sign in sign up
<<
Home , Ricardian (Richard III), Richard III of England

Ricardian Bulletin

Contents Autumn 2006

2 From the Chairman 4 Society News and Notices 10 Media Retrospective 12 News and Reviews 16 Celebrating 50 Years: Reception and Prize-Giving at Barnard’s Inn by Howard Choppin 21 Ricardian Heroes: Patrick Bacon by John Saunders 26 The Age of III: Memories from the NPG Exhibition 1973 by John Saunders 32 Memories from Scotland by David Fiddimore and Philippa Langley 34 The Society’s Earliest Members 37 Are we there yet? Or a Medieval Pilgrimage by Lynda Pidgeon 41 Notes from by Phil Stone 42 Scurrilous Songs for Ruthless Ricardians by Helen Astle 43 The Man Himself by Gwen Waters 48 The Debate: Who murdered the Princes? 50 Was Norfolk a Traitor? by David Johnson 52 Logge Notes and Queries by Lesley Boatwright 55 Only if it May Stand with the Law of the Church by Marie Barnfield 58 Lord Olivier – a ‘closet Ricardian’? by Geoffrey Wheeler 61 Correspondence 67 The Barton Library 68 Letter from the Continent 70 Future Society Events 72 Branch and Group Contacts 74 Branches and Groups 81 New Members 81 Recently Deceased Members 82 Obituaries 84 Calendar

Contributions Contributions are welcomed from all members. All contributions should be sent to the Technical Editor, Lynda Pidgeon. Bulletin Press Dates 15 January for Spring issue; 15 April for Summer issue; 15 July for Autumn issue; 15 October for Winter issue. Articles should be sent well in advance. Bulletin & Ricardian Back Numbers Back issues of the 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 are interested. For contact details see back inside cover of the Bulletin

The Ricardian Bulletin is produced by the Bulletin Editorial Committee, General Editor Elizabeth Nokes, and printed by St Edmundsbury Press. © Richard III Society, 2006

1

From the Chairman

n my piece in the last Bulletin, I expressed the hope that those of us north of the equator I would have a good summer, and depending upon your point of view, this has certainly been the case so far and I’m happy to report that the heat and humidity haven’t stopped the Bulletin team and other contributors putting together another great anniversary edition. Continuing our celebratory theme, there are articles on our first chairman, Patrick Bacon; the never-to-be forgot- ten 1973 NPG exhibition, which had such a positive impact on the Society; more memories from long-standing members and the Scottish Branch; as well as a fascinating article on Lord Olivier by Geoffrey Wheeler. Historical features include the thought-provoking suggestion that John Howard may not have been as loyal as we all thought; and the final part of Marie Barnfield’s important article on the marriage of King Richard and Queen Anne. Many of you will have read Michael Hicks’ controversial article on the dispensation required for that marriage which appeared in the June issue of the BBC History magazine. We were quick to react - see page 12 for details of our response. This has also had the advantage of enabling us to start a dialogue with that magazine, and in the longer term this may provide opportunities for publishing more positive views of Richard III. The Bulletin Team is aware that having a number of different people to whom to send contri- butions can be confusing and so it has been decided to have just one, the technical editor, Lynda Pidgeon. Please see the notice on page 8 which gives more information about this change. Few Ricardians would disagree with the statement that ‘history matters’ and the Society has signed up to help the National Trust and English Heritage, together with other bodies, promote the ‘History Matters’ campaign. See page 13 for details. It is always sad when a member dies, in the last issue we introduced a ‘recently deceased members list’. This is in addition to the full obituaries that have long been a feature. This time around, I am particularly saddened to record the deaths of two well known and very popular Ri- cardians: Pat Ruffle and Don Fleming. They will both be very much missed by us all. The next Australasian Convention takes place in Wellington, New Zealand, in April, 2007. The branches down-under do a marvellous job in organising their events and when one considers the distances involved, they really do deserve our admiration. If any Ricardians are going to be in New Zealand next April, show the Australasians your support and sign up for the convention. Whether you can make Wellington or not, I do urge as many as possible to come to the AGM and weekend of anniversary events in at the end of September. We want this to be an occa- sion that is both enjoyable and interesting for members, as well as being one that provides lots of opportunities for members to get together, and also for myself and others of the Executive Com- mittee to meet, listen to and exchange views with you all. The message is simple: be there! After all, you don’t want to be saying afterwards, ‘I wish I’d been in York in 2006.’ Thank you and see you there. Where? In York, of course. Phil Stone

2

York … the Place to be 29 September – 1 October 2006 and be a part of the Richard III Society’s history for the next fifty years

3

Society News and Notices

The Richard III Society’s

Members’ Weekend Friday 29 Saturday – Sunday 1 October 2006 in The City of York

This year, as members will probably be in no doubt, is a special year and our usual members’ day has been extended to an entire weekend in order to celebrate the fifty years of the refounding of the Society. A full pro- gramme has been put together and the Committee look forward to welcoming members to Richard’s favourite city.

Friday 29 September 2006 Lecture at the Hospitium Professor Tony Pollard’s lecture on his ‘journey’ with Richard III will take place in the four- teenth century Hospitium in Museum Gardens in York.

Ricardian Get-Together at Refreshments will be available prior to the lecture and afterwards members are invited to visit Barley Hall for a candlelit get-together in the Great Hall, home to fifteenth-century York Mayor, William Snawsell. There will be a pay bar for wine, bottled ales and soft drinks.

Saturday 30 September 2006

Notice is hereby given that the 2006 Annual General Meeting of the Richard III Society will be held on Saturday 30 September 2006, in the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, York

The meeting will begin at 12.00 noon. The formal business of the meeting will include re- ports from the officers, the presentation of the Annual Accounts of the Society to 31 March 2006, and the election of the Committee for the next 12 months.

Nominations for the Committee should reach the Secretary, Miss E.M. Nokes, at 4, Oakley Street, Chelsea, London, SW3 5NN not later than 14 September. All nominations must be proposed, seconded and accepted in writing by the member proposed.

Resolutions for the Agenda, proposed and seconded, should also reach the Secretary by 14 September.

4

The Annual General Meeting The AGM will be held in a new venue, the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall in the centre of the city of York. In addition to the formal proceedings, the day will include the usual attractions of a ‘members’ day’.

Because much of the material formerly reported by officers at the AGM has been included in the Society’s Annual Report (included in this issue of the Bulletin – please do read it, and bring it with you on 30 September) officers’ reports will need only to bring matters up to date, and the focus of the meeting can be on the future and on members’ issues.

A great deal has been written about the past but the Society now needs to look forward to the next fifty years and the annual general meeting on Saturday 30 September is an opportunity for members to make their feelings known. There will be an open forum to answer your questions, and respond to your issues. These can be raised verbally, or can be written down prior to the meeting and there will be a supply of post-it notes and a board so queries can be anonymous, but if they cannot be answered on the day, you may be asked to supply name/address, so that an of- ficer/member of the executive committee or another committee can respond to you.

Programme for the Day 11.00 Opening of Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, refreshments, opportunity to visits stalls. 12.00 – 13.00 AGM 13.00 – 14.00 Lunch 14.00 – 17.00 Workshops on palaeography, Latin, costume, and music will each be held twice during the afternoon. Opportunity to visit stalls and network with mem- bers. 15.30 & 16.00 Optional tour of the Minster 17.00 Conclusion of Members’ Day 19.00 for 19.30 Gala Dinner at Merchant Adventurers’ Hall

Tickets for the AGM Please do not forget to order your ticket(s) for the AGM. The venue has a limited capacity as explained in the Summer Bulletin (p. 11). A booking form is available in the centre fold section.

Refreshments and Lunch at the AGM Refreshments on arrival and a light buffet lunch to follow the AGM have been arranged and a combined booking form is available in the centre fold section.

Attractions at the AGM The venue will be open from 11.00 a.m. for:

The Major Craft Sale – The twenty-seventh Major Craft Sale will be held around the AGM/Members’ Day. The sale will start at 11.00 a.m., will run until the start of the AGM at noon and will then continue in the lunch interval and afternoon. We shall have on sale: Ricardian embroidery, cakes and sweets (for home consumption only), paperweights, RCRF Christmas cards, knitted items and baby clothes, soft toys, collage ... and Ricardian and other bric-a-brac.

Sales Office Ricardian Sales Stall / Second-hand book sale – There will be the full range of Society/Trust publications, and society artifacts. Unfortunately the second-hand bookseller who had been invited to the AGM has withdrawn and we have been unable to find a replacement. There will, however, be a sale of duplicate books from the Barton Library, see page 67.

5

The Research Officer and Webmaster – in other words Wendy Moorhen and Neil Trump, will be delighted to talk to members about Ricardian research activities and the Society’s website.

Branches and Groups Table – at which branches and groups will showcase their publications and activities.

Visits Team table – will be hosted by members of the Visits Team, and will display information on past visits, and details of future visits: suggestions for the latter will be welcomed.

Membership Manager and Treasurer’s Table – Brian Moorhen and Paul Foss will be able to receive payment of subscriptions at Members’ Day, and will have a table for this purpose from 11.00 a.m. to noon and from 13.00 to 14.30 p.m.

Apropos of the Craft Sale we would warmly welcome offers of items for sale. We do appeal to members to try to provide some item(s) for the sale. If you cannot do any form of craft work, please try to look out some item(s) of jumble or bric-a-brac. We would of course also warmly welcome all items of any sort of craft. If you wish to bring items along on the day, it would be most helpful if you could mark them with an indication of the price(s) at which you think they should be sold.

If you wish to give or send items to me in advance – do please contact the Secretary to check that the items are suitable. Please contact: Miss E.M. Nokes, 4, Oakley Street, Chelsea, London SW3 5NN. Tel. 01689-823569 [voicemail] Please note that the proceeds of the Craft Sale will be devoted to the Ricardian Churches Restora- tion Fund, as also will the proceeds of the raffle.

Annual Grand Raffle at Members’ Day As usual we shall be having a raffle at this year's Members’ Day, in aid of the RCRF. The tickets will be 25p. each, or 5 for £1.00, and will be on sale at the meeting. The prizes include:

Certificated piece of Fotheringhay glass  Clock Florentine Box Plaque of Society boar and motto Loyaulté me Lie  quincentenary commemorative medal [bronze]  Compact mirror Coasters Pottery pots with illustration of Richard on lid Collage NPG portrait of Richard III by Enid Hughes Plant-watering set V&A paperweight of Victoria and Albert after Winterhalter

Prizes are not ranked in any order: first ticket drawn will have first choice, and so on. We thank the contributors and suppliers of prizes.

Call to Branches and Groups If your branch/group wishes to make a report at the AGM, please let the General Secretary, know, by 14 September, so that you may be included on the AGM Agenda. Reports can be made in person by a branch/group representative, or, for overseas branches/groups, if no local repre- sentative is to be in York at the time of the AGM, in printed form, to be read at the AGM. Re- ports should not exceed 3 minutes, and should consist of new material not previously reported verbally or in print.

Minster Tour Due to the popularity of this tour we have now arranged for three guides. The first tour will take place at 3.30 pm and two at 4 pm. Members will be advised of which tour they have been allocat- ed to in the joining instructions.

6

Gala Dinner There are still a few places remaining for what promises to be an enchanting evening. Dress is black tie/lounge suits for the gentlemen, cocktail/evening dress for the ladies and medieval forthose who wish to take advantage of this truly beautiful setting. Booking form in the Winter Bulletin or write to Jacquie Emerson, Research Events Administrator (contact details on inside back cover).

NB If you need somewhere to change before the dinner it will be possible for you to store your evening clothes/medieval dress at the Merchant Adventurers’ during the day and a place will be made available for changing prior to the event. All items, however, are left at the owner’s risk

Sunday 1 October 2006 The 11.30 am Service at the York Minster will include prayers for the Richard III Society.

Ricardian Fair at Barley Hall The weekend will conclude with the Ricardian Fair at Barley Hall where Michael Bennett will be performing his one-man play of King Richard, the Company of Palm Sunday 1461 re-enactment group will be demonstrating their skills in the Great Hall (see page 11) and the management of Barley Hall are organising a number of medieval craft stalls. Entry by advance ticket (concession) or £5 on the door.

The Friends of Barley Hall will be holding their own AGM that morning, see page 15 for details.

Full details of the all the Members’ Weekend activities were published in the Winter Bulletin together with the booking forms, and updates have been published in the Spring and Summer editions.

Joining instructions and tickets will be sent out during week commencing 4 September together with a commemorative leaflet.

If you have any queries about any matters relating to the AGM or Members’ Day, please contact the Secretary (AGM) or Wendy Moorhen (Members’ Weekend activities) – addresses inside back cover of the Bulletin.

Subscription Renewal 2006 - 2007 Annual subscriptions become due for renewal on 2 October, and it would save the cost of re- minders if members who do not pay by Standing Order would send their subscriptions promptly.

The rates this year are:

Full Member £18.00 Families (all members of same family, living at same address) £24.00 Senior Citizens (Ladies and Gentlemen over 60) £13.00 Senior Citizen Family (same family, same address, where all are SCs) £18.00 Junior (under 18 years of age) £13.00 Student (Over 18 attending full-time educational course.) £13.00 Europe/Overseas Members’ postage supplement (see below) £6.50

7

Subscriptions should be sent to the Richard III Society, Membership Department, 2 Field Hurst, Langley Broom, Langley, Berkshire SL3 8PQ

Cheques and postal orders should be made payable to the RICHARD III SOCIETY. A special insert in this Bulletin is provided for those not paying by Standing Order, and to save the Mem- bership Department’s time, will members please indicate their membership category. This is par- ticularly important if you are changing category. If you have now reached the age of 60 and wish to pay the senior citizen membership rate please advise us as your membership category is not automatically updated. NB to qualify for senior citizen family membership all members must be over the age of 60.

Payments by Credit Card The Executive Committee has recently reviewed the use of credit cards as a means of payment for Society goods and services, i.e. payment of subscriptions, visits, events, books and merchan- dise. These transactions incur a charge from our bankers and it is with regret that we have to pass this charge on to members. With immediate effect all payments by credit card (Visa or Master- card) will include a 5% surcharge. One of the Committee’s major concerns is keeping the Society viable financially, whilst act- ing in a manner that is fair to all members, and naturally, it is sorry to take this course of action since credit cards are such a convenient method of payment, particularly for overseas members who would otherwise need to obtain an expensive sterling cheque or bank draft. However, the Society manages the cost of its goods and services very tightly, particularly in the areas of visits and events, where the price is based on actual cost and there is no margin to absorb the bank’s charges. Similarly, with subscriptions being kept as low as possible and including concessions offered to juniors, students and senior citizens, there is no cover for the charges. The Committee sincerely hopes that all members who pay by credit card will understand the position.

Overseas Postage Supplement The recent changes to the postal services as operated by Royal Mail have led the Executive Committee to review the costs of sending out the journals and, in particular, the postage to overseas members. It is with great reluctance that we have to announce that, with effect from 2 October, 2006, for members not belonging to the Canadian, New Zealand, NSW and Victoria branches of the Society, there will have to be an increase in the overseas postage supplement from £5 to £6.50. (Journals for the Canadian, New Zealand, NSW and Victoria branches are sent en masse to the branch for internal distribution, for which a separate postal supplement is charged.) Executive Committee

Bulletin Procedure – Important – Please read Members will appreciate what a complex process it is to produce each copy of the Bulletin so that it is as professional in appearance as possible. We have been thinking about this process and believe that it is rather more complex than it needs to be so we are trying to make things easier by having only one address to which all contributions should be sent. At the moment there are sever- al and this can cause confusion as to where to send something and this can cause unnecessary delays. Therefore we are asking all members if they would please send all material for the Bulle- tin whatever it is, letters, articles, branch news or anything else to Lynda Pidgeon, who is the technical editor and she will send it to the appropriate person on the Bulletin committee. Her ad- dress is on the inside back cover of the Bulletin.

8

As we say the above applies to everything for the Bulletin whoever it has been sent to previ- ously and we would greatly appreciate it if it could be sent electronically or on disk, or at least typed. If you send it on disk please send it securely packed and if you want it returned send a stamped addressed label with it. We do appreciate that some items cannot be sent either electron- ically or typed and that not everyone has access to computers or typewriters in any case and we will of course still welcome the contributions of every member however it is sent. The press dates, 15th October, January, April and July, remain the same but we do ask members to under- stand that these are absolutely final dates for material and we would much prefer to receive items before this. Articles should be sent well ahead of the press date. We look forward to receiving items for the December Bulletin. The Editor

The Chairman is on the move Please note that Phil Stone has now moved and his new address is: 181 Rock Avenue, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 5PY

Chivalry, the and St George’s Chapel Seminar at Vicars Hall, Please note that this event is now full but we are maintaining a waiting list. Please write to Jacqui Emerson, Research Events Administrator, address inside back cover.

Lincolnshire Medieval Banquet The Lincolnshire Branch of the Richard III Society is holding a Medieval Banquet on Saturday 28 October 2006 at the Angel and Royal Hotel, , at 7.30 for 8.00 p.m., to celebrate its thirty years as a Branch. Members are invited to wear costume but this is not obligatory. The meal will consist of several courses and there will be music and a surprise entertainment. Special concessionary rates have been negotiated with the hotel for overnight accommodation. The prices are banquet: £25, bed and breakfast £70 per couple; £50 single. Please send cheques for the banquet, made payable to: Richard III Society, Lincolnshire Branch, Lindum House, Dry Doddington Road, Stubton, Newark, Notts NH23 5BX. If you require B&B, please contact the Angel and Royal Hotel direct on 01476 565816. When booking accommoda- tion, please advise the hotel that you are attending the banquet in order to qualify for the special rates and payments should be made direct with the hotel. Marion Moulton

9

Media Retrospective

From Marilyn Garabet brother as Queen Margaret, and he subverted Daily Mail, May 2006: ‘Da Vinci Code all the women’s long keening scenes by play- chapel’s new musical secret’ – by George ing her in the style of Hattie Jacques. ... One Mair. ‘... ancient Rosslyn Chapel near Edin- evening ... there was an electrifying grace burgh is about to give up the secret of another note. The playing Richard was gifted, code contained in 213 mystical cubes in the prodigiously so ... we were rehearsing his stone pillars. ... It was discovered last year by soliloquy on the night before the battle ... In a Scots composer Stuart Mitchell [who] ... re- play full of stately ... Senecan complaint vealed the haunting melody after he discov- (dull) or mad action plotting (nonsense), this ered the stones at the bottom of each of is a sudden explosion of Shakespeare’s most twelve pillars ... represented a cadence ... each distinctive voice. The actor hit the rhythm ... cube contained different patterns to form ... a and was momentarily possessed by it. ... We six and a half minute piece of music for thir- attempted to do a dry run ... to friends and teen medieval players. Mr Mitchell was able relatives ... Our first performance in York- to fill in the gaps created by two missing cu- shire was to a school audience ... things got bes in the sequence. A special orchestra is worse ... Our next performance was on the being created to play the piece of music for fringe ... we had to make a radical adjustment the first time since it was encrypted in stone from four hundred school kids to three old five hundred years ago. ... Of the thirteen me- ladies ... Yet then ... a corner was turned ... dieval instruments depicted on pillars by the our first performance on the festival ... was in chapel’s architect William Sinclair, two no an enormous cattle-auction barn ... birds longer existed. But a team of experts is now swooped and soared between their nests in the building all thirteen instruments.’ roof ... the audience, all local ... moved during the show between their seats and the bar. The From Geoffrey Wheeler fact that it was so large dictated to us that we Will and Me: How Shakespeare took over my had to give it welly. We did, and something in life, Dominic Drumgoole, Allen Lane. Chap- the language and the story responded to our ter ‘Richard III, schism and three old ladies in energy and quadrupled it. The fact the space hats’ recounts the presentation of Richard III was so open and clean and full of air demand- in for the Quincentenary Festival ed honesty from us. We gave it, and the lines in 1983. Drumgoole’s history is not his strong came out clean and muscular and hard. The point: ‘ Middleham ... topped by a Gothic ruin warmth and the delight of the audience – real- of a medieval castle, whose one great claim to izing we were daft southern buggers but not fame is as the place where Richard III was minding – helped us share our gathering mo- born. ... They decided to present a festival to mentum in the story. Something in Shake- celebrate ... Richard’s in 1483. speare arrives when the conditions are right.’ They were determined to record how their boy had done good, even if their boy had From John murdered a morgue full of relations, and dis- Funeral for Siegfried by Audrey Williamson: appeared two young nephews for good meas- The detective is Richard York and his mother, ure. ...’ They were asked to present Richard Aileen a famous actress: III while a fringe presentation offered the ‘Aileen: “What is, ?’ It was her usual revisionist view in Shakespeare was a Hunch- name for him, taken from the diminutive by back. Drumgoole outlines the style of presen- which King Richard III had been known to tation, with a cast of seven: ‘Rehearsals close friends and family. In fact, he had been foundered on various rocks. ... I had cast my named after that king, in one of Aileen’s

10

bursts of enthusiasm for the Yorkist cause and been playing in Richard the last of their royal line, so maligned, she III, one of her few acting excursions into considered, by Shakespeare and the usurping Shakespeare’s histories”.’ Tudors. She had, shortly before his birth,

The Company of Palm Sunday 1461

The Company of Palm Sunday 1461 (COPS) is the affiliated re-enactment group of Towton Battlefield Society. Nominally of the household of Sir William de Salley of Saxton, as the name suggests, COPS is identified more specifically with Towton by virtue of its close connection with the Battlefield Society (the Company was formed in 2001 by four TBS members). We represent a typical band of Yorkist archers in the employment of King Edward IV, and are perhaps best known for our involvement with the Society’s annual commemorations and guided battlefield walks which take place every Palm Sunday. In common with other medieval re-enactment groups, members of COPS are ‘lifestyle hobbyists’ with shared interests (some might say an obsession!) in fifteenth- century history and longbow archery. We are based mainly around and the North-East, and come from a wide range of backgrounds including archaeology, ar- chives, horticulture, IT, retail management and local authorities. As well as our close ties with TBS, many of us are also members of related organisations including the British Longbow Society, the European Historic Combat Guild and the Richard III Society. COPS has a core of about fifteen active members who own full sets of replica cos- tume, weaponry and equipment, and we can call upon extra support from partners, associates and other local re-enactment ‘households’ when necessary. Underpinned by TBS’ strong educational ethos, from its inception COPS was committed to high standards of accuracy and authenticity in all the activities we carry out to support the Society’s aims. These consist mainly of fifteenth-century interpreta- tions and educational events ranging from simple lectures, ‘show n’ tell’ equipment demonstrations and guided walks, to full days or weekends of living history. The lat- ter involve us setting up an encampment of authentic tents with a fire range for cook- ing medieval-style food, where we carry out activities including archery, sword and pole-arm training, costume and equipment making and mending, finger-weaving and lucetting, candle-making, and fifteenth-century pastimes like dice games, buckler-ball and recorder music. COPS is deeply honoured by the invitation to appear at the Richard III Society’s 50th anniversary weekend and to meeting members at Barley Hall on 1 October. For further information on COPS and our current events calendar, check out our website, www.palmsunday1461.co.uk or e-mail the Secretary at nfo@palmsunday 1461.co.uk Helen Cox

11

News and Reviews

BBC History Magazine: The Incestuous King? by Michael Hicks Following the now established tradition of authors having their recent publications showcased in BBC History Magazine, Michael Hicks’ new book on was featured in the June is- sue with a banner on the front page advertising ‘Richard III’s incest’. Prof. Hicks homed in on the hot topic of Richard’s marriage dispensations, or rather the per- ceived lack of them, and proceeded to look at the legality of his proposed second union (with ), touching on Edward IV’s marital career along the way. The closing para- graph of the article began with the statement, ‘By the standards of his day … Richard’s first mar- riage was incestuous. He had married his sister.’ The foundation for Prof. Hicks’ incest theory is that the marriage of Richard’s brother George of Clarence to Anne’s sister Isabel had rendered Richard and Anne canonically brother and sister, related by in the first degrees. I am sure members have been following the series of arti- cles in the Bulletin by Peter Hammond and Marie Barnfield following Peter Clarke’s recent dis- covery of a dispensation in the Vatican’s archives which dealt with one aspect of Richard’s rela- tionship with Anne. In her article in the Summer Bulletin Marie has ably demonstrated that when a marriage occurs, the bride and groom each become joined to the other’s family, but their two sets of relatives do not become contracted with each other, and that double brother-sister mar- riages were not uncommon. Clarence’s marriage to Isabel put no obstacles in the way of Rich- ard’s marriage to Anne. Prof. Hicks continues his argument about the necessity of legal marriages by referring to Richard’s claim to the throne due to the illegitimacy of his nephews and the fact that Edward had ‘supposedly pledged himself to another (the precontract) and that his marriage to Queen Eliza- beth was held to be void in 1483’. Prof. Hicks only makes reference to the precontract (with La- dy Eleanor Butler, née Talbot) but makes no mention of the clandestine nature of his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville. As Edward and Elizabeth lived openly together for many years this might have been in favour of the of their offspring despite the precontract but only if their marriage had obeyed the laws of the church, which it did not because it was clandestine. Such marriages were censured as the parties could have a relationship or impediment that would have been made public by the calling of banns. It is the combined circumstances of the pre-contract and Edward’s clandestine second marriage that led Richard to claim the invalidity of the un- ion and to declare his nephews and nieces bastards. Prof. Hicks now warms to his theme of the incestuous king and claims that Richard favoured his niece, Elizabeth of York, as his next wife. It seems incredible that Richard seriously consid- ered marrying Elizabeth and compromising his own position, both in terms of the blood affinity and her bastardisation. With the removal of the charge of incest with Anne Neville there is no precedent for the idea that Richard had a penchant for incestuous relationships which is promul- gated in the article. Of course we know that he found it necessary to deny publicly the rumours and it is evident that forces were at work, but it is highly unlikely they were instigated by Richard in view of the fact that just six days after the death of Anne Neville, Richard sent an envoy to Portugal to negotiate a marriage between himself and the sister of King John II, the Infanta Joan- na. The proposal, however, was not limited to one marriage but two, the second between the of Beja, a cousin of King John who eventually acceded to the throne of Portugal as Manuel I, and Elizabeth of York. This was a provocative article which demanded a response from the Society. BBC History Magazine were offered an article pointing out the deficiencies in Prof. Hicks’ arguments. In the

12

event they declined it, but they have now published a letter from Marie Barnfield addressing the major error of an affinity between Richard and Anne in the first degree, and clarifying the overall situation with regard to the necessary dispensations required by Richard and Anne to contract a legal marriage. Wendy Moorhen

History Matters As a statement, ‘History Matters’ hardly comes as news to our members as the Society has been very much involved with our past heritage and history. However, a group of Britain’s leading heritage organisations have now come together to launch a campaign to raise awareness of our historical past. The campaign’s slogan is History Matters – pass it on and it is about ‘raising awareness, building support and encouraging involvement in history and heritage in and ’. The organisations involved are:  National Trust  English Heritage  Heritage Link  Civic Trust  Council for British Archaeology  Heritage Lottery Fund  Historic Houses Association The Society has made an official approach to the campaign organisers with the objective of joining them in our role as a leading medieval society and of course both our aims and those of the campaign run along the same lines. We will keep you informed of developments. A nice quote that sums up why history matters come from Machiavelli, the political philoso- pher who said ‘Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past, for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same result’. Richard Van Allen

Agincourt 1415 by Michael K Jones (Pen and Sword Books) This new book is the latest one on military matters by Michael Jones. Although it doesn’t bear directly on our period of interest we thought we should draw it to the attention of members be- cause it contains an excellent discussion of the psychology of the battle and the motivation of his troops by Henry V. This discussion is relevant to the study of any battle. It is very readable as Dr Jones’ books always are and the discussion of the battle reinterprets its course in a new and fascinating way.

