On this day in Tudor history, 3rd May 1415, Cecily Neville, matriarch of the House of York and mother of two kings, was born.
Find out about this Duchess of York, and how she is linked to royalty and the Tudors…
[Read More...]YOUR SEARCH UNCOVERED 1673 RESULTS
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May 3 – Cecily Neville, Sir Edward Rogers and Thomas Tusser
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20 December – Edward Arden was hanged and Agnes Tilney begged King Henry VIII for forgiveness
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.
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
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?
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
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?
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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Sir Edward Warner – From the Tower’s Lieutenant to its Prisoner
On this day in Tudor history, 7th November 1565, Sir Edward Warner, soldier, courtier, Member of Parliament, and twice Lieutenant of the Tower of London, died at his Norfolk home.
He fought in Scotland, helped defend Norwich during Kett’s Rebellion, and rose high under Edward VI, only to end up imprisoned after Mary I’s succession for siding with Queen Jane. Then, his compassion for the imprisoned Lady Katherine Grey, who got pregnant while he was gaoler to her and her husband, led to him being imprisoned once more.
Find out more about the life of this Tudor survivor…
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Sir Edward Poynings, the Tudor fixer who changed Ireland
On this day in Tudor history, 22nd October 1521, Sir Edward Poynings, soldier, administrator, and diplomat, died at his manor of Westenhanger in Kent.
He’s not a household name, but “Poynings’ Law” was quite a legacy. That law shaped Irish governance until the late 18th century
Poynings helped Henry VII restore royal control in Ireland, hunted pirates off the Flemish coast, and later steered diplomacy for Henry VIII…
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From “Looking for Richard” to Writing Richard III — Wendy Johnson Interview
In my latest interview on YouTube, I chat with historical novelist Wendy Johnson about her debut novel, “The Traitor’s Son”, her involvement in the “Looking for Richard” project, and her thoughts on the infamous Richard III.
We explore:
What being close to the 2012 discovery in Leicester changed for her as a writer and Ricardian
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Why start with boyhood, and what newcomers should unlearn about Richard
Fact vs fiction: where the record ends and imagination begins
Favourite sources for Edward, George, and Richard
Places that shaped the story: Ludlow, Middleham, London
Teasers for Books 2 & 3 in the trilogy
Plus: Wendy’s top Ricardian must-visit sites, the scene she’d film first, and one non-fiction pick to read next. -
The Sad Life of Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon
On this day in Tudor history, 3rd September 1553, Edward Courtenay was created Earl of Devon by Queen Mary I.
He hadn’t long been released from the Tower of London, having spent 15 years there, losing his father, the Marquess of Exeter to the executioner’s block.
In this video, I trace the extraordinary (and rather sad) life of Edward Courtenay.
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A Groom of the Stool and Tudor Survivor You’ve Never Heard of – Sir Thomas Heneage
On this day in Tudor history, 21st August 1553, Sir Thomas Heneage died a natural death just days after he’d congratulated a victorious Queen Mary I.
He was quite the survivor. He began his career in the household of Cardinal Wolsey, but then transferred to King Henry VIII’s privy chamber, surviving his former master’s fall and rising to the position of groom of the stool. Then, despite his Catholic faith, he served in Edward VI’s privy chamber, and rode to Ipswich during the succession crisis of 1553 to congratulate Mary when it became clear she was victorious against Queen Jane.
Survival at the Tudor court wasn’t about luck, it was about timing, tact, and knowing when to step forward… and when to step back…
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Darkness and a sweltering London gripped by plague – Claire Interviews Author Toni Mount
In my latest YouTube video, I’ve interviewed bestselling author and historian Toni Mount to celebrate the release of The Colour of Darkness — book 13 in the gripping Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery series.
Toni takes us behind the scenes of her writing process, research into 15th-century London, and the creation of her beloved protagonist, artist and reluctant sleuth Seb Foxley.
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William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester, a Tudor Survivor
William Paulet wasn’t born into the powerful aristocracy. He came from Basing in Hampshire, born sometime between 1474 and 1488—even his birth date is a mystery!
