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

On 28th April 1489 Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland, was lynched by a mob when attempting to collect tax. It was believed that the crowd’s real motive was vengeance for Northumberland’s refusal to deploy his troops at the Battle of Bosworth. Summoned by Richard III, he raised his feudal levy but watched the battle without intervening. His motives are unknown – his family were traditional Lancastrians, but he had served Edward IV faithfully. His personal relationship with Richard III fluctuated as Richard took many of the northern offices formerly held by the Percys. As a child, he had been a hostage together with Henry Tudor, under the control of William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, so bonds of friendship may have been created then between the two Henrys. Perhaps Northumberland was just sick of bloodshed and sought to protect his own men from slaughter.

His tomb (pictured) is in Beverly Minster.

On 27th April 1522, the Battle of Bicocca was fought between the allied forces of France and Venice, against the Spanish-Imperial-Papal force. It was a significant battle, in that it effectively ended French dominance in the Duchy of Milan. It is also important for the part played by heavy artillery – the Spanish guns massacred the Swiss pike-formations – previously the most successful military tool of the early 16th century. The forces were led by Odet de Foix, Viscount Lautrec, for France and Prospero Colonna (pictured) for the victors.

On 26th April 1564, John Shakespeare and his wife Mary, nee Arden, took their first son to be baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon. Little did they know that the baby at the font would become one of the most famous Englishmen ever born. William Shakespeare wrote about forty plays, considered to contain some of the finest prose and poetry in the English language as well as sonnets which have enchanted lovers for four hundred years. His career as an actor and playwright took him to the top of his profession, playing for both Elizabeth I and James VI & I. Read more about the sources of inspiration for his work here