Renaissance English History Podcast: A Show About the Tudors

He was handsome, ambitious, and despised... accused of being Queen Margaret's lover and blamed for losing England's empire in France. When Edmund Beaufort fell at St. Albans, the prophecy of his death came true, and England tumbled into civil war.Sources: The Reign of King Henry VI by Ralph GriffithsAJ Pollard - The Wars of the RosesTudor London Halloween Walk: https://www.englandcast.com/haunted-tudor-london-walk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Tudor England, potions promised power, whether to spark desire or to silence rivals. In this spooky Halloween Spooky Week minicast, we're diving into real Tudor recipes for love and poison, pulled straight from 16th-century sources like The Good Huswifes Jewell and early herbals.Here's the link to the Haunted Tudor London halloween tour: https://www.englandcast.com/haunted-tudor-london-walk/Sources:https://carolcmcgrath.co.uk/aphrodisiacs-in-tudor-times/https://www.historyanswers.co.uk/medieval-renaissance/mandrake-menstrual-blood-10-medieval-love-potion-recipes-and-ingredientshttps://distillatio.wordpress.com/2013/12/16/medieval-poisons-for-killing-animals-and-people/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're kicking off spooky week with a talk from Tudorcon 2024! Victoria Thompson takes us deep into the haunted landscape of East Anglia; a place of ghostly monks, witchcraft, and eerie folklore that has lingered since the Tudor period.Hear stories of drowned towns, spectral hounds, and strange rituals hidden inside old Suffolk homes. It's the perfect start to a week filled with Tudor hauntings and supernatural tales. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elizabeth Sydenham was the Somerset heiress who married Sir Francis Drake, but only after a meteor crashed through the roof of the church on her first wedding day. That fiery omen ended her engagement and changed her fate. This is the story of the woman who became Lady Drake and then vanished from history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A countess, a court favorite, and a corpse in the Tower.Frances Howard and Robert Carr's forbidden love became England's first celebrity crime, complete with potions, poison, and accusations of witchcraft. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They served every Tudor monarch, and often paid dearly for it.From their medieval stronghold at Dudley Castle to the heart of the Tudor court, the Dudley family shaped English history for five hundred years. They raised money for Henry VII, ruled the realm under Edward VI, tried to make Lady Jane Grey queen, and stood beside Elizabeth I as she faced the Spanish Armada.This episode traces their meteoric rise and tragic fall from Edmund Dudley's execution, to John Dudley's failed gamble for the crown, to Robert Dudley's service to Elizabeth, and finally to exile in Florence, where the last of the line became a scientist and mapmaker.Sources mentioned:House of Dudley by Joanna Paul: https://www.amazon.com/House-Dudley-History-Tudor-England/dp/1639363289Dudley Family History on Internet Archivehttps://ia601608.us.archive.org/29/items/historyofdudleyf115dudl/historyofdudleyf115dudl.pdfSupport the show and unlock exclusive Tudor deep dives at patreon.com/englandcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1318, a Yorkshire nun named Joan of Leeds faked her own death to escape convent life, crafting a dummy, staging a burial, and vanishing into the wider world. Her story survives only in a scathing letter from Archbishop William Melton, recently translated by historians at the University of York. This minicast explores Joan's daring plan, why medieval women entered convents, and what her brief rebellion reveals about life, faith, and freedom in 14th-century England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1337, priest John Forde was murdered on London's Cheapside in full view of witnesses. Modern research links the killing to Lady Ela Fitzpayne — a noblewoman, excommunicated rebel, and Forde's alleged former lover. Witnesses named her own brother as the attacker… yet no one was punished. This is medieval true crime with all the politics, scandal, and power plays intact.Read the full article and get sources...https://www.englandcast.com/a-medieval-murder-mystery-sex-scandal-and-a-throat-slit-on-a-london-street/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nan Cobham appears just once in the historical record, as one of the women who accused Anne Boleyn in 1536...and then disappears without a trace. In this minicast, we look at the theories around her identity and how a single, almost-forgotten figure may have helped bring down a queen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1587, a man calling himself Arthur Dudley arrived in Spain and declared that he was the secret son of Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley. Spanish officials called him a spy. He claimed he was a prince. This video looked at his story, the timing of Elizabeth's mysterious illness in 1561, the ambassador gossip, and what historians actually say about the case today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early years of Elizabeth I's reign, the throne was anything but secure. With no husband and no children, three names rose as potential heirs: Lady Katherine Grey, legal heir by Henry VIII's will; Henry Hastings, the Protestant council's quiet favorite; and Mary, Queen of Scots, the dynastic threat watched by all of Europe. This episode looks at the rivals Elizabeth refused to name, and how each of them waited for a crown that never came. