The Tudor Society

  • June 10 – Two Carthusian monks are starved to death

    10 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    A painting of the imprisoned Carthusian monks

    On this day in Tudor history, 10th June 1537, in the reign of King Henry VIII, Blessed Thomas Green and Blessed Walter Pierson, two Carthusian monks from London Charterhouse, died in Newgate Prison from starvation. They were two out of nine monks who were purposely starved to death for refusing to accept the royal supremacy.

    A total of eighteen Carthusian monks were killed between May 1535 and August 1540. Some were hanged, drawn and quartered, some were hanged in chains and some were starved to death. They were all punished for refusing to accept Henry VIII as supreme head of the Church. All eighteen have been recognised by the Catholic Church as martyrs.

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  • June 10 – Elizabeth I’s “frog”, Thomas Cromwell’s arrest, and the sad end of two Carthusian monks

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, 10th June 1584, Francis, Duke of Anjou and Alençon, died in Paris, probably of of malaria.

    Anjou was, for a time, one of Elizabeth I’s suitors, and Elizabeth appears to have had true affection for him. She nicknamed him her “frog” and considered marrying him.

    Find out more about what happened between Elizabeth and her dear “frog”

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  • London Charterhouse and its history

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    As today is the anniversary of the deaths of two Carthusian monks on 10th June 1537, who were starved to death. I thought I’d share this talk I did after my visit to the home of their order, London Charterhouse, which has a wonderfully rich history.

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  • May 11 – Two Carthusians lose their lives and the doctor who saved a queen

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, 11th May 1537, Blessed John Rochester and Blessed James Walworth, two Carthusian monks from the London Charterhouse, met their ends in York after being condemned for treason.

    In a five-year period, eighteen Carthusian monks were executed, but why? What had King Henry VIII got against these men of God? What happened?

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  • 10 June – Execution by starvation

    2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, 10th June 1537, in the reign of King Henry VIII, two Carthusian monks died after being starved to death in prison.

    What had these monks done to deserve this awful fate?

    Find out about them and their fellow Carthusian martyrs in this edition...

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  • 4 August – 13 Executions!

    4 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Yes, you read that correctly! On this day in Tudor history, 4th August 1540, thirteen men were executed in London – 12 by being hanged, drawn and quartered, and one by being hanged. Awful!

    In today’s talk, I explain who these 13 men were and why they were attainted by Parliament and executed.

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  • 19 June – More Carthusian monks meet their sad ends

    4 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, 19th June 1535, Sebastian Newdigate, William Exmew and Humphrey Middlemore, monks of the Carthusian Order of London Charterhouse, were hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn.

    Their crime: refusing to accept King Henry VIII as supreme head of the Church in England.

    But did you know that Sebastian Newdigate was actually a close friend of Henry VIII? Well, friendship and loyal service didn’t seem to matter if you were viewed as being at all defiant or disobedient.

    In today’s video, I give you a few more details about Sebastian Newdigate and how he came to be executed in 1535.

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  • 4 August 1540 – Executions and more executions

    6 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On 4th August 1540, Brother William Horne, laybrother of the London Charterhouse, was executed. He was hanged, disembowelled and quartered at Tyburn and was the last of the Carthusian Martyrs to be killed. Between May 1535 and August 1540, eighteen members of the Carthusian order were put to death for refusing to accept King Henry VIII as the Supreme Head of the Church.

    You can read more about the Carthusian Martyrs in my article Henry VIII and the Carthusian Monks.

    Horne wasn’t the only one to be executed that day. Chronicler Charles Wriothesley records:

    “This yeare, the fowerth daie of Awgust, were drawen from the Tower of London to Tiburne, Giles Heron, gentleman, Clement Philpott, gentleman, late of Callis, and servant to the Lord Lile, Darbie Gynning, Edmonde Bryndholme, priest, William Horn, late a lay brother of the Charter Howse of London, and another, with six persons more, were there hanged drawen, and quartered, and one Charles Carow, gentleman, was that daie hanged for robbing of my Ladie Carowe, all which persons were attaynted by the whole Parliament for treason.”

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  • Claire’s visit to London Charterhouse

    7 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    In this week’s Claire Chat’s video I talk about my recent visit to London Charterhouse and the history of the site. I hope you enjoy the talk and the photos.

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  • Expert Talk – Thomas More by Stephanie Mann

    8 years ago Author: ADMIN Tim
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    Stephanie Mann on Thomas More

    This month’s amazing Expert Talk is by Stephanie Mann, author of “Supremacy and Survival”. Her topic, one which is clearly close to her heart, is Thomas More, a fascinating man who it turns out we really don’t know as much about as we should.

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  • La Cartuja, Granada

    8 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    El Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, now known simply as La Cartuja de Granada, is a Carthusian monastery in the city of Granada. The Carthusian Order once had twenty-four monasteries in Spain, but the majority were closed in 1836 and their lands confiscated and sold. Only four now remain inhabited today: Miraflores (Burgos), Montealegre (Barcelona), Aula Dei (Zaragoza) and Porta Coeli (Valencia).

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  • Henry VIII and the Carthusian Monks

    8 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Between May 1535 and August 1540 eighteen monks from the Carthusian order were put to death for the same crime, for refusing to accept King Henry VIII as the Supreme Head of the Church.

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