The History of England

It's time for a naval encounter, marked by the sinking of the Mary Rose, and then we set the scene for the cut-throat politics of the last years with Richard Rich, Thomas Wriothesley and William Paget. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1544 Henry traveled to France and hauled himself into the saddle for his last chance to emulate Henry V. A little like his predecessor, he was also investing in a royal navy; and this time, it's an investment that would last. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The arrival of Catherine Parr (and family) and preparations for war in France. And rather a lot of digressions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1542, Henry's sought war with France; but before that, he must make sure his northern borders were safe. So began the Rough Wooing, as Henry sought to bring a Pro-English part to power in Scotland, and then bully her into a marriage alliance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1543 religious conservatives were in the ascendant, dominated the aristocratic Privy Council and a wave of prosecutions for heresy followed. When some of Archbishop Cranmer's own parishioners of Kent sought to discredit him Gardiner saw an opportunity to bring him down. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catherine had made a decent start of being queen. And it was really in no body's interest to reveal her old life. But dangers and memories were all around - as were temptations Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1540 a new member at court, Catherine Howard, caught the eye of a king struggling with his marriage to Anne. By July Anne was gone and Catherine had embarked on her new career as queen of England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anne arrived in England to be greeted by 6 burly disguised middle aged men. 1540 was a year neither Anne of Cleves nor Thomas Cromwell were to remember - with affection in one case, or at all in another. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry's attitude to illness, and possible medical explanations for his character and events of his realm. And a negotiation starts for a new wife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 1530's saw radical changes in both Ireland and Wales, following Cromwell's same policy as applied to the northern borders. The outcomes though, were to be very different. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry wanted a different relationship with his nobility - a service, court based nobility. Royal power meanwhile must be extended and enhanced. Today we look at Tudor lordship and royal power in the north of England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1539, Henry became convinced that religious reform was going too far. Cromwell and Cranmer failed to see the signs and during the 1539 the act of Six Articles shocked evangelists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the start of 1538, the end of monasticism was widely predicted, and by 1540 the larger monasteries were all gone. Along with an assault on the veneration of relics and saints, the traditional practice of religion was deeply affected. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1537 and 1538 the doctrinal debate intensified with the Evangelical cause appeared to advance step by step. Cromwell discredited the monastic movement by attacking the veneration of relics.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By December 1536 there were 50,000 rebels camped around Pontefract Castle while inside their leader Robert Aske composed a petition of 24 articles, to re-instate traditional religion and the Pope. No royal army of any size stood between them and London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is not true to say that Henry died a Catholic without the Pope. The 1530's were a time of increasing doctrinal confusion which together with the attack on monasticism brought forth a bellow of distress. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Anne's death the traditionalists breathed a heavy sign of relief. now all the bad stuff would stop - evangelical reform would be reversed, Mary would be re-instated. They had a shock coming. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the mid 1520s, the church authorities began to face a more serious challenge from evangelicals like Thomas Bilney and Hugh Latimer. And in 1526 and 1534, Tyndale's New Testament in English transformed the situation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some of the arguments about Anne Boleyn's life and career, to help you make you make your choice and vote on the History of England Facebook page http://bit.ly/THoEFBpage before 19th November. 4 Prizes to be won! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On May Day 1536 at Greenwich, Anne and Henry could put their worries aside. Everything was well with the world as they watched the joust. Then Henry left suddenly and was seen arguing with Henry Norris. Find out what happened next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discuss what we know about Anne as Queen consort, and chart the progress of the break with a thousand years of tradition in the declaration of royal supremacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The start of 4 weeks of fun, debate, voting and prizes as we consider the life of Anne Boleyn and decide whether Catherine was being fair in describing Anne as the Scandal of Christendom. This week a summary of the life of Anne to 1532. You can find out more here http://bit.ly/ABDebate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Wolsey's fall was a period of stalemate; but between 1529 and 1532, Henry's thoughts crystalised, Anne became to be openly at his side - and a new weapon joined the king - the exocet that was Thomas Cromwell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1529 the campaign for the King's great matter, his divorce came to a climax. Wolsey persuaded the Pope to allow a court to be held in England under Cardinals Campeggio and Wolsey. On its success or failure would rest Wolsey's own future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The king's Great Matter as it was to be called, outraged and divided Christendom, and has been dividing us ever since. What motivated it? Who was responsible? The debate starts here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1520 the Pope threatened an obscure Augustinian monk with excommunication. Why ? What happened next? And how did the English react? