Claire | June 14, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 14th June 1536, under a month after the execution of Queen Anne Boleyn, two courtiers were interrogated regarding their alleged support of Mary, daughter of King Henry VIII by Catherine of Aragon. Their names were Sir Francis Bryan and Sir Anthony Browne. Mary had not yet submitted to her […]
Claire | May 5, 2019
By 5th May 1536, there were eight prisoners in the Tower of London: Queen Anne Boleyn and seven men implicated in her fall. Who were they? Another man had also been called to London for questioning. What was going on? I explain all in today’s video. I’m doing these “Fall of Anne Boleyn” videos daily […]
Claire | February 2, 2017
On 2nd February 1550, in the reign of King Edward VI, the courtier, diplomat and poet nicknamed “the Vicar of Hell”, Sir Francis Bryan, died suddenly at Clonmel in County Tipperary, Ireland. Sir Francis Bryan was born c.1490 and was the first surviving son of Sir Thomas Bryan and Lady Margaret Bryan (née Bourchier). His […]
Claire | May 5, 2016
You may have heard that five men were executed on 17th May 1536 after being found guilty of high treason for sleeping with Queen Anne Boleyn and plotting with her to kill the King, but did you know that three other men were implicated in her fall? These men were Anne’s relative, Sir Francis Bryan; […]
Claire | February 7, 2016
On this day in history, 7th February 1526, the traditional Shrovetide joust took place at Greenwich Palace. The joust’s theme was unrequited love. Henry Courtenay, Marquess of Exeter, and his team of men wore green velvet and crimson satin embroidered with burning hearts. Above these hearts, a lady’s hand was depicted coming out of a […]
Claire | February 2, 2016
On this day in history, 2nd February 1550, Sir Francis Bryan, courtier, diplomat, poet and a man nicknamed “the Vicar of Hell”, died suddenly at Clonmel in Ireland. He had settled in Ireland after marrying Joan Butler, Dowager Countess of Ormond, and had travelled to Tipperary as Lord Justice “to check the incursions of the […]
Claire | May 5, 2015
By 5th May 1536, two other men had been imprisoned in the Tower of London and another courtier had been ordered to London for questioning. In 1538, Robert Hobbes, Abbot of Woburn, made a declaration “as touching the accusations of his adversaries proposed against him unto the King’s most honourable Council” and mentioned Sir Francis […]
Claire | May 5, 2014
On 5th May 1536, Sir Thomas Wyatt, the Elder, the renowned court poet, and Sir Richard Page, a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, were arrested and imprsoned in the Tower of London. There were now 8 prisoners in the Tower of London in the coup against the Boleyns: Anne Boleyn, George Boleyn, Mark Smeaton, Sir […]
