Henry VIII Chronology – What Happened in 1517?

Thomas More entered the King’s service as a councillor.

The Truce with Scotland, first agreed in April 1516, was further extended to the end of November. It was agreed that Margaret Tudor would be allowed to return to Scotland but that she would have no power and Albany would continue as Governor of Scotland.

Trouble had been brewing against the numbers of foreigners in London for some time. People felt that the presence of so may foreigners was depriving them of food and income and a sermon preached by Dr Beal had made the situation worse. In anticipation of trouble, a curfew had been imposed but this had been broken and soon there were thousands of protestors on the streets and the May Day riots began.

News of the disturbance reached the King in the early hours of the morning. The King’s guard were sent onto the streets and the Duke of Norfolk was ordered to raise an army and march on the city. Rioting, looting and burning continued until it calmed around 3am. It was finally put down by the arrival of Norfolk’s army of 2,000 soldiers.

Around 280 people were were tried on a charge of treason for their part in the May Day riots. They were released after Catherine of Aragon pleaded for their release. John Lincoln and 12 others identified as leaders of the riots were found guilty of treason and sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered.

John Lincoln, who had been identified as the instigator of the May Day riots, was executed by being hung, drawn and quartered.

Thomas Wolsey issued a number of commissions covering 35 counties. Commissioners were required to find out how many towns, hamlets, houses or buildings had been destroyed since September 1488. Information was also required regarding how much land had been converted to pasture, how many new parks had been created and alterations made to existing parks and land that had been enclosed without permission.

The Duke of Albany travelled to France to negotiate a renewal of the Auld Alliance. The Treaty of Rouen agreed that if England were to invade Scotland then France would provide aid to Scotland in a counter invasion.

Two French ambassadors arrived in England to begin secret peace negotiations.

A party of Burgundian ambassadors arrived in England to negotiate a peace.

Because there were so many foreign ambassadors in London, Henry organised a joust in the newly built tiltyard at Greenwich. Edward Guildford was appointed Marshall of the Jousts. Henry was head of the 14 challengers while the Duke of Suffolk was head of the 14 answerers. The joust was followed by a banquet and dancing.

A new form of plague reached England. It was called the Sweating sickness because the victim felt unwell before breaking out in a profuse sweat. After four or five hours a crisis was reached where the victim either died or, more rarely, recovered. Henry and the court left London for Windsor Castle.

Thomas Wolsey, who had been left in London to deal with state affairs, contracted sweating sickness. He survived the disease but was weakened and resorted to dealing with government issues from his bed.

Martin Luther, who strongly protested against with the practice of Papal indulgencies, famously nailed his 95 Thesis to the door of the church in Wittenberg beginning the Reformation in Europe. His followers became known as Protestants.

Thomas Parr, father of Katherine Parr, died.

The truce between England and Scotland was further extended for two years.

The French ambassadors returned to France as no agreement between the two countries had been reached.

The English court was closed for Christmas due to the outbreak of Sweating sickness. Henry was fearful of illness and disease and refused to receive any foreign ambassadors and kept himself shut away.