the Ricardian Bulletin The magazine of the Richard III Society

LEICESTER’S VISITOR CENTRE AND ’S RICHARD III EXPERIENCE 40 YEARS OF THE RICARDIAN BULLETIN SOCIETY SUPPORTS NEW IPM PROJECT STUDY WEEKEND REVIEW June 2014 Advertisement the Ricardian Bulletin The magazine of the Richard III Society June 2014 Richard III Society Founded 1924 Contents www.richardiii.net 2 From the Chairman In the belief that many features of the tradi- 3 Reinterment news Wendy Moorhen tional accounts of the character and career of 4 Members’ letters Richard III are neither supported by sufficient evidence nor reasonably tenable, the Society 8 Society news and notices aims to promote in every possible way 12 Future Society events research into the life and times of Richard III, 13 Society reviews and to secure a reassessment of the material relating to this period and of the role in 16 Other news, reviews and events English history of this monarch. 21 Research news Patron 26 – the follow-up HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG, GCVO 29 The whereabouts of the Grey Friars, Audrey Strange President 33 A grave matter Dr Kaori O’Connor Peter Hammond FSA 39 The Man Himself: ‘Bewitched, bothered and bewildered’ – Richard’s Vice Presidents charge of witchcraft against Lynda Pidgeon John Audsley, Kitty Bristow, Moira Habberjam, 42 Articles Carolyn Hammond, Jonathan Hayes, 42 Edmund and Jasper – Beaufort brothers? Beverley Fairfoull Rob Smith. 45 Why was Richard so ruthless? Robert Ingle Executive Committee 47 Forty years of the Ricardian Bulletin Phil Stone (Chairman), Jacqui Emerson, Paul Foss, Melanie Hoskin, Gretel Jones, John Saunders and Elizabeth Nokes Marian Mitchell, Wendy Moorhen, 48 Richard III and York David Johnson Lynda Pidgeon, John Saunders, Anne Sutton, 53 Books Richard Van Allen, David Wells, Susan Wells, Geoffrey Wheeler, Stephen York. 56 From the Barton Library 58 Branch and group reports The Ricardian Bulletin is produced by the Bulletin Editorial Committee. 62 Membership [email protected] © Richard III Society 2014. Other features ISSN 0308 4337 15 On the lighter side Individual contributions and illustrations © the contributors except where otherwise 25 More copies of Harleian 433 stated. 38 Current subscription rates Designed by Flagholme Publishing Services 51 Ricardian crossword 8 by Sanglier Printed by XLPress Limited Distributed by E-Mediacy Limited 61 Coming in your September Bulletin Advertising contact: Howard Choppin, 61 Late news [email protected] 63 Obituaries For details on submitting future contributions, please see p. 38. Inside back cover: Society contacts and Calendar Bulletin and Ricardian back numbers: Back issues of The Ricardian and the Bulletin are available from Judith Ridley. If you are interested in obtaining any back numbers, please contact Mrs Ridley to establish whether she holds the issue(s) in which you Cover photo: The Patron meets ‘the Man Himself’ in Gloucester. See are interested. For contact details see the p. 16. (Picture courtesy of Gloucestershire Media.) inside back cover. Right: Modern reproduction of the chain from the NPG portrait of Richard III at the Richard III Experience, York. See p. 19.

1 From the CHAIRMAN

As we go to press with this issue of the Bulletin, we await York’s Richard III Experience. Both the outcome of the Judicial Review, so there is nothing I will raise King Richard’s profile, can say about it here. However, by the time you have all further promoting interest in his life and reputation. We received this, the result should be known and the Society have illustrated features on both and we will report on will have outlined its response. the opening of the Visitor Centre in September’s issue. As ever, June’s issue is packed with interesting and Reference to the Richard III Experience means we must informative news, features and articles, with a splendid pay tribute to the work of the late Michael Bennett who cover of HRH the Duke of Gloucester and the facial founded, and for many years ran, its precursor, the reconstruction of Richard III. Our royal Patron was very ‘Monk Bar Richard III Museum’. His obituary in this happy for this image to appear on the Bulletin cover and issue rightly acknowledges his many achievements and we are grateful to him. It was taken when he visited the we send our sincere condolences to his wife and two exhibition in Gloucester’s City Museum, so, a similar young sons. picture in the local paper was labelled ‘Gloucester meets That we have all this Richard III‐focused activity in Gloucester in Gloucester’! Leicester, York and Gloucester is, of course, due to the It’s always good to see new contributors to the success of the Looking for Richard project, and I am magazine and in this issue we have Beverley Fairfoull’s delighted to see that the Richard III: the king in the car park fresh look at Edmund and as well as television documentary was a winner at the recent Robert Ingle’s re‐examination of the politics behind the Royal Television Society Awards ceremony. Well done events of 1483. We also have new articles from more to all concerned. It has now been nominated for a regular writers – David Johnson analyses Richard’s BAFTA, so we our fingers crossed for all involved. relationship with York and our Research Officer, Lynda Responsibility for our sales has now been out‐ Pidgeon, offers new insight into the accusation of sourced to E‐Mediacy and you can read about the new witchcraft against Elizabeth Woodville. arrangements on p. 11. The volume of stock and sales We also have a very lively letters section and some has grown considerably in recent years and is now too excellent reviews of recent events. I can personally much to handle in‐house. My thanks go to all those vouch for the great success of Gloucester’s Richard III involved in negotiating these new arrangement and also Festival and our own study weekend in York. The to all those volunteers who have been involved in sales Gloucester events were related to the facial over the years, our stock holders and others and most reconstruction being on display – see above – as part of especially to Sally Empson, our Sales Liaison Officer for a special exhibition including such items as the many years. mourning sword, said to have been given to the city by The Ricardian Bulletin is 40 this year and what a Richard. The festival involved a number of speakers and journey it has seen during those years; we are fortunate for the weekend when I was there, these included Bob in having Elizabeth Nokes’ recollections of her 30 years Woosnam‐Savage, Philippa Langley, Annette Carson at the editorial helm. A timely reminder, too, to and myself. Each of the talks was sold out, with 75+ acknowledge her contribution to the work of the visitors. The York weekend was another great success Society, not only as Bulletin editor, and as Secretary, but and I congratulate Lynda Pidgeon for organising it. All also as secretary of the London and Home Counties the speakers were excellent and we learnt much about Branch, a post she has held for many years. the medieval attitudes and responses to death, reburial The 2014 Ricardian will also be with members in June and commemoration. It was great to hear some choral and as ever, it’s full of original research‐based articles music, too, when Alexandra Buckley told us about her and reviews. Of particular note, is Christian Steer’s recent work on the Harley 6466 manuscript – see the piece on Katharine Plantagenet, Richard’s illegitimate previous issue of the Bulletin. daughter, in which he reveals the location of her likely Since the Greyfriars dig, we have seen a significant burial place. increase in membership; this has been reflected in the Interesting times indeed. Obviously, we cannot be growth of our branches and groups network and I am sure what the future holds for Ricardians and members delighted to see a first report from our newly founded of the Society, especially in the next few months, but, Ireland Group. I wish Hampshire and Mid‐Anglia all whatever happens, I would like to assure you that the the best in establishing new groups in their areas. Executive Committee and I will continue to act in the Whatever your views on the reburial, we should all best interests of Richard III, the Society and all its aims. welcome Leicester’s Richard III Visitor Centre and Phil Stone

2 REINTERMENT news The Judicial Review – Royal Courts of Justice, London, 13–14 March WENDY MOORHEN

The Judicial Review, postponed from 26 November 2013, named as a defendant and had no duty whatsoever to was again heard before Lady Justice Hallett, Mr Justice consult. She allowed that if there was a duty to consult Ouseley and Mr Justice Haddon‐Cave. The proceedings it rested with the Secretary of State for Justice. were not about where King Richard III should be buried The final submission was made on Friday morning but whether the defendants, the Secretary of State for by Andrew Sharland QC, on behalf of Leicester City Justice and the , had a duty at Council. The Council had, as reported in the December common law to consult about where and how the king’s Bulletin, applied to be an interested party in the Judicial remains should be reinterred. The action had been Review and during the proceedings on 26 November brought by the Plantagenet Alliance (‘the claimant’), a they were made a third defendant and the Review was group of fifteen collateral descendants of the king, who subsequently adjourned to await the new submissions, believed they should have been consulted and in August but not before the City Council undertook to hold a 2013 Mr Justice Haddon‐Cave judged their case was consultation. In a surprise move a few weeks later the arguable and granted permission for the proceedings. Council abandoned their undertaking to consult. This The Alliance specifically challenged the decision of was frustrating, as the whole matter could have been the Secretary of State for Justice who, on 3 September concluded by a judgement after the November hearing 2012, granted the exhumation licence without any and without the considerable extra costs of the present consultation, their subsequent decision on 4 February hearing. Lady Justice Hallett commented there would 2013 not to revisit the grant of the licence after the be monetary repercussions! Mr Sharland’s submission identification of King Richard and the decision of the was that the City Council had no role in the reburial of University on 4 February 2014 to begin making King Richard. They had no statutory right to consult. arrangements for the reinterment of the remains of the The University of Leicester had the licence and rights king in . Counsel for the claimant, and they had been charged to keep the remains safely, Gerard Clarke, spent Thursday morning making his privately and decently, which they had done. submissions and outlined his thoughts on the type of As counsel for the claimant, Mr Clarke concluded the consultation that could be undertaken and emphasised hearing with his response to the defendants’ his client was only asking for the right to be consulted. submissions and there was discussion with the judges Lady Justice Hallett and Mr Justice Ouseley frequently regarding who could be consulted: it was recorded, in questioned Mr Clarke and in some instances pressed no particular order, HM The Queen, the collateral him for specific answers. Unfortunately, some of Mr descendants of King Richard, the Church of , Clarke’s statements were considered dubious, which the Roman Catholic Church, the citizens of Leicester provoked a protest from the public gallery by Philippa and York, and those members of the public who were Langley. Lady Justice Hallett asked for a written interested. The proceedings were closed with the statement from Philippa and the judges retired for a announcement by Lady Justice Hallett that they would short interval; on their return they announced they consider the submissions and would hope to reach a would accept the statement but no further submissions judgement in the next four to six weeks. This is not an would be allowed. Lady Justice Hallett graciously enviable task, especially considering the several acknowledged that the court was only sitting because of hundred, if not thousands, of pages of documents Philippa’s endeavours. contained in the lever‐arch files which sat in front of the After lunch it was the turn of James Eadie QC, on several legal teams. behalf of the Secretary of State for Justice. Mr Eadie What might that judgement be? It would be wrong to dealt with five legal principles of common law and speculate: perhaps, however, one might just make the whether or not there was a duty for his client to consult. observation that Mr Eadie’s defence was awesome in For an hour he cited case after case, precedent after terms of legal precedent and point of law but at the end precedent, point of law after point of law and appeared of the day the judges are faced with an absolutely to demolish the claimant’s case. He concluded that there unprecedented and probably unique occurrence: how was no statutory duty to consult, no promise to consult and where do you reinter the remains of an anointed and no established practice to consult. king of England? Perhaps you just throw out the rule The final submission of the day was from Anya book. Proops, on behalf of the University of Leicester. Ms I would like to share one personal reflection after Proops stated that the University should not have been listening to the submissions and arguments. The

3 REINTERMENT news counsels for the Secretary of State for Justice, the and out of sitting courts is a wonderful facet of our University of Leicester and Leicester City Council all heritage) and the fact that many of the submissions and denied their clients’ duty to consult and yet, at one stage arguments related to documents in the ‘bundles’ which or another, they had all considered consultation. the counsels frequently referred to and which were, of I should perhaps mention that it would be course, not available to the general public. challenging to provide a more in‐depth summary of the Where does this leave the Society? In limbo for a Judicial Review, due to the difficulties of hearing the while. However, we are no further behind than we were speakers from the public area, the incessant and before the review resumed and we can now look disruptive arrivals and departures of visitors to the forward to a possible conclusion to the legal arguments. public areas (although the opportunity to wander in After that, who knows? We continue to wait and see.

Members’ LETTERS

Will contributors please note that letters may be shortened or edited to conform to the standards of theBulletin . The Bulletin is not responsible for the opinions expressed by contributors. In reply to Pauline Harrison hearing from those who claim to Alliance – should choose King Richard’s Pogmore’s letter in the represent the ‘what Richard would have burial place and funeral arrangements. March Bulletin wanted’ brigade. We are not privileged I am myself a descendant of Anne, From: Tig Lang, by e‐mail to know that – although I think that we duchess of Exeter, the sister of King Many people with a vivid imagination, can be fairly certain that he did not plan Richard III. And, like many others, I was myself included, enjoy visiting historical to end his days being beaten to death in so excited when his remains were found. places such as and feeling a muddy field in ! However, I am disappointed by the that this gives us a connection with the Those outside this realm who view the media circus and litigation that have people who lived there in the past. It is English as an argumentative and since been going on. I feel that neither I important, however, to recognise the disputatious crowd must be having a nor the thousands of other collateral difference between such feelings and field day. Surely it is time that someone descendants should have any say sound historical research based on in authority got a grip and moved this, regarding where or how King Richard examination of the surviving evidence speedily, to a final decision. In this year ought to be buried, much less should the (such as Professor Pollard’s article in the when our thoughts will turn even more mere five members of the Plantagenet December Bulletin). Indeed, it is vital for than usual to the many who gave their Alliance. us as a society seeking to establish the lives fighting for their country (as Richard III belongs to England, in truth about Richard III that we are seen Richard did) and were buried, wherever history and legend, but decisions to be able to make this distinction. We possible, with honour, usually near to regarding his remains belong to those cannot base our theories about Richard where they fell, is it asking too much who actually did the heavy lifting, who and his life on our ‘feelings’. Feelings are that a King of England should be poured their time, energy, research and the province of the novelist, not the afforded the same common decency? resources into solving his mystery. Only historian. The ‘magic’ of the events of last winter the Richard III Society, Philippa Langley (for Ricardians, a winter of great and Dr John Ashdown‐Hill were Mired in controversy? contentment) is slowly ebbing away. interested enough in King Richard and From: Richard Caryl Even Shakespeare could not have his reputation to undertake this task and scripted such a farcical and unpleasant As a member of the Society for the past make the discovery possible. aftermath to Richard’s final battle. 35 years, I imagine that I went through I am so thankful to the Society, from PS. Many congratulations on the much the same set of emotions in our founder Saxon Barton down to all terrific quality of the Bulletin, which has February 2013 as most – the miraculous the people who make up the Society’s risen, with perfect timing, to match the realisation that something which I did membership today. I believe that King rise in profile of the Society. not expect to happen in my lifetime (or Richard, were he to speak for himself, perhaps any lifetime) had unfolded. It would be thankful for the efforts of those was magical and marvellous. The reburial – who should particular individuals, who, after Just over one year on, I am distraught decide? hundreds of years, were so keenly at the spectacle of how we, as a nation, From: Irene Stamford‐Dowell interested in him that they searched and are handling the gift of that discovery. It I read the Judicial Review of hearings found his remains, that he would gladly is almost beyond belief that we could from 13/14 March and felt I should write accept their decision regarding his final turn a cause for joy into such an and state my support for Philippa resting place. Thanks so much to all of undignified squabble. We appear to be Langley and the Richard III Society. you. mired in a squalid legal process which is I believe Philippa and the Society – surrounded by an equally unseemly and not a handful of collateral geographical tug of war. I am tiring of descendants known as the Plantagenet

4 Members’ LETTERS

Anglican or Catholic? be brief, but basically during the unrest Haseeb Qureshi, Amin Masoumi ‐ From: Leslie Croce, by e‐mail that came to characterise the fifteenth ganjgah and Clare Alexander, which From p. 30 of the latest Bulletin, referring century it was not unusual for lands to appeared in the March issue of the to an article in the Evening Standard: be seized first and to follow Ricardian Bulletin. This was an excellent ‘Historian John Hall Spencer rather later. This Bellamy illustrates with piece giving a fascinating insight into naively informs us that Richard III “was examples which show that lands were this distressing condition. It is reassur ‐ a Catholic monarch” so he should not be also granted away in the meantime, e.g. ing to think that, as a 32‐year‐old, buried by the Anglicans in either those of the Shrewsbury rebels, which Richard may not have experienced the Leicester or York and instead should can be seen from grants in CPR 1401–5, extreme pain or discomfort that could receive a Catholic requiem [M]ass.’ pp. 252 onwards. Bellamy also adds: have beset him had he lived to old age. I read the article in question, and I am ‘The possessions of the men who fought However, close comparison of at a loss to understand why John Hall against Edward IV at Barnet and photographs showing King Richard’s Spencer’s opinion should be considered Tewkesbury, including those of the earl remains in situ and after articulation by to be rather naive. Richard III was of Warwick, were in the hands of the osteologists at the University of Leicester Catholic, and by all accounts quite crown or its grantees for almost four raises an issue that appears, thus far, to devout. Why on earth should he be years before there was any act of have avoided comment. reburied using Anglican rites? It would at all’, [how could I – or Ross – It seems to me that while the skeleton certainly be much more appropriate to have forgotten that?] with examples to remained in the grave, the sideways give him a burial with Catholic rites, be seen in grants to Richard of curvature of the vertebrae appeared as whether at Baddesley Clinton, as Gloucester and others, e.g. CPR 1467–77, an acute ‘C’ shape in the upper rib area, Spencer suggests, or elsewhere. pp. 266, 297. with the top and base of the spine The point at issue is twofold: the perfectly aligned. Whereas, photographs Not without precedent nature and purpose of attainder, and the showing the skeleton anatomically matter of the king’s ‘forfeiture of war’. From: Annette Carson arranged by osteologists depict a looser The latter was an ancient prerogative of On pp. 258–9 of my book Richard III: the and lower ‘C’‐shaped curve, with the top the king when treason was committed, maligned king (2013 edition) I made some and base of the spine completely which dated from before Edward III – comments about Richard III granting misaligned. One wonders, why the who refused to relinquish it – and which away lands of rebels prior to their discrepancy? was recognised in the legal system as attainder, saying that he ‘flouted the I imagine the university could argue ratione rebellionis suae. ‘Quite often,’ norms of law and customary practice.’ that the articulation was not intended to Bellamy states, ‘the legal records assume These grants occurred in the aftermath be exact. If this were the case, one would that forfeiture took place at the time of of the October 1483 rebellion, and I must need to question why the world’s media battle.’ When attainder was introduced now humbly beg Richard’s pardon. was then invited to make visual record its main purpose was (briefly summar‐ I made the mistake of believing the of the remains. The birth of the internet ised) one of confirming officially, in view claim to this effect by Charles Ross in his has ensured that visual images are not of the highly complex nature of land Richard III, p. 119, when he made the only available for perpetuity but also tenure, precisely which lands were point very forcefully: ‘no previous available for download and use as visual forfeit and which exempt. monarch had ventured [ventured, mind evidence. Thus, if this articulation is Thus I was quite mistaken to follow you!] to dispose of lands before they had indeed deemed to have been inaccurate, Ross (and I shall need to amend been declared forfeit to the crown by a it is helping to perpetuate all the Maligned King) in describing it as formal parliamentary act of attainder.’ negative theories regarding Richard’s ‘flouting law and customary practice’ for The professor’s footnote adds further physique. Richard III to grant away in November/ italicised emphasis. His assertion, he As someone untrained in anatomical December 1483 the lands of rebels declares, is substantiated by ‘a survey of or medical matters, I am clearly not defeated during open revolt; especially Patent Rolls’. But the problem is that his qualified to pass an expert opinion. But in circumstances where such grants survey covers only a few early years of surely the closest we will ever come to were necessary incentives to induce Edward IV’s reign, something I admit I the true alignment of Richard’s spine reliable men to leave their positions of should have spotted. and scoliosis must be the original comfort and take on the maintenance of I have since been pursuing research position of the skeleton as discovered in law and good government in distant (when other commitments allow) into a the grave. problem areas. An act of attainder rather murky area of the fifteenth It would be of great interest if this followed swiftly, of course: not four century which entails studying the apparent anomaly could be explained by years later, but within a matter of weeks. constitution, the justice system, the laws the osteologists involved. NB. As my research continues, this of treason, punishment, attainder and and other updates to the 2013 edition of the like. Here I have found a refutation Positive portrayal of a much- Maligned King will be posted on my of Ross’s assertion, in an authority Ross maligned king website, www.ajcarson.co.uk. himself quotes elsewhere in his From: Sharon Lock biography, namely J. G. Bellamy’s The I have been reading/researching Richard Law of Treason in England in the Later The king’s scoliosis for many years, although have only Middle Ages, where the point in question From: Wendy Johnson joined the Society – and the is discussed on pp. 192–3. I shall have to I write in response to the ‘The Scoliosis branch – recently. One thing that I did of King Richard III’ by Peter Stride, notice in the last Bulletin is the mention

5 Members’ LETTERS of the recent dramatisation of Philippa on a social media site said ‘he has overwhelmingly that they were seized Gregory’s ‘Cousins War’ series of books. reversed 500 years of Tudor propaganda by Richard and thrown in the Tower. I have to say that I didn’t enjoy the in one performance’. Not quite, perhaps, Perhaps it’s me, but I just thought that books, but was interested to see what the but, with a more positive attitude to a modern historian would have been a BBC would make of a drama that had to Richard currently being displayed as in little less negative about Richard and include Richard at some point. this drama and with the finding of his would have embraced the more recent I was also dismayed at the remains, we may, at least, be well on the research and theories that surround inaccuracies as I began watching the way. And not before time. Richard and maybe might have given a drama, but did persevere with it and little mention to his one and only was glad I did. I do feel that there should Traduced by The parliament, which passed some very be some mention of what I believe may Plantagenets sensible laws that were for the good of be the first ‘normal’ portrayal of Richard From Sarah J. Newham the common people rather than just the by a young Welsh actor called Aneurin Last night I settled down with my Yorkie rich (was Richard the first Marxist? Barnard. From looking at social media bar and was very much looking forward That’s another story!) sites, I couldn’t believe the amount of to seeing the last episode of The I also thought that Richard’s great historical debate that this performance Plantagenets, as I have been watching this military success in previous campaigns generated, reflecting a real interest in series and have found it very good. I ( and so on) and his success as Richard and the events of his life. It enjoyed Robert Bartlett’s The Normans governor of the North for Edward IV intrigued me further that so many series a couple of years ago. It was ideal might have got a little mention. I also people were showing such an interest for someone like me, whose history at thought that by the time of Bosworth, now when in the past, if I tried to engage school consisted of the Romans, the with the loss of his son and then his wife, anyone in conversation about Richard, I Industrial Revolution, Stalin’s Russia, perhaps his rash act to try to ‘fell’ Tudor was looked on as some sort of ‘nerd’. the Cold War and the Third Reich and at might have been put down to his state of There was conversation about the college for A Level was the Treaty of mind not being as sharp as it should drama series of course – but just as much Versailles, the unification of Italy and the have been. None of this was mentioned about the man himself. I also read an whole second year devoted to another and the usual negative impression was interview with the actor who was year of Nazi Germany. given that he was a bad king and that playing Richard, in which he did express I don’t pretend to know a lot about Henry Tudor was the wonderful saviour concern that his portrayal would be medieval England and the Middle Ages, come to release us from his oppression without the usual affliction associated or indeed Richard III, but have always and tyranny. with him – just as Richard’s remains had been annoyed at the bad press that To say I was bitterly disappointed in been discovered confirming scoliosis. Richard continually seems to get. When the impression given of Richard is an However, on further research, he I was little and was told by someone that understatement. I went off to bed discovered that even with the condition, he’d murdered his nephews, I knew afterwards, annoyed, depressed and not it may well have gone unnoticed during instinctively that it couldn’t be true. I even able to read another chapter of The his lifetime. thought ‘why would he do that?’ No, I Daughter of Time, which I’m currently When you watch Barnard’s portrayal, don’t think Richard spoke to me or reading. When is someone going to he does indeed play him as a young man anything like that – it was just instinct. come along on mainstream telly and with no discernible disabilities, which When I visited in actually present Richard in a good light? must be a first? What also impressed me May 2010 and saw the statue of Richard later in the drama was an under‐ with the snake over his shoulder I was a King Richard III Boys’ School standing, within the performance, that little miffed! From: Stephen Cutting this was a man facing difficult decisions Since the finding of his remains in Please find attached images of my old in complex times. The actor visibly Leicester (about which I was very school on Road in Leicester portrayed the conflicts which must have excited and which renewed my interest and one of the school badge. It was been a real factor within Richard’s life in history that had waned since having attending this school in the 60s that has during the period following the death of two young children) and the amount of always given me an association with his brother until his own death on the research that has been done in recent King Richard and his times. I have often battlefield. years, I was expecting a much more wondered if there are any Ricardians Despite the inaccuracies – his actions positive portrayal of Richard than I who also attended this school or indeed towards his niece, no doubt inserted to actually got. It seems that he was tacked the girls’ school that was located on King ensure a sequel for the next book – I like on the end, blamed for the downfall of Richard’s Road, not far from Bow Bridge to think that this portrayal of a normal, the Plantagenet dynasty and still in Leicester. The boys’ school was a hard human and conflicted man would go accused of murdering Edward V and his place indeed. The regime of discipline some way to negating the picture people younger brother. was severe; you were administered have had of Richard for years. My Even the music changed as soon as corporal punishment for the smallest of experiences on social media sites Richard was mentioned. It became dark indiscretions. There was a house system confirm that, despite disappointment and foreboding, as though the devil or based on the . I was in with the BBC drama overall, the the baddie was being introduced. Bosworth House and there was also depiction of Richard has certainly made Although Robert Bartlett did say there is Tudor, Stanley and Warwick as I recall, a refreshing change. All credit due to no evidence that he actually murdered but no mention of York! There were Aneurin Barnard for that. One comment the two boys, the impression given was prefects and a head boy and a merit

6 Members’ LETTERS

Right: King Richard III Boys’ School. Above: The school badge. Photos courtesy of Stephen Cutting. system comprising of As and Es – good and bad merit marks. In one image, where the sign for Mencap is situated there used to be King Richard’s Crest with the motto ‘Loyalty Bindeth Me’ great and strong assemblies, ‘by the bones. They will try to sequence his beneath. I believe the school closed for gathering of people toward [him] from genome, his complete set of genetic the last time in the 70s, although I am not far p[arts of the] land’ just as York information – not his genetic code, absolutely certain. The school lies describes. A full transcript of the letter which is the set of rules cells use to alongside the A47 Hinckley Rd, which can be found in Pugh’s article ‘Richard, turn a sequence of DNA into King Richard travelled on his route to duke of York, and the Rebellion of specific proteins. The article [of Bosworth and indeed again on his return Henry Holand, duke of Exeter, in May February 12] also referred to Leicester. I am given to believe that 1454’ (Historical Research, Vol. 63, No. incorrectly to the spinal deformity the two schools were eventually merged 152, October 1990, available for loan that scientists have confirmed the into one secondary school and relocated from the Barton Papers Library). The king suffered from. He had in the Braunstone area of Leicester. If letter from Cecily Neville to Margaret of scoliosis, a lateral curvature of the there are any members who did attend Anjou, seemingly written sometime spine; he was not hunchbacked, in the schools it would be really interesting between Queen Margaret’s visit to which the spine is curved forward, to share their memories. [Stephen can be Walsingham in April 1453 and the birth although he has been described contacted via e‐mail – stephencutting2 of Prince Edward of Lancaster the that way by Shakespeare and @sky.com.] following October, is reproduced with others. And the article also modernised spelling in Anne misidentified the religious order Re ‘A new letter from Cecily Crawford’s Letters of Medieval Women, associated with the Greyfriars Neville?’ where it is erroneously portrayed as Friary in Leicester, where Richard’s From: Marie Barnfield evidence of Richard’s difficult birth. body was originally buried. It was I was interested to read Joanna a Franciscan friary, not an Laynesmith’s report in the March Report on King Richard III’s Augustinian one. Bulletin on what had been rumoured to remains in The New York be previously unknown letters Times I feel very gratified when newspaper editors take the trouble to get their discovered in the Huntington Library, From: Elizabeth York Enstam, Dallas, stories right. Unfortunately, this seems California. I am familiar with both Texas not to happen as often as it should. letters. T. B. Pugh has argued that Carole On 12 February, The New York Times Rawcliffe was wrong to suggest that (sometimes called ‘The Grey Lady’) Edward, earl of March, was the recipient Praise for the Bulletin from published a brief report about the the USA of the duke of York’s letter. Pugh argues sequencing of the genome of King From: Judith Collins, by e‐mail that the missive from York, as Protector, Richard III. The next day, a second short, A huge WOW from an American to his ‘son’, urging him to ‘for bere the accurate, piece was published and member. The old format was great, but insolent rule and mysgovernaunce’ of followed by this paragraph: his followers, was almost certainly not this new one is wonderful – the content, addressed to the eleven‐year‐old Correction: February 13, 2014 not to mention the new format, is the Edward, but to York’s son‐in‐law Henry A previous version of this article, most impressive of any group to which Holand, duke of Exeter, who was at the along with the headline, referred I belong. How I wish I lived in the UK so time the letter was written (8 May, incorrectly to the sequencing I could go along on every group outing. presumably 1454) indeed resorting to procedure that British scientists (For that matter, I wish I lived in the UK, plan to attempt on Richard III’s period.) Congratulations again.

