The History of England

James VI & I had enjoyed favourites before - Esme Stuart, Robert Kerr for example. But George Villiers was to prove his favourite And we introduce the finely 'compacted legs' of the future Duke of Buckingham to you today. And also some proper history work on royal finances you'll be relieved to know - and the Cockayne project. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Jacobean plan for Ulster owed much not only to previous failed Tudor plantation schemes, but to James's highland experience and his desire to build a unified, secure British state across all his three kingdoms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James I & VI was a canny politician helped by a master administrator in Salisbury. But the honeymoon was over with scandals at his court, and the failure to establish a good relationship with Parliament.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

News of the Thomas Overbury scandal spread through England to become a national event. How would the scandal affect the image of the court? Much depended on how the font of all justice, the king, would deal with it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1615, Ralph Winwood interviewed Gervase Elwes, Lieutenant of the Tower about the suspicious death of Thomas Overbury. Gervase spilled his guts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Robert Kerr as the royal favourite there were all sorts of intrigues going on at court - and an outrageous love affair. All the while, James' parliament of 1614 was every bit as addled as the court Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Salisbury makes a last ditch attempt to resolve the problems of royal income. While the success of Robert Kerr at court signals the arrival of a new royal favourite Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Enclosure has a long history in England from the 15th - 19th century. In 1607 ordinary people resisting the destruction of their livelihoods found a leader - Captain Pouch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although the case for a Great Britain failed to win many hearts, the dual monarchy ended the history of the Reivers at last. But a seemingly small customs dispute about currants would grow into a sore that would last til the civil war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To get us all read for the series on John Hawkwood, Mike Corradi of a History of Italy podcast joins us for a general introduction to the century Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By the time parliament met again in 1606, James' government was dominated by the men he laughingly referred to as his 'Trinity of Knaves'. And the foremost of those by some way was Robert Cecil, a chip off the old block. Cecil took full advantage of the Gunpowder plot with a massive subsidy - and James' Oath of Allegiance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is difficult to hear the voice of ordinary people from long ago; but although they left little written record, yet their memory, attitudes and perceptions of the world around them are etched in the landscape. Stephen Mileson helps bring those voices back to life.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The dawn of the Stuart age of Britain came within a European context of the growing strength of the nation state, absolutism, relgious conflict and war. And James arrival as the new king was welcomed, and started well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's so much to talk about! James' first, management-by-irritation of parliament of 1604 and the passive aggressive Apology and Satisfaction right back at him. And - the Gunpowder Treason and Plot! Hear all about it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James quickly established his household with Scots taking a large share, with associated argy bargy. Queen Anne a;so established her court, which would become a cultural centre and popular destination for noblewomen and luminaries such as Ben Johnson and Inigo Jones Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By the time James VI came to England in 1603, he had 26 years experience of kingship, and had established his authority in Scotland, and was a self confident ruler, and author with a clear sense of what monarchy was about. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After an overview of Series 7, it's time to talk about James and the Historians. History has treated James roughly – helped by a 17th century hatchet job. But over the last 50 years, there has been much more appreciation of the challenges he faced, and his skill in meeting them.Series 7 covers 1603 - 1638 in 50 episodes - all of James VI & I's reign, and the early years of Charles I325-332 Covers the period where James has the last of the great Tudpr first ministers at his side - Robert Cecil, The earl of Salisbry. The early years of James' reign are relatively secure - though carry the seeds of later discord in James' excessive spending333-343 Cover a reign that has great achievements - such as the King James bible (episode 338), and a continuing balance in the English church. But relations with Parliamnt are fractious, spending excessive, the over powerful Duke of Buckingham - and court scandals.336 Covers the plantations of UlsterIn 344-349 we take time away from politics; 3 episodes on Elizabethan and Jacobean theatre, and 2 on the transformation of Englands vernacular architecure - the Great RebuildingCharles I comes to the throne at Episode 350,and until 1629 and episode 357 Charles tries to work with a parliament increasingly frustrated at his absolutist tendancies and reforms to the church Episode 358 to 368 deals with Charles Personal rule, up until trouble breaks out in ScotlandEpisode 364 to 367 convern early colonosation in Caribbean and North AmericanAt A GallopSDeries 7 also includes 3 epiosdes of a special strand: At A Gallop episodes summarise the main themes of a group of episodes. They are designed to help you move more quickly through the period if you wish, or help you understand the detail by giving an overview and framework Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zack is the author of for God and the Devil, and we discuss the highlights and numerous lowlights of the 30 years war Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The early 17th century saw the emergence of the Dutch Republic as a new colonial power, and the resurgence of France after her religious wars. But most of al the period is scarred by the destruction of the 30 Years War Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hobbes argued that only an all powerful ruler could do what was required to protect the people and preserve property, and for that the loss of individual liberty was worth paying. I'm not going to lie to you - the 17th C does rather support the theory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first of three episodes on Europe 1600-1650, we talk about religion, scientific revolution, and Witchcraft. And why Galileo was a weaker No 8 than Dean Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The final years of Elizabeth's reign inevitably have the sense of the end of an era; she retreated to her chambers, court was no longer the attraction it had been, dearth stalked the land. But her reign had seen such changes as would deeply influence England's future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crime in England saw a sharp growth between the 1580s and 1640s; and the hand of justice lay heavy. But at the same time was forged a system of local and royal governance that was deeply participatory, was trusted by most and delivered social stability Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The last 15-20 years of Elizabeth's reign have been described as the Golden Age. It's a description that might have seemed incomprehensible to many of the people that lived through it; but it did see the completion of Europe's first comprehensive state system of poor relief. