John Clare was for a while a sensation – a poet who gives us access to nature, and also the lives of England’s villagers and society in a time ofRead More
307 All Around the World
For a couple of years in the mid 1570s Elizabeth nixed proposed exploration projects for fear of Spain. At the same time she was discussing a secret voyage with a selectRead More
306 A Devil and No Man
Together the Elizabethan explorers, and authors like John Dee and Richard Hakluyt built excitement about the possibilities of global exploration. Francis Drake gave it expression. The Spanish MainRead More
305 The Frog Prince
From 1578 to 1582 the courts of France, Spain and England buzzed with the possibility of the latest office romance – between the Queen of England and Duke of Anjou.Read More
304 Seeds of Irish Nationhood
By the 1580s, the English atrocities and the rebellion of James Fitzmaurice and the Earl of Desmond, Catholicism and its association with resistance ot English rule was clearly established. Events atRead More
Margaret Omnibus 3 EPs 7-9 - Members Only
Margaret 9 Readeption - Members Only
Margaret 8 The Life Domestic - Members Only
Margaret 7 The Great House - Members Only
303 Shane the Proud
The later Tudors faced a choice in their policy towards Ireland – would they resign themselves to the old ways, ruling through the Old English with minimal control; or wouldRead More
302 England’s Garland
This beautiful technical drawing of Revenge was left by Matthew Baker; unlike the equally beautiful Anthony Roll of 1545, it is technically accurate, created by one of England’s greatest shipwrights.Read More
MB Omnibus 2 EPs 4-6 - Members Only
301 Black Tudors
Black Africans began to make their way in increasing numbers to England – firstly mainly via trading countries like Spain and Portugal, but increasingly direct. What sort of lives didRead More
Margaret 6 After Towton - Members Only
Margaret 5 Widow’s Weeds - Members Only
300 Trade and Exploration
Elizabeth’s reign famously saw England enter the search for new markets with which to trade and explore. In this episode, we focus on trade with West Africa, and John Hawkins’ infamousRead More
Margaret 4 A Short Marriage - Members Only
299 West Africa
A horribly brief introduction to the West African kingdoms with which the Portuguese started to trade and a smidge of their backstory, before the English began to arrive inRead More
Sh 33 Thomas Gresham - Members Only
Margaret Omnibus 1 EPs 1-3 - Members Only
298 A Curate’s Egg
What started as a curate’s egg of an episode, ends up with an introduction to a new player, Francis Walsingham, and the story of the St Bartholomew’s Day massacreRead More
Margaret 3 A Short Childhood - Members Only
Margaret 2 Family - Members Only
297 Servant of Crime
Through the 1560s, the progress of the reformation gave both the Protestant Godly and Catholics much leeway and wriggle room. A series of events in the late 1560’s and earlyRead More
Margaret 1: Margaret through Time - Members Only
296 Rising of the North
The saga of the life and times of Mary Queen of Scots continues, but in 1568 something stirs in the north of England… Transcript Last time, I left you withRead More
Marshal 26 No Finer Knight - Members Only
Marshal Omnibus 8 EPs 23-26 - Members Only
295 Marvellous Good Order
In Scotland Mary’s grasp on her kingdom begins to wobble. In 1566, Elizabeth’s parliament also gives her serious grief, drawing an increasingly waspish response. Read More
25 Guardian - Members Only
294 Alarms and Excursions
Did Elizabeth have a foreign ‘policy’? If so what principles drove it – dynasty, parsimony, protestantism? This week Elizabeth intervenes in Scotland and France. Transcript This week,Read More
Marshal 24 The Barons’ War - Members Only
Marshal 23 Rehabilitation - Members Only
293 Sex and Marriage
Dudley was for long considered the front runner for any possible marriage; but there was a long list of suitors. And Elizabeth was under pressure from the badgersRead More
292 The Queen’s Marriage
What were the issues around marriage for Elizabeth and her subjects? Because as the continuing barney between the two of them would prove, it really mattered to both parties. Read More
Christmas shopping at the History of England
Christmas at the History of England Well when I say Christmas…I guess to be brutal I’m talking about rampant commercialisation at Christmas, but if you are going to buy yourRead More
291 Queen and Court
How did Elizabethan government work, and what was Elizabeth’s court like? Transcript This week I thought we should have a bit of context, why don’t we? Over the nextRead More
Marshal Omnibus 7 EPs 20-22 - Members Only
Marshal 22 Irish Magnate - Members Only
290 The Religious Settlement
Elizabeth’s England was awash with expectation – from Mary’s bishops demanding that no change be made to Mary’s church, to a wave of Protestant Marian exiles returning with visions ofRead More
Marshal 21 Humiliation - Members Only
Marshal 20 Unfailing Pride - Members Only
289 Elizabeth Regina
A game of 2 halves this week; the major themes of Elizabeth’s reign and then the Funeral of Mary and Elizabeth’s coronation . Ooh, and the appointment of Cecil asRead More
288 Elizabeth I and the Historians
Transcript Hello everyone and welcome to the History of England Episode 288 Elizabeth I and the Historians. We left Elizabeth passing through Temple Bar, with professions of loveRead More
Marshal Omnibus 6 EPs17-19 - Members Only
Marshal 19 Coeur de Lion - Members Only
Marshal 18 Magnate - Members Only
287 Enter Good Queen Bess
Transcript Let me take you to London on a January morning in 1559. It’s cold, and there had been a light dusting of snow, and in January London 1559 letRead More
Marshal 17 To the Devil - Members Only
286 Sex and the Reformation of Manners
What concerned society about sexual behaviour and why ? How did they intervene in the way people lived their lives; what did you have to do to be whipped at fourRead More