The 14th to 16th centuries saw the increasingly professionalism of Common law, and the embedding of parliament at the centre of government. Jurists claimed that the people were sovereign, thoughRead More
314 Drake goes Bowling
The Great Armada was do to sail in 1587; but Elizabeth had other ideas. By in May 1588 the Duke of Medina Sidonia led his fleet of 130 shipsRead More
Transcript for Sh 36b
Okally dokally then everyone. Last time, we reached Berkeley Castle in the depths of the night, echoing with the screams of Edward II. English history is such a catalogue ofRead More
English Mighty Medieval Monarch Poll and Prize
I was thinking of a way to celebrate St George’s Day this year (23rd April), and decided maybe it should fall to use to make the definitive decision about theRead More
HiT Belle
The 2013 film directed by Amma Asante tells the story of the daughter of an enslaved African woman and Captain Lindsey, against the background of the Zhong slave shipRead More
313 England is Ours
From a desk in a small suite of rooms in El Escorial Philip II ran a vast colonial empire. With France torn by civil war, war against the DutchRead More
312 My Heart is my Own
By the mid 1580’s Mary was at her wits’ end – feeling betrayed by her son, 18 years of incarceration, beset by a unsympathetic jailer. She would listen toRead More
Sh 36a British Constitution and Law The Early Middle Ages - Members Only
Transcript for Sh 36a
HiT The Private Life of Henry VIII
The 1933 classic from Alexander Korda which certainly convinced my mother that Henry VIII threw chicken bones around. It was a major international success, in particular for Charles Laughton,
MB Omnibus 5 EPs 13-15 - Members Only
Margaret 15 Gamble - Members Only
Transcript for Margaret 15
1483 wasn’t exactly a great year for Henry Tudor, any more than it was for his mother. He traipsed mournfully across Normandy and into Brittany to the fair town ofRead More
Transcript for Margaret 14
Buckingham was having doubts about supporting Richard, though it is not entirely clear why, given the gold and goodies with which he had been showered so far. There are aRead More
Margaret 14 Rebel - Members Only
310a Christopher Marlowe by Philip Rowe
Playwright and Wunderkind Christopher Marlowe and his short life, ended as mysteriously as it was lived. Philip Rowe of the History of European Theatre podcasts is here to tellRead More
HiT Good Vibrations
2013 film about the ‘Godfather of Punk’ Terri Hooley set against the Troubles of the 1970 in Northern Ireland. And described by Mark Kermode as the best film ofRead More
311 Fears of State
In a time of existential and moral threat, the English state developed a network of informants and spies at home and abroad. While Catholics tried to steer a path throughRead More
Margaret 13 Murderer - Members Only
Transcript for Margaret 13
Now in 1483, it is difficult to be sure about Margaret’s attitude to Richard, but as I have said despite early negotiations with Richard, and his desire to keep StanleyRead More
Sh 35 Katherine Swynford with Caitlin Chapman - Members Only
310 The English College
By the 1580s, the confessional lines between Protestant and Catholic were increasingly strongly drawn; repressive legislation increased, and the English College was established to renew the stock of priestsRead More
HiT Last of the Mohicans
The 1992 film staring Daniel Day Lewis in the adaptation of James Cooper’s novel, set in early colonial America
309 Godly, Godlier and Godliest
Elizabeth set her face against further reform, against pressures from within the church and without; in her view, hers was a Godly church. How far did her church resistRead More
Margaret 12 Usurpation - Members Only
Margaret Omnibus 4 EPs 10-12 - Members Only
Margaret 11 Stanley - Members Only
Transcript for MB 12
For much of the 1470s therefore, Edward was very keen to get his hands on Henry Tudor, and we might assume that his intentions were not honourable – and hisRead More
Transcript for Margaret 11
We can leave her for a while pondering her future maybe while we catch up with her son; Margaret would obviously feel exposed and under pressure with the death ofRead More
HiT The Dig
A very English drama about the dig on the eve of WWII which reveal one of the most dramatic discoveries in English archaeology – the 7th Century burial ship ofRead More
308 Fool’s Gold
A host of Elizabeth explorers explored the world in the late Elizabethan reign. Did they achieve anything, or were there efforts a false start?
308a Roanoke by Joel Kindrick
In 1585, a colony was established at Roanoke, sponsored by Walter Raleigh. Find out what happens from historian and Birkenstock wearer Joel Kindrick.
Margaret 10 Thirsty for Human Blood - Members Only
Transcript for Margaret 10
One of the notable things about the Wars of the Roses, as I may have mentioned before, is the central role in the drama played by powerful women. One ofRead More
307b What makes Nelson Special by Adam Preston
Nelson was an extraordinary mix – described by N A M Rodgers as ‘Vulnerable and weak as a man, Nelson was also a leader of unequalled ardour, courage, generosity and professionalRead More
Transcript for SH 35
I’m Caitlin Chapman and I’m a proud Committee member of the Katherine Swynford Society. I’m also on the Editorial Team, where I write articles for our twice yearly Journal andRead More
307a Renaissance Warfare by Ben Jacobs
Ben Jacobs talks about how the demands and costs of Renaissance warfare changed the nature of Europe for ever Wittenberg to Westphalia Podcast Ben Jacobs is the hostRead More
Sh 34 John Clare – the Peasant Poet - Members Only
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
Transcript for Sh 34
Now, this is something of an experiment and a departure. First of all, shedcast biographies so far have by and large been in the same chronological phase as I wasRead 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
Bun Fight Fete January
Come and join us on on 16th January on Zoom!
Test email quiz
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
Transcript for Margaret 9
Before we can consider the Staffords’ dilemma, though, I think we need to go back a step and understand the political situation. Seriously there can be few periods of greaterRead More
Margaret 8 The Life Domestic - Members Only
Transcript for MB8
Ok, so sorry about last week, I was distracted by the intricacies of the life and environment of your great late medieval house. Unfortunately it is you, not I, whoRead More