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode is something a little different: a cozy Hallmark-style Tudor romance set at Michaelmas, complete with cinnamon, parish gossip, and a blacksmith who broods in a historically accurate forge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this minicast, we're diving into Tudor justice: the wild world of public punishments that doubled as community entertainment. From “respectable” noble penalties to crowd-pleasing shaming devices, the Tudors turned law enforcement into a full-on spectacle. We're keeping it light and curious, exploring how things like ducking stools, gossip-bridles, and dramatic final speeches became part of everyday life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mary of Hungary was more than just a Habsburg princess. She ruled Hungary as regent and governed the Netherlands on behalf of her brother, Emperor Charles V. As cousin to Mary Tudor, she sat just outside the Tudor story but still held enough power that Henry VIII had to acknowledge her. This minicast looks at how she ended up in that position, and why even Henry couldn't ignore her. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In October 1562, 29-year-old Queen Elizabeth I fell seriously ill with smallpox at Hampton Court Palace, and for a few terrifying days, it looked like England might lose its queen. With no clear heir to the throne, panic swept through the Tudor court.In this minicast, we'll look at what happened during Elizabeth's illness, how her ladies risked their own lives to care for her, and one of the few times when even the indomitable Elizabeth Tudor seemed mortal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taylor Swift's new album references “the fate of Ophelia”, but who was Ophelia, and why does her story still matter? In this episode, we look at Shakespeare's tragic heroine, her fate in Hamlet, and what her story shows us about women's lives in Elizabethan England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rosamund Clifford (“Fair Rosamund”) was Henry II's mistress, remembered more in legend than in fact. This episode traces her real story, the myths of labyrinths and poison that grew after her death, and how the Tudors revived her as a tragic heroine in chronicles, poems, and ballads. From Holinshed to Samuel Daniel, and from her Godstow tomb to Elizabethan nostalgia, Rosamund became one of England's most enduring romantic legends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imperial ambassador Eustace Chapuys spent nearly two decades at Henry VIII's court, recording the gossip, arguments, and scandals that defined the Tudor age. Fiercely loyal to Catherine of Aragon and Princess Mary, and famously hostile to Anne Boleyn, his letters give us some of the most vivid snapshots of Henry's reign.Plus, a Tudorcon recap (the first of what will be many, I'm sure!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Parr family rose from Kendal gentry to the heart of the Tudor court, producing Henry VIII's last queen, Catherine Parr. This episode follows their story from northern service and Wars of the Roses loyalties to Catherine's queenship, William Parr's turbulent career, and Anne Parr's link to the powerful Herbert-Sidney circle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tudor England was full of dangers, and some deaths were downright bizarre. From accidents with oxen and brewing vats to poisoned mushrooms and infamous executions, these unusual stories reveal the strange and unpredictable side of Tudor life.Order or preorder the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Ways-Die-Tudor-Ages/dp/1036108732/Tudorcon From Home tickets here: https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before he became Henry VIII's chief minister, Thomas Cromwell spent nearly twenty years in obscurity. From fighting as a mercenary in Italy to working for a Florentine banker and trading in Antwerp, these mysterious “lost years” shaped the man who would one day change England forever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1598, Shakespeare's company secretly dismantled their old playhouse, The Theater, and carried the timbers across the Thames to build the Globe. This minicast tells the story of the midnight heist that gave us the most famous stage in history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1598, playwright Ben Jonson (rival and friend of Shakespeare) faced actor Gabriel Spencer in a duel at Hoxton Fields. Spencer was killed, and Jonson landed in prison, facing execution for murder. He escaped the noose through a loophole in Tudor law known as benefit of clergy and walked free, branded but alive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tudors get all the glory, but no family in England gambled more than the Seymours. They went from quiet country gentry to the heart of Henry VIII's court, a move that gave them a Queen, a King, and a spectacular downfall. But what happens to a family when two of its greatest members are executed for treason? In this episode, we follow the Seymours from their humble start, through their ruthless ambition and tragic fall, to their incredible survival into the modern day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Her grandmother was beheaded. Her father was executed. Her uncle exiled. But while so many of her relatives fell to Tudor paranoia, Katherine Pole not only survived; she built a dynasty. In this episode, we'll tell the forgotten story of the woman whose royal blood put her in mortal danger, but whose quiet wisdom and shrewd alliances helped her outlast the Tudor purge and secure her family's legacy.Tudorcon From Home is coming up! https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A queen's death changes everything. When Marie of Guise, the powerful mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, died in 1560, it sparked rumors of poisoning. But was it a conspiracy or a convenient twist of fate? Let's talk about how this single event led to a historic treaty and set the stage for one of history's most epic rivalries: Elizabeth vs. Mary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You know the name, but do you know the full story? Katherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII, is famous for her tragic end. But the real story is in her chaotic beginnings. Today we look at her unconventional upbringing, the shocking secrets of her youth, and how the "Rose Without a Thorn" was set up for failure long before she ever met the King. