Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

In this second part of This Week in Tudor History for the week beginning 8th February, historian Claire Ridgway talks about two parliamentary acts that allowed a king to execute his wife and to execute people showing signs of madness; a miscarriage of justice which led to a priest being executed in Elizabeth I’s reign; an Elizabethan astrologer who was ridiculed after his prophecies didn't come true,  and a man known as William Waste-all. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/9WrA3ivcjCU   11th February 1542 - King Henry VIII gave his assent "in absentia" to an act of attainder against his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, and her lady-in-waiting, Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford. A bill allowing people showing signs of lunacy was also passed, an awful thing, but the king was determined to take revenge.   12th February 1584, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I - The executions of five Catholic priests by hanging, drawing and quartering at Tyburn. One of them, James Fenn, suffered a huge miscarriage of justice, being accused of plotting in Rome when he was actually in England, in prison, at the time!   13th February 1564, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I - Astrologer and physician John Harvey was baptised at Saffron Walden in Essex. Harvey ended up being ridiculed with his brother, Richard, after their prophecies of apocalyptic events didn't come true.   14th February 1492, in the reign of King Henry VII - Death of William Berkeley, Marquis of Berkeley, a man who took part in the last English battle fought between private armies of feudal magnates, but who was nicknamed William Waste All by the family historian.   Teasel's Tudor Trivia video on Valentine's Day can be found at https://youtu.be/iSl4Zk7htSc    Videos on other Tudor events for 11-14th February: February 11 - The birth and death of Elizabeth of York - https://youtu.be/FIeJtsYCvcU February 11 - Success for George Boleyn - https://youtu.be/m9Gs3tvgCWo February 12 - The executions of Lady Jane Grey and Lord Guildford Dudley - https://youtu.be/qf7up1CHfJAFebruary 12 - Blanche Parry, a mother figure to Elizabeth I  - https://youtu.be/eaB9piZbhxs February 13 - Bess of Hardwick - https://youtu.be/zCehMXaVkqs February 13 - The Executions of Catherine Howard and Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford - https://youtu.be/4nGL47QKe4k February 14 - Being a royal favourite doesn't save you - https://youtu.be/5A5CSKvzbhE February 14 - A dog licks up the king's blood - https://youtu.be/jg-97Zi5ZLs

In this edition of "Fan Questions", questions asked by her YouTube viewers, historian Claire Ridgway answers a question about Showtime's "The Tudors" series.   Annette from Michigan, US, wanted to know about a storyline concerning Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, in Season 4 of The Tudors. Did Charles Brandon really have a French mistress whom he took back to England?   Find out the answer to this question, and whether Suffolk was really estranged from his wife, Catherine Willoughby, at this time, in this talk.   March 22 - Catherine Brandon (Catherine Willoughby), Duchess of Suffolk, a woman with spirit! - https://youtu.be/dVz3KEzvYso September 7 - Charles Brandon marries Catherine Willoughby - https://youtu.be/uabimBawgsI July 14 - The Brandon boys are no more - https://youtu.be/oSNvXjyiFDY March 3 - A secret marriage for Mary Tudor and Charles Brandon? - https://youtu.be/yPlUHeSNi40 May 13 - Mary Tudor and Charles Brandon get married again! - https://youtu.be/-8Anes65T9A

In this first part of "This Week in Tudor History", historian Claire Ridgway introduces a chap named John, one of the many johns in his family, who turned down a title; explains why Lady Jane Grey's execution was postponed and what happened, and introduced an earl who appears to have been a bit of a Tudor bad boy.   You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/Rz6quwsuFAw   8th February 1545, in the reign of King Henry VIII - Death of courtier and soldier Sir John Arundell of Lanherne, or John Arundell III, a man who turned down a barony from King Henry VIII. Find out why.    9th February 1554 - Queen Mary I postpones Lady Jane Grey's scheduled execution and gives her a three-day reprieve. Her execution had already been postponed from 7th February, and in December 1553 it had appeared that Jane would be given mercy. What happened between December 1553 and February 1554? Why did Mary finally sign Jane's death warrant and then why did she give her a reprieve? Find out!   10th February 1564, in Queen Elizabeth I's reign - Death of Henry Neville, 5th Earl of Westmorland. Neville served King Henry VIII as a soldier, swapped sides in the succession crisis of 1553, and appears to have been a bit of a Tudor bad boy, being involved in dastardly plots against his own family. He had a magic ring though!   Other events for 8th, 9th and 10th February:   February 8 - The Execution of Mary Queen of Scots - https://youtu.be/sd3hP9Qb8Yk February 8 - The Queen's favourite rebels - https://youtu.be/dhxFDUnxQig February 9 - An awful end for a bishop - https://youtu.be/dE_mtQMSHVA February 9 - Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, is taken to the Tower - https://youtu.be/53HVn-dfMyk February 10 - Catherine Howard goes to the Tower - https://youtu.be/jYbD8-Qua-sFebruary 10 - The murder of Lord Darnley - https://youtu.be/jYbD8-Qua-s   Sir John Arundell's memorial brass, which depicts him in full armour, can be seen at  https://www.pinterest.es/pin/342344009155130091/  Executions of Lord Guildford Dudley and Lady Jane Grey - https://youtu.be/qf7up1CHfJA