7 Society NEWS AND NOTICES

Richard III Society Annual General representative or if no representative is able to attend in Meeting person, a printed report can be supplied to be read at the AGM. Reports should consist of new material not In accordance with the constitution of the Society, notice previously reported verbally or in print and should take is hereby given that the 2014 Annual General Meeting no more than three minutes to read out. will be held on Saturday 4 October Refreshments at The Assembly House, Theatre Street, Light refreshments (tea/coffee/water/biscuits) will be Norwich NR2 1RQ available during the informal part of the day and at The formal business of the meeting will be to: lunchtime. Members are asked to contribute £1 towards the cost in the boxes provided. 1. Receive and discuss the annual reports of the The Assembly House is justifiably famous for its Chairman and any other members of the Committee catering and has agreed to provide a buffet lunch. The 2. Receive and act upon the report of nominations for menu is: membership of the Committee Simple sandwich platters to include: 3. Receive, and adopt if thought fit, the audited Poached salmon and cucumber accounts of the Society for the financial year ended Mature Cheddar and pickle 31st March Honey‐glazed ham and mustard mayo 4. Appoint an Auditor or Auditors; and Hummus and aubergine chutney 5. Transact such other business as shall be brought Roast chicken, Caesar dressing forward. Fresh fruit All members of the Society shall be entitled to attend the Fresh fruit juices meeting and to vote in person. Assembly House Victoria Sponge Any member of the Society is entitled to submit The cost is £8.50 per person. We will need to order motions and resolutions for discussion and nominations precise numbers in advance and you are asked, when for membership of the Committee, subject to (a) and (b) registering to attend, to indicate if you wish to partake below. and we are requesting payment at the same time – by cheque or credit/debit card. If you would prefer, there (a) Motions and resolutions must reach the Secretaries are restaurants, pubs and cafés within a short walk of the not less than 14 days [Saturday 20 September 2014] venue. before the date fixed for the meeting. They must be proposed and seconded in writing. Isolde Wigram Memorial Lecture (b) Nominations for membership of the Executive This year our speaker will be the historian, broadcaster Committee, duly proposed, seconded and accepted and author Helen Castor. Her talk will be: ‘Medieval by the nominee in writing, must reach the Secretaries Rites of Passage: Birth, Marriage and Death in the Paston not less than 14 days [Saturday 20 September 2014] Family’. before the date of the AGM. A pro‐forma for this purpose can be downloaded from the website or Registration of attendance forwarded by the Secretaries on request. To help us plan for the day, including arranging for Exact timings for the day will be notified in the refreshments, ensuring sufficient seating is available, etc., September Bulletin. and to conform with fire regulations we ask that, if you Nominations for the Robert Hamlin Award (details are planning to attend, you register in advance by using as set out in the March Bulletin) should reach the the pro‐forma in the centre pages of this Bulletin. Please Secretaries by not later than Friday 19 July. do remember to let us have the full names of all those All contact details for the Secretaries are set out on attending as you would wish them to appear on their the back inside cover of this Bulletin and are also name badge. detailed on the booking form in the centre of this issue. Deadline for receipt of registrations and lunch bookings is Saturday 6 September 2014. Call to Branches and Groups As usual, the formal AGM will be preceded by the If your Branch/Group wishes to make a report at the Members’ Day. Full details and logistics for the whole AGM, please let the Secretaries know in writing or via e‐ day will be published in the September Bulletin. In the mail by no later than Friday 19 September. meantime, if you have any queries please get in touch Reports can be made in person by a Branch/Group with the Secretaries. 8 Society NEWS AND NOTICES

Richard III Night at first course – carpaccio of venison – was served. the London After that, we were treated to a musical interlude before the speeches. There were two, the first from the Guildhall, 26 chairman of the Trust, Kieran Poynter, and the second February 2014 from Oliver Letwin MP. They were fairly short and we were soon tucking into beef Wellington, which was On receiving an invitation to a dinner in London’s superb. Guildhall, I wondered why. All it said was that it was Another musical interval came before ‘a trio of tiny from the Royal Anniversary Trust. It was addressed to puds’ was served for dessert. Thank heaven it wasn’t me as chairman of the Society, so I assumed it had to do ‘large puds’, as the portions were quite substantial, with Richard III. The dinner was to celebrate the winners though I could have eaten more of the lavender ice‐ of the Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Higher and cream. More singing preceded and followed the loyal Further Education and, on arrival, I was greeted by toast and coffee. Professor Caroline Wilkinson, who had made the facial Finally, the event finished with a lone piper. There reconstruction of King Richard, and told I was a guest of were many Scots in his audience – kilts and trews Dundee University. abounded – and he was roundly applauded. That done, It was a splendid setting, as anyone who been to the the party broke up and we slowly dispersed. Guildhall will know, and the evening was most For some, there was still a visit to Buckingham Palace enjoyable. It began with drinks in the Old Library, next day for the presentation of the awards by the where the Society had its Quincentennial dinner in 1983, Queen and Prince Philip and I understand that, and as we gathered I couldn’t help thinking that this although she seemed well informed about the dig, the really was a ‘posh frock’ affair – and that was only the Queen asked the Vice‐Chancellor of Leicester men! Many universities were represented and all the University, Professor Sir Bob Burgess, if her predecessor hierarchy were in their robes, with lashings of gold really had been found under a car park! ribbon and lace. For us lesser mortals, it was ‘black tie’. For others not going to the Palace, there was the During the reception, I met many people, mostly return to more normal matters. Indeed, next day, I went academics, but also the Lord Advocate of Scotland, who up to Chester to give a talk. asked me many questions about Richard III. It was great that two great universities were getting Dinner in the Great Hall began with a fanfare from awards for work that included what they had done for the State Trumpeters of the Life Guards, before the Richard III – finding him and ‘visualising’ him – and I university hierarchy were announced and led into the was taken aback by the number of people there, who, on hall to be escorted to their relevant tables. As Leicester hearing who and what I was, wanted to talk about King University had also won an award, Richard III got two Richard and learn more. It was very pleasing, too. mentions, to the amusement of the Master of Thank you, Dundee, for making me an honorary Scot Ceremonies and some of the guests. I then found myself for a few hours. It was a lovely surprise and most sitting next to the Chancellor of Dundee University, the enjoyable. Lord Patel, another retired medic! The MC for the Phil Stone evening, Peter Purvis, announced that singers from the Guildhall School of Music would sing a grace and the Congratulations

The London Guildhall The Society extends its congratulations to John Ashdown‐Hill on his election to the Fellowship of the Society of Antiquaries of London, where he joins fellow holders of this accolade Anne Sutton, Livia Visser‐Fuchs and Peter Hammond, our President. Sts Mary and Alkelda, Middleham

Many will recall that the church in Middleham made an appeal in 2011 for funds to make repairs to the tower made necessary by the passage of time. I am delighted to report that early this year I heard from Lyn Burren, the church treasurer, that the appeal had been successful and, with only a few hundred pounds left to collect, the work had been done. Thanks to the many donations, including those from the Society, the tower is now safe for a few more years. Some of the stonework has been 9 Society NEWS AND NOTICES

Members of the FPAL had asked for someone to bring them up to date with what was happening with the remains of King Richard – we were meeting two days before the Judicial Review was to resume in the High Court. Arriving at the building, I was greeted by the unholy din of a pneumatic drill tearing up the pavement outside, which made me wonder if my meeting would be audible, but the inside was well sound‐proofed, fortunately. When Richard and I left, they were drilling just outside the door and we had to step over the trench! There were a dozen or more reporters present, including representatives from Czech radio, Japan, Switzerland and Israel, when the president, Paola Totaro, introduced me. Unable to give a full visual presentation, as the building was still lacking in digital projection facilities, I began with a short statement on Richard III, the Society and what I knew of the legal position. After that, the meeting became a question‐and‐ answer session and I tried to fill in the gaps in my narrative. Some of the questions were the expected ones, such as ‘Where do you want him reburied?’, ‘Why not ?’, ‘Why York?’, and so on, and I tried to give reasons for and against the various places in as even‐handed a manner as possible. After the briefing was brought to a close, I did some one‐to‐one interviews, one for a Slovenian network and two for competing Norwegian news outlets. I think one was for a newspaper and the other for radio. Walking back to Victoria Station, I reflected on another attempt at getting the message across, hoping I had done King Richard justice. Yet again, one of the questions had been ‘Why Richard III?’! I owe thanks to Richard Van Allen for making the replaced, but much of the work was in the form of arrangements and providing moral support and my repointing, thus preserving the original stones. thanks to the staff and members of the FPAL for giving Lyn sent me some before and after pictures, a few of me another opportunity to spread the word about which are shown here. ‘Good King Richard’. On behalf of the church and myself, I thank all those Phil Stone members who made donations to the appeal. Phil Stone The Bulletin for visually impaired ‘Where will he be buried?’ members We sometimes receive requests from members who are Briefing the Foreign Press blind or partially sighted for a version of the Bulletin in a Association, 11 March 2014 format that is accessible for them. We now produce the text of each edition in two electronic formats which are At the beginning of March, the Foreign Press Association sent by e‐mail to the members who have requested them: of London (FPAL) moved into new headquarters off 1. An ‘accessible text’ (.txt) file version which specialist Victoria Street and it was my privilege to be their first computer software can convert to spoken word. guest to give a briefing, arranged by Richard Van Allen. 2. A Word document (.doc) of the text, formatted in a It had been hoped that Philippa Langley could be there large font for easier reading by visually impaired as well, but on the date chosen she was in Cumbria people. signing books. We would both have been available the next day but HM the Queen and HRH Prince Philip had If either of those formats would be of use to you, please chosen then to visit the Royal Commonwealth Society in e‐mail [email protected] and I will be happy the same building. to add your name to the list of members receiving the file 10 Society NEWS AND NOTICES in the requested format. We would be willing to consider previous volunteer Sales Liaison Officer, Sally Empson, making the text available in other digital formats suitable and her predecessors in that role. for the hard of seeing, but please bear in mind that our resources of both time and technical expertise are Resurrecting the Mid-Anglia Group limited, and so we cannot guarantee to be able to supply a requested format. Stephen Lark is hoping to resurrect the Mid‐Anglia Stephen York Group for members and potential members in the Suffolk and North area. Please contact him at Flat New arrangements for Society 4, 16 Willoughby Road, Ipswich IP2 8AP, stephenmlark@ talktalk.net or by requesting to join Operation Phoenix sales at: www.facebook.com/groups/387049458103694). Over the last two years there has been a significant and continuing increase in mail order sales. This has New Hampshire Group coincided with the major publicity and membership increase since the discovery of the remains of Richard III. A new group is being established in Hampshire for local During recent years, there has also been an increase Ricardian enthusiasts. Enjoy group meetings, local in the number and variety of items, i.e. books and historical visits and fun days. Meetings to be held on the merchandise, available. The Society is holding over first Saturday of the month on Hayling Island, 12–3 pm. 7,500 items of stock. Last year, postal sales amounted to Contact Layne Edwards on 07798718125 or e‐mail over 400 orders – many of which were for multiple [email protected]. items. The sales task, which includes dealing with receipt, payment, collation, packaging and posting Penrith and North Lakes Group orders together with stock management and reconciliation, has now grown too big for volunteers to We are delighted with the recent increase in the cope with. membership of the Society, and with the knowledge that As a result, the Executive Committee has been so many who have joined are in our area. We would be studying for some time the feasibility of outsourcing the very pleased if these new members would contact us. We sales function. Following a report made to the EC by the are a small group, who meet regularly from March to Secretaries on 15 March, it was decided to enter into an December – with the exception of August. Even those agreement with E‐Mediacy Ltd to handle all aspects of who live a little distance from us may like to join us in the Society’s sales by post, from receipt of orders to June and July, when we enjoy our local outings to places despatch. The new sales arrangements began on 1 May. of interest. We look forward to hearing from you. At the same time we have also been looking at creating Marjorie and John Smith, Joint Secretaries, 26 Clifford an online shop facility and we are hoping to launch this Road, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 SPP; e‐mail: jsmarjon@ in May or June. There will be further details in the gmail.com. September Bulletin but we will contact members via RIII Mailings and the Branch & Group mailings when Membership matters the shop goes live. Members will then have the choice of buying online or by post. Sales from the online shop on Overseas postage supplement the Society’s website will also be handled by E‐Mediacy. The supplement will be increased for the new E‐Mediacy already administer the distribution of the subscription year, which begins on 2 October 2014, to £9 Ricardian Bulletin and The Ricardian, as well as worldwide, including Eire and the Channel Islands. In membership packs for new members and membership September 2012, owing to new distribution arrange ‐ renewal reminders. In addition to the professionalism ments, we were able to reduce the supplement from £9 they have brought to these Society functions, the to £6 but unfortunately postal cost increases have taken company also has considerable existing experience of place and it is now necessary that we pass these on to sales administration and fulfilment for other charitable members. and public organisations. Orders by post for Society sales items should now be New payment method for subscriptions sent to: Subscriptions become due for payment on 2 October and RIII Sales, 5 The Quadrangle Centre, The Drift, it will now be possible for members to pay these online Nacton Road, Ipswich IP3 9QR. using debit or credit cards without requiring a PayPal The full sales catalogue is obtainable by post (please account, though this method of payment will still be address requests to ‘RIII Sales Catalogue’) at the same available. There will be further details in the September address, or from the Shop section of our website, Bulletin. www.richardiii.net. Wendy Moorhen The Society would like to record its gratitude to our 11 Future Society EVENTS Bosworth and Fotheringhay town, where we have the morning to look around and have lunch. You will have the chance to visit Romsey Sunday, 17 August 2014 Abbey, rebuilt by the Normans between 1120 and 1140. This year our one‐day visit to Bosworth comprises the The original abbey was founded in 907 by St Elflaeda, traditional Service in Sutton Cheney Church, after which granddaughter of Alfred the Great. The town was we shall depart Sutton Cheney for Fotheringhay, to sacked by Vikings in 993. Henry I granted its first attend a Requiem for Richard in Fotheringhay Church, charter, which allowed a market to be held every followed by tea in Fotheringhay Village Hall.* The Sunday. Romsey had a lucrative wool weaving and Requiem will be a full requiem mass, with, as Dr Phil dying trade, and the town prospered but the Black Stone puts it, ‘smells and bells’. This is being inaugurated Death killed half the population in 1348–9. Also of under the auspices of a member of the St Peter’s Singers, interest is King John’s House, a mediaeval stone who add so much to the annual Fotheringhay Service of building, and museum. Nine Lessons and Carols. This is a unique occasion, and In the afternoon we will visit Portchester Castle we hope and suppose that the event will prove popular, (English Heritage), the best preserved of the Roman so we suggest early booking. ‘Saxon Shore’ forts, and the walls of which mainly still We hope that as many members as possible will visit stand at their original 6‐metre height – the only one in Bosworth battlefield during the day, as this is one of the northern Europe where they remain this high. The Society’s major social events and an occasion during the Normans took it over in the 12th century and built the year when members from all over the world can meet. keep. Richard II made part of it into a palace and, in * Fotheringhay Village Hall opens regularly for provision of tea 1415, it was Henry V’s embarkation point for the on summer Sundays, and we will join this: we must provide Agincourt campaign. Troops were housed at the castle advance numbers for the Village Hall caterers, but members during the Civil War and prisoners of war during the will pay individually on the day. Napoleonic wars. Programme Romsey in the morning and Portchester in the afternoon; do join us for a history‐rich, late‐summer 9.15 am Coach departs Embankment Underground outing. Our coach will leave from London Embankment Station (Embankment exit) 9.15 sharp! at 9 am and we expect to arrive back in London around 12.30 pm Memorial Service in Sutton Cheney Church, 7.30 pm. (A pick‐up can be arranged at Bromley at 8 am with Society wreath laying for those who let me know.) c. 1.30 pm Coach leaves Sutton Cheney for The cost of the trip is £22 per person, if you are a Fotheringhay member of English Heritage, or £26 per person if not. 4 pm Requiem in Fotheringhay Church Cheques should be made payable to ‘The Richard III 5.15 pm Tea in Fotheringhay Village Hall (cake and Society’, endorsed ‘Romsey’. tea/coffee) Please complete the booking form in the centre pages 6.30 pm Coach leaves Bosworth for London, arriving and send it, together with your cheque, to Marian c. 9 pm Mitchell by 18 August 2014. Please note: there will be no Sutton Cheney Village Hall If you miss the closing date, please do not hesitate to lunch this year, owing to time constraints. contact me, as there are may be a few spare places on the Members attending on the day may book for such coach. elements of the day as they wish. The cost for the Marian Mitchell for the Visits Team London Day Outing coach is £20.65. The cost for Tea only is ‘pay on day’, but booking is essential to provide Branch Study Day numbers for Village Hall, and tea tickets will be issued – no ticket, no tea ! Saturday 8 November 2014 Elizabeth Nokes The Norfolk Branch Study Day will take place at The (26 West Way, Petts Wood, BR5 1LW, ; tel.: 01689 Assembly House, Theatre Street, Norwich on the theme 823569; e‐mail: [email protected].) ‘Looking for Richard . . . and beyond’. For full details, please see the March Bulletin. Romsey and Portchester Castle Please note we are unable to issue ticket refunds if you cancel. The cost of the study is £25 per person. Saturday 13 September 2014 Please complete the booking form in the centre pages of Once again for our late summer trip we are travelling to this Bulletin and return to Annmarie Hayek, 20 the south, this time to the coast. Rowington Road, Norwich, NR1 3RR; tel. 01603 664021; Our first stop will be Romsey, an ancient market e‐mail [email protected]. 12 Society REVIEWS

The Society Study Weekend, 4–6 display to confirm their death, both Warwick the April 2014 Kingmaker and his brother Montagu were taken to Bisham Priory, burials that were lost during the Tudor Death, (Re)-burial and Commemoration: a religious upheavals. Christian gave many more review references, and reminded us that although many This year’s Study Weekend was held at the Park Inn in individuals were later moved and reburied elsewhere the centre of York. The theme of death, (re)‐burial, and their original tombs were often left, so a tomb may not commemoration was of great interest to us all, as the necessarily now be the grave marker. Pertinent to King reburial of King Richard’s remains will hopefully occur Richard’s own burial in Leicester’s Grey Friars is that so quite soon. many of those killed in battle were buried in Franciscan Friday evening’s session by Christian Steer entitled houses, but only the very high and mighty were buried ‘Death, Burial and Commemoration in the Wars of the in the choir. Christian intrigued us all by his discussion Roses’ admirably introduced the weekend. Christian of the likely burial circumstances of Katherine reminded us of the medieval belief of purgatory Plantagenet, Richard’s illegitimate daughter and the through some fascinating contemporary illustrations, second wife of William Herbert, earl of Huntingdon. He which portrayed souls being winched into heaven by suggested that she died in a sweating sickness epidemic prayers and good works. Chantry foundations had the in the autumn of 1486 and was consequently buried in function of assisting the passage of the departed the London church of St James, Garlickhythe, as Herbert through purgatory by frequent and earnest prayer. One owned a house in the parish. In an account of Elizabeth image was that of the cadaver tomb of Henry Chichele, of York’s coronation in 1487 Huntingdon is described as archbishop of Canterbury (d. 1443), whose tomb was a widower. The church was later lost to the Fire of 1666 referred to several times during the weekend. Often and so today is a Wren church with no medieval cadaver tombs were those of childless individuals such remains. as John Barratt (d. 1467, tomb in Bury St Edmunds), who On Saturday morning Tig Lang gave a fascinating consequently wanted to attract the attention and talk entitled ‘In the Hour of Our Death’ about the prayers of strangers who might remember them in their medieval ars morendi – the art of dying. Medieval prayers. indulgence images offered the devout the possibility of So, against this background of belief, how did the not dying in an unrepentant and unprepared state. of our period respond to so many violent Ideally, medieval people wished to make confession, be deaths in battle, murder and execution? Often the slain reconciled with their enemies and make a will to set were buried in religious houses, for example after their worldly affairs in order. Tig used her detailed Northampton (1460) the first duke of Buckingham was study of a medieval surgeon’s notebook to explain that, buried in the Grey Friars (today it’s the bus station if for medieval physicians and surgeons, caring for the anyone wants to do a dig!). William Herbert, executed sick also included caring for their soul and thus in 1469, was taken to the family mausoleum in Tintern ensuring that they died well. If a case was terminal it Abbey. After Barnet in 1471 and their subsequent public was desirable to give the patient due warning so that they could enjoy the last rites as well as put their affairs The Society book stall did a roaring trade over the weekend. in order, but at times such a warning might hasten the patient’s demise! Medieval medicine might seem rather bizarre at first glance – but blood tests and urine samples are still commonplace today, although modern physicians don’t taste them! Also, modern doctors don’t routinely study their patient’s astrological information but then such portents were accepted as of vital importance to the case. Tig also explained some of the ways in which some believed it was possible to predict whether the patient would die. One method was by consulting the legendary Caladrius bird; we were shown several medieval images of a Caladrius. If the bird deigned to look at the patient they would live, but if the bird refused to, then the patient would soon die. Toni Mount then talked on the subject of ‘Giving Them a Good Send Off – Medieval Funeral Feasts and 13 Society REVIEWS

were concerned with learning to die, and Anthony Woodville translated the Cordyal into English in 1479. David speculated as to whether the Woodvilles might have adhered to this contemplative mind‐set – for example Anthony Woodville wore a hairshirt, they possessed some of the books which discussed the ars morendi, and some were buried with relatively little pomp. Ann Rycraft gave us an account of the Blackburn family and their connection to All Saints Church in North Street, York. The family moved to York from Richmond, and were presumably from Blackburn itself originally. By the beginning of the fifteenth century Nicholas Blackburn was a prosperous York merchant and a Merchant of the Staple of Calais who became Mayor in 1412. In 1414 he became a member of the Some of the study weekend speakers. From left to right – Alexandra Buckle, Tig Lang, Toni Mount, Heather Falvey, Corpus Christi Guild, which meant that prayers would Christian Steer and Tim Tatton‐Brown. be said for him and his family after his death. Nicholas engaged in many worthy projects, helping to finance Customs’. An illustration from the Macclesfield Psalter bridges and building chapels, as well as chantry chapels showing the ‘Rabbit’s Funeral’ reminded us that for himself and his wife. His son, Nicholas Blackburn medieval folk didn’t always take the subject so the Younger, also became Mayor (1429) and wished to solemnly. However, the funerals of the great were be buried in All Saints. The windows in the church lavish occasions, and public display of candles and associated with the family are wonderful examples of tapers consumed on such occasions were listed – the the medieval glazier’s art. They need to be viewed to be more wax consumed the greater honour. So for the fully appreciated, something that weekend members reburial of Richard, duke of York, a huge number of were able to enjoy during their free time during candles made from the very finest beeswax were used. Saturday afternoon. However, some chose to make an exception to the norm, One of the enjoyable aspects of the Society Study such as John Blount, Lord Mountjoy, who did not want Weekends is the convivial socialising during the time, excess or candles on his hearse. Yet the reburial of and on Saturday evening we enjoyed our conference Richard, duke of York, was an example of conspicuous dinner in the hotel. I always enjoy meeting other consumption on a massive scale, with 400 poor men as Ricardians, and the whole weekend was a pleasant time mourners who were duly feasted and who would pray with both old and new acquaintances. for the duke’s soul. The cavalcade to Fotheringhay was On Sunday morning Alexandra Buckle talked on the a stupendous feat of logistics by the royal household to topic ‘Remembering the Dead: reburial amongst the ensure the foodstuffs – including live cattle to ensure elite in the 1400s’. Some of Alexandra’s talk was linked fresh meat – were delivered. Lesser people could only to her work on a rare survival of a manuscript detailing envy such things, but whether royalty or poor there can the directions and prayers used for a reburial from our be little doubt that medieval folk spared no expense to period and her reconstruction of the music that could show their family to advantage and thus to really have been used. [See Alexandra Buckle’s article ‘How to benefit the living as much as the departed. rebury a Medieval King’ in the March 2014 Bulletin]. David Harry presented ‘Despair and Die: mortality Alexandra outlined how reburials had become quite and piety during the Wars of the Roses’. He reminded common in the later medieval period for the nobility, us that the period was an age both of great mortality and not just in the context of battles. Also some lesser and also of anxiety. Society was still recovering from the folk requested reburials, possibly as a conscious Black Death and this can be seen in the many macabre imitation of the elite. In a sense these reburials could be images of death – cadaver tombs were featured again. likened to a theatrical event aiming to give a clear Chichele had his tomb built before his death, and there message about the status of the individual and family was a contemporary emphasis on the contemplation of involved. Alexandra explained that the reburial of mortality. The increase in mercantile wealth at this time Richard Beauchamp, , probably took at in cities such as London, York and Bristol saw this least two days, as the different liturgical elements were group give lavishly to their parish churches and also for fitted around the regular hours of daily worship. We their funerals. Some wills indicate how some were were privileged to hear part of the music that Alexandra contemplative of their death and sought real penitence. has been able to reconstruct, featuring the Oxford New Many lay people were eager to imitate the true devotion College Choir. of the sincere clergy. Some of the early printed books The next session was from Heather Falvey, who 14 Society REVIEWS

Tim Tatton‐Brown presented ‘The Topography and Architectural History of Edward IV’s Tomb and Chantry’. Tim reminded us that St George’s Chapel at Windsor is about the same size as the Sistine Chapel in Rome, and also that it is undergoing some restoration at the moment. After the Black Death it became the usual practice for people to be buried in a vault, and so tombs became detached and seldom contained the bones. In later restorations people would say that the bones had been lost, not realising they may never have been there in the first place. Edward’s tomb was examined in about 1790, but there is no question of it being re‐opened and re‐examined at present. Only two gates and some Tournai marble remain and show the Burgundian Research Officer Lynda Pidgeon, introduces Tim Tatton‐Brown. influence on the period. Tim believed that Edward’s talked on ‘The Reinternment of a Saint’, and this dealt tomb was on a higher level but the king’s remains are with the reburial of Henry VI in St George’s Chapel below floor level, so it was a complex design. Edward’s Windsor by Richard III. Did Richard see Windsor as a will, made in 1475, speaks of a cadaver tomb design, but royal mausoleum, as he placed Henry opposite his such may not have been carried out in 1483. Tim brother? There has been much speculation as to why explained the scheme at St George’s, with the tombs of Richard moved Henry, and certainly his brother Hastings and Donne alongside Edward’s, and then that Edward was disturbed by the growing cult of ‘Saint of Henry opposite in close proximity to the tomb of Henry’. Yet placing him in Windsor was putting him Master John Schorn (1478), who also never actually centre stage. One of the fascinating aspects of Heather’s gained sainthood, although pilgrim badges of both talk for me was the account of the examination of Henry VI and Schorn are in the Museum of London. Henry’s coffin that took place in 1910. Henry’s bones Tim’s talk was full of fascinating detail and made me had been placed inside a relatively small lead box, but keen to revisit Windsor! were found to be those of a man about 5 ft 9 in. tall and All too quickly the weekend was over, but it was very aged between 45 and 55. The right arm bones were informative and worthwhile. I am confident that missing. It was clear that when Richard had Henry’s everyone who attended would endorse Phil Stone’s remains reinterred at Windsor, the small lead box had thanks to all those who had worked so hard to provide been enclosed in a full‐sized wooden coffin which was such an enjoyable weekend. Thank you all very much. really just a cosmetic item to ‘look right’. Richard Smith On the lighter side A very tongue-in-cheek proposition from 7. We have plenty of horses. down under Yes, clearly the answer is Australia. Richard could become another £10 Pom. Dear Editor Yours sincerely There is an obvious simple solution to the debate about the Peter Stride final resting place of Richard III. Consider the following facts. PS I am visiting England in May: will I be permitted to enter 1. The rightful British monarch, Simon Abney‐Hastings, the country? 15th Earl of Loudon, a descendant of George, duke of Clarence, lives here (after the minor issue of reversing an Below: seen in Leicester and now on the internet. act of attainder). 2. Another historical icon revered by the British is usually held by the Australians – the Ashes. 3. The welcome given to William and Kate suggests that Australia will remain a monarchy long after England becomes a republic again. 4. The Tudor and Stuart era understandably saw many European explorers search for a better place, and they found one in Australia. 5. There has to be a resolution to the debate between York and Leicester that does not leave a winner and a loser. 6. We have two excellent vineyards in Australia, the Battle of Bosworth and Plantagenet. While Richard may not wish to visit Bosworth again, what would be more appropriate than Plantagenet Shire amongst the wines?

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Gloucester’s Richard III Festival particular praise for the exhibition’s presentation, the information on the interpretation boards and the use of The Richard III Festival took place in Gloucester over 18– original charters. 30 March; it comprised a series of talks by those involved The Richard III Society’s Royal Patron, HRH the in the Greyfriars dig and the ‘Looking for Richard’ Duke of Gloucester, visited the exhibition on 21 March project, together with the ‘Richard III, Duke of and commented that ‘It is very encouraging to see so Gloucester’ exhibition at the City Museum and Art many people support this significant display. Richard Gallery. The exhibition featured the reconstructed head III is well worth evaluating.’ of Richard III and other objects and documents that shed The Gloucester branch’s Heather Wheatley visited light on his relationship with Gloucester. the festival on 29 March and we are grateful for her The festival has been hailed as a huge success: the review of the day: exhibition was visited by nearly 3,000 people; the On arriving at 10.15, I saw that plenty of people had pre‐ museum’s website received a total of 17,000 hits during booked for the days talks, and a steady flow of people was the two weeks; and all the talks were sold out in passing through the doors. The Mayor in the opening advance. Gloucester City Council leader, Paul James, address said that over the two weeks of the Festival they commented ‘It shows not only that we can stage great had had over 3,000 visitors and had been a tremendous exhibitions but how much interest there is in the city success. The audiences for the talks were spread over a and its history. When exhibitions are relevant and wide age range, and it was nice to see so many young staged well people will come and see them. Richard III people taking a real interest in the festival. had a profound influence on Gloucester and the interest The talk by Phil Stone, ‘Richard III, a Bloody Tyrant?’ in this exhibition has been immense.’ There was was packed, and was presented in a concise and

With the ‘VIPs’: Derek and Jennie Edgson surrounded from left to right by Phil Stone, Annette Carson, Philippa Langley and Bob Woosnam‐Savage. Photo courtesy of Bridget Edgson.

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interesting way, with accompanying slides of excellent odds against the discovery of the remains. She spoke of quality, showing some unusual pictures to support his her interest in Richard, her initial visit to the site and the talk. The contents involved looking at the events of the belief that Richard could be found against all the rumour day and comparing them with known facts and other and speculation that prevailed in Leicester that his body possibilities to question what may have been the outcome. was thrown in the River Soar when the Grey Friars was As well as the original material, Phil made light‐hearted demolished. As the talk progressed, Philippa introduced use of Susan Herbert’s adaptations of well known the audience to the various people who had contributed paintings which depict cats instead of humans, in this to the project’s success, and paid tribute to their hard work instance the Delaroche and Millais pictures of the princes and determination which led to the project going ahead. in the Tower.The talk lasted for one hour, with a time at The visual presentation was also of excellent quality and the end for questions, and was very well received by an the talk gave us an insight into her perception of Richard attentive audience. in his younger life and in his short reign, and she seemed The Richard III exhibition was held in an upstairs to carry the audience with her in this respect. Afterwards gallery and entrance was by timed ticket. This meant that there was time for questions and the book signing. I only the gallery was not too full at any given time and the attended these two lectures but Annette Carson was due exhibits were well spread out, so a good study of each on at 3.30 p.m. with her book signing afterwards. cabinet was possible. In the centre of the room and in a raised all‐round display cabinet sat the star of the show, Annette’s talk, ‘Finding Richard III’, was equally well the reconstruction of the head of Richard. This was both received, with a focus on how the authentic Richard can impressive and rather moving to look at face to face. It was still be found in the historical records. She also spoke the face of a young man in his prime with a serene about the project that led to Richard III’s discovery in expression on his face, and very different from the rather Leicester. Other speakers at the festival included John lined and tired faces revealed by some of the portraits of Ashdown‐Hill, Chris Skidmore, Bob Woosnam‐Savage Richard. It appeared a lot more believable and left a and Matthew Morris. lasting and cherished impression of a noble young man. Another member, Bridget Edgson, also visited the Accompanying the display was a visual of the festival on the 29th and she e‐mailed the following reconstruction process carried out by Professor Caroline comment: Wilkinson at Dundee University. It gave a fascinating insight into the knowledge and artistry of her work. My husband Derek, daughter Jennie and I had an Caroline was well known to viewers of the History Cold enjoyable hour in the exhibition in Gloucester. We were Case series on television, and it came as no surprise that expecting the Man Himself but not a ‘who’s who’ of VIPs! she was commissioned to undertake the head of Richard. [see photo, facing page]. Having been in the Society for The first afternoon talk was ‘The King’s Grave: the search over 20 years I found this really made the visit special and for Richard III’ by Philippa Langley. This again was I would like to thank them for that, it was a pleasure to packed with an attentive audience of all ages. Philippa meet them. explained the long process, with its many pitfalls, that Our congratulations to all involved with the festival and eventually led to the dig going ahead at the last moment exhibition, which have certainly helped to promote possible. Her talk was accompanied by a series of old knowledge and awareness of Richard III in the city of his maps of the site and gave the audience an idea of the vast dukedom. Tewkesbury Medieval Festival, 12–13 July 2014 Tewkesbury Medieval Festival started life as a one‐off small‐town event. It has grown over the past 31 years to become the biggest, and probably most popular, medieval event in Europe. Around 2,000 enthusiasts of various nationalities take part in a re‐enactment of the on part of the site where the Yorkists and Lancastrians clashed in 1471. Many of them live, with their families, in the style of a medieval army on the march, cooking authentic period food over open fires and sleeping in tents, varying from a simple soldiers’ bivouac to the sumptuous encampments of Edward IV and Queen Margaret. As well as the military aspect of the event there is a busy and colourful market, with armourers, fletchers, costume makers, potters and a myriad other traders, supplying everything a soldier might want, and unusual items to tempt visitors. There are also many bookstalls and food outlets. Entertainment is also in period and you could come across minstrels, jugglers, jesters, a falconer, story‐tellers and even a dragon or two. It takes place every year on the second full weekend in July, which 17 OTHER NEWS, reviews and events this year is 12–13 July. The festival opens at 11 am on Tewkesbury is Ashchurch, and bus service 41 will take both days, with the battle re‐enactment at 4 pm on you almost to the festival gate. Entry is free, with just a Saturday and 3 pm on Sunday. small charge for parking. For more information visit: On Saturday evening the event moves into town for a www.tewkesburymedievalfestival.org. re‐enactment of the storming of Tewkesbury Abbey by Please note: The Richard III Society will have a Yorkists in pursuit of fleeing Lancastrians seeking strong presence at the festival: the Gloucester and sanctuary. This is followed by some very tongue‐in‐cheek branches will share a stall, with and over‐acted executions of captured Lancastrians. Worcestershire operating on the Saturday and Afterwards, in the beautiful abbey, there is the peaceful Gloucester on the Sunday. The Surrey Group also will service of Compline. have a separate stall in the main marquee. If members Tewkesbury Medieval Festival takes place on fields can get to Tewkesbury this year please do so and show just off the A38 Tewkesbury to Gloucester Road, and is your support for the festival and the Society’s presence well signed from all directions, including Junction 9 of there. Our thanks go to Keith Stenner of the Gloucester the M5, where drivers from either direction should Branch for providing all the above information. leave the motorway. The railway station for