The Richard III Foundation: Richard III – Lord of the North 29 September and 30 July 2006 Friday, 29 September, 2006 5:00 pm - Mass in honour of the 550th birthday of Queen Anne Neville at the church of St Mary and St Alkelda, Middleham 6:30 pm – Dinner at Friar’s Head at Akebar

13

Saturday, 30 September, 2006 The conference will be held at the York CVS, 15 Priory Street, York, England, YO1 6ET. The conference will begin with registration at 9:30 and will conclude at 5:00 pm. The speakers for the day will include: Mr Colin Holt - The Ridings of Yorkshire, their continued existence and relevance to Yorkshire’s Identity. Prof Anne Curry - Richard III of England and I of France Mr Andrew Morrison – The and Other Objects from Middleham Prof Craig Taylor - Chivalry in the 14th and ? Mr Russell Butcher - The Diplomatic Triangle: England, France and . Dr Peter Clarke – New Evidence Concerning Noble and Gentry Piety in Fifteenth Century England. Tickets for the event are £21 for patrons and £25 for non-patrons. To order your tickets, please write to Mrs. Mary Kelly, 77 Deacons Green, Tavistock, Devon PL19 8BN and enclose your cheque payable to ‘The Richard III Foundation, Inc.’

My Kingdom For A Horse? Review of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Group’s Celebratory Event Richard Derrington's My Kingdom For A Horse? went ahead in Nottinghamshire on June 23 (despite those darned little gremlins printing the wrong letter in the Summer Bulletin). It was our celebration of twenty years as a Group and the fifty years of the Society. And what a wonderful tour de force it was! Richard, a professional actor and director, wrote and performed his own one-man play about Dickon Broom, the possible third natural child of Richard III, who lived and died in obscurity in Eastwell, Kent. It was everything we could have hoped for. We marvelled at the way with just a shade of the face or a stiffening of posture he became someone else. I had wondered if it might be a succession of different hats – but it was so much more subtle and professional than that. We loved his Shakespeare, with a flat almost Brummie accent. His Dickon was a marvellous creation, unexpected, not quite the full shilling, humour and pathos combined, a wonderful vehicle to tell the story. King Richard was surprisingly northern and a little stern, but king-like, slightly remote, as he may well have been in later months after Edward and Anne’s deaths. Someone thought he detected a definite East Riding note in one char- acter – he said he had a friend with precisely that voice. Francis Lovell was calm, noble, quite friendly; the – so shiny and pleased with himself, I could see him. An amazing picture. And Morton – what a slimeball! The whole thing was sheer enjoyment, wonderfully balanced with the pathos of young Ned’s death and our hero’s appalling mistake at the Tower, the enormity of which he fortunately never seemed to quite grasp – I had tears in my eyes at those points. It must be very rewarding for an actor to perform his own work, knowing exactly how it was meant when it was written – no wondering if the writer intended this or that, should we interpret it one way or another... Richard Derrington brought all those characters to vivid life – I could practically see the clothes they wore. We owe our grateful thanks to Mr Derrington, who stuck with us through many difficulties in the planning stages; to Nottinghamshire County Council who enabled the production with a £500 Communities Initiatives Grant, thus helping us to break even instead of sinking into bankruptcy. Ravenshead Village Hall Committee was very helpful in the hiring of its hexagonal timber- roofed hall with its wonderful acoustics. There were between fifty and sixty in the audience, which was a respectable number, thankfully not lost in the nicely intimate size of the hall, but I would have preferred about eighty. However the point was the celebration, not profit, and it was good to see our friends in the Lincolnshire Branch joining us.

14

Thanks also to all the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire members who just got ‘stuck-in’ on the night pouring wine, selling raffle tickets, tidying chairs away – if they saw a job needed doing they just did it unasked. Finally I must thank our own treasurer, Carol Ploughman, for the un- stinting support she has given, expertly handling the many confused income lists and cheques I gave her with efficiency and in her own usual unflappable way. How different from the secretary of the Group! Anne Ayres (Secretary: Notts & Derby Group)

My Famous Family [shown on UKTV History] As soon as I read about this programme it was essential viewing. The episode I concentrated on was about Rachael Corfield, a nurse from East Sussex, descended from Margaret, Countess of . Bill Oddie was the presenter and the main subject was Rachael’s family service in India and Africa, whilst being a distant cousin of the Queen-Empress in whose name these many countries were ruled. The principal descent was through the Pole, Hastings, Clinton (of Lincoln), d’Ewes and Havers families. Although the programme was very good, there were certain aspects of it that grated. Despite having a proper genealogical consultant (Guy de la Bédoyère), Bill Oddie kept referring to as his subject’s ‘ancestor’ when he meant cousin. The on-screen pedigree showed their common ancestor as , not Richard of York and the legend of the countess trying to run away from her executioner was repeated. Did the common ancestry point amount to subconscious Lancastrian bias? I also saw a second show in the series, about a London architect, James Lloyd-Mostyn, who is descended from the Duke of Wellington, but his line went back further to Welsh royalty, via an- other ancestor who fought at Bosworth. This programme repeated another myth: of Henry Tu- dor’s army marching from Milford Haven to the East Midlands via North Wales although they had insufficient time for this. Could it be that ’s troops actually landed in the North and converged with his nephew? My Famous Family achieved a few things despite its errors. It reminded the viewing public that descendents of the are still around and are relatively easily traced. If this re- sults in reference libraries being plagued by more enthusiastic and curious people, it will be a good thing, even if a de Ruvigny volume takes even longer to borrow. Stephen Lark

Friends of Barley Hall We thank everyone who replied to our appeal in the last Bulletin asking for suggestions for the date of the Friends AGM. The most popular date for it to be held was Sunday 1 October, the day after the Society AGM, and we have therefore chosen that day for it. The Friends AGM will therefore be held at Barley Hall, in the School Room, on Sunday 1 October at 11 am. We will look forward to seeing you there. Lynda Pidgeon, Secretary to the Friends

Right Royal Bastards Burke’s Peerage & Gentry’s latest publication is advertised on page 66. Please note that articles on the illegitimate children of Edward IV and Richard III, known and conjectured, are included in the Tudor and Royal Loose Ends sections. Howard Choppin

News and Reviews continued on page 20 15

Celebrating 50 Years: Reception and Prize- Giving at Barnard’s Inn

HOWARD CHOPPIN

n 19 May, members of the Society gathered in Barnard’s Inn Hall at Gresham College , to O see HRH The Duke of present prizes to the winners of the essay and poster competitions that we have run in schools over the last year. The families and teachers of the win- ners were also present. Gresham College was founded by Sir Thomas Gresham – the Tudor fi- nancier, who originated Gresham’s Law of bad money driving out good. Portraits of Sir Thomas and gazed down on us in the panelled hall where we sat. This function offered a chance to showcase to members and others some of the Society’s achievements and projects over the last half-century – the royal patronage; our aim to raise the profile of the fifteenth century and Richard III within the National Curriculum for UK schools; and the project to establish a DNA profile for Richard III and his close relatives. The evening began with John Saunders giving a talk on the Richard III Society from a histori- cal perspective. He began right at the beginning with the famous and brave words that the York city fathers recorded on hearing of the death of the king who had done so much for them - That King Richard, late mercifully reigning upon us, was piteously slain and murdered to the great heaviness of this city. He then took us through the story of Richard III’s reputation over the cen- turies that followed. In 1924, Dr Saxon Barton and a small group of friends had formed the Fel- lowship of the , seeking to promote a positive view of Richard III. The Fellowship remained a small group and it faded away around the period of the war. In the 1950s the Socie- ty’s current Vice-President, Isolde Wigram tracked down Saxon Barton and together they re- founded the Fellowship, which quickly became the Richard III Society. John described how the Society has in recent dec- ades made its own contri- bution to research into the period, commemorated events and places associat- ed with Richard and his times, as well as offering pleasure and friendships to its members. John Ashdown-Hill then spoke on ‘Finding the DNA of Richard III’. John began by explaining the difference between nucle- ar DNA (the jumbled mix- ture DNA that we receive from both our parents) and The posters displayed in the Hall mitochondrial DNA

16

Above left: Winner of the junior essay competition Sadie Jarrett with the Patron

Above right: Katie McCrudden, The Patron, Phil Stone. Katie won the second prize in the junior essay competition

Right: Winner of the poster competition, Samara Sakayam with the Patron and Phil Stone

The Teachers with Patron and Chairman: Elaine Paul, Wells Cathedral School, Linda Lumb, Linslade Middle School, Jill Farrell, Glan Afan Comprehensive School, John Reid, Sir Thomas Rich School, Claire Strickland, The Dragon School 17

Samuel Davis, third prize winner of the senior essay competition with the Patron and Chairman

Ryan Byrne, second prize winner of the poster competition with the Patron and Chairman

Above left from left to right, John Saunders, John Ashdown-Hill, The Patron, Phil Stone and Peter Hammond. Above right: Constance Meath Barker, third prize winner of the junior essay competition and the Patron.

Above left: Catherine Davis (parent) and member Ros Conaty. Above right:Francesca Onasti, third prize winner of the poster competition with her mother and member Betty Beaney

18

(mtDNA), which passes only through the female line. As mtDNA is general- ly passed on with its base sequences unchanged, it can be used to trace relationships through long passages of time. John reminded Society members that this project had so far led to the identification of a mtDNA sequence for Richard III, through a line of fe- male descent from Richard’s eldest sister, Anne, Duchess of Exeter, to Joy Ibsen, who lives in Canada. John ex- plained the complications involved in trying to trace a descent through the The Patron, Chairman and Sadie Jarrett female line and also forwards in time over centuries – sons and nuns had led to some frustrating mitochondrial dead ends. One of these false leads was Barbara Spooner, the wife of the slave-trade abolitionist, William Wilberforce, whose daughters did not establish a line of female descendants. John pointed out that the mtDNA sequence that had now been discovered could be used to help indicate the identity of any human remains that might be found one day near Richard’s burial site in . John then moved on to describe two further DNA projects relating to the family of Richard III. He had secured permission to take samples from a surviving strand of hair belonging to Mary Tudor, Queen of France – younger daughter of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. A strand of cut hair can contain a sequence of mtDNA. If such a sequence can be extracted from this hair then the mtDNA sequence of Mary’s maternal uncles, the , will have been re- vealed. John’s other project was to find the Y-chromosome for Richard and the Princes – the Y- chromosome is the genetic material transmitted from father to son in an unbroken line. John hoped to obtain a DNA sample from members of the Somerset family – Somerset is the family name of the of Beaufort, who as descendants of an illegitimate son of a Beaufort Duke of Somerset should have the Plantagenet Y-chromosome, the same Y-chromosome that Richard and the Princes should also have had. John hoped to find some way of making contact with the Som- erset family and taking this part of the project forward. John then handed over to Phil Stone to introduce His Royal Highness. The Duke made a short speech in which he compared Richard III to Louis XVI, who spent his last night before execution reading ’s favourable biography of Richard, maybe hoping for future rehabilita- tion of his own. The Duke also praised the imagination and initiative that lay behind the competi- tion. He then presented the winners’ certificates, as Phil announced the first, second and third prizes in each category. As the youngsters went up to pick up their awards their parents and teachers darted around the room with their cameras to get the best vantage point. After the prize giving, we broke up for a few minutes before our buffet supper and went into the courtyard and watched the photo call as the Duke was photographed with the prize winners and speakers. People then lingered for a long time, not just because the food was so delicious and plentiful, but also to savour a very enjoyable evening. Talking to the winners and their parents and teachers it was clear how much this occasion, and the recognition that had been given, meant to them. Some who came from further away were taking the opportunity to have a weekend in London, and it was clear that this would form a special part of this special trip. Many thanks are due to Wendy Moorhen and Jane Trump for running the event so efficiently, to John Ashdown-Hill for coming up with the original idea of the competition and to all those who judged the competition and assisted this event in any other way.

19

Phil Stone writes:

I was delighted to receive the following letter from Kensington Palace:

From: Major Charles MacEwan CVO Temporary Equerry to HRH The

22nd May 2006

Dear Dr Stone

His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester has asked me today to write and thank you for or- ganising a most enjoyable evening. His Royal Highness much admired Mr. Ashdown-Hill’s ef- fort and determination to track down Richard III’s DNA and was enlightened at Mr. Saunders’ historical perspective. From a personal perspective, I have had a taster for a part of history that I missed in my child- hood and for me the evening was fascinating. The Duke of Gloucester was most grateful to you for introducing him to so many of the guests and has asked me to ask you to thank everyone who made this evening such a success. With many thanks to you and the team.

o0o

Troops and Tactics Review in Summer Bulletin

In the report on the above event held in March, our reviewer Bill Featherstone, reported on Pro- fessor Tony Goodman’s talk ‘The recruitment, array, and training of the troops during the ’ and under the section of training wrote ‘Professor Goodman identified one of the problems being in the decline of the richer peasant class, the , who earlier in the century had provided the sinew in and between the array and the retinue’ (p. 23). Professor Goodman has commented that his argument was that the composition of the armies in the Wars reflected the rise, not the decline of the yeoman.

News and Reviews continued

Lecture at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle The annual Maurice and Shelagh Bond Memorial lecture will be held on Wednesday, 11 October 2006 at 7.00 pm. The lecture is entitled ‘The Several Lives of King Henry VI’ and will be given by Professor Ralph Griffiths. Applications for tickets, which are free, should be sent to The Chapter Office, Windsor Cas- tle, Berkshire SL4 1NJ together with an SAE by Wednesday 4 October. Please bring photo ID with you on the evening.

News and Reviews continued on page 49

20

Ricardian Heroes: Patrick Bacon

JOHN SAUNDERS

n a balmy summer evening in 1924, this centenary year of his birth. O Saxon Barton and Philip Nelson were Patrick was born in Lancashire on 17 sitting out on the terrace of the Bacon family March 1906, his elder brother, Roger, having home in Northwood talking to their hosts been born a few years earlier. Roger had a Sewell Bacon and his wife. Barton and Nel- distinguished legal career and went on to be- son were down from Liverpool visiting the come the Chief Justice of Gibraltar. Australi- Bacons, who had moved south from that city an readers will be interested to note that Rog- some years before. Also at home that evening er married the daughter of Sir James Connol- was the Bacons’ younger son Patrick, then 18 ly, a prominent West Australian politician of years old. He had joined his parents and the the pre-war years. guests out on the Patrick, terrace and re- along with his called in later brother, was edu- years that the cated at the fa- conversation mous Rugby became some- School. Roger what passionate was a student of as the topic School Field moved on to House when the Richard III. Bar- poet Rupert ton and Nelson Brooke was house were enthusiastic master during supporters of the 1912. Patrick him- revisionist view self remembered of the king, and having tea at the as the discussion house of the poet’s progressed pas- Dedication of the Altar Frontal at Middleham Church, mother, Mrs Ruth 8 June 1963. Front row from left to right: Crystal Cook, sions rose fur- Mrs Wigram, Isolde Wigram, Heather Bennett, Brooke, whom he ther. Barton sud- Joyce Melhuish and Patrick. Back row: unnamed member recalled was a denly exclaimed and Rev. D M Collins. formidable but ‘Let’s form a kindly lady. Society’. He appointed Nelson treasurer and Patrick married his wife Gwen in 1928; himself secretary, then he set his eyes on the the two families had in fact known each other young Patrick, ‘And you will be the member- well before the First World War when both ship’. Slightly over-dramatised perhaps, but lived in Cheshire. They had lost touch, but by this is basically how it all began. And some a great coincidence found themselves living thirty-five years later Patrick Bacon became in the same village some years later. Their the Richard III Society’s first chairman and son, Colin, was born in 1930. later its first elected President. So he was During the 1930s Patrick worked as a there at the very beginning and was also one school lecturer and was also a member of the of the pioneers of the early years of the re- Territorial Army. With the onset of war in founding: a true Ricardian hero, especially in 1939 he joined the regular army and remained

21

ard, was put on first as an amateur production at the Tower Theatre, Canonbury in London, with our friend Leslie French playing Rich- ard. Although the Tower Theatre was at that time leased by the foremost amateur dramatic company The Questors, of which Patrick was an enthusiastic member, Leslie had assembled his own cast, and though Patrick had there- fore no part in the production, due to his in- terest in the subject he came along to the first performance. I was introduced to him after the show, and mentioned the Fellowship of the White Boar. Patrick naturally recalled that he had, many years before, belonged to a So- ciety of that name, and with the name of Sax- on Barton there was no doubt it was the same one. We had found the first original member of the Fellowship, and it was a natural pro- gression for Patrick then to become the Chair- Patrick with Society Chaplin ‘Teddy’ Boston at a man of the revived Fellowship, on which Sax- wreath laying ceremony at Bosworth in the 1960s on Barton, a busy surgeon in Liverpool, was unable to do more than keep a keenly interest- on active service until 1945. He spent three ed eye.’ years as a Military Press Censor in India, Despite being signed up in 1924 Patrick meeting famous people like Noel Coward and could not recall having much direct involve- Lord Mountbatten. Much of his professional ment with the Fellowship before 1956, alt- life thereafter was spent in the world of ad- hough he kept in close contact with the Bar- vertising. In later years he was a consulting tons and the Nelsons. He did however visit director of a London advertising agency. the site of the battle of Bosworth during the Patrick and Gwen had one great common 1930s and remained committed to the revi- interest – dramatic art. They had extensive sionist cause. involvement with amateur theatre companies, Patrick’s experience of handling advertis- both as and administra- tors. Significant amongst these was the Tavistock Rep- ertory Company (now the Tower Theatre) and the fa- mous Ealing Questors. Gwen in fact was a well known pro- fessional actress, who had acted in films and revues with famous names such as John Mills, Robert Morley and Fay Compton. And of course it was the theatrical connection that brought Patrick back into the orbit of the Society. Isolde Wigram recalls what hap- pened: ‘In 1955 my mother’s Patrick as Lord Stanley (second from right) in a scene from The Questors play “The Sun of York”, production of Lydia Ragosin’s play ‘A Crown for the Strong’ first staged defence of Rich- with Henry VII, Elizabeth of York and (in chains)

22

ing and public relations was very helpful to the Society during its formative years. This was particularly so in his role as chairman with a grow- ing Society and new branches developing both in the United Kingdom and overseas. In 1963 when Shakespeare’s Richard III was due to be performed at Stratford he was able to use his contacts to ensure that the play’s pro- gramme included the histori- cal facts about the king as well as Shakespeare’s. They also came to the fore in the Patrick with the Vellum, a document that recorded Richard’s visits and mid-1960s when he under- his association with the city of York, which the Society presented to York Minster in 1966. Parick is flanked by the illuminator, Miss Sloan, and the took two extensive overseas Dean of York. It is hoped that the Vellum will be on display in the Min- trips during which he met ster for the tours during the Members’ Weekend members throughout the world. Over the winter of 1965/66 he visited AL Rowse. We wasted little time in prelimi- Australia and North America, spending Box- naries, Dr Rowse knows about our Society ing Day 1966 with members of the Australian and even referred to it in print … he was a bit Branch in Melbourne. Then it was on to Cali- put out to have “come into the lion’s den” as fornia to meet American Branch members on he put it – or to have “come into the boar’s the West coast and the following year he vis- lair” as I put it. I found him courteous but ited Canada and New York. The American adamant in his views. We skated round and Branch organised a reception and cocktail round, and very near the hole in the ice with- party in his honour. One guest in particular out falling into the chilly waters of bad- was noteworthy. Patrick takes up the story: tempered argument.’ ‘But who is that tall, distinguished gentleman I once asked Patrick about his personal in the corner? …. I am led over to meet Dr views on the many controversies surrounding King Richard and he referred me to his article in the December 1987 issue of the Bulletin entitled ‘The Key to Historical Truth – Inter- pretation’ in which he outlined his approach to history. He quoted George Bernard Shaw: ‘History does not tell lies; false interpreta- tions do so.’ And in his own words went on to write ‘My final advice, then, is to fight tradition where it obstructs progress; never worship it as sanctity. Make it open to change, like everything else in the world. Then we can reveal historical truth by apply- ing honest interpretations of the people and events of the period.’ Sound advice then and equally so today. Patrick served as Chairman of the Society Dedication of Memorial by the Right Rev. the , Dr. Ronald from its re-founding in 1956 to the AGM of Williams DD, MA in 1967 1971, when he was succeeded by Jeremy Pot- 23

ter. It was a long time to be at the helm. Re- Wigram that in recognition of his great ser- flecting on the years of Patrick’s chairman- vice to the Society Mr Patrick Bacon should ship Isolde Wigram wrote ‘So we progressed be elected as President of the Society. This through the formative years … there were ups was passed with acclaim.’ and downs, and my abiding memory is of Patrick and his wife Gwen retired to Can- interminable Committee meetings in our flat, ford Cliffs near Poole in Dorset and helped to with Patrick and George Awdry leaving be- found the Dorset Branch. In her later years hind a heavy aroma of pipe smoke; but Gwen suffered badly from osteo-arthritis and through it all Patrick’s passionate commit- Patrick cared devotedly for her during her ment to the cause of Richard’s rehabilitation final years. She had always loyally supported provided a constant impetus.’ The Society Patrick’s involvement with the Society and recorded its appre- was a very popular ciation in the De- and friendly figure cember 1971 issue at the many events of The Ricardian: she attended. She ‘Fifteen years in died in 1988 and the Chair is in shortly thereafter itself a matter of Patrick moved to praiseworthy note Norwich to be clos- – but fifteen years er to his son’s fam- of superb control ily. Inevitably Pat- and leadership rick involved him- from the Chair is self with the Nor- an achievement of folk Branch of which no praise which he became a can be too high. much loved mem- Patrick Bacon, at ber. Indeed the the helm of the branch hosted his Society for a dec- ninetieth birthday ade and a half, has celebrations in given us a place in March 1996 when the sphere of his- a party was held at torical societies the Maid’s Head which we cannot Hotel in Norwich, now lose. By his complete with a handling of public large cake decorat- relations – his ed with the Socie- diplomacy – his Patrick and his wife Gwen at the Guildhall Coronation ty’s badge. The fervent fanatical Banquet 1983. Left is the Ricardian novelist, party was attended Rosemary Hawley Jarman faith in our cause, by many Society he has given us a “backbone” that has enabled members, including Isolde Wigram, and Pat- us to “walk tall.” Committees that have rick’s own family. Our then Chairman, the worked under him will appreciate the great late Robert Hamblin, spoke on behalf of the loss that has been occasioned by his retire- Committee and the Society to congratulate ment but he has earned it – none more justly.’ the President on his milestone and his The Society rewarded Patrick with the achievements. He also read a message of Presidency of the Society, a post that had congratulation from the Society’s Patron been vacant since Saxon Barton’s death in HRH The Duke of Gloucester: 1957. The minutes of the 1971 AGM record: ‘Congratulations Patrick Bacon on your 90th ‘It was proposed by Mr Awdry on behalf of birthday and also on the foresight you showed the Committee and seconded by Miss by helping found the Richard III Society for

24

those determined like yourself to place this ‘Patrick’s utter loyalty to and concern for the complex character in a more accurate position Society during his forty years in office carried in the public perception. I hope you have a him up to three months before his death, very splendid celebration’. when those who were present at the Bosworth However Patrick did not long survive Commemoration Service at Sutton Cheney in these celebrations for he died on the 30th No- August 1996 will remember his reading of the vember that year. His funeral was held in one lesson for the last time, attendance at these of the side chapels of Norwich Cathedral, and services and at the AGM being occasions he was attended by Robert Hamblin, Elizabeth never missed. His absence from the 1996 Nokes and Isolde Wigram on behalf of the AGM was a sign of the end.’ Society. The last words belong to Isolde:

Patrick on his 90th birthday, March 1996

Thanks to Geoffrey Wheeler for supplying the photographs.

