Ricardian

Bulletin Magazine of the Richard III Society

ISSN 0308 4337 March 2013

Ricardian Bulletin March 2013

Contents 2 From our Royal Patron Centre colour section (between pp 40 and 41) 2 From the Chairman i. The face of a king; A tomb fit for a king 4 Lesley Boatwright: obituary, tributes and ii The skeleton legacy iii The remains at the Greyfriars dig 8 Society news and notices iv The Blue Boar Inn; Recent Ricardian 12 Future Society events finds 13 Society reviews 46 The Man Himself: 14 Contributions to the Bulletin Richard III – a psychological portrait 15 Other news, reviews and events Mark Lansdale and Julian Boon 20 Research news 57 Aymer Vallance: an early Ricardian 23–45 Looking for Richard: John Saunders 23 The evidence from the Greyfriars dig 60 A series of remarkable ladies. 3. Jadwiga 27 Who killed Richard III? The debate Jagellonka, Duchess of Bavaria continues Lynda Pidgeon Rita Diefenhart-Schmitt 29 In at the death Ragnar Magnusson 61 A character reference for Richard III from 30 Leicester City Council and the search for an unlikely source Mark Dobson King Richard III Sarah Levitt 63 The Thameside Boar – another ‘dubious 32 Celebrations down under Rob Smith and device’ Geoffrey Wheeler Dorothea Preis 66 Ricardian crossword 3 by Sanglier 33 The discovery of Richard III– a review of 67 Correspondence Channel 4’s ‘The King in the Car Park’ 70 Book reviews and notices Kenneth Hillier 72 The Barton Library 34 Flavour of the month Richard Van Allen 73 Branches and Groups 35 That was the week that was Wendy 77 New members Moorhen 79 Recently deceased members 37 A day in Leicester Kay Fletcher 79 Obituaries 38 The king in the car park crowned: initial 80 Calendar reflections on the press and television 80 Late news coverage Bruce Watson and Geoffrey Wheeler 44 On the lighter side? Satirical swipes and graveyard humour Geoffrey Wheeler

The Ricardian Bulletin is produced by the Bulletin Editorial Committee. © Richard III Society 2013. Individual contributions and illustrations © the contributors except where otherwise stated. Printed by Micropress Printers Ltd. For details on submitting future contributions, please see p. 14 Bulletin and Ricardian Back Numbers Back issues of The Ricardian and the Bulletin are available from Judith Ridley. If you are interested in obtaining any back numbers, please contact Mrs Ridley to establish whether she holds the issue(s) in which you are interested. For contact details see inside back cover of the Bulletin 1 From our Royal Patron

he death of King Richard III marked the end of the era of the TPlantagenets and the beginning of the Tudors. The exact fate of the monarch’s body was open to speculation. Today it would seem that speculation can be laid to rest and the newly-identified remains can be examined forensically and scientifically and conclusions reached as to the manner of the king’s death. Although such study cannot verify the stories that have been handed down to us over the centuries, it can at least give us a clearer picture of the man for whom there have been many varied judgements, both biased and otherwise. The technical skill of those involved in this project should not be overlooked and special praise should go to the team of professionals who have brought more clarity to an important story in the long history of the monarchy. HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, KG GCVO

From the Chairman

ince we have been on tenterhooks following last September’s discovery Sof human remains on the site of the Greyfriars dig, to say that these past months have been momentous is something of an understatement. However, in February, the remains were confirmed as being those of King Richard and, as I wrote in the Bulletin Extra, this is historic and poignant. Once again, I thank all involved in the project to find Richard III and all those involved in the dig and its aftermath. The Society has received much publicity as a result of these events as well as a goodly influx of new members. Let me take this opportunity to give a warm welcome to those who have recently joined us. Welcome to you all. The events of the past six months have inevitably created a lot of work for the voluntary officers of the Society who, in many instances, have been working almost full time on Society business. As for me, my wife is beginning to forget what I look like; I’m either at work or at the computer! I must thank everyone for their commitment and seemingly tireless work. Some members have suggested that we have been ‘keeping you in the dark’, by not telling you everything we knew when we knew it. I’m sorry if people do think this but I can assure you it isn’t so. Unfortunately, while the dig was happening and while the scientific testing was being done, we were left uninformed, too – Channel 4 made everyone directly involved sign non-disclosure agreements – even I wasn’t allowed to be told and in that respect, I was as frustrated as you. When I was allowed to be told of some of things towards the end, I was also made to sign a ‘gagging order’. Be assured, as soon as we know anything, we are passing it on – that’s why we issued the Bulletin Extra as soon as we knew the results last month. This issue of the Bulletin proper is another bumper one at 80 pages, the maximum that can be held within the covers. There is full coverage of the results of the Greyfriars dig and the media frenzy that accompanied it, including another colour insert. (I now know the meaning of the expression ‘a media circus’, by the way!) For The Man Himself we have an important piece from Leicester University giving a psychological portrait of King Richard. It’s a long article but given its significance, we think this is justified. It helps us to understand a little better the man behind the facial reconstruction. We also have our usual extensive range of news, reviews, comment and other features. The obituary and tributes to Lesley Boatwright are a reminder that evidence-based research has

2 always been the bedrock of the Society’s mission. At a time when Richard III’s reputation is receiving so much attention, it is even more important to retain this balanced focus and, indeed, to strengthen it. To this end, we are supporting the Research Committee in its endeavours to see through to publication the many projects on which Lesley was working. We now have a splendid new website which is the result of a lot of hard work by the team responsible and I would like to thank everyone involved. It has a fresh new look and considerably improved navigation and content; and there will be further improvements over the coming months. Whilst recent months have, in many respects, been exhilarating, they have also been challenging, not least over where the king’s remains will be reinterred. The arguments have aroused much passion and have not been without controversy and misunderstanding. However, the decision has been made and Leicester Cathedral will be the king’s final resting place, a decision that we must now respect. The choice of Leicester Cathedral will not please everyone, and I understand the feelings of those who said it should be York Minster. However, it is important that King Richard’s reinterment is not surrounded by continuing controversy. His posthumous reputation has had more than enough of that for the past 500 years. The Society must not be seen to be squabbling over King Richard’s remains. Instead, we must all be grateful that he has been found and is now to receive the honour and dignity that is due to an anointed English king. The Chapter of York Minster made its position clear with its statement that: ‘The Chapter supports the terms of the Ministry of Justice licence and the wish of the Chapter of Leicester that Richard should be reinterred in Leicester Cathedral. The Chapter of York commends Richard to Leicester’s care and to the cathedral community’s prayers.’ The Society has put forward proposals and a design for a suitable tomb for King Richard in Leicester Cathedral (see the colour section in this issue, p. i) and, as we go to press, these are being considered by the Cathedral Chapter and the Cathedral Fabric Advisory Committee, though the final decision will be made by the Cathedral Fabric Commission for England. The design commissioned for the Society is for a free-standing table tomb and features Richard’s boar, the white rose for the House of York and the cross of St Cuthbert, this being a symbol of Richard’s piety. If built, the tomb will be made in a pale honey-coloured stone, the colour representing Richard’s emergence from the obscurity of the unknown grave into the light of recognition and honour. To date we have received enough donations to cover the costs involved and in the June Bulletin we will provide a full update on the funding position together with news of any further developments. As I write we are looking forward to the Leicester conference which we promoted in the Bulletin Extra and is now fully booked. There will be a full report with photographs in June’s Bulletin. An exceptional year lies ahead, with the prospect in the spring of 2014 of the reinterment of King Richard’s remains. I promise we will try to keep members informed about the arrangements for this event. Unfortunately, at the moment, we know as much as the rest of you, i.e. nothing! In the meantime, I look forward to meeting many of you throughout the coming year. Phil Stone

Arms of England lapel badge

An enamelled lapel badge, 24mm wide and 30mm long, depicting the Arms of England as used by Richard III. These arms are quarterly France Modern and England, i.e. showing three golden fleurs-de-lys of France on a blue background and three golden lions of England on a red background. Each badge is in a presentation box.

Price £6.00 Postage UK £2.00, EU £3.00, RoW £3.50

Orders to our Sales Liaison Officer (details on inside back cover)

3 Lesley Boatwright: obituary, tributes and legacy

The obituary The death of Lesley Boatwright on 4 October last year left the Society bereft of a much-valued member and officer, and many bereft of a friend. Lesley was born in Whitechapel in 1932 and grew up in Watford, where she attended the local grammar school. She was not encouraged to go on to university and so trained as a secretary, acquiring touch-typing and shorthand skills that were to be so valuable in later life. Her secretarial career included a stint with the BBC, but it was learning that she really saw as her life’s path and later in her 20s she secured a place at King’s College London to read Classics. It was here that she honed her skills in Latin, building on a love for the language that she hadacquired through studying it at school. From King’s she went on to teach Latin and ancient history at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham Girl’s school, where she remained for the rest of her working life. She was popular with both Lesley at her 80th birthday party: ‘a lovely lady, colleagues and students, who appreciated her extremely knowledgeable, kind, witty and simply scholarly but far from conventional teaching fun to be with’. style. Her early historical interest was focused on the classical world and prehistory; only in later life did she come to study the medieval period. This interest blossomed following her retirement in 1989, and was greatly helped by a role she took up with The National Archives as their co-ordinator of volunteers, a role that was central to her post-retirement life and a contribution recognised with the award of an MBE in 2002. With her developing interest in medieval history it was perhaps inevitable that she would seek to improve her skills by studying for relevant qualifications. This culminated in 2005 when she was awarded a PhD in Medieval History for her study of the Chief Justice’s Roll of the 1286 Eyre to Buckinghamshire. The county had long been a focus of her interest, not least for family history connections which she researched with her usual accuracy and thoroughness. She also found time to edit transactions for the Buckinghamshire Record Society and to teach every summer at the Keele University Latin and Palaeography School, where her skills were admired and valued by fellow teachers and students alike. Lesley was an active member of the Richard III Society for nearly 30 years, and in that time influenced in a positive and enhancing way most aspects of our work. She was an excellent chair of our visits committee, and a regular and enthusiastic participant on trips. A long-standing member of the London Branch, for many years up until her death she sat on the Executive Committee and brought to it wisdom and ambition for the Society. Most importantly Lesley was a key member of our research team, which benefited greatly from her impeccable research standards, learning and organisational skills. Her learning was never conceited; it was kind and generous, and willingly shared. Her first-class Latin and palaeography skills have been indispensable to research initiatives such as the Wills Project; indeed her skills were 4 often called upon by other historians of our period, so highly were they valued. Her work on wills, Eyres, and other records was motivated in part by her fascination with human behaviour as documented in archive material. This was also a reflection of her own humanity and interest in the lives of ordinary people as much as the better-known. Lesley took over the editorship of the Ricardian Bulletin in 2006 and brought to it her usual high standards and enthusiasm. It was a testament to her commitment and determination that she completed her work on last September’s issue despite being in the early stages of her illness. Few Society events over the past 30 years were without Lesley’s presence, indeed she often commented that her Ricardian friends were more like family, and many would have reciprocated that feeling. Every year she helped out at our Bosworth marquee, spending hours a day on her feet happily engaging with the public and recruiting new members. In her final days she was made a vice- president of the Society: a small recognition for an immense contribution. To her many friends she was the best of companions, particularly for those lucky enough to share foreign holidays with her. She was a dedicated traveller, enjoying at least three overseas trips a year, and many of us will have happy memories of being with Lesley in museums, galleries and historical ruins of all kinds, and even happier ones of convivial meals with flowing conversation and the obligatorily good-quality red wine. No record of Lesley’s life would be complete without mentioning her love of cats, her own and all others; a quality shared with many of her close friends. She was unashamedly a cat person. One of her oldest friends recalled Lesley as ‘a lovely lady, extremely knowledgeable, kind, witty and simply fun to be with.’ She will be deeply missed by all who knew her; but her memory and legacy live on through her many friendships and scholarly achievements. Lesley lived a rich life, and in so doing enriched the lives of many others. John Saunders