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tudors weren't just political power players, they were also deeply superstitious. In this video, we look at the strangest beliefs of the era: strange births seen as divine warnings, everyday superstitions like “bless you” and knocking on wood, ghost lore and sin-eaters, witchcraft paranoia, and medical cures involving beetles, fox fat, and even buttered frogs. Tudor life was fascinating, frightening, and sometimes very funny. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Playwright Rosamond Graves joins me to talk about her new play Three Queens, premiering at the Gamut Theatre in Harrisburg, PA. The play imagines Mary I, Elizabeth I, and Lady Jane Grey meeting on the eve of Jane's execution, exploring power, survival, and how history remembers these women.Go see the play if you're local to Central PA: https://www.paonstage.com/shows/2025/harrisburg/three-queens Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we trace the scandalous yet enduring relationship between John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford, from mistress and governess to Duchess of Lancaster. Their children, the Beauforts, carried the stain of illegitimacy but became central to English politics, and through Margaret Beaufort, their bloodline gave rise to the Tudor dynasty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Forget modern self-help books: the Tudors had their own guides for living well. In this episode, we look at advice from Thomas More, Erasmus, Roger Ascham, William Harrison, and John Dee. From moderation and kindness to simple faith and the pursuit of knowledge, their lessons still resonate today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Tudor England, time was shifting from the rhythms of the sun and church bells to the tick of mechanical clocks. This episode explores how the Tudors measured their days, from sundials and cathedral clocks to Anne Boleyn's gilt-bronze timepiece and Henry VIII's spectacular astronomical clock at Hampton Court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1511, Henry VIII's son, Henry Duke of Cornwall, lived to adulthood. As King Henry IX, he married into the Spanish Netherlands and led England into a Catholic Golden Age: no Anne Boleyn, no Elizabeth I, and no English Civil War. Here's how history might have looked if the first Tudor prince had survived. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's autumn, and the spider webs are everywhere. But in Tudor England, spiders weren't just pests. They carried layers of meaning: omens of luck, remedies for illness, and even ties to witchcraft. In this minicast, we'll look at how Tudors thought about spiders, their place in folklore and medicine, and why these creepy crawlies are still tied to Halloween today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another one from the Members Only vault from a few years ago. Meet Anne Herbert, sister of Catherine Parr, who played her own important role in Tudor history. Serving multiple queens, becoming chief lady-in-waiting to her sister, and marrying into the powerful Herbert family, Anne stood at the heart of court life. A devoted supporter of the Reformed faith, she corresponded with leading scholars and helped shape the religious and political shifts of her time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Howard family rose from Bosworth's ashes to become one of the most powerful dynasties of Tudor England, producing queens, poets, and traitors. In this episode, we trace their rise at Flodden, their heights under Anne and Catherine Howard, their dramatic falls under Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, and their survival into the Stuart age. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry VIII's final will was meant to control the Tudor succession, but it left a legacy of confusion. Signed with a dry stamp instead of Henry's own hand, the will cut out the Stuart line. Yet James VI of Scotland inherited the English crown anyway. Today we'll explore what the will said, why it was controversial, and how it shaped the future of England.Tudorcon From Home tickets: https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On September 7, 1533, Anne Boleyn delivered her first child, a daughter named Elizabeth. Henry VIII had planned for a son, but instead England welcomed the girl who would one day be its most famous queen. Today we look at Anne's confinement at Greenwich, the shock of Elizabeth's birth, and the dazzling christening that followed, where politics and family rivalries played out in full display. