This Week in YouTube February 23
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Hey friends, welcome to the Renaissance English History Podcast. This is the weekly highlight reel of videos that I have put out on YouTube. So in case you don't know, you can go over to YouTube and watch all my videos. The channel is History and Coffee, and you can just search for my name as well, Heather Tesco, History and Coffee, and you will get it. And you can subscribe there. Thank you to the many people who already subscribe. And then what I've started doing is

weekly highlight reels of some of the videos that have gone out on YouTube that would be of interest to the podcast listeners as well. So thanks for listening. And you can also, like I said, go over and join me on YouTube history and coffee and search for Heather. And there I am. So let's get right into it. Happy New Year. It's 2025. Hannah wants to say Happy New Year. Happy New Year, guys. There we go. All right. There she's gone. She was in and out. Now she's gone.

What are you doing for New Year's? What are you doing? What are your New Year traditions? I would love to know. Leave me a comment and tell me. So where I live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, it's very Amish and German. And my dad's from Germany. And so we do our tradition, a Lancaster County thing. I thought everybody did it, but I realized after I left Lancaster that it was just a Lancaster thing. We have pork and sauerkraut.

So I recently moved back to Lancaster after 25 years of not living here. And it's just funny because, you know, I moved away and I was like living in Los Angeles. And I was like, oh, it's time for pork and sauerkraut on New Year's. And nobody knew what I was talking about. And here it's a really big deal. It's you have pork and sauerkraut for good luck. So we went to a brethren church with my dad and my stepmom. And we had a big pile of pork and sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. And my daughter, I made her eat one.

You need a little piece of sauerkraut for good luck. It's for good luck, you see. So we are going to talk about how the Tudors celebrated New Year. It was not with pork and sauerkraut. I can tell you that. But for the Tudors, of course, this was the big gift giving day. So this was the day when you gave all of your presents.

And of course, for us, it's given that January 1st is New Year's Day. But this wasn't always so straightforward in Tudor England. By the 16th century, New Year's Day on January 1st was officially recognized, aligning with the Roman calendar. However, most people still marked March 25th, Lady Day, which was the significant religious and financial date, as the start of the new year for administrative purposes.

So there was a lot of confusion. I've done episodes on the calendar and on the calendar confusion, the move from the Julian calendar and how in Europe they had their new year in January. England didn't have theirs until March. And so you could write a letter and, you know, it was one year in one place and one year in someplace else. Very, very confusing. England finally switched over. Gosh, I don't think it was until the 1700s. I have to go back and check my episode for sure. But I can link to that episode on the calendar if you're curious.

So New Year's, people did see it as, you know, with the Roman calendar, it was the new year, but it wasn't the official new year for the Tudors. However, it was a day of gift giving, and there was a lot of politics around gift giving for the Tudors. So, for example, Hades.

Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII. Once Henry and Anne Boleyn were together and it became clear that Henry was leaving Catherine of Aragon and Anne was kind of starting to take over and be like this queen in waiting, the ritual of gift giving became weaponized. So Catherine was still sending him New Year's gifts, the way she always had. However, he coldly rejected her gifts and commanded her to stop, saying that he was no longer her lawful husband.

And so he couldn't accept her gifts. And that told everybody that they were also not supposed to accept gifts from Catherine. However, at one point, he did wind up accepting her gift because he was afraid that it would be re-gifted from somebody else. He didn't want anybody else to have her gift. So he went ahead and accepted the gift, but said, don't send me any more gifts. It was a big old mess.

There was also in 1571 the case of the Duke of Norfolk who was imprisoned in the Tower of London for a conspiracy. He sent the Queen an elaborate extravagant jewel as a New Year's offering. Elizabeth rejected his gift, signaling that his fate was sealed and Norfolk would be executed later that year.

So for courtiers, the rewards of gift giving could be immense. If you gave a good gift, it could be rewarded and it showed that you were thinking, you were thoughtful. You know, there was a lot of pressure. So if you think you have pressure around gift giving at Christmas, you don't know from pressure. The pressure that the courtiers had, the nobles had to give the perfect gift to the king or queen was immense. It was a very high stakes game.

In addition to the New Year's gifts, there was also still feasting. We're still in the 12 days of Christmas. Those of you who are in my Yuletide with the tutors program know we are still in the 12 days of Christmas. It's not over yet. I know some of you are like taking down your tree and stuff like that. That's not very tutor of you. I've said that before.

So there was a feast, the New Year's feast, not pork and sauerkraut, roasted meats, exotic fruits, pies, all that kind of stuff. Anything that highlighted the wealth of the host, spiced wine, music, dancing that lasted well into the night. These feasts were indulgences as well as displays of status and opportunities for courtiers to mingle. And it was also opportunity for charity. You would give food to those who were less well off, everything like that in

In towns and villages, there would often be shared meals with simpler fare and homemade ales, things like that. So it was a focus on togetherness and on having this community feast. It was also a time to enjoy pageantry. So there would be masks. Think about Twelfth Night, for example, which is probably one of the most famous that deals with this time period as well. I'm going to actually I have this plan that on Twelfth Night I'm going to read it with my daughter.

