Margaret 5 Widow’s Weeds - Members Only

    Though protected by the walls of Pembroke Castle, the death of Margaret’s husband left her vulnerable – something of a catch on the marriage market. Margaret, probably on the advice andRead More

    300 Trade and Exploration

    By David Crowther 1 Comments

      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

      Against a background of increasing political turmoil and military violence, Margaret turned 12 and was married in 1455. Despite her tender age, she was soon pregnant as she and EdmundRead More

    299 West Africa

    By David Crowther 11 Comments

      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

    Written up as a sort of national patriotic hero by the Victorians, Thomas Gresham was in fact as hard as nails, a deal maker, a money man, a controller. ButRead More

    298 A Curate’s Egg

    By David Crowther 7 Comments

      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

    Transcript for Margaret 6

    As you may also know, in Anna Karenina, old Leo wrote that ‘All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way’; or an least that’sRead More

    Transcript for Margaret 5

    Margaret pretty quickly identified the best answer to her sticky situation. It lay just 2 miles away in Pembroke, where there was a massive, powerful and well maintained castle –Read More

    Transcript for Margaret 4

    In the months and years after 1453 during which Margaret continued her childhood at Bletsoe and Maxey, the English world darkened. In July 1453, the English were defeated at ChastillonRead More

    Transcript for Shedcast 33

    There I was enjoying the delights of Sunday breakfast, Tea, toast and Rose’s Lemon and Lime marmalade, when I came across a review of new biography by John Guy, oneRead More

    297 Servant of Crime

    By David Crowther 1 Comments

      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

    Transcript for Margaret 3

    Margaret Beaufort would have a famously short childhood, but be that as it may this is what we are going to hear about today – only one short episode neededRead More

    Transcript for MB 2

    Episode:        MB 2 Title:              Family   It is universally acknowledged that the wars of the Roses is an impassable marsh of poisonous names and titles. The Earl of Somerset,  where’sRead More

    Transcript for MB 1

    Well here we are then, at the trail not of the lonesome pine, but of a new biography of a character in medieval English history – Margaret Beaufort. By andRead More

    Transcript for Shedcast 33

    Hello everyone and welcome… There I was enjoying the delights of Sunday breakfast, Tea, toast and Rose Lemon and Lime marmalade, when I came across a review of new biographyRead More

    296 Rising of the North

    By David Crowther 15 Comments

      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

    Transcript for Marshal 26

    Well actually, the victory at Lincoln was not, in fact, to win the war. It was very close, but there was no cigar. It had however, put Marshal into theRead More

    295 Marvellous Good Order

    By David Crowther 3 Comments

    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

    Transcript for Marshal 25

    While everyone one pondered who should be the young king’s protector, they found out that John had already thought all about that, and covered it in his will. There wasRead More

    25 Guardian - Members Only

      As John lay dying at Newark he dictated his will. It laid down that Henry III’s minority should be managed by 13 Ordainers. So how did we get fromRead More

    Transcript for Beaufort 1

    Well here we ar3e then, the trail not of the lonesome pine, but of a new character in medieval English history – Margaret Beaufort. By and large, Margaret has playedRead More

    Margaret Beaufort

    Margaret Beaufort had a life a remarkable life. Coming from one of the grandest and well-connected families of the 15th century, she found her life turned upside down by herRead More

    294 Alarms and Excursions

    By David Crowther 8 Comments

      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

    Transcript for HoS 46

    Mary made a remarkably good and quick crossing to Scotland from France, arriving in the firth of Forth on 10th August1561 as the sun was shining, at Leith. This hadRead More

    Transcript for HoS Episode 45

    So ladies and Gentlemen, we have arrived at one of THE stories of Scottish History, nay British History, nay European history. The story of Mary Queen of Scots, a storyRead More

    Transcript for Marshal 24

    John’s comeback plan in France relied on timing as exquisite as the delivery of a comedian’s punchline, the co-ordination of 3 armies. And I am sure I have read moreRead More

    iTunes Johnny Tight Lip

    Any odorous 30 minute tasks fly when listening to this podcast. Really puts you on the ground and allows you to feel what life was like not only for kings andRead More

    iTunes Scott MM18

    The most impressive podcast I have ever listened to. The sheer amount of information synthesized and presented in a fun, enjoyable format is astounding

    iTunes Mxrpl

    I’ve loved English history all my life. The podcast has it all: solid research, great storytelling, and the sense humour – and a host with a wonderful voice

    iTunes Emma SF

    David Crowther is great fun to listen to and seems to be very credible and unbiased (or at least, aware of his own biases and willing to admit them ifRead More

    Transcript for Marshal 23

    When John had demanded another Marshal son as a hostage, William and Isabel had dithered. They’d dithered a significant dither but in the end decided that the risks dictated thatRead More

    293 Sex and Marriage

    By David Crowther 8 Comments

        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

    By David Crowther 7 Comments

    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

    Transcript for HoS 44

    Last time, the good burgers of Perth had been persuaded that nothing good could come from standing against the Regent, persuaded among others by the protestant Lord James Stewart. TheyRead More

    The History of England Shop

    By David Crowther 3 Comments

      The History of England Shop returns! Some of you may remember that a shop appeared for a while last year – mugs and shirts. I closed it because of, wellRead More

    Transcript for HoS43

    Now then, in the last few episodes we have danced gaily through the meadow of James V’s reign, frolicked carelessly in the pastures of the early years of the Mary’sRead More

    291 Queen and Court

    By David Crowther 6 Comments

      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

    Transcript for HoS 42

    So, I have spent a deal of time on the last 30 years, time to summarise James V’s reign. Two contemporary opinions for you then which demonstrate that the pendulumRead More