The main focus for Ricardian Heroes in the December Bulletin will be Jeremy Potter, and I will also be writing shorter pieces on others including Phyllis Hester, Reginald Bunnett and Pat Bai- ley.

25

The Age of Richard III

JOHN SAUNDERS

Memories of the National Portrait Richard III and to sharpen the historical focus Gallery’s Summer Exhibition 1973 on the Yorkist period in general. And few would doubt that both these were admirably

achieved. It brought together many exhibits n the last issue of the Bulletin we asked known to have been directly connected with I members to send us their memories of the Richard III or those close to him, together 1973 National Portrait Gallery Summer Exhi- with other contemporary items from the bition. A number of you did and your recol- Yorkist period. There were sections illustrat- lections follow this brief introduction to the ing the Yorkist court, religion and the battle event. of Bosworth and numerous contemporary Dr, now Sir, Roy Strong considered the documents giving accounts of Richard. All National Portrait Gallery’s summer exhibition known portraits of the king were gathered of 1973 to be a ‘minor classic’. Throughout there and catalogued in full for the first time. its four-month run it attracted over forty thou- After it closed Roy Strong wrote to Pat- sand people and was described in The Ricard- rick Bacon: ‘I write to thank your Society for ian as being a must for anyone interested in contributing so generously towards it. With- the life and times of Richard III. It was indeed out the kind and ready support of many a seminal event in the Society’s history, giv- sources, both public and private and at home ing the cause much free publicity with a con- and abroad, we would not have been able to sequential leap in membership, which kept assemble such a vast amount of material to the then secretary Phyllis Hester very busy illustrate the complexity which surrounded indeed. By the end of the year Society mem- Richard III and his reign. This has been our bership stood at 2567, which represented an most ambitious project, and the most success- increase of a third over the equivalent figure ful. It has attracted over 41,000 visitors. It has for 1972. certainly brought out a number of unknown The exhibition’s principal organiser and facts and has, I think, added significantly to cataloguer was Dr Pamela Tudor-Craig, the the study and understanding of Richard III eminent art historian, who was already well and of late fifteenth-century England.’ known to the Society. This was helpful since Now let’s hear from some of those visi- the NPG were keen for the Society to contrib- tors. ute and naturally the Society was equally Shirley Stapley, of the Devon and Corn- keen to co-operate. Patrick Bacon became the wall Branch, recalls her visit and the impact it key person to liaise with the gallery, with made: ‘I knew little of medieval history when significant support from Joyce Melhuish and I visited the Richard III Exhibition at the Na- Geoffrey Wheeler. A glance at the exhibi- tional Portrait Gallery in the summer of tion’s catalogue reveals just how much they 1973. I had, however, always been very inter- contributed. Geoff in particular deserves ested in English history of the later period and much praise for tracking down Richard III’s especially in the Stuarts. As it happened, just own copy of Wycliffe’s New Testament, before the exhibition I had started reading a which was one of the books on display once few books on the Wars of the Roses so real- owned by King Richard and Queen Anne. ised that here was a chance to widen my The exhibition opened on 27 June with knowledge. As I entered the building I can two stated aims: to seek a fresh assessment of remember my bag being searched as it was at 26

‘The Oratory’. Exhibits include the Wycliffe New Testament (New York Public Library), a statue of St Catherine of Alexandria, a Virgin and Child and Pyx (all from the Burrell Collection) 27

Battle of Bosworth section of the Exhibition. Top picture includes masonry from Baynards Castle and John Brompton’s ‘Chronicle’

28

The artefacts displayed above include the fragment of an alabaster from Tamworth, brasses from the collection at the Society of Antiquaries, the Precepts of Cato mss, and ‘William Worcester’ Collections on Normandy

The centrepiece is Caxton’s ‘The Miracle of the World’

29

the time of the IRA bombings. Once inside it Phyllis Hester’s address. I contacted her was fascinating to look at all the exhibits on straightaway and signed up for membership. view and to see such things as the various It was a privilege to know Phyl, she was such portraits of Richard III, Edward IV, Elizabeth a friendly person and her knowledge of all of York and many more. There were so many things Ricardian, was formidable. I joined the things to catch the eye including original doc- Kent Branch, they made me most welcome uments, charts, letters, books of hours, tapes- and I spent many happy times with them. tries, rings, coins and even a panel believed to Belonging to the Society has given me such have come from Richard’s bed. I had never an interest in my life, but more than that I heard of the Society before this but the exhi- made such wonderful friends. I was also in at bition had aroused my interest in Richard and the beginning of the South Essex Group and I had also derived so much pleasure from again it is a joy knowing them all.’ seeing the exhibits. Before leaving I saw Bill White, well-known to members for some literature that gave details of how to his expertise on osteology, has some exten- join and on returning home I wrote to Phyllis sive memories of the exhibition and Ricardi- Hester, who was the secretary at the time, and ans he encountered there: ‘A visit to the Rich- I became a member of the Society.’ ard III exhibition at the National Portrait Gal- Judith Sealey, the Worcestershire lery on Saturday 30 June 1973 was actually Branch’s chairman, has some vivid memo- my first introduction to a London Branch ries: ‘As a relatively young teacher, but one function. My long-delayed membership of the who had read ’s The Daughter Richard III Society had commenced the pre- of Time, I was eager to visit the exhibition vious year, following a visit to the Bosworth and I wasn’t disappointed. I remember some battlefield, then still on private farmland, incredible artefacts on display including where I had noted Phyllis Hester’s address books of hours and ivory statues of Our Lady, from the inscription at the well. On that Satur- but what mainly appealed to me was the op- day morning I was looking forward to meet- portunity it gave to produce your own poster ing members of the Branch and officers of the of Richard. One was given a large sheet of Society at the exhibition. The first was Geof- card with Richard’s portrait in the centre and frey Wheeler, who caused consternation when there was a competition for the best poster to he said that it would not be a guided tour for include scenes of fifteenth-century life. How I members. For £2.25 I bought a season ticket worked on that poster! Hours of fun delving to the exhibition, knowing in advance that I into history books! I duly sent off my winning should want to visit it many times. I noted poster only to receive ... nothing. I always that season ticket No 1 had been taken up by wondered what happened to all those rejected one Patrick Bacon. posters. Never mind, what the exhibition did Once inside the exhibition it was an espe- do was to give me information about the So- cial thrill to hear music of Richard III’s time. ciety, and I found to my delight that there was This was appropriate because Richard had a then a Kent Branch with the estimable Vera huge interest in music and employed his own Legg at the helm. How I enjoyed the outings minstrels. Some of the music was familiar and the company.’ from an Argo LP that I possessed (now long- Mary Talbot, a member of the South Es- lost, I’m afraid) but most of it was ‘new’ to sex Group, remembers how the exhibition led me and was most appropriate for the late me- her to the Society: ‘Having read The Daugh- dieval setting afforded by the magnificent ter of Time, I was eager to find out more exhibition. Amid the assembled medieval and about Richard III, so I was delighted when the portraits of Richard III, I NPG put on an exhibition about him. I pur- first met Carolyn Hicks (as she then was), chased a season ticket which gave me en- from whom I had borrowed books and papers trance at all times. My office was nearby so I from the Barton Library. As we moved on to spent each lunch hour there. I soon got to the near-contemporary portraits of Edward IV know the attendants and one of them gave me she commented that Edward’s appearance had

30

often been described as ‘bland’ – those within of gold taken from the lead coffin of Edward earshot retorted that if these were accurate IV in St George’s chapel in 1789 and on loan portraits it was difficult to understand his from the Guildhall Museum. Little did I know legendary success with the ladies. that I should encounter these again, 33 years I had had many but remote dealings with later, in the Treasury of the Museum of Lon- Peter Hammond, the then Research Officer don, accompanied by a coffin nail and three for the Society and had started literature small floral strips likewise taken from Ed- searches on his behalf in History, Records of ward’s lead coffin. Buckinghamshire and other journals. Here I From the London Museum there was also met Peter for the first time, among the 15th- a cast of the inscription identifying Lady century weapons, where he was illustrating Anne Mowbray (died 1481) from her lead the most effective use of a poleaxe. coffin found in the Minories, London, in De- The exhibition was so comprehensive in cember 1964. In the exhibition catalogue breadth and depth of themes that it is difficult Pamela Tudor-Craig revealed that the Muse- at this remove to single out individual exhib- um was co-ordinating the results of the inter- its. Items that made a particular impression on disciplinary study on the burial and re- me on this and subsequent visits to the exhibi- burial(s) of Anne Mowbray, so I awaited the tion were (in no particular order): the Wyc- publication of the results impatiently. We are liffe New Testament that Geoffrey Wheeler still waiting! had re-discovered following its century-long About a year later, Geoffrey Wheeler gave disappearance, amid books known to have the London Branch an illustrated talk, entitled been owned by Richard III, and the enigmatic ‘Pictures of an Exhibition’, at Caxton Hall. ‘warrant to try persons unknown’ [exhibit 126 He gave a comprehensive slide presentation in the Catalogue], was also a recent discov- about the exhibition at the National Portrait ery. Although I had seen specimens of Rich- Gallery, including views of most of the exhib- ard’s handwriting at the PRO Museum some its. When Geoff reached exhibit no 60 in the years earlier, it was particularly moving to see exhibition catalogue, (a well preserved ce- the other examples gathered in one place, ramic ‘thumb-hole pot’ of the fifteenth centu- perhaps with a greater dynamism. Thus, one ry) he mused about its possible use. George moved from the familiar scrap from Stony Awdry immediately opined that it was for the Stratford, bearing the inscriptions ‘R Edward Bishop of Ely to water his strawberries with.’ Quintus’, ‘Richard Gloucestre: Loyaulte me My thanks to all the contributors for these lie’ and ‘Harre Bokyngham: Souvente me shared memories. They tell us not only how souvene’ [159], to see in contrast the letter enjoyable and informative the exhibition was, only 6 months later, from Richard to John but also how it raised the profile of both King Russell, Chancellor and Bishop of Lincoln Richard and the Society. One final thought, I [212] which bore the spine-tingling phrase: am sure that we would all love to see the ‘the Duc of Bokyngam, the most untrewe NPG repeat the exhibition for today’s audi- creature lyving’. The scent of in the ence; however it is not the policy of the gal- air was almost palpable. lery to ever repeat exhibitions, however suc- Other items also effectively brought one cessful, so we are even more fortune to have closer to the people of the time. The Tudor such vivid memories from those who visited cap, with an angel of Richard III hidden pre- the original back in 1973. viously in its brim [38], the fragments of cloth

Thanks to Geoffrey Wheeler for supplying the photographs, which not only feature the artefacts but also demonstrates the imagination of the NPG in their display of them.

The fully illustrated catalogue of the exhibition is available on loan from the Barton Library.

31

Memories from Scotland

DAVID FIDDIMORE AND PHILIPPA LANGLEY

he first tentative meeting of the Edin- commitments. He then happened to be in T burgh Group took place in the spring of town on a day of a meet and dropped in to say 1999 in the Chambertain Bar of the George hello. This turned out to be our much-loved Hotel. Invitations had been sent out blind, via autodidact, Stuart Akers, who went on to be- the society, to all members living in Edin- come not only the group’s secretary, but then burgh by Philippa Langley (then a very new its treasurer, and editor of the ‘Court Journal’. and raw recruit) so it was with some trepida- How many times have we wished we’d kept tion that she set off to see if anyone would that original letter and had it framed! turn up. A meeting in Scotland on behalf of a The Scottish Group – with its tongue firm- dead king of England was always going to be ly lodged in its cheek – originally called itself a risky venture but as it turned out she need The Edinburgh Court of King Richard III. A not have worried. Not one, not two, three, robust and sometimes combative collective four, five, or six turned up, but seven! A tri- sense of humour is manifest whenever we umph! We were all thrilled to meet the de- meet but since those very early days not only lightful Professor Tony Goodman (at the next have we managed to survive but have grown meet many books were brought for signing), a over the seven intervening years into ‘The Scot with a fabulous wit and fierce loyalty for Scottish Branch’ with 21 members from as far our king, Betty Dinning (see below), a charm- afield as Lochbroom, Argyll, Perthshire, Stir- ing and stylish Ursula Harper (now in Not- lingshire, Peebles, and of course Glasgow. tinghamshire), a vivacious and bubbly Gillian Would our king ever have thought that one Scott (now in Canada), a thoughtful and fasci- day he would have had such a stronghold in nating Sheena Gordon-Rogers and our cham- the land of the Scots? Long may it continue pion, David Fiddimore, then working for the …. Customs and Excise, over 6’, and we all At an early stage we identified the entry of agreed a man we would all want on our side Richard of Gloucester and a comparatively in any battle. A lovely evening was had by all small army into Edinburgh to free the Scottish and it was agreed that the ‘Edinburgh Group’ king imprisoned in as a should be formed. We all agreed that it may ‘tipping point’ in British history. Richard not last long, that it may not have many mem- restored the Stewart to power. With- bers, but for its time it would act as the most out the Stewarts there would have been no northern outpost for our king. Stuarts. Without the Stuarts, perhaps no even- News of the group spread quickly and it tual , and no United King- wasn’t long before some of its most stalwart dom. The possibility of Richard as the father members arrived: the enchanting and effer- of the 1707 union of the crowns appeals to vescent, Juliet Middleton (now an MA well our sense of the absurd. The Scottish Group done Juliet!), our ‘fountain of knowledge’ and has therefore the long term aim of producing most northerly member who hardly ever a gazetteer of places and relics associated misses a meet, the lovely Marilyn Garabet, with the 1482 march into Scotland – for the the indefatigable Ricardian traveller from use of Ricardian visitors from abroad (and Kent, the most amiable Doug Weeks, and last that other large country down South). We but by no means least, a member who earlier intend to identify all of the extant properties sent us a letter wishing the group well but from 1482 on Richard’s direct line of march who would be unable to join us due to other from Berwick to Edinburgh. 32

A Rose for Betty Dinning Betty, indicating her loyalty and work for the Betty Dinning lost a short battle with cancer rehabilitation of the reputation of the last of in 2001 at the tragically young age of 57. the Plantagenets. Betty’s last visit with the She was a dynamo of northern Ricardianism, group was to Dirleton Castle, which she and an inspiration to all who met her. For knew and loved. Historic Scotland were once it is not an exaggeration to say of some- quick to co-operate, and now a long seat, one ‘her knowledge of Richard and his age dedicated to Betty with the inscription: ‘A was encyclopaedic’. She left her books and loyal subject of Richard Plantagenet’ sits on Ricardian materials to the group – they were the slope directly above the castle garden, auctioned internally for funds. This year her looking out onto a white rose bush planted husband approached the Scottish Branch and specifically in her memory. Both will outlast asked it to arrange a permanent memorial to the lot if us: sleep well, Betty.

From left to right: Doug Weeks, David Fiddimore, Wendy Johnson, David Johnson, Joanna Hamminga, Dr Mike Jones, Philippa Langley and Stuart Akers

33

The Society’s Earliest Members

e have three contributions for this woman and while I hesitate to use the over- W issue. The first is from Heather Cole- worked word ‘vibrant’, I find that this is the man of Brighton who joined the Society in one that describes her best. She did so much September 1964 when the subscription was good work for the Society in this part of the the ‘enormous’ sum of 10/- (50p). Heather world. writes that ‘prior to joining the Society I had It is splendid to see the Society going from been looking for it for some time and eventu- strength to strength. I think all the people who ally my efforts were rewarded by finding the have worked so hard for it over the years de- Secretary’s address on the railings round the serve praise and appreciation. You certainly Fotheringhay blocks which were all that were have mine’. left of the castle. Margaret Manning from the New Zealand The first AGM I attended was held at branch has responded on behalf of her branch, Crosby Hall in the same year where a large to the tributes that have been flowing to Isol- contingent of Yorkshire Branch members de Wigram for her work in re-founding the rather took over the meeting and I began to Richard III Society. As Margaret’s letter in- wonder if I lived in the wrong area to be an cludes her early memories it seems appropri- active member. The London Branch was not ate to include it in this section of the Bulletin. yet in existence but I soon met some Margaret writes ‘I wish to add to the tributes ‘Southern’ activists. About three years later I to Isolde the grateful thanks of the New Zea- was one of the founder members of the origi- land Branch of the Society. It was she who nal Sussex Branch which continued for anoth- put the few people in New Zealand who were er 18 years.’ members in 1985 in touch with each other Wilma Garnett, who now lives in Neutral and encouraged us to form a group by way of Bay, New South Wales, joined the Society a regular newsletter since we were all scat- circa 1961/2 but lapsed soon after due to a tered the length and breadth of the country. long period of travelling and moving house For my part, I joined the Society in 1975, but rejoined in 1985 in time to attend the along with a friend, having had no difficulty Quincentenary celebrations at Bosworth. Wil- whatsoever in finding out from a reference ma writes ‘I was struck by the friendliness book in the Auckland Library that Phyllis and welcoming spirit of the other members at Hester was the Secretary, and also her ad- tea following the church service and the bat- dress. My friend’s family commitments even- tlefield visit. It was like a very large family tually overcame her association with the Soci- reunion.’ ety but never her enthusiasm for Richard and Wilma goes on to recall Pat Bailey who the cause. My membership lapsed in 1976 visited Australia with her husband, the actor when I got married and moved to another Robin Bailey, who was appearing in My Fair town, but I rejoined in 1977 and was a mem- Lady. ‘She must have recruited dozens of ber isolated in my hobby for a number of members for the Society. She entertained us years although my husband and I did attend in her own home. I recall especially a medie- the wonderful 500th coronation anniversary val-style dinner featuring a splendid summer banquet in the Guildhall. pudding. To my great joy she contacted me in When Isolde’s letter arrived out of the the early 1990s when she was passing through blue some time in 1985 to say she was visit- Sydney and we spent a quiet afternoon at the ing New Zealand and would like to meet up beach. Her health was in decline and she en- with me, I was thrilled to bits. We had a very joyed the warm water. She was a beautiful enjoyable couple of days together, meeting up

34

also with Mark Patrick, another NZ member. her the Ricardian Times and making good use Isolde made a point of visiting members in of her constructive responses to various arti- other towns and from those contacts we cles appearing therein. I have enjoyed, by formed the New Zealand Group of the Rich- mail, her observations of the modern world, ard III Society, producing our first newsletter her reminiscences of past Ricardian activities in January 1986. Twenty years on we are now and adventures, and her wise judgement. the New Zealand Branch of the Richard III Three years ago, whilst she was still resident Society, our newsletter has a name, Ricardian at Danny in Sussex, I stayed there as her Times, and we have a committed membership guest, and experienced wonderful hospitality of 38, a few of whom are associate members in beautiful surroundings. only. We welcomed Isolde again to New Isolde, thank you for all your kindness to Zealand in 1990 and on that occasion she was me over the years, and for your interest in the able to give a paper on Perkin Warbeck at one farthest-flung members of the Richard III of our meetings and to enjoy the company of Society. Without your encouragement we an appreciative group of Ricardians. Over the might still be segregated from each other.’ years, our numbers have fluctuated, as with most societies, but the core membership has John Saunders’ tribute to Isolde appeared in gradually increased until now in 2006, many the Spring 2006 Bulletin and John will be have been members for well over fifteen profiling Pat Bailey, along with other heroes years. and heroines of the Society in the next issue. During the last twenty years, I have kept Wendy Moorhen in regular contact with Isolde, always sending

RICHARD III SOCIETY NEW ZEALAND BRANCH

Invitation

The 2007 Australasian Convention will be held on 13 – 15 April 2007 at the Frederic Wallis House, Military Road, Lower Hutt, New Zealand

The event will be hosted by the New Zealand Branch of the Richard III Society

Obtain your Registration Pack from the Convention Registrar: Rob Smith, “Wattle Downs”, Udy Street, Greytown New Zealand Email: [email protected] or visit website www.richard3nz.org

35

36

Are We There Yet?’ or A Medieval Pilgrimage

his was very much a journey through time; a medieval pilgrimage from Nostell Priory to T York Minster following the route of the old roads as much as possible. However, for Anne Painter and myself we had an added bonus, as our driver to Nostell was Dr Peter Addyman, re- tired director of York Archaeological Trust and Chairman of the Barley Hall Trust. His knowledge of the archaeology of the area is therefore vast. As we travelled towards Nostell he pointed out interesting sites and we literally travelled through time, from a Bronze Age defence work, to the Roman road, barely visible as crop marks in places, to the and Nostell Church and the site of the Priory. o It was a small but select group that gathered at Nostell, ten walkers and the vital support crew of Helen, and her mum, Lynne. Helen is the new manager of Bar- ley Hall and it was her job to keep us wa- tered, fed, and safe. Without them we would have been much more tired, hot and hungry than we were in the overwhelming heat, despite the regular stops at local hos- telries. The walk itself was led by Gill Page, Helen’s predecessor as manager,

Ready for the off! Anne and John preparing for the day ahead who kept us under control and safe, which was im- portant when we had to use modern roads full of very un-medieval motor cars! Thursday morning was spent meeting visitors to the Priory, explaining what we were doing and visiting the historic site before setting off on the first leg of the pil- grimage. The Pilgrims were seen off in grand style by the Leeds Waits, who had come to Nostell especially to see us off, before going on to York to take part in the Sec- ond International Festival of Town Pipers. The first festival had taken place in s-Hertogen Bosch, in Hol- land. The Waits had a great deal of admiration for the Dutch town council who not only provided the ‘Stadpijpers’ with their uniforms but helped towards the cost of their instruments, provided music lessons and a ‘Mind if I take a picture of your chest?’

