Who Was Perkin Warbeck?

Ricardian

Bulletin Summer 2005 Contents

2 From the Chairman 3 Society News and Notices 4 Be Prepared 5 Media Retrospective 8 Stratford St Mary Church, Suffolk 10 News and Reviews 15 The Nature of Research 19 The Man Himself 22 The Debate: Who Was Perkin Warbeck? 27 King Richard the Third by Keith Dockray 29 The French Connection by David Johnson 30 Thomas Stafford: Sixteenth Century Yorkist Rebel by Stephen Lark 32 Logge Notes and Queries: What did a monk spend his money on? by L. Wynne-Davies 36 Correspondence 42 The Barton Library 44 Book Review 46 Booklist 48 Letter from America 50 Report on Society Events 54 Future Society Events 57 Branches and Groups Contacts 59 Branches and Groups 63 New Members 64 Calendar

Contributions Contributions are welcomed from all members. Articles and correspondence regarding the Bulletin Debate should be sent to Peter Hammond and all other contributions to Elizabeth Nokes. 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, 2005 1

From the Chairman

Those of you who were in Cambridge recently for the Society’s Triennial Conference will have had the opportunity to view some documents contemporary with King Richard that in all proba- bility have not been unfolded and looked at by anyone for over five hundred years. Marie Barn- field’s excellent review of the conference provides further details of these documents and of course all the lectures. Sufficient to say here that the weekend was a great success with all lectures proving entertaining and thought-provoking. It is hoped that they will eventually be incor- porated into a book based on the theme of the conference. My thanks go to everyone who played a part in making the weekend such a success. In this issue, we have another range of interesting and challenging articles. Perkin Warbeck is revisited, and very topical this is too, with a Channel 4 programme due to have been aired by the time you read this. Ann Wroe and James McDougall are elegant and authoritive combatants and I am sure their debate will encourage a lot of responses. Our series of articles commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Paul Murray Kendall’s Richard III continues with a historian’s view of the book’s impact from Keith Dockray. We also have a continuation of Lesley Wynne-Davies’ series on notes and queries from the Logge Wills, tasters for next year’s publication of the wills. The news of Bill Hampton’s passing will make sad hearing for many. Bill will long be remembered for his important work Memorials of the Wars of the Roses, an invaluable and oft-quoted book for anyone studying our period. In the last Bulletin, we started a series of extracts from the book, bringing the information to a new audience and Bill was very happy for this to happen. A full obituary will appear in autumn’s Bulletin. It is time for a recruitment campaign and I urge you to take up the challenge offered in the insert in this Bulletin. Membership numbers have been steady for a number of years but it is time we grew again. Membership increased significantly in 1973 as a result of the National Portrait Gallery’s exhibition on Richard III and again during the Quincentenary years of 1983-85. So, it would seem that another period of growth is well overdue. Our fiftieth anniversary next year is an appropriate focus. I have written before about our impending anniversary and we are now in a position to provide details of our initial plans to celebrate the event. (see page 3). The emphasis is to be on celebration. We have much to be proud of over the past fifty years, especially the contributions that individual members have made over the five decades, and we hope to recall and acknowledge many of these throughout the anniversary year. It would be great to see next year’s events involve as many of today’s members as possible, so I would especially encourage branches and groups to hold their own events. More details of all events will appear in the autumn and winter issues of the Bulletin. ‘Summer is a-comin’ in,’ and whilst we may not all ‘loudly sing cuckoo,’ I hope that we will all enjoy the various Ricardian events on offer. Amongst the many things, I look forward to joining the Croydon Group’s twenty-fifth anniversary celebrations in June, which will coincide with their tenth anniversary commemoration of the death of the much-missed Joyce Melhuish. Phil Stone 2

Society News and Notices

The Richard III Society

Celebrating 50 Years

1956 – 2006

2006 and all that ‘The inaugural meeting of the reconstituted fellowship took place at 7.30 pm on Thursday 26 January 1956 in room 17 of Caxton Hall. 33 members and intending members were present’. So recorded the minutes of this historic occasion. The Fellowship of the White Boar was founded in 1924 by Saxon Barton and had been revived during the 1950s, thanks mainly to the tireless ef- forts of our senior Vice-President Isolde Wigram. In 2006 we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the re-founding and we will do so with events and publications that will provide something for all our world-wide membership. Key events being planned are:

 A commemorative event in London  Two research day seminars, including one on the battles of the Wars of the Roses.  A weekend of celebrations in York around the 2006 AGM on the 30 September. This will include an anniversary dinner at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall in the evening of the 30th and a day of events at Barley Hall on the Sunday.

The anniversary will also be celebrated through;

 Expanded editions of the four Bulletins for 2006  The launch of a number of important publications including the Logge Wills and the His- tory of the Society.  A national school essay and art competition

We shall be providing further and fuller details in the autumn and winter editions of the Bulletin. Members’ ideas for celebrating the anniversary will be welcome and should be sent to the chairman in the first instance. We hope that branches and groups will initiate their own celebrations and we will include details of these in the Bulletin’s fiftieth-anniversary calendar. So let’s all make 2006 a Ricardian year to remember. Executive Committee

Continued on page 14. 3

Be Prepared

he Scouting movement, once derided as an inappropriate vestige of British Imperialism, T sexist and a danger to youth, is enjoying a renaissance in the 21st century with many troops burdened with a waiting list of those wishing to join. So there seems no harm in using what is a wise and practical Scout motto in a good cause. In plenty of time for a certain well known birthday (2nd October) you should have given a small ‘gift’ to the Society by making sure your subscription is paid at the correct new rate, which has already been well publicised. If you pay by cheque or one-off credit/debit card payment make sure you use the right amount. If you use a recurring credit/debit card authority then please tell the Provider in plenty of time about the change needed. Many members pay by Bank Standing Order authority and if you have paid by cheque in the past you may wish to use the form in this Bulletin to change to Standing Order but do, please, make sure you fill it out correctly and return it to the Membership Department not direct to your bank. For the many 100s of you that pay by standing order already please use the form to amend the amount you pay. This will be greatly appreciated and make life much simpler for the Member- ship Department and the Treasurer. Their joy will be complete if you follow these simple rules:-

 Do not send the completed form to your bank – send it to the Membership Department, whose address is on the form, so they can make sure the details are correct,  Fill it out with the correct NEW subscription rate for your membership category, don’t forget to sign it either,  Send it off in plenty of time – we ideally need to lodge amendments before the 1st Sep- tember - so don’t leave it to the last minute, DO IT NOW,  Don’t confuse anybody by referring to the fact that you have a Direct Debit in favour of the Richard III Society – YOU DO NOT – the Society would love to collect subscription by Direct Debit but its legal status as an unincorporated association makes this almost impossible. Standing Orders, which is how you pay, are a totally different form of payment, and  Do check your bank statement to make sure that your instructions have been carried out – if there are two debits, or your account is now being debited weekly or monthly tell your bank and the Membership Department straight away.

‘Be prepared’ and it will make everyone happy, including you!

Bill Featherstone

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Media Retrospective

From Jen Callow From the University of Cambridge Interna- ‘According to BBC “Midlands Today” there tional Summer Schools Programme prospec- is a chip shop in Nuneaton called “The Batter tus 2005: ‘Kingship and Tyranny in England of Bosworth”. It is part of their search for the – Richard Partington, Admissions Director region’s best fish and chip supper. I’ll let you and Fellow in History, Sidney Sussex College know if it wins!’ – ‘We explore late-medieval English kingship and: ‘I understand that Dream Factory, work- and its antithesis – tyranny – via a study of ing with the inmates of HMP Brixton, are how kings ruled, and how through misrule planning a production of Richard III some they became tyrants, in the fourteenth and time. I doubt if the performance will be open fifteenth centuries. Edward II ... Richard II ... to the public, but I imagine there will be some and Richard III ... were all deposed for tyran- fascinating perspectives on the play’. ny. So how did other kings who pushed their subjects hard, namely Edward III ... and Ed- From Marilyn Garabet ward IV ... manage significantly to extend the Daily Mail [Scotland] 5 February 2005, Sat- scope of their rule without suffering the same urday Essay – Gerald Warner. ‘As MSP’s fate?’ attempt to rehabilitate Macbeth, they raise a serious question about rewriting history’... From the Editor [Shakespeare] did an even heavier hatchet job Over the two days 11 and 12 February the on Richard III, the last Plantagenet king of Daily Telegraph got rather Ricardian: (1) 11 England. His motive for that was again to February, Letters to the Editor: ‘Sir, there are keep in with the Tudors, who in 1485 had many historical examples of royalty intent on seized the crown at the Battle of Bosworth, dignifying a politically problematic relation- where Richard was killed. The Tudors were ship with the title of marriage. The list in- arrivistes who needed all the support they cludes Nero, Edward IV, and Edward VIII. It could get to create a dynastic myth … Just as has generally been an indication of insecurity many have argued that Richard III was a ma- and self-absorption, and tends to end badly. ligned king (although the deaths of the Princ- …’ John Riseley, Farnborough, Northants. (2) es in the Tower are difficult to explain away) 12 February, Schott’s Original Miscellany: so Macbeth is now being rehabilitated …’ ‘Disappeared’ … ‘Princes in the Tower Ed- and: from The Times, 5 March 2005, ‘first ward V and brother, ?murdered by Richard sight travel’ ‘Home and away – capture a III, c.1483’ (3) 12 February, ‘PetSubjects’ – castle’ – ‘Snape Castle near Bedale North Celia Haddon – ‘Dogs have also reacted in Yorkshire – Catherine Parr ... Lady Cecily terror in … Skipton Castle … and on the bat- Neville, mother of Richard III, and Queen tleground of Bosworth Field. … Former Anne, his wife, all lived at Snape Castle, Christian burial grounds sometimes have this which dates back to the 15th century’ effect. A reader was told of a dog that refused to go into the churchyard of the ruined church in Eastwell, Kent, where the body of From Geoffrey Wheeler Richard Plantagenet, natural son of Richard Guardian 4 February 2005, ‘Pass Notes, No. III, is buried’. 2,565 – Macbeth - ... Not to be confused with Garth J Harrison also picked up the ‘dogs’ … Richard III – handsome, virile fellow who item, and comments ‘Could it be that a dog adored small children. …’ can resolve the debate as to the actual site of From Sophia Buckingham Bosworth?’ 5

and: Daily Telegraph, ‘Historic London’ family appear to have towards Richard III supplement 2 April 2004: ‘Royal buildings and in the context of verbally transmitted that bear witness to history’ by Helen Feger recollection passed through the generations’. – ‘ .... The Tower had become the kingdom’s “ .... my mother told me that her mother’s most important jail. In 1471, the Tower’s surname .. had been Hastings, and that her bloody reputation was sealed, when Henry ancestor, William, Lord Hastings, had been VI was apparently murdered there. In 1483, the king’s Lord Chamberlain and his best Edward IV’s two sons were incarcerated in friend. “It was during the Wars of the Roses” the Bloody Tower and almost certainly killed said my mother ... “Then the king died and by Richard of Gloucester, the princes’ uncle poor Hastings’s head was chopped off”. ... and erstwhile Protector. Richard went on to “But had he done something really bad?” seize the throne (albeit briefly) as Richard ‘Quite the reverse. He tried to stop the dead III’. king’s brother, Duke Richard, from murdering the Princes in the Tower – they were the From Margaret Jones old king’s children. ... Richard wanted to be Daily Mirror 5 April: ‘Question Time: Q: king himself and knew he couldn’t be if the ‘Why do people say someone is ‘in Dickie’s children stayed alive. So he decided to kill meadow’ if they are in trouble ?’ A: ‘This Hastings who would have tried to save refers to the Battle of Bosworth Field, the them.” “Did the children die too, mummy?” last battle of the Wars of the Roses in which “I’m afraid so”. ... This true story was scari- Richard III was defeated. Therefore a lost er and nastier ... One moment Hastings had cause became known as Dickie’s (or Rich- been walking about in his furs and fine ard’s) meadow’. clothes, being important and looking after and: also contributed by Patsy Conway: the princes, and the next, a savage, unbeliev- BBC History, April 2005: ‘Past Notes and able thing had been done to him when he Queries’ ‘Richard’s curious crest. I recently wasn’t expecting it. Realising she had upset saw a picture showing various historical me, my mother tried to soften the blow by places and persons connected with York. telling me that Hastings’s grandson was One of them was for Richard III and showed made an earl to make up for what had hap- a white boar. What is the significance of the pened, and that this reward for his family boar? Rupert Matthews, historian and au- explained why four hundred years later my thor, replies: The white boar was the person- granny had been ‘a lady from birth’. This al badge of the much maligned King Richard was no comfort. My grandmother was long III from the days when he was Duke of dead, but I was alive and soon having night- Gloucester, younger brother of Edward IV. mares. On several nights, I dreamed that the ... We do not know why Richard chose a head was lying on the ground with its eyes wild boar, but he may have been attracted by wide open, staring at the spurting blood.” the tenacious ferocity of the creature. Cer- tainly the colour white was in reference to From Howard Hancock the white rose of York, from which dynasty TES 18 March 2005 ‘The Last Word’ Richard III came’. ‘Where Pupils Dare not Perch’, Libby Purves: ‘ …... the name of the school, the From Keith Stenner Richard III School. But actually, come to Extract from Swimming with my father: a think of it, why aren’t there more schools memoir, Tim Jeal. Keith comments: ‘the honouring the late Richard Plantagenet? I extract relates to a reference to the author’s could only find one: an infant school in mother, Norah Pasley, daughter of Sir Thom- Leicester, more honour to it. ... Perhaps as Pasley, Baronet, and his wife Constance school authorities are afraid parents would Wilmot Annie Hastings, daughter of the 13th associate the offer of a place at Richard III Earl of Huntingdon. The extract is quite in- High with a willingness to shut awkward teresting in terms of the stance the Hastings children in towers and suffocate them with

pillows .... Yet why not? Richard III’s repu- tion helped to make More the accepted tation has been washed clean for decades. source, even though he was a small child Shakespeare, following the lead of Henry when the alleged crimes happened and heard VII’s Tudor spin doctors and their willing only the gossip and the politically expedient dupes such as Thomas More and Polydore lies.’ Vergil, immortalised the myth of the hunch- backed monster king. Although the recent From Sylvia Sherwood revisionists – notably Josephine Tey in The From Execution, a guide to the ultimate pen- Daughter of Time – may have painted the last alty, Geoffrey Abbott, Summersdale, 2005, Plantagenet as improbably saintly, it is well chapter ‘Suffocation’ – uses the story of the established that he was, if anything, unusually princes, based on More and the 1933 exami- humane for his times and gentle on his ene- nation of the bones, claiming that this proves mies. He was loyal to his brother Edward and that Richard was the instigator, although the had a reputation for fair dealing when he rep- outset of the chapter states: ‘While their resented him in the North. His claim to the deaths were classed as murder rather than throne was legal under Titulus Regius, though judicial execution, the instigator was never- Henry then destroyed that document; the theless a king of England, his true identity campaign against Richard’s reputation in sub- still unproven’. Interestingly in light of other sequent years was all about legitimising the references to John Howard, it also claims that seizing of his followers’ wealth and bolster- Richard’s grants of the ‘vacant titles’ of Earl ing the Tudors. ... What more educational, of Nottingham and Duke of Norfolk suggests what more inspiring name and theme for a that he knew the children were dead, and ex- secondary school? … Teachers, warriors for hibits some confusion on Anne Mowbray: truth and upholders of fact, would thrillingly ‘not only did the king confiscate the older and gorily tell the story of a man born in a boy’s property but also the property of the difficult time, who did his best amid familial girl, a princess of the House of Plantagenet, upheaval and base treachery close to home. the prince had been contracted to marry’ They would invite the children to consider a Sylvia notes ‘the back cover blurb says: [the man whose reputation was assassinated ... author was] ‘a former Beefeater at the Tower Then they would tell the story of the scholars of London’. – from 1646 onward – who began to question the reputation; they would praise the pains- From Eric Swainsbury taking uncovering of what was fact and what Metro 18 February 2005, Enigma: ‘Did he was fiction, and record how by Bishop John have a hump or not? / Or was that just a Tu- Morton’s influence the great and sainted dor plot? / And did he murder those two Thomas More was taken in and became a low princes? / Well, yes, if Shakespeare’s play spin doctor with the rest. They would be in- convinces!’ Answer: Richard III vited to consider how the rest of his reputa-

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Stratford St Marys Church, Suffolk

couple of years ago I took the Mid An- have negotiated with the fund on the church’s A glia Group to visit Stratford St Mary behalf, and the RCRF will provide a donation Church, Suffolk. This church was rebuilt in of £500. In addition further fund-raising with- the second half of the fifteenth century by the in the Society will take place during the com- Mors family. They were local merchants. ing year in aid of the window. Our first fund- Very cleverly, in the light of future events, raising effort was at the annual Requiem they decorated the exterior of the church with Mass in London on 12 March, when a raffle elaborate flint flushwork, incorporating pray- raised £106. (A cheque for this amount has ers for their souls in Latin. After the Refor- already been sent to the ‘Friends’ of the mation, when the Suffolk iconoclast, Dows- church.) Further fund-raising will take place ing, passed this way, he was unable to excise in the Society during this year, and the Mid these prayers without demolishing the walls, Anglia Group will also give a donation ac- and the prayers remained. The church was cording to our means. under the patronage of the duke and duchess The Society has also for some time been of Suffolk – which in terms of ‘our period’ seeking a suitable means of commemorating means John de la Pole and Elizabeth of York, the children of the duke and duchess of Suf- brother-in-law and sister of Richard III. folk: John, Earl of Lincoln (who was declared Once, painted representations of this cou- heir to the throne by his uncle, Richard III, ple’s conjoined arms decorated the chancel and who died at the battle of Stoke in 1487) roof. These painted representations have and his siblings, the Yorkist heirs pursued by gone, but there remains a window at the west Henry VII and Henry VIII. Following the end of the north aisle, into the upper half of window appeal from Stratford St Mary which all the church’s surviving fragments of Church, it seems that this church might pro- medieval glass were collected in the course of vide a suitable site for such a commemora- nineteenth-century restoration. In addition to tion. The present plan is for a reproduction of fragments of saints and inscriptions, the win- the earl of Lincoln’s seal, framed and accom- dow contains both de la Pole and royal arms, panied by a suitable text, to be presented by and a number of white roses of York. The the Society to Stratford church. The seal re- royal arms are actually those of Edward, the production will be made for me by the Col- Black Prince, but the de la Pole arms and the chester Museums Service, whose collection roses are fifteenth century. of medieval and later seals I have been cata- This window is in serious need of restora- loguing during the last three years. tion. Some painted glass has been lost al- On Saturday 4 June the Friends of Strat- ready. The leading needs to be completely ford St Mary Church plan an ‘event’ at the replaced, and all the glass requires cleaning church to raise public awareness (and hope- and conservation. In addition it is proposed to fully also some money) in respect of the win- protect the glass for the future by installing a dow. I have been asked to mount a display in kind of double-glazing, with plain, modern the church for this occasion, drawing atten- glass on the outside, to preserve the medieval tion to the Ricardian connection. I have also glass. The conservation work will be carried been asked to provide a short interlude of out by the team of conservators responsible medieval plainchant singing in the church at for the medieval glass of Canterbury Cathe- about 6 pm, to give a taste of the music which dral, and the total cost will be around would have been heard in the building during £18,000. the middle ages. For this I shall be joined by Through me the Friends of Stratford St members of the choir of Ricardians and others Mary Church addressed an appeal for help to who have helped me to provide singing at the Ricardian Churches Restoration Fund. I Society events on previous occasions, such as 8

the Clare Priory Requiems, and last year’s es or Groups, would like to contribute in any service in Norwich Cathedral. way to the window restoration, donations can The event at the church coincides with the be sent via me, or direct to the Friends of Society’s planned Colchester Walk. This Stratford St Mary Church (to whom any means I have a busy day, but it is also fortu- cheques should be made payable) at Hayling nate, since Ricardians from elsewhere – in- Cottage, Upper Street, Stratford St Mary, cluding hopefully the Society’s secretary, Colchester CO7 6JW. Hopefully at a future

Stratford St Mary Parish Church

Elizabeth Nokes – will be in the area that day. date it will be possible to organise a visit to Following the Colchester visit, Elizabeth and the church for the formal presentation of the I plan to go on to Stratford St Mary, with the Society’s new de la Pole commemoration, singers, for the plainchanting, and RCRF based on the reproduction of the earl of Lin- cheque presentation. Hopefully we shall be coln’s seal. able to stay on for a while to join the evening’s barbecue in the field beside the church. I have a limited number of off-prints of my If other members of the Society would recent article on the Bosworth Crucifix, pub- like to visit the church, either on 4 June on at lished in Transactions of the Leicestershire any other time, it is beside the A12, between Archaeological & Historical Society, availa- Colchester and Ipswich. The church is easily ble, which will be sold in aid of the Stratford visible from the main road, and is illuminated St Mary de la Pole window restoration fund, at night. It is usually open during the day, and price £1.00 each. the display detailing the church’s Ricardian To order a copy please write to me enclosing connection will remain in place for some time a cheque for £1.00, payable to ‘The Friends after 4 June. of Stratford St Mary Church’, together with If individual Society members, or Branch- an A4 SAE.

News and Reviews

KAOS Richard III Now I really have seen Richard III done with two men and two women. This was somewhat disguised on the cast list by billing the voices of the two princes – although I only remember hearing one boy’s voice. It was ‘realistic’ doubling – that is to say, they changed their appear- ance as much as possible (the women had a wide range of wigs). No changing character on stage, but the most elaborate doubling of this kind I have seen since the RSC’s Theatregoround. The costumes were modern, and the text was gutted both for length and to facilitate doubling. Sometimes a film of the characters stood in for them, and some of the film sequences were tech- nically astonishing. A film was shown on a piece of paper held by Richmond: I could not see how there could be any equivalent of holding the paper on its marks. Clarence lost his dream almost as completely as in the Kenneth More Theatre’s version last year. The other production which this reminded me of was Oddsocks’ open air version in 1996, with seven people. Some of the doubling was the same, not surprisingly – but that was a much jokier approach. As the review in Time Out said, this was certainly Richard III, although they billed and listed it with the company name first. Some of the doubling was remarkably good – to distinguish Margaret and the Duchess is a feat, for instance. Of course you know any company by the end of a performance, but to begin with I was not sure that there was not a third woman. This extra performer was, however, Sarah Thorn with her natural hair. A certain amount was done on the telephone, such as welcoming the princes, and briefing the murderers. These turned out to be a couple of rather nervous cleaning ladies. ‘Are you drawn for among a world of men / To slay the innocent?’ Clarence aptly demanded of them. And Tyrrel was a scary agency-type hospital nurse. Some of the more major characters becoming women, with pronouns changed accordingly, worked less well. Indeed as an adaptation it varied from amusing to annoying. At the end each king had one of the women on his side, of course. Richard had Catesby. Now we have seen Morton fighting on both sides, and all kinds of accommodation to short casts – but this time Richmond had Elizabeth (senior) with him on the battlefield. She may have favoured his cause by now, but this is coming off the fence with a bump. The same girl was playing the other fence-percher, a late-appearing Stanley. Richard ransacked her handbag to find her weak spot, triumphantly seizing upon a snapshot of young George. I think I would rather Stanley had crossed openly into Richmond’s camp than have met the queen there. There was some wilfulness. Richmond really made a meal of his last speech, considering how much elsewhere was gutted. Ralf Higgins was a very watchable Richard, emphasing the spoiled child/deprived child/runt of the litter idea of his character – a weakling desperate for affirmation through worldly success. This worked best at the beginning: he descended into petulance too soon when his fortunes started to decline. One believed his nightmare only too well, but not that he was himself again in the morning. We did not get the ghosts as such, but a very good equivalent of them when the characters at Bosworth spoke in the voices of the parts they had played earlier – turning the tight doubling to effective use. Roger Sansom

Programme notes of September 2004 note: ‘Much of our world is about performance. Infor- mation has been made into a performance. Modern war is a performance. Grief is performative. When Elizabeth loses her two sons ... her language is too poetic to capture the truth of her grief. However, put this into a public environment such as a missing-persons news conference; then her

grief and the expression of it becomes extraordinary. Politics is a performance. I suppose this has always been the case ... To lie publicly you need a team of liars to write your text and to edit your dishonesty. I think Richmond, who frees England from the yoke of a tyrant, operates on this level. He goes about his business like an evangelist. And of course when he claims to have achieved peace he hasn’t. … I’ve striven towards modernity in this interpretation. Wars these days are managed and started by men and women in suits who are surrounded by and managing journalists. … I am surprised by how easy it is to tease this out of this play. Beheading is now a very modern phenomenon, as indeed the slaughter of children is a political special effect. ... Shakespeare’s Tudor propaganda play speaks to us not as a ghost with a megaphone but as a motley collection of modern individuals with very modern life issues. But of course the truth is that this is a propaganda play, and like much of our recent political history it is an absolute lie told beautifully.’

