Claire | December 22, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 22nd December 1534, in the reign of King Henry VIII, John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, wrote a letter to Thomas Cromwell. Fisher was imprisoned in the Tower of London at the time, and in his letter, Fisher begged for a shirt, sheet, food and books, as well as asking […]
Claire | December 22, 2015
On the 22nd December 1534, an imprisoned John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, wrote to Thomas Cromwell beseeching him to provide him with a shirt and sheet (neither of which he had), some food, some books “to stir his devotion more effectually” and a priest to hear his confession. He also asked Cromwell to intercede with […]
Claire | June 22, 2011
On this day in history, the 22nd June 1535, Bishop John Fisher was beheaded on Tower Hill. His crime? Refusing to take the Oath of Succession and refusing to accept Henry VIII as Supreme Head of the Church in England, and also supporting Catherine of Aragon during Henry VIII’s quest for an annulment. You can […]
Claire | April 5, 2011
On this day in history, 5th April 1531, Richard Roose (or Rouse), Bishop John Fisher’s cook, was boiled to death after confessing to poisoning the soup* that was served to the Bishop and his guests. Fisher, the Bishop of Rochester, survived but some of his guests, who’d eaten more of the soup, died. People were […]
