03/03/2015

Available for over a year

Helen Castor travels to New Hall near Chelmsford - home to the Earl of Sussex in 1579. New research by Dr Neil Younger at the Open University has uncovered a letter from one wealthy Norfolk landowner to another, describing a visit by Elizabeth and a dramatic performance in which Sussex makes clear his support for her marriage to the Catholic Duke of Anjou. Some who had entered the debate about Elizabeth's marital situation had been punished by her - so how did Sussex get away with this? Professor Justin Champion visits the Bishopsgate Institute in the City of London to meet with the organisers of the Lilburne 400th, John Lees and Professor Ted Vallance. John Lilburne was possibly the most radical character in the English Civil War - a so-called Leveller who managed to fall out with both Charles 1st and Cromwell but still kept his head. Producer: Nick Patrick A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.