37

splendid meeting room at a peppercorn rent. This was in stark contrast to the local councils, many of whom have not even heard of their own town Waits let alone subsidise them. The Waits have a lovely blue uniform which is six- teenth century with a wonderful insignia. Pic- tured on the previous page is a pilgrim badge of the patron saint of s-Hertogen Bosch and sus- pended is the guild insignia of the Leeds Waits. Heading off down the drive, Anne Painter is in front with the ‘King of Poland’ travelling incognito as ‘John of Bridgwater (aka John Saunders). A similar picture appeared in the local paper; however ten had magically become one hundred walkers. The reporter obviously had a problem with figures. The weather forecast for the day talked of thunderstorms and rain, and we had not gone very far when thunder could be heard in the distance. As we reached a pictur- esque medieval scene of open fields and poplar trees the thunder crashed overhead. However there was no rain, it just got hotter. The cracks in the ground started to resem- ble something out of Earthquake. Obviously rain was something that was very badly needed, and had not been seen for some time. The walk through this ‘typical medie- val landscape’ (Dr Addyman) was one of the highlights of the day. Up ahead lay Purston Jaglin, a pretty name, we thought, especially when Gill told us that ‘Jaglin’ was a diminutive of Jacqueline. We wondered who Jacqueline was as Gill continued that we would be avoiding Purston as much as possible. The name was deceptive, it was not pretty at all. Lunch was held in Purston Park, with its once attractive pond now cluttered with rubbish and once handsome building all boarded up. The car park seemed rather suitable and was obviously a local picnic spot as a number of motorists were spotted munching their sand- wiches in the safety of their cars. From Purston we made our way to Pontefract, where the local heritage society was waiting to greet us. The walk into town took us past ‘The Counting House’, a fifteenth-century timber-framed building, now a popular pub, which had been saved for the town and restored to all its medieval glory thanks to Dr Addyman. The walk through town attracted quite a bit of notice, though not it seems from the people in the photo on the next page who were intent on getting their money. Along the way we acquired a curious lo- cal who joined us on the walk up to the castle, who then settled in with the local heritage group, so let’s hope they have Foot check in the churchyard at Sherburn-in-Elmet acquired a new member. He was certainly

38

very interested in what we were up to. I was most disappointed not to find any of the local speciality, Pontefract Cakes, on sale in the small castle shop, especially as liquorice was considered to have medicinal benefits, in- cluding for fevers and coughs, which both Anne and myself were suffering from by the end of the pilgrimage. Little survives of this once magnificent cas- tle. It was here that Richard II met his sad end as well as Antony Wydevile, Lord Rivers and his nephew Richard. Enquiries of the local group as to where executions were likely to have taken place gave answers that ranged from A more modern ‘counting house’, with a bit of medieval banking going on. the nearby council estate to the bailey. It seems there were no local stories about Antony and his hair shirt. However one local story has it that a tunnel ran from the castle to the town, and when the garrison knocked off at the end of the day they would disappear down the tunnel and end up in the pub. I wondered if any castles and old manor houses didn’t have a ‘tunnel’ story. Just like the garrison, we ended our first day in a pub in the village of Burton Salmon. We had walked about nine miles, so the pub was a welcome rest. Friday was another hot day as we set off from Burton Salmon facing the longest stretch of the pilgrimage. Braving an attack from horses and electric fences we headed up the hill. Half an hour later we stopped in a lay-by for a our first water break. It appeared that Hel- en had brought everything including the kitchen sink and a fancy light fitting, but no, this was an example of local fly-tipping. It is amazing how even in the remotest places litter appears, including an antique Tango tin can. Leading the ‘pilgrims’ in the photo is Helen, a story teller from Derbyshire who had joined us for the day, and like one of Chaucer’s pilgrims kept us entertained with appropriate stories. Lunch in Sherburn-in-Elmet gave us a chance to visit the church of All Saints and picnic in the graveyard. It was also a chance to check over sore feet. While we rested Helen told us a medieval ghost story and then we were ready to set off again, down the hill past the site of King Athelstan’s palace, which he gave to the arch- bishop of York in thanks for a victory over the Scots in 937. For a while we had to walk along the road before reaching a footpath which took us to the Crooked Billet and another short (pub) break before visiting St Mary’s chapel at Lead and walking along the edge of Towton battlefield. The visit to this tiny chapel was made more atmospheric by another story from Helen about the ‘Loathsome Lady’, an Arthurian tale of chivalry, honour and doing the right thing. The walk around the edge of Towton was in complete contrast to that experienced by the two armies in March 1461. Instead of heavy snow we had exhausting heat. From the battlefield it was downhill and on to Tadcaster, where we would be finishing our second day after thirteen miles of walking, and a visit to the ‘Angel and White Horse’ pub, where unfortunately we could not buy a coffee, as they only sold beverages made by John Smith’s. Sadly Helen left us here to return to Derbyshire; we would miss her stories.

39

Saturday was less hot and eventually we got off the road, which is much harder on the feet, and took to footpaths and the original Roman road towards York. During our walk we had encountered curious people along the way who wanted to know what we were do- ing. Mostly it was good humoured and gener- ally unbelieving that we could be so mad to be walking all the way to York. We were not too quick to say it was over four days. However at Tadcaster we were greeted by a shower of ‘Smarties’ thrown from a car which, as Gill exclaimed when they struck her, really ‘Are we there yet?’ Gill leads the way. ‘Smart!’ From the end of the Roman road we had a short walk along roads to Copmanthorpe Village. Here we had lunch at ‘Chez Helen’s Mum’s.’ After a short rest it was only four more miles to the outskirts of York and the final pub of the journey the ‘Fox and Roman’. Sunday was a complete contrast; the weather was colder and drizzly. We also had more peo- ple joining the walk; we now numbered fifty, including our President Peter Hammond and his wife Carolyn. We were now of course much nearer to the paper’s stated one hundred. Some re-enactors even travelled up from Launceston that morning to join us. The Leeds Waits joined us and piped us from Holy Trinity up along to the river. From here the Waits took over and piped us to St Helen’s Square where we were to be met by the Mayor. We were welcomed into York and Barley Hall received a good plug, as the Mayor is a fan, but then who isn’t? The walk ended at the Minster where the Mystery Plays were due to begin after a performance by De Stadpijpers van s’- Hertogenbosch. The pilgrimage had been carried out in conjunction with the mystery plays and the walkers were awarded a special pilgrimage badge based upon a medieval picture of players leading the carts in procession. This is now a treasured possession and we look forward to the next pilgrim- age in four years time. The success of the pilgrimage is all down to the hard work of Gill Page who researched the walk and tried it out before hand. She has written a guide to the walk so that others can follow the route and this is on sale in Barley Hall. Enormous thanks are also due to Helen Williams who organised things with local councils and the police and drove the route beforehand to ensure she knew where to meet us and provide us with water; this was especially brave of her as she had only recently passed her driving test. Mostly I would like to thank all of you who so generously offered to sponsor me. Will you please send cheques to me at the address on the back page of the Bulletin? Cheques should be made payable to ‘Barley Hall Trust’. I hope to be able to give you the figure of the money raised in the next issue. Lynda Pidgeon

40

Notes from Fotheringhay

erhaps the most important news from Fotheringhay P this time is that our friend in the village, Juliet Wil- son, became a Member of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. We extend the Society’s congratulations to her. Awarded for services to Fothering- hay, this is an honour richly deserved. As part of the Society’s celebrations for 2006, and thanks to John Ashdown-Hill, we have given the church a large framed photograph of the Annunciation taken from Richard III’s Book of Hours – the church is dedicated to St Mary and All Saints. The picture now hangs in the Chapel of All Souls. Like last year, the Pentecostal Mass at the beginning of June was another fine affair, reminding us how services might have been in the days of the College of Fothering- hay. There was less incense this time, but it was a joy to listen to the choir and the music performed on the replica Juliet Wilson, MBE hand-blown medieval organs. These superb organs, which have been resident at Fotheringhay for about three months, will shortly be moving on, probably to Durham Cathedral. The church saw several events during the Oundle International Festival, with a recital on the Woodstock organ, and a lecture about the medieval pipe organs, followed by a concert using them with a wonderful chamber choral ensemble. The church was also the venue for the Festival Eucharist, but possibly the best attended of the events was the concert given by the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. The music was superb, with works by Monteverdi, Gabrielli, Bach, Mendelssohn, Frank Martin and Fauré, while the setting was utterly fantastic, the church and the village being bathed in the evening sunlight of one of the hottest days of the year. Unfortunately, the sixth annual organ recital clashes with the Society’s AGM on Saturday, 30 September, but it will be given by Catherine Ennis, Director of Music at St Lawrence Jewry in Central London. The AGM of the Friends of Fotheringhay Church will take place in the village hall on Satur- day, 4 November. The lecture by Dr Peter Hill will be on ‘Rockingham Forest in the Middle Ag- es’. Please see page 72 for details of this year’s Christmas event, which will be on Saturday, 16 December. Phil Stone

o0o

If you have enjoyed reading Lynda Pidgeon’s account of the Medieval Pilgrimage why not make a dona- tion to Barley Hall? Just send your cheque to Lynda, address on the back inside cover, made payable to the Barley Hall Trust.

41

‘Scurrilous songs for Ruthless Ricardians’

HELEN ASTLE

Helen Astle of Hitchin and formerly of Southwold, Suffolk, died in December 1993. Helen was the Society’s embroiderer, the creator of the banners that the RCRF still uses on its stall at the Major Craft Sale, and used at every craft sale it attended in the 1980s and 1990s. Helen was also the author of a large number of Ricardian songs, some of which were included in the programme for the Jubilee Medieval Banquet and Grande Masque in April 1975 to commemorate (a little late) the Society’s founding in 1924. Some were printed in the Clerihew Collection, and some were to have been read at the London and Home Counties Branch party in March 2006 – but the planned entertainment never took place, as members were entertaining themselves too well in eating and drinking. So, to introduce Helen’s songs to a wider audience, we plan to include them as an occasional series in the Bulletin.

Post Mortem (to the tune My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean but with no chorus)

Young Simnel is safe in his kitchen, And Perkin’s as dead as can be, And so is the young Earl of Warwick, So go and fetch Tyrell for me.

James Tyrell lies over the channel, James Tyrell lies over the sea, He’s safe and sound somewhere near , So go and fetch Tyrell for me.

Now Tyrell lies dead in the Tower, His headless corpse neatly displayed, So Morton, come write the confession That Tyrell’s supposed to have made –

That he smothered the boys with a pillow When they were asleep in their bed, And add – it was on Richard’s orders The two little princes lie dead

Now Tyrell lies dead in the Tower, The princes lie fairly close by, And Richard lies buried at Leicester – But Henry and Morton just lie.

42

The Man Himself

GLOUCESTER’S CHARTER OF INCORPORATION

This article was first published in The Ricardian in June 1975 and re-published in Crown & Peo- ple in 1979 together with the appendix on the Gloucester Civic Swords. References and notes to the article are given in Crown and People.

lthough Gloucester is one of England’s most ancient towns which, in Norman times, was A ‘the great royal city ... where the King of England wore his crown at Christmas’ and one of the oldest demesne boroughs, it did not come of age municipally and attain full civic independ- ence until 1483, by charter of Richard III. The whole question of incorporation is very complex, and the line of demarcation is often vague between free boroughs formally incorporated and those operating as such by ancient prac- tice and acknowledgement but without official letters patent to that effect. (The governing body of London, for instance, had been acting in a corporate capacity for very many years before being ‘recognised’ in this respect.) In Gloucester’s case, however, it is generally accepted that the bor- ough did not become fully established as a self-governing municipality until it received the char- ter of Richard III. This granting of the rights of complete self-government was the culmination of a long process of gradual emancipation from the shackles of shire and state. The newly-incorporated borough had the right to control its own internal affairs, free from interference by the county authorities and answerable only to the Crown; it could hold its own courts, and it could act in law as a cor- porate body with a specific name (‘the mayor and burgesses of the town of Gloucester' in this case). It also possessed a common seal and had the right to issue bye-laws and elect its own civic officers. It is surprising that Gloucester had not been rewarded with full incorporation by Edward IV for the support given him before the Battle of but, apparently, he merely inspected and confirmed the existing charters. It seems it was left to King Richard to put right this omis- sion, which he did with great expediency, coming directly from his coronation to show himself in the Duchy and making amends for previous tardiness by a charter of amazing generosity. One clause in the charter seems to hint at this, for it reads: ‘Furthermore, because of the spe- cial affection which we bear towards the said town of Gloucester and its bailiffs and burgesses, and considering the good and faithful actions of the said bailiffs and burgesses in causes of par- ticular importance to us, and wishing to provide for their immunity, protection and peace, we, of our special favour and from certain knowledge and free impulse, have remitted and released for us ...’ [here follows the remission of £45 of the annual fee farm rent of £65]. It was perhaps be- cause of this ‘special affection’ (a term which here could indicate genuine regard rather than mere conventional ‘charter jargon’) that the king personally directed that the borough should receive its charter without having to pay ‘any Fyne or Fee’ for the privilege. During the Middle Ages payments and bribes to have charters granted, extended, or merely confirmed were very much the norm. (In 1199 the burgesses of Gloucester had paid 200 marks into the Exchequer in 43

order to obtain the same rights and concessions as those held by Winchester. In 1483, hopeful of a reduction in their fee farm rent, the burgess of York presented the King with 100 marks in a cup of gold and the Queen with £100 in a dish. In all, £437 was subscribed.) King Richard was at Gloucester at the beginning of August and within a month the charter was drawn up and sealed, the document being dated 2 September 1483. Not even his worst ene- mies could ever accuse Richard of dilatoriness and it would seem he lost no time in honouring a promise once made. The charter is now in the Gloucester City Museum in Brunswick Road. It is a large, impres- sive example of a fifteenth-century charter, in a good state of preservation. Attached to it is a rather poor specimen of Richard’s Great Seal and the illumination includes his coat of arms. The latter is quite attractive). The supporters are a white boar and a rather poodle-like white lion (of March). The arms are superimposed on the rays of the sun, and may be compared in style with those illuminating the charter of the Wax Chandlers’ Company. After the usual extensive preliminaries (that is, the setting out of the King’s titles: ‘Richard, by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland’, followed by a long list of the town’s previous royal charters which he had duly inspected and confirmed), the document continues with a statement of the fee farm remission. The town now had only £20 to pay and the King decreed by letters patent that this remaining sum should be awarded to the abbot and con- vent of St Peter’s, Gloucester. This annual rental, by which the inhabitants of a borough obtained tenure of the town in which they lived, had been fixed for Gloucester at £65 by Edward III, and in Edward IV’s reign had been allocated to various beneficiaries including Richard Beauchamp (appointed governor of Gloucester Castle after Barnet). The remission of the fee farm by Richard III meant that such beneficiaries had to be recompensed by other means and this was effected in Beauchamp’s case by the grant of an annuity of £66 13s.4d. In 1462 Richard himself had held the fee farm together with the castle of Gloucester. There is some doubt, however, as to whether Gloucester ever actually reaped the benefit of Richard’s remission. Certainly York had a very long struggle indeed to gain its remission, as a recent detailed investigation has proved, and we find the burgesses of Gloucester petitioning Henry VII for a rebate almost immediately after his accession. The draft petition which they drew up survives in the Gloucester archives. It is a real cri de coeur begging the king to remit part of the ‘grevis fee firme of lxv li.’ because of the great ruin and decay of the town. This was a state of affairs common to many towns at the end of the fifteenth century, for the urban communities were entering upon a period of economic depression which reached its peak in the next century. But despite the fact that the king had been supplied with a draft reply to the draft petition, with blank spaces in which it was hoped the figures of the discharge allowed would be inserted, Henry only agreed to a rebate of £5, one ninth of that granted by Richard. The next clause of the 1483 charter concerned the election of Gloucester’s first mayor who was to be chosen from amongst the burgesses on the Monday next after the feast of St Michael. The town had had no official mayor until this time although, sometimes, apparently, a senior bailiff had been loosely awarded the title. Richard the Burgess had been described as tunc Majore de Glouc in the thirteenth century. After this first occasion subsequent mayors were to be annual- ly elected on the same day by the twelve aldermen and twelve of the ‘more law-abiding and pru- dent burgesses of the town’. This seems to have been a simple, straightforward and satisfactory method compared with the procedure followed in some towns where there was often much dis- sension. The first mayor of Gloucester was John Trye and it may have been he who was one of the town’s two Parliamentary representatives during the reign of Edward IV. His name is also associ- ated in local records with William Nottingham who was Chief Baron of the Exchequer until 1483 and owned property in Gloucester. It would seem, therefore, that John Trye was a man of some standing and possibly known in Court circles. On all ceremonial occasions the mayor was to have

44

a sword carried before him and from then on, for many years, the arms of Gloucester and the civic seal bore a sword as . Sir Robert Atkyns, writing over two hundred years later, proudly asserted: ‘This city hath the highest marks of honour generally granted to magistracy, scarlet gowns, the sword and and four sergeants at mace’. All are attributable to the charter of Richard III. Most of the foregoing, however, with the possible exception of the two extra sergeants-at- mace, are concessions which one might expect would be granted to a borough when it became incorporated, but the next clause of the charter suggests that Gloucester was being favoured over and above what was customary .The hundreds of Dudston and King’s Barton, an area of over forty-five square miles of profitable land, were to be separated from the county and awarded to the town, which was from thereafter to be known as the ‘County of the town of Gloucester’. This meant that the borough’s area of jurisdiction jumped from 451 acres to 29,097 acres, a most im- pressive increase. The full impact of this can be best realised by standing on one of the hills over- looking the Vale of Gloucester; almost all the lands thus within view, except for the Cotswold ridge and the region west of Severn, formed what was from then on known as the ‘In-shire’. This territory was lost by Gloucester by the charter of Charles II, it is said as a punishment for the city’s support of the Parliamentary cause in the Civil War. Comparatively few towns in the medi- eval period were counties in their own right: Bristol was so honoured by Edward III, York by Richard II, Lincoln and Norwich by Henry IV, by Henry VI, Canterbury by Edward IV and Chester by Henry VII. Since April 1974, Gloucester has had to relinquish this county status, awarded by Richard III ‘of our abundant grace’, but it has preserved its right to its own mayor before whom the sword of the city is borne by the city swordbearer . As a county of itself, Gloucester was then entitled to its own sheriffs and the two bailiffs were elevated to this rank with a sergeant-at-mace to serve each of them. (The other two sergeants attended upon the mayor. ) The town sheriffs were now entitled to hold their own shire courts and the courts of the hundreds, the fines and dues of the latter being a useful additional source of revenue. The assize judges and the High Sheriff of the shire were, however, still to hold their courts within the town as they had in the past. Apart from his rights in this respect, the High Sheriff was not to ‘intermeddle’ in the town’s affairs in any way. ‘Furthermore,’ the charter continues, ‘to show our fuller favour to the said mayor and bur- gesses of the town of Gloucester ... they may choose from among themselves ... a coroner, who is to be elected and removed from office at the will and pleasure of the said mayor and aldermen.’ The coroner was overseer, on the king’s behalf, of all legal procedures within his area of jurisdic- tion; it was, therefore, an advantage to the townspeople to have a man, locally chosen, occupying this office for then he would be likely to have their interests at heart and be readily available to hear their points of view. As well as holding the position of Justice of the Peace, the mayor was now empowered to exercise the role of clerk of the market and to perform the rights and duties of the king’s steward and marshal within the town boundaries. These latter concessions were of considerable financial advantage. To be able to collect freely the market tolls and rents and use these for replenishment of the town coffers was an obvious benefit, but the town was now freed as well from the expen- sive obligation of providing hospitality for the royal officials who travelled the country with the standard weights and measures for checking purposes. The king’s steward and marshal was a member of the royal entourage and when the monarch was lodging in or near a town had jurisdic- tion over a twelve mile area from where the king was staying. This authority was now vested in the mayor, and the marshal no longer had the right to commandeer provisions, etc. as he thought fit. Finally, the mayor was appointed Crown escheator for the county of the town of Gloucester, which entailed his taking responsibility for the reversion of lands and property where there was no heir to inherit. The charter concludes with a special reservation regarding the freedom of the burgesses of

45

Tewkesbury from paying tolls and other dues within the liberty of Gloucester . Why did Richard do so much for Gloucester? The older Gloucester historians, being wedded to the Tudor tradition, were hard put to it to make usurping murderer equal civic benefactor; for them the king’s visit to Gloucester and his liberality there had to have some connection with the death of the Princes. Both Samuel Rudder (1779) and Thomas Fosbrooke (1807) believed he came to be out of the way while his nefarious plans were carried out; but Fosbrooke dismissed More’s assertion that the King devised his nephews’ murder while visiting Gloucester with the phrase ‘says the historian absurdly enough’. The view has often been taken that when Richard was being magnanimous he was making a desperate bid for popularity. He does appear to have been given to impulsive – some would say calculated – acts of generosity, but there is no evi- dence that he scattered charters throughout the length and breadth of the Kingdom. He certainly made concessions to many towns, but so did his immediate predecessors and successors for there was a real need for relief during this period of recession. His most recent biographer, Professor Charles Ross, says: ‘Modern professional historians, while praising Richard’s abilities and good intentions as king, have tended to skirt the problem of the motives which underlay his actions, but have, on the whole, inclined to imply that his “good deeds” sprang primarily from a concern for political advantage.’ As an able military strategist Richard may have been aware that a grateful Gloucester would be a valuable bastion against the Tudor menace from Wales but there were other towns equally important in this respect. When he invaded, Henry crossed the Severn at Shrewsbury and re- ceived support from the mayor of Chester, both ‘frontier’ towns to which Richard had made con- cessions for economic relief but on a scale which was not at all comparable with his grants to Gloucester. It is in the matter of the annexed hundreds and county status that Gloucester seems to own a specially privileged position, a privilege which Professor Ross considers ‘remarkable ... for a town of its size and commercial importance’. As we believe Richard III was a man who formed strong personal attachments it seems very probable that in Gloucester’s case he was not motivated so much by possible ‘political ad- vantage’ as by a wish to acknowledge his town. A note on Bowen’s map of Gloucestershire (1777 or earlier) says: ‘Richard the 3rd who had been Duke of Gloucester, had such respect for it that he made it a County incorporate under a Mayor and Alderman’ [sic], and this does seem to be the most reasonable explanation. Gwen Waters

Appendix: The Gloucester Civic Swords There is a persistent story in histories of Gloucester that Richard III gave to the borough its first civic sword – in fact Thomas Niblett, writing in 1877, goes so far as to say that the king gave his own sword to the town. This cannot be proved but there is circumstantial evidence to show that it could well have been at least the gift of the king. Richard had a long association with Gloucester, of course, bearing its name for some twenty-two years, and sentiment alone might have dictated the move. There were also local precedents for such royal generosity. King John, when earl of Gloucester, is said to have presented a sword to Newnham (twelve miles from Gloucester) and it is very possible that Edward III gave to Bristol the sword bearing his arms when he made that city a county in 1373. Whatever its origin, Gloucester certainly had a sword as early as 1486, when it was ordered that the swordbearer be paid twenty shillings annually. Towards the end of the next century the city had an ‘owlde swerde’ and a ‘beste sworde’. The former was also called the Mourning Sword, and the latter was probably that described later as inscribed with a figure of Queen Eliza- beth I, the city arms, and ‘E.R. 1574’. It has since disappeared. By 1636, when an inventory was taken of goods belonging to the burgesses, the city owned three swords, as it did until at least 1819. It now has two, one of which is identifiable as the Stuart sword, and one now known as the Mourning Sword (from being used on occasions of civic mourning such as a memorial service

46

for a town dignitary). It is now encased in a black velvet scabbard, too large for the present sword, and used to be painted black. The Mourning Sword is a most interesting survival, and in view of the above facts it might be thought to be a fifteenth-century sword, even one presented by Richard III. This, unfortunately, is not so, or not entirely. The blade, which is German, of Solingen or Passau make, is of the late sixteenth century, and inscribed FRANCISCO ME FECIT. The design of the quillons is con- sistent with this date. So far then the facts show that the Mourning Sword was probably made in the second half of the sixteenth century. Were it not for the fact that it is not inscribed ‘E.R. 1574’ it might be identified as the missing Tudor sword. However, the intriguing fact about this sword is that the elaborately engraved pommel is of a more archaic type, typical of the fifteenth century in fact. This would not necessarily be signifi- cant since civic processional swords were often made archaic in form, but the Mourning Sword is not a typical purpose-made civic sword. It has a most unusual style, quite unlike the usual cere- monial type. It seems possible therefore, that the present Mourning Sword of Gloucester is a hy- brid, made up in the sixteenth century from other weapons, including the original sword of the city, and that here we have a remnant of the sword originally provided in accordance with the terms of the charter, perhaps a sword given by Richard of Gloucester. Peter Hammond

The authors wish to acknowledge gratefully the help given by Mr Claude Blair, Keeper of the Department of Metalwork at the Victoria and Albert Museum, who kindly examined the sword and gave his opinion on it; and by Mr N.I. Cooper, of the Guildhall, Gloucester, who arranged for both ourselves and Mr Blair to see the sword and for us to see the charter.

o0o

The Coat of Arms Journal of the Society

Founded in 1952 and now in its third series; published twice yearly in March and September

This September’s number includes:

 Michael Burtscher on the martyrdom of Edmund Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel, and the heraldic and saintly references in the illuminations of the Bohun Psalter (BL Ms Egerton 3277)  Paul A. Fox on Thomas Jenyn’s Book, the largest and most significant medie val ordinary of arms  Peter O’Donoghue on heralds at the Delhi Imperial Assemblage of 1876-7 and the Durbars of 1903 and 1911  Notes, review articles and book reviews on all subjects relating to heraldry, in the middle ages and later.

The Coat of Arms is issued free to members of the Heraldry Society paying the annual subscription; visit www.theheraldrysociety.com for details. Individual issues can also be obtained at selected outlets and through the Society at the cover price of £12.

47

The Debate:

WHO MURDERED THE PRINCES?

We have only had two responses to this debate. Perhaps few people felt they had anything useful to contribute? Richard van Allen wrote a wide-ranging reply, concerned with real power and the real world, considering not the who but the how and the why of the deed; and Jennie Powys- Lybbe e-mailed her thoughts about conversations between Edward V and his doctor, John Argen- tine.

