The Tudor Society

  • October 4 – Sir John Cheke recants

    5 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Engraving of Sir John Cheke by Joseph Nutting from the Life of Sir John Cheke by John Strype.

    On this day in Tudor history, 4th October 1556, following five months of imprisonment, humanist, former royal tutor and former secretary of state Sir John Cheke made a public recantation of his Protestant faith in front of Queen Mary I and the royal court.

    Cheke, who had tutored King Edward VI and served Queen Jane (Lady Jane Grey) as secretary of state, had been imprisoned in late July 1553 following Mary I’s accession for his part in putting Lady Jane Grey on the throne, but released in spring 1554. Mary I granted him a licence to go into exile abroad, which he did, travelling to Strasbourg, Basel, Padua and then back to Strasbourg.

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  • July 27 – A royal tutor and secretary of state is sent to the Tower

    8 months ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, 27th (or 28th) July 1553, King Edward VI’s former tutor and principal secretary, thirty-nine-year-old Sir John Cheke, was sent to the Tower of London.

    Edward VI had died on 6th July 1553 and his council followed his wishes, proclaiming Lady Jane Grey as Queen Jane…

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  • 27 July – A royal secretary ends up in the Tower

    2 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On 27th or 28th July 1553, Sir John Cheke was imprisoned in the Tower of London.

    But how had a royal tutor and secretary ended up being thrown in the Tower?

    Find out...

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  • 16 June – Sir John Cheke, scholar and statesman

    3 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in Tudor history, 16th June 1514, English classical scholar and statesman, Sir John Cheke was born in Cambridge.

    Cheke was the first Regius Professor of Greek at Cambridge University, tutored King Edward VI, served as Secretary of State to Queen Jane (Lady Jane Grey) and was imprisoned by Mary I for his reformed faith. He died a broken man after denying his faith to survive. Find out more about him in today’s talk.

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  • William Cecil and John Cheke

    7 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    On this day in history, 13th September 1520, William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and Elizabeth I’s chief advisor, was born Bourne in Lincolnshire. He was the son of Richard Cecil, former Groom of the Robes, Constable of Warwick Castle and High Sheriff of Rutland, and his wife Jane Heckington. His grandfather, David Cecil, had been one of Henry VIII’s favourites, and was High Sheriff of Nottingham.

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  • Sir John Cheke

    7 years ago Author: Claire Ridgway
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    Today is the anniversary of the birth of Sir John Cheke, the English classical scholar and statesman. He was born on 16th June 1514 and was the son of Peter Cheke, bedel of the University of Cambridge. Sir John Cheke was educated at St John’s College, Cambridge, and became a fellow of the college in 1529. He became the first Regius Professor of Greek at the university in 1540 and taught William Cecil, Baron Burghley, and Roger Ascham, the English scholar and Princess Elizabeth’s tutor.

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