Fotheringhay Discovery – the 17th-century map Tucked into the footnotes of Pettit’s Royal Forests of Northamptonshire (published by the North- amptonshire Record Office, 1968) is a list of maps in The National Archive, Kew. One of these (MRI/314 Rockingham Forest) includes Fotheringhay and its surroundings. The map was redis- covered by archaeologist Glen Foard while researching the battlefields of Northamptonshire for a television programme. So far as we know this mid-17th-century map shows the only illustration of Fotheringhay Castle and the cloisters of the College and New Inn. It is therefore of special interest to Ricardi- ans, historians, visitors to Fotheringhay and locals alike – as well as to members of the Stuart Society. The drawing shows the mighty keep in the north-west corner of the castle built in the shape of a fetterlock – on which the falcon is perched on the York insignia. The castle entrance, on the north side, was through an impressive archway and drawbridge over an inner moat. The mighty Plantagenets, and the nobility assembled for Mary Stuart’s trial, would have entered here. The great hall looked west, over the Little Park and ‘launde’; park palings mark the deer en- closure. Was this where ‘Proud Cis’ established a ‘fair imitation of a throne room’ and where Mary, Queen of Scots was tried and executed? Cicely Neville spent many years at Fotheringhay. Of her seven surviving children three were born in the castle, the last being Richard, Duke of Gloucester in 1452. He may have spent his first seven years here ‘under the direct care of a mother renowned for her unostentatious piety’. There were chapels within the walls. Kendall suggests that Henry VI may have seen the infant Richard III here while on a progress to Stamford. Richard’s brother, Edward IV, came to Fotheringhay Castle in 1469 by river from Crowland Abbey to join his queen. Did he enter the castle through those great archways shown in the drawing in the wall facing the river? And was the Treaty of Fotheringhay signed in the great hall? Edward agreed to make the Duke of Albany king of Scotland and depose his brother, James III, in return for Berwick, but the treaty was void when Edward died in 1483 The castle and lordship of Fotheringhay were part of the dowry of Henry VIII’s wives. Ac- cording to Leland it was ‘a castle fair and meetly strong, with very good lodgings in it ... with a very ancient keepe’. Catherine of Aragon ‘did great costs in the refreshing of it’. In June 1541 Catherine Howard, Henry’s newest wife, was lodging at the castle and a Privy Council was held there during a progress. During Queen Mary’s reign Fotheringhay castle became a state prison. In May 1554 Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon was escorted from the Tower by Sir Thomas Tresham to remain in custody ‘at the queen’s pleasure’ for his involvement in the Wyatt conspiracy. Courtenay was ‘the last spring of the white rose’ and was a likely candidate as a husband for Mary Tudor – or even Princess Elizabeth. In January 1555 a plot was discovered to proclaim Courtenay as King 11

Edward VII at Fotheringhay – but he was dispatched abroad instead. The last description I have found of the castle is dated 1635 by a ‘lieutenant of the military’. He could see that once there had been spacious ‘prince-like roomes’ but everywhere was so ‘drooping and desolate’ and ‘much ruinated’ that he departed much depressed for Peterborough. In the early 1700s the antiquarian, Stukely, recorded that the castle was mostly demolished but the three archways in the south wall survived for longer than the rest of the castle. One appears in Tillemans’ drawing dated August 1718. In Bridges’ Northamptonshire an illustration shows two fine archways but by the 19th century prints show that the remains of the wall had vanished. Lord Overstone used the remaining stone to build farm buildings – soon to metamor- phose, once again, into houses. The map of Rockingham Forest in The National Archive, dated c. 1638, is signed ‘Thos Boughtone’. The Boughtons were a Kingscliffe family among whom were stonemasons, surveyors and cartographers. (Mike Lee is investigating their connection with the Thorpes, the King- scliffe stonemasons who may have built the York tombs in Fotheringhay church). There were several skilled mapmakers and surveyors in the late 16th and early 17th centuries among whom were Saxton, Speed and Norden (whose patron was Lord Burghley). Maps had military and administrative uses and they must have aided royal progresses, those great caval- cades of upwards of five hundred people, two thousand horses and four hundred carts, that trav- elled in summer when the sovereign set forth to be entertained by the nobility, to hunt and be seen by the people. In 1593 a mile was fixed at eight furlongs or 1,760 yards. On maps villages were indicated by church spires, deer parks by rings of palings; roofs were red. Woodlands were important being a valuable source of income for the crown – hence the map of Rockingham For- est. There is a curiosity in the drawing of Fotheringhay church. It is shown on a northeast/ southwest axis with the tower in the east – that is the wrong way round. It was therefore impossible to line up the College with the church, or the river. Perhaps the mapmaker wished to show the east wall of the truncated church which would not have been possible if the church was correctly aligned. For members visiting the church, colour reproductions and details of the map have been added to the Society’s display panels, originally installed in 1987. Juliet Wilson

Monarchy and Murder at Warwick Castle (16 April – 19 June 2005) This small but excellent exhibition brought visitors to the Castle literally face-to-face with nine British rulers and gave them the opportunity to participate in a mock trial in which they could decide if these rulers had carried out justifiable acts in the interests of the realm, or dastardly deeds in the selfish pursuit of power. The fifteen life-like wax figures, on loan from Madame Tussauds, included John, Henry VIII and his six wives, Charles I, Elizabeth I and, of course, Richard III, all in resplendent period costume. Even Oliver Cromwell was included, although whether the Parliamentarian would have appreciated being included as a ‘monarch’ is debatable. The display was housed in a darkened marquee and the monarchs were displayed in no particular order, although the Tudors did seem to dominate one end of the room. Richard himself held sway (sometimes literally) in solitary splendour and thus proved to be a focal point. Disappointingly, Richard’s commentary was the only one with direct accusations of murder (from Henry VI through to the Princes); there was no mention of John murdering his nephew. We were extremely impressed by the detail of the waxworks – the hands were particularly fine. However, we ached to move Richard’s hat with its pendant pearl dangling annoyingly in front of his right eye, but it served to draw the attention away from his bitten nails, an unusual detail as Richard’s portraits usually show very well-manicured nails.

Madame Tussaud’s Richard III

The mock trial we attended put William I, and then Henry VIII, in the dock. A judge presid- ed, and two ‘lawyers’ presented the cases for and against. The tone of the trials was more fun than historically accurate but the basic details were included in the tales of treachery, torture and murder. We, the ‘jury’, were pleased to acquit William but condemn Henry. When we questioned the prosecutor afterwards as to the current results of Richard’s trials he confessed that they had not yet completely researched the case for him. However, the prosecutor had read Josephine Tey’s Daughter of Time and was confident of being able to make a good defence. Having identified us as Ricardians, he admitted that there had been significant numbers of Society members visiting the exhibition. It would be interesting to hear from anyone who attended a trial for Richard as to the results. If our ‘jury’ can find Henry VIII guilty of incest and bigamy, surely there is hope that the public’s opinion about Richard is being similarly reversed? Sally Empson, Jane Trump, Judith Ridley & Maria Hale

The Princes in the Tower By the time members receive this Bulletin, Channel 4 will have broadcast their programme The Princes in the Tower which is a drama-documentary examining the possibility that Richard, Duke of York survived the reign of his uncle and was Perkin Warbeck (see also our Debate on 13

page 22. The Daily Mail ran a feature on the programme on 23 April and Ann Wroe, author of Perkin: A Study of Deception, commented ‘that there’s a 20-30 percent chance that he was who he said he was. Anyway it is certain that that’s who he thought he was’. Desmond Seward, author of Richard III; England’s Black Legend was as predictable as usual, likening Richard to that ‘other murderous Shakespearian monarch Macbeth’. A full review of the programme will be in the Autumn Bulletin. Wendy Moorhen

The Hollow Crown: Hollow History Did you know that:

 Buckingham was Edward IV’s closest courtier  Edward V was crowned on 9 April 1483  As Buckingham went to Westminster Hall on 26 June the princes were being murdered in the Tower You may be forgiven for thinking these statements could not made by a historian but you would be wrong. They are taken from The Hollow Crown: A History of Britain in the Late Middle Ages published by Penguin and written by Miri Rubin, who is Professor of Medieval and Early Mod- ern History at Queen Mary – University of London. The book is designed to be an introduction for beginners and general readers of the period 1307 to 1485 and the few pages devoted to the career and reign of Richard, which are peppered with gaffes, provide a very inaccurate portrayal. Colin Richmond, in his Times Literary Supplement review, commented ‘The two pages on the critical months between the death of Edward IV and Richard’s coronation in July are a tissue of nonsense’.

Historians forming an adverse opinion of Richard based on their research is one matter, a historian who is careless with her research is quite another. It is not our purpose here to review the book. That has already been done adequately in the press by Rubin’s peers. It is to suggest to members that £25 can be spent more beneficially and to reaffirm the old dictum: caveat emptor – let the buyer beware. Wendy Moorhen

Society News and Notices Continued from page 3

The Mitochondiral DNA of Richard III

John Ashdown-Hill has recently discovered a direct line of descent from Richard III’s sister, Anne of Exeter, to a lady living in Canada. This means that Richard’s genes are not extinct and his DNA has now been established. This has important implications with regard to any future DNA testing of the remains of Richard’s other siblings.

The Society will shortly be issuing a press release about this important research and an informa- tive article by John will appear in the 2006 volume of The Ricardian. Richard Van Allen

The Nature of Research

he spring issue of the Bulletin empha- result of a Second World War air raid and a T sised the role of research in the Society. number of Irish records suffered a similar fate We launched the idea of a research communi- during the civil conflict of the 1920s. The ty and Philippa Langley’s letter raised some Vatican Archive was pillaged in 1527 when important issues and posed a challenge. The Emperor Charles V attacked Rome and nearly Research Committee feels that a response is 300 years later Napoleon removed the archive needed to Philippa’s letter. We affirm again to Paris. Whilst we have lost much as result that research is very much at the top of the of these man-made calamities, there are many Society’s agenda. But of course there is domestic archives that might yet yield useful more that can be done and we welcome sug- documents. After all, the Paston Letters were gestions as to how we might expand our re- found serendipitously in a solicitor’s archive. search programme. Equally we acknowledge that our role will always be limited by both Research in the Society our financial and manpower resources. In this To date most of the research carried out by response we aim to set out the reality of re- Society members has been more of a personal search: the opportunities, the limitations and nature rather than as part of a collective pro- the challenges. ject that we have initiated and managed. Such Many members are enthusiastic for re- research is usually undertaken at the individu- search, and Philippa’s letter undoubtedly real’s own expense and in their own time. flects the views and aspirations of many oth- Nonetheless the result of such work is usually ers. One of the Research Committee’s re- shared with the Society as a whole and there- sponsibilities is to respond to such enthusiasm by adds to our good research reputation. and provide and facilitate means by which Within our membership we also have profes- members can learn more about our period. sional historians or writers who research as However, there are practical difficulties in part of their day job. taking a blanket approach to trawling in ar- The jewel in our research crown so far is chives for primary source material that may undoubtedly the publication of the Harleian provide a demonstrable basis for a revisionist Manuscript 433, which has been an invalua- view which will exculpate Richard. To date ble aid to the study of Richard and his reign. our success has been based on more targeted This had a complex history itself. It was first research, which has led to some modest, yet suggested as a project that the Society should significant discoveries. One such discovery encourage by Mrs VB Lamb, an archivist in was the Frowyke Chronicle in the British her own right and author of the classic book Library which suggests sympathy by the writ- The Betrayal of Richard III. She made this er for the death of King Richard. Yet such suggestion in 1956, shortly after the re- small finds are the building blocks which will founding of the Society. Mrs Lamb’s work in the longer term enable a positive reputation eventually involved professional historians for Richard to emerge. There is no guarantee translating the Latin portion. It was a huge that new sources are out there waiting to be task and many years elapsed before the Socie- found, but that is certainly not a reason for us ty was in a financial position to bring the pro- not to keep trying. ject to a successful conclusion. There were Another point to bear in mind is that many many pitfalls along the way and it was not European archives are defective as a result of until the 1970s when Peter Hammond and wars and revolutions. To a lesser extent this is Rosemary Horrox finished the work and edit- also true of archives in these islands. Many ed the four volumes that were eventually pub- records stored in Exeter were destroyed as a lished. This all illustrates the point that much 15

of our research to date has been driven by Once a reference has been found and the individuals. right document located the skills of palaeog- In more recent times we have begun to adopt raphy come to the fore. Late medieval docu- a more collective approach, harnessing the ments deposited in England could be in Eng- skills of many individuals for one specific lish, Latin or French, and inevitably in Euro- project that is managed by the Research Com- pean archives many more languages. Which- mittee. The prime example here is the Wills ever language you are faced with, it will be in Project, which was undertaken because wills an archaic form. A very competent tutor of provide a very practical means to engage vol- modern French was recently confronted with unteers who can participate either at home in French text taken from the Rotuli Parlia- the case of the transcription of the Logge mentorum for the reign of Richard II. She was wills or by visiting local libraries in the case only able to produce a partial translation and of the wills indexing project. The transcrip- one she was not at all satisfied with. The time tion and, where relevant, translation of the it will take to complete a transcription and/or Logge register of about 450 wills has taken translation will be dependent on a number of almost ten years to complete. However it is factors: the skills of the individual researcher; not easy to identify suitable subjects for such the quality of the handwriting and the physi- collaborative projects, particularly if they are cal condition of the document. Sometimes it to have a specific focus on King Richard. is easier and more time-efficient to obtain a Obviously it is easier to focus on the tran- copy of the document to work on outside the scription of documents contemporary with his archive, but these can be costly. The copying kingship which will enhance our knowledge has to be done in- house by the archive staff of his times. and may involve the more costly photograph- ic, as opposed to the photocopying, process as Approaches to Research great care has to be taken that the document is To be effective research has to be approached not damaged. The provision of copies or pho- systematically with an action plan based on tographs are entirely at the discretion of the the scope of the proposed project. During this archivist. Some archives, however, such as planning stage the footnotes in secondary The National Archives (formerly the Public sources, which may appear tedious to general Record Office) do allow researchers to use readers, come into their own because they digital cameras. will sometimes provide the essential reference The most difficult part of research is the to the original primary source. One reference interpretation of the document: understanding leads to another, then another and so on. not just language, style and grammar but also From this can be developed a research pro- its original purpose and historical context. gramme, which will have identified the ar- Amateur researchers quickly appreciate the chives to be visited. Sometimes there will be professionalism of academics and their com- specific references to documents; in other bined skills in progressing through these pro- cases there may be a class of record that is cesses and presenting their final results espe- relevant to your subject. So a catalogue or cially if their research is centred on complex index, known as a finding aid or tool, will legal or governmental issues. Biographical need to be searched in order to select specific research is undoubtedly easier and would be documents to study. Unless researchers know the advisable starting point for a beginner. what to ask of a catalogue they are unlikely to The logistics of research visits need to be get the answer they are seeking. The accuracy thought through carefully, especially if the of a catalogue, however, is dependent on the archives are some distance from your home knowledge and understanding of its compiler. base. In recent years archive conditions and For example, recently, Heather Falvey found access have improved considerably, especial- a document describing the Palace of the More ly with some archives such as the National that had been catalogued as relating to a com- Archives introducing Saturday opening. The pletely different building. late historian Kathleen Major, who special-

ised in ecclesiastical history, spent much time lowed in the archive at any one time. A in religious establishments before their rec- downloadable pdf (portable document file) is ords were transferred to public archives. She available which lists the collections and a researched under appalling conditions in un- description of related sources but this should heated rooms and with no facilities and per- not be confused with the catalogues – that is haps members who undertook family history the next stage and these can only be accessed many years ago will remember time spent in in person. What is not apparent is what docu- church vestries before parish records were ments may be withheld from a searcher, or moved to the comparative luxury of record not be listed in the archive’s finding aids due offices. In Europe the opening hours of ar- to their sensitivity. chives can be irregular and at times downright Before embarking on research in any ar- idiosyncratic, so it is necessary to check in chive it is advisable to check what primary advance. Never assume normal opening time. source documents have already been pub- The first visit to an archive can be a little lished. In the case of the Vatican, Her Majes- stressful with precious time spent getting to ty’s Stationery Office has published the Cal- grips with the finding aids and ordering pro- endar of Entries in the Papal Registers relat- cedures. The day can be half-over before the ing to Great Britain and Ireland in 18 vol- first document is available to read. But it does umes, which appeared between 1893 and get better with experience and confidence. 1989. Volumes 13 and 14 are of interest to There are also financial considerations in- Ricardians. The object of the editors was to volved such as travel and accommodation include all documents that illustrate the histo- costs if you have to stay away from home. ry of Great Britain and Ireland and the ar- Many of the applications the Society receives chive was examined ‘page by page’. for its two bursaries are from students who On a lighter note those who like to com- are planning to use the grant to finance visits bine their interest in history with modern to archives to complete their research. thriller and conspiracy novels may care to read Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons and The Vatican Secret Archives follow Robert Langdon’s adventures in the The Vatican does have a certain reputation for Vatican Secret Archives. Gripping, though zealously guarding its records and this is sensational, stuff from the author of The Da compounded by its name. The reality, howev- Vinci Code, but from a factual point of view er, is rather different. Livia Visser-Fuchs re- totally misleading. ports that she recently contacted them via the Internet and her document request was treated The Way Forward quickly and efficiently. The learning point The Society’s limited resources, both human here is that Livia had done her homework and and financial, cannot support expensive and knew exactly what she wanted. A visit to the time-consuming overseas research on the Vatican’s website (www.vatican.va) reveals scale that would be needed, a point Philippa all. Admission rules include the standard ones acknowledges in her letter. Research Com- that researchers would expect to see. It mittee members all have many commitments should, however, be noted that eligibility is outside of the Society and would not them- limited to those ‘from Institutions of Higher selves be in a position to undertake extensive Education pursuing academic studies’ and research, particularly overseas. Their role is who have the minimum qualification of ‘a to help facilitate research by members and four-year University degree or equivalent.’ manage our research programme, in addition Undergraduates are not admitted. The open- to whatever individual research they under- ing hours are confined to the morning, with take when they can. By launching our re- the option to apply for late afternoon visits. search community we hope in time build up Access to documents is limited to three vol- our research capacity and more may then be umes or envelopes per day and only one re- possible. However we still have to remember searcher working on a particular topic is al- that volunteers engaged in research need to

develop the requisite skills and techniques. armchair research, at virtually no cost. At Additionally, research projects need a focus, this stage we do not know how advanced oth- it is simply not feasible to search through er European countries or individual archives thousands of documents just in case there are in computerising their catalogues. It will may be something significant. Michael K. be interesting to learn about their holdings Jones has commented that ‘my discoveries at and to assess if there is anything that will be Rouen, and Paris, were the result of a lot of helpful in learning more about King Richard. background work and a thorough knowledge Responses to our proposed research com- of the period and the French archives.’ munity have been encouraging and we will An easier and cheaper option is to explore keep members informed of how it develops archives both in the UK and overseas, via the and the progress we make. Research is very Internet. TNA’s website much our raison d’etre and we will do all we (www.archon.nationalarchives.gov.uk) hosts can to raise its profile within the Society. the ARCHON Directory which lists UK and There is no hiding the fact that effective re- overseas archives by country and gives a search is no easy option. It takes skill, time basic profile including essential contact de- and resources, but the rewards of success can tails and website. TNA’s website also has a be great both in terms of personal satisfaction powerful search facility on-line and where a and historical impact. similar service is available on an overseas Research Committee archive’s website then we can begin some

The Reality of Research – a case study This case study comes from Ann Wroe, author of Perkin. Although the subject matter is not directly related to King Richard it was an important discovery relating to the family of Perkin War- beck which had been alluded to by other historians, notably Bernard André and James Gairdner, and is a good illustration of what can be achieved.

The discovery of the existence of the son of ‘Perkin Warbeck’ is an example of how oddly serendipitous research can be. The reference turned up in the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Venice. It was contained in a dispatch from a papal legate which, you might think, should have ended up in Rome. But I would never have thought of going to either Venice or Rome (places never visited by either ‘Warbeck’ or his son) to look for such a thing. I learned of it through a footnote in the Ausgewählte Regesten des Kaiserreiches unter Maxi- milian I, the giant new ‘calendar’ of all documents generated by or mentioning Maximilian, which has been published (in German) by a group of academics in Austria and Germany. The footnote had a précis of a conversation between Maximilian and the legate in which ‘York’s’ ‘one-year old son’ was mentioned so casually and naturally that this, to me, was convincing proof of his existence. I then ordered a copy from the Venice library, just to double-check it, and just in case anything else, like the child’s name, had been mentioned and omitted from the précis. (Alas, no!)

Ancient and Medieval history books (3500BC - 1500AD)

From historical fiction to academic works. Please send SAE to : Karen Miller, Church Farm Cottage, Church Lane, Kirklington, Nr Newark, Notts., NG22 8NA.