The tributes These are a selection of the tributes and messages received since Lesley passed away. Peter Hammond, President of the Richard III Society, and vice-president Carolyn Hammond: I think the most important thing to say about Lesley is that she was a friend, a mate as she would have put it. She was someone who was always good company; there was never any problem in finding things to talk about and going to see her or having her for a meal was always a pleasure. She was also of course a valued colleague on the Research Committee from the time I asked her to become a member – ‘I thought you would never ask me’ she said. Her expertise was in palaeography and Latin, she read and translated Latin as the rest of us read English, and such people are few and far between. Knowing she was there to help in this way gave a great sense of security and she always gladly gave help no matter how many other things she had to do. It is difficult to think that we will not be able to ask her help again. In her memory her friends will make every effort to finish all her many projects as she would have wished. She will be greatly missed. Phil Stone, Chairman of the Richard III Society: None of us are irreplaceable, of course, but I think we all feel that there is a significant gap amongst those of us sitting around the table at Executive Committee meetings. As someone put in an e-mail when it was sent to all of us, how strange it was not to be including Lesley in the mailing list. As chairman, I will miss her wisdom and advice. I could always ask her for help if I had a particular problem. I didn’t always like the advice she gave, but it was always good advice. She will be missed. With the passing of Lesley, we have lost a very good Ricardian and many of us have lost a very good friend. Lynda Pidgeon, Research Officer of the Richard III Society: Lesley had remarkable energy and enthusiasm, always looking for the next research project or, more accurately, projects. Her next was going to be a translation of Polydore Vergil’s Latin text relating to Richard’s reign. She was also finishing off the York Wills, working on the Middleham accounts and on Buckinghamshire records. If that were not enough, she was also giving assistance to other researchers. How she found the time still amazes me, as a whole committee is now trying to pick up what Lesley started. With so many plans for the future it was easy to think that there was always going to be time to meet up with Lesley at The National Archives and take advantage of her Latin and palaeography skills. Sadly that day never came. Her sense of humour and

5 friendship will be greatly missed, as will her presence at the Leeds Medieval Congress, study weekends and triennials to which she contributed so much. David and Sue Wells: To us, she was simply our mate Lesley, who had a wonderfully cheerful outlook on life. She enjoyed good food and wine and loved nothing better than a long, convivial lunch with a group of friends. We recall that at the York banquet in 2005 Executive Committee members each hosted a table and Lesley asked us to join hers; she wanted the table that laughed loudest and longest, and thanks mainly to her this was achieved. We generally walked around together on Ricardian trips and were amazed at her energy; she thought nothing of climbing difficult medieval stairs or walking long distances even when others were flagging. We also shared her love of cats and swapped many stories about our respective moggies. She was an excellent cook and we were always delighted to receive an invitation to lunch. Lesley – we will miss your company and friendship as well as your huge input into the Society. It won’t be the same without you. Nicky Bland: Lesley was to me a very dear friend and a true embodiment of the saying ‘you can choose your friends but not your family’. I find it quite strange that I remember so well the first time she came to my notice. Where? The tutorial room, in Keele Hall, allocated to Nigel Saul for the 1989 Keele Summer Lesley on a visit, camera and guidebook to School in Latin and Medieval Palæography. Having hand finished reading the passage that she was asked to read she then, without being asked, followed up with the translation. My thoughts ‘Wow! Latin brilliant but palaeography definitely needs more work’. This, over the years, she did, though she would have been the first to admit that she was not ‘au fait’ with all hands. Several years after this, hearing me moan about the early start I would have from Nottingham when I was due to lecture in London, she offered me a bed. With my love of cats my diary soon became peppered with ‘LB away, LB back’: this was cat-sitting time. This year’s diary looks empty with just meetings to attend. I did also stay with her when she was at home and on such occasions we would pay visits to various places and events, El Greco and Caravaggio exhibitions being most memorable. I decided last year that her Christmas present would be something she had never done – a trip to the ballet – but sadly it was not to be. I must admit I miss my bolthole in London but even more so I miss Lesley. Wendy Moorhen: I first spoke to Lesley at the York study weekend in 1994 and gradually over the years we became, to use Lesley’s word, mates. Although we met at EC meetings during 2012 our last social outing was in March, when together with Jane Trump we went to Oxford for a celebration of Lesley’s 80th birthday which culminated in a happy and leisurely lunch at the Ashmolean Museum’s rooftop restaurant. Lesley was well known for her love of animals, especially cats, but perhaps not so well known was her interest in the Titanic and in particular the fate of the pets that were on board the liner. She e-mailed during last year’s 100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking, detailing some accounts of passengers and their pets, including the legend that one woman refused to go in the lifeboat and leave her Great Dane, their bodies later found floating with her arms round the dog. Typical that Lesley should delve so deeply into the subject and bring out the small but vital detail. And finally a classic piece of Lesleyian advice: ‘The Persians always used to take major decisions twice, once drunk and once sober.’ Heather Falvey: Lesley always had several projects in hand, each requiring her excellent palaeographical 6 skills. She was nothing if not tenacious when seeking to decipher seemingly illegible, and unintelligible, words (remember theofonoforium in the Logge Wills?). Regrettably one of her unfinished projects was a new English edition of the miracles of Henry VI, going back to the original manuscript, a task that Lesley, with her flair for translating medieval Latin into accurate but readable modern English, was well equipped to undertake. The only earlier edition of the miracles in English was edited in 1923 by Father Ronald Knox. The miracles provide fascinating details of daily life in late fifteenth-century England, so Lesley kindly agreed to translate several for me to use as teaching aids. One that we selected was miracle 91, the story of William Bartram’s recovery from a rather personal injury sustained whilst playing football. Lesley had a wicked sense of humour and was amused by the highly suggestive Latin, full of double entendres, employed by the medieval chronicler when recounting the extent of Bartram’s discomfort; she was even more amused by Knox’s coy translation. She is sadly missed. Chris Skidmore, author, historian and Member of Parliament: When I unearthed Polydore Vergil’s original manuscript of his history, which had been languishing in the Vatican Archives in Rome, Lesley Boatwright from the Society tirelessly helped to translate the original Latin of the document, helping to demonstrate that what Vergil had originally written was often different from his printed work, published 30 years later, often to Richard’s detriment – demonstrating the protracted nature of the campaign to deface the dead king’s memory. I am only sorry that Lesley died suddenly a few months ago and will be unable to see the fruits of her kind and dedicated help. Marion Moulton, West Mercia Group: I met Lesley a few times, the last one being the Christmas lunch at Fotheringhay in 2011. She sat opposite me and we shared a few anecdotes while sipping our wine. She was a lovely lady, with a keen sense of humour and gentle and considerate. I was surprised to learn she was 80. She certainly did not look it, which must reflect her attitude to life. She was also a very able scholar and will be a great loss to the academic world. I wish to include all the members of the North Mercia Group in this tribute. Jean Townsend, Lincolnshire Branch: I am so sorry to hear about Lesley. I liked her very much; she had helped me out with Latin translations many times. Julia Redlich, New South Wales Branch: On a personal level I shall miss Lesley, with whom I had several connections regarding the Society and items for the Bulletin, and the NSW Branch joins me in sympathy and regret for the loss of a great Ricardian and invaluable member of the Executive. Carolyn West: I have very happy memories of Lesley and enjoyed all the trips she arranged with the visits team. I will miss her very much as, I am sure, will everyone who knew her. Jane Grenfell: I was so saddened to hear of Lesley’s death. I never had the opportunity to meet her in person but I did exchange e-mails with her. She always came across as encouraging, enthusiastic and fun.

The legacy Lesley left a large number of books and other research material to the Society; amongst the books are some important works of reference. These will all form the nucleus of a new research reference library to be set up in her name. It will be managed by the Research Committee under the auspices of the Barton Library. We will be cataloguing these items over the coming months and will report on progress in a future edition of the Bulletin. We are also having a special bookplate designed to identify the books as originating from Lesley’s library. Lesley was engaged in a number of research projects which remained unfinished at the time of her death. Chief amongst these are the York Wills, the miracles of Henry VI, an itinerary of Richard’s life to 1483, a translation of the original Latin version of Polydore Vergil’s History of Richard III (see Chris Skidmore’s tribute above), E404 (Exchequer Grants) and the final editing of the Middleham Accounts. It is the intention of the Research Committee to carry on these projects and to see the results published. They will be an enduring legacy and a lasting testament to the scholarship of Lesley Boatwright.

Postscript When told late in September that her illness was terminal Lesley expressed the hope she would live long enough to see President Obama re-elected and the Greyfriars human remains confirmed as King Richard’s. Sadly she was not to know either; but how pleased she would have been with both results. 7 Society news and notices

Notice of the 2013 Annual General Meeting of the Richard III Society This year the Society’s AGM and Members’ Day will take place on: Saturday, 5 October 2013 at Senate House, University of London, Russell Square. Further details will be given in the June Bulletin but, in the meantime, please put this date in your diary.

