On this day in Tudor history, 26th October 1536, the rebels of the Pilgrimage of Grace halted at Scawsby Leys near Doncaster, where they met crown troops. The rebels were said to number around 30,000 and the crown's army was only a fifth of the size, but the rebel leader, lawyer Robert Aske, chose to negotiate rather than fight.

 

Why, when they could well have won? 

 

Well one Tudor chronicler puts it down to rain. You can find out more about this meeting, how rain put a stop to the rebels' plans, and what happened next between the Pilgrimage of Grace rebels and Henry VIII, in today's video from Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History".

Also on this day in Tudor history, 26th October 1529, Sir Thomas More took his oath as Lord Chancellor, replacing Cardinal Thomas Wolsey who was charged with praemunire. It was an important day for Sir Thomas More, who was described as "an upright and learned man", but, little did he know that his loyal service to the king would lead to his undoing. Find out more about this day in 1529 in last year’s video - https://youtu.be/OkTYfRASu1I