Curated playlist
English politicians convicted of crimes
- Thomas Percy, 7th Earl of NorthumberlandThomas Percy refused to renounce Catholicism to save his life on a York scaffold in 1572.
- George Boleyn, Viscount RochfordGeorge Boleyn's execution crowd fell almost completely silent to hear his scaffold speech.
- John Dudley, 1st Duke of NorthumberlandJohn Dudley's "wicked Duke" label was largely built because Queen Mary needed a villain.
- Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of SomersetA king's marriage to his sister made Edward Seymour ruler of England. He governed for a nine-year-old king.
- Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of EssexOne account says the Earl of Essex walked in on Queen Elizabeth not yet properly wigged or gowned.
- Thomas Wyatt the YoungerIn 1554, Thomas Wyatt the Younger marched on London to stop Queen Mary I's marriage.
- Thomas MoreThomas More taught his daughters Greek when almost no one did. He also approved burning heretics.
- Nicholas Carew (Henry VIII courtier)Sir Nicholas Carew grew up inside the royal household, placed there at the age of six to share the education of the future King Henry VIII. For three decades he would remain one of the most recognizable figures at the Tudor court, a knight…
- Walter RaleighWalter Raleigh sent settlers to Roanoke Island but never set foot in North America.
- Thomas CromwellHenry VIII beheaded Thomas Cromwell, then called him his most faithful servant.
- Edmund DudleyEdmund Dudley wrote a guide to good kingship while waiting in the Tower of London to be executed.
- Richard EmpsonWithin months of Henry VIII taking the throne in 1509, Richard Empson was in prison. He had raised money for Henry VII.