The Robert Hamblin Award for service to the Richard III Society Nominations for 2013 The award was established in 2002 as a means of recognising members who have given significant long-term service and made a contribution of particular merit to the work of the Richard III Society. Our late Chairman, Robert Hamblin, was always conscious of the voluntary service and commitment that members give and was himself a fine example of such service. Following Robert’s death in August 2002 the Executive Committee decided to initiate and name the award in his memory. Nominations are now sought from branches, groups and individual members for the 2013 award. The award is open to all members, apart from those serving on the Executive Committee, the President or the vice-Presidents. Nominations must include full details of the nominee, the reasons why you think they qualify for the award and any relevant background information about them and their service to the Richard III Society. Nominations should be sent to the Joint Secretaries by either e-mail or letter – please see contact details on the back inside cover of the Bulletin. The closing date for nominations is 31 July and the final selection will be made by the Executive Committee. The recipient of the 2013 award will be announced at this year’s Annual General Meeting.

Society events – introduction of cancellation charge To take account of the additional work involved when members cancel and where deposits for visits or events have to be refunded, the Executive Committee has agreed to the introduction of a small administrative charge. This will apply to all events and visits organised by the main Society. The terms are as follows: 1. A deposit of £x* will be required on booking. Final payment will be required by (the nominated date*). Any cancellation before that date will incur an administration charge of £3.00 on refund of deposit. 2. Any refund for cancellation after (the nominated date*) can be made only if there is a waiting list and this, too, will incur an administration charge of £3.00. 3. Members are advised to arrange their own insurance to cover any loss that may arise through a cancellation. This charge will not be applied retrospectively or to events for which bookings are already in progress before 1 April 2013. * Details will be defined by the organisers of individual events. 8 Would you like to receive e-mail alerts from the Society? In the December 2012 edition of the Bulletin we said that, although we normally communicate with members via the Bulletin, or notices on the website, we thought it would be useful to be able to send you e-mails too. This was particularly important when events were fast moving following the press conference at the University of Leicester on 4 February. The idea behind the e-mail list is to supplement information that we send via the postal network. By using e-mails we can alert members to events and news that are particularly time-sensitive, where printing and posting would take too long, because the event would be over by the time it was received. We stress that the list of e-mail addresses will not be made available to anyone outside the Society, and we take suitable security precautions to avoid disclosure by using the BCC option in e-mails and keeping our virus checkers up to date on the computers we use. The e-mails that we send are carefully considered and researched – we do not want to inundate you with messages and intend that every e-mail we send informs you of something relevant. Likewise, if you have events that you want to publicise to a wider audience, or ideas for future messages, please send an e-mail to [email protected] and we will consider your request. We have been sending e-mails to the members who have contacted us, and to new and existing members where we have addresses. However, we have received quite a few ‘bounce back’ messages from e-mail addresses that are not recognised by the e-mail providers. There are any number of reasons for this, but the key thing that we are asking now is that if you haven’t had any e-mails from [email protected] about Society matters, and you would like to hear from us, please send an e-mail to our address and we will register you to receive future messages. We always send an acknowledgement when you request to join the mailing list – this response is usually fairly quick, but please allow up to a week to receive this. There is an ‘unsubscribe’ link on all our e-mails, so you can change your mind at any time. If you would like to receive e-mails from the Society please send a message to [email protected] (capital letter ‘I’ for RIII) giving your name, membership number (if known), e-mail address and postcode. Finally, we do not wish to disenfranchise those members who do not have e-mail addresses and where it is necessary to communicate directly with all members a letter will be sent through the postal system. Helen Challinor and Wendy Moorhen

Successful launch of new website On 4 February the Society’s new website went live – the day when the world knew that the remains of King Richard III had been found. The importance of our website cannot be underestimated: it’s the public’s main source of information about the Society, and crucially it’s our primary source of new members. So we have to invest both time and resources in its maintenance and continuing development. The old site was launched in 2006 and has served us well over the years; however, the digital revolution goes on at an alarming pace, and websites in particular quickly become outdated. The Greyfriars dig had a considerable impact on the number of people visiting the site: for example, in September last year we received over 140,000 page hits. To take advantage of this growing interest the Executive Committee decided to engage professional website designers to help modernise and improve our website. Wendy Moorhen managed the project and we asked her to explain some of the thinking behind the development plans: ‘The re-design of the website had been on the Website Committee’s agenda for over a year. However, events last September in Leicester made it an urgent priority. We asked the question “What will the impact be when next year’s Channel 4 documentary is broadcast?” We had to be ready to receive thousands and thousands of new visitors. Were we up for the challenge? Yes! The old site had taken 13 months to develop, but this time we had only a few short weeks. Earlier discussions had concluded that we needed to broaden the site’s scope and to appeal to a wider spectrum of visitors. However, we also recognised that it couldn’t be all things to all people, therefore we would assume visitors came with some pre-knowledge of King Richard and our task would be to provide 9 the detail and promote the work of the Society. Timescales were tight and we quickly realised that not everything could be done at once, so we prioritised information specific to Richard III, which would be the likely focus of those visiting in the aftermath of the Channel 4 documentary. During April there will be a second phase, including background information about the Wars of the Roses and the fifteenth century in general. Looking further ahead, there will be a third phase, focusing on the long-awaited online shop, and hopefully other initiatives’. Ziona Arcari designed the new site and Stewart Armstrong provided the technical expertise. We asked them to explain their approach ‘Our primary focus in designing and developing the Richard III Society website was simplicity. Logical, straightforward site navigation is always fundamental but in this case it needed to be combined with a clean, clear and visually uncomplicated design; ensuring that attention could remain focused on the messages and wealth of stimulating articles and information. We wanted to project a contemporary feel that nevertheless acknowledged the heritage and period involved. Articles have been supported with relevant visuals and presented in a consistent manner, whether it is viewed on a PC, Pad-style computer or smartphone, allowing the site to flow and blend as a whole.’ The launch of the new site was inevitably not trouble-free, but all the glitches were quickly resolved. One particular glitch provided a staggering statistic; during the first couple of days we had exceeded our bandwidth capacity – this is the amount of data we can accommodate within a specified period. The company that hosts our website advised that over the period 4–6 February we were receiving an average of 1.4 million hits per day, and that’s why we were over our limit! The Society’s website now has a professional new look, easier navigation, improved content and innovations such as turn-page technology for the popular online ‘Ricardian Britain’, making it easier and more enjoyable to use. We are sure members and visitors will find the site refreshing, informative and ready to meet future challenges and opportunities.

Photo caption competition In the December issue we featured this photo of Society Joint Secretary, Dave Wells, and Chairman, Phil Stone, enjoying the task of clearing cowpats from the site of the Society’s marquee at the Bosworth weekend in August, and invited Bulletin readers to supply a suitable caption. Whether out of respect for the Society’s distinguished officers, or because the exciting news from Leicester distracted readers’ attention, entries for the competition were few in number. Special mentions should go to Mary Tetlow’s entry, the only one to pick up on the ‘cowpat’ angle: ‘What a let-down if it only produces red roses!’ and to that from Patricia Payne, the only reader who managed to introduce a pun: ‘The stone marks the spot’. Most of the other offerings focused, predictably, on the Leicester dig. Bearing in mind that at the time of Bosworth the result of the dig was unknown, the one we chose as the winning entry was from Elsie Watson: ‘Then again, he may be down here’.

The Chairman goes west Mid December, and the frost lay thickly on the ground at 5 a.m. when the taxi came to take me to the station, as I set out for a day trip to Redruth to give a talk to a group of ‘A’ level history students at the Cornwall College, Camborne. Some months before, the Society had been approached by the college for a speaker, but it had taken time for them to agree to paying for me to travel all that way from north Kent. At Redruth, I was met by the lecturer, Nick Worley, and taken to the college, where, after lunch, I met the group, nine youngsters keen to learn more about Richard III. They had all been studying with Nick and were looking forward to hearing the story from a different point of view. My talk went well, though it was difficult to tell at the time. Feedback afterwards was to the effect that they had all enjoyed it, especially as I had added a few extras and nuances that they hadn’t heard 10 before. From the talk, Nick said that the students had learnt ‘about the lack of evidence to link Richard III to the murders of the Princes in the Tower as well as the many successful achievements of his short reign, such as improved poor relief and more efficient government administration.’ I understand that the other topic they are studying in history at the moment is Nazi Germany, which makes for an interesting mix – Ian McKellen, eat your heart out! After the talk, a group picture was taken, with my last slide – a portrait of Richard III – still showing in the background. No one should be alarmed by the dreadful disfigurement of the young lady in the front row – she was playing The Chairman with history students of Cornwall College, Cambourne Frankenstein’s monster in a college production and had been trying out her make-up! I must admit that I wouldn’t normally recommend a day visit to Cornwall just to spend four hours in the county – not on a train, and especially not in December – but I was made so very welcome by everyone that it was all worth it and, who knows, we might even get a new member or two out of it! Phil Stone

A new group for south Wales Hayley James, a new member living in Port Talbot, would like to establish a new group covering south Wales. If any members in this area are interested in joining such a group please contact Hayley by e-mail at [email protected] or by mobile number 07941476810.

Do you have a question about our network of branches and groups? If you have any queries about branches or groups or are thinking about establishing a new one in your area the first person you need to contact is our Branches and Groups Liaison Officer, Jacqui Emerson; she will be able to give you the advice and help you need. Her contact details are on the inside back cover.

York Wills update As we go to press the book of the York Wills is nearing completion and we anticipate it being ready for publication in April, with a formal launch at the study weekend in York. This book is an edition of English wills proved at the Prerogative Court of York for the period 1476 to 1499 and has been edited by Heather Falvey, Peter Hammond and the late Lesley Boatwright, to whom the volume will be dedicated. Once publication and cost details are to hand, they will be available from the Sales Officer and posted on the Society’s website.

Media retrospective material Many thanks to all who have sent in items for the media retrospective section over the past couple of months; due to our extensive coverage of the Greyfriars dig we have not been able to include other media items submitted. However we hope to catch-up with some of these in future issues.

