December 20 - Catherine Howard's stepgrandmother begs forgiveness from the king
On this day in Tudor history, 20th December 1541, a “very sickly” Agnes Tilney, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, begged King Henry VIII for forgiveness. The dowager duchess had been arrested and taken to...
19 Dec 20195min
December 19 - A clash with a mob causes the death of an abbess
On this day in Tudor history, 19th December 1576, Katherine Palmer, Abbess of Syon, died in Mechelen in Belgium. Her death came just over a month after she had confronted a mob that had broken into he...
18 Dec 20193min
December 18 - Heretic John Philpott's sad end
On this day in Tudor history, 18th December 1555, John Philpott, former Archdeacon of Winchester, was burned at the stake for heresy at Smithfield. Philpott had done a lot in his 40 years, including...
17 Dec 20196min
December 17 - Henry VIII is excommunicated
On this day in Tudor history, 17th December 1538, Pope Paul III announced the excommunication of King Henry VIII. Henry VIII had been threatened with excommunication several times, but his desecrati...
16 Dec 20195min
December 16 - The birth of Catherine of Aragon
Happy birthday to Catherine of Aragon! Yes, this first wife of King Henry VIII and Spanish princess was born on this day in Tudor history, 16th December 1485. In today's talk, Claire Ridgway, author...
15 Dec 20196min
December 15 - Cardinal Pole is laid to rest
On this day in Tudor history, 15th December 1558, Cardinal Reginald Pole, Mary I’s Archbishop of Canterbury and her chief advisor, was buried at Canterbury Cathedral. Coincidentally, Cardinal Pole had...
14 Dec 20196min
December 13 - Sir Francis Drake sets off
On this day in Tudor history, 13th December 1577, pirate, sea captain, and explorer Sir Francis Drake finally left the port of Plymouth on his circumnavigation of the Globe. Claire has spoken about ...
12 Dec 20192min