From Richard van Allen:

Dear Editor,

What I think I can contribute to the debate does not concern the ‘who’, but possibly the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ of the Princes’ murder. How did it come about that the boys were murdered (if indeed they were)? One point that historians are generally agreed on is that nothing has changed over thousands of years with re- gard to the exercise of power. An interesting manifestation of this is the fact that a number of historians are making a mark today writing management books based on comparisons with histo- ry. In fact, I believe that is really doing quite well on the US management speak- ing circuit, basing his talks on the exercise of power by English monarchs vis-à-vis the actions of current chief executives. I have spent some thirty years of my career working close to centres of power – as a minor cog in the machines, I hasten to add – for the chairmen and chief executives of major companies, which also gave me an insight into the workings of No. 10. Prior to that I worked for Australian state government ministers. One of the things that I have observed happening close to the centres of absolute power is that situations are discussed many times, but no decisions are made and no actual commands are given. This can then lead to direct action being taken by over-loyal or over- ambitious subordinates, who believe that they are carrying out their leaders’ wishes, even if those wishes have not been expressed directly. This is basically one of the points Lesley Boatwright made in her contribution to the debate. As she said, possibly the best-known historical example of this over-eagerness to please by subordinates is the infamous murder of Thomas Becket. It would be interesting to know if the four knights were actually in Henry’s presence when he ex- pressed his wish to be rid of the Archbishop, or was it passed on as a command by one of his close advisors? Much closer to our present time we have had situations with US presidents expressing desires in meetings which have then been translated into actions by over-zealous or over-protective advi- sors. Nixon and the Watergate débâcle, and Reagan and the Contra arms deal, are two prime ex- amples. When the ‘money for hostages’ situation surfaced during Reagan’s term of office, I think that many Americans who were aghast that this could happen nevertheless felt a certain amount of grudging admiration for Colonel Oliver North when he put his hand up and said that the Presi- dent knew nothing of the deal, and then went to jail to protect his leader. So therefore I am supporting Lesley’s notion that the murder of the princes could indeed have taken place, not as the result of a direct command but as the result of someone interpreting the situation and then taking action. The imprisonment of the princes must have been discussed

48

many times with advisors and, despite the declaration of their illegitimacy by Parliament, there must have been some nervousness that factions opposed to Richard might try to rescue them, rally support for Edward V and overturn Parliament’s previous ruling. I think we all appreciate that the medieval world was a hard and brutal one, and that people in power or close to power would not hesitate to undertake such actions. This really bring us to the ‘why’ of their deaths. I have started to re-read Paul Murray Ken- dall’s Richard III and note that in the opening chapters he says that Richard, as a young and stu- dious boy, witnessed at first hand the savage struggle for power at the centre of which was his father, Richard of York. He must have been told of the behind-the-scenes treachery, the death of his father and the taking of the crown by his elder brother, Edward. As a young man he will also have been aware of the struggle to hold on to the crown, with Henry making a comeback before being finally deposed and disposed of. All this cannot have been lost on Richard. The major lesson learned, not only from this inci- dent but also from history, is that you do not merely depose a leader. You must also dispose of him, or that leader will want to make a comeback and start causing problems; alternatively, ene- mies wanting to get back into power can use a deposed leader as a rallying-point. It may have saved a good deal of trouble and strife had Henry been disposed of when he was deposed the first time, although there is that part of the equation which suggests that blatantly to murder a reigning king in order to take his crown might be too much for the populace to take. Which bring us on to the Princes. Even if they appeared to be ‘safe’ in the Tower, this would still not have stopped Richard’s enemies, be they Yorkist or Lancastrian, from plotting to release Edward and to use him as a rallying-point to raise an army and wrest the crown from Richard. Therefore to keep the Princes out of public view and have them ‘fade away’ makes a lot of sense.

From Jennie Powys-Lybbe (by e-mail):

With regard to Argentine’s remark about Edward V’s daily confession and penance ‘because he believed that death was facing him’, do we all (including Mancini) interpret this with hindsight? After all, if someone’s medical practitioner says that a patient believes death is facing him, we would normally assume that this refers to his state of health. And was not young Edward suffer- ing from something? (His jaw?) I just wondered if this had ever been considered, particularly as he refers only to Edward, and not to the younger Richard, who was obviously as much a candi- date for murder as Edward – no point in killing one without the other, and the boys would have been quite capable of working this out.

News and Reviews continued

The Leicester Mercury carried a rather disturbing story on 31 July and reported on graffiti being scrawled on the walls of Ashby Castle, the former home of William Hastings. The vandalism had taken place over a number of weeks, the latest incident taking place on 16 July. Apart from dam- age to an ancient building, which is always regrettable, some of the graffiti made references to King Richard and named dates associated with him, such as 1452-1485. The chairman of Ashby Civic Society believes the vandals think there has been a historical injustice and the castle site supervisor commented on Hastings’ execution on the order of Rich- ard, which she believes could have some relevance to the matter. However, whether the grudge is by those believing Hastings was innocent of any plotting against Richard or by ‘Ricardians’ who believe the contrary, is not explored. The police have been called in to investigate. Thanks to Geoff Wheeler for bring the matter to the editorial team’s attention. Wendy Moorhen

49

Was Norfolk a Traitor?

DAVID JOHNSON

t is often remarked that of major British is usually disregarded on the grounds that I battles, Bosworth is perhaps the most the York dignitaries were in fact protecting poorly documented. When one considers the the identity of the real traitor: Henry Percy, subsequent importance in English history of . As Percy had sur- the Tudor dynasty, this comparative dearth vived Bosworth, and Howard had not, the of source material becomes all the more duke became a convenient scapegoat for the remarkable. One of the few statements we guilt of the earl. It is argued that this decep- seem able to make with any degree of cer- tion was necessary because, in the devastat- tainty is that Richard was betrayed. The trai- ing aftermath of Richard’s death, Northum- tors, some more culpable than others, are berland had become the most likely advo- usually agreed to be Thomas Lord Stanley, cate for the ‘Yorkist’ city in a new and po- his brother Sir William Stanley, and Henry tentially disastrous ‘Lancastrian’ world. Percy, Earl of Northumberland. The consen- But why should we believe this? The sus is that these prominent members of the York council records categorically state that aristocracy should have been fighting for the news of Richard’s death, and Howard’s Richard, just like John Howard, Duke of treachery, ‘was shown by divers persons, Norfolk, who gave his very life in the cause and especially by John Sponer, sent unto the of his King. While many of those around field of Redemore to bring tidings from the Richard proved to be false, Howard re- same to the city.’ John Sponer brought his mained loyal, sharing Richard’s tragic fate report from the very field of battle, the Re- on the field of battle. demore. If, in these shocking circumstances, Yet despite all of this there may well be a it were genuinely necessary to protect Henry completely different story to tell. For Percy, then surely the council would simply amongst the relatively few scraps of primary omit his name, apportioning blame to the evidence that inform our rather patchy un- ‘many others that turned against’ Richard. It derstanding of Bosworth, there exists an seems pretty clear that the accusation lev- unequivocal accusation that Howard be- elled against Howard was based on a sin- trayed Richard: an accusation that today lies cere belief in his guilt. buried and half forgotten beneath the weight However, given the power of the York of Howard’s reputation as a loyal and com- council entry, one may wonder why How- mitted supporter of the king. Indeed, the ard’s alleged treason is not recorded else- latest biographical treatment of Howard where. Surely such an event, if indeed it did concludes, ‘His loyalty to the house of York take place, would have merited – at the very was total and if he supported Richard’s least – a mention in one or two other ac- usurpation out of self-interest, he defended counts of the battle. Is it not therefore the it to the end.’1 case that the glaring absence of any corrob- The source for this alternative reading is orative evidence renders the York claim ex- contained within the council records of the tremely improbable? Well, not necessarily. Mayor and aldermen of York for 23 August There is in fact an echo of Howard’s sup- 1485, the day after the battle. Richard’s posed treason in a number of later sources; defeat at Bosworth is unambiguously at- sufficient, I would argue, to warrant a reas- tributed to the ‘great treason of the Duke of sessment of Howard’s conduct at Bosworth. Norfolk and many others that turned against The first reference occurs in an account him’2 [italics mine]. This sensational claim composed in early 1486 by the Spanish

50

courtier Diego de Valera.3 Here it is claimed sion of events is clearly at variance with the that Richard’s left wing defected to Tudor traditional account in which Howard per- just before the fighting began, passing di- ished sword in hand. Here Molinet attrib- rectly in front of the royal army in order to utes Howard’s death to a command of the join forces with the earl of Oxford. Though earl of Oxford, in effect a battlefield execu- Howard is not mentioned, de Valera’s ac- tion. But why should Howard be separated count has to be read alongside a later from his son after capture and dealt with in source, which provides a different slant on this summary fashion? the same event. If, as the traditional account has it, How- of Pittscottie,4 writing ard were engaged against the forces of Ox- almost a century later in the 1570s, claimed ford, then surely, upon capture, he would that the royal vanguard turned to face King have appeared directly before the earl him- Richard and fought along side the rebel ar- self. As we understand Bosworth, the course my. What is interesting is that the men of combat separated Henry Tudor and Ox- raised by John Howard are believed to have ford by a considerable distance, thus giving formed Richard’s van or right wing. Despite rise to Richard’s desperate cavalry charge. the fact that Howard is not identified by Molinet’s claim that Howard was taken first name, there remains a clear implication that to Henry Tudor raises an interesting possi- it was Norfolk’s soldiers who comitted this bility. Howard may have demanded, or per- act of betrayal. haps requested, to be brought before Henry Thus we have two accounts, each describ- to plead a new-found loyalty to Tudor, ing the defection of royal soldiers as the based on the defection of forces under his rival armies closed for combat. In addition, command at the beginning of the battle. the second source implicates troops under Henry, perhaps unfamiliar with Howard, the command of John Howard. While it is delegated the decision to Oxford who, not clear that neither of these prove Howard a surprisingly, had the duke killed. traitor, they nonetheless suggest a devastat- Now, admittedly, this scenario re- ing act of betrayal at the critical moment of quires a leap of faith, but before dis- contact. It is often wondered how the nu- missing it completely consider this. Who, merically superior royal army came to be in July 1483, could have believed that within defeated at Bosworth: could this act of trea- three short months Richard’s chief support- son provide the answer? Moreover, the en- er, Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, try in the York council records, describing would lead an armed rebellion against the the many others that turned against Richard, king? Self-interest and self-preservation are might possibly refer to these turncoat sol- powerful natural instincts. For reasons that diers. are not all together clear, Buckingham fa- A rather more direct and potentially sen- mously became ‘the most untrue crea- sational identification of Howard occurs in ture living.’ At Bosworth the Stan- an account composed by Jean Molinet leys and Northumberland conspicuous- around 1490.5 Molinet claimed that ‘In this ly failed to support Richard; given the evi- conflict was taken the with dence outlined here, can we be certain that his son. The former was taken to the earl of John Howard, Duke of Norfolk, did not also Richmond, who sent him on to the earl of abandon his king? Oxford who had him dispatched.’ This ver-

References 1 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004). 2 M. Bennett, The Battle of Bosworth (Stroud 1985), p.155. 3 Bennett, Bosworth, p.159-160. 4 Ibid., p.162. 5 Ibid., p.161.

51

Logge Notes and Queries

LESLEY BOATWRIGHT

La Belle Dame Sans Merci, Roos is referred to in a grant as ‘king’s fifteenth century style ’. His elder brother Robert was active as an ambassador, but there is no sign of pub-

lic activity on Richard’s part, and his biog- Will no. 38 in the Logge Register is that rapher, Ethel Seaton, reckoned that after the of ‘the Lancastrian poet’ Sir Richard Roos. It glittering life of the Duke of Gloucester’s was made on 8 March and proved on 1 April Pleasaunce Richard found Henry VI’s court 1482. He left some very pretty artefacts, in- rather pious and boring, and got his head well cluding ‘my tablett of the coronation of our down and translated French poetry instead. ladie made of moder of perle garnysshed and He was in the grand train of English nota- sett in silvere and gilte with a fote therto of bles who went to France with the Marquis silver and gilte’, ‘my little Roos’ [a rose?] ‘of and Marchioness of Suffolk to bring back golde sett and garnysshed with a ruby and viij to be married to Henry VI. perles’, ‘my litle booke of praiers closed in A time of official parties and splendid cere- plates of silvere and circled with an image of monial, with probably much romantic banter the crucifyxe on the oon side and an image of in the air, if not in real life. Then in 1447 our ladie on the others side’, ‘my bedde of came the arrest and death of the Duke of silke made with white hartes’ (his mother Gloucester. Henry gave the Greenwich Margaret Arundel had been a lady in waiting Pleasaunce to Margaret of Anjou, who did to , the wife of Richard II). building works there. Richard got married in A borage flower on a flat gold chain went to the early , when he was in his forties, to his niece who was living with the Duchess of Margaret, daughter of Sir Richard Vernon. Suffolk, the formidable Alice Chaucer. She was a lady-in-waiting to Margaret of An- Richard Roos was born about 1410, the jou. In 1453-4 they each received identical fifth and youngest son of William, the sixth gifts from the Queen, silver-gilt salt-cellars Lord Roos. His father died when he was four and silver-gilt goblets with a scallop pattern. years old. His mother did not re-marry, and The strife of the 1450s and bore Richard probably stayed with her at heavily on the Roos family. In 1455 their Helmsley, which belonged to his family, most influential connection by marriage, the learning discipline and grammar from a chan- Duke of Somerset, was killed in the first bat- try chaplain, as provided by his father’s will. tle of St Albans. The 1461 Act of His two eldest brothers fought at Agincourt, destroyed the family’s wealth and prosperity. and were later killed in 1421 with the Duke of In 1464 Richard’s nephew Thomas, Lord Clarence. The third brother, Thomas, was Roos, was executed after the battle of Hex- drowned in the River Marne in 1430: it was ham. an unlucky family. It must have helped that his niece Eleanor As a young man Richard Roos was very made two Yorkist marriages, notably one to much in the circle of Humphrey, Duke of Richard Haute in 1474. Richard’s will shows Gloucester, spending time at the Duke’s beau- that at the end of his life he did have some tiful manor at Greenwich which was known sort of place in the court of Edward IV. He in their circles as the Pleasaunce, and writing leaves his servant Howell Vaughan ‘the cloth poetry for the elegant and cultured people of my syde blak gowne furred with blak who foregathered there. By 1442 Richard lambe being in the Kinges court. Also I be- 52

queth to John Richardeson that kepith my Lady and her would-be Lover: he is going on stuff in the said court my shorte gowne lyned and on at her to make her give in, and she is that I was wont to ride inne and the stuff of saying No Way, there’s nothing in it for me. the bedde that the same John was wonte to lie Of course, she gets the blame for being hard- inne himsilf that is in the court.’ This sounds hearted. The original poem by Chartier as if he kept clothes at court, and a servant to caused a sensation at the French court, where look after them, who slept there. Earlier in the it was said the women so disliked the depic- will he leaves his nephew, Sir Henry Roos, tion of the merciless Lady that Chartier was ‘my collar of gold of the Kinges liverey and expelled from the royal Court of Love. That my ring of golde sette with a camahewe that I seems a male fantasy to me. More recent as- was wont to were, and my sparver of silke sessments call the lady frigid, sophistic, de- that served me in the kinges court’. Because ceitful, cynical and hard. In other words, of the past tenses, I think an argument could these recent assessments have understood the be made that the was a Lancastri- lady in much the same way as the Lover in an one, from Henry VI, and the sparver, or the poem does, and do not give her credit for bed, of silk was what he slept in at court in having good reason for her arguments: ‘Free Henry VI’s day – but equally well the collar am I nowe, and fre will I endure / To be could be from Edward IV and the silk bed rewled by manis governaunce / For erthely that in which he slept while his servant John good, nay – that I you ensure!’ The Lover Richardson slept elsewhere. goes on about how he is dying for love of her, He died some time in March 1482. Marga- and she points out that not many people actu- ret survived him, but he does not mention any ally do die of love: ‘This siknes is right ease children in his will. He had a house in the to endure – But fewe people it causith for to parish of St Peter the Little, Thames Street, dye’. London, and a messuage and garden in East It opens with the Translator waking from Greenwich. his golden sleep, remembering his promise to That is the man. What of his poetry? translate the poem, and wandering about till There really is only firm evidence for one he came to a ‘lusty green valley, full of flow- poem, and that is not an original composition, ers, to see a great Pleasaunce’. The word but a translation from the French of a poem Pleasaunce turns up time and again in the written about 1424 by Alain Chartier, who poem, reminding us of the time Roos spent at was Chief Secretary to the King of France. It the Greenwich Pleasaunce of Humphrey of is called La Belle Dame Sans Merci, ‘the Gloucester. At this point the Narrator takes beautiful woman without mercy’. Keats used over. He is riding through the country looking this title for his famous poem in 1819, though for lodging, heart-broken because his own his poem is totally different from Roos’s lady is dead, and he feels his heart is buried work. The Paston family owned two books with her. He hears minstrels playing in a gar- which included the poem, and John Howard, den, and doesn’t really want to join in, but Duke of Norfolk, took a copy of it with him two of his friends bring him to the feast. One on an embassy to Scotland in 1481. I like to of the young men serving there was pale and think of Jocky of Norfolk reading courtly love lean, dressed in black, with trembling speech, poetry in the stilly reaches of the Scottish who could not keep his eyes off one of the night. women there. The Narrator couldn’t bear to The poem was very popular in the fif- stay to watch the festivities, so hid in the teenth century, though it is somewhat hard bushes. Up came the Lover and the Lady; the today to see why. Debate poetry is not to to- Lover made a passionate speech about his day’s taste. It is 857 lines long, and grows own feelings ‘with dredful voix, weping, half very tedious in the middle. If you want to in a rage’. She answered ‘ful soft and demure- read it, it is most accessible on the Internet - I ly’ that he was talking nonsense – ‘youre got it by asking Google for Sir Richard Roos. thought is gret foly’. Then the debate begins The large central part is a debate between a and they speak alternate eight-line stanzas.

53

After 65 stanzas of argument, she has the last [A very shortened version of the talk giv- word: ‘Ye noye me sore in wasting al this en to the Study week-end in April. A full winde’. The Lover goes away weeping, and version may be found on the Society’s web- she goes back to the dancing. site. Ethel Seaton’s biography, Sir Richard Margaret of Anjou was not the only iron Roos, Lancastrian Poet, was published by lady in fifteenth-century England. Ruper Hart-Davis in 1961.]

o0o

From Our Sister Publications

An occasional series featuring extracts from branch/group publications which the Editorial Team feel should be shared with all members. Thanks to John Ashdown-Hill for the idea and to the branches and groups for their publications.

From RICARDUS REX, the publication of the Victoria Branch, Australia

Coldharbour House

Coldharbour House (also called Cold Harborough or Cold Inn) was by the river. It stood just east of Cannon Street Railway Station. It was probably built in 1334 by a merchant, Sir John Poultney, sometime Lord Mayor of London. By the late 1300s John Holland, Duke of Exeter owned it. Exeter was the half-brother of Richard II. Richard III gave it to the heralds for their College. Henry Tudor, however, turned them out and gave the property to his mother, Margaret. The Heralds had no home until 1555 when they were given Derby House, which site they still occupy. At least while Margaret occupied it, the building was apparently ‘right royal and pleasantly beseen and addressed.’ Prince Arthur was married to Catherine of Aragon in November 1501 and Margaret held a dinner-party at Coldharbour in honour of the Spanish princess. Gold and silver plate abounded. An English guest sat beside each Spaniard to make them feel at home. After Henry VIII gave Coldharbour house to the earl of Shrewsbury it was sometimes called Shrewsbury House. The building was destroyed in the Great Fire, but the replacement building was used as the Hall of the Watermen’s Company until 1778. David Bliss 54

‘Only if it May Stand with the Law of the Church’

MARIE BARNFIELD

Richard’s ‘Incestuous’ Marriage: It is reasonable to suppose that, in giving Part 2 Warwick the keeping of Gloucester and Lord Lovell in 1465, Edward was making both hen, in February 1472, Edward IV their marriages available to the earl – Richard W entreated ‘my Lord of Clarence for for Isabel and Francis for Anne – in compen- my Lord of Gloucester’, Richard and his in- sation for the loss of other suitable heirs. In- tended shared three separate relationships for deed, had Edward been at this time against which dispensations were required: consan- Richard’s union with one of the Neville sis- guinity in the second and third degrees, con- ters, placing him with Warwick would have sanguinity in the third and fourth degrees, and been extremely foolhardy. Until relations affinity in the third and fourth degrees between Edward and Warwick had complete- (arising from Anne’s Lancastrian marriage). ly broken down, it is probable that it was only Two months later, the Pope issued the couple his male heir, Clarence, whose marriage Ed- with a dispensation, but it was for the last of ward withheld from the earl. these impediments only. The logical reason Yet almost as soon as Warwick had re- for this is before our eyes: all that is required ceived Lovell’s marriage he ungratefully be- is to take a step back. stowed him upon his FitzHugh niece. Is this Michael Hicks is surely correct in inter- because he had as yet taken no thought to the preting Richard’s sojourn in Warwick’s marriage of his coheir, Anne? Surely not. household as beginning after the Woodville There are, in fact, two contemporary sources marriage and continuing up until Edward’s stating that it was Warwick’s intention to rift with his cousin. Various surviving docu- marry both of his daughters to both of Ed- ments indicate Gloucester’s presence in the ward’s brothers. royal household, and receipt of purely south- The first is the chronicler Waurin, who ern grants and appointments, until at least describes how, during the sojourn of the first February 1464. His name is not linked with Burgundian embassy to visit Edward, War- Warwick’s until September of 1465, when in wick remained conspicuously absent from rapid succession the earl was granted the cus- court. In order to avenge the perceived insult, tody and marriage of Francis Lovell as com- Waurin goes on, he then applied himself to pensation for the cost of Richard’s expenses, winning over Edward’s brothers, eventually and Gloucester offered with his new guardian enticing them away from court to Cambridge. at St Mary’s in Warwick and attended Arch- Edward, hearing of this, had his brothers bishop Neville’s enthronization feast in York- brought before him, asking them bluntly if shire. After this, evidence of Richard’s pres- either of them had promised themselves to ence at court is lacking. In February 1467 he their cousins, the earl of Warwick’s daughters was appointed, with Warwick and John Ne- (‘se nulz navoit fyancie ne eu nulles conve- ville, to a commission of oyer and terminer nances a ses cousines les filles du conte de 2 for York, and he probably stayed in War- Warewic.’). Since the Burgundian embassy wick’s household for the rest of that year and described by Waurin visited England during most of the next.1 December 1466, the chronicler would appear

55

to be placing this Cambridge meeting some riage between the now Lancastrian Princess time during 1467. (Hicks’ ascription of this of Wales and the Yorkist traitor Gloucester. incident to 1464 is perhaps based on the edi- There is, of course, not a jot of written tor’s page headings.) evidence that Richard and Anne received a This story is almost certainly not true in marriage dispensation in the 1460s other than all its details. For instance, Richard was ap- the above references, and one other single parently still living in Warwick’s household document, i.e. Richard and Anne’s dispensa- in 1466/7 and so could not have been drawn tion of 1472. For the only relationship this away by him from court. And yet, since he addresses is the one the couple had contracted was in Warwick’s keeping, he could quite during the Readeption. legitimately have been with the earl during a However, not all the riddles have yet been rendezvous with Clarence. Certainly, the rift solved. Late in 1473 Clarence took armed between Warwick and Edward widened action against Gloucester, apparently to re- alarmingly during 1467. Foreign sources can cover the entire Beauchamp inheritance on be ill informed, but they also have the virtue the grounds that his brother’s marriage was of not being subject to the same political cen- invalid. Thus a clause was written into the sorship as domestic accounts. subsequent parliamentary settlement that pro- Our second informant is again an uncen- tected Richard’s claim to the estates in the sored foreigner, but this time reporting direct- event of an annulment. So, if Clarence’s ly from England. This was the Milanese am- grounds were not a deficiency in the dispen- bassador Luchino Dallaghiexia, writing to the sation(s), what were they? Again, the solution duke of Milan during the period of Edward’s may have been in front of us all along, for in captivity by Warwick. Dallaghiexa was actu- February 1474 the Milanese ambassador in ally under the impression that the earl had France reported the tenor of Clarence’s objec- now secured both marriages, viz: ‘he has mar- tion to his brother’s marriage as being that he ried his two daughters to the king’s two ‘by force had taken to wife the daughter of brothers.’ 3 the late earl of Warwick.’7 What emerges from these rumours is that, The charge of force was certainly suffi- when Warwick sent his agent to Rome in ciently serious to annul a marriage. St Thom- 1467, he may very well have requested dis- as Aquinas (c.1225-1274) wrote that ‘since pensations for the marriages of both Clarence the marriage contract is made by voluntary and Isabel, and Richard and Anne. Were we consent, and this is incompatible with ... vio- relying on the papal archives for a dispensa- lence, there will be two impediments to mar- tion for either marriage we would be disap- riage, namely “force”, i.e. compulsion [etc.].’ pointed, as the Vatican record of Clarence’s Aquinas classed force amongst the impedi- (granted on 14 March 1468) eludes us every ments that ‘are said not only to hinder the bit as much as Richard’s. contracting of marriage, but to dissolve it if We know of Clarence’s dispensation only contracted.’8 The prohibition of compulsion by two chances. Firstly, his own copy sur- was to be codified by the Council of Trent vived into the 17th century, when it was noted (1545-63) as the impediment of abduction, down together with other Warwickshire docu- described by the maxim ‘raptave sit mulier’ ments by Sir William Dugdale.4 Secondly, (‘or [if] the woman was abducted/raped’). during the early months of 1471, when War- Clearly, however, this impediment was al- wick had finally prevailed, Pope Paul II, ea- ready well recognised in the fifteenth century, ger to claim his share of the credit, wrote to the extent that dispensations commonly briefs to the interested parties reminding them carried a statement to the effect that the wom- of the help he had given in granting the dis- an had not been ‘rapta’ (abducted/ raped). pensations for the marriages of Clarence5 and What exactly Clarence meant when he Edward of Lancaster6. It goes without saying claimed Richard had taken Anne by force is, that the Pope would not at this juncture have of course, a moot point. Did he claim that referred to a dispensation granted for a mar- Richard had taken her against her own will?