Lincoln connections Steven Spielberg’s new film Lincoln, based on the life of the great American president and starring the British actor Daniel Day-Lewis, is winning many plaudits. Members, especially those in the United States, might be interested to know that in the latter half of the 1950s we had a member by the name of J. Abraham Lincoln who was the president’s great-nephew. 11 Future Society events

Visit to Beaulieu and Buckler’s Hard on Saturday 18 May 2013 (places still available) Beaulieu Abbey was founded in 1204, when King John made a gift of land there to the Cistercian monks. The abbey was built by lay brothers and hired craftsmen to a uniform plan, based on the parent abbey at Cîteaux. The Great Gatehouse was not finished until the fourteenth century. On 2 April 1538 the abbot formally surrendered the abbey to the crown. The church was the first to be demolished, closely followed by the cloisters and chapter house. Until the Dissolution Beaulieu was the only place in central southern England which offered permanent sanctuary for criminals and fugitives, the most famous of whom was Perkin Warbeck. Beaulieu passed into the ownership of Sir Thomas Wriothesley, later earl of Southampton, after the Dissolution, and the estate passed, after the Civil War to the Montagu family. Available to visit: Beaulieu Abbey and exhibition; the Palace House; and the National Motor Museum. The grounds are very extensive. Travel around on foot, by monorail or by veteran bus. There is a large restaurant in the grounds. Everywhere is included in the entrance ticket. Buckler’s Hard is a maritime village, on the banks of the Beaulieu River. There are a Maritime Museum, Shipwright’s Cottage, Chapel and woodland walk. Refreshments and facilities are available. Buckler’s Hard is a short journey from Beaulieu. Everywhere is included in the entrance ticket. A booking form was included with the Bulletin Extra; however, if further forms are needed please contact the Bulletin Team Programme 09.00 Depart from outside Embankment Tube Station (riverside) on our Plan-it Coach. 11.30 approximately, arrive at Beaulieu. Free day at Beaulieu site. Lunch own arrangements. 15.30 Travel by our coach to Bucklers Hard from Beaulieu. Free time at Bucklers Hard. 17.00 Depart back to Embankment. Approximate arrival time 19.30.

Practicalities We will need a minimum of 30 coach bookings to make this visit viable. Cost per person £36 (coach and entrance to both sites). Cost £16 per person (entrance to both sites only) for those travelling by own transport. Replies to the recent Visits Committee survey indicated that these costs are reasonable. Please send one or two 9 x 4in. self-addressed and stamped envelopes: one for a receipt if you do not want an e-mail receipt, and one (everyone) for the final joining letter. Those travelling by own transport will also be sent travelling directions and a map. Cheques to be drawn in favour of Richard III Society, endorsed ‘Beaulieu’, and sent to Rosemary Waxman, 37 Chewton Road, Walthamstow, London E17 7DW. Tel: 0208 521 4261. E-mail: [email protected]. Closing date Saturday 27 April 2013.

Norfolk Branch Study Day 2013 This will take place on Saturday 9 November at the Assembly House, Theatre Street, Norwich on the theme ‘The Sun in Splendour: Edward IV in Peace and War’, and speakers will include Julian Humphries and David Watts. There will be full details in the June Bulletin. If you would like further details, or to book now, please phone Annmarie Hayek on 01603 664021, or e-mail [email protected].

Stop press Please note for your diaries that the Norfolk Branch will be holding a ‘Looking for Richard’ day as its 2014 study day. This will give the whole story, plus any updates. Anyone disappointed at being unable to get to this year’s conference might want to attend. The date is 8 November 2014. 12 Society reviews

A Feast of Fotheringhay – the 2012 Christmas lunch and carol service Saturday 15 December in this annus mirabilis delivered another miracle, whereby the day dawned bright, sunny and, most importantly, dry, after a truly dreadful preceding week or more. The journey taken by the satisfyingly full London coach was a smooth progress through the sunlit countryside to our annual site of pilgrimage and feasting. The Fotheringhay Village Hall was already well populated with members who had travelled under their own steam, and a pleasant mingling of old and new, local and far-flung members was thus achieved. For instance, on my table there were only three ‘old hands’, including Julia from Paris, and five new members. It’s so heartening to see how we are burgeoning. In fact, for the first time, an extra table had to be brought into service though, as it turned, out a handful of unfortunate cancellations allowed the extra table to be used for displaying the copious amount (almost a tombola!) of desirable raffle prizes brilliantly organised, as ever, by Kitty Bristow. The meal was soon under way and we were tucking into the usual sumptuous goodies, after grace by our old friend the Revd Brian Rogers, who always breaks bread with us, so to speak, before taking the carol service at St Mary the Virgin and All Saints, Fotheringhay, across the road (one of his five churches!). After a delicious bowl of soup we could choose from salmon, ham or beef, but were encouraged to have all three, and the many attendant vegetables and salads and other accompaniments. So nice to be free of the mandatory poultries that would probably feature all too frequently for most of us in the next few weeks. The pud course was also a matter of choice or, better still, mixtures thereof . . . traditional Christmas pudding, mince pies, trifle and even rhubarb crumble, which I think was a new kid on the block this year. Now please don’t run away with the idea that all we do is eat! There is also wine available! Lively conversation between friends old and new, sometimes those who haven’t seen each other for a year or more, cracker-pulling and the ensuing joke reading/groaning, and paper hat donning. I do spare a guilty thought about Richard of York on Micklegate Bar at this point but never mind, we visit him, hatless, later. The highest point of hilarity was, as usual, the drawing of the raffle, with its anticipation and for most, disappointment. Sad to say, cries of ‘Fix, fix!’ could even be heard, but nevertheless everyone got a hearty clap. An unbearably sad difference this year was that there was no Lesley Boatwright to weave her gregarious way between the tables with her camera, cajoling us to ‘Smile, please’ and then taking even more candid shots when one wasn’t looking! Some of these photos would find their way into the Bulletin and I can’t help wondering what happened to the others. The few hundred yards walk to the church, usually on the cold side of bracing, was pleasantly warm and sunny this day, and a few of us decided that this, of all years, was the opportunity to make a flying visit to the castle. It was good to offset the sad feelings engendered, a few weeks earlier, gazing upon that shallow shroud-shaped hollow at the bottom of a trench, that served as a ‘cradle’ for half a millennium, to breathe and feel the cool clean air where Richard first drew breath. A stiff climb up the motte aided by wooden steps cut into the grass (which I didn’t remember previously, but perhaps I didn’t need them then!) rewarded us with a beautiful sunlit view across the Northamptonshire countryside and its wonderful skyscape. A perfect day, but not over yet. We attained the church in good time, taking almost the last of the auxiliary seats at the back. It was packed and for the first time, to my knowledge, the service sheets had actually run out and people were doubling up. We are indeed going from strength to strength! There is still more room to be occupied in the future, if necessary (and I’m sure it will be), as there are side aisles, even if it has to be standing room only. The service of Nine Lessons and Carols followed its time-honoured and well-loved pattern, with hearty renderings of the rousing old favourites, not the least of which is ‘While Shepherds Watched’ sung to its original tune, better known for the last century or so as the tune for ‘On Ilkla Moor Bah’t 13 ’at’. The readings are shared equally between parishioners and Society members and, perhaps uniquely to us, the penultimate reading is ‘The Journey of the Magi’ by T. S. Eliot, read by our Chairman Phil Stone, carrying on the tradition set by the late Arthur Cockerill of Yorkshire Branch. We were also delightfully entertained once again by the beautiful singing of the St Peter’s Singers and their musical director, George Haynes. This year their eagerly anticipated contributions included William Walton, Benjamin Britten and John Rutter. Always an emotional experience, I found this year the service was especially poignant, with the tombs of Richard’s parents and big brother beside the altar. Of course, they have always been there with us but I for one have kind of taken it for granted. Not so our sorely missed Lesley. She wrote in 2008 ‘. . . they at least have a last resting place in a fitting spot. We can enfold them in our music and cheerfulness for Christmas, even if it doesn’t reach as far as their son Richard under a car park or whatever in Leicester.’ Thank goodness Lesley lived to hear of the discovery just before she left us. I am heartbroken, though, when I think of all our other dear departed who never lived to see this incredible dream come true. The last and most rousing carol of all is, to me, Adeste Fideles, especially as we sing it in Latin, after which we are treated to an organ voluntary, this year by Mr Ivan Linford, as Revd Brian processes down the aisle resplendent in the Society cope, which he wears well. Joyce Melhuish would be proud. It only remains for us to wander around the church visiting all the old familiar items, including the famous pulpit displaying its white boar, the Society’s window in the south chapel, and all our lovingly worked hassocks inter alia. I couldn’t help noticing this year’s Christmas tree, tastefully decorated in angels, stars and white roses as ever, had rather a sideways kink in its main stem. I wonder if it was deliberate? The last treat of the day, after we left St Mary’s in the dark, was the breathtaking sight of the tower and chancel (well, there isn’t anything else now!) splendidly floodlit as we faded into the distance in our diverse directions. It can be seen for miles, as of course, it was built to do. Thank you very much, Phil, for organising yet another triumphant day, which for many of us is the highlight of our Christmas season. Long may you continue and I’m already looking forward to 2013. Joan Cooksley

In the sad absence of Lesley Boatwright we do not have any photos of this year’s Fotheringhay visit; however, Joan’s excellent and vivid review makes up for this omission. The Society has made various gifts to Fotheringhay over the years, including the York window, dedicated in 1975, and the Fotheringhay cope, given in 1990. The late Joyce Melhuish started the annual Fotheringhay Christmas lunch and carol service visit in 1985, and was the Society’s main contact with the church until her death in 1995, when our Chairman, Phil Stone, took over the role.

Contributions to the Bulletin

Contributions are welcomed from all members. All articles and other items for the Ricardian Bulletin should be sent to the new dedicated Bulletin e-mail address: ricardian[email protected]. Alternatively, the contact details on the back inside cover can be used. The editorial team would prefer to receive contributions as Word file attachments to e- mails wherever possible, since we have limited capacity to transcribe and type up written submissions and there may be delays in using them.

Bulletin Press Dates 15 January for March issue; 15 April for June issue; 15 July for September issue; 15 October for December issue. Articles should be sent well in advance.