In this edition of her series on "Questions about Anne Boleyn", Claire Ridgway, author of "The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown" considers which colours Anne Boleyn liked. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:https://youtu.be/AhfdKtqKxBQ It's impossible to say what Anne Boleyn's favourite colour was, but we do know the colours Anne chose to wear and the colours she chose for fabrics for Elizabeth's nursery and clothes. Find out which colour fabrics were ordered for and by Anne Boleyn in this talk.

In this second part of "This week in Tudor history" for the week beginning 1st February, historian and author Claire Ridgway talks about Tudor events and people associated with 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th February. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/AoTzXI0v7y8   4th February 1495, in the reign of King Henry VII - Anne of York, daughter of the late King Edward IV, marries Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey, at Westminster Abbey in London.    5th February 1605, diplomat, Member of Parliament and spy, Sir Edward Stafford dies. Even though he appears to have spied for Spain during the Spanish Armada, he managed to avoid serious trouble. Why and how?   6th February 1585, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, lawyer, legal scholar and law reporter, Edmund Plowden, died in London.   7th February 1587, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the warrant for the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, arrived at Fotheringhay Castle and Mary was informed that she would be executed the following day. Who told her? How did she react? And how did she prepare for death?   Thomas Howard - https://youtu.be/gkA0xdCzT6Q William Stafford and the Stafford Plot - https://youtu.be/-C4qyueA30o Mary, Queen of Scots' execution - https://youtu.be/sd3hP9Qb8Yk 

In this first part of "This week in Tudor history" for the week beginning 1st February, historian and author Claire Ridgway talks about Tudor events and people associated with 1st, 2nd and 3rd February.   1st February 1552, in the reign of King Edward VI - The birth of Roger Cooke, an alchemist who worked for Dr John Dee, Francis Anthony, the Wizard Earl (Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland) and Sir Walter Ralegh, and a man with whom Dee shared the secret of a special elixir.   2nd February 1508, in the reign of King Henry VII - The death of physician and Provost of King's College Cambridge, John Argentine. Argentine was said to have been the last person to have attended on the Princes in the Tower before their disappearance.   3rd February 1478, in the reign of King Edward IV - The birth of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham. Buckingham was executed for alleged treason in 1521, but it appears that his downfall was more to do with King Henry VIII's fear of Buckingham's wealth, importance and Plantagenet blood.   Other Tudor events for these dates: February 1 - Mary I's Rousing Speech - https://youtu.be/hwf3CbwYjWM February 1 - Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots' death warrant - https://youtu.be/Hq9b7nM51GY February 2 - The Feast of Candlemas - https://youtu.be/sXj14xV4gCE February 2 - Sir Francis Bryan, the Vicar of Hell - https://youtu.be/5f3QFIIvq2w February 3 - Mary, Queen of Scots' death warrant - https://youtu.be/cIEZJXK9q8M February 3 - Silken Thomas - https://youtu.be/JA5hsZk0G3k    The Private Diary of John Dee - https://www.gutenberg.org/files/19553/19553-h/19553-h.htm Francis Anthony and his drinkable gold - https://youtu.be/UPf24CDIVTo 

OK, so this isn't really a question about Anne Boleyn, but Claire Ridgway, co-author of "George Boleyn: Tudor Poet, Courtier and Diplomat", thought she'd share with you 11 facts about George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, brother of Queen Anne Boleyn. George really is as fascinating as his more famous sister.   You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/enDbCl2xBFU   You can find out even more about George with the George Boleyn playlist - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLepqWJ7TpkrLwEtQRpn4lmQpIS52Q8axo