The Man Himself

The Burial Place of Richard III

he burial place of Richard III and the was related to Anne Neville. Fighting at Bos- T final desecration of his remains contin- worth for Richard was Frowyk’s cousin Sir ues to give rise to much heated discussion, Richard Charlton, who died in the battle. It is even to the extent of suggestions for dredging therefore suggested that in ascertaining the the river Soar to try and recover his bones, whereabouts of their cousin’s corpse, the but can we be certain where Richard was bur- Frowyks’ also obtained information relating ied and the ultimate fate of his bones? to Richard. What is certain is that his eventual resting- ‘The same yere Kyng Richard was scelyne place was determined by the place of his last att Redmore feld viij mile beseide Coventr’ battle. He had left Leicester in hope and de- upon’ seint Bartilmewis eve eve {sic} And termination only to be brought back a corpse. bered atte Laycet’ in the newe (vorke) god As the nearest town, Leicester was thus the have his soulle’ (Sutton, p.99) obvious place where he should be buried but where exactly? Three early Ricardian articles, The place of Richard’s burial therefore two in 1975 and one in 1977 addressed this seems unequivocal, he was buried in the question and all three were reprinted in Newarke (the ‘newe (vorke) of Frowyk) at ‘Richard III Crown and People’ edited by J. Leicester, i.e. the church of the Annunciation Petre in 1985. However in 1994 another arti- of Mary the Virgin, (the College of the New cle appeared in the Ricardian by Anne Sutton Works). This was a Lancastrian foundation discussing an early contemporary chronicle established by Henry, Earl of Lancaster in which adds to the story. This present article 1330 and enlarged by his son Henry. It be- attempts to bring all these together and bring came the burial place of Constance, second the discussion up to date. wife of John of Gaunt and his daughter-in-law The question is best taken chronological- Mary de Bohun. Earl Henry also obtained for ly, the further away from 1485 one gets, the the church a holy relic, a thorn from the more the story descends into myth and hear- crown of sorrows. It has been suggested that say. Several days after the battle of Bosworth because of this association with the house of Henry VII issued a proclamation about the Lancaster Henry VII felt it inappropriate to battle and listed the dead, among them was keep the body of Richard here and so later Richard had it moved. The next mention of Richard’s fate after ‘brought dead off the field unto the town Bosworth comes in a Spanish chronicle writ- of Leicester, and there was laid openly, that ten in March 1486. Diego de Valera was writ- every man might see and look upon him’. ing for the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and (Hanham, p.59). Isabella and compiled his reports from merchants and others who had been in England at So we know that he was brought to the time. One of his informants was an adven- Leicester. Things now start to become a little turer Juan de Salazar who had fought for confusing. In her 1994 article Anne Sutton Richard at Bosworth. After describing the details a short chronicle compiled in the course of the battle de Valera says household of Sir Thomas Frowyk. This chronicle in BL Harlean MS 541, was written ‘After his victory, Henry was acclaimed over the period 1483-85 and so is contempo- king by all. He had the dead king exposed to rary with events at Bosworth. More im- public view for three days at a little hermitage portantly Frowyk was a Yorkist official who near the battlefield, covered from the waist

down with a piece of poor black cloth’. period 1493-1500, possibly 1 July 1496 the (Hanham, pp. 54-5) document records a complaint by one of the named contractors that he had not in fact been This confirms the exposure of the body a party to the transaction. The document rec- but already starts to muddy the waters of the ords that Walter Hylton was to provide a sequence of events following Bosworth. Nei- tomb at a cost of £50 in the church at ther the Newarke nor Grey Friars could be ‘Newark’, this has then been crossed out and described as a ‘little hermitage’. These are changed to ‘friars’. It would seem that only the only two reports which can be considered ten years after the event even the authorities ‘Yorkist’ in view point, the rest are written were uncertain as to which church contained later and under Tudor influence. At this point Richard’s remains. in time all we can be certain of is that Rich- Henry’s historian Ploydore Vergil writing ard’s body was exposed to public view, most in 1513 states it was Grey Friars, as does likely in Leicester as stated in Henry’s procla- Fabyan in his chronicle of 1516. However the mation and that he was buried in the New- ballad of Bosworth Field again cites New- arke. arke. The first ‘Tudor’ chronicle is the revised Latin chronicle of John Rous in which he says ‘… they brought King Richard thither with Richard might as naked as he borne might bee ‘… at last was buried in the choir of the in Newarke Laid was hee, Friars Minor at Leicester’. (Hanham, p.123). that many a one might looke on him’ The next account comes from a case heard in York in May 1491. During a drunken From the evidence it would thus appear Christmas gathering an argument broke out that Richard’s body was displayed, most like- over the earl of Northumberland. In the ly in the Newarke and that he was buried course of the argument it was claimed that ‘with little reverence’, (Fabyan). We can per- one of the men called King Richard haps suggest that the body remained in the Newarke, possibly in an unmarked grave, ‘… an hypocrite, a crouchback, and buried in hence the confusion in the contract, until a dike like a dog’, the other retorted this was Henry decided that a proper burial should be untrue and that ‘… the king’s good grace had given to his predecessor. The body was then given him noble burial’. (Hanham, p. 63). moved to the Grey Friars. The argument has

We know that in fact this was not yet true. been put forward that the Newarke was con- Can we assume that Richard was buried in the sidered inappropriate because of Henry’s Newarke, and possibly in an unmarked grave, Lancastrian sensibilities and that Grey Friars not quite in a ‘dike like a dog’ but still an was chosen because he had a special liking insufficient burial for a king? for the friars, these would seem to be mutual- Formal documents of state are amongst ly exclusive arguments. It may however be the best sources for information, they do not the case that the Newarke was considered too have the same bias as chronicles, but are good for a marked tomb, being a more promi- statements of fact, although their complete nent location. Whereas the Grey Friars were accuracy may sometimes be questioned. In an in decline having been out of favour with the household account book of September 1495 is Lancastrians following the execution of eight the record of £10 1s being paid to James Key- of their number for supporting Richard II in ley for a tomb for Richard in Grey Friars. The 1402. (VCH Leicester vol. 2, pp. 33-4). Also account is an eighteenth-century copy of a how splendid a tomb was made? Hylton’s lost original. (Petre, p.30). Although Keyley contract had come into dispute, was it there- was paid for a tomb another document shows fore abandoned and the job given to Keyley, the contract being given to a Walter Hylton. only by this time the money allocated was In a case before chancery sometime in the much reduced? Had giving Richard a decent burial become more trouble than it was worth, 20

especially when there was a Yorkist pretender why go to so much trouble to dispose of rub- to contend with, this was not the time to bring bish? Perhaps the removal of bones to another the last Yorkist king to attention. church is the reason for so much later confu- That the tomb was definitely located in sion as to where the body was buried. Grey Friars is attributed to the statement by Memory of removal of the bones following Leyland that the tomb was there sometime the dissolution of the friary is perhaps being before 1543 and that in the same church was confused with the story of moving the body the tomb of ‘a knight caullid Mutton, from public display to final burial. Herrick’s sumtyme Mayre of Leyrcester’. (Baldwin, garden where he claimed the body had been p.22). However there was no description of buried extended towards St Martin’s lane, on the tomb, the accuracy of Leyland’s infor- the other side of the lane is St Martin’s mation can be questioned when it transpires church, this is the closet church to Grey Fri- that there was no mayor of Leicester called ars. In the late eighteenth century the Leices- Mutton. ter historian John Throsby said that a number George Buck writing in 1619 can claim to of bones had been found in the 1740s at the St be one of the earliest Yorkist revisionists. He Martin’s end of the site. I would suggest that stated that this is the most likely final resting-place for the bones of Richard III. ‘… they gave his royal corpse a bed of Lynda Pidgeon earth, which was done by commandment Reading List and order of King Henry VII, and honourably David Baldwin, ‘King Richard’s Grave in in the chief church in Leicester, Leicester’, Transactions of the Leicestershire called St Marys, belonging to the order and Archaeological & Historical Society, vol. 60, society of the Grey Friars. And the 1986, pp. 21-4 king also, soon after, caused a fair tomb of Charles J Billson, Medieval Leicester, Leices- mingled colour, marble adorned with ter, 1920 his image, to be erected upon the monument’. George Buck, The History of King Richard Buck seems to be giving us the best of III, ed. A N Kincaid, Gloucester, 1982 both; a church called St Mary’s which was Rhoda Edwards,’ King Richard’s Tomb at also the Grey Friars. From this begins the Leicester’, in James Petre ed., Richard III long descent into hearsay and myth. The story Crown and People, Gloucester, 1985 that Robert Herrick marked the spot of Rich- P W. Hammond, ‘The Burial Place of Richard ard’s burial, based on the memory of elderly III’, in James Petre residents is as likely as the story that the Alison Hanham, Richard III and his early bones were thrown off Bow Bridge. In 1611 historians 1483-1535, Oxford, 1975 Speed claimed the site was overgrown, in Rosemary Horrox and P W Hammond eds, 1619 when Buck was writing he made no British Library Harleian Manuscript 433 mention of this memorial errected by Herrick William Hutton, The Battle of Bosworth and reported by Christopher Wren in 1612. Field, Stroud, 1999 Wren also said that Herrick claimed nuns had Nikolaus Pevsner, The Buildings of England rescued the body, it would seem that common Leicestershire and Rutland, London, 2001 report and memory was already muddled, so Records of the Borough of Nottingham 1399- how much trust can be placed in the 1485, vol 2, London, 1883, and vol 3 1485- ‘memory’ of the original site of Richard’s 1547, London, 1885 tomb? Audrey Strange, ‘The Grey Friars, Leicester’, When the Grey Friars was pulled down it in James Petre is likely that any bones from burials were Anne Sutton and Livia Visser-Fuchs, ‘The gathered together and placed into one of the Making of a Minor London Chronicle in the local churches. If they really were thrown Household of Sir Thomas Frowyck’, The Ri- away then it was most likely into the nearest cardian, vol. X, Sept 1994, pp. 86-103 midden than taken across town to the river, VCH Leicestershire vols. 2 & 4

The Debate

WHO WAS PERKIN WARBECK?

There has been considerable discussion in the Society concerning Perkin Warbeck, was he or was he not the second son of Edward IV? We thought that this would make a good subject for our next debate. First of all we have the case against and then the case for the defence. As usual we will welcome members’ comments on the matter.

Ballad of Bosworth Fielde and Fabyan’s chronicle taken from US website www.r3.org From Norman Macdougall, the case left with the very suggestive contemporary or for regarding him as a pretender rather than as near-contemporary evidence reflecting a gen- Richard, Duke of York. eral view that the princes were dead. Indeed, George Cely picked up a rumour that Edward he ingenuity of those who have argued V might be dead not long after 13 June 1483, T that Perkin Warbeck was in fact who he and certainly before Richard claimed the eventually claimed to be, that is, Richard, duke throne. Rumours of Edward V’s fear of his of York, the younger of Edward IV’s two impending death appear in the chronicle of sons, has to be admired. However, the weight Dominic Mancini, who left London in mid- of evidence surely tells against them, and for July 1483; and an entry in the calendar of Rob- three obvious reasons. First, it is highly unlike- ert Ricart, recorder of Bristol, for the year end- ly that either of the princes in the Tower sur- ing 15 September 1483, claimed that the two vived 1483, let alone lived into the early princes had been ‘put to silence’ in the Tower 1490’s. Secondly, we know a fair amount of London during the year. about Warbeck himself, not all of it from his The Crowland chronicler, writing in the 1497 confession. And thirdly, not one of War- spring of 1486, noted a rumour, dating to Sep- beck’s assorted backers – Charles VIII of tember 1483, that the princes were dead by un- France, Margaret, dowager duchess of Bur- known means. John Rous, whose account dates gundy, sundry Irish lords, or James IV of Scot- from 1489, was quite clear that Richard III had land - believed for any length of time, if at all, had the princes killed within three months of that Warbeck was the duke of York. The point 30 April 1483; and this was certainly the view of their support was to embarrass, or worse, expressed by Guillaume de Rochefort, chan- Henry VII of England. cellor of France, in the Estates-General at A great deal of ink has been spilled over Tours as early as January 1484. the possible fate of Edward V and Richard, Most significant of all, however, is the Duke of York. Yet it has to be said that the behaviour of the leaders of the rebellion of evidence, admittedly circumstantial, all points October 1483 against Richard III. Initially, the in one direction, namely that the princes were aim of the rebels seems to have been the resto- eliminated early in the reign of Richard III, ration of Edward V; but by early November and were dead by August/September 1483. they had shifted their allegiance to Henry Tu- Even if we discount much later evidence – Sir dor, a clear sign that they believed Edward V Thomas More’s claim that the boys were and his brother to be dead. This must also have smothered, drowned in malmsey, or poisoned, been the view of the boys’ mother Elizabeth and that Sir James Tyrell was responsible, or Woodville, who in the late autumn became a post-1502 versions of the Great Chronicle of party to negotiations for the marriage of her London and Polydore Vergil’s Anglica His- daughter Elizabeth, the princes’ sister, to Hen- toria, which tells a similar story – we are still ry Tudor. She would hardly have done this had

she believed her sons to be alive. rival, and he subsequently assassinated his Thus the weight of contemporary evidence brother-in-law; and Perkin’s experience of the suggests that Edward V and his brother were Portuguese court and its intrigues at first hand dead – though by what means is uncertain – by may have provided him with the kind of the summer or early autumn of 1483. The ar- knowledge which helps explain his ability to gument that they posed no real threat to Rich- take on the role of the duke of York. ard III as he had already declared them bas- Thus when, in 1491, Warbeck arrived in tards before taking the throne does not con- Cork in the service of the Breton merchant vince; as long as they were alive, they would Pregent Meno, this time in the role of male be an obvious focus for rebellion, as the events model for some of Meno’s silks, he had al- of the autumn of 1483 strikingly show. It is of ready packed a great deal of travel and practi- course just possible that Richard, Duke of cal experience into his short life. The curious York – though not his elder brother – escaped pantomime which followed, in which he was from the Tower and was spirited abroad; but ‘recognized’ first as Clarence’s son Edward, the burden of proof lies heavily on those who earl of Warwick, then as Richard Ill’s bastard claim that this is what happened. son John of Pontefract, and finally induced to We encounter a further serious difficulty in take on the role of Richard, duke of York, tells accepting Warbeck as Richard, duke of York, us more about the veteran Yorkist conspirators when we consider Perkin’s confession of John Atwater, John Taylor, Stephen Poytron 1497. In this short and incomplete autobiog- and Hubert Burke than it does about Perkin; raphy, Warbeck describes his origins and early and it hardly strengthens the view that War- life, together with the circumstances which led beck was indeed Richard, duke of York. He him to impersonate the duke of York for the was rather an actor in the making, and over the first time, at Cork in 1491. It has been suggest- next six years he would play his first and last ed that Perkin’s confession must have been performance. made under duress following his capture by Finally, there is the problem of the support Henry VII, and cannot be considered anything – albeit qualified and temporary – given to other than a piece of useful propaganda for the Warbeck by foreign rulers, one after the other Tudor king. However, Dr. Ian Arthurson has accepting his imposture. But this is something argued persuasively, and with great forensic of a red herring, for Perkin Warbeck’s value to skill, that while the confession does not tell us other governments lay not in his really being the whole truth about Perkin, in essence its Richard, duke of York, but in his usefulness as details are substantially correct. Thus Warbeck a diplomatic tool, a stick with which to beat may be identified as the son of Jehan Wer- Henry VII. Similarly, Lambert Simnel’s claim becque and Nicaise Farou of Tournai, born in to be Edward, earl of Warwick, was patently the early 1470s. The Werbecques were an up- absurd; but the foreign support which he re- wardly mobile family of Flemish entrepre- ceived had forced the Tudor king on to the neurs, merchants and pilots; and Perkin was battlefield at Stoke in June 1487. For all his well educated, with a good knowledge of lan- international notoriety, Warbeck never repre- guages – Flemish, possibly German, and some sented this level of threat to King Henry, who English in addition to his mother tongue of responded to the challenge with diplomacy French – and he had already embarked upon a which eventually cut the ground from under career in commerce in his teens. Warbeck’s Warbeck’s feet. The much vaunted association with the wife of the Anglo- ‘recognition’ of Perkin by Margaret of Bur- Portuguese Jewish merchant Sir Edward gundy, the most committed Yorkist in Europe, Brampton (Duarte Brandao), a sometime as her nephew Richard in 1492 is less than Yorkist with an eye to the main chance, pro- convincing, for with the exception of one brief vided the youth with the opportunity to travel visit in 1480, she had not set foot in England to Lisbon and spend a year (1487-8) at the for a quarter of a century; on the other hand court of King Joao II of Portugal. This ruler her implacable hatred of Henry VII had led her had gained power by eliminating his principal to back the Simnel rising five years earlier. For

Margaret, anyone would do if there was even a In sum, then, the cynical support for War- remote chance of overthrowing the Tudor beck from some Irish lords, from France, Bur- king. gundy and Scotland, provides no evidence that As for James IV of Scotland, he climbed Warbeck was who he said he was. Like Henry aboard the Warbeck bandwagon only relative- VII in 1493, we know who Perkin Warbeck ly late in the day, in the autumn of 1495. His was; as for Richard, duke of York, he was councillors had been cool towards earlier ap- probably murdered in the Tower in the sum- proaches on Warbeck’s behalf by Margaret of mer or autumn of 1483. One thing is certain: Burgundy; but in the spring of 1495, King he was not hanged at Tyburn in November James took control of the reins of government 1499. himself at the age of 22. Almost at once he initiated a policy of aggression towards his Reading List southern neighbour, recognising Warbeck as Ian Arthurson, The Perkin Warbeck Conspira- duke of York and threatening to break the An- cy, 1491-1499, 1997 glo-Scottish truce, which was not due to expire Stanley B Crimes, Henry VII, 1977, [rather until 1501. In return for providing the pretend- dated but still very useful] er with a bride – Catherine Gordon, the third Agnes Conway, Henry VII’s Relations with daughter of the earl of Huntly’s second mar- Scotland and Ireland , 1485-1498, 1932 [dated riage, hardly a prestigious match – board and but contains valuable source material] lodging from November 1495 to July 1497, Diana Kleyn, Richard of England, 1990 [for and recognition of his claim to be Richard of an alternative view to that offered by Pollard York, James IV acquired an extremely useful and Arthurson] diplomatic lever in his effort to find alliances Norman Macdougall, James IV, 1998 in Spain and the Empire as well as France, and A F Pollard, The Reign of Henry VI from Con- above all to force Henry VII to rethink his temporary Sources, 3 volumes, 1913-1914 inadequate offer of Katherine, daughter of [volumes 1 and 3] Eleanor, countess of Wiltshire, as a bride for A J Pollard, Richard III and the Princes in the the Scottish king. A profitable war in North- Tower, 1991 umberland, using Perkin as his excuse for breaking the English truce, would further put the screws on King Henry. But the Scottish From Ann Wroe invasions of 1496 and 1497 had little to do with Perkin; and the highly speculative agree- he identity of ‘Perkin Warbeck’ hangs on ment between king and pretender, whereby the T the fate of the Princes in the Tower. The price of Scottish support was 50,000 marks Pretender claimed to be Richard, Duke of and the return of the town and castle of Ber- York, the younger prince; so if the princes wick, should not be taken at face value. No were murdered, he was obviously a fake. Since Scottish army went any where near Berwick almost all professional historians believe that (though James spent the next four years rein- the princes were, indeed, murdered, probably forcing Dunbar); the king’s military targets sometime in 1483, ‘Perkin Warbeck’ has be- were Heton castle and the bishop of Durham's come, without a blink, ‘a Flemish imposter’. great stronghold of Norham-on-Tweed. War- There is no reason to accept this. The death beck was – literally – only along for the ride; of the princes is still not proven. Even if it is and King James did not alter his invasion time- probable, it is still far from a certainty. And table by as much as a day to accommodate the where something as fundamental as a man’s pretender. James’s eventual reward was mar- identity is concerned, we must not presume riage to Henry VII’s daughter Margaret in without proper evidence. 1503. In Scotland, as elsewhere in Europe, Once that spurious certainty is removed, Warbeck was used to legitimise specific very the picture looks rather different. The key fact temporary diplomatic manoeuvres; and when in the Pretender’s history becomes not the these were discarded, so was he. death of the younger prince, but the confession

to which the Pretender apparently agreed in and his ‘family’ was never made physically, October 1497, when he surrendered to Henry either. The Pretender signed himself ‘Piers VII. Both Ian Arthurson (in ‘The Perkin War- Osbeck’, which was, as Henry himself admit- beck Conspiracy’) and James Gairdner (in the ted, not a variant spelling but a different name Appendix to his ‘History of the Reign of King that the king later discarded. The city of Tour- Richard III’) take this as the definitive guide to nai never acknowledged ‘Warbeck’ or his sto- the Pretender’s early life. ‘There is nothing in ry, and still does not. Henry VII positively did Warbeck’s confession that should make us not want the Werbecque ‘parents’ brought doubt its truthfulness’, says Dr Arthurson. over to England, and turned down two offers Henry VII, it is worth noting, was much less (from France and Spain) to send them. sure about it. Any confession produced in cus- In 1497, when the confession was sent tody ought to be treated with suspicion. This across to Europe, it was packaged with a one, it seems clear, was not forced out of the ‘letter to his mother’ ostensibly written by the Pretender; it already existed, in germ, in 1493, Pretender from prison in Exeter. Besides get- had already been redacted as a legal document, ting her name wrong, her address wrong, and and required only his signature. He gave it. his own name wrong, it is written without the With his wife and son in the king’s custody, least emotion of son to mother, even when and with his cause in ruins, he had nowhere mentioning his father’s death. It is such a pa- else to go. Are we to believe unquestioningly tent fake that historians give it a wide berth, what he agreed to then? and rightly. The same wide berth should be The first part of the confession, an account given to the documents it accompanied. of the supposed career of the only son of Jehan Most curiously, in 1498, a ‘child’ Werbecque of Tournai, contains an extraordi- Pierrechon Werbecque is mentioned, along nary slew of details - some right, some wrong, with his guardians, in a deed recording the sale one or two ridiculous (‘Perkin’s’ godfather of his mother’s house. He was clearly a minor, ends up marrying his maternal grandmother!) and in Tournai, at the same time as the Pre- The French version of the confession provided tender was about 25, married, and in custody different childhoods for the Pretender: in the in the Tower. main text, he spent his time travelling round If the first half of the confession has its the markets of northern Europe, while in the problems, however, they are as nothing com- appendix he stayed at school in Tournai learn- pared to the second half, in which ‘Perkin’ ing to play the organ. No wonder the appendix goes abroad. He is said to have gone to Portu- was never seen in England. gal for a year; in fact, according to several Some of the family ties and jobs can in- Portuguese witnesses in 1496, he stayed there deed be substantiated in the Tournai records, almost four years. And what then? The confes- but they still prove no connection between the sion gives the famous story: that ‘Perkin’ in family and the Pretender. That connection, in 1491, aged 17, went on a commercial trip to fact, always seemed tenuous. Jehan Wer- Ireland as a merchant’s apprentice, was seen becque was a docker, later a boat-owner, a modelling silk clothes on the quayside, was thuggish character who had been banished taken for a prince and was forced, by various from Beveren to Tournai for GBH, and came visiting English Yorkists, to play the part of within an ace of being banished from Tournai one – Richard, Duke of York. for the same thing. The confession made him This story is absurd on its face. Why kid- ‘controller’ of Tournai, a high-sounding job nap a foreigner – and one who could not, ap- that did not exist there. In fact, Jehan earns no parently, even speak English – to play the part mention in surviving town records, and was of an English prince, when legitimate claim- not even doing watch duty for his quarter – ants, such as the de la Poles, were available? which was, incidentally, Tournai’s poorest. How did the English Yorkists just ‘happen’ to Could such a son come from such a father? be in Cork at the right time? Why should the Possibly; but the connection between ‘Perkin’ town officers come, with their holy regalia, to