The Bulletin Editorial Committee

14 Other news, reviews and events

A ‘Grand Hotel’ of Richard III’s time On his way to the battle of Bosworth, Richard III spent a night in Leicester – according to tradition at the Blue Boar Inn located on Leicester’s medieval high street, now Highcross Street. It was built in the fifteenth century and so would have been considered modern in Richard’s day. Then it was one of the premier inns in the county, offering the medieval equivalent of five-star accommodation, which is why it has been called the ‘Grand Hotel’ of its time, with several wings surrounding a courtyard, a hall, a kitchen and stabling for horses. Though the Blue Boar Inn has gone, the purpose of the site has not changed; part of it is now occupied by a Travelodge. However, the status of the accommodation might have changed a bit – it’s difficult to imagine a medieval king staying like the rest of us at a Travelodge. The building remained at the site for 400 years, but eventually fell into disrepair and was demolished in March 1836. Up to now the only information on what it looked like consisted of two engravings, which had been made by John The Blue Boar Inn in J. Flower, Views Flower, an artist from Leicestershire, ten years before its of Ancient Buildings, in the Town and demolition. This was until Richard Buckley of the County of Leicester (Leicester, [?1825]). By permission of University University of Leicester happened to look through the of Leicester Library notebooks of a nineteenth-century architect, Henry Goddard. In one of them he discovered notes and measurements of a large timber-frame building, which he immediately recognised as the Blue Boar Inn. The notes show exactly how the building was put together, with all the details such as the timber framing, the joints, peg holes, together with exact measurements. He approached an architect, Steffan Davies, who has experience with drawings of historic buildings, to make a series of computer-aided design images based on these notes. Steffan put together a series of drawings and a 3D computer model. This information was then fed into a 3D printer at the university, which converted it into a 1:50 scale model. The model is so detailed that it shows all the timber framing, the jointing, the moulding of the timbers, the fireplaces and even the first floor chamber in which Richard III was said to have slept. See colour section, p. iv. There is a short video on the website of the University of Leicester showing all the information: Flower’s drawing, the notebooks and eventually the 3D print out. Don’t miss this, it’s fascinating: www2.le.ac.uk/news/blog/2012/december/richard-iii-search-team-recreates-model-of-kings-final- abode Dorothea Preis

Richard III Requiem 2012 A large group of Ricardians, their friends and guests gathered on 22 August at the Royal Chantry Chapel of St Edmund at Spital in the Street, north of Lincoln, once again for the Annual Mass of Requiem of King Richard III, for his beloved Queen Anne and their son, Edward Prince of Wales and for all those who fell on that momentous day in 1485. As ever, the Trustees of the Royal Chantry Chapel had been generous beyond measure and had handed over the building to Bishop Howard Weston-Smart and his assistants and, as ever, all agreed that they had created an illumination from a medieval manuscript, with the nave dominated by its catafalque and surrounding 7-foot high tapers bearing shields with the arms of the king. This year Mgr Weston-Smart had commissioned a new pall 15 to cover the catafalque, bearing once again the arms of the late medieval kings of England. Paid for by a wide group of supporters and friends, it is an exquisite piece of work, as you will see in the photograph, and added beauty as well as an air of authenticity to the scene, which was now prepared for the Pontifical High Mass – celebrated by Archbishop Douglas Lewins, who is a member of the College of Chaplains of the Chapel, assisted by Fr Paul Bagott (who also preached a sermon which was greatly appreciated by all present) and Fr Victor Bullock, who is once again a member of the College of Chaplains. As always, at the foot of the catafalque, resting upon a piece of medieval sculpture provided by the Trustees, was a floral tribute with 33 white roses: one for each year of the king’s age. The shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary was graced by a tribute with 29 roses, one for each year of Queen Anne’s age at the time of her death, whilst the shrine of King St Edmund had nine, one for each year of the age of Edward, prince of Wales. Needless to say, the Mass conformed to the Rite just coming into use in the Western Church at the end of the fifteenth century and with which King Richard would have been highly familiar, albeit in English, though there were several motets in Latin at the time of Communion and at the conclusion a solemn Salve was sung and the shrine of the Virgin incensed. The whole ceremony was brought to an end with the Absolutions of the Dead, solemnly sung by Bishop Weston-Smart and all present. ‘A most devout and inspiring occasion’ was the universal sentiment of all present. An excellent reception followed, with superb refreshments prepared by the Trustees but funded by the Lincolnshire Branch of the Richard III Society. The day was brought to an end with a thought provoking lecture delivered by the Senior Trustee, Dr David Marcombe, on the subject of ‘Sir John Neville of Liversedge, a forgotten Yorkist’. We are all grateful to David for his thought-provoking and insightful words. We all felt that we had once again recalled the king’s memory in an appropriate and seemly fashion with suffrage for the repose of his soul, along with his family and those who fell at Bosworth, be they friend or foe. Once again, I must record my personal gratitude initially to the Trustees, my good friends Anne and The catafalque David for their unstinting kindness and generosity in entrusting their wonderful treasure-house to my care, albeit just for few hours – how very envious of them we all are. To Jean Townsend and to the members of the Lincolnshire Branch of the Richard III Society, to Phil Stone and the national Richard III Society, to Andy Smith (who had intended to be with us but was prevented at the last minute from attending) and other members of the Richard III Foundation, to my fellow chaplains and priestly assistants, to the servers, who came from all over England to support us, and to everyone else who helped prepare for the day, during the day and after the day, but specially to everyone who came to the Mass just to join their prayers with ours for that most unfairly and unjustly maligned of kings, for his wife and his son and for all who fell this day upon Bosworth Field. We look forward to seeing you all next year. Susan Weston-Smart

Richard III – a musical tribute Singer and composer Richard Smolowik has sent us a copy of his latest CD, entitled A Tribute to Richard III. It comprises a prelude and three songs and has recently received a favourable review from the Essex Folk Magazine. We asked Richard what inspired him to compose the pieces and he recalled that his English Literature teacher at grammar school had always reminded them that whilst Shakespeare’s play was based on historical figures it was a work of fiction. However, it was the 16 doctoring of Richard’s portraits, natural sympathy for a man who lost so rapidly his son, wife and own life, and the 1984 Trial of Richard III not guilty verdict, that motivated him to make his own musical contribution to the king’s rehabilitation. The opening track is called ‘The Carrion Crow of Richard III’ and is inspired by John Heath- Stubbs’ poem about Bosworth, The Carrion Crow, and is in the genre of a traditional English folk song. This is followed by ‘In Defence of Richard III’, which is a riposte to Shakespeare’s play. ‘Prelude to Richard III’ is next and this is a guitar tribute to King Richard based on the galliard style of early English music. The last track is entitled ‘Plantagenet Pomegranate’, a lament for King Richard, with the finger-plucking guitar style evoking the sound of horses riding to battle. Copies of the CD are available from Richard at a cost of £10, including postage and packing. He can be contacted on 07787 887270 or by e-mail: [email protected]

Recent Ricardian finds The year 2012 proved a remarkable one for reports of Ricardian finds, and not just those in a car park in Leicester. On 15 November 2012 the Leicester Mercury reported the find of a gold coin dating from 1484, found some ten or so miles from Bosworth. The coin depicts a ship on one side, with an R and a boar to either side of the mast, while on the other side St Michael is spearing a dragon. This depiction of St Michael gives the coin its common name of an angel. While it was worth 6s 8d in 1484, it sold at auction for £36,000. Because of its location it has been speculated that it was lost by someone on their way to or from the battle of Bosworth, although all that can safely be said is that it was lost sometime during or after 1484. (Illustrated in the colour section, p. iv.)

Above: The Thames boar, with crescent detail This might also be said to be the year of the magnified (see p. 63) Image courtesy of the boar, as two boars were discovered. In October Portable Antiquities Scheme (reference LON- A33FF5) 2012 a copper alloy boar mount was found on the Below: The Stillingfleet boar. © York Museums Thames foreshore near the Tower of London. This Trust (Yorkshire Museum) is the subject of an article by Geoffrey Wheeler on p. 63 of this issue. Also last year, a boar badge found at Stillingfleet in Yorkshire in 2010 was purchased by the Yorkshire Museum to add to their collection of medieval finds. This badge was silver gilt and resembles the one found at Bosworth. What is particularly interesting is that Stillingfleet manor passed to Francis, Lord Lovell in 1474 after the death of his grandmother Alice Deincourt, wife of William, Lord Lovell. 17 The final object of interest was reported on 22 December 2012 in The Guardian. This was a 500- year-old reliquary which had been found in Hockley, Essex. Diamond-shaped and engraved with the names of the Magi and images of Christ and St Helena, the reliquary or locket had a back panel which slid off. The description and picture was reminiscent of the Middleham jewel; however, a better picture on the British Museum website shows it to be rather less fine, and dates it to the early sixteenth century. More detail is given on the finds web site at http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ record/id/256636. Lynda Pidgeon

Monumental Brass Society 2013 Conference The Monumental Brass Society is holding its 2013 Conference at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, 12–14 April 2013. The theme of the conference is ‘Town and Gown’ and as well as several visits to the parish churches and college chapels of Cambridge, a series of lectures will examine differing aspects of commemoration for the University men and for the parishioners of medieval Cambridge. Speakers are: John Lee, Nicholas Rogers, Sir John Baker, Rebecca Oakes, Robert Kinsey, Elizabeth New, Rhun Emlyn, Sue Powell and Rosemary Horrox. Residential and non-residential rates are available and full details are available on the MBS web page, www.mbs-brasses.co.uk/mbs%20conference.html, together with a booking form. Alternatively, contact Christian Steer, Hon. Secretary, Monumental Brass Society, 8 Shefford Lodge, Link Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 7LR, e-mail: [email protected].

