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_nEsUxFw

Marriage 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