The Exeter Rondels until 1983, when Queen Elizabeth II visited Exeter on 31st March to present the Royal Maundy Money. Along As part of my ‘Loyaulté me lie’ music project [Ricardian the top of the cushions are displayed the dates and Bulletin, March 2014], I visited Exeter cathedral last year, names of each bishop of the cathedral. Along the bottom as I wanted to see if I could find some medieval images you can see the dates and names of the kings and inside the cathedral to use in a promotional video for my queens of England. On the edges next to the names of music about Richard III. I was delighted and surprised the kings and queens are the dates and names of the to see some information about Richard III’s reign deans of the cathedral. included on one of the embroidered cushions inside the The task of the embroidery was undertaken by 65 cathedral. This cushion is one of a set that rests at seat ladies of the Exeter Cathedral Tapisers and was level upon, and covers the entire length of, the stone completed in 1989. Mrs Dyer was awarded an MBE for plinth that runs along both sides of the nave and is called her work in designing the rondels. The cathedral the Exeter Rondels. carpenter made large embroidery frames for the Marjorie Dyer was commissioned in 1983 by the tapisers to work on the panels for the rondels and 73 cathedral authorities to design the cushioning. For her different colours of Paternayan Persian wool were design Mrs Dyer chose to use rondels, which are obtained from Yorkshire. stylised versions of the quatrefoils in the stone carving The last rondel on the north side of the cathedral of the balustrade of the triforium of Exeter cathedral. includes the first half of the reign of Edward IV, and the The rondels are like windows into the past and cover beginning of the Wars of the Roses is shown by an the history of Exeter, in particular the cathedral and, embroidered rondel of the red rose of Lancaster and more generally, of the , from 350AD another of the white rose of York. The history of our

Part of the rondel covering the reign of Richard III. Photos courtesy of Ian Churchward

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of the red, orange and purple colours beautifully vivid. The cushion after the one covering the reign of Richard III deals with the second half of the reign of Henry VII and the first half of the reign of Henry VIII. The embroidery in this cushion includes a rondel that mentions the resistance made by the citizens of Exeter in support of the king during the rebellion. There is a metal plaque on one of the footpaths next to the cathedral depicting the head of Henry VII, commemorating the king’s pardoning the Cornish rebels who took part in the Perkin Warbeck The cushion depicting the Wars of the Roses. invasion in 1497. Not far away from the cathedral is the site of the East Gate of the city, with a notice board country and the cathedral continues on the next cushion giving further information connected to Perkin immediately opposite the cushion covering the Warbeck, advising that the gate collapsed in 1510 or beginning of the Wars of the Roses. This is on the south 1511 after damage caused in the siege of Exeter in1497, side of the cathedral and covers the second half of the when it was temporarily breached. When the gate was reign of Edward IV, the reign of Richard III and the first rebuilt a statue of Henry VII was placed over the arch, half of the reign of Henry VII. There is a rondel in this reflecting the loyalty of the city of Exeter to the crown. cushion with a picture of the Tower of London, Henry VII had awarded the citizens of Exeter with the referring to the mystery of the disappearance of Edward cap and sword of maintenance for their loyalty and V and his younger brother Richard. Other rondels cover bravery and part of the regalia is displayed in the the visit of Richard III to Exeter in 1483 and his death at guildhall of the city. the battle of Bosworth in 1485. The colours in all the Ian Churchward cushions are particularly striking with the embroidery

The Richard III Experience at Monk playing, including of course the ‘Nice Guy’ song. The Bar, York shop is on the lowest floor. In the centre of the middle room is a reproduction suit of gothic plate armour and Many members will have long been familiar with the behind it a glass plate engraved with the names of each Richard III Museum at Monk Bar, the fortified northern The entrance in Monk Bar gateway in the mediaeval walls of York. Until very recently this was run by the late Mike Bennett (see Obituaries, p. 63). Not long before he died he approached the York Archaeological Trust (YAT) and suggested that they might like to take over the museum. This they were pleased to do because they saw it as an opportunity to tell the story of Richard and of his connections with York. The new museum, now known as the Richard III Experience, also tells something of life in York in the middle ages. At Micklegate Bar, the southern gateway to York, is a second YAT museum and this is now the Henry VII Experience. It is possible to walk between the two museums for most of the way along the walls of York. In appearance the museum gives the impression of a clear and uncluttered space. There are information panels on the walls of each of the three rooms in the Bar, starting at the top and going on down to the middle floor, starting with the Wars of the Roses, then the early years of Richard’s life and Richard as king ending with Bosworth. On the middle floor there is also some information on the city of York in the Middle Ages. It is now possible to see the wonderful vaulted ceilings of the rooms and the magnificent open fireplaces. There are two surviving garderobes in the corners of the rooms. On the top floor there is a tented enclosure for children where extracts from the Horrible Histories are 19 OTHER NEWS, reviews and events

Middle floor: Gothic armour display; top floor: tented enclosure area for children. piece of armour. In front of the armoured figure is a course, although it is possible to get to the ground floor continuous film showing the stages of ‘arming a knight’, of the museum from the walls without going up the starting with the twelfth century and culminating with steps from Monkgate. the complicated business of arming the late fifteenth‐ The information boards show evidence that they century knight. In the same room is the remains of the were prepared hastily. There are mistakes and portcullis. statements which could be regarded as placing the Since Monk Bar is a medieval building, access to it is wrong emphasis on events. However, these can be up a steep flight of steps and the two flights of steps corrected in due course and the new museum is well inside the Bar are very steep. All of them have strong worth visiting. For more information visit: handrails but are difficult to negotiate. There is no lift, of www.richardiiiexperience.com Shakespeare’s First Folio

One of the most important books in English literature, Shakespeare’s First Folio, is currently on show at the Yorkshire Museum. This is the Skipton First Folio, one of only four copies of the folio to be on permanent public display, and is on loan from Skipton’s Craven Museum and Gallery. The folio is open at the beginning of Shakespeare’s play Richard III and will remain on display at the Yorkshire Museum until 15 July. For more information, visit: www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk.

Photo © Craven District Council

More Shakespeare Joanna Laynesmith from our Research Committee met with the director and cast. We hope to have a review of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, who star in this adaptation of the play in September’s Bulletin. the BBC’s successful drama Sherlock, are to appear in a film version of Shakespeare’s Richard III. The film is to be and the made by Neal Street Productions, co‐founded by Sam Mendes, the film and stage director. The film is due to be An all‐day event on 4 October offers a series of shown by the BBC in 2015. Shakespeare’s Richard III was presentations on the house of York and its connection also due to be performed at the Cockpit Theatre in with Ludlow, including tours of medieval Ludlow, London during May. Interestingly the director and the Ludlow castle, St Laurence Parish Church, and the battle lead actor contacted us with a request for a meeting to of Ludford Bridge. In the evening the Ensemble Sine discuss Richard’s character, as they were proposing to Nomine and I.a.t.B. Ensemble will present a concert of portray Richard as history saw him and not as ‘Music in the Age of Richard III’ at the parish church. For Shakespeare pictured him. Our Public Relations further information contact Sebastian Field, e‐mail: manager, Richard Van Allen, and Lynda Pidgeon and sebastianrfi[email protected]. 20 RESEARCH news From the Research Officer www.historyextra.com/news/leicester‐skeleton‐richard‐ iii%E2%80%99s‐leading‐archaeologist‐insists Love it or hate it, technology, especially in the form of His book on the search at Leicester has just come out: the internet, is an ever‐growing presence in our lives. Digging for Richard III: how archaeology found the king, While a number of members do not have ready access to published by Thames & Hudson. A review will appear it, the internet is a boon for research. From family history in September’s Bulletin to general history, there will be a website that has The study week end held in York in April (see review, something to offer the researcher. p. 13) covered a subject that might not be seen as overly But, and it is a big but, not everything on the internet cheerful; however, death was an ever‐present reality for is to be trusted. If the site gives no identification either the medieval person. Those who had the means and of itself or of the sources quoted, then any information took the time and trouble to ensure they were suitably should be double‐checked, even ignored. A very simple remembered did so out of real concern for their soul rule of thumb lies in the web address: if it ends in .ac.uk rather than mere vanity. Their memorials were intended then it is a British university or college, .edu is usually to elicit prayers for their soul, from friends, family and universities outside Britain, and it should be obvious passers‐by. It is therefore timely that the Monumental once you are into the site which university it is. Record Brass Society has made the following offer to members: offices or libraries usually have .gov in the address. A special publication offer is available to members of the After this, it really is down to common sense. Richard III Society on a collection of essays examining the Because we are living in a period when everyone family and commemoration of Richard III’s loyal retainer, expects to find everything at the click of a button, or Sir William Catesby, and his family at Ashby St Legers. these days a wave of the finger, digitisation of records is growing. The British Library is gradually increasing its collection of digitised manuscripts; the following are two which members may find of interest. My thanks to Sheilah O’Connor (Canada) and John Saunders for sending these links: The Book of Margery Kempe. The first web address is the newspaper report about the release of the digitised manuscript, followed by the link to the British Library record: www.theguardian.com/books/2014/mar/20/margery‐ kempe‐first‐autobiographer‐digitised‐british‐library www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Add_MS _61823 A beautiful manuscript made for Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy, contains the medieval drama the Mystère de la Vengeance. Besides being performed while Philip was alive, it was also performed in Mechelen in 1494: The Catesby Family and their Brasses at Ashby St Legers, http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/ edited by Jerome Bertram, includes essays by Sally 2014/03/medieval‐drama‐acquired‐by‐the‐british‐ Badham, Robert Hutchinson, Simon Payling and Nigel Saul. These memorials were used to legitimise the library.html Catesbys’ status and to aid their passage to salvation by For those without internet access, Philip the Good’s enlisting the prayers of the living. The brass of Sir William, manuscript will be on display in the John Ritblat gallery executed in the aftermath of Bosworth, is one of a series at the British Library. of Catesby brasses discussed in this volume, which is Another useful source for what is happening in richly illustrated with colour photographs of many of the history is the BBC History Magazine. You can sign up for brasses. their regular updates at: Copies are available at £10.00 (including P&P for UK www.historyextra.com/magazine. orders) from: Dr Christian Steer, 8 Shefford Lodge, Link Many of you may have seen the interview with Michael Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 7LR. Cheques should be Hicks regarding the bones at Leicester and whether they payable to the Monumental Brass Society. were those of Richard III or not. The current issue of the online magazine has a response from Mike Pitts, If you are interested in brasses then their website is worth archaeologist and editor of British Archaeology: a look: www.mbs‐brasses.co.uk. 21 RESEARCH news

Medieval stained‐glass windows at All Saints, North Street, York. Left: the Corporeal Acts of Mercy window – visiting the sick. Right: donors from the Prick of Conscience window.

If you are ever in York an excellent church to visit, with more planned. Take a look at this link to see what and one which is nearly always open, is All Saints, the archaeologists hope to uncover: North Street: see http://allsaints‐northstreet.org.uk. The www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/11044174.Archaeologica church has a wonderful collection of medieval glass as l_team_digging_into_the_past_at_historic_church_site. well as some incredible angels in the roof. Some Lynda Pidgeon archaeological work has already been carried out there, Re ‘How to rebury a medieval king’

Following on from Alexandra Buckle’s clearly made for later and more general interesting article in the March 2014 use; it leaves out the name(s) of the dead. Bulletin we thought that it would be We are grateful to Michael Hicks for the useful to remind members that the reference to this ms. …’. subject of royal reburial is not new to the BL. Ms. Harl. 6466 is, of course, the Richard III Society. In 1996 the Society manuscript from which Alexandra published The Reburial of Richard Duke of Buckle has reconstructed the rite of York, 21–30 July 1476, by Anne F. Sutton reburial. In her Bulletin article she and Livia Visser‐Fuchs, with P. W. explained that the manuscript listed the Hammond. This book, now out of print, musical items used in the rite but that explains the full ceremonial that was no musical notation was provided and performed in order to accomplish the that as a result of further research she reburial of remains of the duke of York had found music that might have been and his second son, Edmund, earl of used. At the Study Weekend in April Rutland. There are detailed descriptions of the during the course of her talk, entitled ‘Remembering the procession transporting the remains from Pontefract to Dead: reburial amongst the elite in the 1400s’, she gave Fotheringhay; of the practicalities concerned; of the us a taste of that medieval music to which she has now religious services; and of those who attended. There then set the rite. Her source is the Bangor Pontifical. follows transcriptions and translations, where applicable, New members will also be interested to know that in of several surviving narratives of the ceremonies. 2005 the Society published The Royal Funerals of the The first of the many religious services en route to, and House of York at Windsor, by Anne F. Sutton and Livia at, Fotheringhay took place on the night of Sunday 21 Visser‐Fuchs with R. A. Griffiths. This describes in detail July. This was ‘Dirige’, the Vigil for the Dead (the name the funeral of Edward IV in April 1483; that of his son, being taken from the opening Antiphon, Dirige Domine Prince George, in March 1479; of his daughter Princess Deus meus in conspectu tuo viam meam, ‘Direct O Lord my Mary, in May 1482; and that of his queen, Elizabeth God my way in thy sight’). At this point the authors Woodville, in June 1492. comment, in endnote 43, that ‘An example of the liturgy This book provides fascinating details of highly used on the occasion of a reburial can be found in BL, Ms. ceremonial medieval royal funerals and is still available Harl. 6466, ff. 33‐34v (new pagination). This is supposed to purchase. to relate to the reburial of Richard Beauchamp, 1471–77, Heather Falvey organised by the duke of Clarence. This version was 22 RunningRESEARCH head RIGHTnews The new calendar of the inquisitions post mortem of Richard III

Richard III was a feudal king. He was the apex of the Digital Humanities, King’s College, London and is feudal system that had embraced all the principal funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. landholders (tenants‐in‐chief and sub‐tenants) of all the Dr Matthew Holford and Dr Matthew Tompkins are the lands in England and since the . full‐time researchers: Dr James Ross has recently joined The king had the right to the custody of the estates and the project. For more details see our website at: bodies of under‐age heirs and the right to marry them to www.MappingtheMedievalCountryside.org whomever he chose. To keep track of these profitable These IPMs will be accessible free of charge to rights, previous monarchs had developed the anyone with internet access anywhere. Henceforth inquisitions post mortem (IPMs), which recorded the IPMs will be – as they ought to be – the principal source deaths of all such tenants, their estates and the identity for local historians and genealogists before parish and ages of the heirs. Before parish registers and income registration commenced in 1538. taxes, IPMs are standard sources for the lives and wealth The Mapping project is what we propose for Richard of late medieval landholders, and, indeed for the III’s IPMs. Dr Gordon McKelvie is the researcher. It will economy (manors), topography (mills and fisheries), and take two years part‐time to calendar the IPMs and rural society of Richard’s world. Past researchers have perhaps another year to complete the volume, calendared (summarised) all the IPMs for 1236–1447 and publication being in 2017 or 2018. In time we hope to fill 1485–1509 in 29 huge calendars (CIPMs). A calendar is a the 1447–83 gap and to upgrade the volumes from 1485 shortened summary in English that preserves all the to the same standards. Also on our future agenda is essential information and cuts out the common forms. upgrading the IPMs for Henry VII, which includes such Those slain besides Richard at victims of Bosworth as Sir Richard Bosworth and many survivors are Ratcliffe and William Catesby. recorded in the early Tudor volumes. We do not yet have a full list of Richard III’s own reign falls into the those who feature in the IPMs of uncalendared gap. IPMs are technical Richard III. We have listed those in and often scarcely readable docu‐ chancery, but not any extras in the ments. Nobody has delved deeply exchequer records. The first big into the 240 that survive for Richard’s names are Henry Bourchier, earl of reign, which can tell us about those Essex and Lord Treasurer, who died who died in his reign, who were his on 4 April 1483 – only five days wards, and what he did with them. before Edward IV – and his wife Henry V and Henry VII, we know, Isabel Plantagenet, who died 2 squeezed all the profit they could October 1484, the only sister of from the system: was Richard more or Richard III’s father Richard, duke of less grasping, or perhaps more York (d. 1460) and aunt of the whole lackadaisical? We shall soon be able to Above: Henry Bourchier, earl of Essex, blood of Edward IV and Richard III. know. KG, d. 1483, and his wife Isabel Octogenarians, both died naturally Plantagenet. Brass, Little Easton, Essex. The Richard III Society has Below: Sir Thomas St Leger, d. 1483, and and were buried under a splendid decided to fund the creation of a his wife Anne, duchess of Exeter, Richard brass at Beeleigh Abbey near Maldon calendar of inquisitions post mortem III’s sister. Brass in St George’s Chapel, (see picture). In contrast William, for Richard III: an obvious gap in Windsor. Lord Hastings, Edward IV’s what is known, but also an act of chamberlain and best friend, was munificence to the historical world beheaded at Richard’s command, just everywhere. Calendaring IPMs in 13 days before Richard’s own huge volumes that cover only five accession. Yet there appear to be no years each and cost £195 to buy is no IPMs for Anthony, earl Rivers, longer practical. The CIPMs Edward V’s half‐brother Sir Richard calendared most fully to modern Grey, and Thomas Vaughan, all standards (1399–1447) are being executed a fortnight afterwards at published as a freely‐accessible Pontefract. Also missing online database that can be searched, mysteriously – but we will find out interrogated, and connected to a why – are those two traitors Henry, mapping system (GIS). This is a duke of Buckingham and King collaboration between the University Richard’s brother‐in‐law Thomas St of Winchester (Professor Michael Leger, both executed for treason at Hicks) and the Department for Salisbury that November, and others 23 RESEARCH news of Buckingham’s rebels. Richard seized their lands and them. The three sources dovetail and will help ensure bestowed them on his northerners who, notoriously, we interpret the IPMs correctly. colonised the south. Richard appears not to have What is an inquisition like? The photograph below is bothered with the proper procedures. We do possess the an example. Unfortunately the IPMs of Essex and IPM of another such traitor, Richard, Lord Dacre, once Hastings do not reproduce well. No doubt Gordon greatest about King Edward’s person. Some other McKelvie will have to spend a lot of time with the names are familiar too: Eleanor Poynings, the mother of ultraviolet light to decipher them! But twelve IPMs Henry Percy, fourth earl of (d. 1489), survive for Ralph, 2nd (C 141/5/14), Richard’s retainer and perhaps betrayer at Bosworth, head of the senior house of Neville (Richard, duke of and Ralph, earl of Westmorland (d. 1484), whose heir, Gloucester, having married into the junior branch). Richard’s retainer Ralph, Lord Nevill, became the 3rd Ralph was earl for 61 years, until 3 November 1484, earl. If law is your subject, then there are IPMs of when he was aged 77 and 78. The indented IPM for Richard’s legal counsel Richard Pigot, the judge Sir London held on 2 December at the Guildhall in the William Nottingham, and Sir Richard Chok, chief baron parish of St Lawrence in Old Jewry by Mayor Thomas of the exchequer, who is splendidly interred at Abbot’s Hill reveals that at his death (impossibly dated 3 Leigh near Bristol. Already dead was the London December) the earl held only one messuage, worth alderman Sir Thomas Cook, notoriously victimised by nothing above expenses, in the parish of St Olave, the Woodvilles in 1468, but included is the IPM of his Silverstreet, in Faringdon ward. Predictably called widow Elizabeth Malpas. William Montagu was surely Neville’s Inn, it was held by free burgage, the heir being Clarence’s secretary and Robert Tanfield the retainer of his 28‐year‐old nephew Ralph, Lord Neville, the future Edmund, . Others will be identified. Just third earl. No surprises there. The IPM for about every county features, and every major town. We Northumberland convened by Robert Clavering esquire will find information on what each held, by what title, at [Castle?] on the Tyne on 24 February 1485 how much they were worth, when they died – some on found that Earl Ralph held nothing of the king at his significant dates – and who were their heirs, how old death. This was because on 15 March 1479 he had they were, and what Richard did with his wards. British already settled Bywell and Bolbeck jointly on his heir Sir Library Harleian MS 433 and the Logge Wills, both Ralph and his wife Isabel Bothe, niece of Archbishop published by the Richard III Society, treat many of Lawrence Bothe, who had married at least six years

Exmple of an inquisition post mortem

24 RunningRESEARCH head RIGHTnews earlier, and Ralph’s heirs. Bywell was held of the king in about Richard III and his reign. We can learn more chief by quarter of a knight’s fee: £4 3s 4d was payable about Richard’s feudal policies and his dealings with his for castleguard at Newcastle Castle on the Sunday after enemies. We should learn about retainers, trustees, and the feast of the Circumcision (1 January) and 25s. due in executors of Ricardian notables and may learn about the feast of St Cuthbert (1 September), Bywell being other plotters. There will be lots of incidental worth £4 3s. 4d. after reprises. Bolbeck, rated at only a information as yet unsuspected. The calendar will be a tenth of a knight’s fee, was worth only £1 5s. above major addition to sources on Richard III. It is entirely costs. Ralph, Lord Neville, the heir, had been retained appropriate that the Richard III Society, which has by Richard as duke, was addressee of one of the lord published and republished so many sources, has taken protector’s two letters summoning troops on 10–11 June on this project that nobody else could finance. 1483, and was rewarded with some of Margaret Professor Michael Hicks Beaufort’s lands for his good services against Buckingham’s rebellion in 1483. His subsequent life was Help with research blighted by Henry VII’s distrust. He was succeeded in 1499 by a grandson (another Ralph) not yet a year old. Diana Barnes, a member of the Society, has contacted us to There will be four products of this enterprise. First of offer her assistance with research projects. all, the new calendar for 1483–5 will be published online on British History Online, which enables it to be I am a recently retired contracts lawyer and long‐ browsed and searched by name, place, or keyword. standing supporter of Richard III and I would be Second, it will be published online on the project delighted to assist on a voluntary basis with any research website, which allows more sophisticated analysis (e.g. relating to him and/or late medieval history. Although I by subject) and linkage to geographic information have no historical research training, I have some skills systems, collation and comparison with other published that may be of use, for example: experience in analysing earlier and later IPMs. Both will be freely accessible and and extracting relevant information from documents and free of charge to anyone in world. In due course we plan weighing evidence, familiarity with sifting and to complete the whole sequence from 1236 to 1509. organising voluminous documentation, working to a Third – and perhaps most important for Ricardians – we brief, painstaking attention to detail. I could also bring will publish all Richard’s IPMs as a separate volume, to an informed approach to researches of medieval law. which we will add a new introduction and a I am willing to travel at my own expense. I live in comprehensive index. Fourth, the records for Richard III Twickenham and am thus within easy reach of London will be included in the featured IPMs and blogs on the but would be happy to go further afield. If this of project website and our Twitter account. interest please do contact me either by e‐mail The project will open up other opportunities to learn ([email protected]) or by telephone 020 8892 4095.

More copies of Harleian 433

Good news: two complete sets of Harleian 433 have recently come to light! Following a recent consolidation of Society publications in preparation for the stock transfer to E‐Mediacy (see ‘New arrangements for Society sales’, p. 11), two complete four‐volume sets of Harleian 433 were discovered. Although these are new, some of the covers have slight damp damage, so we are offering these final two sets at the bargain sale price of £15. We know that a number of members were disappointed when, as far as we were then aware, the previous stock had all been sold. We are therefore asking anyone who is interested in buying a set to let the Secretaries have your name, address and telephone number (by e‐mail or letter – please refer to the inside back cover for our contact address) by not later than 31 July 2014, following which we will draw two names at random and the lucky applicants will be advised accordingly. These volumes are to be sold as complete sets only and will not be split. Please do not send any money with your initial notification of interest – you will be asked to pay if you are successful in the draw. Postage and packing will also apply and we will advise you of the cost if you are successful. Alternatively, if the lucky purchaser(s) plan to attend one of the following Society events – Bosworth, Portchester Castle visit, AGM, Norfolk Study Day or Fotheringhay – the Secretaries will bring the volumes with them for handover, thus saving the P&P cost.

Please note that this offer is available for members only, wherever they are located around the world.

The Secretaries (contact details on inside back cover)

25 Looking for RICHARD – the follow-up turn of events saw Henry VII seize the crown and The new visitor centre at Leicester ushered in a new chapter in the English monarchy: The scene is set for the opening of the King Richard lll the Tudor dynasty. visitor centre. More than 500 years after his death, the • Finally, ‘Discovery’ unearths the astonishing story story of King Richard lll’s life, death and incredible of the archaeology, science and analysis carried out rediscovery is about to be told through a breath‐taking by the University of Leicester’s Archaeological new visitor centre in Leicester. Service, which rediscovered and identified the long‐ Entitled ‘King Richard III: Dynasty, Death and lost remains of the king after excavating a grave Discovery,’ the visitor centre is located in the former beneath a car park, on the former site of the medieval Alderman Newton’s School at the heart of the city’s friary of the Grey Friars. Cathedral Quarter. Located next to the car park where King Richard’s mortal remains were unearthed in Completing the visitor experience will be a chance to August 2012, the Victorian Gothic building has been visit the site of King Richard’s original burial, preserved completely renovated, inside and out, to create two in a quiet, respectful setting and with a contemplative floors of exhibition space. Leicester City Council has atmosphere fitting for the last resting place of a slain funded the creation of the £4 million heritage attraction, warrior and anointed monarch. which will also feature a new covered gallery area to The exhibition is being curated by a team of experts give visitors access to King Richard’s original burial site. under the creative directorship of Imagemakers, a Leicester’s City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: ‘The creative design consultancy that uses great storytelling opening date is moving nearer, and very soon Leicester and beautiful design to bring heritage alive. will have a wonderful and fitting tribute to King Matthew Constantine, Collections, Learning and Richard lll, that will tell the story of his life, death and Interpretation Manager for Leicester City Council, is discovery to visitors from all over the world.’ part of the team, and says it’s the most complex project More than 100,000 people are expected to visit the he’s ever been involved with, inspiring passionate centre in its first year of operation. A temporary debate among all of those involved: exhibition created by the city council at Leicester’s Richard’s story is a fascinating one, and all of the main Guildhall has attracted a remarkable 180,000 visitors events in his life have been written about, but people since it opened in February 2013. The new visitor centre writing at the time offer many differing accounts and it’s will be run by an independent trust made up of experts been a major feat to sift through all of the material in business, finance, and heritage and visitor attractions, available to us. We have also tried to strike a balance including Chas Bishop, chief executive of the hugely between the accounts of mainstream historians and the successful National Space Centre, which is also located views of those organisations across the world who feel in Leicester. very passionately about his story and have researched it Keith Beaumont, Chair of the King Richard III Visitor over many years. We have then tried to distil that Centre Trust, said: ‘Since this historic discovery we have information right down so it’s understandable to anyone seen unprecedented interest in the history of our city who walks through the door of the visitor centre, and may know nothing about King Richard or that time in history. and the story of King Richard lll. We are looking Our aim is that we will provide an intellectually robust forward to welcoming people from all over the world to interpretation of his life, that will inspire people to find learn more about the dramatic story of King Richard’s out more about this incredible story. life, his brutal death at Bosworth battlefield and the compelling story of his rediscovery.’ The views of the team who carried out the dig, The centre, will tell the king’s story in three parts, including Richard Buckley, lead archaeologist from the through displays, interactive audiovisual elements and University of Leicester, and Philippa Langley of the colourful hands‐on exhibits: Richard lll Society, who inspired the search, have played an important part in shaping the exhibition. • ‘Dynasty’ tells the much debated story of the king’s Sarah Levitt, the city council’s Head of Arts and life and times in a medieval England racked by Museums, who is also part of the curatorial team, said decades of fighting in the Wars Of The Roses, they were grateful for the advice given by key members detailing Richard’s rise to power as the last king of the Richard lll Society throughout the development of from the great . the centre. She also revealed that a star feature of the • ‘Death’ gives visitors the chance to learn about the exhibition would be the reconstruction of the king’s key players in the Battle of Bosworth and how head: ‘The head was generously funded by the Richard betrayal led to the king being cut down in the thick lll Society and will be making a permanent return to of battle while defending his crown. This remarkable Leicester after a year‐long national tour’, she said. 26 Artist’s impressions of the new visitor centre. Above: The glass entrance hall. Below: The courtyard will be overlooked by a glazed balcony. Looking for RICHARD

The ground floor exhibition will tell of Richard’s rise to power The exhibition will also include some artefacts The new visitor experience will be the centrepiece of recovered from the burial site, and replicas of historic a series of regeneration projects in the surrounding area pieces connected with King Richard. of Leicester, including the newly pedestrianised St As well as the permanent display, the centre will also Martin’s, linking the centre to Cathedral Gardens – a host a space for temporary exhibitions. Sarah Levitt new public open space which will provide an oasis of said: ‘Almost everything connected with Richard is calm in the heart of the city. The gardens – located already part of a national exhibition. The temporary between Leicester Cathedral and the King Richard lll space will give the trust the opportunity to borrow Visitor Centre – will include artwork commemorating pieces for display in Leicester, which will ensure there the king. Cathedral Gardens will be opened by the are always new things to see here.’ The trust will Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Tim Stevens, on 5 July. announce its first temporary exhibition in the next few For more information, visit: weeks. www.facebook.com/KRIIICentre. The conversion of the former school has been a major Debra Reynolds feat in itself. Construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall has completely transformed the old building, giving a new lease of life to existing Ticket prices architectural features. It has also created a stunning new Tickets for the centre are due to go on sale in May, glass entrance hall and café area, as well as the covered when an opening date will also be announced. In the gallery over the king’s original burial site. The builders meantime people can register for priority notification have also had to contend with a steady procession of of ticket sales by going to: visitors keen to see the transformation under way, www.kingrichardiiivisitorcentre.com. including Matthew Barzun, the United States Prices will start at just £4.75 for a child’s ticket (3– Ambassador to Great Britain, who was given a tour of 15 years), with adult tickets costing £7.95. Family the site in March 2013. tickets will give entry to two adults and two children A notable feature of the building will be a life‐sized for the discounted price of just £21.50. A special rate stained‐glass window depicting King Richard III and of £7.00 per person will be available to groups of 15 his family, which is being created by a local artist. The or more. A concessionary rate of £7.00 will also be dramatic window, by artist Brad Cooke, will portray the available. king, along with his wife and their son Edward. 28 Looking for RICHARD The Looking for Richard project commemorated

On Saturday 12 April 2014 a commemorative plaque was unveiled by Philippa Langley at the Cramond Inn in Edinburgh. It was here in 2009 that the successful Looking for Richard project was initiated by Philippa and her team. The wall plaque will be accompanied by a portrait of Richard III by the artist Cynthia Waterman. Amongst the guests at the unveiling was Professor Caroline Wilkinson from the University of Dundee, who recreated the face of Richard III using 3D facial reconstruction techniques commissioned by the Richard III Society. There will be a full report on the unveiling together with photographs in the September’s Bulletin. In the meantime here is a photo of Philippa and Alan Pendlington of the Scottish Branch putting the plaque up in the Cramond Inn the day before. As Philippa commented, ‘What a job it was, too, so we were really pleased we did it earlier!’

The whereabouts of the GREY FRIARS, LEICESTER AUDREY STRANGE One of the earliest people to suggest that Richard III might be buried beneath the car park where he was found was a member of the Society, Audrey Strange, who died in 2010, sadly before her theory was to be proved correct. Audrey joined the ‘Fellowship’ in 1958 and after her move to Leicestershire in 1959 became active in the local branch. She was also closely involved in the setting up of the Bosworth Battlefield heritage site. Her daughter Valerie remembers being taken there as a child on days when her mother was a volunteer guide. In 1975 her article suggesting that the remains of the Grey Friars where Richard III was buried were under the car park near to Leicester Cathedral was published in The Ricardian, while in 1985 it was reprinted in the Society’s publication Richard III, Crown and People. According to Valerie, the documents relating to how Audrey came by her wonderfully accurate conclusions are no longer extant. Much of what is left relates to the life of King Richard and the fate of the . What we also have is a letter from the Leicester Museums Service in 1962 in reply to a request from Audrey to excavate the Greyfriars site. Val invites us to imagine Audrey’s reaction on being invited to wash pottery at a completely different archaeological dig instead! Our thanks go to Valerie Rudd and her brother for the information about their mother. Below we reprint the original article.

