Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

On this day in Tudor history, 25th May 1551, at around noon, Croydon and several Surrey villages, in the south of England, experienced a “great shaking of the ground”, in other words, an earthquake.   In today's talk, Tudor history author, Claire Ridgway, shares descriptions of this earthquake, as well as other Tudor earthquakes, such as the famous 1580 Dover Straits Earthquake, which causes fatalities and damage.   You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/CKKhplIBCi4   Also on this day in Tudor history, 25th May 1553, Lady Jane Grey got married to Lord Guildford Dudley, son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. They weren't the only couple to get married in the ceremony at Durham House, Jane's sister, Katherine, and Guildford's sister, Catherine, also got married. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/0_cFulXOssU    Read "A warning for the wise, a feare to the fond, a bridle to the lewde, and a glasse to the good Written of the late earthquake chanced in London and other places, the. 6. of April 1580. for the glorie of God, and benefite of men that warely can walke, and wisely can iudge", Churchyard's pamphlet on the 1580 eathquake, at https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A18767.0001.001?view=toc 

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.   In today's talk, historian Claire Ridgway gives an overview of the life of Anne Askew, who was famously racked illegally at the Tower of London prior to being burnt as a heretic. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/nvtJAJ0I_gw   Also on this day in Tudor history, 24th May 1562, according to contemporary sources, a "monstrous" child was born in Chichester, Sussex.This deformed baby was not the only "monstrous" birth that year and these events were seen as signs from God. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/K1kml_DFVLk    More Anne Askew videos: June 18 - Protestant martyr Anne Askew is found guilty of heresy - https://youtu.be/bmJtFqoJXDcJuly 16 - Anne Askew's courageous end - https://youtu.be/29QImEPHhbE

  On this day in Tudor history, 23rd May 1554, Elizabeth, daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, arrived at the Palace of Woodstock in Oxfordshire, where she was placed under house arrest.   Elizabeth remained under house arrest there for just under a year, and she didn't make it easy for her gaoler, Sir Henry Bedingfield, and neither did her servants.   Find out why Elizabeth was under house arrest and what happened in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History". https://youtu.be/OAZzfipAj6k   Also on this day in Tudor history, 23rd May 1533, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer declared the sentence of the special court that had met at Dunstable Priory in Bedfordshire to rule on the case for the annulment of King Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Find out more about this in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/i01ih2JcyGo 

On this day in Tudor history, 22nd May 1541, following their elections on St George’s Day, 23rd April 1541, Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford; Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey; Sir John Gage, and Sir Anthony Wingfield were all installed as Knights of the Garter.   Who were these men and what was the Order of the Garter?   Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society, introduces these Garter Knights and explains the origins of the Order of the Garter, England's oldest order of chivalry.   You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/YR85DSx3ONA   Also on this day in Tudor history, 22nd May 1538, Franciscan friar John Forest met his end at Smithfield in London for his allegiance to the Church of Rome. His death, along with the burning of a religious statue from Wales, was said to be the fulfilment of a prophecy made about the statue. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/om41xAXnxcQ

On this day in Tudor history,  21st May 1524, in the reign of King Henry VIII, courtier, magnate and soldier, Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, died at Framlingham Castle in Suffolk. He was about 81 years of age when he died.   Norfolk was the grandfather of Queens Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, but there was far more to him than that. In today's talk, historian Claire Ridgway introduces a man who was still leading troops into battle in his seventies. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:https://youtu.be/_gBIq8mGs24   Also on this day in Tudor history, 21st May 1535, reformer and Bible translator William Tyndale was arrested in Antwerp. Why was Tyndale arrested and why didn't King Henry VIII help him? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/Ip6PaFlQe1E 

On this day in Tudor history, 20th May 1535, Pope Paul III made John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, Cardinal-Priest of San Vitale, and arranged to have his cardinal's hat sent to him.   The pope hoped that this would save Fisher, who was imprisoned at the time, from further punishment, but it made the king even more determined to behead Bishop Fisher. Oh dear!   Find out more about what happened in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History". You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/u9C8WqwrGlM   Hall’s Life of Fisher - https://archive.org/details/lifeoffishe00hall/page/n11/mode/2up  Also on this day in Tudor history, 20th May 1579, wheelwright Matthew Hamont was executed for heresy in the city of Norwich. What had led to Hamont being charged with heresy? And what exactly was so heretical about his beliefs? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/HS_Nsc0ccUE  And on this day in 1536, Henry VIII and Jane Seymour became betrothed. https://youtu.be/nAJ19qeiw9o  Other videos on Bishop Fisher:December 22 - Bishop Fisher begs for a shirt - https://youtu.be/9EwSBKVB16E May 7 - John Fisher is tricked - https://youtu.be/vmgMvS_JZlw 

