Yours

Podcasts · History

The History of England

David Crowther

300 episodes

This my re-telling of the story of England. I aim to be honest, and rigorous - but always loving of my country's history. It is a regular, chronological podcast, starting from the end of Roman Britain. There are as many of the great events I can squeeze in, of course, but I also try to keep an eye on how people lived, their language, what was important to them, the forces that shaped their lives and destinies, that sort of thing. To listen free of adverts, support the podcast, access a library of 150+ hours of shedcasts of me warbling on, and get new shedcasts every month, why not become a member at https://thehistoryofengland.co.uk/become-a-member ? You know it makes sense...

More about the show

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes page 4 of 6

  1. English Revolution Poll Results and HiT Cromwell

    · 1 h 02 min · S7 E29

    The Results of the poll - and Prize winners announced! Then HiT review of Cromwell the 970 film starring Richard Harris and Alec Guiness. Massive in scale and ambition, in its attempt to present Oliver as a democratic…

  2. AAG 1615-1625 King of Britain

    · 54 min · S7 E28

    The last 10 years of James' reign saw the rise of the king's great favourite the Duke of Buckingham, and continued friction with parliament - until the story of the knights Adventurers turned policy and politics on…

  3. 349 The Country House

    · 41 min · S7 E27

    The Elizabeth and Jacobean age was a time of social mores and the way England was ruled - and the great medieval household withered away. To leave something smaller, more symmetrical - and of extraordinary beauty. And…

  4. 348 The Great Rebuilding

    · 49 min · S7 E26

    Somewhere in the 16th and 17th centuries, ordinary people started building differently - private buildings, public buildings. They used brick, glass, decoration and portraiture; and it wasn't just the aristocracy;…

  5. 347 The English Revolution

    · 1 h 03 min · S7 E25

    Well this is exciting! The English Revolution. A title which is controversial, and a historiography which is bigger than the eponymous crocodile. We talk about as many theories as we can - and there's a poll and Prize…

  6. 346 Theatre III: The Crystal Mirror

    · 38 min · S7 E24

    Playwrights and the Sirenicals of Jacobean England, the experience of going to see the plays and the Crystal Mirror of renaissance drama. For maps, resources, transcripts or to become a member, head for…

  7. 345 Theatre II: Playwrights

    · 35 min · S7 E23

    The University Wits was a term invented by Saintsbury for a group of 6 Elizabethan playwrights. They were not consciously a coherent group but part of a vibrant society of playwrights, actors and writers who made…

  8. 344 Theatre I The New Playhouse

    · 35 min · S7 E22

    The first of three celebratory episodes about English Renaissance Theatre! Talking about dramatic tradition and the new playhouses that begin to appear in London - and the horrified reaction of the establishment. For…

  9. 343 As He Lived in Peace

    · 44 min · S7 E21

    While The Buck and Baby Charles warmed themselves on the unfamiliar fires of popularity in their search for war, James was fading. At Theobalds in March 1625 his reign finally came to an end, and Buckingham took to his…

  10. 342 Spanish Mismatch

    · 40 min · S7 E20

    The identity of Mr Wiat's mysterious traveler is revealed, and London goes potty. Buckingham is confirmed as the Prince's favourite as well as the king's - and there's trouble in story for Lionel Cranfield For maps,…

  11. 341 Knights Adventurer

    · 39 min · S7 E19

    In March 1623 Simon Digby noticed two suspicious looking blokes with dodgy beards hanging around outside his uncle's house in Madrid. He rushed over to find out what they were doing. Find out who they were. For maps,…

  12. 340 Ancient Birthright

    · 48 min · S7 E18

    In 1621 James tried to tread a narrow path to peace in Europe - through the instrument of a Marriage between the England and Spanish royal families. To have a chance, parliament needed to play its role. For maps,…

  13. 339 A Scandal in Bohemia

    · 39 min · S7 E17

    As Buckingham acquires wealth and influence, the English court is rocked by an event in far-off Bohemia that will result in devastation throughout Europe. Also there is news of a History of England App for members! To…

  14. 338 Book of Books

    · 47 min · S7 E16

    We follow James north to Scotland, a visit with consequences. And on the way south, hear about the culture wars - and the Book of Sports. Then we celebrate, a little late one of the greatest achievements of James…

  15. 337 The Favourite Favourite

    · 41 min · S7 E15

    James VI & I had enjoyed favourites before - Esme Stuart, Robert Kerr for example. But George Villiers was to prove his favourite And we introduce the finely 'compacted legs' of the future Duke of Buckingham to you…

