The Tudor Minute

Today in 1501 Katherine of Aragon met Prince Arthur Tudor, her betrothed, for the first time. She had been traveling for nearly six months, through the hot summertime in Spain on horseback, a treacherous journey through the Bay of Biscay that had to be abandoned once, and then finally landing in Plymouth in early October. Then the overland trip through England in rainy autumn began.

Today in 1534 the English Parliament accepted the First Act of Supremacy and acknowledged  Henry VIII as the Head of the Church of England.

Today in 1541 Archbishop Thomas Cranmer left a letter for Henry VIII in the chapel at Hampton Court giving details about his wife Catherine Howard’s past.

Today in 1561 Mary Sidney Herbert was born. She is remembered for being a literary patron, writer, and translator in her own right, and as the sister of Sir Philip Sidney, who was one of the most famous poets of the Elizabethan age.

Today in 1538 Geoffrey Pole was interrogated in the Tower. Geoffrey Pole was the fourth son of Sir Richard Pole and Margaret Pole, the Countess of Salisbury. She was the daughter of the Duke of Clarence, and Edward IV’s niece, and as such the family found themselves at the center of plots, and rallying in favor of the Catholic church when Henry was setting up the Church of England with himself as the head.

Today in 1581 Baron Mountjoy James Blount died. He experimented with alchemy, and was also made knight of the bath at Mary I’s coronation.

Today in 1469 Ferdinand and Isabella got married.  After her father, King John II of Castile died, Isabella was pressured by her brother King Henry IV to marry King Alfonso V of Portugal, but she refused, not wanting to take her brother’s advice too much since she knew her nobles didn’t trust him.

Today we mark the death of Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridby in 1555 - they were two of the three famous Oxford Martyrs, along with Archbishop Cranmer, commemorated by John Foxe.

Today in 1537 Henry and Jane Seymour’s son Edward, the future Edward VI, was christened in Hampton court. Thomas Cranmer performed the rites in front of a crowd of several hundred.

Today in 1486 the trial of Mary Queen of Scots began. At first she had refused to take part in any trial saying that it didn’t apply to her because she was the Queen of Scotland and the laws of England weren’t applicable.