In medieval London, there were multiple public places of execution, places where death sentences which had been given to prisoners convicted of serious crimes against the monarch or the state, including treason and heresy, were carried out. These locations included Tyburn (the location of the city's primary public gallows), Smithfield marketplace and the churchyard of St-Giles-in-the-Field. In 1464, another site was established on a raised plot of land, overlooking the Tower

"Upon Christmas Day in the morning", 25 December 1634, the thrice-widowed 91-year-old Lettice Knollys, Dowager Countess of Essex and Leicester, died at her home at Drayton Bassett, Staffordshire.

At the beginning of December 1608, Elizabethan courtier Douglas Howard, Lady Sheffield, died, at approximately sixty-five years old. On 11 December 1608, she was buried at St Margaret's Church, Westminster, as requested in her will, "by my sister Dudley".

On 11 November 1565, Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick, the elder brother of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, was married for the third, and what would be his final time. For the twice-widowed Warwick, now in his mid-thirties, his new bride was the eldest daughter of Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford, and member of Elizabeth I's household: 15-year-old Lady Anne Russell.

With the lease for Durham Place being taken over by Sidney, it became essential for Leicester to identify another local property that would meet his needs, and by June 1569, he had found one: Paget Place. After taking possession of the house, the property was eponymously renamed 'Leicester House', thus becoming the Earl's official residence within the capital, with Jenkins (1972, p.186) describing the house as becoming "the centre of his social and political existence".

Some recommended books which cover various periods of Lettice's life, often in the context of events involving other infamous Tudor figures, including her kinswoman and rival Queen Elizabeth I.

In October 1562, less than three years after her accession to the throne, Elizabeth I contracted the highly-infectious smallpox virus; this led to her becoming critically ill, and subsequently raised questions in regards to the governing of a country with an incapacitated queen, and speculation relating to the future of the English monarchy.

The marriage between Lettice and Leicester was formally celebrated on Sunday 21 September 1578, at Leicester's Essex home of Wanstead Hall, almost two years to the date of death of her first husband. Leicester had consulted with his chaplain at Wanstead, Humphrey Tyndall, informing of his intent to marry Lettice in secret, as he felt that public knowledge of their marriage may cause "great damage to his estate", having not previously obtained the consent of the queen (Tallis,

On 08 September 1560, Amy sent away her household for the day, encouraging them to enjoy the first day of the local Abingdon Fair. It was on the servants' return to the hall that evening that they found Amy, at the foot of a ground-floor staircase, dead, with her neck obviously broken.

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.

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.

Exact details of their marriage are unconfirmed, but it is believed the couple were married around July 1589.

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

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 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 at All Saints' Church, Chelsea (since renamed 'Chelsea Old Church').

On This Day (22 January) in 1554, Robert Dudley, the 21-year-old son of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, was found guilty of treason

On This Day (15 January) 1569, Catherine Carey, Lady Knollys, Elizabeth I's Chief Lady of the Bedchamber, died at Hampton Court Palace...