Never a clean way to slay a king [or a prime minster] This was the title of a recent opinion piece in our daily broadsheet, the Sydney Morning Herald. What the author Peter Hartcher goes on to tell his readers will resonate with any Ricardian: ‘Regicide is such a serious crime that the usurper is tempted to go to extremes to rewrite the record. The new regime blackened the character of the fallen king. And it insisted that the ascendant [ruler] had the barest possible amount of blood on her hands. The legitimacy of an anointed ruler can’t be snatched by his assassins. It has to be bestowed.’ However, Mr Hartcher is not writing about what happened more than 500 years ago in 1485. The recently published memoirs of a former Australian member of parliament, Maxine McKew, were the reason for his comments on Australian affairs only two years ago, when the prime minister Kevin Rudd was toppled by his deputy, Australia’s current prime minister Julia Gillard. Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. If you would like to read the full article see: Peter Hartcher, ‘Never a clean way to slay a king’, Sydney Morning Herald (27 October 2012), www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/never-a-clean-way- to-slay-a-king-20121026-28b3q.html. Dorothea Preis

Blue plaque for Richard III cottages I have been alerted to an article in The Cowbridge Gem newspaper from 20 December 2012 entitled ‘“Christmas Cottages” get coveted blue plaque’. Numbers 6–7 Church Street, Cowbridge (in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales) have been known for many years as the ‘Christmas Cottages.’The blue plaque states: 6–7 CHURCH STREET ORIGINALLY ONE HOUSE PREVIOUSLY THE TOWN HOUSE (1738) BELIEVED TO BE THE HOUSE OF THE CHAPLAIN SANCTIONED BY RICHARD III 27 FEB 1484 Robert Cope, who lives at number 6 Church Street, has researched the history of the house, along 18 with other members of the Cowbridge Record Society. According to the article, evidence suggests that it is the oldest house in Cowbridge. Apparently Cowbridge had campaigned for some years during the 1480s for Holy Cross Church to have its own chaplaincy, despite opposition from Llanblethian. King Richard himself ruled that Cowbridge should have a chaplain and the house was built for him with present day number 6 as the house and number 7 as the stable. There is evidence of a path that led from the house to Holy Cross Church and the house still has a ground-floor fireplace with a span of 7 feet which dates back to the fifteenth century. Margaret Byrne

Battle of Northampton site saved The battle of Northampton was one of the decisive encounters of the Wars of the Roses and came less than a year after the Yorkist rout at Ludford Bridge the previous October. It may also have been the first battle in Britain where artillery was used. On 10 July 1460 an army under the command of the Earl of Warwick approached the defensive encampment of Henry VI’s army to the south of Northampton. The Yorkists were triumphant and a number of leading Lancastrians were either killed or captured. Henry VI himself was taken prisoner after the battle and shortly thereafter Richard, duke of York, was able to return from Ireland and make his claim for the throne. The site of this important battle is to become a protected area, following the recent announcement by Northampton Borough Council that a conservation management plan is to be developed. The site is undefined at present and has been under threat from plans to use it for sports pitches and training areas. The Battlefields Trust has campaigned for many years for the survey of the 85-acre site in the Delapré Park area of the town.

A Macbeth Society? With all the media interest that has been generated over the search for Richard’s remains, together with the Society’s vigorous PR efforts to publicise the true facts, hopefully this will overturn the old Shakespearean view of Richard. Possibly it is now time for the Scots to look at trying to do something similar to resurrect the reputation of Macbeth, another monarch whose reputation was assassinated by Shakespeare? In fact a few years ago I was contacted by the office of one of the Scottish Nationalist members of parliament enquiring as to how we ran our society and managed to generate public interest in Richard, bearing in mind that this was long before the current Ricardian media furore. I wonder if we will see a Macbeth Society arise to counteract the Shakespearean view of this much maligned Scottish monarch.? Richard Van Allen

Richard III Boar and Banner Society member and artist Mary Kelly, in partnership with Carol Sandy, has established a new website, which sells a range of Mary’s colourful artwork and commemorative memorabilia from the time of Richard III and the medieval period. The site can be visited at www.boarandbanner.com.

Stop press – the Leicester Conference, 2 March 2013 We will have a full coverage of the conference in the June Bulletin. In the meantime, Joint Secretaries, Sue and Dave Wells, report that is was a highly successful event and they would like to acknowledge the contribution of all those who helped on the day, particularly with registration and sales. They will record their thanks in more detail in June’s issue.

19 Research news We are introducing a Research news section to the Bulletin so that we can keep members informed of progress with the Society’s research projects and to bring to their attention any helpful research resources.

Anglo American Legal Tradition (AALT): http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT.html Documents from Medieval and Early Modern England from The National Archives, Kew [The following text has been taken from the website and altered slightly.] The purpose of the AALT website is to make the resources of The National Archives (TNA) more accessible to the general scholarly audience at no charge. The website comprises photographs of legal documents held at TNA dated between 1272 and 1800 and covers the major legal and financial series of documents. As at January 2012 there were 7,000,000 frames of historical material available on the site, and more is constantly being added. The documents are being digitised and displayed through the O’Quinn Law Library of the University of Houston Law Center by licence of The National Archives, sponsored by the University of Houston Law Center and by the University of Houston Department of History. The website is financially well endowed and run through the O’Quinn Law Library, and so its continuance does not depend on an individual or the annual allocation of funds. It should therefore be a stable and dependable academic research resource. The cameras used are standard, readily available versions of the Canon camera line, at first the Powershot S70, then the Powershot S80 with a better range of resolution. Scanning the images would have produced very high-quality images, but at an enormous, indeed prohibitive, cost. The argument from the beginning has been that such projects should aim to produce images that are of sufficient quality to enable research, not perfect images: resources should be arranged to increase the overall possibilities for research.

Using the site Finding a particular page Most documents on AALT are separated into two sides, fronts and backs, because the documents are not unbound. The blue and red markers (designating page numbers of multiples of 10 and 50) help users match up corresponding fronts and backs. Furthermore, the thumbnail pages are now limited to 200 thumbnails per page, and since on average each side of a plea roll takes two pictures, one can estimate which thumbnail page to access. The limitation of 200 thumbnails per page also makes each thumbnail larger, so that the blue and red markers are more easily seen. Browsing documents If you are not looking for a particular page, but rather working through a document, arrows at the top of each page allow you to progress from one image to the next in a single folder without returning to the thumbnail page. Another good strategy for reading the document as a whole is to use two browser windows. The first window contains the folder with the images of the fronts; the second window contains the folder for the backs. You can alternate between windows and thus work your way through the document without laborious searching. This procedure works equally well whether you are working through the document online or on your computer after downloading documents. For the reign of Richard III, there are photographs of the following document series: Common Pleas, Plea Rolls: CP40/885B–893 King’s Bench Plea Rolls: KB27/888–896; KB29/114–115 Exchequer of Pleas Plea Rolls: E13/169–170 King’s Remembrancer: Memoranda Rolls E159/260–261 Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer: Memoranda Rolls E368/256–258 20 Pipe Foreign Accounts: E364/117, 118 and some 119 and 120 Pipe Rolls: E372/328–330 Early Chancery Proceedings: C1 Feet of Fines: CP25(1) Fines Duchy (of Lancaster) Orders and Decrees: DL5/2 Kings Remembrancer Accounts Various: E101 Of course, these documents are easy to access, but not necessarily easy to read. Some documents are in Latin and some very dirty. Do have a look. Heather Falvey

The Ricardian Chronicle 2013 – opportunities to research the fifteenth-century world Remember our Ricardian Chronicle project? Our aim is to compile a diary of everyday events in England. It is relatively easy to find out what kings and noblemen were up to, but for this project we hope to uncover what was happening to the ordinary folk, not just in the towns and cities but in the villages too. Think of it as combining the medieval stories from Eastenders, Coronation Street and The Archers, all the scandal and gossip. As always, the Society is happy to have more researchers for the project. We have 25 members to date, looking into local history archives, discovering what folk were up to across the country during the reigns of Edward V, Richard III and Henry Tudor, from 1483 up to 1500. If you have recently joined the Society, or have been a member for a while, and want to take an active part in an ongoing project, something which will be of benefit to future researchers, as well as intriguing us in the present, join us now. If you like the idea of searching dusty documents but don’t think you would be able to read the ancient handwriting, we have an excellent correspondence course to help you. The course is ‘in-house’, run by our own Heather Falvey, and can be done as and when you wish, at your own pace, and would be ideal for family history researchers too. Don’t be shy and don’t feel you are committing yourself to too much work – a single entry from your local archive to our fifteenth-century diary would be greatly appreciated. If you wish to join us in our quest or would like to do the palaeography (reading dodgy old writing) course, please contact me on [email protected] for further information. Happy researching! Toni Mount

Some useful research resources: medieval credit and Inquisitions Post Mortem Thanks to funding from a variety of sources, universities are now carrying out research on documents in the National Archives which they are then making available to the wider public via the internet. This opens up a whole new area for us to research and explore from the comfort of a computer. Searchable resources such as the Inquisitions Post Mortem are especially useful, as you could, for example, look for all references to books or beds. At Reading University the ICMA centre which is involved in business and finance is also the home for researchers working on medieval credit. Professor Adrian Bell, who is leading this particular project, was also involved in the Medieval Soldier project, which was a joint collaboration with Professor Anne Curry at Southampton University. This new project looks at documents in the National Archives relating to loans to the English crown c. 1272–1340. While this is outside our period it has some interesting information on currency and monetary values and gives a link to exchange rates over time, so that you can find out how much 1d in 1485 would be worth today. There is also an interest rate calculator that enables you to work out just how much that £5 loan to the king would have actually cost. To follow this up, go to: http://apps.icmacentre.ac.uk/medievalcredit/ CreditFinance_seminar_2010.asp Inquisitions Post Mortem (IPMs) are another useful resource and these are gradually being made available via a project at Winchester University under the leadership of Professor Michael Hicks.

21 Entitled ‘Mapping the Medieval Countryside’, the aim is to publish searchable English translations of inquisitions for the periods 1236–1447 and 1485–1509. Sadly, funding ran out before those for the reign of Richard III were transcribed and translated. At the moment the site provides background information on inquisitions and details of those which have been printed. There is also a ‘featured inquisition’ section, which looks at an individual inquisition. Over time more information will become available and so it is worth visiting it from time to time to see who is featured and how many more IPMs have become available to search. The site can be found at: http://www.inquistionspostmortemac.uk

What is an Inquisition Post Mortem? Inquisitions were inquiries made into what lands were held by a tenant-in-chief of the crown when they died. It determined the land held, by whom and for what service. The value of the land was given and the heir identified and their age. If the heir was of age then an assessment was made of how much the king was owed between the tenant’s death and the succession of the heir. If the heir was a minor then the right to their wardship and marriage was established as well as the annual value of the estate. Inquisitions would be held in every county in which the deceased had held land of the king. Lynda Pidgeon

The International Medieval Congress 2013 (IMC) The IMC is the largest annual gathering of medievalists in Europe, with a focus on all aspects of the Middle Ages (c. 300–1500). Last year the IMC was attended by a record 1751 participants from 40 countries worldwide, with over half coming from outside the UK. The 20th annual IMC will take place 1–4 July 2013 in Leeds on the University of Leeds main campus and will focus on the special thematic strand, ‘Pleasure’. For more information on IMC 2013 visit www.leeds.ac.uk/ims/imc/ index.html Members of the Research Committee will again be in attendance, and we will also be having a stall at the IMC's Historical and Archaeological Societies Fair which takes place on Wednesday 3 July from 1 to 5 p.m.

