Renaissance English History Podcast: A Show About the Tudors

Baddesley Clinton looks calm today, but the families who lived there left behind a long trail of drama. This episode follows the Clintons, the fiery Bromes, and the Catholic Ferrers through murder, duels, hidden priest holes, and the Jesuit network that operated out of the house during Elizabeth I's reign. It's a full narrative journey through 500 years of secrets inside one Warwickshire manor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did Elizabeth I actually name James VI of Scotland as her heir? Historian Dr. Tracy Borman joins me to talk about her new book, The Stolen Crown, and the newly uncovered evidence showing that the deathbed scene we've all heard was rewritten after the fact. We talk about the real contenders for the throne, the political panic around Elizabeth's refusal to name an heir, Robert Cecil's king-making, James's shaky reputation in England, and why the 1603 succession was anything but inevitable.Tracy Borman is Chief Historian for Historic Royal Palaces and the author of numerous Tudor histories. The Stolen Crown is out now. Order it on Amazon or your favorite bookstore! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1596, a young man crossed England with a passport so convincing that constables let him pass from county to county without a second glance. The problem? The document was entirely fake. When Justice Edward Hext finally examined it, he realized it had fooled officials from one end of the kingdom to the other. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're looking at what Tudor people actually did to stay clean. From linen “dry baths” and herbal wash water to tooth powders made from salt, sage, and charcoal, this episode walks through the real routines behind Tudor bathing and daily mouth care. It's a closer look at how people washed, groomed, and kept themselves presentable in a world without modern plumbing or toothpaste. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're looking at what a “passport” meant in Tudor England. There were no little booklets, but anyone leaving the kingdom needed royal permission in the form of licences and safe-conducts. Let's do a quick dive into how these documents worked and why the Privy Council watched foreign travel so closely. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The other day we looked at the nobility and what they did - today, a look at the gentry, the thousands of families who handled the everyday work of running the kingdom. From managing estates to serving as Justices of the Peace, they kept local government functioning while pursuing their own ambitions. It's a quick tour of the people who made Tudor England operate behind the scenes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Blounts of Mountjoy were everywhere in Tudor England, from Bessie Blount, Henry VIII's mistress and mother of his only acknowledged son, to Charles Blount, Elizabeth I's trusted commander and scandalous lover of Penelope Rich. This episode looks at how one family quietly threaded through a century of royal power, war, and intrigue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1592, Queen Elizabeth's favorite, Sir Walter Raleigh, and her maid of honour, Bess Throckmorton, were sent to the Tower - not for treason, but for love. Their secret marriage scandalized the court and cost them everything. This is the story of their forbidden romance, their fall from favor, and the loyalty that lasted long after the Queen's anger cooled. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wonder what a Tudor duke actually did all day? In this minicast, we dig into the real jobs of England's nobles, landlords, courtiers, commanders, and sometimes survivors of royal politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1533, a woman named Alice Tankerville pulled off one of the boldest acts in Tudor history, escaping from the Tower of London. Accused of piracy and murder, Alice used her wit, charm, and the affection of a lovestruck guard to slip out of her chains and nearly make it to freedom.This is the real story of love, betrayal, and a desperate flight under the shadow of Henry VIII's Tower - featuring lost gold, a doomed romance, and an unforgettable escape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Russell family - future Dukes of Bedford - rose from obscure West Country gentry to the heights of Tudor power. Starting with John Russell, a trusted courtier of Henry VIII, they built their fortune from the lands of dissolved monasteries and turned Woburn Abbey into one of England's grandest estates.In this episode, we trace how the Russells survived through the shifting faiths of the Tudor court, survived rebellion and revolution, and eventually reshaped London itself through Russell Square and Bedford Square. From monks to magnates, this is the story of the family who built both a dynasty and a city. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Think you know the story of Guy Fawkes? Think again. In this mini episode, we're uncovering six myths about the Gunpowder Plot, from who really led it to whether the barrels could have actually blown up Parliament.Check out the full episode on the Gunpowder Plot here: https://www.englandcast.com/2018/11/episode-113-remember-remember/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Tudor England, portraits became more than decoration, they were tools of influence. This minicast explores how Renaissance humanism brought individuality and ambition to English art, from Holbein's lifelike studies of Henry VIII's court to Elizabeth I's carefully crafted royal image. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Topcliffe was one of Elizabeth I's most feared servants - a gentleman who became England's chief interrogator, hunting Catholic priests in the name of loyalty and faith. Today we'll look at his rise, his notorious torture methods, the scandal that nearly ended him, and his grim legacy as the man who turned service to the Crown into cruelty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode looks at the changing face of witchcraft from the Middle Ages through the Tudor and early Stuart eras. We'll start with royal women accused of sorcery, like Joan of Navarre and Eleanor Cobham - and trace how superstition turned into state policy under Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and finally King James I.https://www.englandcast.com/haunted-tudor-london-walk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.