Episodios

  • The Priest in the Priest Hole – The Execution of John Cornelius (1594)

    The Priest in the Priest Hole – The Execution of John Cornelius (1594)
    Jul 4 2025
    On 3rd or 4th July 1594, Catholic priest John Cornelius was executed at Dorchester, along with three loyal men: Thomas Bosgrave, John Carey, and Patrick Salmon. Their crime? Helping a priest in Protestant Elizabethan England. In today’s video, I share the story of John Cornelius—from his Irish-Cornish roots and education at Oxford, to his exile, priesthood, arrest at Chideock Castle, and eventual execution. A tale of courage, faith, and one man’s final decision to become a Jesuit before facing death. A sobering glimpse into the dangers faced by Catholics in Tudor England. Subscribe for more true stories from Tudor history: betrayals, bravery, reform, rebellion—and everything in between. #TudorHistory #CatholicMartyrs #ElizabethI #JohnCornelius #TudorExecutions #ChideockCastle
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    5 m
  • Tudor Poverty and Poor Relief - The Harsh Reality behind Elizabeth I's Golden Age

    Tudor Poverty and Poor Relief - The Harsh Reality behind Elizabeth I's Golden Age
    Jun 27 2025
    From the rise in population and bad harvests to the closing of the monasteries and harsh Poor Laws, we’ll explore the causes of poverty, the categories of the poor, and how Elizabethan England created one of the earliest welfare systems in Europe. Learn about: - The 1601 Elizabethan Poor Law - Almshouses, houses of correction, and the “poor rate” - The impact of enclosure and inflation - Tudor views on charity and vagrancy Plus examples of real local initiatives to support the poor. For further reading, see: – Poor Relief in Tudor England by Edith Burrows - https://scholarship.richmond.edu/honors-theses/1075/ – Rich and Poor in Tudor Times by Peter D. Riley - Borrow at https://archive.org/details/richpoorintudort0000rile And my article on Anne Boleyn’s charitable giving at: https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/anne-boleyn-and-charity/ #TudorHistory #ElizabethanPoorLaw #TudorEngland #ClaireRidgway #OnThisDay #TudorSociety #TudorLife
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    7 m
  • The Untold Story of Peregrine Bertie

    The Untold Story of Peregrine Bertie
    Jun 24 2025
    On this day in Tudor history, 25th June 1601, Peregrine Bertie, 13th Baron Willoughby, died of fever at Berwick-upon-Tweed. Born in exile during the reign of Mary I, Bertie was the son of Katherine Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk and widow of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. A soldier, a diplomat, and a loyal servant to Elizabeth I, Bertie led troops in the Netherlands, fought at the Battle of Zutphen, and helped defend England during the time of the Spanish Armada. In this podcast, I look at the life and legacy of this often-overlooked Tudor figure, from his birth abroad to his final days at the Anglo-Scottish border. #TudorHistory #PeregrineBertie #AnneBoleynFiles #TudorSoldier #ElizabethanEra #OnThisDay #HistoryVideo #ClaireRidgway
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    5 m
  • Tobacco in Tudor and Stuart England

    Tobacco in Tudor and Stuart England
    Jun 21 2025

    Sir Walter Ralegh may get the credit, but tobacco’s story in England started long before he lit up — and it’s far more surprising than you might think.

    In this video, we explore how tobacco travelled from sacred Native American ceremonies to Tudor England’s courtly circles. From its use in healing rituals to its rise as a fashionable trend—and finally to King James I’s fiery condemnation in A Counterblaste to Tobacco—this is the fascinating tale of how one plant sparked one of history’s first public health debates.

    We’ll look at how sailors, explorers, physicians, poets, and monarchs all played a part in the spread (and backlash) of this smoky habit. From nose cancer to nose-wrinkling monarchs, Tudor tobacco was anything but boring.

    Let me know in the comments—were you surprised by any of these tobacco twists?

    Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more intriguing dives into Tudor life, culture, and controversy.