Coming in the June Bulletin Following the confirmation that Richard III's remains had been found, the Bulletin’s postbag has been a lot fuller than normal. We have not been able to include all the letters and comments received in this issue, but we hope to catch up in June’s Bulletin. There will also be features on scoliosis, King Richard’s diet and the facial reconstruction. We will also carry news of any further developments in the plans for King Richard’s reinterment and the Greyfriars visitors centre. Other items to look forward to include:

• Phillipa Langley will be paying tribute to the unsung heroes who helped make the Looking for Richard III project such a success. • Annette Carson reflects on the Greyfriars excavation and what it might mean for Richard’s reputation. • Stephen Cooper looks at the role played at Agincourt by Richard III’s great-uncle, Edward, duke of York, who was an important figure in the history of House of York. • Geoffrey Wheeler’s article about Claire Bloom’s role as Anne Neville in Olivier’s film version of Shakespeare’s Richard III (initially planned for this issue but due to lack of space held over till June.)

22 Looking for Richard

Leicester’s Greyfriars dig: the result

The evidence from the Greyfriars dig In the Bulletin Extra we provided a summary of the finds; here we provide Leicester University’s key supporting evidence behind the identification of the human remains as belonging to Richard III. The text is copyright of the University of Leicester. For further information visit www.le.ac.uk/richardiii.

Evidence from DNA analysis The modern DNA work was carried out by Dr Turi King at the University of Leicester. Dr King carried out the ancient DNA analysis in dedicated ancient DNA facilities at the University of York, in the lab of Professor Michael Hofreiter with Gloria Gonzales Fortes, and travelled to the Université Paul Sabatier in Toulouse – to work with Dr Patricia Balaresque and Laure Tonasso – where the work was independently verified. This was checked with mitochondrial DNA from the two female-line descendents – Canadian-born furniture maker Michael Ibsen and a second person who wishes to remain anonymous. Their link with Richard III was verified by a genealogical study led by University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Ibsen gives a DNA sample to Dr Turi Kevin Schürer. King Dr Turi King said: ‘The aim of our part of Finally, the DNA sequence obtained from the the project is to use DNA evidence to help Greyfriars skeletal remains was compared with identify the skeletal remains found at the the two maternal line relatives of Richard III. Greyfriars site: does the DNA analysis We were very excited to find that there is a corroborate the archaeological evidence and DNA match between the maternal DNA from point to these being the remains of Richard III? the family of Richard III and the skeletal The first step was to determine if the two remains we found at the Greyfriars dig. female-line relatives – Michael Ibsen and a ‘As in a forensic case, the DNA evidence second person who wishes to remain must be assessed alongside the other evidence. anonymous – shared the same mitochondrial Here the results of the archaeological and DNA sequences. The analysis showed that osteological analysis, combined with the these two individuals shared the same genealogical and genetic evidence, make for a relatively rare mitochondrial DNA sequence. strong and compelling case that these are We then had to see if it was even possible to indeed the remains of Richard III. retrieve ancient DNA from the Greyfriars ‘In addition, the researchers are hoping to skeleton. DNA breaks down over time and how compare the skeleton’s DNA with descendants quickly this happens is very dependent on the down the male line. To do this, they will need burial conditions. Therefore, we were to obtain Y chromosome data – the male sex extremely pleased to find that we could obtain chromosome. Preliminary analysis of the DNA a DNA sample from the skeletal remains. confirmed that these are indeed the remains of

23 a male and so researchers are hopeful that they historical sources which describe Richard as will be able to analyse the Y chromosome. A being of very slender build. There is, however, number of the men identified as descendants of no indication that he had a withered arm – both Edward III through his son John of Gaunt – arms were of a similar size and both were used who would both have shared the same Y normally during life. The skeleton is that of an chromosome as Richard III – have been kind individual aged between the late 20s and late enough to donate their DNA to our project. The 30s. We know that Richard III was 32 when he analysis of their DNA is complete and I now died, and this is entirely consistent with the have a consensus Y chromosome type of these Greyfriars skeleton. Without the spinal individuals. As such, this side of the work is in abnormality, the Greyfriars skeleton would its early stages, and may indeed prove have stood roughly 5ft 8in. (1.72m) high. This inconclusive, but we are hopeful that, if it’s would have been above average height for a possible to conduct a full analysis, it will medieval male; however, the curve in the spine provide a complete picture on both the male would have taken a significant amount off his and female lines.’ apparent height when standing. This individual was not born with scoliosis, but it developed Evidence from bone analysis after the age of ten. The condition would have Dr Jo Appleby, an osteoarchaeologist based at put additional strain on the heart and lungs, and the University’s School of Archaeology and it may have caused pain, but we cannot be Ancient History, conducted an extensive specific about this. examination of the Greyfriars skeleton. Her Our work has shown that a large wound to main findings were: the base of the skull at the back represents a ‘slice’ cut off the skull by a bladed weapon. We • The individual was male, in his late 20s to cannot say for certain exactly what weapon late 30s, and had gracile or feminine build. caused this injury, but it is consistent with • He had severe scoliosis – perhaps with an something similar to a halberd. A smaller onset at the time of puberty. injury, also on the base of the skull, was caused • Although he was around 5ft 8in. (1.61m) by a bladed weapon which penetrated through tall, his condition meant he would have to the inner surface of the skull opposite the stood up to 1ft (0.3m) shorter and his right entry point, a distance of 10.5cm. Both of these shoulder would have been higher than the injuries would have caused almost instant loss left. of consciousness, and death would have • Trauma to the skeleton suggests death followed quickly afterwards. A further three following a significant blow to the rear of wounds have been identified on the outer the skull. surface of the vault of the skull. In addition to • Other injuries may have occurred at these, there is a small rectangular injury on the around the time of death. These include cheekbone. several injuries to the head, one to the rib Finally on the skull, there is a cut mark on and one to the pelvis – thought to have the lower jaw, caused by a bladed weapon, been caused by a wound through the right consistent with a knife or dagger. We speculate buttock. that the helmet had been lost by this stage in the • Evidence suggests significant post- battle. This has led us to speculate that they mortem mutilation – ‘insult wounds’ – may reflect attacks on the body after death, although the face may have been although we cannot confirm this directly from deliberately left intact to ensure he was the bones. Examples of such ‘humiliation still recognisable. injuries’ are well known from the historical and Dr Appleby said: ‘Taken as a whole, the skeletal forensic literature, and historical sources have evidence provides a highly convincing case for suggested that Richard’s body was mistreated identification as Richard III. The analysis of the after the battle. In addition, there is a cut mark skeleton proved that it was an adult male, but on a rib which did not penetrate the ribcage and with an unusually slender, almost feminine, an injury on the right pelvis. This is highly build for a man. This is in keeping with consistent with being a blade wound from a 24 knife or dagger, which came from behind in an There is always a risk that you may have a upward movement. Detailed three-dimensional match between ‘A’ and ‘B’ – but without reconstruction of the pelvis has indicated that having all the links in the chain, the link may this injury was caused by a thrust through the be spurious. Right from the start of the project, right buttock, not far from the midline of the we did not want to rely entirely on the DNA body. These two wounds are also likely to have between Michael and the skeleton. We always been inflicted after armour had been removed wanted – for scientific reasons – to triangulate from the body. This leads us to speculate that that wherever possible. We set about trying to they may also represent post-mortem secure a second maternal line, and after several humiliation injuries inflicted on this individual weeks of research we actually did discover this after death.’ person. The documentary evidence again is there to support this.’ Evidence from the genealogical study Professor Kevin Schürer, the University’s Pro- Evidence from archaeological dig Vice-Chancellor with special responsibility for Archaeologists from University of Leicester Research and Enterprise, led a genealogical Archaeological Services (ULAS) carried out a study to verify the connection between dig at the site of the Grey Friars church in Canadian-born furniture maker Michael Ibsen Leicester – where Richard III is believed to and Richard III. They also aimed to find other have been buried – in August. The team descendents of the king by exploring both the uncovered a fully articulated skeleton, with male and female lines of descent. The team possible battle injuries and scoliosis of the included David Annal, previously Principal spine. The initial archaeological investigation Family History Specialist at the Family showed: Records Centre, The National Archives, and Dr • The burial is in the choir of the church, as Morris Bierbrier, a Fellow of the Society of recorded by the chronicler of the time, Genealogists, specialising in royal lineage. The John Rous team found: • The grave has apparently been hastily dug • confirmation of the maternal link between and was not quite long enough Anne of York – Richard III’s sister – and • There is no evidence for a coffin, shroud Michael Ibsen’s mother Joy; or clothing as might be expected for a • documentary evidence for each ‘link’ of high-status burial. the chain between Anne of York and Joy • The disposition of the arms is unusual, Ibsen; raising the possibility that the hands could • a second maternal descendent – who have been tied. wishes to remain anonymous – whose • The skeletal remains show that the person DNA has been used to verify the link suffered from severe scoliosis and had between the skeleton and Michael Ibsen. died as a result of wounds received in battle. Professor Kevin Schürer said ‘We wanted to try and verify the identity of the skeleton Experts from the East Midlands Forensic against present DNA. We wanted to both look Pathology Unit (EMFPU), based at the on the male line of direct descent and the University of Leicester, and the Department of female line of direct descent to match both Engineering, conducted a radiological examin- aspects of the DNA. What we have done is to ation of the human remains. The group, led by look at the line from Anne of York to Michael EMFPU chief forensic pathologist Professor Ibsen and accurately checked every link of the Guy Rutty, aimed to help identify the remains chain. This was to ensure that we can give – as well as to determine the cause of the documentary evidence that the daughters and individual’s death. The group found: the mothers match up all the way to Joy Ibsen and Michael Ibsen. We have been successful in • The dental evidence suggests the proving that link, and I think that’s an individual was 35, while bone evidence important part of the scientific experiment. suggests he was 30 to 39. 25 • There are multiple estimates for his height, died. Radiocarbon dating is also useful for ranging from 5ft 3in. to 6ft – with the telling us about the individual’s diet – which means for each calculation ranging from can be an indicator of their social status. The 5ft 7in. to 5ft 9in. radiocarbon dating shows: • He was white. • The individual had a high protein diet – • The cause of death – on a balance of including significant amounts of seafood – probabilities – has been given as a head meaning he was likely to be of high status. injury, with the proviso that the remains • The individual died in the second half of would only show injuries to the bone and the fifteenth or in the early sixteenth not other organs. For instance, he could century – consistent with Richard’s death have been stabbed in the heart and there in 1485. would be no mark on the skeleton. • The pelvic injury was potentially fatal Comparison with historical sources depending upon when it was inflicted – There are a several contemporary accounts which cannot be determined from a which claim to tell us about Richard III’s skeleton. However, history suggests he appearance and character – but it can be died from a head injury and not pelvic difficult to know how much their represent- injury. ations were affected by contemporary or later • The individual had also sustained non- events, including the Tudor ascent. Fifteenth- fatal injuries to the head and one rib. century scholar John Rous completed his Professor Guy Rutty said: ‘We used computed History of England in 1486, which contained tomography (CT) scanning to look at the bones some unflattering but not entirely derogatory and determine the age, stature and ethnicity of material about Richard III. John Rous said: the individual. We also used the CT to also look • Richard was ‘slight in body and weak in at the injuries, natural disease and aging of the strength’ – which corresponds with Dr Jo individual. It was very important to our work. It Appleby’s description of the skeleton as was the best bone CT we have ever done. There ‘gracile’. are potentially fatal injuries to his head – and • He was buried among the Friars Minor we won’t dispute the possibility that it was one (Franciscans) of Leicester in the choir of of these wounds that killed him. There are also the church. This was the part of the church a number of other injuries to his head as well as where the search team discovered the an injury to his rib cage and injury to his pelvis remains. which were not fatal and may be post mortem.’ Professor Sarah Hainsworth, an expert in Similarly, fifteenth-century Silesian nobleman tool mark analysis, Professor of Materials Nicolas von Poppelau – who met and clearly Engineering at the University’s Department of liked Richard III – said Richard was taller and Engineering and forensic engineer at the slimmer than himself, not so solid and far EMFPU, carried out micro-computed X-ray leaner, with delicate arms and legs. tomography (micro-CT) scanning on the skull. Professor Lin Foxhall, Head of the This was critical in helping to determine the University of Leicester’s School of types of weapon that were used to create the Archaeology and Ancient History, said: ‘Jo’s injuries as the resolution of the images shows discoveries about the delicate, ‘gracile’ detail that helps us to interpret the way in character of the skeleton and some of its which the damage was inflicted. gender-ambivalent characteristics might encourage us now to see these historical Evidence from radiocarbon dating descriptions in a new light, and to read these The University of Leicester commissioned descriptions rather differently than I suspect analysis from the Universities of Oxford and translators have done in the past. Glasgow, which carried out radiocarbon dating ‘In Latin, “vis”, “strength, vigour”, is often analysis of the skeleton to help determine the a characteristically masculine quality. If we time period in which the individual would have have identified this skeleton as the right

