One story of how Anne Boleyn removed Wolsey from power
Tudors
226 The Great Wether
In 1529 the campaign for the King’s great matter, his divorce came to a climax. Wolsey persuaded the Pope to allow a court to be held in England under Cardinals CampeggioRead More
225a Reformation by Otto and Luke
Otto and Luke follow up the episode 224 with their own perspective on the Reformation. It’s a father and son bonding session, ‘hey son let’s have a great time and shootRead More
225 Matters Great and Personal
The king’s Great Matter as it was to be called, outraged and divided Christendom, and has been dividing us ever since. What motivated it? Who was responsible? The debate startsRead More
Shedcast 16 John Fisher - Members Only
224 Deadly Poison
In 1520 the Pope threatened an obscure Augustinian monk with excommunication. Why ? What happened next? And how did the English react?
Shedcast 15 Battle for the English Reformation - Members Only
223 Venality or vitality?
The traditional story of the English Reformation has been of a rotten, moribund, venal church, just waiting to be toppled by reformers, the pyre ignited by Luther’s teachings. But wasRead More
222a The Tower of London by James Holdstock
James Holdstock is a big fan of The Tower of London; he talks about a fortress which has a history as winding, bloody, mysterious and inspiring as England’s, and is a mustRead More
222 From Hapsburg to Valois
The diplomacy of the early 1520s culminated at Pavia, with the ruin of French hopes – and also English as Hapsburg for a while reigned supreme. Domestic politics saw WolseyRead More
Shedcast 14 Tudor Poison - Members Only
221 The Finest Buck
Henry had shown a hint of the man he would become in 1510 by the execution of Empson and Dudley. In 1521, the Duke of Buckingham was in his sights,Read More
220 Disguisings
It is in the reign of Henry VIII that we first hear of the ‘masque’ – entertainment that drew from Mummers, Mystery plays, and ‘disguisings’. We talk about Anne andRead More
219 Cloth of Gold
Enter Thomas Boleyn, courtier, and the realities of being a courtier. And the field of the cloth of Gold; Henry and Wolsey’s mission to uphold the treaty of universal peace.Read More
218a Witchcraft in Tudor England by Sam Hume
The 16th and 17th centuries saw a surge in worry about witchcraft through most of Europe. Sam gives us a survey of how fear of witchcraft affected England. Sam also hasRead More
218 Universal Peace
Wolsey had tried war with France, they’d tried war by proxy, they’d tried peace. In 1518 the most remarkable of their plans – the Treaty of Universal peace where 20Read More
Shedcast 13b Thomas More: Chancellor and Martyr - Members Only
Shedcast 13a Thomas More: Early Life - Members Only
217 The Cardinal’s Hat
Being made a Cardinal in 1515 gave Wolsey the perfect opportunity to give the vainglorious side of his nature full reign. He made full use of it. We have three topicsRead More
Shedcast 11a The Medieval Tournament: Beginnings - Members Only
216 Love and Marriage
The story of a love affair – probably. In 1514 Henry married off his 18 year old sister to the gouty, siphilitic, toothless 50+ year old Louis and sent herRead More
215 Hero of War
In 1513 there were two English victories. One of them would have a profound effect on English history. The other one was mainly a mad dash in pursuit of aRead More
Shedcast 10 Henry VIII’s Beard - Members Only
214 The Road to War
The path of Renaissance diplomacy was both torturous and without scruple; as Henry finds out as he thirsts for glory. Renaissance Italy There’s a bit of a geography lesson this time –Read More
Shecast 9b Wolsey: Arbiter of Christendom - Members Only
Shedcast 9a Wolsey: Glorious Peacock - Members Only
213 Background to War
Historians have identified the 16th and 17th centuries as a time of revolutionary change in Europe, driven by military technology. We talk a bit about that, and about the personalitiesRead More
211a The Shakespeare Controversy
Released as a bonus Shedcast a few weeks ago, here’s Eddy McLain’s take on the Shakespeare controversy. For a number of centuries, people celebrated William Shakespeare and his works and talents.Read More
212 Pleasure and Liberty
Henry VIII was released by this accession to the courtly, chivalric life of the hunt, and masque, and tournaments. In this he was encouraged by by Council – while his father’s ‘peaceRead More
211 Heaven Smiles Earth Rejoices
The accession of Henry VIII was greeted with a huge sigh of relief and great enthusiasm. His court was to change immediately, and politics for ever. Although the Book ofRead More
210 Bloody Beast
How Henry has been assessed by historians through the ages, and the controversies of his reign. And assessments of the man himself. The famous Holbein mural was designed to greetRead More
209 Exploration
Through the 15th century, Portugal explored the African coast in search of the Indies and the fabulous wealth of the trading networks with the East – such as those ofRead More
208 I Heart Henry
What happened when Henry was gone. And the report card – was Henry an incompetent tyrant, a fun loving saviour of England’s future – or something in between? Should weRead More
207 The Underworld
While the young prince Henry built a group of aristocratic companions and longed desperately for the joust, his father drove his hatchet men Dudley and Empson ever further into the darkRead More
206 Descent to the Underworld
Henry had found two hatchet men to replace Reginald Bray – Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley. They spread their tentacles and contacts through London and England, and used the Council LearnedRead More
Shedcast 8b A Sense of England – Consciousness - Members Only
Shedcast 8a A Sense of England – Nationalism - Members Only
205 Do Not Let Me Perish
In the early 1500’s Henry VII saw many of his closest confidentes and supporters die. Catherine of Aragon was to be one of those who suffered as a result. He alsoRead More
Shedcast 7 Some Visitors views of 16th century England - Members Only
204 Governing the Early Tudor State
Henry made changes to the English court, administration and legal system. But many of his actions would be seen as setting a path to tyranny and avarice later in theRead More
Shedcast 5 Mountjoy, the New Learning and a Princely Education - Members Only
203 The Spanish Princess
After negotiations that would win prizes, it was finally time for Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth’s pride and joy Prince Arthur to marry the Spanish Princess, Catherine of Aragon. CatherineRead More
202 Scotland, Cornwall and Warbeck
The travels of Perkin Warbeck take him to Scotland, marriage and war; which leads to taxes, which leads to rebellion. T’was ever thus. Whether Perkin was an imposter and pretenderRead More
Shedcast 4 The Indispensable Dr Morton - Members Only
201 Poyning’s Law
Ireland in 1495 was almost 3 societies living side by side. We take a trip to Ireland, hear about the Great Earl, and the law that became known as Poyning’sRead More
Shedcast 3 The Great Earl and his Arm - Members Only
Shedcast 2 Fun with Wills and Words - Members Only
200 Printin and Perkin
The appearance of a new pretender – Perkin Warbeck in Ireland was to distort Henry VII’s domestic and foreign policy for the rest of the 1490’s. Some Dramatis Personae CharlesRead More
199 The New Men
Henry VII’s ambitions were to rule in the French style – to better control and increase his income. He gathered around him bureaucrats – new men he could trust and whoRead More