On this day in Tudor history, 24th September 1486, Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales and son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, was christened at a lavish ceremony at Winchester Cathedral.
His mother's confinement, his birth, his christening and early upbringing had all been carefully 'choreographed' by his paternal grandmother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, and in today's talk, Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History", shares details from Margaret Beaufort's "Ordinances" regarding the christening of a royal prince or princess, as well as sharing specific details of Prince Arthur Tudor's christening.
You can view my Claire Chats talk on Margaret's ordinances here.
Also on this day in history:
- 1516 – Birth of Richard Pate, lawyer, member of Parliament and refounder of Cheltenham Grammar School, now known as Pate's Grammar School.
- 1526 – Sometime before 24th September 1526, Marmaduke Huby, Abbot of Fountains since 1495, died at around the age of 87. It is thought that he was buried under the floor of the chapter house.
- 1561 – Birth of Edward Seymour, Viscount Beauchamp, son of Katherine Grey (sister of Lady Jane Grey) and Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford, in the Tower of London. He was born in the Tower because his parents had been imprisoned for marrying without the Queen's permission.
- 1564 – Birth of William Adams, navigator, in Gillingham, Kent. He is thought to be the first Englishman to have reached Japan (arriving there in 1600) and was the inspiration for the character of John Blackthorne in the famous novel Shōgun.
- 1589 – Executions of William Spenser, Roman Catholic priest and martyr, and layman Robert Hardesty at York. Spenser was executed for being a priest, and Hardesty for sheltering Spenser.