sort out an argument between a few English- not convinced by his own cover-story (and men and a merchant’s boy? proved it by making so little use of the Pre- Evidently – as Henry himself acknowl- tender’s confession, once he had it, that Poly- edged, and as local Cork histories confirmed – dore Vergil does not even mention it, and no the scene was quite different. The Pretender contemporary copy survives). And third, sev- had been conveyed to Ireland as a prince and, eral other European rulers did not believe the once there, was received as one. He had al- cover-story either. Even after the Pretender’s ready been known as the White Rose in Portu- confession, Maximilian and James IV of Scot- gal, where Henry had been spying on him (the land both suspended their diplomatic relations king evinced an interest in Portugal in those with Henry, or made heavy weather of them, years that he never showed again). Moreover – with the intention of either rescuing the Pre- as Henry also consistently believed – the Pre- tender or taking his side again. Lowlier sup- tender had already been under the protection porters of the Pretender, too, who had been of Margaret of York, Duchess of Burgundy, lucky to be pardoned in 1495 or 1497, tried to who had kept him in secret, and in training, for foment trouble again for him when he was in years. If the ‘kidnapping’ story was contrived, the Tower two years later. How could a mere how much else was? Fleming, no matter how charming, induce peo- Evidence of Henry’s discomfort with the ple to go to such lengths for him? ‘Perkin Warbeck’ story is not hard to find. There is no evidence that the Pretender, Although the king asserted in 1493-4 that even in extremis, accepted the name ‘Perkin ‘everyone’ knew it to be true, he himself Warbeck’. No contemporary account mentions seems to have been calling the Pretender ‘the any public recital of his confession. Indeed, Duke of York’ in internal documents, and in according to reported conversation in August letters to the Pope, right up to the moment of 1499 in the Tower, he was still, in his own the Pretender’s surrender and even shortly mind, ‘Edward’s son’. At the moment of his after it. Henry also challenged his rival to a execution he publicly denied that, saying that formal battle for the crown at Glastonbury – he was not Edward IV’s second son ‘or any- not the way a king would deal with a rebel, but thing of that blood’. But his declaration at that a response to a claim that had to be answered. point was so essential to Henry, who still had After the Pretender’s capture, Henry treat- all possible physical, moral and emotional ed him with striking leniency. He was taken leverage over him, that these dying words, like into his retinue like a courtier, kept under light the confession, should not pass without suspi- house arrest, and given servants, a horse and a cion. He was dying, too, as a traitor: an impos- tailor. He was allowed to see his wife, though sibility in law, if he was truly a Fleming. not to sleep with her – Henry not wanting to He looked like Edward IV, and was recog- take the risk that this line, and claim, would be nised as his son by people who would have continued. Ambassadors to Henry’s court con- known both Edward and the prince. His Eng- tinued to call ‘Perkin’ the Duke of York, and lish was so good that Henry’s historians had to saw nothing in his treatment, or his person, go to great lengths to account for it (Bernard that convinced them he was anyone else. Con- André even claiming, for Henry’s private read- temporaries did not think the king’s leniency ing, that he had been brought up in England was contempt, as is now assumed. They and had lived at Edward’s court, in the circle thought it was inexplicable. of the little prince he was to impersonate). His More than once, Henry complained to Fer- stories of that court, Virgil and André agreed, dinand and Isabella, the Spanish sovereigns, were extraordinarily convincing. Yet, in the that he did not know what to do with him. end, it is less tangible things that impress: Henry was in a bind for three reasons that Henry’s tentativeness and confusion, the Pre- should still give us pause. First, he did not tender’s own persistence, and the enduring know for a fact that the princes were dead (and love of his high-placed friends. did not claim to know it for a fact until James To say that he was definitely Richard, Tyrell’s ‘confession’ in 1502). Second, he was Duke of York is stretching the evidence fur-

26 ther than it will go. I myself have proposed (in cy, 1997 my book ‘Perkin: A Story of Deception’, and Francis Bacon, The History of the Reign of in the Bulletin for Winter 2003) another theory Henry the Seventh, ed. J Spedding, 10 vols, that makes more of the long sponsorship by vol. 6, 1858 Margaret that contemporaries assumed. But P A Chastel de la Howarderie, ‘Notes sur la until incontrovertible evidence of the deaths of famille de l’aventurier Perkin Warbeck’, in the princes emerges, we should never close Bulletin de la Société Historique et Littéraire down the possibility that is now too often de Tournai, vol. 25, 1892 scornfully dismissed: that this extraordinary James Gairdner, The Story of Perkin Warbeck Pretender was who he said he was. appended to The History of the Life and Reign of Richard III, second edn. 1898 Reading List Polydore Vergil, Anglica Historia, transl. and Ian Arthurson, The Perkin Warbeck Conpira- ed. Denys Hay, Camden Series, 1950

Richard the Third by Paul Murray Kendall

KEITH DOCKRAY

hile studying history at Bristol Univer- nomination for the Pulitzer Prize. A decade W sity in February 1965, I was given my earlier, in the preface to Richard the Third, he copy of Paul Murray Kendall’s Richard the had already set out his philosophy as a histori- Third as a twenty-first birthday present by two cal biographer with refreshing candour. Since former schoolmates. Once I had read it, any the ‘heats of argument are inimical to the art of lingering doubts about enrolling on Charles biography’, he declared, rather than engage in Ross’s ‘Yorkist England’ special subject later the Great Debate about the king ‘I have sought in the year were entirely dispelled. This biog- to portray what manner of man Richard was, raphy, in fact, played a pivotal role in deter- what manner of life he led, and something of mining the academic path I have followed ever the times of which he was a part.’ Neverthe- since. less, he added: ‘… a biography is a work of Hardly surprisingly, as an American schol- interpretation. A succession of facts does not ar of English literature, Kendall was very create a life or reveal a character. The accura- much a literary historian; he clearly shared the cy of my portrait of Richard depends, in the eminent nineteenth-century man of letters last analysis, on the validity of the imaginative Thomas Carlyle’s contempt for dry-as-dust judgements I have drawn from the facts.’ history; and, like Carlyle too, he was fascinat- For these facts, of course, Kendall consci- ed by the personalities and behaviour of pow- entiously went back to a wide range of prima- erful men in the past. Yet, as both a historian ry source materials. ‘I have based this biog- and a biographer, Kendall was far more ac- raphy almost entirely on source material con- complished than Carlyle; he had much greater temporary with Richard’s day’, he tells us. He respect for historical sources; and his 1965 sought to separate fact from conjecture, and study of The Art of Biography even won him a provide ‘for conjectures of any importance’

the ‘reasons or evidence on which the conjec- 1483; and, throughout, he ‘indefatigably bol- ture is based’. stered Edward’s throne’. Once king himself, While deliberately eschewing debate in the he earnestly sought to dispense justice to his text, moreover, his notes were specifically subjects and his government was ‘not only designed, in part at least, to provide ‘an oppor- well-intentioned but appears to have been, in tunity for the reader to criticise’ conclusions general, fairly popular’; moreover, ‘although drawn ‘from conflicting or ambiguous testimo- his mere eighteen months’ of relatively un- ny’. And, as for the fate of the Princes in the challenged possession of the throne were Tower, he relegated this ‘central mystery of ‘crowded with cares and problems’, he ‘laid Richard’s life’ to an appendix precisely be- down a coherent programme of legal enact- cause it required ‘an analysis of evidence that ments, maintained an orderly society and ac- is deadly to biography’. tively promoted the well-being of his sub- Paul Murray Kendall himself, there can be jects’. However, this biography is no white- no doubt, not only enjoyed reading contempo- wash job in the tradition of Sir Clements rary and near-contemporary sources but also Markham and Philip Lindsay: indeed, Kendall rising to the challenge of interpreting their himself found it almost impossible to take content. His conclusions on narrative sources their work seriously. Richard III, he reluctant- such as Dominic Mancini (whom he judged ly concluded, was ‘a rudimentary Puritan’, ‘guilty of errors so considerable as to be baf- prepared not only to force Jane Shore into fling’ and ‘not quite the final answer to the public penance for harlotry but launch a pow- problems of Richard’s protectorship which erful assault on William Lord Hastings’ repu- might have been hoped for’), the second tation as well; the ‘pronounced northern influ- Crowland continuator (whose ‘inaccurate and ence upon the heart of his government’ was an distorted account of Richard’s last months’ is even greater source of dissatisfaction to the ‘in startling contrast to the authenticity of the political nation than ‘the moderate infiltration preceding narrative’), Polydore Vergil (who, of northerners into positions of authority in the despite portraying Richard as a ‘symbol of evil southern counties’; and, although he empha- and discord’, was ‘too conscientious a histori- sised that there is ‘no proof that King Richard an to suppress all evidence’ of the king's good murdered the two sons of King Edward’ and rule) and Sir Thomas More (whose objective presented a spirited case for Buckingham as was ‘not primarily to blacken Richard’s char- their possible killer, Kendall nevertheless al- acter for the gratification of the Tudors’ so lowed that the king ‘may well have committed much as malign him ‘in the good cause of hu- the crime’ or, at least, been ‘ultimately respon- manist education’) still carry considerable con- sible for its commission’. viction. Even more importantly, Kendall Perhaps the best ‘popular’ biography of proved adept at extracting relevant, and not Richard III ever written, Paul Murray Ken- infrequently unfamiliar, evidence from the dall’s compelling, evocative and soundly- record sources of later fifteenth-century Eng- based narrative (despite its author’s penchant land, not least the (in 1955) largely un- for passages of purple prose, occasional rash published Harleian Manuscript 433 for its speculations on character and motive, and ina- ‘intimate picture of the day-to-day workings of bility, sometimes, to resist over-imaginative Richard’s government’. reconstruction of ill-reported events) continues The American biographer’s portrayal of to provide an object lesson in how to com- Richard III's character, behaviour and govern- municate well-researched history to a wide ment was, of course, mostly positive. As lord readership. It is a lesson many young universi- of the north, protector of the realm, and king, ty historians urgently need to learn if academic he was ‘accessible, earnest, concerned’, never history is not to degenerate into an incestuous, ‘remote or awe-ful’. As the ‘passionately loyal impenetrable and purely intellectual enterprise brother’ of Edward IV, he was ‘constable of of little interest or value to society at large. England and commander in his teens’; he ‘won the devotion of the north’ between 1471 and

The French Connection

DAVID JOHNSON

ichael K Jones’ Bosworth 1485, Psy- soldier, one of which carried pikes. It seems M chology of a Battle reveals, amongst to me highly probable that these pikemen many radical and challenging insights, new played the decisive role speculated by Dr evidence concerning the extent to which Jones, for a screen of archers would have French military prowess provided Henry Tu- been unable to withstand a cavalry onslaught. dor with victory. Dr Jones argues that a previ- It will be recalled that at Bannockburn Robert ously undiscovered eyewitness source de- Bruce scattered a force of unsupported Eng- scribes the critical intervention of French lish bowmen with mounted knights. Clearly pikemen in the defeat of Richard III’s cavalry French archers would have been swept aside charge. In briefly evaluating Dr Jones’ re- by Richard’s cavalry. search it is the purpose of this paper to sug- Equally significant is the observation, gest tentatively that Sir William Stanley’s contained in the second half of the sentence, contribution to the founding of the Tudor that the French were only partly responsible dynasty may have been overplayed. for Tudor's triumph. Dr Jones argues that ‘the The reference to the battle is taken from a other part must have been the intervention of 19th century transcription of part of a letter Sir William Stanley’ (p.195), and while this is written, almost certainly at Leicester, on 23rd perhaps the most obvious and plausible inter- August 1485. The author is a French soldier pretation, I offer here an alternative explana- based during the early 1480s at a military tion. camp in Pont-de-L’Arche. Though the origi- It is equally likely that our French eyewit- nal letter has proved impossible to trace, part ness was in fact making reference to the ines- of the transcribed fragment contains two vi- timable contribution of the rebel commander, tally important pieces of information. He the earl of Oxford. This, if correct, is signifi- (Henry Tudor) wanted to be on foot in the cant because it would imply, and given our midst of us, and in part we were the reason present knowledge of Bosworth in effect con- why the battle was won. The first half of the firm, separate and quite distinct phases of sentence indicates that Tudor dismounted in combat. While the earl of Oxford was defeat- order to seek the protection of the French. ing the main body of the royal army, it was This must surely refer to the way in which the French who derailed Richard’s desperate Henry attempted to save himself at what attempt to engage Henry personally. It then turned out to be the climax of the fighting. Dr becomes possible that Sir William Stanley Jones argues that these soldiers, armed with played a less than decisive part in the pikes, halted the royal cavalry in its tracts. fighting, so that the French may have all but Here, amid the French pikemen, Tudor re- defeated Richard and his entourage by the mained until the King and his knights were time Sir William intervened. This, of course, overwhelmed. then begs the obvious question of Stanley's Livia Visser-Fuchs (Ricardian, March precise involvement in all of this; surely the 2004, p.117) argues that a full reading of known evidence confirms Sir William as Jones’ new source makes it clear that the eye- Henry’s saviour? Well not necessarily. witness in question is in fact an archer; and as Paul Murray Kendall (Richard III, p383) a consequence there is no evidence to support comments ‘The King [Henry VII] is said to the presence of French pikes. However, Viss- have felt that though Sir William saved his er-Fuchs concedes that the archer belonged to life, he delayed long enough to endanger it’. a contingent divided into four categories of Though Henry rewarded Stanley with office

and land, Kendall makes the further point that have been too late to rescue Henry. And from Tudor gave him no title. In contrast Philibert Tudor’s position, terrified beyond reason, and de Chandee, commander of the French at perhaps only feet away from death, Sir Wil- Bosworth, became earl of Bath in the after- liam’s delayed intervention would have been math of victory (Jones, p173-4). greeted, no doubt, with an ecstatic sense of While this does not amount to conclusive relief. But later, in the cold light of day, what evidence I would suggest that it is sufficient then? Almost certainly, as Kendall intimates, to place a fairly large question mark against a sobering and chilling realisation of just how the traditional account. It is entirely possible close the new King had come to disaster. that without the French pikes Stanley would

Thomas Stafford: Sixteenth Century Yorkist Rebel

STEPHEN LARK

his is the story of Richard III’s contro- throne, and to have consulted a fortune-teller. T versial and short-lived great-great- Burke’s Peerage says that he was executed nephew. He is of particular interest as the ‘for his vanity and loquacity’.) His attainder first proven legitimate Yorkist to initiate a was later reversed, and Thomas’ father was rebellion against the Tudor regime, and since restored to the barony of Stafford in 1548. I feel passionately that he does not deserve Thomas was the ninth of fourteen children his present relative obscurity, I shall attempt born to Henry and Ursula, and, as was com- to answer here some of the mysteries sur- mon, several of these died in infancy, includ- rounding his life. ing Henry, the eldest. Another son named Henry became the 2nd baron on his father’s Beginnings death. During Thomas’ childhood his pater- Thomas Stafford was born in about 1531 ac- nal aunt Lady Bulmer was executed for her cording to the Stephens & Lee DNB, or 1533 part in the ‘Pilgrimage of Grace’ (1537) and according to the 2004 edition. His father was his maternal grandmother Lady Salisbury and Henry Stafford, only son of the 3rd duke of her son Henry, Baron Montagu, were also Buckingham, and his mother Ursula Pole was beheaded, in 1541 and 1539 respectively. the daughter of Margaret Plantagenet, Coun- Thomas grew up knowing of his family’s tess of Salisbury. Thomas was thus of royal connections with the Tudor monarchs, Lan- descent from Thomas of Woodstock, the castrian stock and the Yorkist royal line, and Beauforts and the House of York. His parents he would have become aware of how danger- had married in 1519 expecting to succeed to ous this ancestry could be. the duchy of Buckingham, but this had not happened because the 3rd duke was executed Travels in 1521 for treasonable utterances. (He is Little is known of Thomas’ education, but he supposed to have said that were the king to toured Europe in the early 1550s, visiting die childless, he himself would seek the Paris, Rome, Venice and Poland. In Rome 30

he visited his uncle Reginald, Cardinal Pole, Sir William Pickering in April 1554 and was who seems to have tried (without success) to imprisoned in Rouen for two months. win him and his brother Henry back to Ro- man Catholicism. In Venice he was permitted Scarborough Castle to view the jewels of St Mark and the ar- After his restoration Edward IV had granted moury halls, as well as being allowed, with Scarborough Castle to Richard, Duke of Glou his two servants, to carry arms. He stayed in -cester, and Perkin Warbeck promised it to Italy for three years before going to Poland, his ‘aunt’ Margaret of Burgundy. Robert where he was received by King Sigismund Aske led a siege during the ‘Pilgrimage of Augustus, who recommended him to Queen Grace’ (1536) but troops led by Sir Robert Mary Tudor, reminding her of the Staffords’ Evers withstood it. The castle was located in service to her mother Katherine of Aragon the Catholic north-east of England, accessible and suggesting that Thomas be restored to his by sea but easily defensible. grandfather’s dukedom of Buckingham - alt- Thomas Stafford and a band of between hough at least one older brother seems to thirty and a hundred men sailed in two ships have been alive. However, Cardinal Pole from Dieppe on 18 April 1557 (Easter Sun- apparently refused to give him letters of com- day), landed on the coast of Yorkshire and mendation to Queen Mary or to anyone else, seized the badly-defended castle on the 25th, and the Queen disregarded the Polish king’s taking the garrison completely by surprise. representations. Thomas warned that the Spanish marriage When Thomas returned to England he would enslave the English people, proclaimed joined the Wyatt conspiracy, probably in the himself Lord Protector and announced his Midlands under Henry Grey, Duke of Suf- intention of reclaiming his grandfather’s title folk, and was briefly imprisoned in the Fleet, – a pretext employed by Henry Bolingbroke at the same time as two of his cousins in 1399, Richard of York in 1460 and Ed- (Francis, Earl of Huntingdon and his son, mund of Suffolk in 1502. known as Lord Hastings) were detained in the However, the rebellion failed to gather Tower. He developed a violent objection to momentum and the local militia acted swiftly. Mary’s Spanish marriage, although it is not Under Thomas’ uncle Henry Neville, Earl of known whether (like Edward Courtenay, Earl Westmorland, they retook the castle and of Devon) he considered himself an alterna- twenty-five of the rebels, including four tive suitor. He declared that Mary had forfeit- Scots, were hanged (hence the phrase ‘a Scar- ed the throne by marrying a Spaniard, thereby borough warning,’ meaning no warning at ignoring the claims of her half-sister Eliza- all). Thomas was taken to London on 2 May beth, her cousin Mary Stuart, any remaining and tried for treason; on 28 May he was be- descendants of Henry VII’s daughters (e.g. headed at Tyburn and later attainted. Lady Catherine Grey) and, perhaps, his own As a consequence of the rebellion Queen elder brother. Mary declared war on France, during which On his release from prison Thomas trav- the French captured Calais, England’s last elled to Fontainebleau, the residence of Cardi- possession on the Continent. Five years later, nal Pole (who, embarrassed at his objections when Elizabeth almost died from smallpox, to Mary’s choice of husband, refused to meet Thomas’ cousin Lord Hastings (now Earl of him again), moving on to the Low Countries Huntingdon after the death of his father, and and mixing in extreme Protestant circles as a Pole descendant also a descendant of the which encouraged his belief that he was des- Duke of Clarence) was on the short-list of tined for greater things. He had a seal made successors considered by Parliament – a consisting of the undifferenced royal arms of Yorkist heir who would have inherited the England, an act tantamount to claiming the throne peaceably. Of course, Elizabeth re- throne and therefore treasonable. He fell out covered, and Hastings went on to serve the with many of his fellow exiles, including his crown at the highest level for twenty-three own brother-in-law, attempted to assassinate years. 31

Mysteries pedigree, British Library Ms. 6672, f.193) Early sources claimed that the Scarborough shows that Thomas was certainly born after raid had official French backing, because 1527 and confirms his place in the Stafford Thomas was a Protestant and England’s Cath- family despite his claiming several times to olic queen was married to a Spaniard. Ac- have been born before his elder brother Hen- cording to the entry in the new DNB (by Mi- ry. This seems analogous to the Lancastrian chael Hicks) this is unlikely, as Henri II fantasy that their ancestor the Earl of Lancas- would have wished to avoid provoking an ter was Henry III’s eldest son. Anglo-Spanish alliance against himself. Oth- er theories, such as Thomas’ being a ‘stalking horse’ or victim of Tudor provoca- Reading List tion, are also rejected. Dictionary of National Biography: entry by A Concerning Thomas’s place in the family, F Pollard, 1897 both of the DNB editions consulted and the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: Complete Peerage claim that Thomas had a entry by Michael Hicks, 2004 surviving elder brother. His parents’ first son, Edward Impey & Geoffrey Parnell, The Tow- Henry, died very young, and Thomas’ other er of London: the official illustrated history brother of that name (later the 2nd baron) Paul Johnson, Elizabeth I: a Study of Power seems to have been born by 1527. These and Intellect, 1974 birth dates are well established. I am in- J D Mackie, The Earlier Tudors, 1952 formed by Professor Hicks that one of his J M Robinson, The Staffords, 2002 sources in his Oxford DNB article (a 1534

Logge Notes and Queries: What did a monk spend his money On?

LESLEY WYNNE-DAVIES

ne of the things that I thought I knew the fourteenth century?) describes three mem- O about monks (and nuns and friars too) bers of religious orders. The Prioress, Madam was that they all took a vow of poverty, and Eglantyne, was a gracious lady: did not have private property. But while checking the wills in the Logge register I She wore a coral trinket on her arm, came across some surprising entries, showing A set of beads, the gaudies tricked in that perfectly pious testators left money or green, artefacts to individual monks, nuns and friars. Whence hung a golden brooch of brightest Of course, medieval satire attributed pri- sheen vate possessions to professed members of On which there first was graven a religious houses. In the Prologue to the Can- crowned A, terbury Tales, Chaucer (the Rory Bremner of And lower, Amor vincit omnia.