On this day in Tudor history, 19th May 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn was executed within the confines of the Tower of London.   It must have been an incredibly hard day for the queen's friend, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. Not only did he have a visit from a friend regarding a terrifying vision, in the early hours... Not only did he have to cope with the idea of his friend and patron being beheaded, but he had to issue a dispensation for the king to marry again!   Find out more in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway. https://youtu.be/L2fUU8Rc0dE   Also on this day in history, 19th May 1554, in the reign of Queen Mary I, Anne Boleyn’s daughter, Elizabeth, was released from the Tower of London after two months of imprisonment. Elizabeth wasn't free, though, she was released into house arrest. Why? Why had she been imprisoned in the Tower and what happened next? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/QFJx0u3nx_s  Here's the link for Claire's video on Anne Boleyn’s execution - https://youtu.be/Gpum3gzc3CU 

On this day in Tudor history, 18th May 1554, in the reign of Queen Mary I, scholar and administrator, William Thomas, was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn for his alleged involvement in Wyatt's Rebellion. It was said that he even wanted the queen assassinated.   But William Thomas was far more than a rebel, he was also the author of the first he first Italian dictionary and book of grammar to be published in English.   Find out more about him and his rather bad end in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of several Tudor history books.   Also on this day in history, 18th May 1497, noblewoman Catherine Woodville, Duchess of Buckingham and Bedford, died. Who was she and how was she linked to the famous Woodvilles that rose in the reign of King Edward IV? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/Ozx9IBXDVFU And this day in 1536 was the day chosen for the execution of Queen Anne Boleyn, so Anne prepared to die. How did she prepare herself? Why was her execution postponed? What exactly happened on this day in 1536? Find out in the 18th May 1536 video - https://youtu.be/lct_iJylGhk 

On this day in Tudor history, 17th May 1601, Anthony Bacon was buried in St Olave's, London.   You might have heard of Francis Bacon, but his brother, Anthony Bacon, was rather interesting too!    Who was Anthony Bacon?    Well, he was a spy, providing intelligence for the likes of William Cecil, Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth I and Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. Find out more in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway.   Also on this day in Tudor history, 17th May 1521, Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was executed for treason on Tower Hill. He'd served King Henry VII and King Henry VIII loyally for many years, so what led to this nobleman being condemned for high treason? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/U9vqMXGaK_0  And on this day in 1536, George Boleyn, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston, William Brereton and Mark Smeaton were executed on Tower Hill for high treason after being found guilty of adultery with Queen Anne Boleyn and conspiring with her to kill King Henry VIII.    Find out more about their tragic ends in the video for 17 May 1536 - https://youtu.be/X7b1BLEpu9w

On this day in history, 16th May 1620, navigator William Adams died in Hirado, Japan. Adams is thought to be the first Englishman to have reached Japan (arriving there in 1600) and was the inspiration for the character of John Blackthorne in the famous novel Shōgun.   How did William Adams end up in Japan and why did he stay there when he had a family in England?   Find out more about this interesting Tudor navigator in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society. https://youtu.be/UW9uPMc0YLE   Book recommendation: “Samurai William: The Adventurer Who Unlocked Japan” by Giles Milton.   Also on this day in Tudor history, 16th May 1568, following her escape from prison in Scotland, Mary, Queen of Scots, landed on English soil and was taken prisoner once more, but this time by England. Why was Mary taken prisoner? What happened? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/4yTyXPTu72s  And on this day in 1536, the condemned Queen Anne Boleyn's spirits seemed to have lifted and she was hoping for mercy. Why? What could have made her so hopeful? - https://youtu.be/qH_3w-MPZjo    You can find Claire at: https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com  https://www.tudorsociety.com https://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles/ https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/ https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles  https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety  https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/  https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/