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Ulster near the end of the 16th century, it appeared that Elizabeth could reply at least on one of her favoured Irish subjects - Hugh O'Neill, Baron of Dungannon and Earl of Tyrone. But O'Neill was becoming increasingly disenchanted with English rule. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry IV of France, regarded as one of France's greatest leaders, looks for way to bring peace and unity to his divided country, while England and Spain trade blows. And the story of Grainne Ni Mhaille, aka Grace O'Malley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The defeat of the Armada feels in retrospect like a watershed in Elizabeth's reign; many of her closest advisers and companions died, and for the remainder of her reign England would be at war. Much of that war was fought on land, contrary to the normal story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Armada sailed serenely up the Channel, the English tried desperately to make some impression before it reached Flanders. But Medina Sidonia had worries of his own... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Great Armada was do to sail in 1587; but Elizabeth had other ideas. By in May 1588 the Duke of Medina Sidonia led his fleet of 130 ships down the Tagus towards the open sea - and the Enterprise of England was on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From a desk in a small suite of rooms in El Escorial Philip II ran a vast colonial empire. With France torn by civil war, war against the Dutch improving, thoughts turned to the Enterprise of England Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By the mid 1580's Mary was at her wits' end - feeling betrayed by her son, 18 years of incarceration, beset by a unsympathetic jailer. She would listen to anything to escape - and then came Gilbert Gifford and Anthony Babbington Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a time of existential and moral threat, the English state developed a network of informants and spies at home and abroad. While Catholics tried to steer a path through the demands for loyalty from both Queen and Pope. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By the 1580s, the confessional lines between Protestant and Catholic were increasingly strongly drawn; repressive legislation increased, and the English College was established to renew the stock of priests able to support the Catholic population in England Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elizabeth set her face against further reform, against pressures from within the church and without; in her view, hers was a Godly church. How far did her church resist Puritanism and embed itself in the life of ordinary people? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A host of Elizabeth explorers explored the world in the late Elizabethan reign. Did they achieve anything, or were there efforts a false start?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For a couple of years in the mid 1570s Elizabeth nixed proposed exploration projects for fear of Spain. At the same time she was discussing a secret voyage with a select group of Councillors - not west or north this time - but southwards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Together the Elizabethan explorers, and authors like John Dee and Richard Hakluyt built excitement about the possibilities of global exploration. Francis Drake gave it expression. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From 1578 to 1582 the courts of France, Spain and England buzzed with the possibility of the latest office romance - between the Queen of England and Duke of Anjou. Was this classic Elizabethan distraction or an affair of the heart? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By the 1580s, the English atrocities and the rebellion of James Fitzmaurice and the Earl of Desmond, Catholicism and its association with resistance ot English rule was clearly established. Events at Smerwick convinced the English that the foreign threat through Ireland w Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The later Tudors faced a choice in their policy towards Ireland - would they resign themselves to the old ways, ruling through the Old English with minimal control; or would they turn to outright conquest? In the 1560's Shane O'Neill demonstrated the weakness of Tudor power Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are many myths about the Elizabethan Navy, the idea of a world-beating tool that created an international Empire. It wasn't quite, and it didn't, at all. None the less Elizabethan's reign and innovations did change England from naval also-ran to Premier league. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Black Africans began to make their way in increasing numbers to England - firstly mainly via trading countries like Spain and Portugal, but increasingly direct. What sort of lives did they make in England? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elizabeth's reign famously saw England enter the search for new markets with which to trade and explore. In this episode, we focus on trade with West Africa, and John Hawkins' infamous voyages of the 1560s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A horribly brief introduction to the West African kingdoms with which the Portuguese started to trade and a smidge of their backstory, before the English began to arrive in the 16th century.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What started as a curate's egg of an episode, ends up with an introduction to a new player, Francis Walsingham, and the story of the St Bartholomew's Day massacre in Paris in 1572. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Through the 1560s, the progress of the reformation gave both the Protestant Godly and Catholics much leeway and wriggle room. A series of events in the late 1560's and early 1570s would begin to end that. One of those was the Papal bull, Regnans in Excelsis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The saga of the life and times of Mary Queen of Scots continues, but in 1568 something stirs in the north of England... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Scotland Mary's grasp on her kingdom begins to wobble. In 1566, Elizabeth's parliament also gives her serious grief, drawing an increasingly waspish response. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did Elizabeth have a foreign 'policy'? If so what principles drove it - dynasty, parsimony, protestantism? This week Elizabeth intervenes in Scotland and France. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dudley was for long considered the front runner for any possible marriage; but there was a long list of suitors. And Elizabeth was under pressure from the badgers of the House of Commons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.