Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

On this day in Tudor history, 10th May 1553, near the end of King Edward VI’s reign, the first expedition of the Company of Merchant Adventurers, left London in search of a Northeast passage for Asia.   The voyage, with its fleet of three ships, was led by Richard Chancellor, Sebastian Cabot and Sir Hugh Willoughby. It failed in its aim, and Willoughby and his crew died, but Richard Chancellor was able to come to a very beneficial agreement with Ivan the Terrible.   Find out more about the company, the voyage and the resulting trade agreement, and Muscovy Company, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society.   “The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques & discoveries of the English nation” - https://archive.org/details/principalnaviga23haklgoog/page/n242/mode/2up    Also on this day in Tudor history, 10th May 1552, author John Clerk, who had served Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, as his secretary, avoided public shame with a very final act in the Tower of London. What happened? What led Clerk to this end? How had he ended up in the Tower of London? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/ZzKJTcRUkrM  Also on this day in 1536, during the fall of Anne Boleyn, the Grand Jury of Middlesex met to decide on whether Queen Anne Boleyn, George Boleyn, Sir Henry Morris, Sir Francis Weston, William Brereton and Mark Smeaton should be sent to trial. But what were the charges? Find out in 10th May 1536 video - https://youtu.be/N5RDVpO7cwI 

On this day in history, in the Stuart period, 9th May 1657, William Bradford died. He is known as the founder of the Plymouth Colony in America and the writer of a chronicle of its early years: “Of Plimmoth Plantation”.   But how did a Yorkshire man of farming stock become a Puritan and a governor of a colony in North America? What led to him becoming a "pilgrim" and boarding The Mayflower?   Find out 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/5Q9XcxptpCg   Bradford’s history of the Plymouth Plantation can be read online at - https://archive.org/details/historyplymouth00bradgoog/page/n11/mode/2up  Also on this day in history, 9th May 1509, the remains of King Henry VII were taken to St Paul’s to prepare for his burial at Westminster Abbey. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/sWeSiAkW7Bc And on this day in 1536, King Henry VIII wanted an update on the investigation into his second wife, Queen Anne Boleyn. Find out more in the video for 9th May 1536 - https://youtu.be/ectaTReDez0 

On this day in Tudor history, 8th May 1508, herald and chronicler Charles Wriothesley was born in London.  Wriothesley’s chronicle is one of the major primary sources for King Henry VIII's reign, so let Claire tell you more about its writer, Charles Wriothesley, Windsor Herald, and what heralds actually are.   You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/tQOF76J6o5M   College of Arms website - https://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/about-us/heralds-officers    Wriothesley's Chronicle Volume I - https://archive.org/stream/chronicleofengla01wriouoft#page/n5/mode/2up   Volume II - https://archive.org/details/chronicleofengla02wriouoft/page/n4/mode/2up   Also on this day in Tudor history, 8th May 1559, Queen Elizabeth I gave her approval to the Acts of Uniformity and Supremacy. The Act of Uniformity was incredibly important and it reflected the queen's wish to follow a middle road where religion was concerned. But what was this act? What did it establish? What did Elizabeth want for England and what happened? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/jMrZfLzkhWM And in 1536, in the lead-up to Queen Anne Boleyn’s fall, vultures were circling, hands were being rubbed with glee, but who were these vultures and what were they after- Find out in 8th May 1536 video - https://youtu.be/74HfgSIk7Ps 

  On 7th May 1567, eight days before James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, married Mary, Queen of Scots, the Catholic court granted him a divorce from his wife, Lady Jean Gordon.   Who was Jean Gordon? Why did Bothwell divorce her? And what happened to Jean afterwards?   Find out more about Bothwell and Jean's marriage, and about Jean's life, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History".   April 29 video - https://youtu.be/trdexa_EwUM   Bothwell's death - https://youtu.be/XRU_nEsUxFw    You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/H4NJetrgmhg   Also on this day in Tudor history, 7th May 1535, after a year of imprisonment in awful conditions at the Tower of London, John Fisher, former Bishop of Rochester, was visited at the Tower of London and tricked into saying something that would lead to his brutal end. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/vmgMvS_JZlw  And on this day in 1536, in the fall of Anne Boleyn, the queen’s chaplain was accosted and searched on his arrival back in England from the Continent. Why? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/tk6hHmiv_2E 

On this day in Tudor history, 6th May 1502, in the reign of King Henry VII, Sir James Tyrell, former royal councillor, was executed for treason due to his links to a known traitor.   But it's not for his time as a trusted councillor, or for his links to a claimant to the throne that he is known, but for his alleged involvement in the murders of the Princes in the Tower.   Find out more in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society.   You can find out more about claimant Edmund de la Pole, the man Tyrell was meant to be connected with, in the 4th May video from last year - https://youtu.be/Jqx7fJdKJHg   Also on this day in Tudor history, 6th May 1541, King Henry VIII issued an injunction ordering the Great Bible to be available in every church in England. I explain more in last year's video - https://youtu.be/hmyv3T4wj2Q  And in the video for the 6th May 1536, Claire talks about a letter linked to Anne Boleyn, a letter with the title “To the King from the Lady in the Tower”. https://youtu.be/ilY6SLkKzlM 

