The Tudor Society
  • May 24 – Robert Cecil, Elizabeth I’s Secretary of State and her “pygmy”

    On this day in history, 24th May 1612, courtier and statesman, Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, died at Marlborough in Wiltshire. He had been diagnosed with two large tumours in August 1611 and was on his way home from taking the waters at Bath when he died.

    Robert Cecil served Queen Elizabeth I as Secretary of State from 1596 and was retained in that office by James I. He also served James as Lord High Treasurer from 1608. He was still serving in both those offices at his death.

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  • May 24 – Anne Askew, Robert Cecil, and a monstrous birth

    On this day in Tudor history, 24th May 1546, letters were sent from the Privy Council to the future Protestant martyr Anne Askew and her estranged husband Thomas Kyme.

    The couple were ordered to appear in front of the council within fourteen days.

    But why? What was going on? And what happened next?

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  • 24 May – Robert Cecil, Elizabeth I’s “pygmy”

    On this day in history, 24th May 1612, in the reign of King James I, Elizabeth I’s former Secretary of State, Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, died.

    Find out a bit more about the man Elizabeth I called “my pygmy”…

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  • 8 February 1601 – Essex’s Rebellion

    On this day in history, Sunday 8th February 1601, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, his supporters and two hundred soldiers gathered at Essex House. Essex then marched into the city crying “For the Queen! For the Queen! The crown of England is sold to the Spaniard! A plot is laid for my life!”. However, the people ignored him and stayed indoors.

    Essex was forced to give up after his supporters deserted him, and he surrendered after Lord Admiral Nottingham threatened to blow up his house if he did not give himself up.

    Thomas Birch gives an account of the failed rebellion in his book…

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