56

Even Hicks admits that the evidence suggests a valid marriage with the woman whom he the contrary. Did he claim, then, to have has abducted, until she has first been allowed witheld his own consent as her legal guardi- to go free.’12 It was probably with this in an? We have few sources for the courtship of mind that Richard chose to take Anne to sanc- Richard and Anne, but those we do indicate tuary rather than keeping her safe from Clar- that after Tewkesbury she was indeed given ence in one of his own households. However, into Clarence’s keeping; that Clarence regard- with no means of her own, Anne possibly ed the question of her remarriage as his own remained dependent on Richard to pay her affair and – up to a point at any rate – the attendants, and even provide her wedding king and Gloucester agreed with this view escort. (‘The Kynge entretyth my Lorde off Clarance Clarence’s charge(s) of force can only For my Lorde of Glowcester.‘)9. George ini- have been highly technical, arguing the letter tially refused his consent and concealed Anne of the law whilst ignoring its spirit, and would from Richard; however, in February 1472, he probably not have withstood the denials of the finally succumbed to royal pressure (force?) willing bride. Whatever the eventual outcome and consented to the union.9 of the canonical debate, however, the ensuing Hicks’ analysis of Anne’s position is that Act of Parliament deprived Clarence of any she was legally independent, as fourteen was further incentive to annul the union since the age of majority for females. However, it Richard would now keep the estates whether would seem there was no fixed age of majori- he remained Anne’s husband or not. ty at this time for either sex.10 Many testators Technical abduction or force was, howev- of the period, indeed, stipulate twenty-one as er, an impediment which Richard, as king, the age at which their daughters should inher- could have chosen to resurrect had he wished it. Even Hicks falters in his belief in Anne’s to put Anne aside. It would certainly explain legal autonomy, viz: ‘... she allowed him to Crowland’s allusion to possibly sufficient whisk her away to sanctuary. In medieval grounds for divorce unaccompanied by any parlance, this abduction was a rape – as so condemnation of the marriage. This, rather often committed, in medieval terms, with the than foolhardy shamelessness, better explains full consent of the lady.’11 the confidence Richard displayed in con- Hicks’ identification of Richard’s removal demning Edward IV’s bigamous marriage, of Anne to sanctuary as abduction or statutory and in consenting to Thomas Lynom’s union rape is clearly of the utmost significance. with Mistress Shore only ‘if it may stand with However, the Catholic Encyclopaedia de- the law of the Church.’ scribes the impediment of abduction only as ‘the incapacity of the abductor of contracting

REFERENCES 1 See M.A. Hicks, False, Fleeting, Perjured Clarence, Sutton, 1980; M.A. Hicks, Richard III, Tempus, 1991 & 2000; and P.M. Kendall, Richard III, Allen & Unwin, 1955, p.63 2 See Waurin, Recueil des Croniques d’Engleterre, vol 5, pp.456-459. 3 Calendar of Milanese State Papers, p.131. 4 Bodl. MS Dugdale 15, f.75. 5 See J. Calmette & G. Périnelle, Louis XI et l’Angleterre [1461-1483], p.133 n.4. 6 See Calmette & Périnelle, op. cit, p.133 n.5. 7J. L. Laynesmith, The Last Medieval Queens, OUP, 2004, p.70 8 T. Aquinas, Summa Theologica, www.newadvent.org 9 J. Gairdner ed., , vol 5 pp.135-6. 10 See N. Orme, Medieval Children, Yale University Press, 2001, Chapter 9 ‘Growing Up’. 11 M.A. Hicks, op. cit, p.108. 12 ‘Impediments to Marriage in General’, The Catholic Encyclopaedia, www.newadvent.org. 57

Lord Olivier – a ‘closet Ricardian’? Part 1

GEOFFREY WHEELER

he answer to Philippa Langley’s query clear that he was aware of Josephine Tey’s T in the Spring issue of the Bulletin con- , saying ‘when I first cerning why chose to call played Richard in 1944 … [the author] sent his second son Richard is to be found on p. me this play whitewashing Richard … called 201 in his autobiography: ‘on 22 July 1962’ Dickon … and she wanted me to do it right (some nine years after starting the film) ‘our after playing the Shakespeare. But actually son was christened Richard Kerr in the Bish- [though] it was a very good play … my time op’s Chapel at Chichester Cathedral; the first didn’t allow me to’. From this is appears that of these two names was given at my request Tey (who used the name Gordon Daviot when because it was what my beloved brother was writing plays) was hoping to repeat the suc- always known by, though his name was not cess she had previously enjoyed in 1933, Richard but Gerald Dacres, and it was from when John Gielgud had produced Richard of the second of these that the diminutive Bordeaux following his interpretation of ‘Dickie’ was arrived at’1 Shakespeare’s Richard II. Curiously, though, With regard to Olivier’s awareness of the at the time of Dickon’s world premiere at the historical Richard, there are a couple of allu- Salisbury Playhouse (in tandem with Shake- sions in his other published book On Acting. speare’s Richard III) in May 1955, according For the Old Vic co-production he confesses, to press reports she had ‘refused to allow the ‘I didn’t read any of the books that were play to be staged during her lifetime, and after around, protecting Richard from the false her death in 1952, it was found in typescript rumours written by this tinker with melodra- amongst her papers’.5 Further points deliv- ma, whose name is , ered by Olivier include: ‘there’s no reason to who got it from someone else, who got it suppose that he killed the babies in the Tow- from someone else, who got it from someone er. To begin with, their mother … remained a else. I just stayed with the man himself’.2 firm friend of Richard, up to the time of his Whilst later, in the chapter Shakespeare on death, and lived perfectly free. A significant film, he notes: ‘I doubt very much if Richard fact is that almost as soon as Henry VII came was as evil as Shakespeare makes out, but the to the throne she was, not locked up, but con- legend Shakespeare created is so lively, it’s fined to a nunnery’. worth preserving’.3 The American ‘Friends’ were mostly re- More about his opinions at the time may cruited from the acting, literary and media be discovered by looking at the Society’s community, whose members at one time in- Library catalogue, where a number of insight- cluded, the Lunts, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Leo ful articles may be found amongst the Papers Carroll, Helen Hayes, Tallulah Bankhead, Collection. In particular, the Audio Visual Robert Montgomery, James Thurber, Charles Library contains a rare recorded NBC inter- MacArthur, and Salvador Dali (notable for his view, dating from the film’s USA première in portrait of Olivier as Richard).6 After inform- 1956.4 During part of a discussion with Alex- ing him that Sir John Gielgud has also recent- ander Clark, President of the recently founded ly joined what the interviewer calls ‘The Friends of Richard III Inc., Olivier makes it Good Richard Club’, Olivier refuses to be

58

drawn into whether he will accept member- admit ‘how much more exciting to a writer is ship, but concludes: ‘I suppose the most sig- Richard, the deformed, black-hearted murder- nificant thing in favour of Richard III, is that er, of a thousand plots and subterfuges, than Henry VII .. in his , his im- Richard, the upright administrator! Why ex- peachment of Richard, never, although charg- amine dull truth about a character who could ing him with all kinds of heinous deeds, men- be shown, devilishly charming, as the suc- tions the murder of the children, which would cessful wooer of a victim’s widow?’ This text have been his ‘king-pin’, wouldn’t it?’, also was reprinted in the programme for the prem- he concurs that ‘there’s no real reason to sup- ière, in aid of the Actors’ Fund of America, pose that he had a hump on his shoulder, a illustrated by one of the 16th-century copies withered arm or anything [like that]. One of of the standard ‘workshop’ portraits of Rich- his shoulders is supposed to [have been] a ard, then in the possession of Alexander little lower than the oth- Clark, who apparently er, and there’s a gallant liked to claim descent story that when he was a from George, Duke of little boy he would Clarence. In advance of wield lances that were the première and nation- too heavy for him!’ wide TV screening most Whilst this does seem to of the leading newspa- prove that he was well pers and magazines of aware of the outlines of the day included ap- the ‘pro-Richard’ argu- praisals of the film, ment, as it then stood Newsweek7 printing a (though his statements revealing footnote: ‘As may now need revising, a young man Sir Lau- in the light of modern rence declared in an scholarship), one cannot intemperate moment help wondering if he that he would have a had been carefully son and his name would ‘primed’ with the infor- be Tarquin (for the vil- mation, in advance, and lain in Shakespeare’s perhaps be aware that, Rape of Lucrece), and like most actors, he was also in a section head- uncomfortable on such lined: Brief reign … Not occasions, when he had Simon-Pure, but no to ‘be himself’, and so Monster, it prints an adopted this role of a unfamiliar quote from ‘courteous gentleman’. GK Chesterton, ‘a As his third wife, Joan staunch, if testy, parti- Plowright, admitted in Cartoon by Geoffrey Wheeler san of the monarch’: later broadcasts: ‘Larry ‘He did not pluck per- is always acting!’ petually at his sword and dagger because his However, the publicity generated by the only pleasure was in cutting throats: he proba- film, particularly in America, devoted a gen- bly did it because he was nervous’. For This erous amount of space to discussion of the Week8 Otis L. Guernsey Jnr. interviewed Al- ‘historical’ Richard III. Its USA ‘Souvenir’ exander Clark of ‘The Friends’ (at an address, brochure, with a full-colour reproduction of of all places, in Tudor City) asking Did the Dali portrait, opens with two pages on The Shakespeare libel Richard III?. Clark ex- controversy about Richard III – Saint or Dev- claimed, ‘Shakespeare, the poor devil – he il? as well as referring to ‘The Friends’ in its didn’t know any better, he had no evil intent production notes, though in the end has to whatsoever’, whilst an exchange with Olivier

59

revealed that he was ‘impressed by the pro- the College of Arms, founded by Richard in Richard evidence’, but ‘they’re rather naugh- 1483, to straighten out and supervise the her- ty. They never mention a letter Richard wrote aldry’. on the eve of Bosworth. I don’t remember the It was a close-up of the crowned king, exact wording, but it mentions a serious crime from this scene, captioned Richard III: Fiend for which the king has done penance. Of most Foul or History’s Scapegoat? that fea- course that doesn’t necessarily mean that the tured on the cover of Cue magazine, New crime was the murder of the princes’. This York’s entertainment weekly10 with an article sounds rather like a half remembered refer- by John Keating, again covering the familiar ence to Richard’s speech (not letter) before ground, but in a concise couple of pages man- the battle, as recounted by in his aging to work in references to The Daughter Chronicle (c.1540) which does mention a of Time, Buck, Walpole, Halsted, Lindsay and ‘facynerous and detestable act’ which ‘with John Harvey’s book The Plantagenets, ending strict penance and salt tears’ he has ‘expiated with an early coup for ‘The Friends’; a more and clearly purged the same offence’9 Com- favourable entry in the Encyclopaedia Britan- menting on the preface which opens the film, nica, and a projected play from Maxwell An- Olivier adds, ‘I didn’t write it for the Richard derson. Here, at least, mention is made of the people, but I’m happy if it fits in with their ‘similar English group known as the Knights beliefs’. However the article continues of the White Boar (Richard’s emblem)’, a ‘Olivier was linked only once with the real misquote of the Society’s original name ‘The Richard Plantagenet in planning his movie. Fellowship of the White Boar’. For the coronation scene costumes he invited

Notes and References 1. Laurence Olivier, Confessions of an Actor, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1982 2. Laurence Olivier with Gavin Grainger, On Acting, Weidenfield & Nicolson, 1986, p.79 3. Ibid. p.208 4. Tex and Jinx, National Broadcasting Corporation of America, 3 December, 1956 5. The Times, 9 May 1955. Dickon was first published in 1953 by Peter Davies Ltd. A new edi- tion, with introduction, historical commentary and notes by Elizabeth Haddon, followed in 1966 (Heinemann Educational Books) 6. Among the stills reproduced on the USA DVD second disc of ‘extras’ is one of Dali proudly displaying his certificate of membership of ‘The Friends’ 7. 19 March, 1956, pp. 33-36 8. 11 March, 1956, pp. 22-23 9. See Michael Bennett, The , (1985), Appendix (d), p.167 10. 4 February, 1956, pp. 13 & 34

Part 2 of this article will discuss the publicity in the UK for Olivier’s Richard III and possible evidence for his favourable attitude to the real Richard.

60

Correspondence

Will contributors please note the letters may be edited or reduced to conform to the standards of the Bulletin.

Dear Editor, cerned, it should be borne in mind that the In the north-east corner of Wales where I live, longbow was actually developed in the Prin- a rather strange story is circulating. Where it cipality during the twelfth century, and that originated form I have no idea, but I have the best archers originally hailed from here. seen it in print on three separate occasions. Whether the last statement was still the case Each time it states this: that in 1483 King during the sixteenth century is perhaps doubt- Richard II (sic) ordained that yew trees were ful: what is very clear, however, was that the to be planted in churchyards to provide wood north east corner of Wales went through a for longbows. A simple search through the period of markedly increased prosperity dur- statutes passed during the reigns of Edward ing the first half of the century or so of the IV and Richard III (and of Richard II) indi- . This is particularly noticeable cates that no such law was made during any in respect of the substantial rebuilding of par- of their reigns. In fact, the notion that these ish churches. Many of these were ‘new build’, trees should be so planted, and which has and there is much evidence that Margaret been used to explain the presence of so many Beaufort and her husband Lord Stanley were venerable old specimens in churchyards, has financially involved in some of these efforts. been attributed to Sir Walter Scott, in his nov- Typical examples are to found in Wrexham, el Ivanhoe. There, he wrote that Edward I Mold, Gresford and the chapel and precinct of decreed that yews should be planted in all St Winefride’s well at Holywell. Other English churchyards to provide a plentiful churches were extended by the addition of a supply of wood for bows. What Edward I did large side aisle in the Welsh tradition, to in fact ordain, in 1307, was that there should make what is now known as the ‘double be no cutting down of yew trees in church- nave’, and windows were filled with new yards: they were there solely ‘to act as wind- magnificent, and very expensive, stained breaks and to protect the church fabric’ glass. That these works were carried out with though it could be argued that this would also the whole-hearted support of the people can conserve the supply of suitable wood for be in no doubt – just a little more than a hun- bows. dred years later another lord, the earl of Nevertheless, there is a connection be- Leicester, tried to build a new abbey church tween Edward IV, Richard III and the supply in Denbigh, but saw his efforts thwarted by of wood for longbows. Mindful of the re- the townspeople owing to his deep unpopular- quirement to provide weapons for their ity there and their unwillingness to support troops, and also, more importantly, of the fact this venture. that wood from yews from more southerly I have no wish to appear to be an apologist climes was technically better suited to long- for the (Welsh) usurper Henry Tudor, but I bow manufacture, a law was passed during would like to know whether the rest of the Edward’s reign requiring Lombard merchants kingdom fared as well under his reign. I was to deliver four yew staves with every cask of always under the impression that he was a wine delivered into London, and in 1483, grasping, miserly monarch, and that the pros- Richard III increased this requirement to ten perity that is associated with the dynasty staves per cask. came much later. As far as Wales and archery are con- Mark Dobson

61

Dear Editor, Making of Sir ’s Richard III, In response to the recent correspondence con- and Richard Marius in his excellent biog- cerning Sir Laurence Olivier in his role of raphy Thomas More, namely that, if More had Richard III, may I refer those interested to a proceeded with his book, too many all- booklet entitled King Richard III on stage and powerful toes would have been stamped up- off by William Hogarth published in New on. Marius and Pollard point out that More York c. 1980. On page 3 discussing Olivier’s had obtained much of his information from film, Richard III, we read that ‘Before the the , and that nothing More film opened its theater run in New York, could have written about ‘their equivocal role Olivier confided that he was terribly worried during Richard’s reign would have been flat- that the defenders of Richard III in the States tering’. would, in the old European student tradition, Also in 1514 and 1515, at the time when tear out the seats and set fire to the screen. To More was writing, Edward Stafford, the third prevent losses to the theater owners, he made duke of Buckingham was, as Marius says, two concessions to the revisionists: the pro- ‘still powerful, a violent and impetuous man, logue mentions the ‘legend’ of Richard III, much like his father and immensely popular and in the final battle scene where the king’s in London ...’ In 1515 he would most certain- corpse is thrown over the back of a horse, the ly have objected to the publication of a book camera closes in on the garter on Richard’s that resurrected the treachery and folly of his calf with its motto Honi soit qui mal y pense father. … ‘There!’ said Sir Larry ‘That’s for you!’ The widow of the second duke of Buck- I must admit that, if this is the case, the ingham was Katherine Woodville, queen business with the garter misled me (and oth- Elizabeth Woodville’s sister, who took as her ers) completely. I thought that Sir Larry was next husband Jasper Tudor, Henry VII’s un- trying to say something along the lines of: cle. After Jasper Tudor’s death in 1495 she ‘This awful man who murdered half his rela- married Sir Richard Wingfield, dying herself tives was not worthy of this high honour.’ in 1513. Her widower was, however, very Shakespeare himself makes the same point in much alive – a diplomat at the height of his Richard III, Act IV, Scene IV: influence and power – when More was writ- King Richard: ‘Now by my George, my gar- ing his History. As Marius says: ‘The Buck- ter, and my crown – ’ ingham connection represented a powerful Queen Elizabeth: ‘Profaned, dishonoured, and constituency in England, not one to be af- the third usurped!’ fronted by a man with a career to make and in Perhaps we shall never know the true rea- need of influential friends’. son why the garter business was put into this Yet another powerful man who might famous film. William Hogarth’s booklet also have been offended had More published his contains the sobering thought that, when book, was Arthur Plantagenet, later Viscount Olivier’s film made its debut on American Lisle. Marius tells us that ‘More makes fun of television in 1956, the audience was estimat- Elizabeth Lucy, gullible enough to admit Ed- ed at 50 million: ‘More people saw Richard ward IV to her bed in the hope that he might III that Sunday afternoon than had witnessed marry her. The child born of that illicit union all the productions in all the playhouses of the was Arthur Plantagenet ... a man strongly world in 363 years’. fixed in the world with the aid of his powerful Referring to David Johnson’s letter in the connections, not one to insult and anger with last Bulletin, I have come across no evidence a public recollection of his mother’s passion that John Fisher and Thomas More were ac- and absurdity’. quainted at the time More was penning his In conclusion, Marius states that: ‘Any History of King Richard III, (around 1514- publication of More’s History of King Rich- 15). However the real reason why More did ard III would have damaged beyond repair not go on to complete and publish his History his prospects for royal service, and he knew may be that put forward by AF Pollard in The it. He did not finish the work and he had no

62

thought of printing it, although it did circulate nately, Edward of York, but both their sons in manuscript. Edward Hall incorporated York and Cambridge died in 1415, one at much of it into his Chronicle long after most Agincourt and one by execution.). Gaunt’s of the principals in the story were safely dead. hopes of the Castilian kingdom having been Then Rastell printed More’s original version thwarted, he managed to resume his liaison in 1557. The Latin text appeared much later with his future third duchess, Constance hav- ...’ ing borne him a dead son and a living daugh- Marilyn Garabet ter. This daughter, Catherine, married Henry III of Portugal. Their son was John II, who Dear Editor, made two marriages. His first was to an Ara- King Richard’s averted fate? gonese princess who gave him two sons, but Had he not been killed at Bosworth, Richard the hopeful one, Alfonso, died in 1468. The III had tentatively considered, after denying other, Henry IV, was widely suspected of any intention of marrying his niece Elizabeth, being impotent, and childless by two marriag- taking as his second queen Joanna of Portu- es. The second was to Joanna. She bore a gal. This might well have been a disaster. daughter who was almost certainly not his but Like Richard himself (also Henry Tudor) that of her lover, Don Beltran de la Cueva; Joanna was a descendant of John of Gaunt, the girl, who claimed the crown, was known third surviving son of Edward III and Philip- derisively as La Beltraneja. She had support- pa. Gaunt’s three marriages make him vari- ers, but they lost out in the end to her hus- ously the founding father of Europe and the band’s determined young half-sister, the fa- ancestor of the present royal line. By his first, mous Isabella of Castile. to his cousin , he had a Isabella’s father had been John II of Cas- daughter Philippa, who was married to the tile, and her mother Isabella of Portugal, his illegitimate John I of Portugal (1380-1433). second queen. She was the daughter of Ed- They had five childlren, including Prince ward’s brother John, and seems to have been Henry the Navigator and the marvellously- a manic-depressive. This tendency was portrayed Isabelle, Duchess of the not-so- dormant in her daughter, who as we know good Philip of Burgundy and showing, in her bore a grudge against the House of York as Van der Weyden portrait, an exact and hu- she considered herself to have been jilted by morous likeness to Edward III. She bore Phil- Edward IV. Her marital arrangements for her ip , whose daughter married daughters are like Hampton Court maze; her Maximilian of Hapsburg, thereby catching up determination to secure Portugal as an ally again with Gaunt. Philippa of Lancaster’s son made her marry her eldest daughter to two Edward, one of the five (1433-38) fathered brothers, thereby dying at last in childbirth of Joanna and Eleanor, who married the emperor a son who did not live long. Isabella’s own Frederick III – it was said to be a love-match, only son died soon after his marriage, and his although the sluggish Frederick seems unlike- only child by his bride was born dead. Isabel- ly material, and they were the parents of Max- la then married a subsequent daughter, Maria, imilian, whose famous yellow hair and eccen- to the Portuguese widower of the first, and tric ways are familiar to history. He married unusually there were six children including a Charles the Bold’s daughter Mary, and their cardinal, a bastard prior grandson, and the son became the self-styled Philip I of Castile empress of Charles V. Their son Philip II through his own marriage with a daughter of married, firstly, the daughter of Charles V’s Isabella. They were the parents of Charles V. sister Catherine, with the result of the mad Joanna of Portugal, meantime, before the Don Carlos. Philip’s own sister Joanna mar- English proposal could have been thought of, ried Catherine’s son, with a son of her own had married the unsatisfactory Henry IV of who lived one year, Incredibly, the triple wid- Castile, descendant of Gaunt’s second mar- ower of both Isabella’s daughters married riage to Constance, daughter of Peter the Cru- thirdly the much younger Eleanor, sister to el. (Her sister Isabella married, more fortu- Charles V. There were no children of that

63

marriage or of her next to Francis I Valois. Following on from Philippa Langley’s letter Francis decidedly had syphilis. John of Gaunt in the previous edition regarding the Northern is accused of it, but it had not yet reached the Broadside’s (logo of a rather sad boar’s head) Old World in his time. However there was production of Shakespeare’s Wars of the Ros- something wrong with him, which shows in es plays, having seen the cycle at Guildford his descendants and possibly, although Joan- and bought the programme, as I am sure the na of Portugal might well have failed to take a majority of us do, for the reason mainly to lover if she was married to Richard III, the read the historical notes on the characters, line is unfortunate. Perhaps this is an addi- imagine the joy of discovering in the ‘Who’s tional misfortune which was spared him by Who’ that the negative things heaped on the events of 1485. The Beauforts are, of Richard are dismissed with: ‘It goes without course, the outcome of Gaunt's third marriage saying that he was none of these things. In and concern themselves with England and real life he was a great soldier who spent most while it lasted, France. of his life as of the North of Pamela Hill England, i.e. bashing the Scots. A devout man, he often went to holy mass in York Minster. There was a little unpleasantness Dear Editor, with two of his nephews and he didn’t like his May I please correct a misprint in my recent sister-in-law’s family much, but apart from letter about hair colour? You put ‘the fair that he was a popular king if short-lived’. Alice of France’. What I put was ‘the frail Even if not a hundred per cent factually Alice of France’. I was not referring to her correct, at least one has to applaud the senti- physique but to her morals. Her mother was ment. There are also a good deal of other in- Castilian and so her hair is anyone’s guess. At terestingly enlightened comments on other any rate, Henry II noticed it. people in the plays. Pamela Hill The authorship of this positive piece is credited to one Mike Poulton, who we learn has been involved in several theatrical pro- Dear Editor, ductions. Now to me it appears obvious that Jennie Powys-Lybbe has pointed out to me this gentleman should be formally approached that in my progress report on the Logge wills and thanked by the Society. He should of in the last Bulletin I said that Hastings’ IPMs course be an honorary member, if not one gave ‘the proper date of his death, 13 July’. already. With this in mind I contacted the This should, of course, have been 13 June. I Chairman, advising him (plus the local group did in fact spot my slip, but not in time to secretary) that the production still had to play change the copy that had already gone to the in Newcastle and although Dr Stone replied printers. that he was sending Society leaflets to the Lesley Boatwright theatre, nothing else was forthcoming. Going back a further edition, Wendy Johnson suggested enterprisingly that for the Dear Editor, future Shakespeare Company’s production of I received an e-mail recently from an engaged Richard III, they be approached to include a couple who are getting married in November printed disclaimer. This is all very basic stuff at the Edgehill Vineyard of Joch Bosworth and what we have been asking for over dec- who produces the Shiraz wine labelled ‘Battle ades, only it should be extended to every oth- of Bosworth’. They wanted to buy an appro- er production (as in Philippa Langley’s letter), priate thank-you gift for Joch in appreciation plus, please, please, to include Henry VI Part of his hospitality and asked for ideas on Bos- 3, which is also taking a swipe at Richard and worth-related merchandise. is usually forgotten. Wendy Moorhen It is most gratifying to read in the Editor’s Dear Editor, note to Wendy’s letter that ‘varying degrees

64

of success’ have been obtained. Perhaps we Like, I gather, a number of people, I came to can hear of this in due course? the Richard III Society via Josephine Tey. In Philippa additionally rightly again, as in her novel The Daughter of Time, she has fun the past, champions the achievement of getting her characters to identify the one fac- branches and groups in this crusade. This tual element in More’s (or Morton’s) passage relies on having all areas of at least England where he states that Richard openly protested covered by an active RIIIS unit. Regrettably at the death of Clarence, but ‘men say’ not as this is not the case. This despite being one of vigorously as if he really wished him well, the main points I raised with the Chairman at and those that think thus suppose that he had a meeting when he first took office. Encour- for a long time planned to make himself king. agement and activists in this may be neces- Is it naïve to suppose that More himself in- sary, but with a will, organisation, plus all of tended his readers to make a similar distinc- us working together (and that includes Mr tion? In Tudor times it would be a quick route Poulton) this is achievable. We proved this to a painful death to appear to support Plan- when we membered the exhibition at the tagenets, and I wonder if More stated his real Gloucester charter celebrations in 1983 – why opinion in positive assertions while conceal- not do it on a larger scale again? ing these opinions in ‘men say’ type state- From apprising the Chairman of details of ments giving the opposite impression. the new Shakespeare Company’s production Has anyone, which I have not, examined he advises that ‘I’ll get things in motion with the More manuscript picking out only those the relevant members in due course’, so we statements that are made as from More him- look forward with ‘great expectations’ to that. self ? It would be interesting to see what im- Doug Weeks pression remains. Peter Fellgett Dear Editor,

Cartoon by Ralph Taylor. First published in Blanc Sanglier and reproduced with kind permission of the Yorkshire Branch

65

Right Royal Bastards The Fruits of Passion

PETER BEAUCLERK-DEWAR Editor of Burke’s Landed Genry: The Kingdom in Scotland 19th Edition ROGER POWELL Deputy Editor of Burke’s Peerage & Gentry 107th Edition

Foreward by HRH The Duke of Glouces- ter, KG, GCVO

Since 1066 when (alias William the Bastard) took the throne, English and Scottish kings have sired at least 150 chil- dren out of wedlock. Many were acknowledged at court and founded of their own – several of today’s dukedoms are descended from them. Others were only acknowledged grudgingly or not at all. In the 20th century this trend for Royals to father illegitimate children continued, but the parentage, while highly probably, has not been officially recognised.

