18 NOVEMBER 1559: THE DEATH of Bishop Cuthbert Tunstall while under house arrest at Lambeth Palace in London. Bishop Tunstall was an English church leader, diplomat, administrator and royal adviser [among other stations]. He was “lucky” enough to have served as Bishop of Durham during the reigns of King Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. He was the son of Sir Thomas Tunstall, one of two sons of Sir Thomas of Thurland. Sharing a great-great-grandfather, Sir Thomas of Thurland Castle [Tunstalls grandfather], he was a first cousin, twice removed of Queen Catherine Parr and her siblings. Tunstall was appointed as the executor of Sir Thomas Parr’s will. After his death, Tunstall continued to stay close to the Parr family. Tunstall advised Maud Parr on the education of her daughters. Maud named Tunstall as one of the executors of her will as well. It was during Elizabeth’s reign that Tunstall refused to take Elizabeth’s Oath of Supremacy and was subsequently arrested. Even though he had been Elizabeth’s godfather, he was deprived of his diocese in September 1559, and held prisoner at Lambeth Palace, where he died within a few weeks, aged 85. He was one of eleven Catholic bishops to die in custody during Elizabeth’s reign. He was buried in the chancel of Lambeth church under the expense of the Archbishop that had overseen his confinement, Parker.
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 00:39:34 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015