As the early disciples of St Francis went about the world, western boundary ran along gardens which backed inspired by his example and strengthened by his memory, houses along Southgate Street. It is crossed by New a new light seemed to penetrate the dark comers of the Street and Greyfriars Street. earth, as those who thought that they had been deserted The first Friars Minor landed in England in 1224 and by God and man found that they were still remembered the Order spread rapidly with the encouragement of 1 and loved. Henry Ill. The Province of England, headed by the John Moorman Minister Provincial, was divided into seven Custodies, each with its friaries and friars. Some of the brothers If you walk from west to east along Friar Lane in were priests, some were lay brothers, but they all wore Leicester, turn left into Hotel Street and left again into St the grey‐brown habit with a knotted cord round the Martin’s/Peacock Lane almost as far as the traffic lights waist. They were dedicated to live like Christ in extreme leading to Southgate Street, you will have walked round poverty and as the servants of all, moving freely about the area occupied by the old Franciscan friary. Its the country, unlike the monastic orders. Many 29 Looking for RICHARD

Jewry Wall St

Hot Gate Guildhall Lane Apple Gate Mark Gate Church Gate

4 5 Swines Market 6 1

Sheep Market 2 3 High Street 8 9 10 The St Francis Lane 7 Town Ditch Saturday Grey Friars Gallowtree Gate Castle Market Friar Lane 11 13

12

The Newarke Millstone Lane Horsefair Lane

KEY 1. Little Bow Bridge Memo: Street names have changed several times over the centuries: 2. Bow Bridge Guildhall Lane became Blue Boar Lane. 3. The Austin Friars St Francis Lane is now Peacock Lane. 4. Old Mayor’s Hall High Street is now Southgates. 5. Blue Boar Inn Swines Market is now High Street. 6. East Gate Kirk Gate is now Guildhall Lane. 7. West Bridge 8. West Gate 9. Guildhall 10. St Martin’s Church, now the Cathedral 11. St Mary de Castro 12. St Mary in the Newarke 13. South Gate prominent people gave gifts for the Friars Minor to single great bell. The church was always built alongside build their houses and churches, others bequeathed a public thoroughfare and the townspeople entered the gifts in their wills. The ownership of the houses and nave through a door usually in the north‐west corner. lands did not pass to the friars but always remained There were sometimes stone benches round the walls with the benefactors and their heirs. They lived on alms and there were two or three altars against the rood and as a return for these the friars ‘preached frequently screen, with statues over the altars or on brackets on the to the people, instructed the ignorant and children, and walls. Through a door in the screen was the wide were always ready at a call to watch with the sick, to passage below the belfry which separated the nave from hear confession, and to assist and comfort all persons in the choir. This was the friars’ private part of the church distress, even in the times of battles, or sieges, prisons or and the high altar, which in Leicester was dedicated to dungeons, or in the most pestilential or contagious St Francis, was below the east window – the only one distempers’. 2 allowed to contain stained glass. Here also they were The usual type of English Franciscan church was a allowed images of the Crucifix, St Mary, St John the rectangular building with a roof continued from east to Evangelist, St Francis and St Anthony. west without a break, and its characteristic feature of a There was an open passage between the church and belfry above a central passage. Most of these had a the cloister walk and these two were joined by a short 30 Looking for RICHARD covered corridor. The main living apartments were on Minister Provincial of Scotland, were buried at the the floor over the cloister walks and were built of Leicester friary. timber, half‐timber or rubble masonry. Individual The friars paid a rent of 24s a year to the King until buildings mentioned as part of some friaries include February 1536, when Henry VIll sold it to property church, vestry, frater, buttery, kitchen, brewhouse, speculators John Bellows of Grimsby and John dorter, infirmary, chapter‐house, guest‐house, Warden’s Broxholme of Owersby, . Before the or Guardian’s apartments, private lodgings, Dissolution the King sent out special commissioners to schoolhouse, library. These were built according to the take inventories of the possessions of each religious generosity of the citizens and within the rules of the house and at the time of surrender the lists were Order, which did not allow expensive, overdecorated checked carefully by the bailiffs. The suppression of buildings. friaries began in 1538 and the surrender document of After the Pope in 1250 gave permission for burials of the one in Leicester was drawn up on 10 November and lay people within friaries, they had small cemeteries signed by William Giles, Guardian; fro Simon Harvey, between church and road, and the gateway to these was lecturer; fro Henry ; fro ; Robert often the dwelling‐place of an anchorite. The friars’ own Ashton; Ralph Herrick; William Abbot. The lead on the burial‐ground was between the church and the chapter‐ buildings was reserved for the king, then public house or in the cloisters. The church was reserved for auctions were held – the first option being given to the the burials of royal personages and other important new owners of the site. The buildings were locked up benefactors. The largest Franciscan church, London, and gradually dismantled – the stones, timber and had in front of the high altar the tombs of Queen grave slabs sold for re‐use. St Martin’s church nearby Margaret, second wife of Edward I; Queen Isabel, wife has one of these, originating from some religious house, of Edward II, with the heart of her husband; Queen Joan which has since been used four times! The next owner of de la Tour, wife of King David the Bruce of Scotland; the Grey Friars site was Robert Catlyn. He sold it to Beatrice, duchess of Brittany anddaughter of Henry III, Alderman Robert Herrick, who built a large house on close to a wall niche burial of the heart of her mother, the eastern part of the site. It was he who, in 1612, when Eleanor of Provence. William Beauchamp, earl of showing the young Christopher Wren, later the father of Warwick, was buried at the Grey Friars, Worcester, in the famous architect, around his property, pointed out a 1298. The Hastings family had a private chapel and handsome stone pillar 3 ft high, which had the vault at Coventry Grey Friars. The body of Ann inscription ‘Here lies the body of Richard III sometime Mowbray, duchess of York, was recently found on the King of England’. Robert Herrick’s descendants sold site of the Minories, a female house of the Order of St Grey Friars in 1711 to Thomas Noble, who, in the 1740s, Francis, of which there were but three in England (the had New Street laid out and sold the land on both sides others were at Denny, Cambridgeshire and Bruisyard, of it to people who erected houses there. When the Suffolk). It was also considered a very special privilege foundations of the houses nearest St Martin’s were to be buried wearing the Franciscan habit. Henry VII being dug, a number of human bones and complete had a particular attachment to the Friars Minor. His skeletons were found.5 Subsequent owners of the house father was buried in the friary church at Carmarthen and the eastern part of the property were Richard Garle and when a stricter branch of the Franciscans called in 1752, Thomas Pares in 1776, who enlarged the house Observants came to England, Henry helped them set up into an imposing mansion, Beaumont Barnaby in 1824 several friaries and left £200 to the one at Newark and Leicester Corporation in 1866. The Town Council (Nottinghamshire) when he died. considered using the mansion as a new town hall but The friary church inLeicester was therefore a natural later changed their minds. The building was pulled choice of burial place for his late opponent in battle, down and Grey Friars Street laid out across its site. Richard III. However, in choosing a place where the There are various rumours about Richard III and body could be shown to the public, Henry, heir of the Leicester, e.g. that the night before Bosworth Field he Lancastrian cause, chose the collegiate church of St. stayed at the Blue Boar Inn and left his bed there Mary‐in‐the‐Newarke, a Lancastrian foundation.3 The containing a hidden hoard of money. However, it is last of the Yorkist kings was displayed among tombs of extremely unlikely that he stayed at the inn when Henry, earl of Lancaster, Henry, duke of Lancaster, Leicester Castle had been carefully maintained and Mary de Bohun, grandmother of Henry VI, and where repaired throughout the fifteenth century;6 he had also the obit of William, Lord Hastings was said on each stayed there only the previous year and Henry Tudor anniversary of his death. After a visit to the town in stayed there immediately after the battle. The Town 1495, Henry arranged for a tomb with King Richard’s Hall, which in those days was near if not next door to likeness to be erected on his grave in the Grey Friars – the Blue Boar Inn, received the wounded after the battle7 ’£10 1s to James Keyley for King Richard tombe’.4 Two and indeed for many years was believed to have been Ministers Provincial of England, Peter Swynfied and the place where Richard’s body was displayed to the William of Nottingham, and also Henry de Reresby, public.8 If this were so, one can see how the saying that 31 Looking for RICHARD

Both void of state, his body spent its last night above ground there became And yet the threshold of my door a rumour a century later that he spent his last night on Is worn by the poor earth at the Blue Boar, ignoring the subsequent night on Who hither come and freely get Bosworth Field. The fact that the blue boar was a badge Good words or meat, of de Vere, earl of Oxford, should have been enough to Tis Thou that crown’st my glittering hearth deter a stay there on such an occasion. The story of the With guileless mirth. so‐called Richard III Bed has been dealt with effectively All these and better Thou dost send and conclusively by C. J. Billson.9 The story of Richard’s Me to this end, bones being thrown over Bow Bridge into the river at That I should render for my part the Dissolution first appeared in print during the A thankful heart. lifetime of Robert Herrick, who put up the Robert Herrick11 aforementioned pillar. Herrick could easily have asked Notes and references anyone of the surviving friars to point out the place of Richard’s grave. The bones of John Wycliffe a few miles This article was first published in The Ricardian, Vol. III, away at actually were disinterred, burned No. 50, September 1975, pp. 1–7. and thrown into the river in 1425. Here also is a possible 1. Moorman, J., History of the Franciscan Order, Oxford, 1968, basis for the rumour referring to the king. By p. 303. coincidence, a skeleton was found under the end of Bow 2. Parkinson, A., Antiquities of the English Franciscans, 1726, Bridge, Leicester, in 1862, but was proved to be that of p. 220. someone younger than Richard III and furthermore in 3. Allen Brown, R., Colvin, H. M. and Taylor, A. J., The History of the King’s Works, Vol. I, The Middle Ages, too good condition to be that of anyone killed in battle.10 London, 1963, pp. 267–8. The poor and needy still go to the friary site for 4. Bentley, S., Excerpta Historica, London, 1833, p. 105. assistance, only nowadays they apply to the social 5. Throsby, I., History and Antiquities of the Ancient Town of services of the County Council. The offices together Leicester, 1791, p. 291. with those of solicitors, insurance companies, banks and 6. Colvin, H. M. in Allen Brown, Colvin and Taylor (1963), a school outline the area. Their private car parks cover Vol. I, p. 475, Vol. 2, p. 703. the centre and under one of these are the foundations of 7. Bateson M. (ed.), Records of the Borough of Leicester 1327– the thirteenth‐century church, the dust and bones of the 1509, London, 1901, Vol. 2, p. 316. once‐powerful king and saintly friars. 8. Throsby, I. (1791), p. 62. 9. Billson, C. J., Mediaeval Leicester, 1920, pp. 187–92. Lord, Thou hast given me a cell 10. Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Wherein to dwell, Historical Society, Vol. 2, 1870, pp. 109–10. A little house whose humble roof Is weatherproof. l l. Nephew of Alderman Robert Herrick of Grey Friars. Low is my porch as is my fate,

Recognition for Richard III: the king in the car park

The Darlow Smithson’s documentary Richard III: the king in the car park for Channel 4 won in the History category at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards for 2013, held on 18 March this year at London’s Grosvenor Park Hotel. It was noted that: ‘The winning programme created headlines around the world, and vividly portrayed the application of forensic science to a major historical mystery. It was presented with huge gusto, authority and sense of event.’ The other nominees were Philippa Langley (holding the award) with Simon Young from Secrets from the Workhouse and The Story of the Jews. Darlow Smithson, producer of the documentary. When Richard III: the king in the car park aired on 4 presenter Simon Farnaby signed out with: “My name is February 2013 it became the highest‐rated factual show Simon Farnaby and I’m a Ricardian”. In questioning the ever on Channel 4. Based on the original Looking For Tudor tradition on screen for the very first time we hope Richard project it followed Philippa Langley’s journey the programme made a great many viewers think about to uncover the lost grave of the last warrior king of the real Richard III. Our producer, Simon Young at England. Darlow Smithson, was thrilled to receive the award on We asked Philippa for her thoughts on the behalf of all those involved.’ programme’s success: ‘One of the most powerful Our congratulations go to everyone who worked on moments of the documentary for me was when the and appeared in the programme. 32 Looking for RICHARD A grave matter DR KAORI O’CONNOR This article first appeared in the April 2014 issue of The Oldie magazine; we are grateful to the magazine and the author for permission to reproduce it in this issue of the Ricardian Bulletin. The Society placed an advertisement in the same issue promoting its work and membership. On 22 August 1485, Henry Tudor, a Lancastrian CARPARK – NO BONES ABOUT IT! I HAD A HUNCH candidate with a dubious claim to the throne, defeated IT WAS HIM! Fighting back, the Society protested that the last Yorkist king, Richard III, at Bosworth, but the scoliosis had nothing to do with the king’s character and battle did not end there. Since the autumn of 2012, it has commissioned a facial reconstruction to show the face of been fought in the press, social media and the highest the real man. courts of the land. At its heart are the remains of an Meanwhile, the University of Leicester took the anointed king of England. remains and ran. The city authorities announced plans It began with the Richard III Society. Founded in the to build a Richard III museum, and to rebury the king in 1920s, its raison d’être has always been the promotion of a largely Victorian former parish church that was research into the life and times of the king in the belief granted cathedral status in 1927 and was too small for that ‘traditional accounts of his character and career are the raised tomb normal for royal burials. Doubts were neither supported by reasonable evidence nor raised about the unseemly haste and suitability of these reasonably tenable’. These accounts included arrangements. Surely Westminster Abbey or York Shakespeare’s twisted and treacherous Richard, and Minster, with whom Richard III had historic links, distorted chronicles written under Henry VIII’s regime would be more appropriate? Leicester’s response was to that led to him being reviled down the centuries, a forge ahead with their plans, going hard for a fait victim of Tudor propaganda. accompli. Wary of being considered cranks, the Society worked Leicester’s finders‐keepers position was that the to establish itself as an association for serious historical standard exhumation licence issued by the Ministry of research – installing commemorative Yorkist plaques Justice specified that human remains should be reburied and stained‐glass windows, defending Wars of the in the nearest appropriate place to the excavation. But Roses battlefields from developers, publishing a learned the Ministry of Justice has the power to vary the terms journal, and acquiring a royal patron, the Duke of of the licence. This was a matter of national interest. As Gloucester, a title once held by Richard III. It was all soon as it became apparent that the bones belonged to a going so well – until they found their holy grail. king of England, why had the Ministry not opened the Buried unceremoniously in Leicester, the closest matter to wider consultation? There was a groundswell town to the battle, Richard III’s remains had been lost of public opinion and questions were asked in for centuries. The Society had long dreamed of parliament. Leicester and the Ministry of Justice turned recovering them, and honouring the king with a fitting deaf ears. Then, at the eleventh hour, the Plantagenet reinterment. The historian John Ashdown‐Hill and the Alliance appeared in the field. screenwriter Philippa Langley provided the scholarship Led by descendants of Richard III’s family, the and enthusiasm that led to the archaeological search for Alliance successfully applied for a Judicial Review, the king. Fortuitously, Leicester was seeking to promote charging that that the Secretary of State for Justice, the its heritage, with little success. The search for Richard University of Leicester and others had failed to conduct provided a much‐needed publicity opportunity, due consultation with regard to the reburial of the king. especially when a television company expressed The Ministry sought to have the review set aside, interest in a documentary. Although the archaeology claiming that the interment was not a matter of general department of the University of Leicester agreed to public importance, and that any interest was adequately become involved after the Society paid for a preliminary served by the debate in the media. But Mr Justice report that confirmed that the likely location was under Haddon‐Cave dismissed this as ‘flawed and heretical’: the Leicester social services car park, they clearly the discovery touched on sovereign, state and church; expected the dig to be a failure: but on the first day of the due process of common law must be adhered to. The the dig the archaeologists landed on the bones that Ministry then tried to make the Alliance responsible for turned out to be those of Richard III, precisely where the government’s costs, should they lose: Haddon‐Cave Ashdown‐Hill and Langley said they would be. rejected this on the grounds that unless deserving It immediately became apparent that the king had applicants were protected, important cases in the public suffered from scoliosis, curvature of the spine. To the interest would be stifled for lack of financial means. Society’s dismay, the ghost of Shakespeare’s and In the event, the Judicial Review had to be Laurence Olivier’s Richard clambered out of the grave abandoned, and a new date for the hearing has been set. and burst into the headlines ‐ RICHARD III IN A Hanging over it are larger questions. Is the right to 33 Looking for RICHARD consultation being eroded? Whose king is it anyway? balanced view of the king prevail, but, because they had The king’s remains are still in the possession of the no legal claim on the remains and wanted to maintain a University of Leicester rather than in the temporary neutral position, they have been forced to watch events sanctified place that many feel appropriate. For the from the sidelines. Their work will go on, but they have Richard III Society, instrumental in the discovery, the had cause to reflect on the old adage – be careful what outcome has been mixed. After the initial hysteria, they you wish for, in case you get it. had the satisfaction of seeing their broader, more

Media review Leicester Mercury 1/3/14). This scheme is intended to encourage universities to prove their worth to society. Richard III: the king still in contention Meanwhile Richard Buckley OBE of the University of compared with the king who burnt the cakes Leicester Archaeology Service has been voted ‘You wait centuries for the discovery of a royal body . . . Archaeologist of the Year by the readers of Current and then two come along at once . . . A year after the Archaeology for his role in the Leicester Greyfriars remains of Richard III turned up in a car park in project (Current Archaeology May). Leicester, archaeologists have found a piece of pelvis that The battle over Richard III’s place of reburial could belong to Alfred the Great’ (Daily Mail 18/1/12). resumed in the law courts on 13 March, amid more The radiocarbon dating of an ex‐situ fragment of adult discord (Independent 13/3/14 and Times 14/3/14), and a male pelvis from the site of Hyde Abbey church to AD spirited plea that ‘his bones belong in Leicester’ 895–1017, which may have belonged to Alfred the Great (Guardian 14/3/14). While Leicester City Council have (reigned AD 871–899) or another member of the Wessex declined to take any further part in the ongoing law case royal family and a TV documentary on the subject as a co‐defendant (see previous Bulletin), they clearly sparked off a media frenzy in January despite of the expect to be on the winning side in this dispute as they obvious limitations of the present evidence (see below). have advertised for a Director for their new £4 million In the unlikely event that it is actually proven (not King Richard III visitor centre (Private Eye 24/1/14 and surmised) that this individual was really King Alfred, Leicester City Council website 24/2/14). The ripples then where will he be reburied? Doubtless Winchester from this dispute continue to spread: the Dean of York Cathedral would like add him to their collection of Minster has admitted that she received threats for Anglo‐Saxon kings, but presumably St Bartholomew’s supporting Leicester Cathedral’s claim concerning the parish church would also like to have a royal tomb as a reburial of Richard III (Daily Mail 16/3/14). Just to add tourist attraction (TLS 24/1/14). confusion to the ongoing controversy over Richard III’s Before Richard III’s remains are reburied it is planned place of reburial it has been now unconvincingly to undertake further genetic tests on them to try and claimed that the contentious skeleton might not be the sequence his entire genome (the entirety of a person’s remains of the king, but one his close relatives instead, hereditary information, encoded in their DNA), this hence the matching DNA (BBC History April; Guardian should reveal ‘his true hair and eye colour and the 27/3/14, 31/3/14; Independent 28/3/14 and Times 29/3/14). shade of his skin’. Dr Turi King, a genetics expert at the The weakness in this argument is who could this University of Leicester says: “sequencing the genome of unidentified relative of Richard III’s be? He was a Richard III is a hugely important project that will not mature man of slender build who had scoliosis and died only help to teach us about him, but also ferment of battlefield injuries during the late fifteenth century, discussion about how our DNA informs our sense of then was hastily buried in the choir of the Grey Friars identity, our past and our future . . . There are no church in Leicester where it is documented that Richard contemporary portraits of Richard . . . So it’s going to be III was also buried. Without an alternative name and interesting to see what the genetic information some documentary evidence to back up this claim it is provides”.’ (Times 12/2/14). ‘Other ancient bodies have just speculation. had their genomes sequenced . . . But Richard III will be The spate of books inspired by the discovery of first named, identifiable historical figure to undergo the Richard III’s remains shows no sign of abating, with the process’ (www.theconversation 11/2/14, Guardian 12/2/14, publication of Shakespeare and the Remains of Richard III by see also Daily Express, Daily Telegraph and Current Philip Schwyzer (2013) (www.Blackwells.co.uk 1/11/13) Archaeology April). However, John Ashdown‐Hill and Digging For Richard III: how archaeology found the king believes that ‘it is ethically wrong to continue testing the by Mike Pitts (due to be published in May 2014). The remains’ of Richard III (Leicester Mercury 24/2/14); this chapters of Mike Pitts’s book are arranged in a series of matter was raised by John and other interested parties five Acts and subdivided into Scenes as though it is a in a letter to The Independent (5/3/14). The Universities of Shakespearian play and convey a sense of drama. While Dundee and Leicester have both received Queen’s on a more dynastic theme there is: The Demon’s Brood: a Anniversary Prizes for their scientific input as part of Plantagenet history from Anjou to Bosworth by Desmond the study of Richard III’s remains (Times 27/2/14 & Seward (Times 15/3/14). The King’s Dogge: the story of 34 Looking for RICHARD

Francis Lovell by Nigel Green was published in January. It right of kingship set a very dangerous precedent. The is the first part of a two‐volume series of novels about English crown subsequently changed hands four times Francis Lovell’s rise to power as Richard III’s closest ally; in similar circumstances during the fifteenth century (in ‘it weaves a story around true events and throws the 1461, 1471, 1483 and finally in 1485 at Bosworth). Prof. actions of the king into a new perspective . . . ‘ Bartlett argued that Bosworth was an opportunity for (www.Amazon.co.uk 3/4/14). Richard III not just to crush his opponents, but to The Plantagenets have been the subject of a three‐part publicly demonstrate his right to the throne, hence he BBC2 documentary eloquently presented by Prof. went into battle wearing the royal crown. Robert Bartlett (Times 17/3/14; Radio Times 29/3/14; Metro Talking of new discoveries, it is believed ‘that a four‐ 31/3/31), who reminded us that: ‘four Plantagenet kings poster bed left in pieces in a car park . . . is . . . the came to violent ends at the hands of their relatives, marriage bed of Henry VII and . . . ‘ culminating in the death of Richard III at the Battle of (BBC 9/3/14; Sunday Times 9/3/14; Daily Mail 10/3/14; Bosworth and the destruction of the Plantagenet Chester Chronicle 13/3/14). In 2013 the restored bed went dynasty’ (Times 29/3/14). As Prof. Bartlett explained on public display at in County during the final episode, after Richard II was deposed Durham. and killed, these events which had violated the divine Selective reports from UK journals, newspapers and magazines concerning Richard III’s life and place of reburial For earlier material see previous Bulletins. Only have no wish to become a defendant and they forthcoming documentary The Search for Alfred significant letters are included. Illustrations are subsequently declared that they no longer the Great was compared to the search for photographs unless detailed otherwise. consider themselves ‘the custodian of the Richard III and it was observed: ‘Richard III, remains of Richard III’ and have confirmed with only a two‐year rule, doesn’t come close November 2013 that they now believe that the University of to matching the achievements of Alfred’, but 01/11/13 http://bookshops.blackwell.co.uk offers a Leicester Archaeological Services are ‘the ‘without a reputation to salvage, however, brief review of Shakespeare and the Remains of rightful custodians of the royal remains’, See Alfred will still struggle to complete for Richard III by Philip Schwyzer (2013). ‘This previous Bulletin. Illustration: facial column inches with the far less impressive book explores how memories and traces of the reconstruction of Richard III. Richard III’. Illustration: statue of Alfred in reign of Richard III survived a century and Winchester. more to influence the world and work of January 2014 Independent 21/1/14 ‘Television and Radio: . . . Drawing on recent Daily Mail 18/1/14 ‘Have We Found (a bit) of critic’s choice’. The documentary was work in the fields including archaeology, Alfred the Great?’. See introduction. described as ‘an exercise similar to the recent memory studies, and material biography, this Illustrations: fictional engraving of Alfred and hunt for Richard III’s grave’. book offers a fresh approach to the cultural a gratuitous unrelated skull. Daily Telegraph 21/1/14 ‘What to watch: The history of the Tudor era, as well as a Daily Telegraph 18/1/14 ‘“Alfred the Great” Search for Alfred the Great’. ‘Television fundamentally new interpretation of the amid dusty box of bones in a basement’. exhumations are all rage these days . . . last wellsprings and preoccupations of the traces ‘Carbon dating and other analysis . . . ‘ of a February . . . Channel Four’s The King in the Car of Richard III’. fragment of pelvis ‘suggests they are from the Park . . . drew more viewers than Stephen cake burner of legend’. Illustrations: engraving Poliakoff’s jazz era epic Dancing on the Edge . . December of Alfred; skeletal material in the St . ‘. Illustration: 19th‐century engraving of 2/12/13 The Law Society Gazette. ‘Opinion: Bartholomew’s church burial vault, where his Alfred. Buried treasure’. An article discussing the remains were formerly believed to have been Times Higher Education 23/1/14 ‘After the ongoing law case about Richard III’s place of reburied in the 1860s, but analysis has now University of Leicester’s Richard III jamboree reinternment. The case hinges of whether or confirmed that this skeletal material is all of last year, the University of Winchester has not the Ministry of Justice should have later date; the fragment of pelvis and Hyde apparently gone one better by finding Alfred consulted with the descendants of Richard III’s Abbey gatehouse. the Great . . . “It overshadows the discovery of relatives or have relied on the ‘finders keepers’ Guardian 18/1/14 ‘Museum Bone could be Richard III’s remains” says television historian principle as ‘Ministers have never before Alfred the Great’s’. The examination of this Neil Oliver’. Illustration: cartoon depicting two consulted in exhumation cases’, but then how skeletal material ‘was brought forward by in dogs with a bone; ‘it could be Alfred the Great many medieval kings have previously been the media maelstrom following the discovery – it tastes of burnt cake!’. the subject of an exhumation licence? ‘Leicester of Richard III’s bones in Leicester’. Illustration: Times 22/1/14 ‘Last Night’s TV’, the City Council said it had allowed its car park to fictional portrait of Alfred. programme The Search for Alfred the Great was be dug up on the understanding that the king’s Radio Times 18/1/14 ‘Here Lies King Alfred: is disparagingly described as ‘no King in the Car remains if found would be reinterred in a 1,000‐year‐old burial mystery about to be Park’. Leicester. Without that, it never would have solved?’. ‘Ever since Channel 4 discovered Broadcast 24/1/14 Broadcast Awards 2014, given permission . . . On 19 November, the Richard III’s battle‐scarred remains beneath a included as ‘highly commended’ was Richard council filed a written argument describing Leicester car park last year, the search for lost III: the king in the car park, ‘it was C4’s second itself somewhat mysteriously, as “the legal English kings has hotted up as broadcasters most‐watched show of 2013 with an audience sentinel” of Richard’s remains’. Therefore the compete for the next big historical find’. It was of 4.9 million’. Illustrations: Lin Foxhall Plantagenet Alliance asked that the city council pointed out that it ‘would be difficult to prove examining a royal vertebra and the NPG be made a defendant, along with Leicester a genetic link . . . ‘ as in the case of Richard III, portrait of Richard III. University and the Justice Secretary, but the even if living descendants could identified, Times Literary Supplement 24/1/14 ‘Winchester, council promptly declined the offer. However, because of the huge length of time involved. Hants’. ‘Re‐examination of a pelvic bone . . . the judges decided that before proceeding the Illustrations: statue of Alfred and the burial has revealed it might be either Alfred or his matter of the council’s role needed to be vault in St Bartholomew’s. son Edward the Elder. Disputes over where to determined and they adjourned the case until Sunday Telegraph 19/1/14 Seven: Television. put the relic cannot be far behind’. Illustration: this consultation was completed. Authors’ ‘The Week Ahead: have the remains of Alfred research team member in front of Alfred’s comments: we now know that the city council the Great been unearthed in Winchester?’. The statue.

35 Looking for RICHARD

Private Eye 24/1/14 ‘Skeleton Argument’. archaeological practice in this country has been Reveal the Colour of His Hair’. See Observing that Leicester’s mayor Sir Peter towards greater consultation with the so‐called Introduction. Soulsby was banking ‘on a multi‐million “interested communities” . . . ‘. Illustrations: Times 22/2/14 ‘Archaeology’. ‘Richard III’s pound bonanza for the city following the skeleton of Richard III, facial reconstruction bones were the top archaeological story of accidental discovery of King Richard III’s and a view of the excavation. 2103, the American magazine Archaeology bones in 2012. So he rushed construction of a [see above] proclaimed this month . . . Richard £4m visitor centre, spent another £4m on a February III may turn out to be one of the top stories in public square and put £66,000 into a bid for Antiques Trade Gazette (1/2/14) ‘When Richard 2014 as well: his ceremonial reinterment has “City of Culture” status. Alas, Richard’s re‐ of York gave battle in vain’. Article on several been delayed . . . because of the current judicial interment is mired in long running judicial items in a recent Christie’s sale of historic review.’ review, with no guarantee Leicester will win weaponry’ including an English bowman’s http//secure.leicester.gov.uk . . . jobs & careers . . .’. sword with a 71 cm‐long blade recovered from 24/2/14 . This online advert for the fulltime post Times 28/1/14 ‘Wrong kind of people are in the site of the Battle of Wakefield, it was of Director the new King Richard III visitor UKIP, Farage says: leader hits out at party’s discovered during the digging of drainage centre offered a salary of c. £45–55,000, but “Walter Mitty” figures’. ‘UKIP courted further ditch and sold for £37,500 (illustrated). applications closed on 10/3/14. controversy when it emerged yesterday that Church Times 7/2/13 ‘Coffin Surprises Leicester Mercury 24/2/14 ‘Researchers are now Godfrey Bloom, one of its most prominent, Memorial Restorers’. Conservation work on “Destroying” Parts of Richard’. Historian John members, taunted a disabled student by the tomb of Blanche Mortimer, who became Ashdown‐Hill is opposed to genome testing of asking whether he was Richard III, the Lady Grandison (died 1347) in Much Marcle Richard III’s remains, see introduction. medieval king who suffered a spine deformity, Church in Herefordshire has revealed an intact Illustrations: John Ashdown‐Hill, Turi King during an Oxford Union debate last lead coffin inside the structure. There are no and the burial of Richard III. Editorial: Thursday’. plans to open the coffin (see also Current ‘Research is justified on King Remains’, Archaeology April and Church Monuments arguing that this is a ‘golden opportunity January (monthly publications) Society March). which cannot be wasted’. Archaeology (Vol 67, No 1 pp24–5, a publication Sun 8/2/14 ‘Saturday Travel: England; heroes Times 27/2/14 Queen’s Anniversary Prizes of the Archaeological Institute of America). and villains’. ‘We’ve produced a fair few (supplement). Introduction: ‘A Celebration of ‘Top 10 Discoveries of 2013’, introduction: ‘the heroes and villains . . . Richard III got a pasting Excellence from Cabbages to Kings’. ‘Some of most celebrated archaeology story in recent from Shakespeare, cast as a hunchback the awards reflect the expertise developed over memory is 2013 confirmation that the bones schemer who murdered his nephews. Others many years that has led to truly incredible thought to belong to Richard III, found see him as a great moderniser and brave achievements, such as the discovery of the beneath a parking lot in Leicester, were, in fact, warrior. Death on Bosworth Field led to a remains of Richard III under a car park in those of the infamous English monarch. botched burial, only for his bones to be found Leicester’. Article: ‘Champions of the King Naturally, it leads our Top 10 Discoveries of in 2012 under a Leicester car park. Learn the Under the Car Park: Leicester and Dundee: 2013’. Article: ‘Richard III’s Last Act’. ‘Cast by full story at the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage two universities put the spine‐tingling story of both historians and Shakespeare as twisted in Centre . . . ‘. Illustration: Society of Antiquaries Richard III on the front pages’. ‘The incredible both mind and body, Richard III hasn’t portrait of Richard III. discovery and identification of the body of received this much attention in more than 500 Sunday Times Magazine 9/2/14 ‘God of Small Richard III . . . captured the imagination of years’. Illustrations: Richard III’s skeleton. Text Things: Not Life. The rhyme’. Considered people across the world. It is also proof of the box: ‘Parking Lot Pay Dirt’ mentions the 2013 theories concerning the origins the Humpty skills of staff and students at the two discovery of a lead coffin inside a stone Dumpty. ‘As with many old English rhymes, universities and their commitment to research sarcophagus at Leicester Greyfriars. there are conflicting theories. One suggests . . . “The final result was the sum of all the Illustration: the lead coffin in‐situ. that Humpty is the humpty‐backed Richard III parts” says Professor David Mattingly, acting Prospect ‘Where should Richard lie? The battle and the rhyme is Tudor propaganda following head of the school of archaeology. “It was a over the burial of King Richard III has become the Plantagenet king’s defeat at Bosworth’. classic example of people with different skills savage’ by Sam Knight. This lengthy article Another more widely accepted theory is that working together . . . One of the things we featured an interview with the Society’s Humpty was a cannon used by royalist forces teach our students is to work in multi‐ Chairman Phil Stone. ‘For many of those during the siege of Colchester in 1648, says disciplinary teams” . . . The discovery of the intimately involved, the rediscovery of Albert Jack author of Pop Goes the Weasel: the body was made all the more real by the Richard III has been one of the greatest events Secret History of Nursery Rhymes. This story reconstruction of the king’s face by Professor of their lives, but it has also proved is a hardy perennial as it was also discussed in Caroline Wilkinson at the University of exceptionally turbulent . . . Where should the the Dec 2002 Bulletin, after similar claims had Dundee.’ Illustrations: 2012 excavation, Jo King be reburied . . . The dispute has gone on been made in the Daily Mail. See also March Appleby examining Richard III’s remains, plus to divide cities, archaeologist and Ricardians 2014 Bulletin. the facial reconstruction compared the NPG . . . As leader of the world’s largest group of http://theconversation.com/scientists‐to‐seqence‐ portrait. Ricardians, Stone had the impossible job of richard‐iii’s‐genome . . . 11/2/14. An online news February (monthly publications) keeping the peace. He has strenuously item including an interview with Dr Turi King. maintained the neutrality of his society . . . Illustrations: including Dr Turi King and the BBC History Magazine Anniversaries: 18th “There is no denying it’s the greatest thing in skeleton of Richard III. February 1478 ‘Clarence meets his end, but is Ricardian history for 500 years”, said Stone . . . Daily Express 12/2/14 ‘Richard III to make it in a butt of Malmsey wine?’. A The more time I spent in York, the more I [Sam history in DNA probe’. reconsideration of Shakespeare’s account of Knight] got the impression that opposition to Daily Telegraph 12/2/14 ‘Historic first lets the execution the ‘false, fleeting, perjur’d’ Duke Richard’s reburial in Leicester was more than experts look into the eyes of Richard III: last of Clarence (Richard III, act I scene iv) for chantry chapels and even geography. For Plantagenet king’s colouring among secrets to treason. ‘But mere beheading was not good many Ricardians rescuing the King from the be disclosed by reading his genes’. Illustration: enough for Shakespeare, who had Clarence place where he was killed and humiliated (his NPG portrait of Richard III. Article: ‘Are drowned in butt of sweet Malmsey wine’. corpse was stabbed through the buttock, Richard’s secrets about to be revealed?: Illustration: dramatic Victorian engraving of buried shroudless, and with its hands tied) is genome analysis of the king’s DNA could Clarence being plunged into a huge wine also about rescuing him from history. It goes provide historians with a remarkable insight’, barrel. to the heart of the Ricardian project . . . The see introduction. fight over the bones of Richard III is just Guardian 12/2/14 ‘Richard III’s DNA Wins Role March another incident in a larger, longer battle to in Genome Sequencing’, a description of the Leicester Mercury 1/3/14 ‘Prize: Queen quizzes make the past into what we want it to have £100,000 project. Illustration: Richard III’s Vice‐Chancellor “So Richard III was really been . . . it is no longer possible to write history skull. found in a car park?”. Her Majesty asked Prof. by fiat. Over the last decade, the drift in Times 12/2/14 ‘Richard III’s Bones Could Sir Bob Burgess, Vice‐Chancellor of the