The book – split into four sections: Tudor, Stuart, Hanoverian and Royal Loose Ends – is a genuinely fresh approach to British kings and queens, examining their lives and times through the unfamiliar perspective of their illegitimate children. Interviewees include many of their de- scendants. It also sheds light on the perennially fascinating topic of sexual habits; the links between politics, power and patronage; the class system, scandal and celebrity; and the different expectations we have of men and women.

7 colour and 80 b/w illus. ISBN 0 97119 668 0 248pp 235 X 153 mm Price £19.99 Paperback.

Burke’s Peerage & Gentry, Marriots, 13 Castle Street, Buckingham, Unit- ed Kingdom, MK18 1BP Tel. 01280 816161

66

The Barton Library

Library on the Move

Further to my notice in the Summer Bulletin, I cannot give any more information at present re- garding the precise date that the Library will move north to Preston except to say that I anticipate the move being towards the end of September. However, as soon as Keith and I have made ar- rangements, I will put a notice up on the web site, and a formal announcement will appear in the Winter Bulletin. Individual book requests that I receive after the library move will of course be forwarded to Keith so that service should continue as smoothly as possible. Unfortunately, due to the Library move, there will be no book auction this year. However, I will be holding a sale of duplicate books at the AGM in York. There are some interesting titles for sale so bring your money and cheque books along! A quick reminder - the catalogues are now all on-line and can be found under the Barton Li- brary section on the web site. Jane Trump

Latest Additions to the Fiction Books Library

IRWIN, FRANCES Summer’s End This is the story of Francis Lovell who is looking back over his life after the Battle of Stoke while awaiting rescue from his hiding place under Minster Lovell Hall. Should you wish to borrow this or any other fiction book, please contact the Fiction Librarian. Anne Painter

Audio Visual Library Update

Grateful thanks are due to Elaine Robinson (London and Home Counties Branch) who, at rather short notice, was able to record and kindly donate the tape of what is probably the most notable addition to the video collection, two parts of the. UKTV History series: My Famous Family, fea- turing the descendents of Margaret Countess of Salisbury and Richard ap Howel of Mostyn (see Stephen Lark’s review, page 15). The career of the latter and the legend associated with Mostyn Hall and its place in the Bosworth story, was more fully explored in the Radio 4 series Lords of the Land (1982) on The Mostyns of Mostyn, added to the collection at the time. Other TV items acquired included James Miller’s visit to Berkeley Castle and Arundel in the Channel 5 Hidden Treasure Houses series. BBC Radio 4’s ten part serialisation of The Paston Letters vividly brought to life the written words of what Radio Times described as ‘the lives and loves of three women spanning three gen- erations of a medieval family’, with Rosemary Leach as Agnes and Geraldine James playing the redoubtable Margaret. Interesting comparisons can be made with earlier dramatic reincarnations: Gemma Jones in BBC TV’s Churchill’s People: A Wilderness of Roses episode (1975) and more recently Harriet Walter who contributed excerpts to BBC TV’s Timewatch: Witness (1987). The family and its letters also featured in Simon Schama’s History of Britain (BBC TV 2000) and were discussed by Bethany Hughes in her Channel 4 TV series Seven Ages of Britain (2004), all available from the Library. Finally enthusiasts of sci-fi ‘time travel’ and Richard III are well catered for by the latest au- dio offering by the BBC’s four part Dr Who: The Kingmaker with Peter Davidson (see page 6 of last issue). Geoffrey Wheeler

67

Letter from the Continent

RITA DIEFENHARDT-SCHMITT

A little chronicle of the Continental Group problem. By this time a Dutch Ricardian of the Richard III Society named Jim Verrijzer wrote me a letter, telling me that he was also willing to join us. He and efore our existence, in the 70s and early another person, Sylvia Eisma were the only B 80s, Ricardian Peter Brüdgam, a senior Dutch Ricardians that time, but willingly to assistant master from Westfalia tried to look join others trying to start a little group which for people with the same interest throughout finally ended in our first and constitutional Germany. He contacted them with newsletters meeting on Saturday 22 March 1986 in the and general correspondence. I was one of ‘Caritas House’ in Glashütten-Schlossborn, a these persons. As far as I remember, we did little village in the Taunusmountains in not meet, but were in contact through corre- Hessia at which a few of the first Ricardians spondence and also Peter created some very met with Isolde as special supporter and good newsletters with interesting articles guest. Those who met that time apart from about Richard III. Later on he stopped his Isolde, Jim and me were: Hanne Hilke, work- activities because of business reasons and ing for a great publisher in Frankfort, Gabi gave me the addresses of the German Ricardi- Unverferth, a historian from Dortmund, ans he found. Kirsten Radbruch, student of history in Frei- Peter was surely the first person motivat- burg/Black Forrest and Silvia Streich, a Ri- ing me to become a Ricardian, but my deci- cardian from Hanover. The only other Dutch sion to enter the Society came through the Ricardian Sylvia Eisma and the other German Richard biography written by the German Ricardians could not come because of busi- historian Dr Andreas Kalkhoff in whose pref- ness and private reasons. Before we started ace the Richard III Society is mentioned. I talking about our future we had a little service contacted Dr Kalkhoff for further details and in the nearby chapel conducted by a local he gave me the address of Isolde Wigram. I vicar. The meeting ended with a dinner and wrote to her and she kindly gave me all the on Sunday morning we went for a day-trip to things I had to know about the Society and of see historical sites in Frankfort/Main. During course more information about Richard. I the meeting Jim Verrijzer was elected as quickly learned her deep passion and love for Chairman, Kirsten Radbruch as Librarian and Richard III, combined with a great excitement myself as Secretary and Treasurer. It was for all she did as leading Society member. decided that we call ourselves from now on: That ‘spark’ jumped very quick over to me ‘The German-Dutch Group of the Richard III and so only a short time passed by before I Society’. At the group’s 10th birthday in 1996 entered the Society in spring 1982, her ever- that name was changed into the ‘Continental lasting support always behind me. Later in Group’, as Ricardians of other European 1982, supported by Isolde and fellow Com- countries joined us. mittee members of the Society I continued the We met every year and the amount of new contacts to German Ricardians Peter Brüd- members slightly increased but we ever re- gam had already found here. To found a mained a small group with mostly no more group that time was out of question with only than between 10-15 Ricardians, living far a handful of people. But in the mid 80s a spread all over Germany and Holland, later in good portion of luck helped in solving this other countries of mostly Central Europe like

68

Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Greece, England, in Mechelen/Belgium and made weekend with a few activities like doing newsletters, trips to Aachen and other places of historical history researches, running a little library, interest. organising meetings and tours to places of In 2006, the group’s 20th birthday, times historical interest. From 1988 onwards we had changed and many of the older and long-

Boerstel Abbey, Lower Saxonia 1989 From left to right: Angel and Paul Stevens, Dr Annemaria Liethen, Sylvia Streich, unnamed member, Jim Verrijzer, Martina Küster, Gaby Unverferth and mother also met for the AGMs in different places: the standing members retired as active members, Trappist Monastery of Tegeln/Limburg, Hol- me included. Two members unfortunately land, the former Cistercian Nunnery of died: Dieter Sack and Silvia Streich. Their Börstel, near Osnabrück, in the Benedictine great support will never be forgotten within convent of Tholay/Saarland. Since 1996 we the group. The group continues to exist, but meet again only within the Taunusmountains as a non-official one as we all here not like to where the group once started to exist. lose our contact and the love for Richard and Highlights of the group’s activities were his Society. It was and will be a pleasure for the trips they organised. Two times we went us all here, to continue, even is it is so much to see the ‘Landshut/Bavaria’ festival where different from the past. For me personally it the wedding between George the Rich, Duke was a pleasure and honour to help running of Bavaria-Landshut and Jadwiga of Poland such a group and I am proud of all what we in 1475 is re-enacted every four years. We did honouring King Richard III in our way also visited the Pageant of the Golden Tree and being member of his Society. The Conti- Procession in /Belgium, joined the nental Group gets a bit out of sight, but will unveiling of the plaque for go on and on...!

69

Future Society Events

Note from the Visits Committee We would like to record our thanks to Rosamund Cummings, in respect of her work for the Requiem Mass of 2006, and our apologies for this omission from the report of the event in the June Bulletin. Rosamund has not only been a member of the group which organises the Requiem Mass since it was set up, she also played a particularly key role in the organising of the 2006 Requiem, since she did all the negotiating with Father Gabb-Jones, incumbent of Minster Lovell. We would also like to thank Sue Broughton, who is leaving the Mass Team, for all her work in this area for many years. Could we please remind all members that when booking for a visit or event, it is good prac- tice to enclose a stamped addressed envelope with the application. This is usually requested, on the coupon for the visit/event, and it does save the Visits Committee time, as well as saving the Society money. Visits Committee

Reminder

It is not too late to book the Norfolk Branch Study Day – ‘The ’ which will be held on 11 November. Booking form in Summer Bulletin or ring Annmarie Hayek on 01603 664021.

Bookable Events

Christmas at Fotheringhay - Saturday, 16 December, 2006 Time to make your booking for Christmas at Fotheringhay. Once again, we are holding this event on a Saturday. Most people seemed to feel that it worked well last year, but before organising for 2007, I will ask members to let me know which they prefer, though we should remember that Saturday is much more convenient for the choir and the church. Whichever day we visit, I am quite sure that we will all greatly enjoy this lovely festive occasion, meeting up with old friends and making new ones, too. A highlight of the Ricardian social calendar, for many, this is the start to the Christmas season. Lunch will be in the Village Hall, with a hot starter, while for the main course there will be jacket potatoes with a cold turkey buffet. A vegetarian option will be available for those who let me know (and I have asked that it be a little more exciting than last year’s, by the way). The choice of desserts will include Christmas pudding, while included in the price is a glass of wine or a soft drink, as desired. The Carol Service, in Fotheringhay Church, begins at 3.00 p.m. Similar in style to the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, it is shared with members of the parish, some of whom take part. The music will be led by our friends, the wonderful St Peter's Singers. There will be a coach from London, leaving Charing Cross Embankment at 9.30 a.m., getting back between 7.00 and 7.30 p.m. Pickups in Bromley and Wanstead will be available for those who let me know beforehand. If you wish to join the party, either on the coach or using your own transport, please let me know as soon as possible whether you will require:- a) lunch and a place on the coach - total 45 available b) lunch after making your own way to Fotheringhay - total 35 places c) just a place in the church (so that we can estimate the seating required)

70

The costs will be as follows:- a) £27.25 to cover hire of coach, the driver's tip, lunch, choir, admin., etc. b) £15.50 for lunch, choir and admin., etc.

Please complete the coupon and return it to me as soon as possible, and please note the change of address. Phil Stone, Fotheringhay Co-ordinator

Forthcoming Events

Annual Requiem Mass and Anne Neville Commemoration, 2007 The Society's annual requiem mass will be held at 12.00 noon on Saturday 17 March 2007 at St Etheldreda's Church, Ely Place, Holborn. In the afternoon there will be an opportunity to attend evensong at the Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, (), followed by a short wreath-laying ceremony at the plaque marking Queen Anne Neville’s tomb. John Ashdown-Hill

Medieval Recipes

his is the first of an occasional series on medieval recipes. We T do not aim to provide recipes that can be used (there are several books in the Society Library which will do this) but to just give sam- ples of the many and very varied recipes found in medieval cookery books. The first one is called Mawmenny (or variations of this name) and we have chosen it to be the first because it is a very good example of a typical medieval recipe, using a great variety of ingredients in ways we would not do and apparently trying to turn a bland original, e.g. chicken, into something exotic. Mawmenny is something that appears in very early manuscripts dating from Anglo-Norman times up to the sixteenth century, changing and getting more and more complicated as it went on. We have here a version from a manuscript of about 1440. The recipe begins by putting vernage, an Italian rich white wine, in a pot and adding a ‘good quantity’ of canell, or cinnamon, heating it and straining it to remove any rubbish. It was then put into another pot and ‘a great quantity’ of pine nuts, which had been washed clean with wine, were added. White sugar was then added, as much in quantity as the volume of liquid. To this sticky liquid was added another good quantity of preserved quinces and then some extract of saunders in wine, that is sandalwood used as a red colouring. Cloves, again in good quantity, were then added and the whole boiled. Almonds (presumably ground) in wine were then mixed in and the whole boiled again, then ale was added and the mixture reboiled. It could then be removed from the fire, some pheasant, partridge or capon brawn added and the mixture seasoned with ‘enough’ ginger powder and with a ‘little’ saffron and salt. If the cook then found that the dish was too strong (too thick perhaps) it should be mixed with wine vinegar. The mixture was then ‘dressed’ with a saucer or ladle, taking care to wet them first with wine or vinegar to stop the mixture sticking to them. It could then be served, provided ‘it have sugar right enough’. Peter Hammond

71

Branch and Group Contacts

Changes made from the Spring Bulletin listing: Listings are now shown alphabetically by branch or group worldwide. Corrected e-mail addresses for Sally Henshaw of Midlands-East Branch (incorrectly shown in Summer Bulletin) and corrections and changes for the American, Greater Manchester, South Australian Victoria and Worcestershire Branches and the Continental Group Address corrections for Hull & District Branch and Dorset Group Airedale Group now have an e-mail address Change of secretary at Thames Valley Branch Removal of Scarborough and Groups (see Summer Bulletin) and of the Bolton Group which is now defunct.

Branches America Laura Blanchard, 2041, Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19146, United States of America. [email protected] Canada Mrs Tracy Bryce, 5238 Woodhaven Drive, Burlington, Ontario, L7L 3T4, Canada. [email protected] Devon & Cornwall Mrs Anne E Painter, Yoredale, Trewithick Road, Breage, Helston, Cornwall, TR13 9PZ. Tel. 01326-562023. [email protected] Gloucester Angela Iliff, 18, Friezewood Road, Ashton, Bristol, BS3 2AB Tel: 0117-378-9237. [email protected] Greater Manchester Mrs Helen Ashburn, 36,Clumber Road, Debdale, Manchester, M18 7LZ. Tel: 0161-320-6157. [email protected] Hull & District Terence O’Brien, 2, Hutton Close, Hull, HU5 4LD. Tel: 01482- 445312 Lincolnshire Mrs J T Townsend, Lindum House, Dry Doddington Road, Stubton, Newark, Notts. NG23 5BX.Tel: 01636-626374. [email protected] London & Home Counties Miss E M Nokes, 4, Oakley Street, Chelsea, London SW3 5NN. Tel: 01689-823569. [email protected] Midlands-East Mrs Sally Henshaw, 28 Lyncroft Leys, Scraptoft, Leicester, LE7 9UW. Tel: 0116-2433785. [email protected] New South Wales Julia Redlich, 53, Cammeray Towers, 55 Carter Street, New South Wales, 2062, Australia. [email protected] New Zealand Robert Smith, ‘Wattle Downs’, Udy Street, Greytown, New Zealand. [email protected] Norfolk Mrs Annmarie Hayek, 20, Rowington Road, Norwich, NR1 3RR. Tel: 01603-664021. [email protected] Queensland Jo Stewart, c/o PO Box 117, Paddington, Queensland, 4064, Australia. [email protected] Scotland Philippa Langley, 85 Barnton Park Avenue, Edinburgh, EH4 6HD. Tel: 0131 336 4669. [email protected] South Australia Mrs Sue Walladge, 5, Spencer Street, Cowandilla, South Australia, 5033, Australia. [email protected] Thames Valley Sally Empson, 42 Pewsey Vale, Forest Park, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 9YA. [email protected]

72

Victoria Hazel Hajdu, 4, Byron Street, Wattle Park, Victoria, 3128, Australia. [email protected] Western Australia Carole Carson, 34 Arthur Street, Kewdale, WA 6105. carole_carson @bigpond.com Worcestershire Ms Val Sibley, Fieldgate House, 32, Grove Road, Dorridge, Solihull, B93 0PJ. Tel: 01564 777329. [email protected] Yorkshire Mrs Moira Habberjam, 10, Otley Old Road, Leeds LS16 6HD. Tel: 0113-2675069. [email protected]

Groups Airedale Mrs Christine Symonds, 2, Whitaker Avenue, Bradford, BD2 3HL. Tel: 01274-774680. [email protected] Bedfordshire/ Mrs D Paterson, 84, Kings Hedges, Hitchin, Herts, SG5 2QE. Buckinghamshire Tel: 01462-649082. [email protected] Bristol Keith Stenner, 96, Allerton Crescent, Whitchurch, Bristol, Tel: 01275- 541512 (in affiliation with Gloucestershire Branch) keith.stenner@ airbus.com or [email protected] Continental Frau R. Diefenhardt-Schmitt, Am Eichpfad 8, D-61479, Glashutten 3, Oberems, Germany. [email protected] Croydon Miss Denise Price, 190, Roundwood Rd, NW10. Tel. 0181-451-7689 (in affiliation with London & Home Counties Branch) Cumbria John & Marjorie Smith, 26, Clifford Road, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 8PP Dorset Mrs Judy Ford, 10, Hengelo Place, Dorset Street, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7RG. Tel: 01258-450403. [email protected] Durham Mrs E Watson, Oakcliffe House, 4, North Terrace, Aycliffe Village, County Durham, DL5 6LG. Tel: 01325310361. gonrk@teesdaleonline .co.uk. [email protected] Mid Anglia John Ashdown-Hill, 8, Thurlston Close, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3HF. Tel/fax: 01206-523267. [email protected] Midlands-West Mrs Brenda Cox, 42, Whitemoor Drive, Shirley, Solihull, West Mid- lands, B90 4UL. [email protected] North East Mrs J McLaren, 11, Sefton Avenue, Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5QR Tel: 0191-265-3665). [email protected] Nottinghamshire Mrs Anne Ayres, 7 Boots Yard, Huthwaite, Sutton-in-Ashfield, & Derbyshire Notts, NG17 2QW. [email protected] South Essex Mrs Maureen Collins, 41, Linkway, Hornchurch Essex, RM11 3RN. Tel: 01708-447548. Sussex Miss Josie Williams, 6, Goldstone Court, Windsor Close, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 6WS. [email protected] West Surrey Rollo Crookshank, Old Willows, 41a, Badshot Park, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 9JU. [email protected]

73

Branches and Groups

Durham Group A visit to St Brandon’s at Brancepeth Durham Group had not visited the church since before the time of the disastrous fire in 1998. I suggested the date for our visit to coincide with a flower and music festival at the castle, reason- ing that if our visit to the church was brief we could take advantage of the rarity of the castle be- ing open and find more to interest us, but – the best laid plans of mice and men, etc. … We ar- rived to find the flowers and music were in the church as well as the castle and to get in we each had to pay £4.00 (and that was the concession rate). Another pound each gave us souvenir pro- grammes which were in effect lists of the flower arrangements. Further ‘ganging agley’ was caused by the musical performance being in full swing and though the ushers urged us to walk round, one felt very intrusive. We must have stayed in the church all of five minutes. For me, five minutes was more than enough. The words restoration, renewal, and resurrection had been in the back of my mind. Of course I knew the Westmorland effigies and the ancient helms would be gone and I did not seriously expect the box pews to be replaced, but I did not expect such a cul- ture shock. The interior is, to quote one of our group, ‘pure 21st century’. I did not trust myself to sign the visitors’ book but said I would go outside and read some gravestones. The first stone I read had my name on it! With hindsight I feel that anyone entering St Brandon’s for the first time might be delighted by the feeling of space and light and the excellence of the workmanship but if you are looking for the familiar past or historic County Durham it is gone. Elsie Watson

Gloucestershire Branch The talk in June, ‘Did Edward IV’s family policy make the reign of Richard III inevitable?’ by Stephen David, proved a great success. It was a brilliant, comprehensive and perceptive appraisal of the strategic and legal implications of Edward’s policies and how they conditioned the scope of Richard’s own policy and direction. Steve had a very original view of the topic and the content stimulated much post-lecture debate and analysis. A new face to us, Steve had studied under the tutelage of Ralph Griffiths at Swansea University, where he acquired a real passion for the late- medieval period. We certainly hope to re-book Steve for further talks and would strongly recom- mend him to other Branches and Groups looking for a quality speaker. Please give me a call if you would like contact or further details. A big thank you is due to Mickie O’Neill for arranging and leading two summer field trips during June and July. The weather on both days remained perfect and certainly enhanced travel- ling in one of the most unspoiled and rurally peaceful corners of our now over-crowded country. The first visit, in June, concentrated on ‘Churches of North Herefordshire and South Shropshire’. Early arrivals to the muster visited the stunning 12th-century St Mary’s at Kempley to see the famous fresco mural paintings and the later tempera paintings of the 13th and 14th century. Mov- ing on to St Bartholomew’s at Much Marcle we much enjoyed the Grandison tomb dedicated to Blanche Mortimer, the descendants of whom were to attain the throne of England in the person of Edward IV. We went on to St Peter and St Paul at Weobley, then next on the schedule was St Mary the Virgin at Kington. The highlight here was the alabaster tomb of Thomas Vaughan (killed at the Battle of Banbury) and his wife Ellen Gethin. Known as ‘Ellen the Terrible’ she retains notoriety for avenging her brother’s murder by attending an archery competition disguised as a man and shooting an arrow through the heart of the murderer. Following a leisurely lunch we travelled on to Wigmore and a visit to St James’s Church and the Mortimer castle which once dominated the valley. A cream tea was included (we like to maintain the Ricardian tradition of 74

healthy repasts while in the field!) before, in late afternoon, we reached St Michael and All An- gels, Kingsland, to visit the Volka Chapel, a chantry foundation dedicated to those killed in the nearby Battle of Mortimer’s Cross. Survivors of our day eventually reached the remote and beau- tiful Arts and Crafts church at Brockhampton in the early evening where we were able to relax and enjoy the peace of a classic English churchyard at the end of truly memorable summer’s day. Two weeks later we reconvened at Ludlow for a guided tour of the medieval hilltop wool town. After lunch individuals were free to explore the many medieval delights of the town and visit the church of St Laurence, as featured in Simon Jenkins’ book on the thousand best church- es in England. Despite the heat many from the group continued on to Stokesay in the afternoon. Stokesay Castle is probably the finest example of a fortified manor house in England. Built by Lawrence of Ludlow, a wealthy wool merchant, the building has changed little since the late thir- teenth century. The adjacent 12th-centurychurch of Saint John the Baptist was also a real gem and the two buildings, presented in such a glorious setting, completed another excellent day out in superb countryside. These were two really rewarding days in which we were only able to visit a limited number of sites. There are so many medieval locations to see and enjoy. I am sure we will return before too long to this exquisite area.

