On this day in Tudor history, 21st November 1558, a devoted servant of both Queen Mary I and her husband, Philip of Spain, died tragically young. His name was James Bassett.

I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and in today’s video, I uncover the remarkable story of this scholar, exile, courtier, diplomat, and loyal servant of a queen and a king.
Born around 1526, Bassett was connected to the royal bloodline through his stepfather, Arthur Plantagenet, Viscount Lisle, an illegitimate son of Edward IV. His education was exceptional, taking him from Reading Abbey to prestigious colleges in Paris and St Omer, shaping him into a learned and refined young courtier.

But loyalty came at a price.
When his mentor Stephen Gardiner fell from favour under Edward VI, Bassett stood by him, even when it meant imprisonmen ...