On this day in Tudor history, 15th May 1537, Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Darcy, and his cousin, John Hussey, 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford, were tried for treason at Westminster after being implicated in the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion.  Both men may have been sympathetic to the rebel cause, but there was no actual evidence that they conspired against the king. Poor men! Find out more about them and how they ended up being branded rebels, and what happened next, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society. Also on this day in Tudor history, 15th May 1567, the recently widowed Mary, Queen of Scots, married for the third time, taking James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell and Duke of Orkney, as her husband. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/7keV_p9U7JM And on this day in 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn and her brother, George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, were tried by a jury of their peers presided over by their own uncle, the Duke of Norfolk. Did they have any hope of justice? What happened? What do the contemporary sources tell us? And what happened when George disobeyed an order? Find out in the 15 May 1536 video - https://youtu.be/OvB7YhP0VJg October 4 - The Pilgrimage of Grace Rebellion is underway! - https://youtu.be/9WBhp2N3hKMOctober 20 - Pontefract Castle surrenders to rebels, but all is not as it seems...https://youtu.be/cQH-uosxMZ0 April 7 - Robert Aske, the rebel leader - https://youtu.be/h6qe-bftBWA 

On this day in Tudor history, 14th May 1538, the French ambassador, Louis de Perreau, Sieur de Castillon, wrote a dispatch regarding King Henry VIII having been dangerously ill due to a problem with one of his legs.   Henry VIII was plagued with problems from his legs, leg uclers, from at least 1528 right up until his death. But what do we know about his problems and what are the theories regarding the cause?   Find out in today's talk from historian Claire Ridgway. https://youtu.be/toBE-1ppOJ4   Also on this day in history, 14th May 1635, Helena Gorges (née Snakenborg), Lady Gorges, was buried in Salisbury Cathedral. But who was this lady and how did a Swedish royal maid-of-honour end up being buried in England? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/BzKXyFiHb6w And on this day in 1536, while her predecessor and former mistress was in the Tower of London waiting for her trial, Jane Seymour was moved to be closer to the king and was treated like a queen. Hmmm… Find out more in the 14th may 1536 video - https://youtu.be/2efPMyXd14E

On this day in Tudor history, 13th May 1568, the forces of Mary, Queen of Scots, met those of her brother, the Regent Moray, at the Battle of Langside in Scotland.   Mary, Queen of Scots was defeated soundly, but what happened and why was she fighting against the regent acting on behalf of her son, King James VI? What had led to this moment.   Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society, explains all in today's talk. https://youtu.be/az5F0etpQXA   Also on this day in Tudor history, 13th May 1515, Henry VIII's beloved sister, Mary Tudor, former Queen of France, married his best friend, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, at Greenwich Palace. Find out more in last year's video - https://youtu.be/-8Anes65T9A   And on 13th May 1536, Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, got rather cross and exasperated with Thomas Cromwell and refused to be bullied in any way. Poor Cromwell, Percy wouldn't play ball! Find out what Thomas Cromwell was trying to get Percy to do any why, and what it had to do with the fall of Anne Boleyn in the 13th May 1536 video - https://youtu.be/iBWLVMZBMKU

On this day in Tudor history, 12th May 1538, a Franciscan friar obstinately refused to make a public recantation of his allegiance to Rome.    Friar John Forest ahd been condemned for heresy and was meant to abjure his faith at St Paul's Cross, but he decided not to. Find out more about what happened from historian Claire Ridgway.   Claire's other video on Forest: May 22 - Blessed John Forest and a prophecy fulfilled - https://youtu.be/om41xAXnxcQ   Also on this day in Tudor history, 12th May 1521, reformer Martin Luther was proclaimed a heretic by Bishop John Fisher and Cardinal Thomas Wolsey at St Paul's in London, and his works were burned. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/bI9d8GhvZMo  And on this day in 1536, in the lead-up to Queen Anne Boleyn’s execution, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston, William Brereton and Mark Smeaton were tried for high treason at Westminster Hall. Find out what happened in the 12th May 1536 video - https://youtu.be/Usark3PL5RY 

On this day in Tudor history, 11th May 1560, royal physician Dr Thomas Wendy, died at his home, the manor of Haslingfield, in Cambridgeshire.    He attended three Tudor monarchs at their death and had a long and loyal service as a royal physician, but what interests Claire, in particular, is his role in saving Queen Catherine Parr, Henry VIII's sixth wife, from a plot by Catholic conservatives in 1546.   Find out more Dr Thomas Wendy, his life, career, and the plot in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History". https://youtu.be/HwFFFQPRx8k   Also 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. Find out more about them and the other Carthusian martyrs in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/kFeYN34OA9M  And on this day in 1536, in the fall of Anne Boleyn, the Grand Jury of Kent met to rule on the alleged offences committed by Queen Anne Boleyn and her alleged lovers in the county. In my video on that day, I considered the dates, places and crimes cited in the indictments, and whether they made any sense at all. https://youtu.be/rTXMuEcuM7w