36 Looking for RICHARD

University of Leicester, if the king’s remains Henry VII and Henry VIII. devil we will go” . . . This is essentially a lecture really had been found in the car park, when Independent 13/3/14 ‘The Wars of The Roses delivered from castles, cathedrals and great she presented him with ‘the Queen’s Were 500 Years Ago, Right?’. A short reminder halls’. Anniversary Prize for Higher Education’, see about the resumption of Plantagenet Alliance’s Lady 21/3/14 ‘Upstairs Downstairs’, in the introduction. Illustration: Her Majesty. law case. upstairs item: ‘still no long‐term resting place Catholic Times 2/3/14 ‘When No‐one Can Tell Times 14/3/14 ‘Battle Resumes over Richard for the last Plantagenet King Richard III’. Fact from Fiction’. According to legend Sir III’s Final Burial Place’. Yesterday the court Guardian 27/3/14 ‘ “Richard III remains” found Thomas Holte (1571–1654) had a violent case resumed with Gerard Clarke barrister for in Leicester car park have doubt cast upon temper, he beheaded his cook when dinner the Plantagenet Alliance having to contend them’. Two leading academics have claimed was not ready, he also disowned his eldest son with ‘shifting alliances in the Richard III that the skeleton identified as Richard III could and locked up and apparently starved to death Society’ apparently consisting of Philippa be one of his relatives who was killed during one of his daughters as she refused to marry Langley interrupting him ‘from the public the Wars of the Roses (see introduction and his choice of bridegroom. However, re‐ benches’ and informing him that: ‘“ I know I’m BBC History April). Illustrations: trench where examination of Sir Thomas’s life reveals he was not meant to speak, but I have to . . . So much the king’s remains were found with two a covert Roman Catholic and offers other of the information you have heard is totally soldier re‐enactors. possible explanations for these stories of his flawed” . . . Ms Justice Hallett, presiding, Independent 28/3/14 ‘ Richard III: the plot villainous conduct. The writer goes onto allowed a written submission from Ms thickens as car park bones are disputed’ (see compare Sir Thomas’s reputation with that of Langley.’ Illustration: Gerard Clarke. above). Illustrations: the burial of Richard III Richard III as ‘the victim of gossip cooked up Guardian 14/3/14 ‘Row Over Burial for Richard and a his new facial reconstruction. by his enemies, the Tudors’. Illustration: III Revived in Court’. See above. Editorial: Radio Times 29/03 to 4/4/14 ‘The Plantagenets’. portrait of Sir Thomas Holte. ‘Richard III: This King Should Stay in ‘Professor Robert Bartlett is the quite assassin Independent 5/2/14 Letter by John Ashdown‐ Leicester’. A well‐reasoned plea for Richard’s of TV history. Without appearing to do Hill, Annette Carson, Dr David and Wendy remains to stay in Leicester in line with Henry anything terribly clever he can dispatch great Johnson and Philippa Langley (Looking for VII’s decision in 1485. sweeps of the past with lethal precision.’ Richard Project). It points out that the Times 15/3/14 Cartoon: two dogs sitting by a Telegraph 29/3/14 Review: Television ‘How destructive tests to sequence the king’s bone. One says to the other: ‘genuine Richard history trumps Game of Thrones: the bloody genome ‘raises serious questions of propriety III? You’ve been done, mate’. Saturday Review: deaths in the pic TV fantasy have nothing on and ethics’. Also Philippa’s contract with ‘Putting the “die” into medieval: a dose of red‐ medieval England says Dan Jones’. ‘When University of Leicester Archaeological Services blooded history impresses Philippa Gregory’. Game of Thrones creator George RR Martin stated that ‘any remains positively identified A review of The Demon’s Brood: a Plantagenet took the late 15th century as his inspiration, he as Richard III would transferred to her as History from Anjou to Bosworth by Desmond know what he was doing. This was an age in custodian’ prior to reburial. ‘University’s Tests Seward. ‘This is a very short book to cover the which three kings (Henry VI, Edward V and on King Richard III “destructive”‘, a short 13 kings of the Plantagenet family’. Seward ‘is Richard III) were killed, a dozen princes and article about the letter. no revisionist on Richard III, accusing him of pretenders butchered and tens of thousands of Times 8/3/14 ‘It’s Wars of the Roses (part 2) as the death of princes and thus destruction of his ordinary folk slain . . . ‘. Illustrations: two Rivals Pick Over Old Bones’. A résume of the house: “He committed not just political but scenes from Game of Thrones. law case, reminding us that Leicester City dynastic suicide . . . Not even the Borgias killed Times 29/3/14 Television & Radio: viewing Council has contrary to its previous position children”.’ Illustrations: book cover and MS guide, ‘The Plantagenets’, the final part of the has now decided it is not the rightful guardian illustration of the . three part documentary (see introduction). of Richard III’s remains and also sees ‘no point’ Daily Mail 15/3/14 ‘A Very Irreverent Rumpus!: Article: ‘Skeleton of Richard III Rattled Again’. in holding a consultation over Richard’s place or how what was meant to be a charming TV It has been claimed in the BBC History of reburial as the council now realise that they show about York Minster revealed a bitter Magazine (see below April) that the skeleton have no ‘statutory power to determine where historic battle – and some very nasty threats to discovered in Leicester in 2012 ‘might not be the bones should be reburied’. Illustration: the Dean!’. The Very Revd Vivienne Faull, the remains of the last Plantagenet monarch copy of Society of Antiquaries portrait of Dean of York Minster says: ‘the trouble started after all . . . ‘. Richard III. when York Minster issued a statement Spectator 29/3/14 ‘Television Our Island story’. BBC website 9/3/14 for BBC4 ‘Secret supporting Leicester’s claim’, she claims the An review of the new fourth series of Game of Knowledge: The King’s Lost Bed’. ‘Historian ongoing legal dispute ‘as evidence the effects Thrones, pointing out that some of the and broadcaster Jonathon Foyle believes he of the War of the Roses are still being felt storylines are ‘lifted from history’ as ‘the bulk has uncovered a remarkable piece of furniture: today.’ This programme will be broadcast later of the story comes from the 15th‐century the marriage bed of Henry VII and Elizabeth this year. Illustrations: aerial view of York Cousins War, which inspired William of York. Minster; the Very Revd Vivienne Faull and the Shakespeare and Walter Scott (who christened Sunday Times 9/3/14 ‘Bed That Launched the ‘Denver’ portrait of Richard III now owned by it the War of the Roses) and which has a special Tudor Dynasty: a four‐poster found in car park Sir Tim Rice. fascination still . . . Edward IV would gorge could be where Henry VIII was conceived and Sunday Telegraph 16/3/14 Television: the week and drink himself into an early grave, leaving worth £20m’. The bed is made of oak felled in ahead. ‘The Plantagenets: How do we explain his sinister surviving brother to challenge his central Europe ‘and has the hallmarks of the success of England longest ruling young sons . . . ‘. The author of this article Ed German craftsmanship from the ’. On the dynasty?’. ‘Of the 58 adult male descendants West has just published The Realm: the true carved head board are the figures of Adam of Geoffrey of Anjou [died 1151], 23 died history behind The Game of Thrones. Illustration: and Eve. Illustrations: an amorous young through violence. The last Plantagenet king, Emilia Clark in Game of Thrones. Henry VIII as seen in the recent TV series The Richard III fell battle in 1485, vanquished by Guardian 31/3/14 ‘An Imagined Monarch: the Tudors plus two inserts which are portraits of Henry Tudor, progenitor of the dynasty that continuing debate over the remains of Richard his parents; and the restored bed with an insert acquired the crown but also, in due course, III has nothing to do with historical truth’. A detail showing Adam and Eve carvings. semi‐monopoly of screen airtime. Perhaps it is discussion of the recent claims that skeleton Daily Mail 10/3/14 ‘£20m royal bed . . . found in the moment for a counter‐attack’. Illustration: identified as Richard III is actually one of his car park’. Is this four‐poster bed genuine? It Prof. Robert Bartlett presenter with a enamel close relatives (see below April BBC History was sold as Victorian as few years ago after it plaque of Count Geoffrey. Magazine). ‘Data from the case will contribute was rescued from a Chester hotel car park Times 17/3/14 Television & Radio: viewing to various specialised fields of research. But where it had been dumped by builders (see guide, ‘The Plantagenets’. ‘Professor Robert beyond university departments, the battle to above). Illustration: the restored bed. Bartlett tells the thrilling story of the 15 prove whether these bones are actually Chester Chronicle 13/3/14 ‘£20m King’s Bed Plantagenet kings of England who were Richard’s is a bit like quibbling about the Found in a Car Park’ (see above). Illustrations: reputed to have been direct descendants of authenticity of Wolf Hall – sort of beside the including the hotel where the discarded bed demon Countess of Anjou. “From the devil we point. It might be better to think of the skeleton was found: the restored bed and portraits of came” said Richard the Lionheart “and to the from Leicester as the modern equivalent of a

37 Looking for RICHARD medieval saint’s relic’ (see introduction). buried in a known grave in Magdeburg, but Richard is quite puzzling. Given the totality of Metro 31/3/14 ‘The Plantagenets: A horse! A attempts to extract DNA from her skeleton this evidence, it can surely be said with horse! My kingdom for a horse! The fate of the have previously failed, suggesting that this considerable confidence. Hicks says that there brace of King Dicks plays out in the final scene avenue is closed. Edward Fennell, founder of may have been ‘lots of people with similar of Professor Robert Bartlett’s learned ramble Hyde 900, is keen to point out the differences wounds’: perhaps he could name one who fits through the annals of the Plantagenets’ history. to the Richard III project. “This is not a Richard the bill?”. Illustrations: skeleton of Richard III It’s a turbulent era that ricochets from the III situation”, he stresses. “We know exactly and Society of Antiquaries portrait of Richard shady death of Richard II to Bosworth defeat where Alfred the Great was buried. There is no III. Ditto: Question: Who would have been of Richard III – made famous by a certain Billy dispute that it was Hyde Abbey. Our challenge king after Richard III if Henry Tudor had not Shakespeare.’ was to find Alfred’s bones . . .”‘. Illustrations: triumphed at Bosworth? Chris Skidmore MP statue of Alfred; fragment of the regal pelvis; and author of Bosworth: the rise of the Tudors, March (monthly publications) later skeletal material in the burial vault at St explains that as Richard III’s wife and only son British Archaeology (No 135) ‘Alfred the Great: Bartholomew’s church and other images. were already dead, assuming that Richard did have they found him yet?’. ‘Less than a year not remarry and have more children, ‘then it after Leicester University and the Richard III April (monthly publications) seems he had designated John de la Pole, Earl Society announced the discovery of Richard BBC History Magazine ‘Was the skeleton in the of Lincoln as his heir.’ Illustration: MS painting III’s grave, Winchester University and Hyde car park really Richard III’. Michael Hicks, of Edward Plantagenet, earl of Warwick, 900 claim to have identified the remains of Head of History, Winchester University, and another potential claimant to the throne. Alfred the Great or his son Edward’. Martin Biddle, emeritus fellow of Medieval Current Archaeology (No 289) News: ‘Much Illustrations: press conference on 17 January; Archaeology at Oxford University are not Marcle’s Memorial Mystery’ report on the the fragment of pelvis; later skeletal material convinced that the skeleton found in Leicester discovery of an intact lead coffin inside the in the burial vault at St Bartholomew’s church, in 2012 is Richard III, they argue that this Grandison memorial and chest tomb in Much Winchester Cathedral and other images. individual might be someone else who was Marcle parish church in Herefordshire (see Church Monuments Society Newsletter (Vol 29, killed during the Wars of the Roses, pointing Church Times above). Illustrations: views if No 2) ‘ “What Lies Beneath”: A Discovery at out the radiocarbon dating is not highly memorial and coffin. News: ‘Plantagenetics: Much Marcle ( shire)’. A detailed precise and that the mitochondrial DNA link Richard III’s genome to be sequenced’, account of the recent discovery of the ‘lead‐ could indicate that the deceased was one illustration: Dr Turi King project leader. sheathed body’ of Blanche Grandison (died Richard III’s relatives instead. Hicks says: “I’m Oldie ‘A Grave Matter’ See reprint of this article 1347). Some parts of the lead were in poor not saying that it’s not Richard – it’s perfectly in this Bulletin, p. 33. condition ‘having small holes through which conceivable that it is – but we are not in a cloth and bones could be seen’. Illustrations: position to say with any confidence that it’s May (monthly publications) the lead‐wrapped body of St Bee’s man and him.” While Biddle has claimed: “without Current Archaeology (No 290) ‘Conference: the interior of Blanche’s chest tomb. further excavation there is no way of knowing, Current Archaeology Awards 2014’; Current Archaeology (No 288) ‘The Search for and hence no certainty about the burial that it Archaeologist of the Year was Richard Buckley Alfred the Great’. ‘DNA analysis was a large has been claimed was that of Richard III. of ULAS for his role in the Leicester Grey part of the Richard III investigation, but Before all this goes any further, it would be Friars project (see introduction). Letter: although the Winchester team have been wise to be certain the body’s really is his. ‘Theories of Relativity’ pointing out that claims contacted by numerous individuals claiming Something akin to a coroner’s court should be in issue 289 (see April) that Michael Ibsen was descent from Alfred. Katie [Tucker of the set up to consider all the evidence.” In reply ‘one of Richard III’s last living descendants’ is University of Winchester Archaeology Philippa Langley says: “taking a sceptical view wrong as Richard left no direct legitimate Department] believes “it is a very long way to is good for debate, but to say it cannot be descendants, but he has many collateral try and go back”. Alfred’s granddaughter is claimed ‘with any confidence’ that this is descendants. Bruce Watson and Geoffrey Wheeler

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38 The Man HIMSELF ‘Bewitched, bothered and bewildered’ – Richard’s charge of witchcraft against Elizabeth Woodville LYNDA PIDGEON Among the reasons that have been suggested for Richard’s ‘usurpation’ are fear of the Woodvilles and concerns over their control of the young king Edward V. Because of Richard’s actions in 1483, it is generally assumed that there was a history of distrust and dislike between Richard and the Woodvilles. This would not have been surprising: after all, this was true of the relationship between Clarence and the Woodvilles, and most people at the time disliked the Woodvilles. Or did they? There are many myths about feelings towards the it seems that in claiming the throne Richard was actuated Woodvilles, and much of what has been written has had not only by ambition and lust for power, for he also the benefit of hindsight. If the family were not so proclaimed that he was harassed by the ignoble family of the queen and the affronts of Edward’s relatives by universally unpopular, and if Richard did not distrust marriage.1 and dislike them, how else could the events of 1483 be explained? Is there any evidence to suggest that Richard According to Polydore Vergil, during a council meeting and the Woodvilles did not get on? in the Tower, Richard accused Elizabeth of using I explored their relationship in a previous Bulletin witchcraft against him: (Winter 2008) and concluded that Richard’s actions in ‘My lords, I have procuryd you all to be caulyd hyther this 1483 were not dependent on him having a longstanding day for that onely cause that I might shew unto you in dislike or hatred of the Woodvilles. His loyalty had been what great danger of death I stand; for by the space of a to Edward IV, and, while his brother lived, a balance few days by past nether nyght nor by day can I rest, was maintained between the demands and desires of drynk, nor eat, wherfor my blood by lyttle and lyttle the Woodvilles and the ambition and desires of Richard. decreaseth, my force fayleth, my breath shorteneth, and However, the unexpected death of Edward IV, and the all the partes of my body do above measure, as you se prospect of a young Woodville king, changed the status (and with that he shewyd them his arme), faule away; quo heavily in the Woodvilles’ favour. Now Richard’s which mischief verily proceedth in me from that sorceres primary loyalty was surely to himself and his family Elyzabeth the quene, who with hir witchcraft hath so and to protecting them and his own interests. He did enchantyd me that by thanoyance thereof I am dissolvyd.’ Hastings . . . awnsweryd, that the queen deservyd well not need to like, or dislike, the Woodvilles to carry out both to be put to open shame, and to be dely punysshyd, this aim. The discovery of Richard’s skeleton, together yf yt might appeare that by use of witchecraft she had with the information that he had developed scoliosis as done him any harme. To these Rycherd replyed: ‘I am an adolescent, has led me to take a second look at some undone (I say) by that very woomans sorcery.’2 of the sources. As the loyal brother, Richard had had little choice but Thomas More, writing some years later, uses the same to accept the Woodvilles unless he joined his brother scene but cleverly changes it: Clarence in rebellion; perhaps he also saw his role as ‘You shall all see in what wise that sorceress and that protecting Edward IV, not only from himself but from other witch of her counsel, Shore’s wife, with their affinity other enemies, both hidden and open. With Edward’s have by their sorcery and witchcraft wasted my body.’ death Richard was able to give rein to his fears. I want And therewith he plucked up his doublet sleeve to his to suggest that these were not fears of an overweening elbow upon his left arm, where he showed a shrivelled family seeking ultimate power through the boy king; withered arm and small, as it was never otherwise. And rather, they were fears of witchcraft. While Mancini, thereupon every man’s mind sore misgave them, . . . no writing in 1483, was probably wrong in his assessment man was there present but well knew that his arm was of Richard’s motivation, he may not have been entirely ever such since his birth.3 wrong in his assessment of Richard’s attitude towards The charge of witchcraft appears to relate to a very recent the Woodvilles: event, and by implicating Jane Shore, and making the arm withered rather than Vergil’s ‘dissolved’, which 39 The Man HIMSELF

caused to be brought to Warreyk ate your last being there, might suggest emaciated, More is ridiculing the charge Soveraigne Lord, to dyvers of the Lords thenne being ther and making it appear to be nonsense, a trumped‐up present, a Image of lede made lyke a Man of Armes, charge used by Richard to justify his actions. More dates conteynyng the lengthe of a mannes fynger, and broken this to 13 June; however, we know that Richard was in the myddes, and made fast with a Wyre, sayying it was alarmed by something. On 10 June he had written to York made by your said Oratrice to use with the said Wichcraft for help: and Sorsory . . .6 to aid and assist us against the queen, her bloody adherents and affinity, who have intended and daily do Damaged images such as these were thought to be used intend to murder and utterly destroy us . . 4. to cause harm and even death. In addition, Wake went on to claim that there were another two images We might accept his fear of the Woodvilles but dismiss representing Edward and Elizabeth, although these were the charge of witchcraft, except that in 1484, at Richard’s not produced by Wake. There was no description of the first and only parliament, we learn more about Richard’s images, beyond who they represented, and presumably reasons for claiming the throne: these were the images said to have been used for love magic. The broken image which is mentioned first tends And here also we considre, howe that the seid pretensed marriage betwixt the above‐named king Edward and to be overlooked in the scenario of love magic being used Elizabeth Grey was made of grete presumption, without to procure Edward’s marriage to Elizabeth. I have the knowing and assent of the lords of this lond, also by previously considered that Warwick brought this charge sorcerie and wichecrafte, committed by the said Elizabeth of witchcraft against Jacquetta in an attempt to have and her moder Jaquett duchesse of Bedford, as the Edward’s marriage annulled, taking as his example what common opinion of the people, and the publique voice had happened to Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, and his and fame is thorough all this land; and hereafter, if and as wife Eleanor.7 I saw this as one element in Warwick’s the caus shall require, shall bee proved sufficiently in tyme propaganda campaign against the Woodvilles. But why and place convenient. wait until 1469, some five years after the marriage? Was Richard is not only claiming a this the first opportunity that ‘pretensed marriage’ he is ‘If Richard had only recently begun Warwick had to present the also accusing Elizabeth and to suffer the effects of scoliosis then it is charge to Edward? Perhaps the her mother of sorcery. The image that we should really possible that he and Warwick saw it as charge of witchcraft is there‐ concentrate on is the broken fore not something fabricated witchcraft. The only other alternative for image of a knight. If Warwick by Vergil or More, it was his suffering, at least to the medieval was only concerned about love based on known facts. mind, was God’s punishment. How else magic, why mention a broken Richard adds that the charge to explain it? ‘ image at all? It is also well could be proved if necessary. described, while the other two But what would he prove and images are not. Warwick was how? probably one of the few people who knew about The reference to witchcraft and Jacquetta’s role in it Richard’s affliction: was it perhaps this that he had in must relate to the charge made against her in 1469 mind and not love magic? This might explain the during Edward IV’s captivity. It is has generally been otherwise long delay in charging Jacquetta with assumed that the witchcraft used was love magic, to performing love magic. The charge implies that the bring about the marriage of Edward to Elizabeth. The discovery of the image was recent; therefore it does make charge is thought to have been instigated by Warwick, harmful magic seem more likely. but we only know the details from Jacquetta’s petition There was considerable belief in magic, portents, to Edward in early 1470. This outlines an accusation astrology and divination; Edward IV himself was made by Thomas Wake of Blisworth. Since Blisworth is interested in astrology. Its practice, however, could have not far from Grafton there may have been some dangerous repercussions, especially if someone was personal animosity between Wake and the Woodvilles – suspected of having used it to imagine the king’s death. this is certainly what Jacquetta claims: Wake It was just such a suspicion that had caused Eleanor Cobham to be arrested and charged with treason in of his malicious disposicion towardes your said Oratrice of long tyme continued, entendyng not oonly to hurt and 1441. Furthermore, witchcraft was a way of explaining apaire her good name and fame, but also purposed the the inexplicable. fynall distruccion of her persone . . .5 This was not the first time that harmful magic against the king had been attempted. In 1324 a court heard that Whatever the reasons for Wake’s animosity, we do know 20 burgesses from Coventry had tried to kill Edward II, that he was Warwick’s man and later Richard’s. Wake Hugh Despenser, Despenser’s son Hugh and the prior had: of Coventry. The burgesses had paid a magician to make wax images of each victim, and they were accused 40 The Man HIMSELF of testing it out on one Richard de Sowe, who went mad more easily than his back. A ‘dissolved’ arm might look and died. Although they were all acquitted it does relatively harmless, even ridiculous in the way that suggest that people thought it was possible to use wax More describes it, but a twisted back raised stronger images to cause harm.8 A further example comes from beliefs and fears, that of ‘a twisted mind in a twisted 1426, when William Botreaux, a West Country lord, body’. It was not something that Richard would wish to petitioned Henry VI’s council against a group of men demonstrate openly. There was a much greater whom he claimed had tried to weaken and destroy him prejudice against deformity than against witchcraft and by magic. One of the accused was a relative, Ralph such prejudice is persistent. Professor Philip Schwyzer Botreaux. The council ordered an enquiry but the has suggested that when Shakespeare wrote that outcome is unknown; however, as Botreaux did not die Richard was ‘determined’ to be a villain, this could be until 1461 he could not have been seriously harmed.9 taken as a pun. Not only was it his intent, but it could be If Richard had only recently begun to suffer the read that his deformity ‘determined’ that he would be a effects of scoliosis then it is possible that he and villain.10 If one’s character was determined by Warwick saw it as witchcraft. The only other alternative deformity, as Shakespeare so ably demonstrated, then for his suffering, at least to the medieval mind, was Richard would not have wanted to be seen as a villain; God’s punishment. How else to explain it? His belief he wished to be seen as the victim. that it was Jacquetta and Elizabeth may have been In the circumstances, he had to be careful how he strengthened by the recent discovery of the image of a played the charge of witchcraft. He needed just enough broken knight – a belief that Warwick would no doubt doubt to remove the Woodvilles without damaging have fostered in his attempt to destroy the Woodviles himself too much in the process and losing whatever and end Edward’s marriage. support he had, through a deeper prejudice of If we go back to 1464 and Elizabeth’s arrival at court, deformity. When he said in 1484 that he would prove Richard was only 11 years old, he finally had a stable the charge if necessary, it is possible that he was home, he was close to his brother and suddenly he was referring to the 1469 charge brought against Jacquetta, being replaced in his brother’s affection. Shortly after and this time it would not be brushed aside as only love Elizabeth’s arrival he had been packed off to Warwick’s magic. household and his place was taken by Elizabeth’s two It is therefore possible that the events of 1483 were young sons Richard and Thomas Grey. If anyone was to due to superstition, prejudice and fear, of which the blame for this it was Elizabeth. It is easy to imagine his Woodvilles were as much victims as Richard III. childish resentment being kindled by Warwick, who quite openly hated the Woodvilles. When Richard References began to suffer the effects of scoliosis they were the 1. Dominic Mancini, The Usurpation of Richard III, trans. obvious ones to blame. Is it therefore possible that the C. A. J. Armstrong, Gloucester, 1989, p. 61. later, Tudor, sources were more accurate than has often 2. Polydore Vergil, Three Books of Polydore Vergil’s been credited? Richard did perhaps dissimulate: he was English History: comprising the reigns of Henry VI, the loyal brother. Did he see his role as protecting Edward IV and Richard III, ed. Henry Ellis, Camden Edward, and being watchful of the Woodvilles? After Society, London, 1844, pp. 180–1. all, he had seen what happened to Clarence when he 3. Thomas More, ‘History of King Richard III’, in came out openly against them. Richard may have felt Richard III: the great debate, ed. Paul Murray Kendall, that with Edward’s death he was now free to act. London, 1965, Folio edition, pp. 69–70. The symptoms Richard claimed to be suffering, as 4 York Civic Records, vol. 1, pp. 73–4, quoted in listed by Vergil, may have been a combination of stress, Dockray, K., Richard III: a reader in history, Gloucester, brought on by the circumstances in which Richard 1988. found himself, and a deep‐seated belief in witchcraft, 5. Rotuli Parliamentorum ut et Petitiones et Placita in with Elizabeth Woodville being the source of his ills. Parliamento Rolls 1472–1503, ed. J. Strachey, 1767–77, Did Richard think that his fine slender limbs were part vol. 6, appendix, p. 232. and parcel of the problem with his back? After all, his 6. Ibid. brothers were much stronger‐limbed, with Edward 7. Kelly, H. A., ‘English Kings and the Fear of Sorcery’, himself being over 6 ft tall; Richard may have wondered Medieval Studies, vol. 39, 1977, pp. 219–28. why he failed to thrive in quite the same way. When 8. Rider, C., Magic and Religion in Medieval England, Richard displayed his ‘dissolved’ arm, he may have London, 2012, p. 93. been thinking back to the charge of witchcraft in 1469, as 9. Rider (2012), p. 99. much as to the present moment. In his own mind 10. Schwyzer, P., ‘Shakespeare and the Remains of Richard may have associated his slender limbs with his Richard III’, Exeter University, 4 February 2013, back, therefore when it came to demonstrating the available at: effects of the witchcraft he could display his arm much www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL8WiEDYPdY.

41 ARTICLES EDMUND AND JASPER – Beaufort brothers? BEVERLEY FAIRFOULL Edmund Tudor, earl of Richmond, and his brother Jasper, earl of Pembroke, are generally acknowledged to have been the two eldest sons of the liaison between Queen Katherine de Valois, widow of King Henry V, and her servant, . In view of the many romantic tales that abound concerning the love affair between Katherine and Owen, the fact that they chose the name Edmund for their first-born son and Jasper for their second strikes an odd note and invites further investigation.