In the second part of "This Week in Tudor History" for 25-31st January, historian and author Claire Ridgway talks about events that happened on 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st January in the reigns of the Tudor monarchs.Find out more about the following Tudor people and events.--Contents of this video--   28th January 1501 - The death of politician and administrator, John Dynham, 1st Baron Dynham, who managed to move smoothly from service to the Yorkists to Henry VII's service, and who survived the falls of his brother-in-law and stepson.   29th January 1559 - The death of Sir Thomas Pope, guardian of Princess Elizabeth (Elizabeth I), founder of Trinity College, Oxford, MP and privy councillor, and a man who handled correspondence regarding a potential marriage match between Elizabeth and Eric XIV of Sweden.   30th January 1520 - The birth of MP, Protestant, landowner and administrator, Sir William More, whose long list of offices in Elizabeth I's reign included Master of Swans! He was very well respected by Queen Elizabeth I.   31st January 1547 - The official proclamation of the death of King Henry VIII and the accession of his nine-year-old son, Edward, as King Edward VI.   Other Tudor events for these dates: January 28 - Elizabeth I, friend of the Ottoman Empire - https://youtu.be/jwCL0l-uONM January 28 - Birth of Henry VII and the death of Henry VIII - https://youtu.be/iRn7Wpy7ouo January 29 - Queen Anne Boleyn miscarries - https://youtu.be/Lv50KI7VEFY January 29 - Catherine of Aragon is buried - https://youtu.be/ygTgkZn1t5I January 30 - Four Gunpowder Plotters come to sticky ends - https://youtu.be/CKKlZTJJ-xE January 30 - Cooling Castle is besieged - https://youtu.be/Kz6I6l5KP9w January 31 - Catherine of Aragon loses a baby - https://youtu.be/wFggNqmRtNc January 31 - The great devil of all - https://youtu.be/iJPrsvrZpZ8   The photo of the tapestry linked to Dynham can be found at - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dynham,_1st_Baron_Dynham#/media/File:DynhamTapestryMMANewYork.JPG 

In this latest edition of Teasel's Tudor Trivia, Teasel the dog supervises while her owner, author and historian Claire Ridgway, introduces us to 'ways of making people talk Tudor-style', in other words, Tudor torture techniques. Don't worry, Claire doesn't go into too much gory detail! Find out about the rack, the Little Ease at the Tower of London, manacles and the Scavenger’s Daughter (also known as Skevington’s Irons or Skevington’s Daughter). You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/BVseFVimwJE

On 25th January 1540, Jesuit priest and martyr, St Edmund Campion, was born in London. Although he was close to the Earl of Leicester and William Cecil at one point, he ended up being thrown into the Tower of London's Little Ease and being executed as a traitor. Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History", tells his story.   On 26th January 1528, diplomat and courtier Sir Francis Poyntz died of the plague.   On 27th January 1556, in the reign of Queen Mary I, Bartholomew Green, also known as Bartlet Green, was burnt at the stake for heresy with six other Protestants. He could have got away with receiving communion according to Protestant rites, but he did something that brought him to the attention of the queen and her government. Find out what he did, and about his sad end, ifrom Claire.   Book recommendations: "God's Traitors" by Jessie Childs. Order of Service for Campion Day mass - https://association.stonyhurst.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Campion-Mass-Booklet-2020.pdf Video on Alexander Briant, who was executed with Campion - https://youtu.be/tXNPGF8JAbQ   Other Tudor history events for 25th, 26th and 27th January: January 25 - Bonfires, torches, bells ringing... - https://youtu.be/fTxGWw2BqFc  January 25 - The marriage of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn - https://youtu.be/uxPoTtmOPOQJanuary 26 - Justice Spelman and Anne Boleyn's trial - https://youtu.be/euwJcKYh8Uk January 26 - Mary I writes to Elizabeth - https://youtu.be/XqC_xNf30RA January 27 - The fate of the Gunpowder Plotters - https://youtu.be/GB_mLLmSIBw January 27 - Sir Francis Drake - https://youtu.be/LCgBJbxsDds

In this latest edition of Questions about Anne Boleyn, Claire Ridgway, author of several books on the Boleyns, considers the question she's often asked "Were Anne and Mary Boleyn close?"   What do we know about the Boleyn sisters' relationship? Was it close? What do we know about it? Do the historical sources give us any insight into it?   Find out more about Anne and Mary Boleyn in this talk. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/TnemIlRRdUU   See the videos in the Mary Boleyn playlist for more about her - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLepqWJ7TpkrKSxTbgPHf6SjqFnqv_-pQ-

Part 2 of "This week in Tudor History" covers Tudor history events from 22nd to 24th JanuaryFind out all about these Tudor events from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History" and several other Tudor history books. You can see this podcast as a video at the following link: https://youtu.be/IJBAqXIlu50    22nd January 1561, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I - The birth of politician, philosopher, author and scientist Francis Bacon at York House, the Strand, London. Bacon is known as "the Father of the Scientific method" and Baconians believe that he was the true author of some or all of William Shakespeare's plays.    23rd January 1570, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I - The assassination of James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, the illegitimate son of James V, half-brother of Mary, Queen of Scots, and a man who was acting as regent for his half-nephew, King James VI.  He is famous for being the first head of government to be assassinated by a firearm.   24th January 1503 - The laying of the foundation stone of King Henry VII's Chapel, a large Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey, which became the resting place of 15 kings and queens.   Henry VII's Chapel - https://www.westminster-abbey.org/about-the-abbey/history/lady-chapel Virtual tour of Westminster Abbey - https://www.westminster-abbey.org/learning/virtual-tours Anthony Bacon - https://youtu.be/fOabYK2e4bA Sir Nicholas Bacon - https://youtu.be/XeYFwlAuHGc   