The monk – ‘a manly man, to be an house and therefore should, by defnition, Abbot able’ – had fine horses, greyhounds, have been stricter than a Benedictine one. The sleeves with cuffs of fine grey fur, supple Visitors were not pleased with some aspects boots – of what they found. ‘This part of the report suggests that private money and “the vice of And on his hood, to fasten it at his chin private ownership” were common at Rufford He had a wrought-gold cunningly fash- at this time.’ Apparently the monks had mon- ioned pin; ey, jewellery, vessels or gold or silver, hunt- Into a lover’s knot it seemed to pass. ing weapons, horses, and even sheep and Hubert the friar was altogether a nastier piece cows of their own. The Visitors said firmly of work – that such possessions were unacceptable – “nor should anyone call anything his own or Therefore instead of weeping and of pray- believe it so”.’ er Yet some Logge testators were making One should give silver for a poor Friar’s bequests to individuals in the cloister. care. Jane Barre, widow, made her will on 3 He kept his tippet stuffed with pins for February 1485 and was dead before that July. curls, She said, ‘Item I bequeth to thabbot of And pocket knives, to give to pretty girls Flaxley and his covent to pray tendirly for my Could I have been wrong about the mo- soule .... xl mark herof my will is that every nastic vow of poverty? I consulted the Ox- monk of that place that is a preste to have for ford Dictionary of the Christian Church about his owen use xiij s. iiij d. that they shall the Rule of St Benedict, which said that Bene- pray the more tenderly for my soule. ... To dictines took vows of stability (staying in the thabbot of Tynterne and to the monkes there same monastery all their lives), obedience, xx marks herof every monk to have to his and ‘monastic virtue’. ‘Possessions are held awen parte vj s. viij d. for they shall pray in common, and there is no particular vow of the more tendirly for my soule. ...’ She also poverty’. So private property was definitely left 40s. to ‘doctor Spyne the which is a white out. frere at Bristow’. Other legacies in her will Other monastic orders were equally firm were to monasteries as institutions: ‘to the on this point. Sanctity and Scandal, a most house of saint Radegunde of Tilisford in Wor- interesting account of the medieval religious cetirshire xl s., to the covent of Taunton xl s. houses of Nottinghamshire published by the ...’; indeed, Jane Barre seems to have been a Archdeaconry Research Unit of the Universi- very pious lady (or one rather anxious about ty of Nottingham in 1998, recounted how a the after-life), and left pages and pages of Visitation in 1280 to the (Augustinian) priory instructions for her funeral, torches to burn at of Worksop clamped down on private proper- it and paupers to be fed and clothed in black ty. The prior was ordered not to allow any- cloth when they attended it and prayed for one to have any, and all lockers were to be her, charitable bequests, priests to be hired to searched four times a year. In the same year sing for her soul, and ornaments to be given Archbishop Wickwane of York inspected to churches. Yet her words indicate that she Newstead Priory (also an Augustinian house) believed her soul would get better service and ordered that the canons’ lockers were to from monks who had her cash in their own be searched to prevent the keeping of private individual hands. property. Jane Barre was not alone. Thomas Pating- The abbots of Loos and Tournai in France, ton, fishmonger of London, made his will on and of Woburn in Bedfordshire, visited Ruf- 21 February 1486, and said firmly: ‘To the ford Abbey in Nottinghamshire in May 1481 abbesse and covent of the hous of menors – ‘a house running satisfactorily, but not to callid saint Clare next withoute Algate of the highest standards’, say the Sanctity and London v mark to thentent that every nonne Scandal editors. Rufford was a Cistercian being in the same hous have thereof xx d.

to pray for my soule. And I bequeth unto fishmonger, left five marks to his daughter Elizabeth Padington my doughter being a Johanne, a nun at Dartford; Margaret Leyn- nonne professid in the same place she to do ham’s niece Elizabeth Waldegrave was a nun heir fre liberte and entent therwith xx li. in the house of minoresses without Aldgate, (£20). London, and received 40s. to pray for her It was, perhaps, rather more to be ex- aunt; John Mundy, a gentleman of Stratford, pected that friars, who had to beg for their Wiltshire, left his wife’s daughter Agnes living, should be left individual legacies. Aysh, a nun at Shaftesbury Abbey, ‘a book of John Don senior did them proud: ‘Item I bi- the office of matins of the compassion of the queth to the warden and convent of the freres Blessed Virgin and 13s. 4d. in money’. mynours in London Summa v li. that he and Of all items of private property, a reli- every frere of the same hous oold and yong gious book or artefact seems the most suitable have att his own libertie by the delyvere of for a monk or nun to receive. Edward myn executours in money xx d. and the resi- Lupton, doctor of divinity and rector of St due if anny shall leve every frere content and Michael Paternoster Royal in London, was paied that I will it go to the commyne vse and one of Margaret Leynham’s executors, and profite of the hole convent ...’ He left money received for his labours ‘a pair fustians, ij pair on the same terms to all the other orders of of my best shetes, my gilt cup called my Cris- friars in London, to all the orders of friars in tenyng cup, ij carpettes and my grete portuous Cambridge and in Oxford, and to named boke and my grete saulter and my gilt chaleis houses, including some nunneries, in Dorset and xx li. in money’. Lupton was not himself and Somerset ... ‘and in every place that eve- a monk or friar, and so not precluded from ry frere have att his libertie and fre wille in owning property; he died a few months after his own hande xx d.’ ... ‘to every ladie and Margaret Leynham, at the end of 1482, and nonne in every of thies houses in money in obviously considered it proper to pass on one their own possession and libertie xx d.’ of her bequests to a professed nun: ‘to lady In other wills, there were bequests to Constance, nun of Syon, my large psalter named monks or nuns. John Kypping, grocer, which lady Margaret Leynham recently left left 40s. to sir Thomas Dunham, a monk. John me’. He left the rest of his numerous books Colynson, Archdeacon of Northampton and to various monastic libraries. rector of Over in the diocese of Ely (and thus Isabella Ayleward, a widow of Southamp- himself a man of God), left money to nuns en ton, made her will in July 1470, and left a masse (26s.8d. to the nuns of Cambridge, and coral rosary and a little silver and gilt crucifix the same amount to the nuns of Denney), but to the abbess of Tarrant in Dorset. This also individually to three: Elizabeth Fortey, sounds rather like Dame Eglantyne’s trinket. nun of Godstow, and Johanne Lowthe, nun at Margaret Leynham, that most prolific be- Syxyll, each got 6s. 8d., and Agnes Awnsell, queather, left ‘to thabbott of Walden that now nun of Lekbrun, got twice that. William is which was kynnesmanne to myn husbond Goldewyn, bachelor of physic, left 40s. each my gilte cup of trayfoles with the covere’. to two monks of Glastonbury, ‘danne Thomas And John Twynyho (as I noted in last au- Wolspryng and danne John Broune’ – and the tumn’s Bulletin) left to abbess of Shaftesbury same amount, 40s., to Glastonbury abbey a silver and gilt goblet which had been a pre- itself. Margaret Leynham left 20s. each to sent to him from George, duke of Clarence. ‘maistre Gorwere’ and ‘dan William Wither- We shall return to Twynyho’s will. lee’, monks at Charterhouse beside London, Margaret Leynham was aware that monks and 6s. 8d. ‘to a monke att Bury called hoolly were not supposed to have private property, John to pray specially for my soule and the and took precautions. Having bequeathed ten soules aforesaid’. shillings to every brother of the Charterhouse Sometimes, as with Thomas Patington, the in London who was a priest, and 3s. 4d. to monk or nun receiving a personal legacy was every brother there who was not a priest, she related to the testator. Thomas Stoughton, added, ‘provided alweie that if it be contrarie

to their religion eny monke to have or take to have their tunics lengthened down to their eny money propre to his owne use thanne I knees, and forbade the wearing of slippers. wolle that all the money by me biquathen to The monks of the Cluniac house of Lenton all the saide monkes be delivered by myn (Notts.) were found to be wearing red or rus- executours to the priour of the same place bi set habits, and were told to replace them at him to be applied toward the sustentaction once with habits made from a darker material, and relief of his saide brethern”. ‘as near black as possible’. At the visitation to So – what did monks spend their money the Cistercian Rufford abbey noted above, it on? Books, expensive rosaries and golden was stressed that the dress code was to be crucifixes? Riotous living, splendid horses to firmly enforced: tunics were to be white, ride when hunting, dainty dishes and the best scapulas and sandals black, and the habits wines? Abbots and priors, of course, had ‘made of cloth of serge or wool and without access to more money than ordinary monks, trimmings’. as they could put their hands in the common There is evidence that, in some houses at kitty. In 1482 Bishop Redman found that least, the monks had to provide their own abbot Burton of Welbeck Abbey (Notts.) was clothes. At Rufford Abbey, each monk re- funding his gambling habit and supporting his ceived money from the abbot for clothing and bastard children on the abbey’s money. After had to declare clearly what they had spent the Archbishop Pecham visited Luffield Priory money on. ‘Several times Bishop Redman (Bucks.), the prior, on the very day of his ordered abbots to pay their canons the “usual” departure, ‘admitted women into the cloister 20s. a year for their clothes.’ (Sanctity and of the monastery and wasted the goods of the Scandal, p. 57) house on them’ (VCH Bucks, I, p.348). It is Let us return to John Twynyho’s will. As possible, of course, that the Archbishop’s I said last autumn, he left to Dame Margery entourage had been untidy, and that these his niece, a nun of Shaftesbury, his yellow women were not whores, but cleaning ladies. cloak lined with squirrel fur. This is perhaps One answer to the question seems to be the most un-nunlike bequest to a nun in the that they bought comfortable or fashionable Logge wills. Did she wear it under her habit, clothes. Think of Chaucer’s monk’s cuffs of like a ballgown under a burka, or spread it on fine grey fur. The Benedictine habit was her bed at night? William Pembridge made a made out of cheap black cloth, which was more conformist bequest: he left dame Kathe- bought in. The Cistercians, the ‘white rine Preston, a nun of Halywell, and dame monks’, wore wool from their own sheep. Johanne Wodere, a nun of Malling, Kent, four One of the faults most often reproved by Vis- yards each of black woollen cloth, ‘gode and itations had to do with dress. Bishop Redman honest’, to make a mantle thereof. I cannot gave the Premonstratensian canons at Laven- imagine any abbess carping at that. don Abbey, Buckinghamshire, fourteen days

Correspondence

Dear Editor, daughters out of sanctuary to Richard. As a southern hemisphere member, I know Bacon argues that there must have been that the decision was made to rename the four more to it than this. Even at the time, her issues of the Bulletin each year after seasons, banishment was seen as an over-reaction to rather than months, as these terms were more the alleged crime, suggesting the possibility relevant to Richard and other people of his daughters out of sanctuary to Richard. time. May I suggest an alternative? Could Bacon argues that there must have been we please name them after the quarter days? more to it than this. Even at the time, her (I believe that would give us Christmas, Lady banishment was seen as an over-reaction to Day, Midsummer – although there might be a the alleged crime, suggesting the possibility better choice: isn’t St Peter’s day in late of some graver issue that Henry did not wish June? and Michaelmas or even St Matthew’s to be made public. Day for September). If you print this letter in If Bacon’s conjecture is valid, one won- the Bulletin, it might spark some debate, but it ders what Elizabeth Woodville stood to gain is your call whether that would be productive by supporting Simnel. She must have known or not. that the real earl of Warwick remained a pris- Annette Morgan oner in the Tower – unless she knew or believed rumours of his escape to be true. Ba- Dear Editor, con has it that she was angry with Henry, be- I read with interest in the Spring Bulletin the lieving her daughter’s status ‘not advanced suggestion by Wendy Moorhen in the course but depressed’ – an odd claim given that her of her piece on Elizabeth of York’s letter that daughter was wife to the king, albeit not yet Elizabeth Woodville’s promotion of the mar- crowned queen. riage of her daughter to Richard may have What, then, had the conspiracy succeed- been a contributory factor in Henry’s decision ed? There was surely no chance of Simnel to send her to Bermondsey in 1487. ascending the throne: he was but a means to In his History of the Reign of King Henry an end – the overthrow of Henry. Would the the Seventh, Francis Bacon suggests that the earl of Warwick have been produced and reason for the Queen Dowager’s banishment crowned? It seems unlikely: by all accounts was her involvement in the Lambert Simnel he was a weak, rather simple young man. Or conspiracy. Simnel set out to impersonate would Richard’s presumed heir, John de la someone who, at least until the age of ten, Pole, have become king? would have been a well-known figure at court If Bacon was right about Elizabeth Wood- – Edward, Earl of Warwick. Someone who ville’s complicity in the plot, what could her knew Warwick well must have had a hand in motive have been? the business. Who better, claims Bacon, than John Trevett Elizabeth Woodville ? - ‘ ..none could hold the book so well to prompt and instruct this Dear Editor, stage-play as she could’. Elizabeth of York’s Letter He maintains that his case is strengthened Unless the original of Elizabeth of York’s let- by the fact that one of Henry’s first acts was ter turns up it is never going to be possible to ‘to cloister the Queen Dowager in the nun- know its content. All we can say, given nery of Bermondsey, and take away all her Buck's imperfect and heavily edited para- lands and estate’. This was done without any phrase, is that she had some concern which recourse to legal proceedings on the ‘far- needed the King’s intervention or approval fetched’ pretence that she had given up her and that she wanted Norfolk’s help in obtain- 36

ing it. Even that little may, however be sug- suggest her isolation at court. Closer advisers gestive. of the King, notably Ratcliffe and Catesby, The letter was among the papers of the were certainly hostile to her family and to any Howard family, which even in the early 17th ambitions she might have to be queen. century must have comprised a massive ar- Psychologically it seems an unlikely pref- chive. Either Arundel, a noted collector of erence for the young woman who became the antiquities and curios, or a predecessor, had devout and dutiful wife of Henry VII, even if thought the letter of sufficient interest to sin- we exclude the possible fate of her brothers as gle it out. Since Elizabeth was unremarkable a consideration. Perhaps the other options, as queen its interest must have lain in its con- marriage to a commoner, which would have tent, which would imply something more than been a disparagement from her point of view, a routine favour, or, indeed, an ordinary mar- exile abroad or waiting for Henry Tudor were riage. even less attractive. The Yorks seem to have Elizabeth’s position in early 1485 was un- been an unscrupulous and dysfunctional fami- fortunate. A king’s eldest daughter who had ly by any standards and perhaps we should grown up expecting to be queen of France, not expect Elizabeth to have been any better she could hardly be happy at the humiliation than her elders. The pious and intelligent and perhaps worse inflicted on her family Margaret Beaufort may have been just what since 1483 or at being paraded at the Christ- she needed as a mother-in-law. mas court of 1484, presumably to demon- Celia Parker strate to Edwardian loyalists and Henry Tudor that Richard III controlled her person and marriage. Her marriage was a considerable Dear Editor, problem for Richard. Marry her to anyone in I thought members might like to know that I England and he ran the risk of future trouble have again entered the Society in the Heraldry for his own heirs if not for himself. Marrying Society Corporate Award Scheme. This will her himself, which he seems to have enter- be the second attempt at this competition and tained however briefly, would cause more although last time we did not win anything, problems than it would solve by alienating we did at least get a mention in the Heraldry existing support from the Neville affinity. Gazette. I think our chances are better this The obvious solution, which he put in train as time as the arms are used on several docu- soon as he was free to seek a new marriage ments all of which I have sent to the panel. I for himself, was to dispose of her abroad: he have also included a photograph from the Ri- proposed marrying a Portuguese princess cardian of Peter Hammond and Phil Stone (thus neatly neutralizing the legitimate Lan- wearing the new decorations and standing in castrian claimant, the King of Portugal), front of the Society banner. It is not just the while Elizabeth was offered to a cadet of the design of the arms but how they are used family (thus neutralizing her claim). which helps to win and I would recommend What we do not know is which of these all members of the Society to wear badges options Elizabeth herself favoured. Buck cer- and ties whenever ‘out and about’. I always tainly interpreted her letter to mean that she show a slide of the arms when I do talks and wished to marry her uncle and that seems to this brings lots of pleasant remarks especially me to be the only reason for the letter being from heraldry society branches up and down regarded as of sufficient interest to be drawn the country. to his attention in the first place. She, of Richard himself founded the College of course, had no influence in the matter, hence Arms and I think it would be a fine achieve- her appeal to Norfolk. Interestingly she chose ment for the Society to gain some recognition an intercessor who, whatever his ‘very loving of the way its uses its own arms, of which I and serviceable [disposition] to King Ed- must admit I am very fond. ward’s children’ had abandoned them in re- Philip Jackson, Chairman, Greater turn for the Duchy of Norfolk, which may Manchester Branch

Dear Editor, Lady Day). According to our modern dating Standards and Banners system she died in March 1485. Consequently I write re the above which may have a bearing Richard III did not live to see the first anni- on Bosworth and perhaps other medieval bat- versary of her death, and his presence at tles Westminster in March 1485 was not for her The standard was the greatest of the medi- Year-Mind but for the funeral itself. My apol- eval livery flags and bore the badges and liv- ogies! ery colours of the lord’s household. These John Ashdown-Hill items would be better known to the populace than were the banners of the nobility. It was Dear Editor, also known as the ‘ancient’ and was used as a In John Ashdown-Hill's article ‘Richard III’s rallying point, mainly in battle. Easter’ (Bulletin, Spring 2005), he makes the The banner on the other hand bore the per- rather startling claim that, ‘In both years of sonal arms of the owner, be he king, lord or his reign Richard III may well have felt the knight. It was known as the lieutenant and full force of the Lenten gloom, for in the sec- could never be relinquished without shame, as ond week of Lent 1484 his desperately sick stated in Shakespeare’s Othello: ‘the lieuten- wife, Anne, died, while in 1485 the anniver- ant must be saved before the ancient’. sary, or ‘year-mind’ of her death fell in the According to most accounts of the battle week before Passion Sunday...as Richard was of Bosworth, Richard killed Tudor’s standard at Westminster on the anniversary day, he bearer Brandon, proving he almost reached may well have attended anniversary obse- Tudor himself. As the standard is a rallying quies for Anne at Westminster Abbey...’ flag only, should this read ‘the banner bear- I am afraid there is just one thing wrong er’? with that quote – Anne died in 1485. Likewise, Richard’s standard bearer Sir ‘Christmas 1484 was celebrated in a festive Percival Thirlwell was killed holding the fashion, much to the disapproval of the Croy- standard aloft: again, did this mean the banner land Chronicler. Soon after Christmas Rich- emblazoned with the arms of England? ard’s wife Anne fell ill. She died on 16 March Richard had other standard bearers at Bos- 1485.’ [Hammond, P.W. & Sutton, Anne F., worth, including Robert Claxton of County Richard III: The Road to Bosworth Field, Durham who was also slain in the battle. So 1985]. So Richard would still have had a have the historians with perhaps the slip of a very sad Passiontide as he had just buried his pen, got it wrong, and Richard did not get as wife but was not saying the ‘year-mind’ pray- near to Tudor as first thought? I doubt it of ers at her tomb slab in the Abbey. Sadly, course as the whole episode is so well docu- those first ‘year-mind’ prayers would have to mented but it seems to prove that heraldry has be done by someone outside her immediate got to be interpreted correctly to tell the family. whole story. The rest of the article was interesting to Philip M Jackson read, especially as the Australian Anglican Church has begun to move away from the Dear Editor, more ‘traditional’ methods of commemorat- Mea Maxima Culpa ing the season of Lent, such as the covering It is my belief that when one makes a mis- of the images in the church and the reading of take, the only gracious thing to do is to admit the Passion on Passion Sunday (Lent V). This it. In my recent article on ‘Richard’s East- now takes place on Palm Sunday (Lent VI) er’ (Bulletin, March 2005) I referred to the and even to someone as ‘young’ as myself, death of Queen Anne Neville in March 1484, the timing just does not feel right. One final and drew certain inferences therefrom. point though: I believed it was the palm Queen Anne Neville did indeed die in March crosses (not branches) of the previous year 1484, but only by ‘old-style’ dating that were burnt to provide the ashes for Ash (according to which the New Year began on Wednesday of the current year. Having had

my first lesson in making palm crosses this held in Middleham and York, combined with year, I would gladly donate my poor samples visits to other local Ricardian sites was dis- to the flames for Lent 2006! missed almost out of hand. This was particu- Warmest regards from all Queensland Ri- larly unfortunate as the parish priest in Mid- cardians. Loyaulté me lie, dleham, despite being very newly in post, had Blair Martin, already identified local families with histori- Publicity Officer, Queensland Branch cal links to Ricardian times and was planning something for the Millennium celebrations, in Dear Editor which he was more than willing to include the The acquisition of a digital decoder has given Requiem. Apparently ‘the North’ is too far to me access to the UK TV History Channel. travel, which is interesting when one exam- Recently I saw a programme on the Tudors ines the itinerary of the American Branch and how they came to power, including an who visit in June. account of Richard III. The Requiem aside, letters I have sent to Readers who are not already familiar with the Society are courteously dealt with, as are this may be interested to know that the pro- library requests, both past and present. How- gramme was, or so it seemed to me, well bal- ever my experience of that day in London has anced. It quoted the wicked uncle hunchback left me most reluctant to attend any function image only as an example of Tudor spin put no matter how tempting. about by the Tudor's arch propagandist Wil- Diana Sanderson (Mrs) liam Shakespeare. This was a welcome example of what has Editor: I asked John Ashdown-Hill, organiser been regarded as a 'revisionist' point of view of the Requiem to respond: being treated as mainstream. Professor Emeritus Peter Fellgett, Bodmin I very well remember Diana’s correspondence with me at the time when I was trying to get the first Requiem Mass off the ground. She Editor: Further to my request in the previous wrote offering Middleham (well actually Ley- Bulletin for members’ views on interaction burn) and I agreed that this was an interesting with the Executive Committee, I have re- idea, but that as I had no ready access to the ceived the following two letters, from Diana area, and no offers of help from the local in- Sanderson, and Janet Long, the common habitants in respect of making the necessary theme of which is interaction – but not specif- arrangements, I felt I should try the first Req- ically with the executive committee, and in uiem in London (St Etheldreda’s), bearing in both cases, the occasion was some long time mind that I did have an offer of help with or- ago. ganisation from the South Essex Group as a whole, for a London-based Requiem. Also I Dear Editor, was able to visit St Etheldreda’s and make the Further to the correspondence from Ms West necessary arrangements in person. It is, I and Mr Knights, I have to record with sadness think, important to remember that I was very that my experience of a face-to-face meeting much feeling my way with that first Requiem. with members of the executive, albeit some I corresponded extensively with everyone years ago, confirms the former’s impression who wrote expressing interest in the idea and of aloofness. suggesting venues, but for practical reasons I When I attended the first Requiem in Lon- felt I had to go for a venue which I could per- don, hardly anyone spoke to me at the lunch sonally access regularly beforehand in order which followed. I left at the same time as one to make arrangements, and in relation to member, took the same route to the same sta- which I had firm offers of help from other tion, caught the same train, without even a members. It is perhaps also worth pointing smile. out that I was not, at that time, a committee My suggestion that a future requiem be member, and that there was no ‘official’ (i.e.

