Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford, had been a popular and active courtier during the reign of Elizabeth I, following in the footsteps of his father, John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford, a high-ranking councillor during the reigns of the three previous monarchs: Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I.

On 13 June 1548, after months of preparation, Katherine and Seymour moved their households to Sudeley Castle in the Gloucestershire countryside, leaving behind the controversy and a disease-filled London.

On This Day (09 August) in 1586, Mary Dudley, Lady Sidney, sister of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester and Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick, and former Gentlewoman of the Privy Chamber and close confidant of Queen Elizabeth I, died.

Henry Carey was the second child of Mary Boleyn, the eldest daughter of Thomas Boleyn, born in March 1526.

On 19 July 1584, Robert Dudley, Lord Denbigh, son of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, long time 'favourite' of Elizabeth I, and his wife Lettice Knollys, Countess of Leicester, died suddenly whilst residing at Wanstead Hall, Essex.

At around eight o'clock in the evening, on 06 July 1553, after over a year of ill-health, the fifteen-year-old Edward VI took his final breaths, dying at Greenwich Palace, a favoured residence and birthplace of his father, Henry VIII.

On the evening of Thursday 03 April 1606, Blount took his final breath, with his loving Penelope by his side, the one woman to whom he had been "faithful and constant" all those years.

On This Day (04 May) in 1608, the funeral was held for Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury, also known as 'Bess of Hardwick', at All Hallow's Church, Derby.

On This Day (21 April) in 1509, Henry VII died at Richmond Palace, aged 52, with his 17-year-old son Henry, succeeding him as Henry VIII.

On This Day (20 April) in 1578, Lady Mary Grey, youngest daughter of Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk and his wife Frances Brandon, and sister to Lady Jane Grey and Katherine Grey, and widow of Sir Thomas Keyes, died at her London home, in the parish of St Botolph's-without-Aldgate.

On This Day (06 April) in 1621, Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford, died at his Hampshire home, Netley Abbey, aged 81.

On 23 March 1596, Sir Henry Unton, the eldest surviving son of the late Anne Seymour, Countess of Warwick, died.

On This Day (22 March) in 1676, diarist, literary patron and heiress Lady Anne Clifford, died at Brougham Castle, near Penrith, Cumberland.

On 13 March 1555, John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford, Lord Privy Seal, died at his Westminster home, 'Russell House'.

On This Day (24 February) in 1603, Katherine Carey, Countess of Nottingham, died at Arundel House.

On 21 February 1590, only a short time after undergoing a lower leg amputation, Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick, died at Bedford House.

On 16 February 1587, Elizabethan courtier, soldier and poet Sir Philip Sidney was interred at 'Old' St Paul's Cathedral.

On This Day (13 Feb) in 1608, Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury, Elizabethan courtier and builder, known as 'Bess of Hardwick', died.

On 08 February 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots was executed at Fotheringhay Castle, after being found guilty of high treason.

On 01 February 1555, the funeral of Jane Guildford, Duchess of Northumberland, widow of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, was held...