The Tudor Society

  • October 7 – George Gascoigne, a man who helped Robert Dudley with a marriage proposal

    1 year ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, 7th October 1577, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, George Gascoigne died in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

    As well as being an author and soldier, Gascoigne was a gifted poet. He was hired by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, in 1575 to provide entertainment for the queen’s visit to Leicester’s home, Kenilworth Castle. Leicester was going to make one final attempt to persuade the queen to marry him, and he hoped Gascoigne could help him.

    Find out all about Gascoigne’s masque, Zabeta, and what happened at Kenilworth…

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  • 7 October – A poet hired to woo Elizabeth I and there’s bad news for Henry VIII

    2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, 7th October 1529, Pope Clement VII wrote to King Henry VIII regarding his quest for an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

    It wasn’t good news. Catherine of Aragon had won this battle, with the pope deciding that the marriage was valid, but she hadn’t won the war. Henry VIII did get the marriage annulled in the end, but the pope didn’t do it.

    But what was going on? Why wouldn’t the pope help? What was Henry VIII’s argument for an annulment and on what grounds did Catherine appeal?

    Find out more…

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  • 7 October – The man who helped Robert Dudley propose to Elizabeth I

    4 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, 7th October 1577, author, poet, courtier and soldier George Gascoigne died in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

    Gascoigne was a gifted poet and was hired in 1575 by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, to provide entertainment for Queen Elizabeth I’s visit to Leicester’s home, Kenilworth Castle. This was Leicester’s last ditch attempt at getting the queen to marry him and he hoped Gascoigne could help him.

    Find out all about Gascoigne’s masque, Zabeta, and what happened at Kenilworth, in today’s talk.

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  • George Gascoigne

    6 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in history, 7th October 1577, George Gascoigne, author, poet, courtier and soldier, died in Stamford, Lincolnshire. He was buried in Stamford, at St Mary’s Parish Church. He was in his early forties.

    Gascoigne is listed as one of the most important Tudor poets, along with the likes of Sir Thomas Wyatt, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, and Philip Sidney. His works included A Discourse of the Adventures of Master FJ, The Supposes, A Hundredth Sundry Flowres… and The Posies of George Gascoigne, Esquire. Gascoigne was also hired in 1575 by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, to provide the entertainment for Elizabeth I’s visit to Kenilworth Castle.

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