committee) involvement in the organisation after the most recent Requiem in London. of the first Requiem, - or indeed any of the However, local help is essential. I therefore early Requiems. Under these circumstances, disagree with Diana's comment that her sug- whatever experience Diana had or did not gestion for a northern Requiem ‘was dis- have in attending that first Requiem cannot missed almost out of hand’. How could that possibly be said to reflect in any way on the be the case when I am still actively pursuing Executive Committee. I was at that time this idea? Of course the north is not too far merely a private member of the Society, who to travel. Nevertheless, holding an event had written to the Bulletin editor, with a pro- such as the Requiem there is not quite the posal for a Requiem. Moreover, since I had same thing as just going for a visit. As I no official status myself, but was merely try- asked at the time, who was to organise the ing to get a Requiem (or Requiems) off the liturgy? Where would the choir come from? ground, I had no monopoly of the initiative. For me, Diana's letters of support when I was There was nothing to stop anyone who want- trying to get that first Requiem off the ed to do so from organising anything they ground, are a pleasant memory. I think I may wanted, so that if Diana wanted a mass at still have her correspondence in the Requiem Leyburn she could have gone ahead and ar- Mass file. I am very sad, therefore, that her ranged one. Her status in the society at that recollections seem to be so different from time was exactly the same as mine. On that mine. I do not believe that I am aloof or dis- first occasion there was a lot to do, and it missive, and I certainly don't intend to be so. was all new to me and those who helped me. I would still welcome a Requiem Mass at That first Requiem was also attended by over Leyburn if anyone on the spot is willing to a hundred people. Under the circumstances help to organise one. If Diana feels like or- personal communication with all those who ganising one without me, that also is fine. I came would scarcely have been possible. will be very happy to attend it and do noth- Nevertheless, I did most certainly speak to ing but enjoy myself for a change. Perhaps Diana. I made a point of doing so, since we you would like to publish those offers in the had been in correspondence. I also followed Bulletin, and I will sit back and wait for the up her Leyburn suggestion: specifically with offers of help to roll in, or for people to vol- a view to trying to hold a Requiem there for unteer to take over and do it all themselves. the Millennium. Following the first Requiem John Ashdown-Hill Mass I have offered repeatedly to take the event to other parts of the country Dear Editor, (something which has now begun to hap- Interaction with Executive Committee. You pen), so I wrote again to Diana, and I con- asked for examples of the above. One of my tacted the Parish Priest at Leyburn, to ex- experiences is as follows: I joined the Socie- plore the possibility of taking the mass there. ty in the early 1980s (before Worcestershire But the great difficulty was that I was so far had a Group or Branch) and on receiving my away, and that no member in the area came Bulletin found that the Society was shortly to forward to offer the necessary practical help. visit Worcester Cathedral. I wrote off for In the end I reluctantly abandoned the idea of details of times and date and arranged to Leyburn until and unless some local help meet up with them in the Cathedral. I was materialised. I then tried to organise a Requi- very excited at the thought of meeting up em at some other northern venue. I personal- with fellow Ricardians, and spent a few ly visited St Wilfred's church in York, and sleepless nights wondering if I knew enough also wrote to the then Abbot of Ampleforth about King Richard to hold an intelligent to enquire whether he would host a Requiem conversation with these people who shared (which he politely declined to do, pleading my passion, but I need not have worried as the privacy of his community). I am still try- no one spoke to me (apart from a lady called ing to arrange a northern Requiem, and Kitty who exchanged a few words). They spoke again to Mary O'Regan on the subject swept in, almost dashed around our beautiful

cathedral, and were back on the coach in a The Royal Lancaster Hotel in London has a flash. So much for making new friends with large conference area named the Nine Kings like-minded people. What a disappointment, Suite. In a nearby corridor there are nine wa- what should have been an enjoyable afternoon tercolour portraits of the nine kings in ques- was spoilt by their total indifference. Fortu- tion, Henry IV through to Edward VI, all nately this did not deter my enthusiasm for painted by Jennifer Newman-Cox. Some of the King Richard and his cause, and I have to say kings are easily recognisable and were, to that when we re-launched the Worcestershire some extent, based on well-known portraits Group a few years later Elizabeth Nokes was but the one of the Richard III, despite the more than helpful. plethora of representations of him, bore little Janet Long resemblance to any of them. Instead there is a face of a pleasant and mild-mannered man. Dear Editor Wendy Moorhen

Memorials of the Wars of the Roses An occasional series devoted to notables who lived during this period andwhose memorials were published by the late W E Hampton in 1979

Lincoln Cathedral 1494 BISHOP JOHN RUSSELL A brass shield of arms, (azure) 2 chevrons (or) between 3 roses (argent), and another, (argent) a chevron (sable) between 3 crosslets fitchee, (azure), Russell; both were loose in the Cathedral Library acc. to Mill Stephenson, who noted the punning brass inscription, ‘Verus celluy je suis’. Cook noting (the same?) ‘Le Ruscellin je suis’. Tomb-chest in chantry chapel dedicated to St Blaise, in which the regrettable modern murals are inappropriate to a degree. The S side projects from the Angel Choir. Born in the Parish of St Peter, Cheesehill, Winchester; to Winchester College, 1443, and to New College, Oxford, 1449; frequently employed as a diplomat (concerned in the negotiations for the marriage of Charles the Bold to the king’s sister Margaret, 1467-8, an envoy to invest Charles with the Garter, 1470); succeeded Rotherham as Privy Seal, 1474, in which year he negotiated for a marriage between the King’s dau. the Princess Cicely and the Scots King’s son; Bishop of Rochester, 1476 (not to be confused with Alcock, as the preceptor of the Prince of Wales); treated for a marriage between Anthony Earl Rivers and Edward IV, April 17 and 19, 1483, and an executor of his will; before May, perhaps with reluctance, he became Chancellor, and appears to have supported Richard of Gloucester, accompanying Cardinal Bourchier when the latte persuad- ed Elizabeth Woodville to part with her remaining son; opened Richard’s parliament with the customary speech, 23 Jan 1484; ill at the time of Buckingham’s revolt, the Great Seal was tempo- rarily taken in to the king’s hands; treated with the Scots and Bretons, 1484; the Great Seal was again taken by the king, 9 July 1485, which has led some to think that Richard doubted his loyalty; favourably received by Henry after Bosworth, he spent his last years in his diocese. Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1483, he was pressed to continue in this office in May, 1486, and we re-elected – not without opposition – following a period of great stress, caused by the presence of ex-Chancellor Robert Stillington was a political refugee, with the University under pressure to surrender him to the king. Russell was much troubled by heresy at Oxford. His arms remain on the roof on the Divinity School. He died at his manor of Net- tlesham, 30 Dec. 1494.

The Barton Library

Non-Fiction Book Library Open Day

The annual Library 'Open Day' this year will be held on Saturday 3rd September between 2pm and 6pm. As always, everyone is very welcome. If you plan to come along that afternoon please could you let us know by phone or email in advance so that I have an idea of the numbers to expect. Please indicate whether you plan to travel by car or train so we can send the relevant information. We are about a mile away from Brookwood Station and about 4 miles away from Woking Station so will be happy to pick you up if you let us know your arrival time at the relevant station. You will have the chance to browse through the Society’s extensive collection of non-fiction books and to meet other Ricardians and discuss the books you enjoy reading. There will also be an opportunity to see the Society’s Grant of Arms at close quarters. Neil and I look forward to seeing you very much.

New Library Catalogues

The librarians and various other people have been beavering away to produce the new Library Catalogues and I am very pleased to say that we are nearly there! The Audio-Visual Library catalogue and the Fiction Book catalogue are now both on the Intranet and there are hard copy versions available from the librarians as well. These catalogues will be updated 6 monthly and reprinted on small print-runs to avoid the need for update sheets. At the time of writing, the Non-Fiction Book and Non-Fiction Papers catalogues are still in production but should be available by the end of 2005. All the catalogues will be available in hard copy and also on the Intranet. I am hoping that the Non-Fiction Book catalogue will be in database form on the Intranet, with a search facility to assist those members embarking on research projects. I would like to extend very special thanks to the following people who have spent hours labo- riously re-producing and updating the catalogues – not the most exciting job in the world. I am indebted to them greatly! Jean Allen Pam Benstead Jill Bunney Christine Crouch Sally Empson Frances Irwin Anne Painter Jane Trump

Latest Additions to the Non-Fiction Books Library

Listed below are the latest selection of books that have been added to the Non-fiction Books Li- brary. All the books are hard back unless otherwise described.

CASTOR, Helen Blood & Roses (Faber and Faber 2004) This book is about the Paston family. Drawing on the famous letters, it is a family biography which traces the Pastons’ story across three generations, exploring their experiences of birth, marriage and death plus the reality of eve- ryday life. The Pastons’ affairs are set against the backdrop of the Wars of the Roses to illustrate medieval society in that unsettled time. DEAN, Trevor Crime in Medieval Europe (Longman 2001) This book discusses violence and theft in medieval England and France and illustrates how the authorities treated each class of fel-

on differently. The author details the growth of criminal justice in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries and then discusses issues of judicial corruption which accompanies that growth and the late-medieval crime waves that followed in the wake of the Black Death. Women as criminals are covered and real-life examples are used to give the reader a fascinating insight into the history of victims, criminals and their punishment. HICKMAN, Trevor Battlefields of Leicestershire (Sutton Publishing, 2004 paperback) Local author, Trevor Hickman uncovers the sites of battles that have taken place in Leicestershire, including the Battle of Bosworth, as well as sites with a military background. The book is lavishly illustrated with historic illustrations, photographs, engravings, paintings and maps. SAUL, Nigel The Three Richards: Richard I, Richard II and Richard III (Hambledon & London 2005) This is an easy-to-read biography of the three kings which shows how much thy had in common, apart from their names. All were younger sons, not expected to come to the throne; all failed to produce an heir, leaving instability on their deaths; all were cultured and pious and all died violently. All three are also fascinating characters. Nigel Saul compares these three men and uses them to illustrate the qualities it took to be a medieval king. WHEATLEY, Abigail The Idea of the Castle in medieval England (York Medieval Press for Boydell & Brewer Limited 2004) The author looks at castles as part of medieval culture and as sophisticated architecture of the period. She uses contemporary literature and art to offer a fresh perspective, including sermons, seals, ivory caskets, legends and even Roman ruins.

Latest Addition to the Fiction Books Library

GRAEME-EVANS, Posie The Innocent, (Paperback 2005). 1465: Anne, a fifteen year old peasant arrives in London to become a servant in the household of a wealthy merchant. Anne has knowledge of herbs and healing & soon finds herself at the dangerous heart of Court affairs.

Latest Additions to the Audio-Visual Library

Two new video programmes have been added to the Library. The first is Channel 4 TV's The Tournament, in which Mike Loades, as Master of Ceremonies, trains four novice combatants in the authentic art of jousting (as opposed to the more familiar re-enactments) and Juliet Barker outlines the history. The second is BBC 2 TV's Private Life of a Masterpiece. Paulo Uccello's 1438 painting The Battle of San Romano is recreated in its original setting and sequence from the three separate panels now in art galleries in London, Florence and Milan. Geoffrey Wheeler

Book Review

THE ROYAL FUNERALS OF THE HOUSE OF YORK AT WINDSOR BY ANNE F SUTTON AND LIVIA VISSER-FUCHS, WITH R A GRIFFITHS

ne of the joys of the recent Society of fine illustrations. Some of these are direct- O Conference at Queens College, Cam- ly connected with the book’s subject. There bridge, was the opportunity to get one’s hands are illustrations, for example, of Edward’s on a copy of this book. It was remarked dur- chantry, and of the contemporary engravings ing the introduction to Anne’s and Livia’s showing the 1789 ‘excavation’ of Edward’s talk at the conference that they are a well- tomb. Other illustrations have a more indirect tried team. Their latest publication certainly association, but they are very valuable for the confirms this. supplementary light which they shed. In this On one of its early pages, their new publi- category one might place, for example, a cation proclaims itself to contain ‘enlarged manuscript illumination of the funeral of Al- and corrected versions of the texts that origi- exander the Great (imagined à la 15me siècle) nally appeared in The Ricardian, vol. XI’. or the delightful eighteenth century cartoon This is true, but let no prospective reader fear showing Death and the Antiquaries, satirising for a moment that he or she will therefore find what was seen as a ghoulish obsession with nothing new here. The new book is very ancient corpses. much enlarged and re-written, and contains All of the illustrations are judiciously cho- extensive new material. It comprises not only sen, and are either contemporary with the valuable evidence (in the form of editions of events to which they relate, or modern photo- contemporary sources), but also readable and graphs, maps or reconstructions. There is only intelligent discussion of the evidence, pre- one dubious-looking nineteenth-century rep- senting as complete an account as possible of resentation of royal persons, in the form of a the Yorkist royal burials at Windsor. stained-glass window showing a very Victori- To twenty-first century English men and an Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville women the notion of a royal burial at Wind- (loosely based on the contemporary depic- sor is entirely unremarkable. Two royal buri- tions of them in the Royal Window at Canter- als have taken place at St George’s chapel in bury). The inclusion of even this illustration the past decade. When Edward IV was buried proves to be justified, however, for the Victo- at Windsor in 1483, however, it was a very rian window forms part of the glazing of St different story. The interment of a monarch at George’s chapel, and overlooks the couple’s Windsor was then a complete innovation. No tomb. previous sovereign had chosen —as Edward The book includes a fascinating section IV specifically did — to be buried in St dealing with the opening of Edward IV’s George’s chapel. Edward IV is no longer the tomb in 1789. The authors delicately omit earliest English sovereign to lie in the chapel, precise details of the tests to which Dr James but one must remember that the arrival at Lind submitted the fluid found in Edward’s Windsor of the chronologically-earlier Henry coffin (among other things, he TASTED it). VI did not take place until after Edward IV’s As far as possible, however, they track down burial. all the known locks of Edward’s hair. They Anne’s and Livia’s new book has a wealth also lay to rest once and for all that well- 44

known myth (beloved of historical novelists) There is an interesting attempt to recon- of a fair-haired Edward, by showing clearly struct the original plans for Edward IV’s two- that Edward IV had dark brown hair, very stage tomb and chantry, never fully realised, similar in colour to that of his brother, Rich- and now much-altered by the passage of time ard III. and the hand of man. Parallels are drawn be- Edward IV’s burial at Windsor is not the tween Edward’s plans and the monuments of only royal funeral which falls within the com- his contemporary, Louis XI of France (Cléry) pass of the book. There is material on the and of his sister, Margaret, Duchess of Bur- funerals of the two-year old prince George, gundy (Mechelen). Unlike Edward’s plans, and the fourteen-year old princess Mary. both Louis’ and Margaret’s tombs were actu- George’s funeral was more in the nature of a ally completed. Louis XI’s tomb differed private occasion. As a result it is possible from Edward’s in its overall conception, but that, despite the ancient custom by which shared with Edward’s planned monument the kings do not mourn, Edward IV may have inclusion of representations of both life and attended his baby son’s burial, concealed death. Margaret’s tomb at Mechelen also had from view in a screened-off ‘closet’. this feature. Even less now survives of Mar- Whatever one thinks of Elizabeth Wood- garet’s monument than of Edward’s, howev- ville, her poor interment at Windsor seems a er, making a precise comparison difficult. disappointing end for such a colourful figure. On the debit side, the book does have one It is rather sad to know that she had ‘never a or two minor misprints. There is also one new torch, but old torches … and torches’ doubtful footnote which states that Edward ends’. Undoubtedly some fifteenth century IV’s daughter, Anne, is now buried at Fram- dowagers requested simplicity at their burials. lingham church and cites the Complete Peer- Elizabeth Talbot, Duchess of Norfolk, cer- age. In fact there is no tomb to Anne of York tainly did so in her will, and it seems that at Framlingham. Nor does she seem to be Elizabeth Woodville's will also specified bur- buried in the Framlingham tomb of her hus- ial ‘without pomps … or costly expenses’. band, the third Howard duke of Norfolk. That Even so, one cannot help wondering whether tomb reportedly contains three male bodies, the queen dowager really intended simplicity generally assumed to be those of the first, at her funeral to extend to the use of second- second and third Howard dukes (the first two hand candles. In general, however, Elizabeth having been brought from Thetford Priory at Woodville’s funeral seems to have been cor- the Dissolution, together with most of the rect, if not lavish. Most of her surviving chil- tomb, which had originally been designed for dren were present at some stage, and the ab- the second duke). However, these are very sence of her daughter, the queen, is explained minor quibbles. All in all, this is an excellent- by the latter’s advanced state of pregnancy. ly-researched, well-written, and well- Moreover, we have already learned (earlier in illustrated book, full of interest and infor- the book) that, by ancient custom, kings do mation. It is very much to be recommended. not mourn, so Henry VII certainly had a good John Ashdown-Hill excuse for not attending his mother-in-law’s funeral (though the possibility that Edward IV Published by Richard III Society 2005, ISBN attended his infant son’s funeral does indicate 0 904893 15 4. Available from the Sales Li- that this custom could be circumvented — if aison Officer (see Contacts page for address) the sovereign had the will). price £10 plus £2.50 post and packing.

Booklist

A service to members from the Editor detailing fiction and non-fiction historical books that have recently been published or will be published in the near future. ARAM, Bethany, Juana the Mad: Sovereignty and Dynasty in Renaissance Europe, Johns Hop- kins University Press, £23.50, Spring 2005 BONDESON, Jan, The Great Pretenders: the true stories behind famous historical mysteries, W W Norton, pbk., £9.99, May 2005 BROZNYA, Martha A, Gender and Sexuality in the Middle Ages: a medieval source documents reader, McFarland, pbk., £27.95, March 2005 CARR, Irene, Jailbird’s Daughter, Hodder & Stoughton, £18.99, May 2005 (Fiction – ‘evocative tale set in the mythic 15th century’) CARTELLIERI, Otto, The Court of Burgundy, History of Civilisation Series, Kegan Paul, £85.00, January 2005 CAVALLO, Adolfo Salvatore, The Unicorn Tapestries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, pbk, £12.99, March 2005 (‘traces their origin and suggests inter- pretations’) COLIN, Samuel Kline, Jnr., Popular Protest in Late Medieval Europe: Italy, France and Flanders, Manchester Medieval Sources Series, Manchester University Press, £60.00 hardback, £15.99 pbk., December 2004 CREIGHTON, O.H. & HIGHAM, Robert, Medieval Town Walls: an archaeology and social history of defence, Tempus Pub., pbk., £25.00, March 2005 DYER, Christopher, An Age of Transition: Economy and Society in England in the Later Mid- dle Ages, Oxford University. Press, £30.00, February 2005 FENTON, Iain, [Ed.], Early Music History: Studies in Medieval and Early Modern Music, vol. 23, Cambridge University Press, £80.00, February 2005 FLETCHER, Stella, & BELLENGER, Dominic Aidan, The Mitre and the Crown: a History of the Archbishops of Canterbury, Sutton Pub., £20.00, February 2005 FRAZER, Margaret, The Servant’s Tale, Hale, £17.99, April 2005 (Fiction – crime) GALLAND, Nicole, The Fool’s Tale: a novel of medieval Wales, HarperCollins World, pbk., £10.99 February 2005 GIES, Frances & GIES, Joseph, Daily Life in Medieval Times, Black Dog and Leventhal Pub- lishers, £22.95, December 2004 GOODMAN, Anthony The Wars of the Roses: the soldier’s experience, Tempus, £25.00, March 2005 GOSMAN, Martin L., etc [Ed.], Princes and Princely Culture 1450-1650, vol. 2, Brill, €94.00, January 2005 GRAEME-EVANS, Posie, The Innocent, Hodder, pbk., £6.99, March 2005 GRAEME-EVANS, Posie, The Exiled, Hodder, £18.99, March 2005, to be followed by the third book in the trilogy. GRIFFITHS, Ralph, & THOMAS, Roger S., The Making of the Tudor Dynasty, n.e., Sutton Pub., pbk., £8.99, March 2005 GUERBER, H. A., Myths and Legends of the Middle Ages: their origin and influence on literature and art, Chivalry Series, Kegan Paul, £85.00, January 2005 HAMMOND, P.W., Food and Feast in Medieval England, n.e., Sutton Pub., pbk., £8.99, March 2005 HARDY, Robert & STRICKLAND, Matthew, The Great Warbow, Sutton Pub., £25.00, Feb- ruary 2005 HEFRIES-ALTANEK, J.H., Medieval Arms and Armour: a pictorial archive, Pictorial Ar- chives Series, Dover Pubns., pbk., £14.95, February 2005 46

KALOGRIDIS, Jeanne, The Borgia Bride, HarperCollins, £17.99, February 2005 (Fiction – ‘tale of passion, betrayal, scheming and incest, set in the Vatican during the 15th century’) KARRAS, Mazo, Sexuality in Medieval Europe: doing unto others, Routledge imprint of Tay- lor & Francis Books Ltd., £50.00 hardback, £15.99 pbk., February 2005 KEEN, Maurice, Chivalry: Chivalry, Yale Nota Bene Series, pbk., £10.99, February 2005 KENYON, John R., Medieval fortifications, Continuum Collection Series, n.e., Continuum Pub. Group, pbk., £5.00, April, 2005 LABARGE, Margaret Wade Medieval Travellers: the rich and restless, Phoenix, Orion Pub- lishing Group, pbk., £8.99, January 2005 LIDDIARD, Robert, Castles in Context – power, symbolism and landscape 1066-1500, Wind- gather Press, pbk., £18.99, March 2005 MAURER, Helen E Margaret of Anjou: queenship and power in late medieval England, Boydell Press, new edition, pbk., £16.99, January 2005 MAXWELL-STUART, P.G. The occult in medieval Europe 500-1500, Palgrave, £47.50 hardback, £15.99 pbk., January 2005 McCORMACK, Anthony M, Earldom of Desmond, 1463-1583: the decline and crisis of a feudal lordship, Four Courts Press, £40.00, March 2005 MORE, Thomas, History of King Richard III, Hesperus, pbk., £6.99, Spring 2005 (introduction by Sister Wendy Beckett. ‘... the received story was used to make a political point too dangerous to publish. .. It is famous for its tear-jerking account of the death of the princes, which may or may not have been based on an actual confession. ... Neither a source for the history of Richard III, nor a piece of Tudor propaganda; it is quite simply sui generis’ – as reviewed by Tony Pol- lard in BBC History, April 2005) MURRAY, James, Bruges, cradle of capitalism: 1230-1390, Cambridge University Press, £60.00, January 2005 NISSE, Ruth Defining Acts: drama and the politics of interpretation in late medieval England, University of Notre Dame Press, £29.95, pbk. £17.50, January 2005 OKERLUND, Arlene, Elizabeth Wydeville, the first queen Elizabeth of England, Tempus, £25.00, March 2005 PARKS, Tim, Medici Money, Profile, £15.99, May 2005 (‘how the Medici family ruled Florence and made their bank indispensable to the church’) ROUSE, Robert & RUSHTON, Cory, The Medieval Quest for Arthur, Tempus, pbk., £12.99, May 2005 ROWLAND, Richard (Ed.) Edward IV, Revels Plays, Manchester University Press, £47.50, January 2005 SAUNDERS, Frances Stonor, Hawkwood, Faber, pbk., £9.99, July 2005 (‘the only biography of the second son of a minor Essex landowner who became a successful mercenary leader in the late medieval period, rising to particular fame in Italy. Much praised’) SCHOFIELD, John, & VINCE, Alan, Medieval Towns: the Archaeology of British Towns in their European Setting, Studies in Archaeology Medieval Europe Series, Equinox, pbk., £25.00, January 2005 SCOTT, Maria, Re-presenting ‘Jane’ Shore: harlot and heroine, Ashgate, £40.00, January 2005 SEDLEY, Kate, The Burgundian’s Tale, Roger the Chapman Series, Severn House, £18.99, March 2005 [Fiction – crime] TALLIS, Frank, The Medieval Murderers: the Tainted Relic, Simon & Schuster, £17.99, May 2005 [Fiction – crime] TURVEY, Roger & ROGERS, Caroline, Henry VII, Access to History Series, Hodder Mur- ray, pbk., £7.99, May 2005 (‘examines how Henry established his dynasty and consolidated his power through both foreign and domestic policies’) WHITE, Pamela, Exploration in the World of the Middle Ages, Discovery and Exploration Se- ries, Facts on File, US., £26.50, March 2005 47