  16. 336 The Plantations of Ireland

    · 47 min · S7 E14

    The Jacobean plan for Ulster owed much not only to previous failed Tudor plantation schemes, but to James's highland experience and his desire to build a unified, secure British state across all his three kingdoms.…

  17. AAG 1605-1615 The Fount of all Virtue

    · 44 min · S7 E13

    James I & VI was a canny politician helped by a master administrator in Salisbury. But the honeymoon was over with scandals at his court, and the failure to establish a good relationship with Parliament. For maps,…

  18. 335 This Sin of Blood

    · 49 min · S7 E12

    News of the Thomas Overbury scandal spread through England to become a national event. How would the scandal affect the image of the court? Much depended on how the font of all justice, the king, would deal with it.…

  19. 334 Murder!

    · 46 min · S7 E11

    In 1615, Ralph Winwood interviewed Gervase Elwes, Lieutenant of the Tower about the suspicious death of Thomas Overbury. Gervase spilled his guts. For maps, resources, transcripts or to become a member, head for…

  20. 333 Addled

    · 48 min · S7 E10

    With Robert Kerr as the royal favourite there were all sorts of intrigues going on at court - and an outrageous love affair. All the while, James' parliament of 1614 was every bit as addled as the court For maps,…

  21. 332 The Great Contract

    · 45 min · S7 E9

    Salisbury makes a last ditch attempt to resolve the problems of royal income. While the success of Robert Kerr at court signals the arrival of a new royal favourite For maps, resources, transcripts or to become a…

  22. 331 Captain Pouch

    · 44 min · S7 E8

    Enclosure has a long history in England from the 15th - 19th century. In 1607 ordinary people resisting the destruction of their livelihoods found a leader - Captain Pouch For maps, resources, transcripts or to become…

  23. 330 John Bates' Currants

    · 45 min · S7 E7

    Although the case for a Great Britain failed to win many hearts, the dual monarchy ended the history of the Reivers at last. But a seemingly small customs dispute about currants would grow into a sore that would last…

  24. 14th Century Italy with Mike Corradi

    · 49 min

    To get us all read for the series on John Hawkwood, Mike Corradi of a History of Italy podcast joins us for a general introduction to the century For maps, resources, transcripts or to become a member, head for…

  25. 329 Oaths and Libels

    · 46 min · S7 E6

    By the time parliament met again in 1606, James' government was dominated by the men he laughingly referred to as his 'Trinity of Knaves'. And the foremost of those by some way was Robert Cecil, a chip off the old…

  26. Peasant Perceptions of Landscape with Stephen Mileson

    · 51 min

    It is difficult to hear the voice of ordinary people from long ago; but although they left little written record, yet their memory, attitudes and perceptions of the world around them are etched in the landscape.…

  27. At A Gallop - Dawn of Stuart England to 1605

    · 40 min · S7 E5

    The dawn of the Stuart age of Britain came within a European context of the growing strength of the nation state, absolutism, relgious conflict and war. And James arrival as the new king was welcomed, and started well.…

  28. 328 Apology, Explosion, Satisfaction

    · 47 min · S7 E4

    There's so much to talk about! James' first, management-by-irritation of parliament of 1604 and the passive aggressive Apology and Satisfaction right back at him. And - the Gunpowder Treason and Plot! Hear all about…

  29. 327 Under New Management

    · 36 min · S7 E3

    James quickly established his household with Scots taking a large share, with associated argy bargy. Queen Anne a;so established her court, which would become a cultural centre and popular destination for noblewomen…

  30. 326 King of Scots

    · 40 min · S7 E2

    By the time James VI came to England in 1603, he had 26 years experience of kingship, and had established his authority in Scotland, and was a self confident ruler, and author with a clear sense of what monarchy was…

  31. 7.1 - 325 The Early Stuarts

    · 36 min · S7 E1

    After an overview of Series 7, it's time to talk about James and the Historians. History has treated James roughly – helped by a 17th century hatchet job. But over the last 50 years, there has been much more…

  32. 324a The 30 Years War with Zack Twamley

    · 1 h 05 min · S6 E60

    Zack is the author of for God and the Devil, and we discuss the highlights and numerous lowlights of the 30 years war For maps, resources, transcripts or to become a member, head for https://thehistoryofengland.co.uk.…

  33. 324 Europe XII Colonisation and War

    · 39 min · S6 E59

    The early 17th century saw the emergence of the Dutch Republic as a new colonial power, and the resurgence of France after her religious wars. But most of al the period is scarred by the destruction of the 30 Years War…