Katherine de Valois was 21 years old and the mother of Katherine remained with her son until 1427, when he an 8‐month‐old son at the time of Henry V’s premature was removed to a male environment in order to be death in 1422. A princess of France and youngest educated in the skills he would need when he attained daughter of the mentally frail King Charles VI and his his majority. Katherine was allowed no further formidable Queen Isabeau, she was a pawn in Henry V’s influence and, other than her required appearance at plans for his conquest of her country. Factions in the state occasions, she was effectively ignored. There is no French court and the murder of the duke of Burgundy evidence that she ever sought to assert her rights, but had resulted in Katherine’s brother, the Dauphin she appears to have been very determined that she Charles, being disinherited, leaving the way open for should not remain alone, nor be pressured to retire Henry to push forward with his ambition to bring all gracefully to a convent. France under his rule. By 1420, the year of their marriage, Katherine, as a young royal widow with a proven he was well on the way to achieving this, having already ability to produce a son, would certainly have been conquered almost one‐third of the realm. viewed as a very desirable marriage partner. In 1422, the tide of English fortunes suddenly turned. Remarriage of widowed queens was not unknown, With the crown of France just within his grasp, Henry’s although the mother of a king was viewed far health failed and he died at Vincennes at the age of 35. differently to a childless second wife. Adela of Louvain, widow of Henry I, went on to marry William d’Albini, The marriage of King Henry V to Katherine de Valois. Dated 1490– earl of Arundel.1 However, when Isabella of before 1494. Angouleme, fiery widow of John and mother of Henry III, wed Hugh X de Lusignan, count of La Marche, without the consent of the king’s council, the council threatened to confiscate her lands.2 She retaliated by keeping hold of her daughter Princess Joan, who had been promised to King Alexander of Scotland. This was enough to ensure the agreement of the council, not wanting trouble across the border She then went on to produce eleven Lusignan children, who later set sail for England in order to extract titles, power and money from their half‐brother. With the possibility of a similar scenario in mind, Henry VI’s council, among them Katherine’s brother‐in‐ law Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, now , were certainly not interested in encouraging Katherine to look for another husband, who would inevitably wield considerable power and influence over the young king. During the mid‐1420s Katherine formed a close relationship with her husband’s cousin, Lord Edmund Beaufort, count of Mortain, and later earl and 2nd duke of . Beaufort was five years younger than Katherine; handsome, charismatic and very ambitious. The Beauforts were descended from Edward III’s fourth son John of Gaunt and his mistress and later wife, Katherine Swynford, but were legitimised during the 42 ARTICLES reign of Richard II. Although barred from the shocked when it was discovered that Katherine had succession, the family had reached dizzy heights in produced further children, this is somewhat difficult to status and power. Both Katherine and Beaufort were believe. After ridding themselves of the threat of keen to push their agendas forward, and in 1426, Edmund Beaufort, they would have realised that Katherine petitioned parliament for their help to allow Katherine was capable of being a thorn in their her to remarry.3 The king’s council was immediately collective side. Owen Tudor may, in fact, have presented alarmed. Beaufort was viewed with considerable an acceptable solution to their problem and a way to suspicion, and the possibility of him controlling the neutralise the embarrassment of a queen giving birth young king caused panic amongst the council. Certainly out of wedlock. He was a good‐looking political Humphrey, already in conflict with Beaufort’s uncle, nonentity, who would keep the queen happy and Cardinal Henry Beaufort, did not want another member maintain an effective lid on her romantic inclinations. of the family in a position of power. The elevation of an And Owen Tudor had been Henry V’s man. ambitious man with very formidable relatives was not Katherine bore at least three traditionally named considered in the government’s best interests. As children to Owen: Owen, Margaret (named for Owen’s husband to the queen and stepfather to the young king, mother) and Katherine. Unlike Edmund and Jasper, he would have been the most powerful man in the land. these children seem to have disappeared into obscurity In 1428 parliament passed a law on the remarriage of and were either despatched to a life of insignificance in dowager queens. No man would be allowed to marry the church or died young. the queen without the permission of the king; and the Only Edmund and Jasper were awarded lands, titles king would not reach his majority for several years. Any and prominence; Edmund being created earl of man who defied this ruling would forfeit his lands and Richmond and Jasper, earl of Pembroke in 1452, a title titles to the crown. However, any children of the previously held by the duke of Suffolk. This raises relationship would be acknowledged as members of the another question. Could there have been some doubt as royal family.4 to the identity of Jasper’s father too? Edmund and This was a serious setback for Beaufort. Naively, Jasper were very close in age, and there is the possibility Katherine may have hoped that attitudes would soften that the Queen, still in love with Beaufort, may have in time, but this did not happen, and the young king continued contact with him and conceived a second was not old enough to be able to help his mother. The child. proclamation appears to have cooled Beaufort’s ardour. It is clear that neither Edmund nor Jasper were Sometime during the years 1429–1431 he began named for Owen or any member of his family. In fact, negotiations to marry Eleanor Beauchamp, widowed the name Jasper is not Welsh. It has Persian origins, daughter of the powerful Richard Beauchamp, earl of deriving from Kaspar or Gaspar, who was said to have Warwick. By 1429, Katherine discovered she was been the youngest of the three kings who visited Christ expecting a child. Pregnant and with no hope of at his birth. Jasper’s birth may therefore have taken marriage with Beaufort, she would be disgraced for place at Epiphany in January 1431, which would tarnishing the memory of Henry V. indicate a date of conception within a few months of In 1430, Katherine travelled to the bishop of London’s Edmund’s birth. With Beaufort probably married by residence in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, and there this time, and with the final realisation that she would quietly gave birth to a son. The fact that she named him never have a future with him, she chose a royal name for Edmund can only indicate that he was Beaufort’s son. her youngest royal son, but unlike her other sons, Cardinal Beaufort is known to have visited her after Henry, Edmund and later Owen, all named for their Christmas in 1430, very probably to see the child. His fathers, this child had an enigmatic name with no links support in her relationship with his nephew is clear and to anyone. there is evidence that she retained links with the Looking at this more closely, it is likely that Beaufort family for the rest of her life.5 Katherine would have been aware of the shrine of the After the failure of Katherine’s marriage plans with three kings in Cologne through her mother, Isabeau, Beaufort, Owen Tudor is said to have taken up a who was the daughter of Stephen III, duke of Bavaria, prominent position in her life. Owen was a man in her and Taddea Visconti of Milan. St Helen, or Helena, of household with connections to her first husband. Here Constantinople, mother of the emperor Constantine, is was a man who was Welsh, not English, with few rights, reputed to have brought the remains of the three kings no power and no extensive lands to lose if he married to Milan from the Holy Land. Helena herself was her. Katherine seems to have conceived again very repudiated for political reasons by her lover shortly after Edmund’s birth, as Jasper was born in the Constantius, who left her and their son to marry a manor of Hatfield, home of the Bishop of Ely, in 1431. woman he considered more befitting his rising status. Several more children followed from 1432 until 1437, Helena never remarried and lived for many years in the year of her death. obscurity. The parallel between the two women is Although it is said that council members were intriguing. Like Helena, Katherine was a foreigner, also 43 ARTICLES abandoned by a lover who put his own ambition before by her husband and her lover’s eventual marriage to love. By naming her son Jasper, Katherine may have another woman may all have contributed to the twilight been covertly alluding to the secret behind the tragedy life she later lived – a life she struggled to control but of her own personal circumstances. It is also interesting ultimately blighted by the choices she tried to make for to note that, through her father, Katherine was herself. descended from the Byzantine Emperor Alexius III. In her will, Katherine did not refer to Owen Tudor or Alexius himself revered Constantine, having coins their children. She nominated Henry VI as her executor struck with both their images.6 It is possible that Jasper and asked him to ensure ‘the tender and favourable himself was aware not only of this ancestral link, but fulfilling of my intent’ which was not specified, but also with his link with a saint, as he named his which Henry must have been aware of.8 illegitimate daughter Helen.7 Katherine’s grandson, Henry VII, showed a Owen Tudor, no doubt realising the great benefits to shockingly callous disrespect for her remains. She was his relationship with the queen, would willingly have initially buried in the old Lady Chapel at Westminster accepted her two children, giving her the stability of a Abbey, but Henry demolished it shortly after his commitment she would now never get from Beaufort. accession to erect his new chapel. He uprooted her body He was given the status and rights of an Englishman in and left it above ground in an open coffin where it 1432, which recognised his relationship with the queen. remained for 200 years. Her body was eventually Given her history with Beaufort, and her knowledge of reburied in the Buckingham vault in 1778 and 100 years the council’s decree, it is possible that she decided not to later removed to its present resting place under the altar take the step of formalising the relationship, in Henry V’s Chantry Chapel. particularly if she knew that Jasper was also Beaufort’s Owen Tudor was executed in 1461 and buried in the child. She may have felt that marriage church of the Grey Friars in Hereford. to Owen would affect the status of Henry VII made no effort to reinter the Edmund and Jasper in the years remains of his alleged grandfather in a ahead, and that it would be in their more fitting environment and they better interests to deliberately keep the ‘For Henry to have given a were destroyed by his son Henry VIII matter vague. girl of the status of during the dissolution of the It is worth noting that the title earl Margaret Beaufort in monasteries. If Owen was no blood of Richmond was originally granted marriage to the son of a relation to them, their indifference by Edward III to John of Gaunt, servant would have been would clearly make sense. Beaufort’s ancestor, who held it until unthinkable.’ Edmund’s remains did survive the 1372. Gaunt later surrendered it in dissolution but were reinterred well order to pursue his claim to the crown away from his kingly descendants. In of Castile. From 1414 to 1435 this title 1536 they were transferred from the was held by John, , Grey Friars Church in Carmarthen to St brother of Henry V. The title was an important one and David’s Cathedral on the remote Pembrokeshire coast. kept within the immediate royal family. Jasper, who died in 1495, chose to be buried in Edmund’s child‐wife Margaret Beaufort was Henry Keynsham Abbey, Somerset, bequeathed to him by VI’s heir before the birth of his son Edward. She was the Lady Agnes Cheyne. His resting place was another greatest heiress in England. For Henry to have given a casualty of his great‐nephew’s greed. girl of such status in marriage to the son of a servant Beaufort became a major player in the Wars of the would have been unthinkable. In doing so, it would Roses, and enemy of the duke of York. He was killed at seem to indicate that Henry VI knew that Beaufort was the battle of St Albans in 1455. A robust father of a Edmund’s father and thus of royal blood. Such a match further ten children, even in older age, his charm would then have made sense, and would make continued to tantalise and his closeness to another Margaret and Edmund first cousins. Interestingly, no queen, Margaret of Anjou, encouraged rumours that he such glorious match was found for Jasper until his had also fathered her son, Edward. Clearly, memories of nephew Henry VII married him to Katherine his conduct with an earlier queen were still fresh to Woodville, sister of Elizabeth in 1485, when he was well many. into middle age. Perhaps there was still uncertainty over Although a lot of my theory may be seen as the identity of his father and the reason Henry VI supposition, I believe the key to the parentage of hesitated at arranging a high‐status marriage for him. Katherine’s children is simply to be found in their Katherine’s life ended at Bermondsey Abbey in names. She outmanoeuvred the council, but at great January 1437. She was 36 and had been a young queen cost to her personal happiness and dignity of her status. and widow of a hero who had hooked her glittering star Her son, Henry VI ensured that by creating Edmund to a servant then faded into a life of secrecy and and Jasper earls in 1452, the final part of the law passed obscurity. Her difficult childhood, emotional rejection by parliament and her own wishes were fulfilled. Any 44 ARTICLES

2. Weir, p. 68. children of such a relationship would be treated as 3. Norton, E., Margaret Beaufort, p. 38. members of the royal family, which appears to have 4. Hilton, L., Queens Consort, p. 330. been the case. It is my conclusion, therefore, that both 5. Norton, p. 38. Edmund and Jasper were in fact fathered by Edmund 6. God’s Regents on Earth: a thousand years of Byzantine Beaufort. imperial seals, Dumbarton Oaks. 7. Weir, p. 132. References 8. Weir, A., Lancaster and York: the Wars of the Roses, p. 87.

1. Weir, A., Britain’s Royal Families: the complete genealogy, p. 48.

Why was Richard so ruthless? ROBERT INGLE The discovery of the remains of Richard III under a Leicester car park cannot of itself tell us whether he was a good king or a bad one, nor can it explain any of his conduct, but it has provided valuable evidence to set against the contemporary and near-contemporary accounts written by his detractors, principally those by Sir Thomas More and William Shakespeare.

It is almost certain that More could neither have met nor of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, who was the third even seen Richard III because, in 1485, when Richard was surviving son of Edward III. From the evidence, there killed at Bosworth, More was only 7 years old. However, can be absolutely no doubt that Richard passionately he knew a man who did – John Morton, later promoted believed that the supremacy of the royal house of York to cardinal archbishop of Canterbury in the reign of was divinely ordained. Henry VII. The Leicester discovery means that, at last, it The skeleton found under the Leicester car park has become possible to examine the accounts, and some reveals no withered arm, no sign of kyphosis (a aspects of them are clearly unreliable. The archaeological hunched back), but clear signs of scoliosis (lateral evidence also blows away the myth, current in Leicester curvature of the spine). Richard III would not have for centuries, that Richard would never be found, as he appeared ‘bunch‐backed’, as Shakespeare depicts him was exhumed in 1538 at the time of the Reformation, and, from the skeletal evidence, it is more than likely his carried through the streets of the town by a jeering mob right shoulder would have appeared higher than his and unceremoniously dumped in the River Soar. left, not the other way round, as More would have us Much of the debate concerning the reign of Richard believe. The exhumation of Richard’s remains has made III has been centred on his personality and his own it possible to bury those particular calumnies and ruthless agenda in the vital three months leading up to perhaps it is no coincidence that the Latin word for left his seizure of the throne. Less attention seems to have is sinister. Shakespeare was a brilliant dramatist but, like been given to the actual politics of the period, and the much medieval royal portraiture, his history plays beliefs underpinning the political agenda. It was cannot be relied upon to give us a realistic likeness. It is certainly by no means an age of reason but one where possible that his Richard III is not really about the political discourse was largely informed by the absolute historical Richard but is a finely drawn study in villainy certainty of religious beliefs. Medieval England was a and its nemesis, with much ‘gallows humour’ thrown Christian monarchy where regal power was believed to in. As part of his history cycle it was probably the first derive from a divine authority. Kings of England were to be written, around 1591, but is the last one in the chosen by God and the civil wars of the fifteenth century chronological order. What better way to guarantee box‐ were about who had the right to wield power in office success than to base it on the Tudor period’s England. Although, by convention, the throne could favourite villain, King Richard III? In the play, Richard only be inherited by heirs male, there was no bar in does not become evil as Macbeth does in a later play, England against succession through the female line. but is malign from the very start, where he is This underscores the claim of the House of York, who ‘determined to play the villain’ because, with his traced their line back to Edmund of Langley, duke of deformities, he ‘cannot play the lover’. York, the fourth surviving son of Edward III, but also, When Edward IV’s secret marriage to the widowed crucially, to Philippa, the only child of the second Elizabeth Grey (née Woodville) on 1 May 1464, was surviving son of Edward III, Lionel of Antwerp, duke of made public a few months later, it shook the English Clarence (the line of the first son, the Black Prince, died establishment. Reigning kings were supposed to marry out with his son, Richard II). The , on for reasons of state, not as a result of affairs of the heart, the other hand, based their claim on descent from John and the powerful earl of Warwick, the ‘Kingmaker’, was 45 ARTICLES at the time in the middle of negotiations to procure a explain the sudden burst of ruthlessness that followed. French bride for the king. The Woodvilles, Could he have calculated that, in order to save his royal gentry, always carried something of house, he now needed to implement an extreme the parvenu about them. Elizabeth’s father, Richard political agenda that was far larger than mere personal Woodville, had been a chamberlain to the duke of ambition? Bedford. The Woodvilles started out by supporting the The council denied Richard full powers as protector, Lancastrian cause until they could see it was lost after preferring to appoint him simply as primus inter pares, Towton in 1461 and then switched their allegiance to the thereby placing restrictions on his ability to act alone in house of York. Following Bosworth in 1485 and the an age when ‘consensus politics’ was not usual. Richard marriage of Elizabeth of York to Henry Tudor, they still was a senior member of the royal family. Here was a retained some influence at court. major diminution of his authority and it would not be After Edward’s marriage, preferment came quickly surprising if he began to feel in danger. From the letter for the large Woodville family, with their power written by him to the city of York on 10 June 1483 eventually focusing on Elizabeth’s eldest brother, (preserved in the York Civic Records), we can perhaps Anthony, who had inherited the title of earl Rivers. glean something of his concerns as he is asking for help, When, in 1473, Rivers was made governor of the ‘against the queen, her bloody adherents and affinity, household of the prince of Wales, Edward IV’s elder who have intended and daily do intend, to murder and son, he effectively had the future of the house of York in utterly destroy us and our cousin, the duke of his custody. Richard, having been Buckingham, and the old royal blood of this created duke of Gloucester, spent realm’ (my italics). most of these years in the north of It is most unlikely that Shakespeare England, well away from the court, was correct in assuming that Richard where he was acting as his brother’s ‘. . . it is very possible to had designs on the crown for many viceroy, showing no sign, from the arrive at the conclusion that years before he actually became king, surviving evidence, of the ruthless‐ Richard was working to an and it is impossible to know for certain ness that was to follow. entirely different agenda when Richard finally did decide to When Edward died unexpectedly seize the crown, but after examination from that of the on 9 April 1483, the 12‐year‐old prince of the evidence we may perhaps at of Wales, now Edward V, was away “murderous tyrant” of least consider that he eventually saw it from court at Ludlow in Shropshire, popular history. ‘ as the only way to protect the house of still in the care of Anthony Rivers. York. The last piece of the jigsaw is the Very soon, Rivers became a victim of bombshell concerning the status of the Richard’s ruthlessness, along with his marriage of Edward IV to Elizabeth nephew, Sir Richard Grey (Edward V’s Woodville. Fortunately, it is not half‐brother) and Sir Thomas Vaughan, who was part of necessary for us to establish the actual truth of the case, the Woodville affinity. They were all arrested at but if we accept that Richard believed the revelation by Northampton at the end of April 1483, taken to the , Robert Stillington, that the Pontefract and imprisoned in the castle, where they marriage was bigamous, then, given Richard’s fierce were executed just days before Richard gained the dynastic beliefs, the political imperatives would become throne on 26 June. Although no copy of Edward IV’s last paramount – the position of the house of York was in will is extant, it is almost certain that he had made great danger while the boy‐king Edward V occupied the provision for his younger brother, Richard, duke of throne. It is very possible that Richard could now see no Gloucester, to assume the protectorate, at least until the alternative other than his own accession in order to save coronation of Edward V, and there is evidence that the ‘old royal blood of this realm’, however ruthless his Richard was now confronted with a rival source of actions might be in arriving at that point. power and a recipe for instability, a boy‐king in thrall to After over 500 years, we cannot examine or cross‐ his mother, Queen Elizabeth, and her relations who examine any of the witnesses, so it is impossible to bring undoubtedly could taste even greater power and in a verdict ‘beyond reasonable doubt’, but using a influence. It was a dangerous development, which lower standard of proof, ‘the balance of probabilities’, it Richard had to deal with rapidly and ruthlessly, and it is very possible to arrive at the conclusion that Richard would most certainly not have escaped his notice that, was working to an entirely different agenda from that of immediately following his brother’s demise, he was the ‘murderous tyrant’ of popular history. The now the only adult male left standing in the house of desperate ruthlessness that we can see in the vital three York. This was a situation that would have thrust a months between April and June 1483 could well have tremendous responsibility upon him, given his beliefs been Richard’s attempt to save the house of York rather in Yorkist supremacy, and one that rendered him than, as some commentators would have us believe, to extremely vulnerable – vital facts that could begin to destroy it for his own personal reasons. 46 ARTICLES Forty years of the Ricardian Bulletin JOHN SAUNDERS AND ELIZABETH NOKES The Ricardian Bulletin was first published 40 years ago. Before then, Society news and information was included together with historical articles in The Ricardian, which was first published in 1963. Prior to that, newsletters and research reports kept members in touch. However, the growth in membership was enough to justify the launch of a formal quarterly journal. In 1973 the decision was taken to publish a separate need for a membership magazine, with the continued magazine from The Ricardian, to cover internal Society function of alerting members to activities, carrying news, matters, thus freeing up The Ricardian to concentrate reports, reviews, etc. And so the Bulletin was born. purely on historical articles and research. The last edition I didn’t come in on the first issue, which was a modest of The Ricardian in its original format was published in production, with – the pet hate of all ‘Serial Managers’– no volume/issue number or detailed date of issue, and December 1973 and the first issues of the separate consisting of only 16 pages. I took over later in 1974. This Ricardian and Bulletin came out in the spring of 1974. of course predated electronic provision and copy was Over the years the Bulletin has developed in content and provided on the typewriter, in draft by me, and then sent size, along the way introducing many of the features that to a series of better/professional typists in the Society, are still enjoyed today. including Anne Graham, Debbie Monks and Sue Taylor, In 2002 it was decided that the time was right for the who created the final copy. This was then put together Bulletin to undergo a comprehensive redesign. Whilst into the format of the final production and taken to the old‐style magazine had served the Society well over Copyfast in Aldwych, who were the printers until June the years, the need to respond to the advances in 1988, whereafter Charles Clarke, subsequently Gwyn ‐ information technology made change both necessary print, took over, and eventually were supplied copy on and inevitable. At the time the decision had also been disc and then by e‐mail. This simplified my life, as, during taken to publish The Ricardian on an annual basis, the Copyfast era, I had to collect the output and post it to the distributor, for inclusion in the mailing with The creating the need for the Bulletin to fill the quarterly Ricardian. No photographic illustration was included, but void. So it was decided that it would be expanded to artwork certainly was, and we had a memorable series of include historical articles in addition to its usual covers, relating to ‘cover stories’ or topical input, kindly content. A working party was set up to see these drawn by Geoffrey Wheeler. Geoff’s artwork first made changes through and launch the new‐style Bulletin; The front cover of the Ricardian Bulletin from the Quincentenary however, it soon became clear that it had a continuing year, 1983. role to oversee the ongoing production and development of the expanded magazine. It therefore became a standing committee, known today as the Bulletin Editorial Committee, which meets every quarter to consider the content and size of the issue in hand and look ahead to future issues so that articles can be commissioned in good time. More recently we have seen further changes with the introduction of colour throughout the magazine and a new A4 format. Until late 2012 the Bulletin had a dedicated editor; for over 30 years the role was undertaken by Elizabeth Nokes, with Wendy Moorhen covering from 2006 to 2009, and Lesley Boatwright from 2009 until September 2012. Since then editorial duties have been shared amongst members of the Bulletin Committee. Given the key role played by Elizabeth Nokes over three decades of the Bulletin’s history we are very grateful to her for sharing the following recollections:

In the beginning . . . was The Ricardian, a modest production, more like the subsequent Bulletin than either the current Ricardian or Bulletin. It was originally duplicated, and subsequently printed. But as the Society grew, and grew ‘respectable’ and wanted to demonstrate its scholarly credentials to the outside world, it was felt that the The Ricardian was being asked to do too much, and that the scholarly articles did not sit well with the very real

47 ARTICLES

its appearance in December 1975, and the Society boar compiling the contents page. The Bulletin was not became a regular feature on the cover from March 1976. indexed, but, as it contained material relating to policy, I Over the lifespan of the Bulletin, the content has found it useful to create a running record of contents changed surprisingly little – or perhaps that is not pages, improved upon with the addition of keywords to surprising, as it seeks to convey material members need provide additional subject detail for such sections as to know – core information such as subscription rates, ‘Media watching’ and correspondence. Thus, if ‘regular’ booking information for conferences, events, etc., items or queries reared their heads, as, for example, branch/group contacts; should know – AGM minutes, ‘Richard III and frying pans’, or ‘Ricardian number plates’, calendar of activities, reports of news, policy decisions; it was possible to find previous reference to same. and (hopefully) want to know – branch/group activities, From this ‘one‐man‐band’ the Bulletin production went reports/reviews of said conferences and events, and other to a committee, and from ‘Word’ production to the regular inclusions such as correspondence, classified ‘Publisher’ package, and now to a full glossy . . . advertisements of goods and services of interest to members, ‘media watching’ (punningly known as ‘For (Ref: ‘Roles of the Officers of the Society – Ricardian Richard . . . or poorer’), library reports, etc. Bulletin Editor’ – Elizabeth Nokes, Ricardian Bulletin, Material, then as now, arrived both commissioned and September 2002, pp. 24 –6.) unsolicited, the former including event reviews, following advance liaison with the event/visit organiser. The We have come a long way since the early days of the committee occasionally made suggestions for content, 1960s when The Ricardian was produced by a duplicating such as a series of articles on the roles of Society officers, process and despatched using an old address labelling and, more recently The Man Himself. machine with the envelopes filled manually. Nowadays The role of editor always included the role of technology takes care of most things, except of course the proofreader, and copy‐editor, to excise the unnecessarily content, and for that we depend, as we have always prolix, and ensure all content was legal, decent, truthful, done, on our members. So in reflecting back over the past etc. 40 years we should not forget to thank all those who have The production timescale was always much as it is now, contributed to the Bulletin as compilers, illustrators, with a six‐week period between press date and typists and contributors, and most importantly the three production, finished copy going to the printer four weeks before production date, the interim two weeks being used editors – especially Elizabeth Nokes and also Wendy by the editor to edit, chase up missing submissions, and Moorhen and the late Lesley Boatwright. incorporate urgent and stop‐press items, before finally Richard III and YORK DAVID JOHNSON As I write these words we are still awaiting the outcome of the Judicial Review. In the meantime the legal battle to decide the final resting place of King Richard III’s mortal remains continues to excite and polarise opinion. As Richard’s will has not survived, several potential burial locations have been proposed. However, the argument has effectively distilled into a straight choice between Leicester Cathedral and York Minster. Those who advocate York point to Richard’s long and close association with the city and the unprecedented chantry of 100 priests founded in the Minster before his death. Some, however, feel that Richard’s ties with York and the north have been overemphasised. So what does the surviving documentary evidence reveal? Can we properly describe Richard as an adopted northerner, with special links to the city of York and its Minster?

It is interesting to consider the views of contemporary political figures, Mancini gathered information from and near‐contemporary writers, commentators who newly acquired contacts in England. Richard is presented provide an insight into the strength, or otherwise, of to Mancini as a regional magnate who spends most of his Richard’s relationship with the north in general and York time on his own estates, and because of seemingly in particular. A singularly instructive account is that of irreconcilable differences with the queen, is not a regular Dominic Mancini, an Italian visitor, who reported events or principal figure at King Edward’s court. It is in England during the tumultuous summer of 1483.1 significant that Mancini’s informants perceived Richard’s Mancini stated that after the execution of George of provincial interests to be his dominant concern. Unlike Clarence in 1478 Richard ‘came very rarely to court’. ‘He Mancini, we are aware that these are in fact the Neville kept himself within his own lands and set out to acquire lands, centred on Yorkshire, and bestowed upon Richard the loyalty of his people through favours and justice’. after the death of Warwick in 1471. Mancini was And ‘by these arts’ Richard ‘avoided the jealousy of the therefore left in little doubt that by 1483 domestic opinion queen, from whom he lived far separated’.2 Unfamiliar regarded Richard as a predominantly northern, rather with the English language and the country’s leading than a metropolitan, member of the political elite. 48 ARTICLES

Mancini’s report is confirmed by the most important dismissed as mere revisionist sentimentality, or a contemporary source for Richard III’s reign, the history spurious twenty‐first‐century argument designed to generally known as the Second Continuation of the inter Richard’s newly discovered remains in York Crowland Chronicle. Although the author’s identity is Minster. As we shall see, Buck’s testimony does no more shrouded in mystery, he seems to have been a doctor of than justice to what one historian has described as the canon law and a member of Edward IV’s council. The ‘special relationship’ between Richard and York.10 work was apparently written during April 1486, less For three years from late 1465 the 13‐year‐old duke of than a year after Richard’s death at Bosworth.3 The Gloucester trained to become a knight in the household second continuator is therefore a primary witness, well of Warwick the Kingmaker. Here he ‘acquired the acquainted with royal government and familiar with the fondness for Yorkshire and its inhabitants which he was leading political figures of the day. He describes how in to retain for the rest of his life’.11 However, it was during June 1483 Richard summoned to London large numbers the 1470s, as King Edward IV’s lieutenant in the north, of armed men from his estates in the north. And as if to that Richard forged the bonds of mutual trust and confirm the importance of these reinforcements, we are respect that were to shape his dealings with York. For told they were commanded by the northern knight Sir example, in 1476, following serious disturbances and Richard Ratcliffe, arguably Richard’s closest confidant unrest, Richard was given presents by a grateful during the political turmoil of the protectorate.4 corporation for persuading Edward IV to maintain the However, the chronicler reserves conclusive proof of city’s rights and liberties.12 In 1477 Richard and his wife Richard’s northern credentials for his description of the joined the Corpus Christi Guild of York. The fact that king’s royal progress in the summer and early autumn they were ‘happy to become members of this Guild of of 1483: citizens illustrates the intimate relationship which Richard had established with the men of York’.13 Also in Wishing therefore to display in the North, where he had spent most of his time previously, the superior royal rank, 1477, the corporation’s ‘singular confidence in your which he acquired for himself in this manner … he came high and noble lordship afore any other’ was once again at length to York [my italics].5 rewarded as Richard successfully petitioned the king to clear fish‐garths and other navigational obstructions Informed contemporary observers such as the Crowland from the River Ouse.14 In return, the city was always chronicler and Dominic Mancini were clearly well aware prompt to answer Richard’s requests for military that Richard’s power and affinity lay in the north, and assistance. On three separate occasions between 1480 that he was defined by these interests and his and 1482 it provided contingents of soldiers to fight the commitment to them. Richard was regarded a political Scots.15 In fact, Richard’s military relationship with the northerner and, until the spring of 1483, a longstanding city is particularly telling. Following the death of northern resident. Indeed, Tony Pollard has described Edward IV in April 1483 Richard was named Protector. Richard as ‘a king from the north’.6 However, the queen and her family plotted against him Richard’s pronounced regional identity continued to and by 10 June the situation was serious enough for figure in later accounts of his life and reign. For Richard to write in earnest to York for armed assistance. example, the Tudor chronicler declared That Richard directed such a desperate appeal to those that Richard III ‘more loved, more esteemed and he clearly believed to be his most loyal supporters regarded the Northernmen than any subjects within his vividly demonstrates the city’s pre‐eminence as a realm’, and that in return they ‘entirely loved and trusted ally.16 highly favoured him’.7 It is an aspect of Richard’s adult Even more revealing are the details of Richard III’s life that survived post‐Bosworth distortions, remaining visit to York in the late summer of 1483, a state occasion an abiding characteristic of the last Yorkist king during which signalled the culmination of the newly crowned the hostile reigns of his immediate successor, Henry VII, king’s royal progress. Before the visit John Kendall, the and his son, Henry VIII. And in 1619, once the Tudor king’s secretary, wrote to the corporation stating the: dynasty had finally come to an end, Sir George Buck, entire affection that his grace bears towards you and your often regarded as the first ‘Ricardian’ historian, wrote of worshipful city, for . . . manifold your kind and loving Richard’s deep affection for ‘the goodly and ancient city deservings to his grace showed heretofore which his grace 8 of York, a place much esteemed and beloved of him’. will never forget, and intendeth therefore so to do unto Significantly, Buck’s History of King Richard the Third ‘is you that all the kings that ever reigned upon you did the work of a man who came from a long line of never so much.17 Yorkshire gentry whose great‐grandfather had laid down his life for Richard at Bosworth’.9 Plainly Thus on 8 September he invested his son, Edward, as Richard’s northernness is very well attested, both prince of Wales in a magnificent ceremony preceded by during his life and following his death, and rests on the a royal pageant. King Richard and Queen Anne Neville, firmest of historical foundations. Moreover, Buck’s resplendent in their crowns, led a procession, including early seventeenth‐century references to York cannot be Prince Edward and many temporal and spiritual lords, 49 ARTICLES to the Minster to celebrate mass. The high altar was Richard as ‘the most famous prince of blessed adorned with ‘silver figures of the twelve apostles, as memory’.27 These heartfelt laments reveal genuine grief well as other ornaments of gilt and numerous relics, all at the loss of a dear and greatly respected friend. provided by the king’. And following mass, in the hall of Indeed, as Professor Charles Ross has concluded, the archbishop’s palace, Richard ‘invested his son as Richard’s affection and loyalty towards his northern Prince of Wales by arming or girding Edward with a supporters ‘went beyond, and cannot be simply sword, presenting him with a gold rod and ring, and explained solely in terms of, political necessity’.28 placing a coronet on his head’.18 In addition he ‘knighted There is little doubt, therefore, that Richard’s his bastard son, John, and the Spanish ambassador’.19 relationship with the north and the city of York was truly Huge quantities of ceremonial regalia were hastily remarkable. Historians have not been slow to recognise ordered from the capital, including 40 trumpet banners, that ‘Richard III is unique among medieval English kings 13,000 badges of Richard’s white boar emblem, in the extent of his connections with the north of processional banners of the Virgin Mary, the Trinity, St England’.29 The surviving evidence has convinced Keith George, St Edward, and St Cuthbert, and one of Dockray that Richard’s ‘roots did lie in the north rather Richard’s arms.20 No wonder reports reaching the south than the south of England, and in Yorkshire in particular’, led some to believe that a second coronation had been and that Richard ‘did come to enjoy genuine popularity held in York.21 The king was so moved by the warmth and inspire deep loyalty from its people, especially the and grandeur of his reception that on 17 September he many Yorkshire knights, squires and gentlemen who summoned the city councillors and many commoners to entered his service during the 1470s’. As a consequence the Minster Chapter House. He thanked Dockray believes that ‘genuine loyalty’ and them for their good service in the recent ‘even affection’ motivated ‘many northern, campaign against the Scots and for and in particular, Yorkshire knights who despatching armed men to the capital ‘Even in an age fought for Richard at Bosworth’.30 And in before he became king. In recognition of characterised by ties terms of York itself, E. Miller has stated that their loyalty and devotion, and on account of good lordship on ‘Richard came to play a part in the life of of the city’s economic decay and poverty, one hand, and loyal the city, and to exercise a hold upon its Richard announced a substantial reduction service on the other, loyalty, which influenced the city’s political 31 from £160 to £100 in the annual fee farm Richard’s affectionate actions even after [his death in] 1485’. In due to the crown. In addition Mayor much the same vein, David Palliser regard for York, and Newton was appointed the king’s observed that ‘Richard was well acquainted sergeant‐at‐arms with an annual fee of £18 the corporation’s with the city for at least fifteen years before 5s.22 As one historian has concluded, the eagerness to he took the throne, and he continued to fact ‘that the investiture ceremony was reciprocate, are foster close links with its leading citizens conducted in York speaks to the nearness clearly exceptional.’ during his brief reign’. In fact he ‘knew to Richard’s heart of the city of York’.23 York for the greater part of his short life, However, within weeks of these probably better than he knew London’. memorable events Richard was again writing to York Palliser confirms that the ‘outburst of feeling in the for assistance, and this time 300 men were hastily corporation minutes over the death of Richard and despatched to suppress the rebellion of the duke of revering his memory are unprecedented in fifteenth‐ Buckingham.24 But perhaps most significant of all are century council minutes.’32 Even in an age characterised the circumstances in which the city attempted to by ties of good lordship on one hand, and loyal service on support Richard against Henry Tudor. On 16 August the other, Richard’s affectionate regard for York, and the 1485, when York learned of Tudor’s landing, the corporation’s eagerness to reciprocate, are clearly corporation despatched messengers to ascertain exceptional. Richard himself, writing from London to the Richard’s wishes. On 19 August, despite an outbreak of corporation of York in November 1477, referred to his plague in the city, 80 men were hastily sent to the king.25 imminent return north as ‘our next home coming’.33 But That the mayor and aldermen sought out the king perhaps the most poignant commemoration of Richard’s before they were requested to raise troops speaks charismatic presence in the north is provided by Francis volumes for their loyalty. Nowhere is this special Bacon. Writing in the early seventeenth century, Bacon relationship more poignantly revealed than in York’s attributed the Yorkshire rebellion of 1489 to the fact that reaction to Richard’s death at Bosworth. On 23 August ‘the memory of King Richard was so strong that it lay like 1485, the day after the battle, the council minutes lees in the bottom of men’s hearts, and if the vessel was reported that ‘King Richard, late mercifully reigning but stirred it would come up’.34 More than 500 years later upon us . . . was piteously slain and murdered to the these same sentiments, it would appear, have also stirred great heaviness of this city’.26 This spontaneous outburst the hearts of those who wish to see the king’s remains of raw emotion was repeated two months later in finally laid to rest in York Minster. October 1485, when the same men commemorated 50 Running headARTICLES RIGHT