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The traditional story of the English Reformation has been of a rotten, moribund, venal church, just waiting to be toppled by reformers, the pyre ignited by Luther's teachings. But was the late medieval church really in such a rotten state? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The diplomacy of the early 1520s culminated at Pavia, with the ruin of French hopes - and also English as Hapsburg for a while reigned supreme. Domestic politics saw Wolsey discredited for the first time, and the Boleyns arrive at court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry had shown a hint of the man he would become in 1510 by the execution of Empson and Dudley. In 1521, the Duke of Buckingham was in his sights, as Europe's Universal Peace sank beneath the waves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is in the reign of Henry VIII that we first hear of the 'masque' - entertainment that drew from Mummers, Mystery plays, and 'disguisings'. We talk about Anne and Mary Boleyn's education - and Shakespeare and the word 'bump' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Enter Thomas Boleyn, courtier, and the realities of being a courtier. And the field of the cloth of Gold; Henry and Wolsey's mission to uphold the treaty of universal peace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wolsey had tried war with France, they'd tried war by proxy, they'd tried peace. In 1518 the most remarkable of their plans - the Treaty of Universal peace where 20 states guaranteed the peace of Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being made a Cardinal in 1515 gave Wolsey the perfect opportunity to give the vainglorious side of his nature full reign. He made full use of it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The story of a love affair - probably. In 1514 Henry married off his 18 year old sister to the gouty, siphilitic, toothless 50+ year old Louis and sent her to France., She came back a year later married to someone else entirely Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1513 there were two English victories. One of them would have a profound effect on English history. The other one was mainly a mad dash in pursuit of a bunch of cavalry eager to escape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The path of Renaissance diplomacy was both torturous and without scruple; as Henry finds out as he thirsts for glory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Historians have identified the 16th and 17th centuries as a time of revolutionary change in Europe, driven by military technology. We talk a bit about that, and about the personalities Henry VIII was up against. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry VIII was released by this accession to the courtly, chivalric life of the hunt, and masque, and tournaments. In this he was encouraged by by Council - while his father's 'peace party' got on with the business of ruling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The accession of Henry VIII was greeted with a huge sigh of relief and great enthusiasm. His court was to change immediately, and politics for ever. Although the Book of the Courtier would not appear until 1528, it could have been written for the Tudor court to explain how to win the favour of the Prince. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Henry has been assessed by historians through the ages, and the controversies of his reign. And assessments of the man himself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Through the 15th century, Portugal explored the African coast in search of the Indies and the fabulous wealth of the trading networks with the East - such as those of Mansa Musa from Timbuktu. Until the great expeditions of Columbus and Da Gama led to the opening of contact with the Americas and Asia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happened when Henry was gone. And the report card - was Henry an incompetent tyrant, a fun loving saviour of England's future - or something in between? Should we listen to Francis Bacon or to Henry himself? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While the young prince Henry built a group of aristocratic companions and longed desperately for the joust, his father drove his hatchet men Dudley and Empson ever further into the dark world of extortion and oppression. But in 1509, Henry fell ill again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry had found two hatchet men to replace Reginald Bray - Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley. They spread their tentacles and contacts through London and England, and used the Council Learned to drive their master's policy to extort every possible fee 'to the king's advantage'. And did pretty well for themselves too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early 1500's Henry VII saw many of his closest confidentes and supporters die. Catherine of Aragon was to be one of those who suffered as a result. He also built the rather magnificent palace at Sheen, renaming it Richmond; not knowing that in a few years, it would be the place of his death. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry made changes to the English court, administration and legal system. He increased the health of royal finances, and tried to make the justice system work better, based around the JP. But many of his actions would be seen as setting a path to tyranny and avarice later in the reign Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After negotiations that would win prizes, it was finally time for Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth's pride and joy Prince Arthur to marry the Spanish Princess, Catherine of Aragon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The travels of Perkin Warbeck take him to Scotland, marriage and war; which leads to taxes, which leads to rebellion. T'was ever thus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland in 1495 was almost 3 societies living side by side. We take a trip to Ireland, hear about the Great Earl, and the law that became known as Poyning's law. Plus, Perkin arrives - will Ireland welcome him as it did Lambert? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The appearance of a new pretender - Perkin Warbeck in Ireland was to distort Henry VII's domestic and foreign policy for the rest of the 1490's. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.