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17/06/2026

1567

15/06/2026

1519

15/06/2026

1515

15th June 1515Perhaps one of the most hardworking & unsung Women of the Tudor Court was born, Anne Herbert née Parr, C...
15/06/2026

15th June 1515

Perhaps one of the most hardworking & unsung Women of the Tudor Court was born, Anne Herbert née Parr, Countess of Pembroke
The youngest of 3 children to Sir Thomas Parr & Maud Green (her older sister is probably better known to you), she started her career at 13 serving Katherine of Aragon
At 23 she married well, an esquire to the King's Body, William Herbert - she remained at Court serving 7 Tudor Queens !

Anne witnessed the most turbulent 20 years of Henry VIII's reign, deceit, death, divorce, decapitation & the departure from Rome
Narrowly escaping accusations herself, having served the Six Wives of Henry VIII, she was rewarded with a quiet & happy life yet managed to fit in Queen No 7 before a simpler life as a wife & mother

We were thrilled to have a one act written for us by the amazing talent that is Rebecca Lyon about this relatively little known woman which is available to view on our YouTube Channel PTLH TV : https://youtu.be/MF8nSLjiLNc
or
to hear her tongue in cheek careers advice written by Rebecca Lyon you must watch this too : https://youtu.be/xKxl7esLKnc

... Where Theatre & History meet ...



Images: Stained Glass Window at Wilton Parish Church

15th June 1519 is the date generally believed to have been the birth date of Henry VIII's only acknowledged illegitim...
15/06/2026

15th June 1519

is the date generally believed to have been the birth date of Henry VIII's only acknowledged illegitimate child; Henry Fitzroy (meaning 'son of the king') at Blackmore, nr Ingatestone, Essex
His mother, unmarried at the time, one of Katherine of Aragon's ladies, was Elizabeth 'Bessie' Blount

The birth of his son proved, in Henry's eyes, that the failure to produce a male heir lay with his wife ... oh how little he knew!

Despite being born out of wedlock, this child was raised as a Prince with his own household, his care and upbringing firstly entrusted to first to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey later Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk. He had honours bestowed upon him, Earl of Nottingham, Duke of Richmond & Somerset, Lord High Admiral of England.
Clearly he was been groomed for greatness, for some time it looked to all that Henry might name him his heir

How difficult it must have been for Queen Katherine to have this child paraded out in public, whatever she felt she remained dignified. Anne Boleyn may also have feared his rise, replacing her daughter's position in the line of succession. However he died on 22nd July 1536 aged 17 probably of Tuberculosis, his marriage to Mary Howard had been unconsummated so his line ended

For what happened to Bessie, check out our series of 3 short films chronicling her life on YouTube Channel PTLH TV: https://youtu.be/Qc9HDSZ6M2U
... where Theatre and history meet ...


Image: Henry Fitzroy by Lucas Horenbout

13/06/2026

13 June 1514

The Great Harry was launched as part of 's 'Army by sea'

Skirmishes with the French effectively ended on 14 June (coincidence?) so the fleet was decommissioned

The ship saw little action until the Battle of the Solent when the sank

The Mary Rose

12/06/2026

1540

12/06/2026

1574

12th June 1574 Renée de Valois, Duchess of Ferrara, died at Château de Montargis, FranceThis strong-willed and steadf...
12/06/2026

12th June 1574

Renée de Valois, Duchess of Ferrara, died at Château de Montargis, France

This strong-willed and steadfast woman was the daughter of King Louis XII of France and Anne Duchess of Brittany and sister of Queen Claude of France (the subject of yesterday's recollections - watch for free on YouTube Channel PTLH TV: https://youtu.be/qDa-IWnCgC0)

Raised a catholic, Renée converted to Calvinism resulting in her trial for heresy

She remained principled until her daughters were taken from her, then bribed to yield her Protestant beliefs in order to be reunited with them. Despite outwardly appearing to have recanted, she continued to avoid attending any form of Catholic worship, which she viewed as blasphemy

In 1559 her husband Ercole II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara died and so she returned to France where she supported the Huguenots. By 'chance' she was in Paris during the massacre of Saint Bartholomew's night, when she she was responsible for rescuing many

As a child one of her companions was a young Anne Boleyn and later she had been considered as a potential bride for Henry VIII!
Another of history's forgotten Strong women, Women who made a difference at a time when they had little or no voice

... where Theatre and history meet ...


Image: Portrait of Renée, Duchess of Ferrara by Jean Clouet

11/06/2026

1520

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