Part 1 of "This week in Tudor History" covers Tudor history events from 18th to 21st January.   Find out all about these Tudor events from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History" and several other Tudor history books.   18th January 1543 - Baptism of composer, court musician and perhaps spy Alfonso Ferrabosco at the Cathedral of San Petronio, in Bologna, Italy. This Italian composer popularised the madrigal at the English court and may have acted as a spy for Elizabeth I in Italy. Find out more about his life, career, marriage and children, from Claire.   19th January 1561 - Administrator and diplomat, Sir Edward Carne, died in Rome. This man, who claimed to descend from the Kings of Gwent was sent by Henry VIII to negotiate a marriage match with Christina of Milan and then Anne of Cleves, and marriage matches for his daughter, the future Mary I. Find out more and how he ended up dying in Rome.   20th January 1558 - The state opening of Mary I's fifth and final Parliament, and the only public appearance of the queen since July 1557!    21st January 1556 - The death of Eustace Chapuys, imperial ambassador and a man whose dispatches are a wonderful source for Tudor historians, researchers and authors. Chapuys was a fascinating man and a loyal supporter and friend of Catherine of Aragon and her daughter, the future Mary I. Find out more about him, and how he helped the queen and princess.   Enjoy Alfonso Ferrabosco’s works being performed:https://youtu.be/mASvlU5JCt4https://youtu.be/qQHSKuCfwlc 

Tim came up with an idea of how Claire can get her viewers actively involved in her YouTube videos, and Claire wants to give it a try.   Do you want to be featured in a video? Do you have a burning question about a Tudor novel, TV series or movie? Well, here's your chance to be in a video and get your question answered.   The link for submissions is https://forms.gle/xx6H7witzouQycUQ8

This second part of this week's "This week in Tudor History" covers events that took place in the Tudor period on 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th January. Find out all about these Tudor events from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History" and several other Tudor history books.   14th January 1515 - On this day in the reign of King Henry VIII, following the death of King Louis XII of France, King Henry VIII sent his best friend, Charles, Duke of Suffolk, to fetch Louis' widow and bring her back to England. The widow was, of course, Henry VIII's younger and favourite sister, Mary Tudor. This mission ended up in a secret marriage though! See https://youtu.be/yPlUHeSNi40 for more on Suffolk and Mary's secret marriage.   15th January 1555 - On this day in the reign of Queen Mary I, Jane Dudley, Duchess of Northumberland, died at Chelsea. Jane was the widow of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, mother-in-law of Lady jane Grey pr Queen Jane, and mother of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester.   16th January 1501 - On this day in the reign of King Henry VII, courtier Sir Anthony Denny was born at Cheshunt. Denny became a close confidant of King Henry VIII, serving him as groom of the stool and being chosen as the one to tell the king he was dying in 1547, and he also helped Catherine Parr in 1548 when she needed help to protect her marriage and the reputation of her stepdaughter, Princess Elizabeth.   17th January 1587 - On this day in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, clockmaker Bartholomew Newsam (Newsum, Newsham) died. This famous craftsman also made sundials and scientific instruments, and appears to have been employed by Elizabeth I. Here are links to see some examples of his craftsmanship: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1888-1201-126 https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1912-0208-1 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search#!?q=Bartholomew%20Newsam&perPage=20&sortBy=Relevance&offset=0&pageSize=0   Links to previous years' videos: January 14 - Francis Kett leaps and dances in the fire - https://youtu.be/hgwEQnfpkxs  January 14 - Elizabeth I's coronation procession - https://youtu.be/qltgENLUJLk January 15 - The death of Catherine Carey (Knollys), daughter of Mary Boleyn - https://youtu.be/LPq30SRVnes January 15 - Elizabeth I's coronation - https://youtu.be/oejNK0u49qU January 16 - Thomas Howard breaks his promise about Mary, Queen of Scots - https://youtu.be/lGi8S6H3SVs January 16 - Thomas Seymour, a kidnap attempt and the king's dog - https://youtu.be/EPxknjmtU8Q January 17 - Poet Thomas Wyatt is arrested - https://youtu.be/dlEQrkr8CDg January 17 - Leicestershire woman gives birth to a cat! - https://youtu.be/AVOtEP_alvc