Today in 1514 Mary Tudor, Henry VIII’s sister, married Louis XII of France. She was 18, and he was 52. Mary was born in 1496, and she was reported to have been the most beautiful princess in Christendom. Erasmus said of her that "Nature never formed anything more beautiful."

Today in 1571 the European allied powers defeated the Ottoman turks at the Battle of Lepanto. This was an interesting battle for England because it saw Elizabeth joining the Catholic powers to defeat the Ottomans, who were threatening Europe not only through the Mediterranean, but also through Vienna.

October 6 is the date generally given to the execution of William Tyndale, in 1536. He was an English scholar, reformer, and Bible translator. Early on Henry VIII read his works as they were passed to him by Anne Boleyn, particularly his “Obedience of a Christian Man.”

Today in 1555 Edward Wotten died. He was an English doctor who was born in Oxford, and he is remembered for starting the modern study of zoology.

Today in 1555 Edward Wotten died. He was an English doctor who was born in Oxford, and he is remembered for starting the modern study of zoology.

Today in 1528 Cardinal Campeggio, the Papal legate, arrived in Dover in preparation for the special legatine court which would determine the fate of Henry VIII’s marriage to Katherine of Aragon. Henry had put a great deal of hope in the legate, and this court. But this would, of course, be the court that was unable to decide on a divorce, and the king’s Great Matter would drag on for another five years.

Today in 1553 Mary I proceeded through London on the way to her coronation.

Today in 1525 the explorer Stephen Borough was born in Devon. Devon and Cornwall were were some of the communities of explorers and adventurers were gathering at this time, and he himself became an explorer. In 1553 he was part of the crew on the Edward Bonaventura to try to discover a NorthEast passage to India.

Today in 1586 Arthur Tudor was christened. Prince Arthur, Henry VIII’s older brother, was christened at Winchester Cathedral. Of course Henry VII had planned his birth to be there - he was, after all, named after King Arthur, whose legendary round table is still at Winchester even to this day.

Today in 1459 the first major battle of the Wars of the Roses, the Battle of Blore Heath, took place. The First Battle of St Albans took place in 1455, after which an uneasy peace held in England. Attempts at reconciliation between the houses of Lancaster and York were unsuccessful and both sides became increasingly wary of each other and by 1459 were actively recruiting armed supporters.