I've told her about it and she's she's like cool with it. So she's we've tried to read Shakespeare before and it hasn't always gone the way I wanted it to. So I'm going to like loosen up my expectations and just have fun with it and see what happens. So anyway, that's my personal share.

So the tutors were also really kind of superstitious. So we're talking about resolutions. This was a time to set the tone for the year ahead. Anything you did this day was believed to influence what was going to happen for the rest of the year. So it was really crucial to start off on the right foot. You would say special prayers for health, prosperity and success. You might have some small rituals that you would do for good fortune.

So for the Tudors, New Year's Day was a time to mix together tradition and strategy with your gift giving, as well as opulence and feasting and all of that. So for us, it's more of a time of football and pork and sauerkraut and some people starting to take down the Christmas decorations, things like that.

Very different for our tutors. So if you want to be like a tutor today, you can give some gifts and you can keep the decorations up and you can still listen to Christmas music and you can have a big feast. And there you go.

Today we are going to talk about the relationship between Eustace Chapuis and Henry VIII. So Eustace Chapuis was the ambassador from the Holy Roman Empire, the Spanish ambassador, and he wrote such detailed letters. We know so much about him. He was such a supporter of Catherine of Aragon. And he's a fascinating person just because we do know a lot about him from his writings.

He witnessed a lot of these really important events. And so we're going to talk a little bit about his relationship with Henry. I've done some other videos on like his relationship with Anne and his relationship with Mary, Anne Boleyn and Mary, Princess Mary. So we're going to talk now about him and Henry.

The year is 1533, and the Tudor court is buzzing with whispers about Peeble. Henry, Henry VIII, the larger-than-life King of England, is celebrating his controversial marriage to Anne Boleyn while Europe watches in shock.

in the midst of this storm stands a quiet observant figure and that would be eustace chapuys the ambassador of charles v holy roman emperor chapuys role is far from glamorous his job is to protect the interests of catherine of aragon henry's first wife and charles v's aunt chapuys is a man of contradictions he is a scholarly yet very sharp-tongued

He's diplomatic, yet fiercely loyal. His dispatches back to Charles V are filled with keen observations and biting commentary, making him both an invaluable source of information for historians and also a thorn in Henry's side. But despite their differences, the relationship between Henry and Chapuis would prove to be one of mutual need, begrudging respect, and occasional sparks of genuine camaraderie.

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Born in Savoy in 1490, Chapuis was a man of learning and diplomacy. He studied canon and civil law, skills that made him an ideal candidate for the Holy Roman Emperor's service. In 1529, he was appointed as Charles V's ambassador to England, a post that would test his intellect and resolve like never before.

from the moment he arrived in henry's court chapuys mission was clear to defend catherine of aragon's rights as queen and oppose henry's efforts to annul their marriage was not an easy task henry was determined to sever ties with rome and marry anne boleyn and anyone who stood in his way risked being swept aside

Chapuis quickly established himself as a shrewd observer of court politics. His letters to Charles V are filled with vivid descriptions of the personalities that he encountered, Henry's charm and his temper, Anne Boleyn's wit and her ambition, and factional rivalries that defined the Tudor court. But Chapuis' role was more than just that of a chronicler. He was also a key player in the delicate chess game of Tudor diplomacy.

from the outset chapuys viewed henry with a mixture of fascination and disdain he admired the king's intelligence and political acumen but he was appalled by his treatment of catherine of aragon and his break with the catholic church chapuys dispatches often described henry as charming but erratic a man whose ego and passions frequently overrode his better judgment

one of chapuys most pointed critiques came during the height of henry's relationship with anne chapuys would refer to anne as the concubine refusing to acknowledge her as queen and he made no secret of his belief that henry's obsession was leading him to ruin

Despite his personal feelings, though, Chapuis was careful to maintain a diplomatic facade in his dealings with Henry. He knew that open hostility would jeopardize his mission and risk alienating Charles V from the English court. While Chapuis often painted Henry in less than flattering light, Henry's opinion of Chapuis was more complex.

On one hand, Chapuis was a constant reminder of Charles V's disapproval, Catherine of Aragon's enduring resistance, and the broader Catholic opposition to Henry's reforms. On the other hand, Henry was a pragmatist. He understood that Chapuis was an essential link to Charles and a way to gauge the emperor's moods and political stance.

Henry, in typical fashion, alternated between irritation and begrudging respect for Chapuis. He was often frustrated at the ambassador's refusal to acknowledge Anne Boleyn as queen, yet he sought Chapuis' approval on matters that required delicate diplomacy. For example, Henry frequently tried to convince Chapuis of the righteousness of his actions, as if winning over the ambassador might somehow justify his break with Catherine or the schism with Rome.

