Tudor Times is the online repository for all things Tudor and Stewart (1485–1625)

On 10th February 1537 Sir Francis Bigod’s rebellion in Cumberland, related to the Pilgrimage of Grace, was crushed. Bigod, who was actually an evangelical, rather than a supporter of a return to Papal Supremacy, was a well-connected member of the northern gentry families. Once betrothed to Margaret Neville, step-daughter of Katherine Parr, he was involved in the compilation of Valor Ecclesiasticus, the survey of monastic wealth ordered by Henry VIII and Cromwell. However, it was his view that the monasteries should be reformed rather than suppressed.

On 9th February 1498 John, Viscount Welles, died. Welles was the half-brother of Lady Margaret Beaufort, and thus uncle to Henry VII. As part of Henry’s policy of integrating Lancastrian and Yorkist supporters (as well as ensuring that his York sisters-in-law were married to men loyal to himself), Welles was married to Cicely of York in 1487. The couple had two daughters, who both died as children. Cicely remarried in a match which was widely disapproved of – more on that here

Picture is © By Rs-nourse - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

On 8th February 1587 Mary, Queen of Scots was executed at Fotheringhay Castle. She had been held captive in England since 1568, when, following defeat at the Battle of Langside, she fled across the Solway Moss to seek support from her cousin and fellow-monarch, Elizabeth I, to regain her throne. Mary had been deposed following the death of her husband, Lord Darnley, and her subsequent marriage to the Earl of Bothwell, widely believed to have been behind the assassination. During her time in England, once it became apparent that Elizabeth would not help her, she sought to escape. She became embroiled in plots to free her, and eventually, seemed to be party to a plan to assassinate the English queen. This was enough for a trial to be held, whose validity she refused to recognised, and for her to be condemned and executed.