I’ve loved and lived with the story of the history of the English for as long as I can remember. This is my retelling of that story, in a regular, chronological podcast; we go from the cataclysmic end of Roman Britain, and at some point will get all the way through to the present day. The History of England is available on iTunes and a podcatcher near you.
247 Queen Catherine the Third
The arrival of Catherine Parr (and family) and preparations for war in France. And rather a lot of digressions. Transcript Last week I mentioned that after his despair at CatherineRead More
246 A Rough Wooing
In 1542, Henry’s sought war with France; but before that, he must make sure his northern borders were safe. So began the Rough Wooing, as Henry sought to bring a Pro-EnglishRead More
245 The Prebendaries Plot
In 1543 religious conservatives were in the ascendant, dominated the aristocratic Privy Council and a wave of prosecutions for heresy followed. When some of Archbishop Cranmer’s own parishioners of Kent soughtRead More
244 No More Time to Dance
Catherine had made a decent start of being queen. And it was really in no body’s interest to reveal her old life. But dangers and memories were all around –Read More
243 A Jewel for Womanhood
In 1540 a new member at court, Catherine Howard, caught the eye of a king struggling with his marriage to Anne. By July Anne was gone and Catherine had embarkedRead More
242 Anne and Thomas
Anne arrived in England to be greeted by 6 burly disguised middle aged men. 1540 was a year neither Anne of Cleves nor Thomas Cromwell were to remember – with affectionRead More
241 The Illness of King Henry
Henry’s attitude to illness, and possible medical explanations for his character and events of his realm. And a negotiation starts for a new wife. A royal marriage proposal: Amelia andRead More
240 Henry VIII in Ireland and Wales
The 1530’s saw radical changes in both Ireland and Wales, following Cromwell’s same policy as applied to the northern borders. The outcomes though, were to be very different. IRead More
239 Henry VIII and his Realm
Henry wanted a different relationship with his nobility – a service, court based nobility. Royal power meanwhile must be extended and enhanced. Today we look at Tudor lordship and royal power inRead More
238 The Fight Back
In 1539, Henry became convinced that religious reform was going too far. Cromwell and Cranmer failed to see the signs and during the 1539 the act of Six Articles shocked evangelists.Read More
237 Dissolution and Destruction
At the start of 1538, the end of monasticism was widely predicted, and by 1540 the larger monasteries were all gone. Along with an assault on the veneration of relicsRead More
236 The Burning of Derfel Gadarn
In 1537 and 1538 the doctrinal debate intensified with the Evangelical cause appeared to advance step by step. Cromwell discredited the monastic movement by attacking the veneration of relics. The execution of JohnRead More
235 Pilgrimage of Grace II
By December 1536 there were 50,000 rebels camped around Pontefract Castle while inside their leader Robert Aske composed a petition of 24 articles, to re-instate traditional religion and the Pope.Read More
234 Pilgrimage of Grace I
It is not true to say that Henry died a Catholic without the Pope. The 1530’s were a time of increasing doctrinal confusion which together with the attack on monasticismRead More
233 Obedience
With Anne’s death the traditionalists breathed a heavy sign of relief. now all the bad stuff would stop – evangelical reform would be reversed, Mary would be re-instated. They had aRead More
232 Evangelicals
From the mid 1520s, the church authorities began to face a more serious challenge from evangelicals like Thomas Bilney and Hugh Latimer. And in 1526 and 1534, Tyndale’s New Testament in EnglishRead More
231b Medieval Castles by George of The World of Castles
George gives a survey of the medieval castle, from its first appearance in Europe to its eventual demise as gunpowder worked its changes. Go and look at The World ofRead More
231a English Music and the Reformation by Heather Teysko
Heather Teysko of the Renaissance English history podcast gives a wonderful and musical introduction to the English choral tradition at the time of the Reformation. Hello HistoryRead More
Scandal of Christendom results and prizes
The Scandal of Christendom is all over! Find out who won what on the podcast, or read on. But thank you to all of you for taking part. Read More
231 The Scandal of Christendom Debate
Some of the arguments about Anne Boleyn’s life and career, to help you make you make your choice and vote on the History of England Facebook page. And while you are hereRead More
230a The Fall of Anne Boleyn by Claire Ridgway
The fall of Queen Anne Boleyn and who was responsible has, as Claire Ridgway remarks, always divided historians and probably always will. Here Claire discusses some of the theories –Read More
230 The Execution of Anne Boleyn
On May Day 1536 at Greenwich, Anne and Henry could put their worries aside. Everything was well with the world as they watched the joust. Then Henry left suddenly and wasRead More
229a The Progress of the Tudor Court by Natalie Grueninger
Every year Henry took his court on a progress through the English countryside. Find out why and what he did from Natalie Grueninger and check out her website On theRead More
229 The Reign of Queen Anne Boleyn
We discuss what we know about Anne as Queen consort, and chart the progress of the break with a thousand years of tradition in the declaration of royal supremacy. GoRead More
228 Mistress Anne Boleyn, Scandal of Christendom
The start of 4 weeks of fun, debate, voting and prizes as we consider the life of Anne Boleyn and decide whether Catherine was being fair in describing Anne as theRead More
227 The Reformation Parliament
After Wolsey’s fall was a period of stalemate; but between 1529 and 1532, Henry’s thoughts crystalised, Anne became to be openly at his side – and a new weapon joined theRead More
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
224 Deadly Poison
In 1520 the Pope threatened an obscure Augustinian monk with excommunication. Why ? What happened next? And how did the English react?
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
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
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
220a An Oasis Discovered
Here’s my story of the church St Bartholomew the Grand and its founder. There are pictures and the text at St Bartholomew the Great
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
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
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
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
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