Despite their opposing loyalties, there were moments when the relationship was surprisingly cordial. Chapuis was known to flatter Henry when it suited his purpose, and Henry also occasionally extended kindness to the ambassador. This uneasy mix of manipulation and respect would define their interactions. One of the most memorable moments in the relationship between Henry VIII and Eustace Chapuis came in April 1536, right before Anne Boleyn's dramatic fall from power.

For three years, Chapuys had avoided coming face to face with Anne and having to acknowledge her as queen. But then came a moment of confrontation on Tuesday, April 18, 1536 at Greenwich Palace. Chapuys arrived to court expecting to meet with Henry VIII to discuss the emperor's proposals for an alliance. Instead, he found himself at the center of a carefully orchestrated maneuver designed to force him to acknowledge Anne as queen.

When he arrived, he was greeted not by Henry, but by Thomas Cromwell and George Boleyn. They relayed a message from the king suggesting that Chapuys should visit Anne and kiss her hand. While framed as a polite invitation, it was clear that this was not a simple courtesy. Chapuis immediately refused, citing diplomatic prudence. He explained that he should first discuss the emperor's proposals with Henry, as acknowledging Anne might spoil matters.

Cromwell, always adept at reading the political landscape, agreed to relay this message to the king, reassuring Chapuis that Henry had taken the refusal in an okay way. Henry then made a show of welcoming Chapuis warmly, engaging him in polite conversation about the emperor's health and recent travels. Yet when Chapuis attempted to broach the subject of their alliance, Henry deftly sidestepped, saying, well, we shall have leisure to discuss that in all matters.

with that he left for mass setting the stage for the pivotal moment that followed chapuys was escorted to mass by george boleyn who no doubt anticipated what was to come the ambassador knew he might soon be forced into direct contact with anne as mass began he positioned himself strategically behind a lower door likely hoping to avoid anne's notice the king and queen seated above in their royal pews descended to the altar for the offertory

a customary moment for public reverence the chapel was crowded with onlookers many of whom eagerly awaited the ambassador's reaction chapuys later reported that the great concourse of people had gathered to see how the concubine and i behaved to each other

As Anne entered the main body of the chapel, she spotted Chapuis. There was no escape. With Henry watching closely, Chapuis had no choice but to bow to her. Anne, for her part, displayed remarkable composure. She returned his gesture with equal courtesy, ensuring there was no public display of triumph or gloating. Chapuis later wrote that she turned back merely to do me reverence like that which I made to her. Despite Anne's grace, Chapuis' feelings remained unchanged.

He handed her two candles to use during the altar ceremonies, an act he later dismissed as obligatory politeness.

Reflecting on the event days later, he remarked bitterly, If I had seen any hope of the king's answer, I would have offered not two, but two hundred candles to the she-devil. Anne was eager to capitalize on this victory, and she anticipated that Chapuis would join the king and other dignitaries for the dinner in her apartment. But when Henry arrived, Chapuis deliberately stayed behind, choosing instead to dine in the king's presence chamber with George Boleyn and some other nobles.

Anne was visibly confused, and she asked Henry why the ambassador hadn't joined them. Henry replied, it's not without good reason, fully aware of the uproar that Chapuis' reluctant acknowledgement would cause. But later, in a private meeting with Chapuis, Henry's mood turned sour. He rejected the emperor's proposal, refused to reconcile with Rome, and demanded a letter of apology from Charles V.

The meeting ended in frustration with Henry berating Chapuis and Cromwell for their respective roles in the negotiations. For Cromwell, the day was pivotal. He realized that Anne, far from securing her position, had become a liability. And from that moment on, Cromwell began plotting her downfall in earnest. The death of Catherine of Aragon earlier than that in January 1536 was a turning point in Chapuis' role at court. He'd been deeply loyal to Catherine and was devastated by her passing.

His letter to Charles V described her final days with poignant detail, portraying her as a devout and dignified woman who died unjustly abandoned. Catherine's death also altered the dynamics at court. With her gone, Henry moved swiftly toward a new chapter, Anne Boleyn's fall and his marriage to Jane Seymour.

Chapuis, though grieving, adapted to these changes, finding new ways to influence court politics and represent Charles's interests. By the 1540s, Chapuis' health began to decline, and in 1545, after nearly two decades at the Tudor court, he retired from his post and returned to his homeland. His departure marked the end of an era in Anglo-Imperial relations, as Chapuis had become almost as much of a fixture in Henry's court as the king himself.

His letters are one of the most vivid and detailed accounts of Henry VIII's reign, offering historians unparalleled insights into the court's inner workings. More than a diplomat, he was a storyteller capturing the drama, intrigue, and humanity of one of history's most infamous monarchs. So there you go, a little bit about Chapuis and Henry VIII. Thanks so much for listening to this week's YouTube Highlights.

Remember, you can go over and subscribe. History and Coffee, Heather Tesco, you will find me there. And we'll be back again next week with more highlights from what went out on YouTube throughout the week. Thanks so much. Have a great week.

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