On this day in Tudor history, 31st August 1545, a contagious disease known as the 'Bloody flux' hit the port of Portsmouth, killing many of the men serving on the ships in its port.

 

But what was the Bloody Flux? What were its symptoms and why did it kill so many soldiers and sailors?

 

Find out about the disease, famous victims of the Bloody Flux, and how it is still affecting people today, in this talk from historian Claire Ridgway.

 

You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:

https://youtu.be/NjyTFCd0fpU

 

Also on this day in Tudor history, 31st August 1555, in the reign of Queen Mary I, former minister Robert Samuel was burned at the stake in Ipswich, Suffolk, for heresy. He had continued to minister privately, after being deprived of his living, and he had refused to leave his wife. He stayed firm to his Protestant faith and became one of the Ipswich Martyrs as a result. Find out more about the man, his visions, his death and the women who died as a result of their connections with him, in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/Nz_YxDvV4VQ