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did coffee change England forever? In this episode, we trace the rise of coffee houses from Oxford's first shop in 1650 to London's bustling Cornhill, where pamphlets, politics, and newspapers were brewed alongside the coffee. We'll see why Charles II tried to ban them, how the Women's Petition Against Coffee mocked them, and how Lloyd's Coffee House gave birth to one of the world's great financial institutions. Coffee houses weren't just about caffeine. They were the birthplace of England's public sphere. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When did people first start eating out in England, and how did the Reformation play a role? This episode traces the rise of taverns, cook shops, and ordinaries in medieval and Tudor England, from the first tablecloths in Westminster to the explosion of alehouses after the monasteries closed. Discover how eating out shifted from charity to commerce, and why it mattered for more than just food. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The countess who raised a poet: Susan Bertie helped shape Aemilia Lanyer while dodging royal side-eye and surviving two widowhoods. Quick story, big ripples. Born in 1554 to Katherine Willoughby and Richard Bertie, Susan Bertie's childhood began in Marian exile and continued in a Protestant household at Grimsthorpe under Miles Coverdale. At sixteen she married Reginald Grey, recognized as Earl of Kent in 1572; widowed in 1573, she later married soldier Sir John Wingfield, lived in the Low Countries, and returned after his death at Cadiz in 1596. Remembered as Aemilia Lanyer's “Mistress of my youth,” Susan's quiet patronage shaped an early woman poet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Grey family turns up again and again in late medieval and Tudor history, from Elizabeth Woodville's first marriage, to Lady Jane Grey's nine-day reign, to her sisters' scandals under Elizabeth I. In this episode, we trace the story of the Greys across the centuries, exploring how one family rose from Bedfordshire gentry to the very edge of the throne, only to find that being “almost royal” was as dangerous as it was powerful. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some Tudor women ignored duty and married scandalously - choices that shocked their families, infuriated kings, and sometimes changed history. In this episode, we'll look at Katherine of Valois and Owen Tudor, Katherine Willoughby and Richard Bertie, Katherine Parr and Thomas Seymour, Cecily of York and Thomas Kyme, plus Mary Tudor, Lady Mary Grey, and Margaret Tudor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Going back through the archives... let's discuss John Perrot. Was he Henry VIII's son? Who knows. But he definitely was a pretty ruthless character in Ireland, and he had a surprising downfall. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jane Seymour is often remembered as Henry VIII's one true love, the wife who gave him a son and the queen he chose to be buried beside. But was she really unique, or was her legacy shaped by timing and myth? In this chat, we explore Henry's love life, Jane's brief reign, and how her early death made her the “perfect” wife in history's eyes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Archaeologist AJ Dair joins me to talk about Henry VIII through the lens of psychology and mental health. We discuss his upbringing, the impact of his jousting accident, and how shifting relationships reveal deeper layers of his mind.Tudorcon From Home tickets at https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we turn from the famous princes in the Tower to their lesser-known sisters... the daughters of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. From Elizabeth of York, the Tudor queen who united two warring houses, to Cecily's scandalous second marriage, Anne's unhappy union with the Howards, Catherine's children who would one day alarm Henry VIII, Bridget's quiet life in a convent, and Mary's early death, these women shaped the Yorkist legacy in very different ways.Tudorcon From Home tickets at https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not every Tudor marriage ended in disaster. In this episode, we look at the rare good guys of Tudor England: from William Cecil's partnership with Mildred Cooke to Thomas More educating his daughters, Gilbert Talbot's affectionate letters, and Philip Sidney's romantic poetry. Even in the sixteenth century, some women didn't have to settle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, outlasted Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I. a feat few could match in Tudor England. In this episode, we trace how he survived plots, imprisonment, and shifting regimes to die in power instead of on the scaffold. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with another This Week in YouTube where we highlight some recent content from my YouTube channel. This week: The Disturbing Fate of Katherine Parr's Body; Tudor Body Image - How the Tudors Saw Weight Gain & Loss. Make sure you're subscribed at https://www.youtube.com/@hteysko so you don't miss all the content we put out!Support the podcast for even more exclusive contenthttps://www.patreon.com/englandcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grammy-nominated lutenist Ronn McFarlane and Richmond guitarist Andrew McEvoy join me ahead of their Tudorcon2025 concert to talk Tudor music, the surprising ties between rock, folk, and the lute, and why court musicians were sometimes accused of being spies. I could have chatted with them for hours - this was such a fun conversation. Check out Ronn McFarlane's website at https://ronnmcfarlane.com/Andrew McEvoy at https://www.youtube.com/@andrewmcevoy7332Tudorcon tickets at https://www.englandcast.com/Tudorcon or streaming tix at https://www.englandcast.com/TudorconFromHome Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.