The Tudor Society
  • #OTD in Tudor history – 28 February

    The Fitzgerald Arms and a photo of Castle Hill, Edinburgh

    On this day in Tudor history, 28th February, Gerald Fitzgerald, 11th Earl of Kildare and the fugitive “Wizard Earl” was born, Protestant Thomas Forret was burnt at the stake, and Protestant reformer Martin Bucer died…

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  • 28 February – Thomas Forret, a chief heretic and teacher of heresy and The fugitive wizard earl and an awful burning

    On this day in Tudor history, 28th February 1540, Protestant Thomas Forret was burned at the stake in Castle Hill, Edinburgh, in the presence of King James V.

    Forret was a former Augustinian monk and had spent his career teaching the common people and helping those in need. How did he come to this awful end in Edinburgh?

    Find out all about Thomas Forret, and why he was accused of heresy, in this talk…

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  • 2 September – The deaths of an Irish earl and an explorer

    On this day in Tudor history, 2nd September 1534, Gerald Fitzgerald, 9th Earl of Kildare and Lord Deputy of Ireland, died in the Tower of London at around the age of 47. Kildare had been arrested on 29th June 1534, accused of corruption and causing rebellion in Ireland.

    Kildare seems to have spent most of his career being accused of crimes, but his son Silken Thomas’s rebellion was his final undoing.

    He was already ill when he was arrested and imprisoned, suffering from the after effects of being shot, but at least his wife was able to nurse him.

    Find out more about this Earl of Kildare, his life and career…

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  • 2 September – A very wealthy Irish earl dies in the Tower

    On this day in Tudor history, 2nd September 1534, Gerald Fitzgerald, 9th Earl of Kildare and Lord Deputy of Ireland, died in the Tower of London at around the age of 47. Kildare had been arrested on 29th June 1534, accused of corruption and causing rebellion in Ireland.

    Kildare seems to have spent most of his career being accused of crimes, but his son Silken Thomas’s rebellion was his final undoing.

    He was already ill when he was arrested and imprisoned, suffering from the after effects of being shot, but at least his wife was able to nurse him.

    Find out more about this Earl of Kildare, his life and career, in today’s talk.

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