Letter from America

Chicago will be the venue for the American Faire in Gainesville is an officially-sanctioned Branch's 2005 AGM, taking place from Sep- Jacksonville Super Bowl event tember 30 through October 2. It will be held and the RIII Society is represented at that at the Hilton Garden Inn, located at 10 East same Faire. Super Boar! I’m not Grand Ave in Chicago, situated in the Mag- sure, but it could be a first ever. The City of nificent Mile area; this is an ideal base from Gainesville’s Office of Cultural Affairs host- which to explore many of Chicago's major ed the event, which took place at the Alachua attractions. A block of rooms has been re- County Fairgrounds. served at a special rate for prospective at- The Faire took place Saturday and Sun- tendees; arrangements for speakers and activi- day, January 29-30 and again on February 5- ties are being finalised. 6. Friday, February 4th, was dedicated to an The annual American Ricardian Tour will outreach to area students known as ‘School take place in the latter part of June 2005. Tour Day’, which promised to let 10,000 students co-ordinator Linda Treybig has arranged venture a step into the past. The first weekend meetings with various Ricardian groups of the Faire seems to have gone well, in spite throughout the UK as part of the itinerary. of chilly, rainy decidedly un-Florida-like Ricardian sites will be the emphasis of the weather; 60 brochures were distributed and tour, ranging from Penrith in the Lake District inquiries were steady. Some were surprised to Cambridge in East Anglia. Middleham there was a Richard III Society. The Castle, Fotheringhay, and Bosworth Field will Wyndes of Tyme, our intrepid recorder trio, be included, as usual. drew interest as well, and those One member, John Stallard, owns a busi- brave souls seeking clues to the Faire-wide ness which prints T-shirts, and after creating a treasure hunt were made to work for design which received Board approval, he their clues by shouting out cheers for Good began making these available online. The King Richard”. front design, located on the left upper portion Once again, we had a wonderful oppor- of the shirt over the heart, is a boar logo with tunity to reach the general public the ‘Richard III Society’ inscription curved with the message and achievements of the over the top half, while ‘American Branch’ Society, in addition to lots of curves under the bottom half. The Society’s discussion of our favorite topics. Naturally, a website address, ‘www.r3.org’ appears in a good time and fine fellowship was a major line below this. The back comes in two depart of the Faire experience and a priority for signs, one with Richard’s signature: our booth. ‘Gloucestre’ and the second ‘Ask me about A New Novel on Richard the Real Richard III’. Anne Smith of New England wrote: ‘I am Richard III shirts are available in a variety allowed to announce that I have had my first of sizes, colours, and print colours. See the novel accepted for publication in April 2006 website www.geeklabel.com to view these; by Touchstone Fireside (a division of Simon use the search term ‘r3’. A percentage of each & Schuster). My first book is about Richard, sale goes to the Society. of course! It is written through the eyes of one Pamela also sends us news from Virginia Katherine Haute who becomes the mother of Poch, Anne Smith and Nell Corkin. Richard’s bastards. I researched the Haute Super Boar at the Hoggetown Faire family and placed Kate with Richard Haute, From Virginia Poch: Question: What do Esq. of Ightham Mote,not the one that was Richard III and the Super Bowl have in com- with Rivers and Grey at Pontefract (he was mon? Answer: using the methodology of de- Sir Richard Haute)’. grees of separation, the Hoggetowne ‘A second book is due at the publisher the 48

same time the first one comes out - take him out and hang him. Cambrai was April 2006. I had not planned on ever writing Margaret’s emissary and so unfortunately she another book – the first was a labor isn’t even featured...Let’s hope a US network of love, you know! So I had to come up with buys it!’ another subject - and my editor wanted another ‘intelligent woman in a long dress’. New Books by Sharon K. Penman ‘As my other interest has been Margaret of Sharon K. Penman’s recent U.S. book tour York, I suggested her. Hence the trip to Bel- included a reading in Okemos, Michigan, gium (part of the former duchy of Burgundy). which was attended by several Ricardians I was...quite charmed with everything I saw. from the area. Nell Corkin wrote: Especially Ghent, Mechelen and Bruges’. ‘Just wanted to let you know that Sharon’s Anne and a friend biked alongside the canal reading in Okemos last night was well attend- from Bruges to Damme, ed and went very well’. where the house where Craig Bradburn added: Margaret was married to ‘Sharon plans on finish- Charles still exists’. ing her trilogy about Hen- ‘And, as a real treasured ry and Eleanor, it is moment in London, I met called The Devil’s Brood. Ann Wroe for tea, who Then she is thinking of gave me all sorts of advice doing a book on the Third about “Looking for Marga- Crusade, and then one, ret”’. which I am looking for- ‘Another highlight of ward to, about John of my recent trip was a dinner Gaunt. Of course she is on Tuesday night with going to continue writing three of the actors in the her mysteries’. upcoming “Perkin War- Nell added, ‘Sharon beck” docu-drama that just said that she’s planning finished filming. Actually, the Third Crusade book it hadn’t quite finished in part because she was- because the actor playing n’t quite ready to leave Perkin (Mark Umbers) was that time period yet. She off to Cornwall on certainly had me hooked Wednesday for his Eileen Prinsen and Brad Verity at the on the subject after her “crowning” bit’. Cambridge conference in April. discussion of Baldwin IV, ‘Anyway, the other two Latin king of Jerusalem at actors were Roger Hammond, who has been the time. She said that although he contracted in lots of things we’ve seen in the US, who leprosy as a young man, he continued to rule, plays the Bishop of Cambrai, and John Castle, and rode into battle even when he had to be who plays Dr. Argentine. It was great fun, tied to his horse. He had sisters who were and we had some interesting discussions on equally interesting; in fact, the family sounds how the docu-drama comes out, Perkin dies not unlike the Plantagenets’. of course, and Mark had some snapshots of ‘The question-and-answer period was espe- his face after they'd finished with him in the cially good, and I believe there may make-up tent! Quite gruesome! It was inter- have been some closet Ricardians in the audi- esting to discover that the actors all knew or ence. When one woman asked Sharon about had read Ann’s book. the title of a book she remembered reading ‘The film takes place in flashbacks from involving a detective in hospital and Richard Perkin’s dungeon, filmed in Bergerac and III, there was an absolute chorus of “The supposed to be the Tower, with him being Daughter of Time!”’ Loyaulté me lie. treated worse and worse by Henry until they Pamela J. Butler 49

Report on Society Events

Friends, Foes, Thugs & Crooks - but Particularly Friends – Cambridge 2005 Cambridge is, as Bilbo once reported of Rivendell, a perfect place, ‘whether you like food or sleep, or story-telling . . . or a pleasant mixture of them all.’ That Rivendell was, as Tolkien was fond of pointing out, on the same latitude as Oxford, I hope makes the analogy no less apt. However, the weather that greeted the start of the Society’s 2005 conference gave no hint of how an enjoyable an experience it was to be. Delegates struggled in for Friday afternoon registration through a haze of grey drizzle, but it was not long before everyone was settled into their rooms and gathering in the bar for a warming pre-dinner drink. Those who arrived early may also have had time to explore the college’s lovely old courtyards, which are linked to the modern facilities across the river by the famous Mathematical Bridge, a curious cats- cradle of slender wooden struts. Other arrivals visited the small exhibition of documents put together by the College’s li- brarian, Karen Begg. These documents had been stored, not at Queens’, but at the University Library and Karen had spent some considerable time locating them and bringing them back to Queens’ College. During their long storage over the centuries they had been folded but for the past few weeks they had been ‘relaxed’ in order for us to view and appreciate them. They will now be kept at Queens’ and stored in specially made acid-free folders and high resolution photographs have been taken so that the text can be read without consulting the original document. The documents were in a beautiful condition. There was a grant to the College by Rich- ard of Gloucester of the manor of Fowlmere dated 1477 which had five seals; then there was an assignment of the manor of Fowlmere to Queens’ for the foundation of four fellowships, dated the same year and with Richard’s seal; and finally a further grant of land from Richard made when he was king. Karen showed members around the small but delightful library that is housed in the original chapel of Queens’ and which is not usually open to the public. The exhibition continued on Saturday so that all members had the opportunity of making a visit. The programme started in earnest at half past six with dinner, and then it was into the Fitzpatrick Hall for the first of many fascinating sessions. Our own Anne Sutton and Livia Visser-Fuchs set the scene for us with a truly eye-opening discussion of Richard’s connections with Cambridge University. Most members will be familiar with Richard’s endowment of new fellowships at Queens’ in 1477, which were to provide prayers not only for himself and his family but also for the souls of all “servanders and lovers of the said duke of Glouces- ter, the which were slain in his service at the battles of Barnet, Tewkesbury or at any other fields or journeys”. Less publicity, however, has been given to just how generously he and Anne continued over the following years to endow not only Queens’ College but also King’s, and how fondly the university regarded him both before and after his death. In 1481, indeed, the congregation wrote to Richard claiming they were as dear to him “as the Trojans were to Hector, and the sons of Israel to the mighty Jonathan”. Having no worldly goods to offer him in return for his favours, they had decided to ask every Cambridge doctor and bachelor of theology preaching at Paul’s Cross to commend Richard to their listeners and ask for prayers for his wellbeing, a memorial never been granted before “to any mortal.” It is an interesting fact that Ralph Shaa, who in 1483 preached the famous sermon at Paul’s Cross introducing Richard’s claim to the throne, was a Fellow of Queens’. With Bosworth, the university seems to have known that they had lost an irreplaceable friend and patron, as indeed they had, for Henry VII took back all the lands with which Rich- 50

ard and Anne had endowed Queens’, and building work on King’s College Chapel ceased for twenty years. Ten years after Bosworth, when Thomas Barowe provided building funds of his own, the university defiantly granted that ‘the names of Richard III and Thomas Barowe. . . our benefactors, will be recited openly and publicly. . . and furthermore we allow unanimously and for our successors in this university that on 21 August each year, before the full congregation of lecturers, Placebo and Dirige will be sung, with music and the ringing of bells as is the custom; and on the next day [ie 22 August] shall be sung a solemn mass … for the souls of Richard III and Anne his consort, his parents, his brothers and all his dead servants…’.

The speakers at the triennial conference. From left to right Anne Crawford, James Ross, Anne Sutton, Rowena Archer, Rosemary Horrox, Livia Visser-Fuchs and David Dymond.

After this lecture, many members gathered again in the bar to renew old acquaintances and make new ones. Journeys were discussed, and matters Ricardian and non-Ricardian. One member, a re-enactment archer, even produced a sample of his arrows, which he passed round to general delight and interest, discussing how they would have been made and stored, and the different uses (and effects) of the various types of arrow-head. All in all, a fascinating start to a wonderful weekend. Saturday began with pleasanter weather and a good breakfast, then it was back to the Fitzpat- rick Hall for the first of the day’s talks. The theme of the weekend was Richard III and the East Anglian magnates, and four of the six lectures focused directly on this subject. Dr Rowena Arch- er gave us ‘The Mowbray Family’, unofficially entitled ‘The Fall and Fall of the Mowbrays’, Anne Crawford then taking us forward with the career and family background of John, the 1st Howard Duke of Norfolk. On Sunday morning, Dr James Ross took up the theme again, showing us the real (ie not really Lancastrian) de Veres, whilst Dr Rosemary Horrox rounded off the programme with a discussion of the East Anglian family with the closest connection of all to Rich- ard: the de la Poles. Certain common themes emerged: a lack of decisiveness in handling the difficult political

climate of Henry VI’s reign, and a strong element of thuggery and crookedness. The top three prizes for thuggery should probably go to the 3rd Mowbray Duke of Norfolk, William de la Pole Duke of Suffolk and his wife Alice Chaucer (notwithstanding Colin Richmond’s claim that their son Duke John ‘out-thugs the rest’). Indeed, the activities of the long-lived Alice Chaucer were such that she popped up in just about every lecture: as Rosemary Horrox observed, there’s no keeping a bad woman down. However, there were positive qualities that emerged from these talks: the strong family feeling that rendered the 13th Earl of Oxford unable to come to terms with Edward IV, the killer of his father and brother; and the steadfast loyalty of the Howards. The Earl of Lincoln, the last of the magnates to feature in these talks, remained perhaps the most difficult to quantify: Richard’s trusted nephew and deputy in the North, but not provably his heir; cooperating absolutely with Henry VII for the first eighteen months after Bosworth, then turning to sudden rebellion for mo- tives at which we can only guess. The remaining lecture occupied the cosy slot before dinner on Saturday. The speaker was Dr David Dymond, author of the highly praised book Researching and Writing Local History, and his subject was the gilds of late-medieval East Anglia. In a weekend dedicated mainly to titled folk, this was an instructive peek at the lives of the ordinary people of the region. David looked specifically at the non-craft gilds, which until their suppression in the 1540s were extremely numerous and involved a sizeable proportion of the population. The chief purpose of these gilds was religious – to support religious observance in the parish and make provision for prayers to be said for the souls of departed members. However, they also doubled up as social charities, providing support to members who had fallen on hard times. Although members came from all walks of life (as well as equally from both sexes), David described gild membership as the ‘middle-class option’ of its day. Prospective entrants had to be able to afford the membership fee and annual subscription, and to be of good character. Members bringing the gild into disrepute with public displays of quarrelling or drunkenness were liable to be fined, or worse still ‘lose the fellowship’ entirely (no thugs here, then, at least in theory). All this tends to make the gilds sound rather stuffy, but it soon became obvious that this was far from being the case. There was a sub- stantial amount of what historians like to term ‘commensality’: ie feasting, drinking and good fellowship. As well as their General Day or anniversary, there were frequent occasions for eating and drinking. The welcoming ‘kiss of charity’ for new members was followed by a ‘drink about’; there were Saturday feasts, and Sunday and Monday dinners; and the annual celebrations could be quite extensive: the St George’s Gild of Norwich, for instance, would put on three days of processions and bingeing, crowned by a massive feast known as the jantaculum. But the weekend was not all sitting and listening, and dreaming of other’s folks’ feasting: free time and commensality were also on the agenda. There was an excellent sale of books old and new, from which many of us retreated with weighted bags and lightened purses. Saturday afternoon was set aside for delegates to relax and to do their own sightseeing. It is hardly possible to visit all that is on offer in Cambridge in a single afternoon, but the pale intricate beauties of King’s College Chapel were a must for many delegates. Live background music was even provided in the form of rehearsals by the Cambridge Orchestra for that evening’s concert of Mahler and Mozart. However, after all we had learned about Richard’s patronage of King’s, it was slightly sad to see the stonework festooned with purely Tudor and Beaufort heraldry, and a walkthrough museum exhibition peddling, with the laudable exception of one display, a very negative view of Richard (who is even illustrated using photographs of Sir Laurence Olivier in costume nose)*. For those suffering culture fatigue there was also the riverside, and the shops. Cambridge does have some truly enticing shops, and wandering the streets could become an expensive exercise for the unwary. Meals were of uniformly good quality. Breakfasts consisted of buffets offering everything from traditional cooked meals complete with black pudding, to fruit salads and cheese. There were excellent hot and cold buffets for lunch, and on both evenings waitress service dinners with

wine were sandwiched between convivial sessions in the bar. Saturday evening - fittingly just after David Dymond’s talk - was the time for our own jantaculum. Hors d’oeuvres were followed by medallions of beef with Mediterranean vegetables, or the vegetarian option of a panaché of seasonal vegetables. Pudding consisted of a tuille basket of berries with cream and mango sauce, and was followed by coffee and chocolates. Oh, and as befits any good jantaculum, the wine flowed and the port went round (generally in the correct direction). It was a merry throng that raised their glasses as our president, Peter Hammond, proposed the loyal toast to the Queen and Wendy Moorhen to the memory of King Richard, and a slightly merrier one that followed it with an unofficial but equally sincere toast to ‘El Presidente’. For those with the stamina, commensality was renewed in the bar, which we shared with some very smartly dressed student members of the Boar’s Head Dining Club (this part of Richard’s boar remains attached to the arms of Queens’ to this day). And I am ashamed to say that some of us had to be turned out at closing time, which was well after our imaginary footmen had all turned back into little white mice. . . . Sunday was a glorious day. So glorious it made it hard to leave. Many delegates spent the spare moments before the morning lectures strolling along the leafy riverside walk, gazing across to King’s College Chapel rising into the blue sky. The river was glass-green, the fruit trees were in blossom and the grass was strewn with bluebells and narcissi. Mid-morning coffee was taken in the little courtyard outside, and after the last lecture there was nothing left but to do justice to another good lunch, thank Wendy Moorhen for a superbly organised weekend, say one’s good- byes to friends old and new, and leave Cambridge basking in the spring sunshine. Marie Barnfield

* Chairman Phil Stone was one of those who visited Kings’ College and he has since written to the authorities protesting about their treatment of their former patron.

Requiem Mass for King Richard and Queen Anne - Saturday 12 March, 2005 On a cold but sunny Saturday, some seventy loyal Ricardians gathered at St.Etheldreda's Church, Ely Place, to share in a Sung Requiem Mass for the anniversary of Queen Anne Neville. The location and the Latin liturgy were very fitting. The Upper Chapel of St.Etheldreda's named for the patron saint of Ely Cathedral formed part of the London palace of the Bishops of Ely in Hol- born and was their private chapel. Dating from about 1300 the chapel is one of the jewels of Lon- don and the only pre-Reformation church in London to have been restored to Rome. If you wished to close your eyes and free your imagination, opened your ears to the plainchant, the Lat- in prayers and the bells, and your nostrils to the smell of incense, then you could indeed share in a rich liturgical experience that would have been largely familiar to King Richard and his household. It is important that this was no mere re-enactment but was itself a solemn obsequy for King Richard and Queen Anne. The mass was led by Father Tony Dewhirst and in a spirit of true Christian witness several of those present who were not Catholics were pleased to go up for a blessing at the communion. The Society's two readers were our Chairman, Phil Stone and Valery Alliez. It was specially moving to hear the Prayer of the Faithful so ably read in Latin by Sue Broughton which included parts of the prayer from Richard III's personal Book of Hours "Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God, free me your servant King Richard, from any worry, pain or anguish that I am in, and from all the wiles of my enemies, and send to my aid the Archangel Michael." Father Dewhirst gave an apposite homily on the themes of resurrection and of commemoration of the departed and after the mass spoke briefly about some of the past Bishops of Ely with Ricardian connections. Thomas Bourchier, was Bishop of Ely from 1444 until 1454 when he became Archbishop of Canterbury and as such crowned King Richard. John Alcock, who became Bishop of Ely in 1486 had previously been Bishop of Worcester from 1476 and was

a tutor to Edward V. Father Dewhirst observed that Alcock had been a close friend of Robert Stillington and his acceptance of the arguments for the invalidity of Edward's "marriage" to Eliz- abeth Woodville may perhaps be deduced by Alcock's ready service on Richard's Council. After the Requiem we went across the road to the City Temple for our buffet lunch. This was a new venue, much closer to Ely Place and easy to find. John Ashdown-Hill had explained that it is usually a teetotal establishment but that as a special dispensation (for which many thanks!) we were to be allowed a glass of wine with which to toast the memory of King Richard! The meal was excellent and the caterers, as well as the organisers deserve special praise. Finally about thirty of us made our way to Westminster Abbey to lay flowers at the memorial to Queen Anne. The Abbey was closed to the public but we were told that the password "I'm for King Richard" would secure admission … and it did! Mary O'Regan laid the flowers and John Ashdown-Hill read a touching extract from the letter of condolence on the death of Queen Anne sent to King Richard by the Doge of Venice. One of the Abbey Clergy recited the Collect for the day and other prayers. Altogether it was a lovely day. A fitting commemoration of departed merit and an opportunity to meet with friends. Leslie Retford

Future Society Events

Bookable Events

‘The Cambridge Illuminations’ Saturday 30 July 2005 Many of you will already be aware that from July until December a major exhibition of medieval manuscripts will be on display in Cambridge. This exhibition will centre around the newly- acquired Macclesfield Psalter, but more than 200 other manuscripts from the Cambridge collections will also be on show. Although a visit to Cambridge this summer did not originally form part of the Society’s plans for 2005, it seems a pity to miss this opportunity. We are therefore proposing a visit to the exhibition on Saturday 30 July. This will require members to get themselves to Cambridge (although if there is sufficient interest it may be possible to book a group train ticket from London). If you would be interested in joining this visit, please provide the following information to me: Name / Address / Home/Work telephone numbers / email address / number of places required / SAE by: 29 June 2005: John Ashdown-Hill, 8 Thurlston Close, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3HF. John Ashdown-Hill

Bosworth Commemoration – Saturday 20 August 2005 This year the annual Bosworth commemoration will be held in Leicester. The main reason for this is that a new plaque is to be installed next to the large Victorian plaque near Bow Bridge. The new plaque will correct misleading information contained in the old inscription. Leicester is,

however, an appropriate site for the Bosworth commemoration in its own right, since it was from Leicester that Richard III set out for what was to prove his last battle, and it was to Leicester that his body was returned for burial. Richard’s remains probably still lie on the old Greyfriars site in Leicester, and the city contains a number of monuments to Richard, together with places of interest connected with him.

The planned programme for the day is as follows: 09.15 coach departs London (Charing Cross Embankment) for Leicester 11.45 (approx.) coach arrives in Leicester. Free time for lunch, followed by individual visits (notes provided) or guided walk with local blue badge guide 14.30 plaque unveiling 15.00 tea, Loughborough Road (WI) 16.00 service and wreath laying, Leicester Cathedral. 17.00 coach departs for return to London

Please note that the local guide (a Society member) hopes to secure entry for the party to the campus of de Montfort University, where Richard’s body may have been exposed after Bos- worth. This is not normally accessible to the public.

Members are, of course, welcome to make their own way to Leicester if they wish.

