Execution of John Eynon
John Eynon is executed for treason alongside the suppression of Reading Abbey and its leadership.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1539 in England — Page 2
Explore 71 historical events and records for England in 1539.
Historical records for England in 1539
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 31 of 71 unique records.
71Unique records
2 of 2Page
26Named events on this page
18Named people on this page
9Places on this page
November
Execution of John Thorne
John Thorne is executed with Abbot Richard Whiting after the crown moves against Glastonbury Abbey.
Execution of Richard Whiting
Richard Whiting dies on Glastonbury Tor after the crown condemns the elderly abbot during the seizure and closure of Glastonbury Abbey.
Execution of Roger James
Roger James is executed with the abbot and another monk as royal authority completes the suppression of Glastonbury Abbey.
Hugh Faringdon Arrested during Abbey Suppression
Hugh Faringdon is arrested as royal authorities move against Reading Abbey and accuse its abbot of treason during the final dissolution campaign.
Richard Whiting Arrested at Glastonbury
Richard Whiting is taken into custody after royal commissioners search Glastonbury Abbey and begin proceedings that lead to a treason charge.
December
Marriage
A Parliamentary committee is established to examine doctrine and the Duke of Norfolk presents six questions for the House to consider, which pass as the Act of Six Articles reaffirming a traditional view of the Mass, the Sacraments and the priesthood
Reformation, The
A Parliamentary committee is established to examine doctrine and the Duke of Norfolk presents six questions for the House to consider, which pass as the Act of Six Articles reaffirming a traditional view of the Mass, the Sacraments and the priesthood
Marriage
Anne of Cleves arrives in Rochester
Marriage
Anne of Cleves arrives in Rochester
Other events (month unknown)
Birth of Edward Seymour
Birth of Edward Seymour
Birth of Humphrey Gilbert
Birth of Humphrey Gilbert
Bishop
Appointed Bishop of Rochester
Cardinal
Appointed Emissary to incite Francis I & Charles V to help depose Henry VIII
Chief Justice
Appointed Chief Justice of the King's Bench
Cranmer Promotes Great Bible
Cranmer supports the authorised Great Bible and encourages clergy to make scripture accessible to parishioners.
Death of Courtney
Death of Henry Courtney, executed
Execution
The Earl of Devonshire is executed
House of Lords Precedence Act Passed
Parliament sets the precedence of leading officers and peers in the House of Lords, formalising important aspects of upper-house order.
Legislation
Makes himself the King's instrument in enforcing religious conformity and in the passing of the Six Articles Act
Monastic Lords Disappear from Parliament
Dissolution removes abbots and priors from the Lords, leaving bishops as the remaining Lords Spiritual and making temporal peers the majority.
Reform of Government
An act transfers the remaining greater religious Houses to the Crown
Reformation, The
Gardiner takes part in the enactment of the severe statute of the Six Articles, which led to the resignation of Bishops Latimer and Shaxton and the persecution of the Protestant party
Reformation, The
Henry becomes displeased with the results of the Six Articlles Act
Reformation, The
Parliament passes the Six Articles reaffirming Catholic practices such as transubstantiation, clerical celibacy and the importance of confession to a priest and prescribed penalties if anyone denied them
Six Acts
Gardiner takes part in the enactment of the severe statute of the Six Articles, which led to the resignation of Bishops Latimer and Shaxton and the persecution of the Protestant party
Six Articles Act
Makes himself the King's instrument in enforcing religious conformity and in the passing of the Six Articles Act
Six Articles, The
The Six Articles Act passes Parliament at the end of June, forcing Latimer and Nicholas Shaxton to resign their dioceses given their outspoken opposition to the measure. Parliament passed the Six Articles reaffirming Catholic practices such as transubstantiation, clerical celibacy and the importance of confession to a priest and prescribed penalties if anyone denied them
Speaker of House of Commons
Appointed Speaker of the House of Commons
Statute of Proclamations Enacted
Parliament gives royal proclamations statutory force in defined circumstances, expanding the Crown's capacity to regulate without a new Act.
Treaty of Toledo
Charles V & Francis I agree not to ally with England except by mutual agreement
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.