  34. 323 Europe XII Absolutely Nations

    · 45 min · S6 E58

    Hobbes argued that only an all powerful ruler could do what was required to protect the people and preserve property, and for that the loss of individual liberty was worth paying. I'm not going to lie to you - the 17th…

  35. 322Europe XII Religion & Science

    · 41 min · S6 E57

    In the first of three episodes on Europe 1600-1650, we talk about religion, scientific revolution, and Witchcraft. And why Galileo was a weaker No 8 than Dean Richards. For maps, resources, transcripts or to become a…

  36. 321 Fin de Siecle

    · 47 min · S6 E56

    The final years of Elizabeth's reign inevitably have the sense of the end of an era; she retreated to her chambers, court was no longer the attraction it had been, dearth stalked the land. But her reign had seen such…

  37. 320 Justice and the State

    · 44 min · S6 E55

    Crime in England saw a sharp growth between the 1580s and 1640s; and the hand of justice lay heavy. But at the same time was forged a system of local and royal governance that was deeply participatory, was trusted by…

  38. 319 Dearth and Discord

    · 43 min · S6 E54

    The last 15-20 years of Elizabeth's reign have been described as the Golden Age. It's a description that might have seemed incomprehensible to many of the people that lived through it; but it did see the completion of…

  39. 318 The Nine Years' War

    · 52 min · S6 E53

    In Ulster near the end of the 16th century, it appeared that Elizabeth could reply at least on one of her favoured Irish subjects - Hugh O'Neill, Baron of Dungannon and Earl of Tyrone. But O'Neill was becoming…

  40. 317 Well Worth a Mass

    · 38 min · S6 E52

    Henry IV of France, regarded as one of France's greatest leaders, looks for way to bring peace and unity to his divided country, while England and Spain trade blows. And the story of Grainne Ni Mhaille, aka Grace…

  41. 316 The Valois Extinguished

    · 43 min · S6 E51

    The defeat of the Armada feels in retrospect like a watershed in Elizabeth's reign; many of her closest advisers and companions died, and for the remainder of her reign England would be at war. Much of that war was…

  42. 315 God Breathed

    · 38 min · S6 E50

    As the Armada sailed serenely up the Channel, the English tried desperately to make some impression before it reached Flanders. But Medina Sidonia had worries of his own... For maps, resources, transcripts or to…

  43. 314 Drake goes Bowling

    · 39 min · S6 E49

    The Great Armada was do to sail in 1587; but Elizabeth had other ideas. By in May 1588 the Duke of Medina Sidonia led his fleet of 130 ships down the Tagus towards the open sea - and the Enterprise of England was on.…

  44. 313 England is Ours

    · 42 min · S6 E48

    From a desk in a small suite of rooms in El Escorial Philip II ran a vast colonial empire. With France torn by civil war, war against the Dutch improving, thoughts turned to the Enterprise of England For maps,…

  45. 312 My Heart is my Own

    · 44 min · S6 E47

    By the mid 1580's Mary was at her wits' end - feeling betrayed by her son, 18 years of incarceration, beset by a unsympathetic jailer. She would listen to anything to escape - and then came Gilbert Gifford and Anthony…

  46. 311 Fears of State

    · 34 min · S6 E46

    In a time of existential and moral threat, the English state developed a network of informants and spies at home and abroad. While Catholics tried to steer a path through the demands for loyalty from both Queen and…

  47. 310 The English College

    · 44 min · S6 E45

    By the 1580s, the confessional lines between Protestant and Catholic were increasingly strongly drawn; repressive legislation increased, and the English College was established to renew the stock of priests able to…

  48. 309 Godly, Godlier and Godliest

    · 34 min · S6 E44

    Elizabeth set her face against further reform, against pressures from within the church and without; in her view, hers was a Godly church. How far did her church resist Puritanism and embed itself in the life of…

  49. 308 Fool's Gold

    · 37 min · S6 E43

    A host of Elizabeth explorers explored the world in the late Elizabethan reign. Did they achieve anything, or were there efforts a false start? For maps, resources, transcripts or to become a member, head for…

  50. 307 All Around the World

    · 44 min · S6 E42

    For a couple of years in the mid 1570s Elizabeth nixed proposed exploration projects for fear of Spain. At the same time she was discussing a secret voyage with a select group of Councillors - not west or north this…

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them. Explicit shows are for adult profiles only, and children’s profiles hear only children’s shows. More about this list.