If you would like to take part in this event, which is one of the key events of the Ricardian calendar, and which this year includes the opportunity to visit important Ricardian sites in Leicester and to take part in the unveiling of the Society’s new commemorative plaque, please complete the form in the centre pages. John Ashdown-Hill and Elizabeth Nokes

Requiem For A King To commemorate the death of Richard III 520 years ago, the Queensland Branch is co-producing ‘Requiem For A King’ on Sunday August 21 at 7.30 p.m. in the chancel of St. John's Anglican Cathedral, Brisbane, in association with local theatrical company ‘Something Else Entertain- ment’. This production uses words and music to redress the imbalance of popular opinion and provide a proper commemoration in honour of King Richard III, and features the combined tal- ents of Brisbane actors Barbara Lowing and Blair Martin, along with the a’cappella ensemble Vox Ricardus. Lovers of theatre, music and history will not want to miss this once-only performance of ‘Requiem for a King’. Tickets - $15 per person (children 12 years and under $5) - are available at the door. However, seating is limited. Enquiries to the Publicity Officer, Queensland Branch: [email protected] Blair Martin

Mechelen Visit, Friday 21 – Sunday 23 October 2005 The Society plans a weekend visit to Mechelen (Malines), dower town and burial place of Mar- garet of York, to take in this autumn’s exhibition: ‘Women of Distinction – Margaret of York and Margaret of Austria’. The exhibition forms part of a wider celebration entitled ‘Mechelen – City in Female Hands’. In addition to the ‘Margarets’ exhibition there will be other displays, and guided walks to places of interest in Mechelen will be available. 55

The planned programme, with approximate timings, is as follows: Friday 09.30 depart Colchester 12.00 pick up London (Charing Cross Embankment) 13.30 pick up Relyon Car Park, Cheriton 18.00 (local time) arrive Mechelen

Saturday Free time to visit exhibition &c in Mechelen

Sunday 10.00 depart Mechelen for Brussels. Free time in Brussels. 14.30 depart Brussels 18.00 (local time) London 20.00 Colchester

Assuming a party of 30, the cost of the visit (including coach transport from London, via the Channel Tunnel, and bed and breakfast accommodation at the former Golden Tulip Hotel in Mechelen – which some of you may remember from previous visits) will be £175.00. Please note: insurance cover is not included, but could be arranged on an individual basis if required. If you would like to take part in this visit to a very fine Flemish city, with interesting Ricardian links, please complete the booking form in the centre pages. John Ashdown-Hill

‘Knighthood and Battle – the Hundred Years War and the Wars of the Ros- es,’ 12 November 2005 The Norfolk Branch presents a Study Day, at the Assembly House, Theatre Street, Norwich. Cost: £18.00 per ticket.

Programme:- 09.30 Coffee on arrival 09.55 Welcome to the Study Day, by the Branch Chairman 10.00 – 11.00 The Knight in the Armies of Henry V and VI, by Prof. Ann Curry, University of Reading 11.00 – 11.30 Coffee 11.30 – 12.30 The Hundred Years War and the Wars of the Roses: contexts and compare sons, by Prof. Mark Ormrod, University of York 12.30 – 14.00 Lunch 14.00 – 15.00 A Band of Brothers – the Battle of Agincourt revisited, by Dr Michael K Jones 15.00 – 15.30 Tea 15.30 – 16.30 The Battle of Crecy – new perspectives, by Dr Andrew Ayton, University of Hull 16.30 - 17.00 Question and Answer session, organised by Dr Michael K Jones 17.00 Close

Branches and Groups Contacts

United Kingdom Branches

Devon & Cornwall Mrs Anne E Painter, Yoredale, Trewithick Road, Breage, Helston, Cornwall, TR13 9PZ. Tel: 01326-562023 Gloucester Angela Iliff, 18 Friezewood Road, Ashton, Bristol, BS3 2AB Tel: 0117-378-9237 Greater Manchester Mrs Helen Ashburn, 36 Clumber Road, Gorton, Manchester, M18 7LZ. Tel: 0161-320-6157 Hull & District Terence O'Brien, 2 Hutton Close, Hull, HU4 4LD. Tel: 01482-445312 Lincolnshire Mrs J T Townsend, Lindum House, Dry Doddington Road, Stubton, Newark, Notts. NG23 5BX. Tel: 01636-626374 London & Home Miss E M Nokes, 4 Oakley Street, Chelsea, London SW3 5NN Counties Tel: 0207-351-3391 Midlands-East Mrs S Henshaw, 28 Lyncroft Leys, Scraptoft, Leicester, LE7 9UW. Tel: 0116-2433785 Norfolk Mrs Annmarie Hayek, 20 Rowington Road, Norwich, NR1 3RR. Tel: 01603-664021 Scottish K Stuart Akers, 17 Eliots Park, Peebles, EH45 8HB. Tel: 01721- 723600 Thames Valley Jenny Hutt, 27 Wheatsheaf Lane, Staines, Middx. TW18 2PD. Tel: 01784 453440 Worcestershire Ms Val Sibley, Fieldgate House, 32 Grove Road, Dorridge, Solihull, B93 0PJ Yorkshire Mrs M Habberjam, 10 Otley Old Road, Leeds LS16 6HD.Tel: 0113- 2675069 Also: Airedale: Mrs Christine Symonds, 2 Whitaker Avenue, Bradford, BD2 3HL Tel: 01274-774680 Leeds: Mrs A Moreton, 66 Chandos Avenue, Leeds, LS8 1QX. Tel: 0113-2164091 South Yorkshire: David Turner, 746 Upper Wortley Road, Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham, S61 2PL. Tel: 0114-2463065 Scarborough (Northstead): Miss Marie Belfitt, 10 Greengate, Sandybed, Scarborough, North Yorkshire. YO12 5NA. Tel: 01723- 360878 Wakefield: Mrs Val Stringer, 21 The Heathers, Sharlston, Wakefield, WF4 1TQ.

United Kingdom Groups

Bedfordshire & Mrs D Paterson, 84 Kings Hedges, Hitchin, Herts, SG5 2QE. Buckinghamshire Tel: 01462-649082 Bolton Miss C L Carr, 677 Tonge Moor Road, Bolton, Lancs, BL2 3BW. Tel: 01204-308461 (in affiliation with Greater Manchester Branch) Bristol Keith Stenner, 96 Allerton Crescent, Whitchurch, Bristol Tel: 01275- 541512 (in affiliation with Gloucestershire Branch)

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 8P Dorset Mrs Judy Ford, 10 Hengeld Place, Dorset Street, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7RG. Tel: 01258-450403. Durham Mrs Elsie Watson, Oakcliffe House, 4 North Terrace, Aycliffe Vil- lage, County Durham, DL5 6LG. Tel: 01325-310361 Mid Anglia John Ashdown-Hill, 8 Thurlston Close, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3HF. Tel/fax: 01206-523267 Midlands-West Mrs Brenda Cox, 42 Whitemoor Drive, Shirley, Solihull, West Mid- lands, B90 4UL North East Mrs J McLaren, 11 Sefton Avenue, Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5QR (Contact: 0191-265-3665) Nottinghamshire Mrs Anne Ayres, 7 Boots Yard, Huthwaite, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts & Derbyshire NG17 2QW South Essex Mrs Maureen Collins, 41 Linkway, Hornchurch Essex, RM11 3RN. Tel: 01708-447548. South Wales Chairman: Mrs Glynis Edwards, 2 Garth Street, Taffs Well, CF15 7PJ, Tel.: 029-2033-7523 Sussex Miss Josie Williams, 6 Goldstone Court, Windsor Close, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 6WS West Surrey Rollo Crookshank, Old Willows, 41a Badshot Park, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 9JU

Overseas Branches

America Laura Blanchard, 2041 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, United States of America Australia Victoria: Hazel Hajdu, 4 Byron Street, Wattle Park, Victoria, 3128, Australia New South Wales: Julia Redlich, 53 Cammeray Towers, 55 Carter Street, New South Wales, 2062, Australia. Queensland Debbie Smith, c/o PO Box 117, Paddington, Queensland, 4064, Australia South Australia Mrs Sue Walladge, 5 Spencer Street, Cowandilla, South Australia, 5033, Australia Western Australia Helen Hardegen, 16 Paramatta Road, Doubleview, Western Australia 6018, Australia Canada Mrs Noreen Armstrong, 175 Logan Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M2M 2N2 New Zealand Robert Smith, "Wattle Downs", Udy Street, Greytown, New Zealand

Overseas Groups Continental Frau R. Diefenhardt-Schmitt, Am Eichpfad 8, D-61479, Glashutten 3,Oberems, Germany.

Branches and Groups

Branches and Groups Liaison

When Phil Stone asked me to consider taking on the role of Branches and Groups Liaison Of- ficer, I was delighted. I already have a good relationship, I believe, with several branches and groups, and I was very happy with the thought of getting to know even more of you. Since taking on this post I have accepted invitations to talk to the London and Home Counties Branch, the South Essex Group, the Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire Group and the West Sur- rey Group. I have a tentative booking to talk to the Devon and Cornwall Branch later in the year. I am very happy, wherever practical, to come and talk to any branch or group. All branch and group secretaries have already been circulated with a list of talks from Executive Committee members. Alternatively, if getting me there in person is too difficult, or too expensive, I would be happy to tape a talk for you (though that way, unfortunately, I would not actually get to meet you). John Ashdown-Hill

Gloucestershire Branch A very busy start to the year has engaged the Branch on many topics. Our recent lecture on the ‘Medieval Newport Ship’ proved particularly stimulating. The vessel represents the most complete example of an armed fifteenth-century merchant ship discovered anywhere in the world. As such it fills a vital gap between the fourteenth-century Bremen Cog and the sixteenth-century Mary Rose. It is over 29 metres in length and, currently, the tonnage is estimated at approximate- ly 478 tons (it is therefore thought to be similar in size to the modelled John Cabot's ship Mat- thew the original of which sailed from Bristol to discover Newfoundland in 1497) and dates from around 1450-1460. Extensive preservative treatment is now under way to conserve the 2000+ re- covered timbers prior to the commencement of the reconstruction programme. Associated ‘finds’ include Portuguese ‘Merida Ware’ pottery, coins of the sovereigns Alfonso V and Duarte I, wooden combs, gaming pieces, stone cannon balls, leather shoes, clothing, rigging ropes and pul- ley blocks. Evidence of a military presence is supported by the discovery of an engraved brass inscription which appears to have outlined the face- guard of a helmet and a finely tooled and in- scribed leather archer's wrist-guard. Much speculation surrounds the origins, ownership of the vessel and why it was apparently abandoned in the medieval Newport dock in circa 1469 - in- vestigations continue. Eventually, and of course subject to funding, it is hoped a full reconstruction will be possible. This is clearly a vital enterprise and, ideally, could result in an outcome comparable to the Mary Rose and Vasa projects. The Branch intend to maintain a close ‘watching brief’ on progress. Following Mickie O'Neill’s relocation to Ludlow, she very kindly provided a talk which partly addressed the late-medieval topography of this once very Yorkist town and also covered the death of Prince Arthur and his lavish burial in Worcester Cathedral (ahead of our pending Branch visit). As always with Mickie’s previous lectures the talk proved detailed and comprehensive. There was also an excellent selection of slides illustrating the very picturesque nature of central Ludlow.

Future Programme Saturday 4 June: A guided tour of Worcester Cathedral and Library. Later we will visit the Greyfriars Merchant’s House (circa 1480) [Branch]

Saturday 18 June: Field Visit : The Churches of North Herefordshire and South Shropshire. Conducted tour by Mickie O'Neill [Bristol Group]. Saturday 2 July Misericords : Talk by Peggy Martin [Branch] Friday 15 July Group AGM [Group] Saturday 3 Sept. Branch AGM [Branch] Saturday 8 October Branch Annual Lecture : Late Medieval Dress. Currently under preparation but we hope to have an audio-visual presentation and (hopefully) a ‘live’ model! Full details of the above events will shortly be issued direct to Branch members. Keith Stenner

Lincolnshire Branch The Branch began its twenty ninth year with a well-illustrated talk by London Blue Badge guide Kevin Harrison on Medieval London, including particular reference to Richard III. In November we went to York for the St Nicholas Fair, meeting up with other Ricardians at Barley Hall, which was crowded with stalls as was the whole city. The Branch Christmas Dinner at the King’s Ho- tel, Grantham, was a splendid affair, with good food and excellent company – a fitting way to end 2004. The January meeting focused on the medieval outlaw, in a talk by Ian Stonor, which was well researched and shed light on some less well-known outlaws, particularly two notorious gangs in Lincolnshire. The February meeting was a new venture suggested by Jean – a members’ evening, which was very successful being varied and relaxed. All those who wished to took part in a talent competition, submitting items they had made themselves, be they written, painted, crafted, carved, cooked, knitted or sewn. Our Chairman, Mike Needham won the members’ vote with his carvings of the green man. We also watched two videos – the 1983 ‘Good King Richard’ centred on the quincentenary celebrations at Middleham, and ‘Harty goes to Yorkshire’, which featured the presentation of Richard III’s standard, donated by the Branch, to Middleham Castle. In March we had a hilarious talk by Gareth King on ‘Life on a medieval manor – a peasant’s view- point’. The talk was very amusing and well researched and we were able to inspect replica im- plements and clothing of the period. We began April with a trip to the Royal Armouries in Leeds: a must for every Ricardian. You can try on armour, handle weapons, watch a joust and even heckle a Lancastrian bowman as he describes the Battle of Towton. We have a very full programme arranged for the rest of the year. Loyaulté me Lie. Marion Moulton

London and Home Counties Branch Details of forthcoming meeting: To be held on Saturday, 16 July, at 3.00 p.m., in the Lecture Hall of the Art Workers Guild, 6, Queen Square, London WCIN 3AR. Member Lesley Wynne-Davies will speak to the Branch on: 'To Prove (or Disprove) a Villain' or "how law and order were maintained, and crime detected and punished, in the middle ages, without a police force or a Public Prosecutor's office, and when your religious ideas could also be reckoned as a crime. Case histories show that villainy has not changed much through the ages, although the methods of dealing with it are very different." All members of the Society are most welcome to attend. There is a small charge for attendance, which includes the lecture and tea and biscuits following the meeting. If you need location details, please contact Branch Secretary, Elizabeth M Nokes

New Zealand Branch Annual Report – 2004 The New Zealand Branch of the Society has continued to provide a stimulating vehicle for those interested in the reign of Richard III and things medieval. We have continued to meet on a monthly basis alternating between Lower Hutt and Levin, and every meeting has generated healthy, convivial debate, giving strong evidence of the depth of knowledge of our membership. This year we have had a steadying of membership numbers and a consistent number of at- tendees at the meetings, although of course more are always welcome. Presentations have been varied and interesting, with a highlight being the heraldic workshop .Thanks to all our contribu- tors, without whom the meetings would be sadly lacking. All members are encouraged to help with our meetings and contribute to the presentations. The Society has undertaken some changes this year, and the Chair, Phil Stone, appears to be doing his best to update the Society and improve its public perception in the wider community, which has been shown by involvement in several television programmes, which hopefully we will get to see here soon. We have raised some issues, with regards to the new constitution and via the survey which was sent to members earlier in the year, and it will be interesting to see if anything comes of this. It is increasingly evident that the Society has come to recognise the importance of the overseas membership, particularly when it is apparent that the bulk of new membership recorded during recent years seems to have been overseas based. The new look Bulletin is a tremendous improvement and we have passed on our congratulations on this. Our thanks go out to our committee who, year after year, put in the work for the members, organising the meetings, providing the speakers, editing the magazine and looking after the library. Also to our regular tea ladies, who go to show that everyone can make some contribution to the meetings. Thanks also to the members in the Levin area who make their homes available for meetings, thereby providing an opportunity for those living north of the Wellington area to partake in the Branch’s activities on a regular basis. We remain a small, but committed group, concerned with sharing our interest in medieval history and improving Richard’s lot. Here’s to another year of interesting meetings and great company. Rob Smith

Worcestershire Branch In January we held a debate on the whereabouts of the battle of Bosworth as a follow-up to our visit last year to Merevale with Michael K Jones and Doug Weeks. There was no formal conclusion but some interesting topics and ideas on where the battle could have taken place were raised. In February, Dr Joanna Laynesmith, author of The Last Medieval Queens and a long-standing member of our branch, spoke to us in her home village of Inkberrow on ‘In Search of the last Medieval Queen’. In March we went to Beoley and had a quiz with a new quiz-master, Judith Sealey, whose questions were no easier than those set by Ralph: they must have been sharing information with each other on the technique of producing diabolical questions. In April we held our AGM at Holy Innocents Church Hall in Kidderminster with twelve members present – quite good considering that we clashed with both a royal wedding and the Grand National. The AGM was followed by the chance to browse our complete library of books, videos and magazines on Richard III and related subjects, which cannot be displayed at all our meeting venues, so it was nice to see the whole collection, and surprising to note just how many books we have acquired. The election of officers and setting of our subscription was also decided at the AGM: the subscription remains at £6.00 a year with an indoor meeting fee of £2.00 (including tea/coffee). Our bank balance remains healthy but this will be needed if we are to celebrate our twentieth anniversary next year. Dickon Independent, our branch magazine, is fourteen years old this year, our website is five years old, and our branch history is now contained in six lever arch files. Ralph

Richardson remains our chairman, although he has warned us he will retire next year. Val Sibley is Secretary and June Tilt is our Treasurer. The rest of the committee is: Pat Parminter, Judith Sealey, Mary Friend, Margaret Gregory, Pam Benstead, who continues as our webmaster and Dickon editor, and myself.

Future Programme 11 June Visit to Ludlow Castle with guided tour 9-10 July Battle of Tewkesbury re-enactment, with our own stall on both days 13 August Visit to Ripple with Tim Bridges (author of The Churches of Worcester shire) Full details of our programme or details on how to join us are available from our Secretary, Val Sibley, on 015564 777329 Jane Tinklin

Yorkshire Branch Modern technology is moving faster than we expected, and I must correct the new email address given in the last issue for our Treasurer: it is in fact now [email protected] Dr Ann Wroe gave our Spring Lecture on 19 March, speaking on ‘Perkin Warbeck: who was he ?’ As the title suggests, she gave plenty of evidence as to how the pretender could equally well be a Flemish boatman’s boy as the Duke of York, and her own very recent researches have led in an interesting direction which we look forward to reading about presently. We were delighted to hear that the pretender (whoever he was) caused H Tydder so much trouble during the 1490s that the royal medical bills actually went up. (Amazing). On 20 March the Towton Battlefield Society commemorated the battle at Towton Hall. Pub- lic interest and support seems to be increasing, and there were more stalls, but I am told that the organisation of the event this year led to a delay of over an hour in holding, at the hall, the service which used to take place at the Dacre cross. Sheffield member Pauline Pogmore provided a wreath which was laid at the cross. The Branch hopes to be involved in a medieval event held for local charities at Barnard Cas- tle church on the afternoon of Sunday 10 July. There is no Festival Week at Middleham this year, but on 9 and 10 July re-enactors from the Royal Armouries present ‘The Wars of the Ros- es’ at Middleham Castle and the Branch hopes that members will go there on 30 and 31 July to support ‘The King’s Household’ which includes various groups Our commemoration of the Battle of Bosworth will take place at St. Alkelda’s church, Mid- dleham, at 2.00 p.m. on Sunday 21 August, and the Branch AGM will be held at Wheatlands Hotel, York – the usual venue – at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday 3 September. Yorkshire Branch is currently preparing for the press ‘Who was Who in the Wars of the Ros- es’, a detailed illustrated account of the men and women involved in the upheavals of 1455-85, by Pauline Harrison Pogmore. Anyone of importance or interest in those confused years is included – diehard Lancastrians, staunch Yorkists, those who sneakily managed to be both (at once ?) and those chiefly out for themselves. Further information about this intriguing and indispensable book will appear in due course. I give advance notice, too, of the famous Yorkshire Branch Medieval Banquet, and although these are provisional details, please take note! We shall (probably ..) meet at the Black Swan, Peaseholme Green, York, on Saturday 29 October. Confirmation / further details will appear in the next Bulletin, but those of us who attended the 2003 banquet will appreciate that places will be strictly limited and will be given on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Branch members should get a booking form with the August Newsletter. Angela Moreton

New Members

UK 1 January - 30 March 2005 Kris Acheson, Belfast Maureen Pearson, Kingswinford Vanora Bennett, London Jo Quarcoopume, Brighton E Boardman, Mountsorrel D Redfearn, Barnard Castle J Buckley, Redruth Susan Rees, Harpenden D Chalk, Rainham Alan Riley, Northampton Jean Chatham, Arnside Jennifer Savage, Wokingham Caryce Clemas, Rhondda Ursula Shearring, Sutton Diane Crook, Malvern David Silk, Torquay Brenda Cumberland, Glasgow Trudi Skuse, Whyteleafe Brian Deininger, Oxford Sophia Buckingham , King’s Lynn Charles Duff, London Gwendoline Staveley, Hull Susan Finch, Stratford-upon-Avon John Taylor, Billericay Elizabeth Goddard, Northampton Helen Teal, Halifax Margaret Golby, Nuneaton Richard Thompson, Wombourne Bethan Groom, Worcester Joan Thwaites, Leominster Joan Hayes, Mortimer Paula Turner, Little Smeaton Judith Hutchinson, Barnet Angela Twell, King’s Lynn Nicola Jones, Alcester Nessa Whyberd, Storrington Christine Keenan, Portsmouth Julia Wilbraham, Southend-on-Sea Mhairi Macleod, Cambusbarron M Winders, Hassocks M Millar, London Iris Woolford, Chelmsford Lois Milliken, Norwich

Overseas 1 January - 30 March 2005 Kristine Elmazis, Queensland, Australia Leann Richards, New South Wales, Australia David Fitzgibbon, Queensland, Australia Helen Rowe, Victoria, Australia Jasmin Foehrenbach, Wiesbaden, Germany J Schroeder, Wisconsin, USA Bruce Maughan, Queensland, Australia Caroline Taylor, Alberta, Canada Barbara McKenzie, Wellington, New Zealand Susanne Tinzmann, Kastrup, Denmark Leith McNaught, Queensland, Australia Tony Trimingham, New South Wales, Australia Sally Millis, Queensland, Australia Jacqueline Turner, New South Wales, Australia Denise Rawling, Australia Graham Williams, Victoria, Australia

US Branch 1 January - 30 March 2005 Dean Austin, Maryland Ann Ketterer, Maryland Robert Boos, Virginia Ruth Laskowski, Virginia Carolyn A Dershem, Oklahoma Shannon Leahy, Florida Mary Doucet-Rosenberger, California John R Marana, California Susan Ebershoff-Coles, Indiana Jennifer Moss, New Jersey Emma Goodman, Washington Janet M Powell, Florida William M Green, California Cynthia Robinson, Illinois Heather G Cresh, Colorado Kylie Sabo, New York Karen Griebling, Arizona Jo Stratmoen, Maine Judith Ann Guest, Minnesota Joan Szechtman, Connecticut Meaghann M Jackson, Maryland Judith Veale, Colorado

Calendar

We run a calendar of all forthcoming events: if you are aware of any events of Ricardian interest, whether organised by the Society - Committee, Visits Team, Research Committee, Branch- es/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, and, with full details, for members, on the intranet.

Date(s) Events Originator 2005 11 June Croydon Group 25th anniversary / Joyce Melhuish Commemorative Event, Seaford, Sussex 29 June-5 July Visit to Scotland Visits Committee

30 July Visit to Cambridge for Macclesfield Psalter exhibition Visits Committee See page 54 20 August Bosworth commemoration – Leicester, service, Visits Committee plaque unveiling, tea See page 54 1 October AGM and Members’ Day, English Heritage Lecture Theatre, Savile Row, London 21-23 October Weekend visit to Mechelen for ‘City in Female Hands: Visits Committee Women of Distinction’ including Margaret of York and See page 55 Margarte of Austria 12 November Norwich Study Day - ‘Knighthood and Battle - the Norfolk Branch Hundred Years’ War and the Wars of the Roses’ See page 56

10 December Fotheringhay Nine Lessons and Carols and Lunch Fotheringhay Co- Ordinator

2006 21 - 23 April Study Weekend York Research Officer

30 September AGM & Members’ Day, York