    #TudorHistory #TobaccoHistory #SirWalterRalegh #KingJamesI #CounterblasteToTobacco #OnThisDay #HistoryTube #TudorLife #ElizabethI #16thCentury #EarlyModernMedicine #TobaccoFacts
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    5 m
  • Scholar, King, and Unifier of Crowns - James VI and I

    Scholar, King, and Unifier of Crowns - James VI and I
    Jun 18 2025

    On this day in Tudor-Stuart history, 19th June 1566, King James VI of Scotland and I of England was born at Edinburgh Castle—an infant who would one day unite two crowns and leave a lasting legacy on British history.

    The only son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Lord Darnley, James became King of Scotland at just 13 months old following his father’s murder and his mother’s forced abdication. Raised as a Protestant in a volatile Scotland, James matured into a politically astute and scholarly monarch.

    In 1603, he succeeded Queen Elizabeth I of England, uniting the thrones and becoming the first monarch to rule both Scotland and England. His reign was marked by events both dramatic and defining: the Gunpowder Plot, the publication of the King James Bible, witch hunts, and his vision for a united Britain.

    James was a complex figure — a believer in the divine right of kings, a published author on monarchy and morality, a man whose close male relationships stirred controversy, and a ruler who sought peace over war.

    In this podcast, we explore the life, reign, and legacy of one of the most fascinating monarchs in British history.

    Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into Tudor and Stuart history! #JamesVI #JamesI #TudorHistory #StuartHistory #OnThisDay #GunpowderPlot #KingJamesBible #MaryQueenOfScots #BritishMonarchy
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    5 m
  • Henry VIII’s Illegitimate Son: Henry Fitzroy

    Henry VIII’s Illegitimate Son: Henry Fitzroy
    Jun 14 2025
    On this day in Tudor history — traditionally 15th June 1519 — Henry Fitzroy, the illegitimate but much-loved son of King Henry VIII and Elizabeth “Bessie” Blount, was born at the Priory of St Lawrence in Essex. Acknowledged by his father and showered with titles, Fitzroy was raised for greatness. At just six, he became Duke of Richmond and Somerset, Earl of Nottingham, and Knight of the Garter—unprecedented honours for a royal bastard. He was educated like a prince, married into the powerful Howard family, and held top-level posts including Lord Admiral and President of the Council of the North. There were even whispers he might be legitimised and named heir. But in July 1536, aged only seventeen, Fitzroy died suddenly—likely from tuberculosis—just weeks after witnessing the fall of Anne Boleyn. His father was devastated. Had Fitzroy lived, could he have succeeded his father as king? Was England robbed of a strong, adult heir? Let me know in the comments—and don’t forget to like and subscribe for more Tudor history stories. #TudorHistory #HenryFitzroy #HenryVIII #BessieBlount #OnThisDay #RoyalBastards #TudorHeir #16thCentury #HistoryTube #TudorPrince #AnneBoleyn
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    4 m
  • The Dastardly Richard Rich: Tudor Villain or Political Survivor?

    The Dastardly Richard Rich: Tudor Villain or Political Survivor?
    Jun 11 2025
    On this day in Tudor history, 12th June 1567, Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich, died—and few figures in the Tudor era have earned the label "villain" quite like him. From betraying Sir Thomas More to personally torturing Protestant martyr Anne Askew, Rich’s name is forever tied to some of the darkest episodes of Henry VIII’s reign. But was he simply ruthless—or just a master of survival in a dangerous political landscape? In this podcast, I take a closer look at Richard Rich’s life and legacy—from his legal rise and key government roles, to his shocking betrayals, opportunism, and his surprisingly charitable acts later in life. He served under Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I… but not Elizabeth I. And yet, his impact on Tudor England is undeniable. Let me know in the comments—Tudor villain or savvy survivor? Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Tudor deep dives. #TudorHistory #RichardRich #AnneAskew #SirThomasMore #TudorVillains #OnThisDay #HistoryTube #16thCentury #TudorPolitics #Reformation #TudorDrama
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    6 m