Arden, a Warwickshire gentleman who was related to William Shakespeare’s mother, Mary Arden, and married to a member of the Throckmorton family, had been found guilty of treason, after being implicated in Somerville’s plot to kill Queen Elizabeth I.

    But was Edward Arden actually guilty? And why weren’t the others involved in this alleged plot executed?

    Find out more about Edward Arden and what happened in 1583…

    [Read More...]

  • November 10 – Richard Chancellor is killed after saving an ambassador

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, 10th November 1556, in the reign of Queen Mary I, English explorer and navigator Richard Chancellor died by drowning.

    Chancellor, who is known for being the first foreigner to enter the White Sea and to establish relations with Russia and Tsar Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) sadly drowned after saving the life of Osip Napeya, the Russian ambassador, after their ship, The Edward Bonaventure, was wrecked just off the Aberdeenshire coast of Scotland.

    Find out about Richard Chancellor’s life, career and sad end…

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  • November 2 – The birth of Edward V, one of the Princes in the Tower

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in history, 2nd November 1470, the Feast of All Souls, King Edward V, son of King Edward IV and Queen Elizabeth Woodville, was born at Westminster Abbey, London.

    Edward was King of England for just two months before he disappeared in 1483 with his brother, Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York-

    He may have lived prior to the Tudor period, but the events of Edward V’s short life and reign are linked to the Tudors because Henry Tudor returned from exile to challenge King Richard III, who had, of course, taken the throne from Edward V.

    Find out more about Edward V’s life and how he came to be one of the famous Princes in the Tower…

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  • October 5 – Edward Seymour’s actions lead to his undoing

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, 5th October 1549, in the reign of King Edward VI, Lord Protector Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, ordered a gathering of men at Hampton Court Palace.

    Somerset was lodged at the palace with the young King Edward VI due to tensions mounting between the Lord Protector and John Dudley, Earl of Warwick.

    But what was going on and what happened when 4,000 peasants turned up?

    How did the Earl of Warwick react and what did the king have to say about it all?

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  • September 18 – The would-be king consort Edward Courtenay

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    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…

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  • July 9 – Mary I wants to avoid bloodshed and vengeance, and Elizabeth I visits Leicester’s home

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, 9th July 1553, Mary (the future Mary I), daughter of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, wrote to her late half-brother’s privy council regarding “some evil” that she had heard.

    This was three days after Edward VI’s death and the day after Mary had proclaimed herself queen at at Kenninghall.

    But what was going on? What had Mary heard and was she going to do about it?

    Find out more about the situation and Mary’s letter…

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  • 28 June 1491 – The birth of King Henry VIII

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    I thought I'd celebrate the anniversary of his birth on 28th June 1491 by sharing some of the Henry VIII resources we have here on the Tudor Society:

    Phew! That should keep you busy for a while!