Who’s Who

John Wyclith - Oxford Scholar - Denounced the established church as corrupt. He emphasized study of the bible and individual interpretations of the scriptures as source of inspiration and guide for moral life. Wyclith believed that a good man could give the sacraments just as well as an ordained priest. He questioned the wealth of the church stating that Christ and the apostles lived in poverty. He died in his bed. After Wyclith’s death, the Catholic church claimed Wyclith to be a heretic and his bones were dug up and burnt at the stake.

Lollards were a group of religious dissenters who followed Wyclith’s teachings. They took the bible literally. If the ceremony or a belief was not in the bible it was not accepted. This included the Catholic church practices such as Holy relics, pilgrimages, indulgences and the veneration of saints. The Lollards became quite popular with many in England when they suggested the church lands be confiscated and divided up among the populace in 1410. The Catholic Church declared the Lollards heretics.

Edward V inherited the throne when he was 12. His uncle, Richard III put Edward V and his brother Richard in the tower. The two boys, known as the little princes, disappeared. Richard III has been blamed for their murder. However, there is some speculation that Henry Tudor may have had the boys killed. Bones that are thought to be that of the little princes were found under the steps in the tower sometime in the 18th or 19th century.

 

Henry Courtney  Marquis of Exeter, grandson of Edward IV

Earl of Warwick  Direct Yorkist heir to the crown, put in tower by Henry VII, executed when he was 25.

Margaret of Salisbury  Direct Yorkist heir to the crown, executed in 1541 by Henry VIII

Edward Strafford  3rd duke of Buckingham, grandson of Edward IV by youngest son, heir to the throne, executed by Henry VIII 1521.

Arthur Tudor, son of Henry VII, married Catherine of Aragon, but died of consumption (tuberculosis). Arthur's pictures is in the Royal collection at Windsor Castle.

Archbishop Warham - Archbishop of Canterbury for Henry VII and Henry VIII, married Henry VIII to Catharine of Aragon.

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey - son of a butcher who became archbishop of York, 1514, Lord Chancellor and Cardinal Legate of England. He united in his person the spiritual and temporal power of the realm. Grew very rich in his service by corruption (mostly pluralism). He fathered an illegitimate son by one of his mistresses. He owned Hampton Court before Henry VIII confiscated it when Wolsey fell from favor. He died of natural causes before Henry VIII had a chance to arrest him for treason. Wolsey served Henry the VIII as chief minister until he could not get the Pope to grant an annulment or divorce for Henry so Henry could marry Anne Boleyn who was pregnant with Elizabeth I.

Thomas Cromwell - replaced Wolsey as Henry VIII’s chief minister and Lord privy seal.

Thomas Cranmer - Archbishop of Canterbury, burned at the stake by Mary I for being a heretic. Cranmer orchestrated the break with Rome to allow Henry VIII’s divorce of Catherine of Aragon (Mary’s mother). He wrote the Book of Psalms for the Church of English and started the reformation of the English Church. Ironically, Thomas Cranmer had saved the life of Mary I when he talked Henry VIII out of ordering her execution. It is doubtful Mary knew this when she ordered Cranmer’s execution.

Thomas More was a Catholic and friend of Henry VIII, he would not approve of the act that gave Henry VIII divorce of Catherine of Aragon and marriage to Anne Boleyn instead he resigned from office. He is most remembered for his book Utopia and was made a Saint by the Catholic church 500 years after his execution, 1934.

Hugh Latimer - Bishop of Worcester - Protestant Martyr Burned at the stake with Nicholas Ridley and John Hooper. Famous last words: Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out ...Father of heaven, receive my soul!

Thomas Seymour - Lord High Admiral, brother of Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's 3rd wife and brother of Edward Seymour, Lord Protector of King Edward VI.

William Cecil - best friend of Elizabeth I, Lord Privy Seal and chief minister. He devoted his life to Elizabeth and remained her faithful servant for 40 years. (ancestor of the current owners of Biltmore House)

Robert Dudley - Elizabeth 1 favorite. They had a long history together. He tried to get Elizabeth to marry him many times.

See also:

Kings and Queens of England

Medieval Castles in England

Tudor England Government Policies and Acts

Martin Luther and the rise of Protestantism