From Cromwell’s Ally to Mary’s Pardon

On this day in Tudor history, 11th August 1556, Sir John Kingsmill died—quietly, naturally, and with his head still on his shoulders. That might not sound remarkable… but in the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I, it absolutely was.

I’m Claire Ridgway, historian and author, and in today’s video I’m introducing you to a lesser-known but fascinating figure who worked with Thomas Cromwell, helped dissolve monasteries and chantries, and still managed to earn a pardon from Queen Mary I.

Lawyer, sheriff, and skilled political survivor, Kingsmill was:

- A knight of Henry VIII’s reign
- A commissioner for Edward VI’s Protestant reforms
- A beneficiary of monastic spoils
- And the father of seventeen children—yes, seventeen!

He may not have stood centre stage in the Tudor court, but he was always there in the wings—helping shape policy, surviving the storms, and building a legacy that would continue well into Elizabeth I’s reign.

Oh, and his descendants? One was pardoned for manslaughter. Two were later recorded as insane. Intrigued?

Listen now to explore the quiet cunning of Sir John Kingsmill—a man who knew how to stay in favour no matter who sat on the throne.

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