References 16. Davies (1843), pp. 148–54. 17. Davies (1843), pp. 163–4. 1. Ross, C., Richard III, London, 1981, p. xli. 18. Compton Reeves, A., ‘King Richard III at York in Late 2. Armstrong, C. A. J. (ed.), Dominic Mancini: The Summer 1483’, The Ricardian, vol. xii, No 159, December Usurpation of Richard III, Gloucester, 1984, pp. 63, 65. 2002, pp. 549–50. 3. Ross (1981), p. xliii. 19. Palliser (1986), p. 58. 4. Pronay, N. and Cox, J. (eds), The Crowland Chronicle 20. Hammond, P. W. and Sutton, A. F.,Richard III: The road to Continuations 1459–1486, London, 1986, pp. 159, 161. Bosworth Field, London, 1985, pp. 139–40; Compton 5. Pronay and Cox (1986), p. 161. Reeves (2002), p. 549. 6. Pollard, A. J., ‘North, South and Richard III’, in Petre, J. 21. Pronay and Cox (1986), p. 161. (ed.), Richard III: crown and people, Gloucester, 1985, p. 352. 22. Palliser (1986), p. 58; Compton Reeves (2002), p. 550. 7. Ellis, H. (ed.), Edward Hall’s Chronicle, 1809, pp. 426, 442–3. 23. Compton Reeves (2002), p. 551. 8. Kincaid, A. N. (ed.), Sir George Buck: The History of King 24. Davies (1843), pp. 177–83. Richard the Third, Gloucester, 1982, p. 51. 25. Davies (1843), pp. 214–16. 9. Pollard (1985), p. 353. 26. Davies (1843), p. 218. 10. Palliser, D., ‘Richard III and York’, in Horrox, R. (ed.), 27. Palliser (1986), p. 59. Richard III and the North, University of Hull, 1986, p. 51. 28. Ross (1981), p. 56. 11. Dockray, K., ‘Richard III and the Yorkshire Gentry c. 29. Ross (1981), p. 44. 1471–1485’, in Hammond, P. W. (ed.), Richard III: loyalty, 30. Dockray (1986), pp. 41, 44, 50. lordship and law, London, 1986, p. 39. 31. Miller, E., ‘Medieval York’, in Tillott, P. M. (ed.),The 12. Palliser (1986), p. 55. Victoria County History of Yorkshire: the City of York, 13. Kendall, P. M., Richard III, London, 1955, p. 132. London, 1961, p. 61. 14. Davies, R. (ed.), Extracts from the Municipal Records of the 32. Palliser (1986), pp. 51, 72. City of York, during the reigns of Edward IV, Edward V and 33. Davies (1843), pp. 89–90. Richard III, 1843, pp. 89–90. 34. Lockyer, R. (ed.), Sir Francis Bacon: The History of the 15. Palliser (1986), p. 55. Reign of King Henry the Seventh, 1971, p. 94. Ricardian CROSSWORD 8 by SANGLIER Cryptic clues with a Ricardian flavour. Answers on p. 64

Across Down 8 Generation that holds a key to the 1 Drug not in identity of the Greyfriars skeleton. Richard, as (4) thought to be by 9 A skinflint such as Henry VII many. (4) displays no mercies with leader of 2 Refused to be opposition. (10) among the 10 Sound to me like old shillings. (6) gods? Not I! (6) 11 The man who watched Elizabeth 3 The sea here in stressed self‐denial, doing without Marseilles? almost everything. (8) Some likely to 12 Somewhere Warwick raided for a be in Florence. snack. (8) (6) 15 Agreement to lay on a nice 4 Burgundian surprise at York’s entrance. (6) Gospel article 18 The king’s brother slinging mud, brings found rant led to his death? consternation to (6,2,7) the French 19 A cry of pain in the last letter on saints. (4,3,8) 17 A number working in this joint. (5) 2nd February from Richard’s noble 5 Title of Elizabeth’s son was 20 Seeks favour for an object of supporter. (6) confirmed, or settled to some Richard’s reforms. (6) 22 Bringing shame and a good hiding, extent. (6) 21 Former partner and idle layabout, we hear. (8) 6 Cut in half and died horribly as the duke of Suffolk was. (6) 25 Controversy over this turns air around 4. (6) 23 Relaxation reportedly enforced on bluer? (8) 7 Richard’s near Bosworth perhaps, earl Rivers et al. (6) 27 Hit and run involving and in good health. (4) 24 Dislike of headgear leaning to the Northampton man crossing over. 13 Make more of a religious scholar (a left. (6) (6) couple, by the sound of it). (3,2) 26 Reckless type dared not to be so 29 Edward IV had several teachers. 14 Prise king away from one of his 29, bad. (4) (10) maybe. (5) 28 Something held in high esteem by 30 Henry VI’s project, by which he 16 Aspects of 25 that one’s entitled to, nobles from intermingled was said to be consumed. (4) it’s said. (5) bloodlines. (4)

51 (Advertisement) BOOKS Book reviews and notices their face’ (p. 113). English appeals to Henry to protect them are fruitless and they are forced to leave their Stormbird by Conn Iggulden. homes and lands with nothing. Michael Joseph/Penguin, 2013, hardback, ISBN Iggulden clearly relishes rendering the details of 9780718159832, 512 pp., £18.99 fights, ambushes and guerrilla warfare, and he brings these alive with considerable skill. Occasionally, Conn Iggulden is the best‐ however, such depictions seem to slide into almost a selling author of two series sadistic enjoyment of brutality and pain, such as the of historical novels on long sequence devoted to the horrifying maltreatment Julius Caesar and the and barbaric death of an innocent French Jew, on Mongol Khans of Central trumped‐up charges of blasphemy. In an Historical Asia. (He is also joint Note Iggulden confirms that the incident is true, but this author of the ground‐ alone does not justify its inclusion in the story, since it breaking non‐fiction title neither pushes forward the narrative nor does it The Dangerous Book for significantly develop our understanding of any of the Boys.) Stormbird is the first characters involved. This is not a book for ‘those of a in a planned series of sensitive disposition’! novels dealing with the The story concludes with a very fine account of Jack Wars of the Roses and the Cade’s rebellion and the description of his ‘army’ of somewhat fanciful title is a rebels storming through the streets of London is reference, so the author riveting. Iggulden is extremely skilled at such action‐ maintains, to an old country belief that when you see based episodes, but overall the story lacks a strong mistle thrushes fly alone on the wind, you know a sense of intrigue and characters are under‐developed. tempest is on its way. The tempest here is, of course, the Readers who like their history fast and furious and not terrible bloodletting that will come from the conflicting too introspective, however, will enjoy Stormbird. claims and ambitions of the heirs of the five sons of Elaine Henderson Edward III, and Stormbird covers the period from Edward III’s deathbed in 1377 to the appointment of the The King’s Dogge: the story of Francis Lovell by Nigel duke of York as Protector during one of Henry VI’s bouts Green of illness. Troubador, 2013, ISBN 9871783061846. Much of the story follows the career of Derry Brewer, Francis Lovell is a young squire in the service of the great Henry VI’s spymaster and fixer, a fictional character noble Yorkist lords, Warwick and Montague. The story who devises a plan to acquire a wife for the frail, opens with his courage and loyalty being put to the test as excessively pious and unworldly king, and thereby he is consigned to watch helplessly a small village in the secure the succession. Brewer fixes on 13‐year‐old Western March being torched by a bloodthirsty band of Margaret of Anjou, daughter of duke René. René has Scottish raiders known as the Grey Wolves. The screams ruined his family trying to reclaim his ancestral lands, of the dying and the brutality of the moment remain with but he hates the English, so he must be offered a him, colouring and shaping the rest of his life. powerful incentive, sufficiently compelling to allow him The King’s Dogge is set in the time of the power to agree to the marriage. Brewer proposes a truce, struggle between the warring houses of York and backed up by the return to René of two important Lancaster. Edward IV has swept to victory at Towton, provinces, Maine and Anjou, now in English hands and with the aid of his cousin, the earl of Warwick, bringing occupied by English settlers. Since Henry is incapable of an uncertain peace to the country. But discord lurks fighting and defending English lands in France, Brewer below the surface in the person of his wife, Elizabeth sees this as the only way of safeguarding the remaining Woodville, and her crowd of greedy relations. properties – Calais, Normandy, Picardy and Brittany. Consequently, a change of power ensues when the The deal is done and Henry marries Margaret – by Lancastrian King Henry VI regains the throne assisted proxy, as it is thought unwise to allow the king out of by the earl of Warwick, who has changed sides. War is the country. The French takeover of English lands is declared as Edward of York bids for his crown. bloody, the English resistance hard and bitter, Fighting gallantly for the earl of Warwick at Barnet particularly in Maine: ‘As close to Normandy as it is, Field against York, Lovell remains at Warwick’s side there are a lot of old war‐wolves living out their when all have deserted him. Warwick is killed, but retirement in Maine . . . and they’re not the sort to bend Lovell’s courage is rewarded by Richard of Gloucester. a knee just because some French lord waves a treaty in Gloucester assigns him the arduous task of fighting the 53 BOOKS

Scots in the West March. Fascinated by all aspects of war have more useful captions. For example, on p. 19 it Lovell accepts the challenge, finally able to avenge would be nice to be told where Court is and himself on the Grey Wolves, destroying each and every whether it can be visited;1 likewise, the whereabouts of one of them in bloody skirmishes across the northern the stained‐glass windows showing Richard, Anne and territories. His victorious leadership earns him a their son Edward, shown on p. 46, or the sculpture of knighthood and the consummate trust of Gloucester. Henry VII on p. 63. The photograph of Crosby Hall (p. Slowly and ultimately Lovell is able to swear loyalty to 32) actually shows the mock‐Tudor grand entrance on Gloucester. A burgeoning friendship develops between Cheyne Walk, built in 1910 – the hall that Richard would the two men, encouraged by Gloucester’s ambitious have known is the stone building round the corner in wife Anne Neville. Danvers Street, but this isn’t made clear. Neither is it On the death of his brother Edward IV, Gloucester, clear on p. 43 that the photograph captioned as ‘ under the agency of Anne Neville, is persuaded to Castle’ is one and the same as Brecknock Castle, the secure the English throne for himself. Lovell’s future is name used in the text. destined along with the newly crowned Richard III, but The author tells the story clearly and well, but a little when the lives of the two young princes in the Tower more care on either the basic research and/or the are forfeit, he is compelled to weigh his loyalty against proofreading could have avoided the historical that of his conscience. Overtaken by the tragic inaccuracies that spoil it. On p. 16, Edward of York is circumstances of Richard’s life, the death of his wife and mentioned as being ‘now Earl of March’, but he already only son, Lovell supports the king in his hour of need. held this title; rather he was ‘now Duke of York’. The This abiding loyalty finally leads him to stand beside identities of some of the less important characters are Richard at the ill‐fated . confused: the author refers to the king’s (Edward V’s) Richard and the knights of his household make a last half‐brother and, later, the queen’s son by her first magnificent charge against Henry Tudor. Betrayed and marriage as ‘Sir John Grey’ on pp. 38 and 45. He was, of outnumbered by the forces of Stanley and his Cheshire course, Sir Richard Grey. Also on p. 45, Margaret men, the king and his knights fight bravely and Beaufort’s husband is called Sir Thomas Stanley, but he defiantly. Wounded, Lovell is forced to watch the was Lord Stanley, as he is named on p. 55, although the slaughter. Grimly surveying the battlefield for the last author subsequently continues to switch between Sir time he rides away vowing to avenge his king. Thomas and Lord Thomas, which is rather Alexandra Syson disconcerting. Sir Francis Lovell (p.54) was more usually known by his title ‘Viscount Lovell’ or at least Richard III – The Road to Leicester by Amy Licence ‘Lord Lovell’ as he is referred to on pp. 48 and 55. John Amberley Publishing, 2014, paperback, 96 pp, 75 colour Howard (Jacke), Duke of Norfolk, on p.58, becomes illustrations, ISBN 9781445621753, £8.99. ‘Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk [and] his son I was pleased by the format Thomas, Earl of Surrey . . .’ (p. 59), so this is not simply of this book – published by a case of confusing John Howard with his son. On p. 72, Amberley at a purse‐friendly Horace Walpole is referred to as ‘Prime Minister’, an price – glossy pages, plenty office he never held: that was his father, Robert Walpole. of full‐colour illustrations Also, the televised ‘trial’ of Richard III in 1984 is throughout, supporting the accredited to BBC2, whereas it was one of Channel 4’s text, in a soft‐cover, inaugural programmes. More careful editing could have lightweight edition, ideal for avoided the date error (p. 49) – ‘Catherine had borne the tucking in your bag to read future Henry VI in 1521 . . .’ and the reference to on the train. Westminster Cathedral (p. 53) as Queen Anne’s place of The fictional Prologue is burial – it should read ‘Westminster Abbey’. written as if it was an eye‐ Chapter 7, ‘Aftermath’, returns briefly to the fictional witness account of the narrative of the Prologue before giving a fair summary finding of Richard’s body of Richard’s posthumous characterisation and after his death at Bosworth. Although this style may reputation, ending with the ‘king in the car park’ events. grab the interest of a bookshop browser, is it the best Unfortunately, despite some useful Notes and a way to begin a factual book? Bibliography, there is no index – something I use all the The author tells us, in the Introduction, that she time in factual books. intends ‘to demarcate where fiction becomes fact’ and I feel the author has failed in her self‐imposed ‘to aid each reader in making up their own mind’. Does objective ‘to demarcate where fiction becomes fact’ by she achieve these objectives? inserting those fictitious passages and introducing I was delighted by the pictures, which come by factual inaccuracies. This is a pity, because otherwise it courtesy of the Library of Congress. I don’t remember would be a pleasant introduction for readers new to the seeing them before, but some other illustrations could subject, so perhaps a list of errata could be inserted in 54 Running headBOOKS RIGHT any future reprint. As to her intention ‘to aid each and tries to establish probable reader in making up their own mind’, I think the author guilt. He starts with the identities has achieved this with a good balance of pros and cons of the boys and builds up a time‐ and a reasonably unbiased narrative. The book is line of how they came to be at the certainly worth a look for the unusual pictures, if not as Tower of London, starting with a text for reference. the death of their father. He 1. Tretower Court is at , , open at includes the actions of their weekends, April–October. uncle, Richard of Gloucester, and Toni Mount explains in simple terms how Richard came to be crowned Everyday Life in Medieval London by Toni Mount King of England instead of his Amberley Publishing, 2014, hardback, 272 pp, 30 full eldest nephew. colour plates, ISBN 9781445615417, £18. He then goes on to introduce the suspects in the Research Committee member murder of the princes (if indeed they were murdered at Toni Mount has spent the past all – he doesn’t rule out the possibility that they died of 18 months writing her latest natural causes or even lived out a full life span). He medieval work. With original explains why he considers each of the suspects could be in‐depth research, she explores guilty or innocent and intriguingly even names a very the ordinary lives of everyday plausible suspect that no historian has considered folk in London, from a deserted before. He ends by ‘gathering’ his suspects, Agatha Roman town of the year 500 Christie‐style, and announcing who he considers to be AD to the thriving metropolis the guilty party. Is he correct? Of course, even if the that King Richard III would bones at Westminster Abbey are proved to be those of have known. Toni writes, ‘Our the princes, it is possible we will never know but the capital city has always been a author’s conclusions are certainly well reasoned and thriving and colourful place, perhaps as near to the truth as it is possible to be at the full of diverse and determined present time. individuals developing trade, exchanging gossip and As the author himself admits, he is no historian and doing business. Abandoned by the Romans, rebuilt by no writer, resulting in this book being a little ‘rough the Saxons, occupied by the Vikings and reconstructed around the edges’. However, he is also an experienced by the Normans, London would become the largest trade detective and unbiased, being neither a Ricardian nor a and financial centre, dominating the world in later supporter of the House of Tudor, and this makes it a centuries. London has always been a brilliant, vibrant compelling read. Without wishing to give away the and eclectic place – William the Conqueror built the ending, Ricardians will certainly be pleased with his Tower, Thomas Becket was born in Cheapside, Wat Tyler conclusion as to the murderer of the princes. If you want led the peasants in revolt across London Bridge, Chaucer to read this fascinating little book but don’t have a made a living there, and, a century late, his Canterbury Kindle, it is worth remembering that Amazon do a free Tales would be the first book produced on Caxton’s new app which you can download to your tablet or smart printing press in Westminster. And it was in phone. Westminster, in January 1484, that Richard’s only Wendy Ahl Parliament introduced the concept of bail and by reducing duty on books encouraged literacy for all. But Finding Richard III: the official account of research by beneath the colour and pageantry lay dirt, discomfort the retrieval and reburial project (provisional title) by and disease, the daily grind for ordinary folk. Like us, A. J. Carson (ed.), J. Ashdown-Hill, D. and W. Johnson and P. J. Langley they had family problems, work worries, health concerns and struggled to make ends meet.’ Written collectively by five core members of the Looking For Richard project, this book for the first time records Cold Case: Reopened. Princes in the Tower by Mark the full account of how a group of individuals brought Garber together their expertise in different genres to form a team Kindle, 2014, £1.99. that activated the search for Richard III. The origins of In this relatively short (around 85 pages) e‐book, the the project, although officially launched only in 2009, author uses many years of experience as a detective in were dependent on a knowledge base which is here set the Metropolitan Police to present a rational and out in full and accurate detail, with due acknowledge‐ unbiased account of the story of the disappearance and ment to those Ricardian pioneers whose work informed presumed murder of the princes in the Tower. This is the team’s endeavours. Publication is due in June 2014; certainly a case that is colder than most but the author for details please visit: sets out the evidence as a police detective would see it http://looking‐for‐richard.webs.com. 55 BOOKS

New and forthcoming books of both Richard and Henry; all three young men grew interest under the shadow of the Wars of the Roses, suffering losses and betrayals. Ironically on his death Rhys chose Some non-fiction titles to spend his final days at the Grey Friars in Carmarthen, being buried by the monks as Richard had been almost Digging for Richard III: how archaeology found the forty years before, perhaps in an act of remorse. This is king by Mike Pitts the story of the man who helped forge the course of Thames & Hudson, 14 April 2014, ISBN 9780500252000 British history.’ (hardback) ‘This is an insider’s gripping account of how modern Cecily Neville Mother of Kings, by Amy License archaeology really works, of how clues meticulously Amberley Publishing, 10 April 2014, ISBN 1445621231 assembled and forensically examined are pieced together (hardback) to create a narrative worthy of the finest detective fiction.’ ‘Amy Licence has given us an insight into the life of a prominent and significant leader during the Wars of the Agincourt: myth and reality 1415–2015 by Stephen Roses. That she was a woman explains why this glance Cooper is so rare and so valuable. As mother of the three sons of Pen & Sword Military, 7 April 2014, ISBN 184884462X York – Edward, George and Richard – she helped put (paperback) two kings of England on the throne. As grandmother of ‘This epic story of how an exhausted, outnumbered the Princes in the Tower she was present at the greatest army, commanded by an inspirational leader, crushed a mystery in English history. Nicknamed the “Rose of huge French force on French soil has given rise to Raby” for her famous beauty, she was the loving and legends and misconceptions that make it difficult for us loyal wife of the York lord who started the Wars of the to reach a clear understanding of what really happened Roses.’ on the battlefield 600 years ago. But that is what Stephen Cooper attempts in this thoroughgoing, perceptive and And one novel fascinating reconstruction and reassessment of the battle and its history.’ Richard Revisited by Els Launspach International Theatre & Film Books, Amsterdam, ISBN The Man Who Killed Richard III: who dealt the fatal 9789064037986 blow at Bosworth? by Susan Fern ‘Within the frame of the recent discovery of the king’s Amberley Publishing, 8 May 2014, ISBN 1445619806 remains, Richard Revisited offers a poignant image of (hardback) three inquisitive minds caught up in an age‐old struggle. ‘On 22 August 1485 on a battlefield in Bosworth, The statesman Thomas More; master of the revels George Leicestershire, King Richard III, the last of the Buck; and lastly Jennifer Simpson, witness in the Trial of Plantagenet kings, was dealt a death blow by the man Richard III broadcast in 1984. In their efforts to be true to who had sworn loyalty to him only a few months earlier. themselves, each risks either humiliation or loss of That man was Rhys ap Thomas, a Welsh lord, master of integrity. In the same vein the novel questions the Carew Castle in Pembrokeshire. For his service that day sources Shakespeare used while writing his play about he was knighted on the field of battle by Henry Tudor. Richard III. To what extent did the dramatist falsify the Rhys ap Thomas’s life had been inextricably linked with facts?’ For more information visit: www.elslaunspach.nl.

From the Barton Library Contact details for all the librarians are on the inside back cover. Please note: the Audiovisual Library is currently undergoing a major reorganisation. Further details will appear in a later issue. Additions to the Non-Fiction Books Library – Concise account of the events leading up to the battle of Keith Horry Tewkesbury, the commanders and combatants, the battle itself and its aftermath. The two books below have been donated to the Barton Library in recent months, one from our consistent Frustrated Falcons benefactor Elisabeth Sjöberg and the other from Brian by Brian Wainwright (published internationally by the Wainwright – my grateful thanks to both of them author, 2013) Biographies of the three children of Edward of Langley, Tewksbury 1471: the last Yorkist victory the first duke of York: Edward his successor, who died by Christopher Gravett, illustrated by Graham Turner at Agincourt; his daughter Constance, who was at the (Osprey Campaign series, 2009) centre of a plot against King Henry IV; and his younger

56 BOOKS son, Richard, earl of Cambridge, most famous for his for her son Henry Tudor, the future Henry VII, and her involvement in the Southampton Plot against King undying love for Edmund Tudor. Henry V. Constance was the great‐grandmother of Queen Anne Neville, Richard the grandfather of Edward The King’s Dogge IV and Richard III. by Nigel Green (2013, paperback) The novel tells of Francis Lovell’s meteoric rise from Additions to the Non-Fiction Papers Library – humble squire to the closest ally of King Richard III. Marie Barnfield Lovell’s future is further shaped by Richard’s scheming Members may be interested to know that the Papers wife Anne Neville, whose ambition exceeds that of her Library can now offer the full contents of three important husband. Francis is forced to weigh his conscience and collections: ask himself what dark acts he is prepared to carry out in Gloucester’s name. England in the Fifteenth Century: proceedings of the 1992 Harlaxton Symposium, edited by Nicholas Rogers The Children of the King (1994) by Sonya Hartnett (2014, hardback) St George’s Chapel Windsor: history and heritage, edited Bombs are falling on London, and three children are sent by Nigel Saul and Tim Tatton‐Brown (2010) to the countryside to keep them safe from the war. When The Yorkist Age: proceedings of the 2011 Harlaxton they find two strange boys hiding in a ruined castle, the Symposium, edited by Hannes Kleinecke and past and present collide. This is a book for children aged Christian Steer (2013). between 7 and 11 years. The articles in these volumes that are new to the Papers Library are too many to cover here, but the following Strangers in the Village examples may be of particular interest to members: by Margaret Lovell (1994, paperback, large-print edition) ‘Women in Court: some evidence from fifteenth- Mystery and romance during the staging of a Richard III century Chester’ pageant at a present‐day (ie 1978, when the book was by Jane Laughton (from England in the Fifteenth first published) village near Bosworth. Century). NB: If you find large‐print books easier to read do This article offers a glimpse into the working lives of ask, as the Library has several other novels published in fifteenth‐century women, based on the records of this format. Chester’s Portmote and Pentice courts. A Dangerous Inheritance ‘The Burials of King Henry VI at Chertsey and Windsor’ by Alison Weir (2012, paperback) by Ralph Griffiths (from St George’s Chapel Windsor). Lady Katherine Grey has incurred the wrath of her This paper sets out what is known of King Henry’s cousin Elizabeth 1, and finds herself pregnant and in the original funeral and burial at Chertsey, and his reburial Tower. There she finds some old papers belonging to in St George’s Chapel in 1484. Kate Plantagenet, bastard daughter of King Richard III, concerning her search for what really happened to her ‘Richard III and the Office of Arms’ cousins the two princes, who were last seen in the Tower. by Nigel Ramsay (from The Yorkist Age). This covers Richard’s contribution to the professional The Kingmaker’s Daughter practice of heraldry, including his possible influence on by Philippa Wiat (1989, hardback) the practice of heraldry as Constable of England and his The life and times of Anne Neville, who is caught up in grant of incorporation to the Officers of Arms as King. the Wars of the Roses, first wed to Edward of Lancaster Ordinances for the Officers of Arms appearing to date by her father Richard Neville Earl of Warwick, and after from Richard’s term as Lord Constable are given in an their deaths then to Richard of Gloucester. appendix. Pale Rose of England Additions to the Fiction Library – Anne Painter by Sandra Worth (2011, paperback) A novel concerning Prince Richard of York (a.k.a. Perkin Destiny’s Child Warbeck) and his wife Lady Catherine Gordon. How she by Iris Gower (1999, hardback) fared in the Tudor court as a favoured lady‐in‐waiting to This is the story of Margaret Beaufort and her ambitions the queen as Richard faces execution for treason.

57 BRANCH AND GROUP reports

Continental Group Ireland Group is also interested in exploring and A first big and important step was made to form the researching the many connections and linkages between future Continental Group in connecting the participants Ireland and its sister island during the period 1450– with each other via the internet. Several Ricardians have 1500. We wish to make known to the Ricardian joined in from France, Holland, Spain, Italy, Malta and community worldwide the full extent of this unique and Gozo, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. To multi‐faceted relationship and explain Ireland’s role in cover the distances the internet is very important. This the Wars of the Roses. year we will use the time to get in touch and prepare for Suffice it to remind readers of just one such episode, our first constitutional meeting in the spring or early when in 1487 Ireland took a rebel stand against the summer of next year. We look forward to becoming an Tudors, supporting a Yorkist attempt to overthrow active group again. More Ricardians are always Henry VII by force of arms. It was in Dublin’s Christ welcomed. We would very warmly welcome some more Church Cathedral that was crowned Ricardians from Eastern Europe, Belgium and Portugal. Edward VI – his royal titles including Lord of Ireland as Please contact me at Ulmenweg 8, D‐65520 Bad well as King of England and France. Camberg‐Oberselters/Ts: Tel: 0049‐(0)6483‐800 956. Not only are we seeking new members but we are E‐mail: hans_georg_schmitt@t‐online.de. also interested in establishing contact with academics, Rita Diefenhardt‐Schmitt local historical groups, medieval re‐enactment societies and all those who have an interest in late medieval Ireland Group Ireland, its economy and society, and have knowledge and expertise relating to this country’s political and The recently formed Ireland Group is the first such military involvement in the Yorkist/Lancastrian conflict. organised Ricardian grouping on the island of Ireland We aim to be an active group, organising talks, since the Society was founded in 1924. As such, it is lectures commemorative events and visits to historical perhaps a sign of the ever‐growing friendly political sites. By the time this article is published we will have relationship between Ireland and Britain that has held our first major public event on Saturday 17 May, gathered pace in recent years and is indicative of the with a talk by John Ashdown‐Hill in Dublin’s Pearse openness to explore the many complexities of the long, Street Library on the topic ‘The Search for Richard III’. sometimes troubled, historical relationship between the We are of course extremely excited that John is currently two countries. researching his next publication, The Dublin King, the As well as supporting the Society’s general aims, the True Story of Edward, Earl of Warwick, Lambert Simnel and

Founder members of the Ireland Group (left to right): Margaret Startup, David Lee, Maureen Coggin, Laurie Fitzpatrick, Howard Fitzpatrick

58 BRANCHRunning AND GROUP head reports RIGHT the Princes in the Tower, and look forward with eager North Mercia Group anticipation to its launch next year. The Ireland Group’s links with the medieval past are The North Mercia Group is continuing to thrive in these immeasurably strengthened by the fact that the Dean of very exciting times for all Ricardians. Membership Christ Church has kindly given us permission to use the continues to increase and we shall soon be reaching the cathedral’s chapter house as a venue for committee 40 milestone. We also have long‐distance members, meetings. Christ Church was a place of worship that including one in Australia and one in Austria, and others Richard, duke of York, would have attended when in various parts of England, so, if we count these too, serving as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1449–50, a time we’re nearer 50. A wonderful achievement in just over when his son George duke of Clarence was born in four years and to think that we exist right in the middle nearby Dublin Castle. On 22 August this year we intend of Stanley lands! We are also lucky to meet with to commemorate, with an appropriate ceremony, the members of the Greater Manchester Branch, and this death of Richard III in battle and to recall all those who adds to the belief that Ricardians thrive in the north‐west. fought and fell in the conflict of the Wars of the Roses, Our monthly meetings are well attended and whether Irish or English, and of other nationalities. continue to be very lively, interesting and enjoyable. Our David Lee, chairman September outing to Tong church and Upton Cressett will go down in the history of the group as ‘Marion Lincolnshire Branch leading us to obscure places’. For those members who have never heard of Upton Cressett, it is the family home Our autumn activities began in October with a trip to the of Bill Cash MP, but in the fifteenth century it was a new Mary Rose exhibition in Portsmouth. Later that Yorkist ‘safe house’, which is why the uncrowned month, Richard Buckley, the University of Leicester Edward V stayed at the manor on his way to London Archeological Unit’s project manager, answered many after the death of his father, Edward IV. It’s pretty much questions with a well attended illustrated talk entitled a safe house today, because there is one very narrow ‘Leicester’s Grey Friars and the Search for Richard III’. approach road and if you blink you’ve missed the November saw members visit the Cheapside Hoard turning. The road has a limited number of passing places exhibition at the Museum of London. The extraordinary and it’s even more difficult if you meet a tractor on a jewels, gemstones and priceless treasures from the late bend, as we did. But it is a fascinating site and quite sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, found in a atmospheric. We visited Tong church in the morning cellar at Cheapside in 1912, are breathtaking. It was an and had a guided tour by one of the churchwardens. unforgettable day. We explored Richmond in North There are some absolutely exquisite alabaster Yorkshire, followed by a tour of Kiplin Hall, whose monuments and a chantry chapel to the Vernon family. fascinating contents range from the Civil War to the One of the tombs has the effigies of Anne Vernon and her Second World War. The house is run by trustees and husband. This is of particular interest to a Ricardian, volunteer staff who made us very welcome. because she was the niece of Eleanor Butler. The effigies We gathered in December for Christmas dinner at the still retain a lot of their original colour. Welby Arms, Allington, and in January our members’ We held two meetings in October and November, led evening went ahead with customary light‐hearted by group members, and we also paid for the tower of vigour; a quiz, photographs, fun‐packed ‘Ricardian Ludlow church to be floodlit in Richard’s memory on 2 Bingo’ and excellent refreshments. In February, Sally October. Names of sponsors of the floodlighting were Henshaw talked to the Branch about ‘Cecily Neville – mentioned in the local paper and are displayed in the Mother of Kings’, a fascinating insight into the life of church porch. At the October meeting, Pam Strong gave this long‐lived lady. Peter Bull entertained us in March us her own personal view of Richard and his times, with ‘Music for Richard III’, ably demonstrating many describing how Richard acted according to how he saw musical instruments and bringing to life dance tunes himself and his destiny amongst his contemporaries and popular songs from the fifteenth century. The and his environment. In November I took advantage of audience’s appreciation and interest was apparent from it being just past the eve of All Hallows and spoke on the many questions asked following his performance. ‘Ricardian Myths and Legends’ – thanks to Jean During a privileged evening visit to the College of Townsend of the Lincolnshire Branch for kick‐starting Arms in London, Windsor Herald, Peter Hunt, related my interest in this subject. We met at the home of Win the history and role of heralds. The fifteenth‐century Farrington, so the meeting ended with tea, coffee and Rous Roll was among the fabulous documents we some of Win’s wonderful cakes. The same day we had examined. also paid for a Requiem Mass to be sung for Richard and Thanks are owed to our secretary Jean Townsend as his family at the Roman Catholic chapel at Swinnerton, we anticipate our spring and summer events. Our the private chapel of Lord Stafford. It was a very website is richardthethirdlincs.org. moving occasion and we owe thanks to Geraldine for Maureen Wheeldon, publicity officer making all the arrangements. 59 BRANCH AND GROUP reports