On this day in Tudor history, 5th May 1543, religious radical, Adam Damplip, also known as George Bucker, was hanged, drawn and quartered in Calais, which was an English territory at the time.   Although it was his heretical preaching that had got him into trouble, he couldn't be executed as a heretic, so he was condemned as a traitor instead - clever, but nasty!   Let Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History", explain more in today's talk.   Also on this day in Tudor history, 5th May 1542, just under three months after the execution of her stepgranddaughter, Queen Catherine Howard, Agnes Tilney, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, was pardoned and released from the Tower of London. Find out how she ended up in the Tower in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/B8_sPVnH3C8  And in 1536, in the lead-up to Queen Anne Boleyn’s execution, there were eight prisoners in the Tower of London – the queen and seven men. Who were they and what was going on. Find out in the 5th May 1536 video - https://youtu.be/noweh6u6Yr8 

MUCH BETTER TO SEE THIS ONE ON YOUTUBEhttps://youtu.be/jNI9os9dvjs   On this day in Tudor history, 4th May 1535, in the reign of King Henry VIII, three Carthusian monks, a Bridgettine monk and a parish priest were executed at Tyburn.   They were executed for refusing to accept the King as the Supreme Head of the Church and “for writing and giving counsel against the King”, and had to suffer a full traitor's death, one after the other.   Find out more about them and also London Charterhouse, home to the Carthusian order, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society.   Also on this day in Tudor history, 4th May 1513, the execution of claimant Edmund de la Pole, 8th Earl of Suffolk. Find out more about him and his brother, Richard, in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/Jqx7fJdKJHgAnd in 1536, the imprisoned George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, brother of Queen Anne Boleyn, received a message of comfort from his wife, Jane Boleyn. Find out more about this event in the fall of Anne Boleyn, in my 4th May 1536 video - https://youtu.be/IGMiJS-5yKE    Videos on the Carthusian martyrs: May 11 -Two Carthusian Monks - https://youtu.be/kFeYN34OA9M June 19 - More Carthusian monks meet their sad ends - https://youtu.be/kzzUWDkUdY8 

On this day in Tudor history, 3rd May 1568, courtier, member of Parliament, and privy councillor, Sir Edward Rogers, died.  Rogers had a long and successful royal career, serving three of the Tudor monarchs, and he managed to keep his head too.   Find out more about him, and how he even survived being implicated in rebellion and opposing Mary I, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of several Tudor history books.   You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/PE5dT0xO4Fs   Also on this day in history, 3rd May 1580, poet, farmer and agricultural writer Thomas Tusser died. In last year’s video, Claire shared his verses for the month of May so please do watch that - https://youtu.be/px5PSyryEnA  And on 3rd May 1536, following the arrest of Queen Anne Boleyn and prominent courtiers, a shocked Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, wrote to King Henry VIII. Find out what was going on in the video for 3rd May 1536 - https://youtu.be/7CokGrvX3HE 

On this day in history, 2nd May 1550, Anabaptist Joan Bocher, was burnt to death at Smithfield for her belief in Christ's celestial flesh.   How did a Protestant end up being executed in Edward VI's reign and what did she mean by Christ having celestial flesh?   Find out more about Joan Bocher, or Joan of Kent, her beliefs and her links to Protestant martyr Anne Askew, in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of several Tudor history books.   Also on this day in Tudor history, 2nd May 1568, Mary, Queen of Scots, who had recently been forced to abdicate in favour of her son, King James VI, successfully escaped from Lochleven Castle.  How did she end up a prisoner at Lochleven? How did she escape? And what happened next? Find out in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/ozLwv3LaRY0 And on 2nd May 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn and her brother, Lord Rochford, were arrested and taken to the Tower of London. Find out more in the 2nd May 1536 video - https://youtu.be/ZJuAjJYzpcc    You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/hEF4mgSfWeg   Here's William Wordsworth’s sonnet “Edward siging the warrant for the execution of Joan of Kent”: "THE tears of man in various measure gushFrom various sources; gently overflowFrom blissful transport some--from clefts of woeSome with ungovernable impulse rush;And some, coeval with the earliest blushOf infant passion, scarcely dare to showTheir pearly lustre--coming but to go;And some break forth when others' sorrows crushThe sympathising heart. Nor these, nor yetThe noblest drops to admiration known,To gratitude, to injuries forgiven--Claim Heaven's regard like waters that have wetThe innocent eyes of youthful Monarchs drivenTo pen the mandates, nature doth disown."