His family had connections, but nothing close to the powerhouses of the Tudor court. Unlike men like Thomas More or Thomas Cromwell, Paulet didn’t make his name by standing on principle or radical reform. Instead, he mastered something far more valuable in the Tudor world: survival.
He trained in law at the Inner Temple, which set him up for a career in administration, and he made a very smart marriage—Elizabeth Capell, the daughter of a wealthy Lord Mayor of London. It wasn’t the grandest match, but it gave him financial backing and key city connections.
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Henry Neville, 5th Earl of Westmorland, his magic ring and his murderous plotting
On this day in Tudor history, 10th February 1564, Henry Neville, 5th Earl of Westmorland, died—but not before leaving behind a legacy of scandal, treason, and… magic?
In 1536, at just 11 years old, Henry Neville, who was the eldest son of Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland, and Catherine Stafford, and the grandson of the executed Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was taken hostage during the Pilgrimage of Grace, a major Tudor rebellion. His captors used him as a bargaining chip to force his father’s compliance—quite the dramatic start to his life!
By 1546, Neville had racked up huge gambling debts and was desperate for a way out. So what did he do? He purchased a magical ring that supposedly summoned angels to help clear his debts! Spoiler alert: it didn’t work, and he landed in Fleet Prison.
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Sir Edward Stafford – A diplomat and suspected spy
On this day in history, 5th February 1605, Sir Edward Stafford, Elizabethan diplomat, MP, and suspected spy, died. His life was one of political manoeuvring, intrigue, and scandal—his story a fascinating mix of loyalty, ambition, and betrayal.
So, who was Edward Stafford, and why does his name carry the stain of espionage?
Born in 1552, Edward had impressive Tudor lineage. His mother, Dorothy Stafford, was the granddaughter of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham (executed by Henry VIII), and also the great-granddaughter of George, Duke of Clarence, who was allegedly drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine on the orders of his brother, Edward IV.
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The Dramatic Rise and Fall of Edward Seymour
Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector of England, was the most powerful man in the country during Edward VI’s reign. But how did the king’s uncle go from ruling in all but name to losing his head on Tower Hill on this day in 1552?
His is a story of ambition, betrayal, rebellion, and leadership gone wrong.
Let me tell you more…
Edward Seymour’s rise to power was nothing short of meteoric. As a trusted military commander, a staunch Protestant reformer, and, perhaps most importantly, the uncle of the young King Edward VI, he was perfectly positioned to influence the Tudor court. His closeness to Henry VIII in the king’s final years helped him secure his place among England’s most powerful men.
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Queen Jane, Where are you? – J. Stephan Edwards
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Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset, Henry VIII’s illegitimate son
Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset was the acknowledged illegitimate son of Henry VIII by his mistress Elizabeth (Bessie) Blount. “Fitzroy” is a Norman-French surname meaning “son of the King” and was a name given to monarchs’ illegitimate sons.
In 1519, Bessie had been sent by Cardinal Wolsey to reside at the prior’s house of the Priory of St Lawrence, in Blackmore, before her pregnancy became visible. It is not known when Bessie gave birth to Richmond, or when the child was christened. His birthdate is traditionally given as 15th June 1519, but Elizabeth Norton, historian and author of “Bessie Blount: Mistress to Henry VIII”, wonders if Richmond was actually born on 18th June because Cardinal Wolsey was with Henry VIII on that day and then although he was expected at Hampton Court Palace on 19th June he disappeared until 29th June. It was Wolsey who acted as Richmond’s godfather and who organised Bessie’s confinement, so it is reasonable to assume that he went to Blackmore. Also, as Norton points out, Henry VIII chose 18th June 1525 to elevate his son to the peerage and 18th June 1524 to award Bessie and her husband with a royal grant, so these events may well have tied in with the boy’s birthday.
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Two not-to-be-missed talks in April by J Stephan Edwards in London
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October 8 – Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector is proclaimed a traitor
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
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
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
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
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June 13 – George Neville, 3rd Baron Bergavenny
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.
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He fell from favour after the fall of his father-in-law, the Duke of Buckingham, in 1521, but managed to rise again. -
May 11 – King Henry VIII accuses the English clergy of treason
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
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
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
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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