Forthcoming Branch Events: Saturday 2 September Branch AGM Saturday 14 October Branch Annual Lecture. We are especially proud this year to welcome the Society Chairman, Dr Phil Stone, to give our Annual Branch Lec ture: ‘Of Golden Trees and White Roses: Bruges and the Re-enactment of the Wedding Pageant of Margaret of York’. All Society members and their friends are very welcome to join us for this very special event. Saturday 4 November Medieval Imagery in Churches 1000–1600. Illustrated talk by Brian Waters. Saturday 2 December Medieval Christmas Gathering. Festive period food and drink with the Coynes, at The Old Stables, Beckford. Please note this meeting will begin at 12:00. Keith Stenner

Hull and District Branch Fiftieth anniversary celebration dinner Friday 9 June 2006. Across the road from historic Beverley Minster lies narrow Friars Lane. At its end and behind ancient high walls stands a Dominican friary rebuilt in 1449, just before Richard’s birth. What remains today, as a youth hostel, is attributable to the local population’s successful efforts to pre- serve it. If one could have entered via the fifteenth-century archway into the rough grassed area in front of the friary at 7.30 p.m. on Friday 9 June, one might have gone back in time six hundred years. Drinking monk-made lemonade in the early evening sunlight stood court ladies in all their finery and wearing truncated hats, with one of the local in attendance and a frowning grey friar for good order. There was no doubting the authenticity of what one was seeing. Inside the hall, where we sat on wooden benches, the ornate menu (designed and drawn by our Gordon Gledhill, a copy of which has been lodged in the Society’s records) not only titillated the taste buds, but the reverse reminded everyone of their good table manners. A warn- ing not to eat the trencher in front of everyone ensured one had a plate from which to eat. Each of the five courses was delicious, and far beyond our expectation of how well some peo- ple in Richard’s day lived. Halfway through the evening the ‘hog’s head’ was paraded to its pride of place. The evening ended with mead and subtleties and expressions of appreciation to the YHA staff who prepared and served a meal fit for a king Peter Wilsher

75

Thames Valley Branch Garden Party to Celebrate the Refounding of the Society On Saturday 22 July the Thames Valley Branch held a garden party at the home of their chair- man in Langley, Berkshire. At their AGM in January the branch discussed how they could cele- brate the refounding of the Society and it was agreed that they would invite for a celebratory tea all members of the Society who lived in their catchment area and who hitherto may not have been involved in a Society event. Obviously as it was high summer many local members were on vacation or had other commitments but the branch were delighted with the turnout and the oppor- tunity to meet fellow Ricardians. Chairman Phil Stone and his wife Beth, together with Richard Van Allen, joined the party. After a rather damp start, the heavens opened an hour or so before the kick-off after a week of non-stop blue skies and sunshine, but Morton was dismissed in time for tea. Glasses were raised for the loyal toast, to the memory of King Richard and to the Society. Sally Empson

From left to right: Sue Peirce, Kate and Robert Brown, Judith Ridley, Jim Reddux, Anne-Marie Cooper, Pauline Stevenson, Richard Van Allen, Beth Stone, Lynn Nolder, Jean Rossiter, Jane Trump, Laurette Sanders, Phil Stone, Gillie Francis, Marjory Barnes, Barry and Elizabeth Marsden, Ann and Derek Barber

West Surrey Group In January we held our AGM and our Treasurer reported that our funds are healthy, always good to know. A number of suggestions were made for the 2006 programme with visits to various places of interest, of which we always seem to have more possible venues than we can actually fit in. However, there is always next year if we are unable to see all the places we would like to see this year. It is so very pleasant to get out and about when the days are longer and warmer. Indoor meetings are best left for the winter months.

76

We hope to produce fliers promoting our group website (and Richard, of course) which we can distribute in local libraries and notice boards etc. Our first visit of the year in February was to the Surrey History Centre in Woking, where we were given an extensive tour of the building which houses books and documents relating to just about everything of note that has happened in Surrey from pre-history to the present day. We were shown how valuable and ancient documents are handled, restored and preserved. The build- ing itself is very interesting, with an impressive entrance foyer which has stunning engraved glass doors portraying Surrey events. There is also a beautiful painted frieze showing scenes and people who have lived in and contributed to Surrey’s past. The centre has an enormous research department, equipped with computers where students (in fact, anyone) can go to seek information on subjects like tracing ancestors or any other topic, with plenty of helpful expert staff to assist and advise. In March we met at Jim and Jean’s house for an illustrated talk by Steve Goodchild of the Tewkesbury Battlefield Society on the . Steve contends that Louis XI was to blame for the battle by bringing Warwick and Margaret of Anjou together, having his own axe to grind – vengeance for England’s wars in France. He showed maps of the battlefield which high- light many changes in the area over the centuries since 1471, with huge development during the last century. There is much concern that the remaining land should not be built on. On Saturday April 1 we attended the Richard III Foundation’s Yorkist Era Conference at Farnham. John Ashdown-Hill spoke on ‘What we can learn from local repositories’ and dis- cussed how much material is there to be found. He also told us about his work on seals at Col- chester Castle. John was followed by Dr Sean Cunningham speaking on The National Archives and how to go about researching late medieval history. He showed images of manuscripts, legal and government records and explained how teachers, academics, students (and us) can go about researching one of the largest collections of archives in the world. Our group hopes to visit The National Archives at Kew to do just this later in the year. The next speaker was Dr Michael Mil- ler, who explained the enigmatic roots of the ‘Wars of the Roses’. Dr Ann Wroe discussed Perkin Warbeck and his career and the particular difficulties and frustrations she encountered in trying to uncover his story. Finally, Professor Michael Hicks spoke about ‘Queen Anne Neville and her marriage to Richard III’, about which so little is really known. On May 2 we joined the local (West Surrey) branch of the Historical Association for a guided tour of Sandhurst Military Academy, just a few days after Prince Harry’s passing-out ceremony in the presence of the Queen. We had the perfect guide – a retired Major-Instructor – who was able to tell us how tough the training is for potential young officers. There were many wonderful paintings, trophies and treasures to be seen and finally we were given a rivetting presentation on the Anzio landings in 1944 by Sandhurst’s senior lecturer. He did not look old enough for such a responsible position but he was brilliant. Also in May a small group went on a day visit to Gloucestershire where the first stop was St Mary’s church, Fairford, famous for its unique set of twenty-eight medieval win- dows. It also has some wonderful misericords and a pamphlet on sale which claims there are hid- den portraits of Henry VII and his family in the windows but we did not look too hard for them. Next we went to Fyfield and the church of St Nicholas to see the tomb of Lady Katherine Gor- don, widow of Perkin Warbeck. She was given Fyfield Manor by Henry VIII in 1510 and died there in 1537. After a most convivial lunch at the excellent White Hart, Fyfield, we went to Ewelme to see the church, almshouses and school all founded by Alice Chaucer (granddaughter of Geoffrey) Duchess of Suffolk. The almshouses are beautiful and peaceful and a glimpse through an open window revealed a cosy, comfortable lounge – I would move in tomorrow! The school founded in 1437 is the oldest church school in the state system still in its original building. We were given a guided tour of the school by four young boys who are pupils there and they were very knowledgeable about the history and features of the church, even pointing out the grave of Jerome K Jerome. The climax of the visit obviously was the magnificent tomb of Alice

77

Chaucer herself – a memento mori with its beautiful effigy of her dressed in the habit of a vow- ess, ducal coronet on the head and underneath, her emaciated body in a shroud. June 3 and 4 saw a medieval fair complete with re-enactment of the at Lose- ley House, an Elizabethan mansion near Guildford, Surrey. Members of our group attended on both days with a small display about Richard III and the society. Many people showed interest – let us hope they all come and join us. On Saturday June 10 eight of our group went, on a glorious weekend, to Leicester for the East Midlands Branch Study Day on the subject of ‘Women of Power and Influence during the Wars of the Roses’. The day was really well organised and very well attended, with lectures by David Baldwin (Elizabeth Woodville and the Battle of Stoke), and Jean Townsend on the role of Queens and consorts from 1066-1500. Angela Smith examined the life and character of Margaret Beaufort and John Ashdown-Hill fascinated us all when he ex- plained his research into the DNA of Margaret of York and how he has discovered a present day relative of the Plantagenets living in Canada. During the lunch break our little party dashed to the Castle grounds to see Richard’s statue. It was a pleasure to meet so many fellow Ricardians and I was amazed to find myself sitting next to a lady who works for the DSS and actually parks her car in that car park, but unfortunately is not able to pull the necessary strings to have it excavated. On the following day we moved on to Warwick, where we had arranged to have a guided tour of the exquisite Beauchamp Chapel. We were most fortunate in having an extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide and we spent a long time studying the truly magnificent tombs of not only Richard Beauchamp (with the Kingmaker among the ‘weepers’ around it) but of the Dudleys, especially that of Robert, Earl of Leicester and his second wife, Lettice. Lastly we moved on to Coughton Court, home since 1409 of the Throckmorton family, of Gunpowder Plot fame. Among the marvels to be seen there is a large chair, reputed to have been made of wood from the bed in which Richard slept in Leicester before he left for the battle of Bosworth. This was a suitable finale to a delightful weekend. Renée Barlow and Pat Hibbs

Worcestershire Branch Our AGM in April was very well attended, particularly as it marked Ralph Richardson’s retire- ment as our Chairman. He has served in the post for twelve years and we agree that he deserves a rest, however, even Judith Sealey who has bravely taken up the position agrees that he will be a hard act to follow. Ralph has enhanced our Branch activities with his infinite knowledge, excel- lent leadership and sometimes wicked wit. We all wish Judith the very best in her new role. There were a number of other changes in the committee with Jane Tinklin and Mary Friend leav- ing due to other commitments and Joan Ryder rejoining the committee as Programme Planner. At the end of the meeting a presentation was made to Ralph, a Spode plate commemorating the Founding of and the 500th Anniversary of the Battle of Tewkesbury. Need- less to say, he was delighted! On May 13 fifteen of us spent an interesting afternoon at Goodrich Castle near Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire. It is a substantial ruin standing high above the Wye valley, with a keep dating back to 1160. Owned by the Earls of Pembroke until 1324, it was inherited through marriage by the Talbot family, earls of Shrewsbury from 1442. Lady Eleanor Talbot, daughter of John Talbot, first earl of Shrewsbury, was betrothed to Edward IV. The castle is now administered by English Heritage and has an excellent audio guide available. The month of June was very special for our Branch with the celebration of our twentieth anni- versary. On 10 June we held a wonderful banquet to mark the occasion, attended by fifty people, members both past and present with their families and friends. We transformed the large modern village hall at Inkberrow into a medieval banqueting hall with shields, banners and brass rub- bings, and set out tables fit for a king, with pristine white tablecloths draped with murray and blue runners with white roses, and it all looked really enchanting in the candlelight. Many of the

78

visitors and organisers wore costumes, despite the extreme heat, adding to the overall effect of stepping back in time. Musicians played soft music as the guests received a glass of wine and were shown to their seats for the feast to begin. Our new Chairman, Judith, gave an excellent welcoming speech and invited Ralph to say grace, which he duly did in Latin of course. Not being satisfied with presenting Ralph with a gift at the AGM we also presented him with another one at the banquet, much to his great surprise and delight. He has gazed longingly at one of Graham Turner’s paintings every year that we have attended the Tewkesbury Festival so we could not resist buying him the print of it and having it framed. The small group of organisers breathed a sigh of relief as the evening progressed: all the hours of preparation and hard work had been well worthwhile and it was a resounding success. There was only one drawback: the mountain of washing up in the kitchen and taking down all the lovely decorations when all the guests had gone home. Over the weekend 8-9 July we attended the Tewkesbury Festival to promote the Society and our own Branch activities. Our stall looked very impressive with display boards depicting places of interest and information about the Branch prepared by Pam Benstead. We made good use of some of the display materials made for the banquet to enhance the sales table, which was a little sparse this year due to the current difficulties in obtaining goods to sell. There were thousands of people at the event and we chatted to numerous interested visitors throughout the two days. Each August we have an evening outing, usually visiting two local village churches that Ralph manages to locate for us. This year we visited churches around Norton. The meeting of September 9 was to have been a visit to Madresfield near Malvern but this had to be cancelled. We are now visiting Stokesay Castle and church near Craven Arms in Shropshire, and our new Programme Planner Joan Ryder will lead this visit. On October 14 our outing will be to Gloucester Cathedral, led once again by Ralph Richard- son. The November 11 meeting will be a talk by one of our newest members, Richard Thompson, entitled ‘Richard III and his Inheritance’. This will take place at Belbroughton Village Hall near Kidderminster at 2.00 p.m. Visitors will be welcome to join us. On December 9 we shall com- plete our year with a bring and share seasonal celebration at Upton Snodsbury village hall, again starting at 2.00 p.m. All of the above events will be reported in our excellent Branch publication Dickon Independent, edited by Pam Benstead. We are always pleased to welcome friends and prospective members at any of our meetings. Details can be found on our branch web site www.richardiiiworcs.co.uk or please contact our Secretary, Val Sibley, for further information on 01564 777329. Pat Parminter

Yorkshire Branch This summer members of the Branch have met up with visiting American Ricardians at Middle- ham and also Conisbrough castle, as well as becoming involved with the Barley Hall Medieval Pilgrimage in July by sponsoring Branch member Lynda Pidgeon. We aim to report in the next Bulletin in more detail about our presence at Middleham on different occasions this year, includ- ing our Bosworth commemoration. Our Branch AGM is scheduled for 2 September, as advised in the last Bulletin but one desti- nation of our Branch Trip on 16 September has had to be altered, since opening times at were not convenient for us. We now hope to visit and the Bowes Museum. The Branch will take part in Members’ Day at York on 30 September, when we shall be run- ning short workshops on palaeography (Moira Habberjam) and medieval costume (Lynda Tel- ford and lovely assistants) We shall have our usual sales table for Branch merchandise and our Rosalba Press publications. At the time of writing we have not yet decided on a venue for our autumn Boar Dinner (although unfortunately this does not mean that members of the Committee are undertaking a

79

sampling tour of Yorkshire restaurants). It is hoped that some definite information can be given to members in the August Newsletter; alternatively, please ring our Chairman, John Audsley, on 0113 294-2656 if you are interested in attending. Subscriptions are now due for Volume 41 of our magazine Blanc Sanglier, born c. 1961 and (like Johnnie Walker) ‘still going strong’. Rates remain the same as last year - £7.00, £8.50 or £10.00, including postage, for three issues and Newsletters. Angela Moreton

o0o

Coats of Arms of some Ricardian Contemporaries by Lawrence T Greensmith (first published in The Ricardian September 1973)

The Cat, the Rat & Lovell the Dog Rule all Sir (d. 1485): ‘The Cat’ England under the Hog. Part 1 Three letters of his name give one clue and his badge another. The shield was silver, two

lions passant black each with a golden crown; the clue is not here. The crest was a silver leopard passant pellety (which means with black spots): is this the clue? Not quite, but it helps. Not part of the arms, but often closely associated with the, is the badge: and Cates- by’s badge was a white cat with black spots and a golden collar. The cat in heraldry is usually drawn sejant (which means sitting) and with his face turned to the front but it may be otherwise. And what is the difference between badge and crest? Not really very much, except the position and the cat’s tail which is fluffy and not tufted. It is more rele- vant, and a change, to draw the badge. Catesby was the son of another Sir Wil- liam, of Ashby St Leger, Northants. He was learned and well versed in law. Thanks to the patronage of Lord Hastings, he had much authority in both and This couplet, so well known to Ricardians, is . He became Chancellor of the oddly absent from the usual quotation collec- Exchequer and then Speaker of Parliament. tions but it does appear in The Brewer’s Dic- With Ratcliffe, he was opposed to the much tionary with the Rat given first. The name of rumoured prospect of King Richard’s marry- its author, Colynebourne (however, spelt: ing his niece Elizabeth. At Bosworth, he was Brewer calls him Collingham), is also not in (so it is said) taken prisoner and hanged with the DNB. There is, however, no doubt about some others, but is also said that he escaped it, or him, or the identities of the four men only be captured again and beheaded at thus lampooned. Leicester.

80

New Members

UK 1 April – 30 June 2006

Catherine Bateson, Bristol Geraldine McVeigh, King’s Langley, Herts Elizabeth Blackman, London Matthew North, York Antony & Mrs Farnath, Wolverhampton Janet Robinson, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk James Fleming, Winchcome, Gloucestershire Raymond Rose, Maidstone, Kent Doreen Gould, Eastbourne, East Sussex Linda Ross, Horsley, Surrey Sadie Jarrett, Port Talbot Samara Sakayam, Dunstable, Bedfordshire Beth Lambah-Stoate, Bath Paul Watkins, Mistley, Essex Maureen McKay, Formby, Merseyside Christopher Whincup, Northallerton, Yorkshire

Overseas 1 April 2006 – 30 June 2006

L Bates, Hamburg, Germany Peta Horneman-Wren, Queensland, Australia Edward Blanton, Md.,USA Liam Kelly, Glasnevin, Ireland Carole Carson, Western Australia Elizabeth Lee, Ontario, Canada Martha Driver, New York, USA

US Branch 1 April 2006 – 30 June 2006

Karen Rhodes Clarke, Maine Diane Preston, Connecticut E Tomlinson Fort, Pennsylvania Teri Reis-Schmidt, Illinois Jeanette Grimshaw, Michigan Alison Walsh Sackett, California Erin Hastings, Texas CSW Schorr, New Jersey Alice Hendershot, Virginia Sarah Sickels, New Jersey Robert P Lombardi, Massachusetts Sonia Tower, New York Sasha Miller, Texes Susan Vaughn, Georgia Michael Myers, Illinois Sarah Walsh, Wisconsin

Recently Deceased Members

Mr Frank Gibbs, Norwich. Joined 1985 Mr J Kershaw, Preston, Lancashire. Joined 1985 Mr Philip Masters, Mullaloo, Western Australia. Joined 1989

81

Obituaries

Don Fleming

If ever anyone was the life and soul of the party it was Don Flem- ing. Over many decades of active membership his personality, wit and sheer joie de vivre enlivened many a Society event. And now he is gone, having passed away in Sutton’s Royal Marsden Hospi- tal on 25 June this year. He had been suffering from asbestosis for a number of years. Regulars on Society trips (especially during the time of the late Joyce Melhuish) will all have fond and vivid memories of Don: his jokes, his stories, his mimicry and a never ending range of different t-shirt motifs. In fact on many of these trips there were two Dons – Don Fleming and Don Jennings, often room mates together, and those who had the adjacent rooms will long remem- Don in 1975 ber the early morning serenades as the two Dons went through their vocal exercises. Don J will in particular miss his good friend Don F and would want me to place on record his appreciation of their friendship and sadness at its ending. Don was proud of his home town Sutton and I always thought of him as ‘a man about Sutton Town’. Accounts of his banter with the checkout girls of Marks and Spencer, strange encounters with Chinese ladies on the bus, the goings-on at his local library, the latest antics of his cats, neighbours and sundry other local Sutton folk: the stories were never ending and always enter- taining. But there was a serious side to him as well. He knew his history and was widely read in many subjects ranging for Richard III to UFOs. He had many interests in life and approached them all with enthusiasm. Sometimes he held strong opinions, and let you know it, but there was always that cheeky grin at the end of any reproach. He was a first-class conversationalist and no meal in his company was ever dull. Indeed any time in his company was sure to leave you with a smile on your face. He was a regular visitor to the theatre and concert halls, and it eventually ceased to be a coincidence if you happened to bump in to him at a performance. He went to so many. Don served on the Executive Committee from 1973 until he retired in 1980, during which time he undertook the role of Publications Officer and was a member of the sub-committee which revised the constitution during the late 1970s. He was also for many years Chairman of the London Branch, and there will be a full appreciation of his time as chairman in the branch’s next newsletter. He was married to Irene, who predeceased him by a number of years, and she was a perfect foil to his mischievous nature. Towards the end of her life she suffered from severe arthritis which eventually confined her to a wheelchair. Undaunted, she continued for as long as possible to accompany Don on Joyce’s trips to the continent. I can still picture her in that chair, being faithfully attended by Don, who for once was doing as he was told. Her death was a great loss to him. Don’s own health problems in more recent years, and a growing involvement with the Merton History Society, meant that we didn’t see so much of him. However to the end he kept faithfully in touch with his many Ricardian friends. Wherever he is now we can be sure that he will be cracking those jokes, telling his stories and undoubtedly taking the mickey out of St Peter - once through the pearly gates of course! We will all miss you, Don; but thanks for the memories of all the good times we shared with you. John Saunders 82

Sheila Hirst

Sheila joined the Hull and District Branch of the Society a short while after it was founded in 1975. She had been ill for many years but attended meetings whenever possible. Sheila was a quiet, gentle person, greatly loved by everyone who knew her. Our sympathy goes to her hus- band Paul and their family. Judith S Preston Anderson, Chairman

George May

George died on 25 July, the Patronal Festival of St James – the church he loved, and for which he put so much effort into raising money for restoration. He was always proud to be asked to read a lesson at the Richard III Memorial Service, as he did on several occasions. His commit- ment to the restoration of St James’s church gave, and will continue to give encouragement to finish the inner restoration of our lovely old church. We all feel that he has left a splendid lega- cy in our small village for which we will always be grateful. The funeral was held on 1 August, followed by interment in the churchyard Mary Burgess, Churchwarden, Sutton Cheney

Pat Ruffle - a personal memory

It is with very great regret that we record the death in July of Pat Ruf- fle. With her late husband Peter, Pat was a good friend to the Society, which the Executive Committee acknowledged when she was given the Robert Hamblin Award in 2004. Although for many years Pat looked after the back issues of The Ricardian and the Bulletin, sending them out as new members joined and wished to add to their collection of publications, it was for her part in the Fotheringhay Kneeler Project that I knew her best, for it was she who made up all the kneelers. Members would stitch the can- vasses with my designs, but it was Pat who stretched and pulled them into shape around the blocks of foam, making them up into the won- derful collection of hassocks that we see in Fotheringhay church to- day. A quiet and gracious lady, Pat was rarely seen without a smile, even during the later years of Peter’s illness, when life must have been very distressing at times. She never seemed to com- plain and was greatly sustained by her Christian faith, something that never seemed to waver even in the darkest days. I know it upset her greatly when she had to admit that she could no longer nurse Peter at home and that he would have to go into a nursing home. Whenever I look at the kneelers in Fotheringhay, I think of Pat with affection, and I will always remember some advice she gave me in 2004. Peter was very ill and I had not long been married to Beth. In a letter which still wrings my heart, she told me ‘to seize life to the full and to make the most of every moment we’re together, because we will never know how long we might have’. Bless you, Pat, and thank you – for everything. Phil Stone

83

Calendar

We run a calendar of all forthcoming events: if you are aware of any events of Ricardian inter- est, whether organised by the Society - Committee, Visits Committee, Research Committee, Branches/Groups - or by others, please let the Editor have full details, in sufficient time for entry. The calendar will also be run on the website.

Date Events Originator

2006 9 September Day Visit, Romney Marsh and Smallhythe Visits Committee

29 September - AGM and Members’ Weekend. York See Winter 2005 1 October issue

21 October ‘Chivalry, the Order of the Garter and St George’s See Winter 2005 Chapel’, Vicars’ Hall, Windsor. Event now fully booked.

28 October Lincolnshire Branch Medieval Banquet at the Angel See page 9 and Royal, Grantham

11 November Norfolk Branch Study Day: The House of Lancaster See page 70

3 December Scottish Branch Christmas Lecture at Edinburgh Castle. ‘The 1482 Invasion’

16 December Fotheringhay Nine Lessons and Carols, and Lunch Fotheringhay Co-ordinator See page 71

2007 17 March Requiem Mass at St Etheldreda’s Chuch, Ely Place See page 35 and wreath-laying in Westminster Abbey

13 - 15 April Australasian Convention, New Zealand See page 35

13 –15 April Study Weekend in York Research Officer

28 April Visit to Grafton Regis and Visits Committee

14 - 20 May Visit to Provence Visits Committee or 12 – 17 September

6 – 9 September Norfolk Weekend Visit Visits Committee

84