Christmas was celebrated in fine style with a Worcestershire Branch sumptuous Christmas lunch at the Crown Hotel in Nantwich. We did not meet in January, but some of us The first three months of 2014 saw parts of joined Helen and members of the Greater Manchester Worcestershire flooded, but fortunately no branch Branch for their ‘Twelfth Night Bash’ at Denton Golf members were directly affected and meetings could Club. It was a very enjoyable evening all round. proceed as planned. The year began with two most We began our fourth year with our ‘Janus Day’ in interesting, carefully researched and contrasting talks by February. This was an informal meeting looking back at members. Ashley Mantle spoke about the battle of 2013 and forward to 2014. Celebration of our fourth Flodden, discussing a range of issues, not only the actual birthday was in the best style possible, with a talk on the fighting. He considered the causes of the conflict, setting ‘Looking For Richard’ project by Philippa Langley. It was it in the context of the long established cross‐border a very busy evening for Philippa, who had had a book feuding, linking Richard’s campaigns when duke of signing at Nantwich Bookshop before joining the group Gloucester to James IV’s support for Warbeck against at the Crown. The manager had sold 80 tickets for the Henry VII and Henry VIII’s need to fight on two fronts occasion and 90 books were sold, too. Fortunately, some in 1513 against the ‘auld alliance’. He explained the had been signed already, so Philippa didn’t suffer too tactics and noted in particular the failure of the Scottish much from writer’s cramp! It was wonderful to realise pikemen. just how much interest there still is in Richard III and the Jane Tinklin’s talk was entitled ‘Television Drama and Looking For Richard project. In fact, there had been so Medieval History’. She showed the ways in which much interest that the manager of the bookshop had had history could be altered to suit a particular dramatic to move the event to the adjacent nightclub, because there purpose and she highlighted the many historical was no room in the shop for 80 guests. Philippa spoke to ‘howlers’ seen on screen, while acknowledging the our group and we enjoyed a sumptuous buffet difficulties for producers in finding appropriate locations afterwards. There were 30 in the audience for this, which and recreating accurate settings and costumes. She also meant that all the members were able to meet and chat talked about the effects of inaccurate history on the with Philippa afterwards. It was an occasion that many of general public; certainly people were attracted by them said they would not forget. I certainly won’t. What television history to the subject in general and the a brilliant way to start a new group year. Richard III Society in particular, but she wondered if ‘re‐ Some members of the group attended the Society education’ was possible. Her intention was to provoke study weekend in York, and what a superb weekend it discussion and she was certainly very successful in that. turned out to be. We were in a new hotel – the Park Inn In February, Keith Stenner from the Gloucester – right on the river and within easy walking distance to branch talked about the battle of Bosworth, looking at the city centre. The speakers and lectures were really some of its more unusual aspects. He discussed interesting and there were many chances to chat and weapons and tactics, enabling members to make spend money. comparisons, but also links, with the previous month’s In the afternoon there was free time in York. Some of talk on Flodden. He explained the battlefield strategies us visited the new Richard III Exhibition in Monk Bar, of both sides and described the weapons used. Most but found it very disappointing. There is not enough interestingly, he gave full details of the magnates and focus on Richard III. It could have been an exhibition gentry who should have supported Richard but were about Yorkshire in general. In the top room there is a caught up in the Tudor advance or were seduced from film about the and the discovery of the their duty to their king. skeletons. Why? Richard was only 8 in 1461, the year of Another talk by a member was given in March, when Towton. There was also a game for children to play in Carol Southworth spoke about ‘What Happened after the same room and you could hardly hear the sound Bosworth – the Fate of the Yorkists under Tudor rule’. track if a game was in progress. It needs some more Neither Henry VII nor Henry VIII could feel truly safe thought about its focus. from the threat to the throne from the surviving There is also a new exhibition in Michaelgate Bar on Plantagenets, so that, for example, there was great Henry VII. Why? York was Richard’s city. What an rejoicing at court at the news that Richard de la Pole, the insult! Needless to say we did not bother to visit this last of the sons of Richard III’s sister, had been killed at exhibition. On the whole, though, it was a super the battle of Pavia in 1525. In 1540 Henry VIII insisted on weekend. the execution of the 80‐year‐old Margaret, the countess We’re now looking forward to our next two meetings of Salisbury and daughter of Clarence. and the visit of John Ashdown‐Hill in June, followed by The branch is looking forward to a full programme of outings and wining and dining in true North Mercian events, at which visitors and prospective members will style. Long may it continue. always be welcome. For details please see the website, Marion Moulton www.richardiiiworcs.co.uk. Carol Southworth 60 BRANCHRunning AND GROUP head reports RIGHT Yorkshire Branch New South Wales Branch contact details update On Palm Sunday, 13 April, the branch had its usual presence at Towton Hall during the commemoration of Rachel Allerton, 17/89 Albert Street, Hornsby NSW 2077, the battle of 1461 by various re‐enactment groups. The Australia. E‐mail: [email protected]. Website: weather was fine and sunny, and warmer outside the www.richardiii‐nsw.org.au. barn than inside (as often happens), and there was a lot of public interest; white roses were also placed at the Coming in the September Dacre Cross on behalf of the branch. The area round the cross has been tidied up and now there are information Bulletin September’s Bulletin will be another large issue, with boards about the terrible battle. Committee members had the latest Society news and full coverage of the a busy day, enrolling three new members and making outcome of the Judicial Review. Other items to look excellent sales of our new stock and our Rosalba Press forward to include: publications. Our Arthur Cockerill Spring Lecture was held on 26 • A special feature on Sudeley Castle and its April in York, the speaker being David Santiuste, and association with Richard III we hope to provide some information in the September • A review of the opening of Leicester’s Richard III report. The branch Study Day, arranged for 21 June, will Visitor Centre also be reported on then. • An article about the founding of the Richard III The branch’s annual commemoration of the battle of Society in 1924 Bosworth will be held at Middleham church on Sunday • A feature on Katherine Plantagenet, Richard III’s 24 August. Would members and friends please meet at daughter, and her newly discovered burial place. the church at 3 pm. The committee had hoped to • Reviews of recent Society events and the arrange a visit beforehand to Nappa Hall, home of the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival. Metcalfe family in King Richard’s time, but has The issue will also be accompanied by the Richard III unfortunately been unable to do so yet, as the new Society’s Annual Report for 2013/2014 owners are carrying out refurbishments and may have also been out of the country. We shall meet instead at Jervaulx Abbey at 11 am for a tour, following which members are free to make their own lunch Late news arrangements. If you would like to visit Jervaulx with Richard III’s crown unveiled at Tewkesbury us, please get in touch with our secretary, Pauline Commemoration Pogmore. On 3 May at Tewkesbury Abbey the funeral crown of The Yorkshire Branch AGM will take place on King Richard III was unveiled at an event commem‐ Saturday 6 September at Jacobs Well, Trinity Lane, York, orating the battle of Tewkesbury (4 May 1471). The and will start at 1.30 pm. As usual it will be followed by crown was designed and commissioned by Dr John tea. A booking form will appear with our August Ashdown‐Hill; it is intended that it will accompany the newsletter. Nominations for the committee should be remains of King Richard, wherever he is buried. It is sent, in writing, and with the nominee’s signed gilt and embellished with jewels and enamelling, and agreement, to our secretary before 23 August. Members has been made to fit the king’s head measurements. are respectfully reminded that only members of both Designed to emulate fifteenth‐century examples, it Yorkshire Branch and the Richard III Society are eligible took 15 months to construct by medieval jewellery for nomination and only full members can nominate reproduction expert George Easton, who has produced them. pieces for film and television, including the Harry The branch dinner – medieval costume optional – will Potter films and The Hobbit. Images of the crown can be held at the Black Swan, Peasholme Green, York on be found on George’s website: www.danegeld.co.uk/ the evening of the AGM day, Saturday 6 September. If page13.htm. We will have further coverage in you would like a menu and booking form, please September’s Bulletin, together with images of the contact our secretary before 23 August. crown. Please note that our branch website is now at Richard III: the king in the car park has been nom in ‐ www.richardiiiyorkshire.org. We have had to change our ated for a prestigious BAFTA, with the award server for administrative reasons, but the new site still ceremony taking place on Sunday 18 May 2014. By includes full details of our programme of events, our the time this issue of the Bulletin is published we will publications and extensive library list, and links with our know if the nomination has been successful. For secretary and with appropriate history websites. more information visit: Angela Moreton www.awards.bafta.org/award/2014/television.

61 MEMBERSHIP New members UK Ingeborg Foxbauer, Langley, Berkshire Finola Siddall, London Valerie Allsop, Chislehurst, Kent Linda Gibson, London Colney Gianna Sillani, London Robert & Lorna Austin, Scarborough, North Imogen Goldsmith‐Du Fours, Ludlow, Thushyanthi Sivagnanam, London Yorkshire Shropshire Yvonne Smart, Worksop Thomas Bailey, Harrogate, Jenny Graveson, Woking, Surrey Lesley Smith, Herne Bay Yvonne Barlow, Halifax Nigel Green, Bowden, Cheshire Harry Spry‐Leverton, Uppingham, Rutland Pamela Baxter, Tiverton, Charles Gunter, Telford Ian Stedman Brown, Southsea Barbara Beard, Sheffield Jane Guttridge, Pontypridd Elizabeth Stiles, Lytham St Annes, Heather Bell, York Karen Gwinnett, Tunbridge Wells, Kent Catherine Bennington & Family, Ripon, Anita Halsey, Winscombe, North Somerset Deborah Summerson‐Fenwick, South North Yorkshire Keith Hardman & Family, Standish, Shields, Tyne & Wear Sally Berriman, London Lancashire Philip Szwandt, Cardiff Marne Beukes, Rochester, Kent Vicki Harris, New Malden, Surrey Harold & Audrey Tarn, Guisborough, Eileen Bevan, Dunton, John Harrison & Family, Carlton In Lindrick Cleveland Martin & Sue Blakeley, Gloucester Sandy Hashimi, Bridport, Patricia Taylor, Birmingham, West Midlands Clive Bolsover, Doncaster Judith Hawkes, Newbury, Berkshire Kirsteen Thomson & Family, Kirkby Gloria Botevyle & Iris Riley, St Andrews, Mark Hicks, Gloucester Muxloe, Leicestershire Guernsey Graham Hind & Family, Thirsk, North Pamela Tonge, Buckingham Sharon Boyle, Lochwinnoch, Refrewshire Yorkshire Stella Tonks, Bath, Somerset Colin Brett, West Molesey, Surrey Michele Holden, Leicester Julia Trow & Family, Portishead, North Charlotte Bridges, High Wycombe, Cindy Hopkins, Holsworth, Devon Somerset Buckinghamshire Nigel Ince, Rickmansworth Leighton Vaughan Williams, Nottingham Gill Briscoe, Crowborough, East Sussex David Ingram, Nr Nuneaton, Richard Vernon, Glastonbury, Somerset Teri Brook, Jane & Iain Johnston, Corsham, Ellen Walsh, Sheffield Debra Brown, Norwich Derek Jones, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Graham Walters, Wednesbury, West Carolyn Brown, London Gerald Jones, Hampton Hill, Middlesex Midlands David Bryant, Tamworth, Staffordshire Janet Jump, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire Helen Westbook, Wetherby, West Yorkshire Jane Burton, Calverton, Nottinghamshire Rosemary Jupp, Emsworth, Hampshire Dierdre Whittle, Brierley Hill, West Richard Cadwallader, Woking, Surrey Lekmo Kelsang, Nottingham Midlands Wendy Campbell, Torpoint, Barbara & Anthony Kenway, Loughton, Peter & Margaret Wilcox, Doncaster Pauline Carroll, Leicester Essex Joanna Woodley, Welwyn Garden City, Rodney Castleden, Seaford, East Sussex Michael Kiddle, Gloucester Hertfordshire Elizabeth Charlesworth, , Michael Lofty, Chistlehurst, Kent Carol Wright, Barnet, Hertfordshire Leicestershire Victoria Lonsdale‐Ellis, Nottingham Helen Wright & Family, Stourbridge Melanie Coleman, Irthlingborough, Janet & Stephen Lugg, Gloucester Michelle Young, Sutton Coldfield, West Northamptonshire Jacqueline Maclean, Torrington, Devon Midlands Andrew Constantine, Esher, Surrey Susan Martin, Walsall Peter Young, Rotherham Suzanne Court‐Oak & Family, Colchester, Andrea Mason, London Essex Amanda Mc Cabe & Family, Bordon, Overseas Elizabeth Cross & Family, Preston, Hampshire Ellen Axon, Essendon, Victoria, Australia Lancashire Janet Mc Gowan, Aylesbury, Richard Batchelder, Weston, MA, USA Les Crossley, Nr Barrow‐in‐Furness, Buckinghamshire Kathleen Bergin, Hockett, ACT, Australia Cumbria Thelma Mc Loughlin, Chudleigh, Devon Benjamin Brownfield, Bethel Park, PA, USA Geraldine Crouch, Yeovil, Somerset Kayleigh Methven & Craig Hodges, Derek Byrne, Dublin 8, Ireland Alison Curtis, Ashford, Surrey Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire Megan & William Clodfelter, Bentonville, Sally Dani, Cambridge Linda Miller, Tewkesbury AR, USA Richard David‐Francis, Poole, Dorset Margaret Montgomery, Belfast Virginia Cook, Taberno, Spain Moiya & David Davies, Merriott Julie Myler, Widnes, Cheshire Gabrielle Corbett, Coorparoo, Queensland, Melissa Davies Oliveck, London Sarah Newham, Fareham Australia Margaret Donoghue, Ripon Thomas O’ Hara, London John Cramer, Jnr, Portland, OR, USA Anne & Christopher Drewery, Nr Haywards Wendy & Michael Passmore, Banbury, Kendra Creevy, Edina, MN, USA Heath, Sussex Oxfordshire Maria De Nogueira Ferrao Vieira Craigie, Marsha Drury, Ramsey St Marys, Alan Pennie & Family, Colchester, Essex Lisboa, Portugal Huntingdon Clare Ransome, Oxted, Surrey Albert De Rooij, Utrecht, The Netherlands Thomazina Dumper, Fareham, Hampshire Pennie Reeder, Bognor Regis, West Sussex Adrian & Anne Farrelly, Kells, County Bernard & Sylvia Edmond, Blackburn Ian Rich, Wokingham, Berkshire Meath, Ireland Amy Edwards, Sheffield Stewart Richards, Oxford Debbie Felmingham, Youngtown, Tasmania, Elaine Edwards & Family, Hayling Island, James Robinson, Bolton, Lancashire Australia Hampshire Karl Routledge‐Wilson, Nottingham Lee Forrington, Helena Valley, Western Amina Elhadri, London Stephen Russell, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Australia, Australia Valerie Emmons, Mitcham, Surrey Peter Ryder, Bracknell, Berkshire Wilma Garnett, Neutral Bay, NSW, Australia Susan Faulkner, London Julie Sanderson, Nelson, Lancashire Noel & Carolyn Henricksen, Chapel Hill, Susanna Ferguson, South Godstone, Surrey Ruth Sant, , Leicester Queensland, Australia Janice Fildes, Manchester Keith Seabrook, Teignmouth, Devon Hibbard, Stoughton, WI, USA Matthew Finchen & Family, Solihull, West Rose & Trevor Sedgwick, Barnsley, South Trine Knuthsen, 3520 Farum, Denmark Midlands Yorkshire Basil Kudryakov, Moscow, Russia Ian Fotheringham, Exeter, Devon Jonathan Sibley, Long Sutton, Lincolnshire Kathryn Le Veque, Mission Viejo , CA, USA

62 RunningMEMBERSHIP head RIGHT

Ferga Lee, Mayorstone, Limerick, Ireland Caitlin Starink‐Kneebone, Goulburn, NSW, Grunfeld, Ursula, Mountain View, CA Barry Lesley, Deep River, ON, Canada Australia Harmsen, Carol, McLouth, KS Wendy Lightbody, Strathalbyn, South Katherine Stratton, Halifax, NS, Canada Hess, Carol, St Louis, MO Australia, Australia Katherine Stratton, Halifax, NS, Canada Jacobs, Melanie, Salida, CO Virginia Lloyd, 76270 Nesle‐Hodeng, France Robert Timberg, Toronto, ON, Canada Jenkins, Janie, Sperryville, VA Olive Mc Kay, Wendouree, Victoria, Anna Tomson, Tallinn, Estonia Johnson, James L., Brookings, SD Australia Meredith Tucker, Padstow, NSW , Australia Joroff, Nancy, Concord, MA Andrea Mc Millin, West Valley City, UT, Alice Weiss, Columbia, MO, USA Leonhart, Jay, Columbus, OH USA David Widmer, West New York, NY, USA Logan, Jerie, Keizer, OR Vicki Mitchell, Coppet, Switzerland Philip Wilson, Malatya, Turkey Mahoney, Scott, Omaha, NE Elizabeth Orr, Abbotsford, Victoria, O’Donnell, Frank & Kathy, Furlong, PA Australia US Branch Pince, Lisa, Stockton, CA Loretta Park, Havre, MT, USA Adamson, Michael, Monterey, CA Powers, Alexandra & Bryan, Fayetteville, Linda Parker‐Davis, Charles Town, WV, Banasiak, David, Chicago, IL NC USA Battye, Tracey, Bentonville, AR Sager, Elizabeth, Blairstown, NJ Helen Robinson, Aspendale Gardens, Brinkman, David, Columbia, SC Spackman, Tom, Greenport, NY Victoria, Australia Crews‐Whitby, Carolyn, Winter Park, FL Swanson, Alisand, Eastport, ME Greeley, June‐Ann, Guildford, CT Taylor, Larissa, Waterville, ME Recently deceased members Michael Bennett, York. Joined 1999. Miss M. Marshall, Waterbeach. Joined before 1985. Mrs M. J. Clift, Letchworth. Joined before 1985. Mr D. Schofield, Hayling Island. Joined before 1985. Virginia Cook, Taberno, Spain. Joined 2014. Stephanie Wiffen, Pershore. Joined 2012. Evelyne Philpot, Henley‐on‐Thames. Joined 1989.

Obituaries entertaining way, to interest visitors Mike Bennett who were only familiar with The founder of the Richard III Richard through Shakespeare’s Museum in York, Mike Bennett, has play. Elsewhere in the museum he died aged 55. Mike, who had been endeavoured to give much more suffering from cancer, died detail about Richard’s story, to peacefully at home in York on 16 interest more informed visitors who March. Originally from Manchester, were already fascinated by this he attending Manchester Grammar period of English history. School, then read English at the In 1995, he decided to write and University of York, and settled in the perform a one‐man show, entitled city after graduating in 1980. During An Audience with King Richard III, in the subsequent years he worked at which Richard, with humour and Mike Bennett as Richard III York Castle Museum, was part of a flamboyance, answered the charges reggae band, developed his own city that history laid against him. He the story you had a relationship walk, proofread for printing firm performed it every summer for 10 with your niece, Elizabeth of York, Pindar, designed his own History of years in the top floor of the after your wife, Anne Neville, York and England charts, then, in the museum, and also in many venues died?’ The question was asked early 1990s, opened a comedy club. around the country, including around the time of the controversy This club hosted comedians Jo Brand, Middleham Castle and Ripon in the US involving President Bill Alistair McGowan and Lee Evans, Cathedral Clinton and, thinking on his feet, and was compered by the then Mike shared his memories with Mike answered: ‘Listen – I did not unknown Ross Noble. Mike himself his wife, Janet, for an article have sexual relations with that was later part of a comedy duo, published a few weeks before his woman!’ Mike also wrote a play which narrowly lost out in the BBC death: ‘Dressing as Richard III entitled Richard III – On Trial for Northern New Comedy Awards to several times a year gave me a Murder, which was performed in another newcomer, Peter Kay. double identity, which I admit I did Lancaster in 2006, then twice during In 1993, Mike took over the lease enjoy. People thought I was Richard 2013 with the renewed interest in for Monk Bar, one of the four main III, listened to my opinions and the king. medieval gateways into York’s City asked to have their photograph In 2007, Mike was diagnosed Walls. When he found out that taken with me. I was once asked for with multiple sclerosis, but he Richard had added the top floor in my autograph so I signed it Richard carried on working. Kate Fletcher, 1484, the idea for a Richard III Plantagenet.’ Another anecdote was Society member, who worked for Museum took shape. From the about a particular question‐and‐ Mike at the museum, said: ‘He outset he tried to put the case for answer session after his play when never let it slow him down or Richard in a fair, balanced and he was asked: ‘Is there any truth in diminish his humour, which was 63 MEMBERSHIP very apparent in the displays he ‘Mike was a real force in the He was a friend who sadly I did not lovingly created for the museum, Ricardian world with his play and see enough of over the years. Our including the very popular Shield the museum. How many people condolences go to Janet and their newspaper. These showed how a must have questioned the black son James. medieval tabloid might possibly legend because of him? Many, John Saunders have reported the events of 1483‐5 many of them. He was a lovely from the death of Edward IV up to bloke and will be sadly missed by Joan Smyth (1927–2014) the Battle of Bosworth. My all.’ favourite being “It’s Teddy Tights‐ The Yorkshire Branch of the Down – was Ted already Wed? Richard III Society said: ‘We were Monarchy rocked by Eleanor‐gate greatly saddened to hear of the revelations”.’ death of Michael Bennett. He was a In February 2013, in the same staunch supporter and friend to the week that the Leicester team held Yorkshire branch and supporter of their press conference about Richard III.’ Sandra Wadley, of the Richard’s remains, Mike was York‐based Society of Friends of diagnosed with bowel cancer, King Richard III, said : ‘It was with which was subsequently found to great sadness that the Society heard Joan joined the Richard III Society in be terminal. Janet said: ‘He was about the death of Mike. Mike was a 1985, after hearing Walter Welburn absolutely fascinated and delighted lovely man, who we came to know talking about the Quincentenary with the news of the discovery of quite well. He asked our late and the Richard III Society on ABC Richard’s bones in Leicester and chairman, Dorothy Mitchell, if we radio. It was only then that Joan, and thrilled by the surge of interest in would go in costume to Monk Bar her sister, became aware that a Richard’s life. While he was too ill to help open the Richard III branch existed here in Adelaide, and to go into the museum during his Museum. We then regularly both promptly joined. Of course final months, he enjoyed designing appeared in costume at Mike’s both had read that thought‐stirrer, a new tomb‐shaped display for the performances.’ The Daughter of Time. museum, which he dubbed At the end of January, Mike sold Joan’s main interest in life was Richard’s “Interim Tomb”, as the the museum to the Jorvik Group, classical music. She was a highly row about the king’s final resting part of York Archaeological Trust, accomplished pianist and guitarist, place rumbled on.’ Kate added: which reopened it as the Richard III being both teacher and examiner of ‘The discovery gave the museum a Experience on 4 April. Visit the latter instrument. Later she new lease of life and attendance www.richardiiiexperience.com for added the flute to her repertoire. soared. We experienced our busiest more information. His history charts When she moved away from year ever. For months Mike still and DVDs of An Audience with King Adelaide, to live at Wellington on continued to run the museum from Richard III are still available from the banks of the River Murray, Joan home, phoning us every day to Complete Publications, www. would drive 1½ hours to Adelaide, check in, eager to hear about new completepublications.co.uk. staying overnight at her parental stock (with Richard becoming in Mike leaves wife, Janet, 45, and home or, in later times, at a friend’s; vogue we were sent all manner of sons George, 8, and Sam, 5. then 1½ hours back again the day items to sell), to find out the daily Janet Bennett and Kate Fletcher after our meeting. She eagerly takings, or just to chat about the joined in our discussions and latest item on King Richard in the John Poever debates and could be relied on to news.’ John passed away on 31 December add any knowledge or comments Mike met many Ricardians 2013; he had been unwell for some she had on a subject. during this time at the museum, time. Together with his wife, Janet Joan had a quick sense of including the late Dorothy Mitchell, Martin, he was a member of the humour, particularly with plays on from York, who led a successful Yorkshire branch for many decades. words, or crazy versions of the campaign to have a window dedic‐ They were regular attenders at the ‘theme’ set for our ‘Christmas Do’. ated to Richard in York Minster, as branch’s medieval banquets, Janet Who remembers that ‘titfer’ one well as Philippa Langley and Dr always with a stunning headdress year when the theme was a hat? John Ashdown‐Hill. Philippa said: and John also impressively attired. Sue Walladge

Answers to Ricardian crossword 8 Across: 8 Gene; 9 Economiser; 10 Solidi; 11 Nesfield; 12 Sandwich; 15 Treaty; 18 Edmund of Rutland; 19 Zouche; 22 Abashing; 25 Reburial; 27 Ruthin; 29 Mistresses; 30 Eton. Down: 1 Hero; 2 Defied; 3 Medici; 4 John the Fearless; 5 Dorset; 6 Divide; 7 Well; 13 Add to; 14 Wench; 16 Rites; 17 Tenon; 20 Courts; 21 Exiled; 23 Arrest; 24 Hatred; 26 Evil; 28 Idol.

64 Society contacts Chairman & Fotheringhay Librarian, Fiction RIII Mailings Co‐ordinator Anne Painter [email protected] Phil Stone Yoredale, Trewithick Road, Breage, 181 Rock Avenue, Gillingham, Kent Helston, Cornwall TR13 9PZ Research Officer ME7 5PY Tel: 01326 562023 Lynda Pidgeon Tel: 01634 581547 e‐mail: [email protected] 42 Osborne Street, Swindon SN2 1DA e‐mail: [email protected] Tel: 01793 497530 Librarian, Non‐Fiction e‐mail: [email protected] Advertising Officer Keith Horry Howard Choppin 36 Hesketh Lane, Tarleton, Preston, Lancs. Ricardian & Bulletin back issues 30 Hawkshill, Dellfield, St Albans PR4 6AQ Judith Ridley AL1 5HU Tel: 01772 815152 11 Tamarisk Rise, Wokingham, e‐mail: [email protected] e‐mail: [email protected] RG40 1WG e‐mail: [email protected] Branch and Group Liaison Officer Librarian, Non‐Fiction Papers & Research Events Administrator Marie Barnfield Sales Jacqui Emerson 25 Egerton, High Legh, RIII Sales, 5 The Quadrangle Centre, The 5 Ripon Drive, Wistaston, Crewe, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6PT Drift, Nacton Road, Ipswich IP3 9QR. Cheshire CW2 6SJ e‐mail: marie.barnfi[email protected] e‐mail (enquiries only, not for orders): Tel: 01270 664645 richardiii@e‐mediacy.com e‐mail: [email protected] Librarian, A‐V & Press Records Geoffrey Wheeler Secretaries Bulletin Contact 195 Gloucester Place, London NW1 6BU David and Susan Wells Diana Whitty Tel: 020 7724 5842 23 Ash Rise, Halstead, Essex CO9 1RD Burge’s Cottage, 8 Harold Terrace, e‐mail: [email protected] Bosmere Gardens, Emsworth, Hants Membership Officer & Deputy Chair PO10 7NU. Wendy Moorhen Treasurer Tel: 01243 430169. 2 Field Hurst, Langley Broom, Paul Foss e‐mail: [email protected] Langley, Berks SL3 8PQ 46 Badminton Gardens, Bristol Tel: 01753 546066 BS16 6FG Business and Distribution Manager e‐mail: [email protected] Tel: 0117 957 0045 Stephen York e‐mail: [email protected] Hawthorn Cottage, Back Lane, Palaeography Course Holywell, St Ives, Cambridgeshire Heather Falvey Visits Officer PE27 4TQ 119 Winton Drive, Croxley Green, Marian Mitchell Tel: 01480 465120 Rickmansworth, Herts WD3 3QS 20 Constance Close, Witham, Essex e‐mail: [email protected] Tel: 01923 248581 CM8 1XL e‐mail: [email protected] Tel: 01376 501984 Editor of The Ricardian e‐mail: [email protected] Anne Sutton Press Officer 44 Guildhall Street, Bury St Edmunds, Peter Secchi Web Content Manager Suffolk IP33 1QF Tel: 07780 866225 Beth Stone e‐mail: [email protected] e‐mail: [email protected] Library Co‐ordinator Carolyn Hammond Public and Customer Relations Flat 4, 9 Devonhurst Place, Richard Van Allen Heathfield Terrace, London W4 4JB 125 Coniston Road, Bromley, Kent BR1 4JA e‐mail:griff[email protected] Tel: 020 8402 8149 e‐mail: [email protected]

Calendar We run a calendar of all forthcoming events notified to us for inclusion. If you are aware of any events of Ricardian interest, whether organised by the Society or by others, please let the Bulletin team have full details in sufficient time for entry. The calendar will also be run on the website. Date Events Originator Date Events Originator 2014 6 September Yorkshire Branch AGM Yorkshire Branch 21 June Yorkshire Branch Study Yorkshire Branch and dinner (see p. 61) Day, York (see p. 61) 13 September Portchester Castle and Visits Committee 10–14 July Herefordshire and Visits Committee Romsey (see p. 12) Shropshire 2014 (Please contact Visits 4 October Members’ Day and AGM Secretaries Long Weekend Officer if you are Norwich (see p. 9) interested – only a few 8 November Norfolk Branch study day Norfolk Branch places remain) (see p. 12) 19 July Leicestershire Branch Leicestershire Branch 13 December Christmas at Fotheringhay Chairman Study Day (Now full) 2015 17 August Bosworth commemoration Visits Committee 17–19 April Triennial Conference Research Committee (see p. 12) Late May Possible weekend in Visits Committee 24 August Bosworth Commemoration Yorkshire Branch Antwerp (to be confirmed) at Middleham (see p. 61) rom the Society’s shop This is a small selection of books and merchandise available to members from the Society’s shop. Costs are shown as: Member’s price (plus P&P for UK, EU, Rest of the World) All orders to: RIII Sales, 5 The Quadrangle Centre, The Drift, Nacton Road, fIpswich IP3 9QR. The full sales catalogue is obtainable by post from RIII Sales Catalogue at that address or from the Shop section of our website, www.richardiii.net. BOOKS Bosworth: birth of Richard III: a source The King’s the Tudors book Grave Chris Skidmore Peter Hammond & Philippa Langley Drawing on eyewitness Keith Dockray & Michael Jones. reports, new sources and Using contemporary The story of the real archaeological evidence, chronicles, letters and life, death and including the recent records, this book remarkable discovery of Richard III’s enables the reader to get discovery of remains, the author behind the mythology Richard III. vividly recreates this for a more realistic battle‐scarred world. £15.00 (£3.50, £6.90, picture of the king. £10.90) £15.00 (£3.50, £8.35, £10.00 (£3.50, £5.45, £14.24) £8.05) The Yorkist Age ed. Hannes Kleineke & Christian Steer Richard III and the Harlaxton Medieval Bosworth Studies Vol XXIII – Campaign proceedings of the 2011 Peter Hammond Harlaxton Symposium covering political and Revised paperback religious history, literary edition, updated to criticism, archaeology, art take account of the history and musicology latest historical of the period. The King Under the Car Park evidence, including the discovery of £30.00 (£7.35, £9.80, Matthew Morris & Richard Buckley Richard III’s remains. £16.60) The story of the search for England’s last Plantagenet king by £10.65 (£5.00, £7.00, two of the archaeo logists from the University of Leicester. £11.00) MERCHANDISE £8.15 (£3.75, £5.70, £7.95) BUST OF THE CRESTED IMAGE RANGE RICHARD III A newly Andrew Jamieson’s heraldic depiction of commissioned bust Richard III on horseback. of the King, based on Available as: the facial reconstr ‐ A3 prints On good quality card and presented in uction. Each bust is protective packaging; signed by Andrew Jamieson and handmade and the Society Chairman, Phil Stone. £30.00 (£3.50, £4.25, finished in bronze £5.25) effect. It comes in an A4 prints On good quality card and presented in a card attractive protective envelope. £7.00 (£1.00, £3.00, £3.50) presentation box Notelets Can be used as greetings cards: on good with a certificate quality card with an envelope banded and sold in packs signed by the maker. of 10. £7.50 per pack (£1.50, £3.80, £5.00) £60.00 (£7.10, £11.25, Postcards 50p (50p, 75p, 85p) £14.75)

NEW THE BOSWORTH POSTER NEW RICARDIAN KEY RING WHITE BOAR BADGE White boar on Silver metal key black enamel ring with £1/€1 background in a size detachable gold tresor. token for use in Traditional supermarket/ brooch/pin airport trolleys. fastening. Token has Supplied in black Ricardian boar velvet pouch. on one side and £6.00 (£2.00, the Society name £3.50, £4.00) and website address on the WHITE ROSE PIN other – engraved White, bonded porcelain in black outline. rose 2.5 cm diameter on a £4.50 (£1.50, £1.90, £2.50) 4 cm lapel pin, with A narrative and pictorial depiction of the various protective and retaining battles in the Wars of the Roses, leading up to cap on point – supplied in Bosworth. Size 60 x 40 cm. £3.00 (£5.65, £6.65, £7.30) gift box. £6.00 (£2.00, £3.50, £4.00)