On this day in Tudor history, 1st May 1551, in the reign of King Edward VI, Norfolk landowner and Member of Parliament, Sir Edmund Knyvet, died.    Knyvet had an interesting court career, being helped by his Howard connections, but he was known for his rather hot temper, which nearly led to him losing his right hand. Find out more about hot-tempered Sir Edmun Knyvet 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/5kc8tSKlpP4   Also on this day in Tudor history, 1st May 1517, foreign traders in London had their shops and property vandalised and damaged by a mob of angry apprentices and labourers, in what was known as the Evil May Day Riot. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/hQoTvH_0kcY And 1st May 1536 was supposed to be a fun day for King Henry VIII and Queen Anne Boleyn at the annual May Day joust but suddenly the king left abruptly, taking his good friend and groom of the stool with him. What was going on? Find out in the 1st May 1536 video in The Fall of Anne Boleyn series - https://youtu.be/Hx1ba-2d8NU

On this day in Tudor history, 30th April 1544, in the reign of King Henry VIII, Thomas Audley, Baron Audley of Walden and Lord Chancellor, died at his home in London.   Audley was Thomas Cromwell's right-hand man in 1536, during the fall of Anne Boleyn, and became even more important after Cromwell's fall.   Find out more about Thomas Audley, an important Tudor statesman, and how he served King Henry VIII, 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/nK9NMs255B4  

On this day in Tudor history, 29th April 1567 (some sources suggest 26th), James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, who had recently abducted and allegedly "ravished" Mary, Queen of Scots, had a suit of divorce made against him by his wife, Lady Jean Gordon.   Lady Gordon was persuaded by Bothwell to make this divorce suit as he was planning to marry Mary, Queen of Scots, which he did on 15th May 1567.   In this talk, Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society, explains what led up to this day, what happened next, and also what a truly horrible man Bothwell was.   You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/trdexa_EwUM   Here are the videos mentioned in the talk:  James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell - https://youtu.be/XRU_nEsUxFwMarriage of Mary, Queen of Scots and the Earl of Bothwell - https://youtu.be/7keV_p9U7JM  Also on this day in Tudor history, 29th April 1617, Sir Dru Drury, a man who went from being a prisoner to being Lieutenant of the Tower of London, died in his 80s at his home. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/n0-bOfFxeWM  And on this day in 1536, in the lead up to her fall, Queen Anne Boleyn had encounters with two courtiers who would eventually be executed for allegedly sleeping with her and plotting with her to kill King Henry VIII. Find out more in the video for 29th April 1536 - https://youtu.be/2GWjq7VJeG8 

  On this day in Tudor history, 28th April 1548 (some sources say 6 May), courtier, diplomat, soldier and Keeper of Oatlands Palace, Sir Anthony Browne, died at Byfleet in Surrey. He had been one of Henry VIII’s most important and richest courtiers, and was also involved in the falls of two queens: Anne Boleyn and Anne of Cleves.   Find out more about this man and how he was involved in the falls of the two Annes in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History".   Also on this day in Tudor history, 28th April 1603, Queen Elizabeth I was laid to rest at Westminster Abbey in a lavish funeral. Find out more in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/rJ7nrMF0Fow    And on this day in 1536, in the lead up to Anne Boleyn’s fall, there were long council meetings, experts were being consulted and the Lady Mary, Henry VIII’s eldest daughter, was being given hope for the future. Something was going on! https://youtu.be/8QaGMigNhXE

On this day in history, actually in the Stuart period, 27th April 1609, Sir Edward Michelborne, member of Parliament, soldier and adventurer, died.    He'd survived an unsuccessful naval campaign against the Spanish, being implicated in a rebellion, and an attack by pirates, to die a natural death at his home in Hackney.   Find out more about Sir Edward Michelborne in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society.   You can find out more about the Japanese pirate attack on the Tiger in my video from 29th December - https://youtu.be/XKdRcXgxYew    You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/JNwbZX8bB5A   On this day in 1536, in the fall of Anne Boleyn, writs were issued summoning Parliament and according to Eustace Chapuys, a bishop was consulted regarding whether Henry VIII could abandon his second wife, Anne Boleyn. What was going on? Find out in my video at https://youtu.be/lpgeeVoJcgo Also on this day in Tudor history, 27th April 1584, civil lawyer and judge, David Lewis, died in London. You can find out more about him in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/f7pGwIvDBzc 

On this day in Tudor history, 26th April 1564, the Bard, William Shakespeare, was baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. This was just three months before the plague hit the town, wiping out a fifth of its population. Fortunately for him, and us, Shakespeare didn't catch it - phew!   Find out more about the plague and its outbreak in Stratford-upon-Avon in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History".   Also on this day in Tudor history, 26th April 1540, Catherine Carey, daughter of Mary Boleyn and niece of the late Queen Anne Boleyn, married Francis Knollys.It is not known whether the marriage was a love match, but it appears to have been a very happy and successful marriage, and resulted in 14 children. You can find out more about them in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/c_rcS3AX7nk    You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/fbY5itlDUeY   And on this day in 1536, in the lead up to Anne Boleyn's fall, Queen Anne Boleyn met with her chaplain, Matthew Parker. The words that she spoke to him that day had such an impact on him that they stayed with him for the rest of his life. Find out more about this in my video on 26th April 1536 - https://youtu.be/2pgryv6sz3g