Category: Tudor events
Things that happened during the Tudor era

Wyatt dies proclaiming Elizabeth’s innocence
On this day in Tudor history, 11th April 1554, in the reign of the Catholic Queen Mary I, Sir Thomas…

26 March 1566 – Arguments over vestments
On this day in Elizabeth I’s reign, 26th March 1566, Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Edmund Grindal, Bishop of…

26 March 1603 – James VI receives news of Elizabeth I’s death and his accession as James I
On this day in history, 26th March 1603, Sir Robert Carey arrived at Holyrood in Edinburgh, Scotland, to inform the…

25 March 1584 – Elizabeth I gives permission to Walter Raleigh to colonise lands in the New World
On this day in history, 25th March 1584, Queen Elizabeth I granted letters patent to explorer Walter Raleigh (Ralegh) giving…

Forgetting God to love a king – Thomas Seymour’s execution
On this day in Tudor history, 20th March 1549, Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron of Sudeley and Lord High Admiral, was…

St Cuthbert Mayne, Catholic martyr
On this day in Tudor history, 20th March 1544, Cuthbert Mayne (Main/Maine) or St Cuthbert Mayne, Roman Catholic priest and…

8 September 1560 – The Death of Amy Dudley, wife of Robert Dudley
On Sunday 8th September 1560, Amy Dudley (nee Robsart) died at Cumnor Place near Abingdon, her rented accommodation. Her death…

24 August 1572 – St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
On this day in history, 24th August 1572, during the reign of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn’s daughter Elizabeth I,…

10 July 1553 – Lady Jane Grey Proclaimed Queen
On the afternoon of Monday 10th July 1553 a party of people arrived at the Tower of London by barge….

28th April 1603 – Elizabeth I’s Funeral
On this day in history, 28th April 1603, Elizabeth I’s funeral took place in London. I have written in detail…

11 April 1554 – Execution of Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger
On this day in history, 11th April 1554, Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger, son of the poet and diplomat Sir…

Thomas Seymour – A Man with Much Wit and Very Little Judgement
On this day in history, 20th March 1549, Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley and Lord High Admiral, was…

8 February 1587 – Mary Queen of Scots is Executed
On the morning of the 8th February 1587, Mary Queen of Scots was executed at Fotheringhay Castle. It was a…

Wyatt’s Rebellion 1554
On 22nd January 1554, Thomas Wyatt the Younger met with fellow conspirators at his home of Allington Castle in Kent…

22 January 1552 – Execution of Edward Seymour
Between 8 o’clock and 9 o’clock on the morning of the 22nd January 1552, former Lord Protector of England, Edward…

The Tale of Agnes Bowker’s Cat
In researching my Friday 13th article on superstitions for The Anne Boleyn Files, I came across the tale of Agnes…

15th January 1559 – The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth I
On the 15th January 1559, a day chosen by her astrologer Dr John Dee, a triumphant Elizabeth Tudor, daughter of…

The Loss of Calais – 7th January 1558
On this day in history, at 6am on the 7th January 1558, Thomas Wentworth, the Lord Deputy of Calais, was…

Sir Francis Drake Sets Off on his Circumnavigation – 13 December 1577
On this day in history, 13th December 1577, Sir Francis Drake finally left Plymouth with his fleet of five ships…

30th November 1554 – The Return to Rome
On this day in history, 30th November 1554, both Houses of Parliament presented a petition to Mary I and her…

17th November 1558 – Elizabeth I Becomes Queen
On this day in history, 17th November 1558, Mary I died after a reign of just five years and Elizabeth…

Lady Jane Grey
On this day in history, 13th November 1553, Lady Jane Grey, Guildford Dudley, Ambrose Dudley, Henry Dudley and Archbishop Thomas…

The Gunpowder Plot – Remember, Remember the 5th November
Today, in the UK, we commemorate James I’s lucky escape after Guy Fawkes was caught red-handed with rather a lot…

16th October 1555 – The Burnings of Latimer and Ridley
On this day in history, 16th October 1555, Bishops Latimer and Ridley, two of the Oxford Martyrs, were burned at…

14th October 1586 – Trial of Mary Queen of Scots
On this day in history, 14th October 1586, the trial of Mary Queen of Scots began at Fotheringhay Castle in…

1st October 1553 – Mary I Crowned Queen
Yes, on the 1st October 1553, England’s first crowned queen regnant, Mary I, was crowned at Westminster Abbey. You can…

24 August 1572 – St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
Today is the anniversary of a rather bloody day in history, the 1572 St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre which saw an…

19 July 1553 – Mary I Proclaimed Queen
On this day in history, 19th July 1553, Mary I was proclaimed Queen. Her half-brother, King Edward VI, had died…

20 June 1567 – The Casket Letters Discovered
On the 20th June 1567, a few days after Scottish rebels apprehended Mary Queen of Scots, servants of James Douglas,…

25 May 1553 – Lady Jane Grey Marries Guildford Dudley
On this day in history, 25th May 15531, a triple wedding took place at Durham House, the London residence of…