26 individual, Rous’ and von Poppelau’s accounts manifestation of his character. Texts also don’t could actually have been more acute and always tell us “the facts” in a straightforward precise descriptions of the living person than way. But, now that we may be able to set these anyone has realised. Our archaeological texts against the archaeological finds, we could research does not tell us anything about the end up rewriting a little bit of history in a big character of Richard III, and of course his way.’ physical condition and appearance were not a

Who killed Richard III? The debate Part of Leland’s mission was to ‘visit continues families who had helped to establish the Tudor Following on from the article in the December dynasty. He was visiting the first-generation Bulletin, two further names can be added to descendants of the men who had taken part in those claiming responsibility for the death of the Battle of Bosworth and Leland had a list of Richard III. An e-mail from Mark Dobson their names’.6 Three knights connected to the provided the name of Rhys Fawr ap royal household came from North Wales. Maredudd,1 while Raymond Skinner sent Interestingly, given Rhys’ role at Bosworth, information on Thomas Woodshawe.2 two of them, Sir Richard Puleston and Sir Rhys Fawr ap Maredudd’s claim comes William Griffith, had served with Charles down from family tradition, which claims he Brandon, and supplied Leland with details for delivered the final blow with his halberd. The Wales. family coat of arms is said to confirm this: it Of the many families visited by Leland it is displays a white lion holding ‘an uprooted only Rhys Fawr who was said to have claimed white rose with royal purple leaves’, which is responsibility for killing Richard, while said to symbolise the death of Richard. Further another of those visited, Elis ap Richard of information on Rhys Fawr (Rhys the Great), Althrey Hall in Maelor Saesneg (parish of can be found in John Leland’s Itinerary.3 Bangor, Overton and Hanmer), was able to Rhys lived in the township of Tir Ifan, in a show Leland a room in his hall where the name three-storeyed tower house at Plas Iolyn that Richmond had been scrawled on the wall to overlooked the Merddwr valley. Following the show its owner’s support of Tudor. This was death of William Brandon at Bosworth, Rhys Elis’ father Richard ap Howell, whose support took up Henry’s standard and ‘according to at Bosworth had been rewarded with the king’s tradition’ killed Richard. In gratitude for his sword and belt.7 Therefore, while many support Henry added to his estates and wealth. claimed to be supporters, not all claimed to be Rhys’ son Robert became chaplain to Wolsey a regicide. and benefited further from Tudor favour. In the Succeeding generations of the Welsh gentry church at Ysbyty Ifan there are alabaster who had supported Tudor appear to have effigies of Rhys and his wife Lowri, probably maintained their connections to the Tudor placed there by his grandson Ellis Price.4 court, receiving rewards of further land and Leland provides interesting background on offices in Wales. Many of those supporting those who supported Tudor. He became Henry Tudor came from North Wales and were to be VIII’s librarian in 1530, then in 1536 he was found amongst the lesser gentry. With Tudor’s appointed King’s Antiquarian and commiss- own family coming from Anglesey this is ioned to ‘peruse and diligently search out all unsurprising. Much of the support for Tudor the libraries belonging to the religious houses, had been encouraged by the poets who saw to make a survey of the books and manuscripts Henry as the prophesied king of the Britons, and find texts that would emphasise the with whose coming the Welsh would be supremacy of the King in his contest with resurgent and the Saxons overcome. Rome’.5 Over the summers of 1536 to 1539 he Despite Welsh support things did not quite travelled the counties of England and Wales, turn out as the Welsh hoped, and the with the names of local gentry who could Glamorgan poet Llywelyn ap Hywel became provide him with accommodation while on his critical of Henry VII and his choice of English journey. councillors. ‘The Welsh’, he said, ‘had become 27 mere servants of the Tudors, “the men from Rudyard and Thomas Woodshawe, both from Anglesey”, whilst base weeds were promoted Staffordshire, and Rhys ap Thomas and Rhys lords. Jasper and Henry preferred the men of ap Maredudd from Wales. All of the families the north, the hated northern English, to “our claiming a regicide are reliant on family men”’.8 This is an interesting echo of the tradition, but can this be relied upon? Some of complaints made against Richard and his the men were rewarded, but this could just northern support. have been because they were there in the close While Tudor support might be expected in fighting around Henry and Richard. Their North Wales, what of the Englishman Thomas presence in the final mêlée would appear to Woodshawe? Described as ‘grasiour of confirm that Richard was struck down by a Tamworth’, he appears to have been a tenant of mob consisting of Welshmen and Stanley the Willoughby family.9 The claim for supporters. While no one person can really Woodshawe as a regicide is to be found in a claim to be responsible for Richard’s death we document called The Declaracion of the are perhaps getting the names of some of those Family of Ley. This is a history of the Ley in the mob who delivered the barrage of blows family written in the early seventeenth century on Richard’s prostrate body. But it should be for James Ley, first Earl of Marlborough. remembered that none of the accounts of James Ley’s great-great-grandfather Henry Bosworth name any one individual, and the fought at Bosworth for Tudor.10 Henry Ley was rewards given out by Henry after Bosworth do a tenant and man-at-arms of Sir Robert not say they were given for killing a king. Willoughby, hence the link to Woodshawe, Lynda Pidgeon who also seems to have been a distant relative of Henry. Henry was said to have witnessed 1. I am grateful to Mark for providing Woodshawe’s action. As Henry Tudor headed information which he found in a booklet towards Bosworth he gathered men from produced by Denbighshire County Shropshire and Staffordshire. At Tamworth he Council, Denbighshire People and Places, was joined by John Savage the younger and by Dr Charles Kightly (http://tinyurl.com/ others. It is possible that this is where Denbighshire-People-and-Places). Woodshawe also joined Henry. Whether 2. Mr Skinner very kindly sent me a copy of Woodshawe actually killed Richard or not, he his book A Retiring Collection (2003), was rewarded by Henry: on ‘20 September which contains a collection of articles that 1485, he was made bailiff of the lordship of he had written. The relevant one on Berkeswell, Warwickshire, and keeper of the Woodshawe had originally been published park there for life, during pleasure’.11 in The Ricardian, vol. 9, no. 121, June What can we make of these various claims 1993, ‘Thomas Woodshawe, “Grasiour” to have killed Richard? The source for both and Regicide’. Woodshawe and Rhys ap Thomas is a family 3. Derek Williams, An Epic Tudor Journey: history written in the early seventeenth century. John Leland’s Itinerary of Northern Wales, Antiquarianism had been on the rise during the Pwllheli, 2008. sixteenth century and James Ley had been a 4. Ibid, pp.16–19. founder member of the Society of Antiquaries 5. Ibid, p. 25. when it was first founded in 1586.12 As well as 6. Ibid, p. 41 an increasing interest in history, new arrivals at 7. Ibid, pp. 31–2. the Tudor court felt the need to prove their 8. Gruffydd Aled Williams, ‘The Bardic road ancestry, which may also explain an added to Bosworth’, Transactions of the interest in demonstrating early support for the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, Tudors. Interestingly, of the family histories so 1986, pp. 7–31. far known to mention a link to Bosworth, it is 9. Raymond Skinner, A Retiring Collection, only George Buck, in his family history, who p. 195. claims to have had an ancestor who fought for 10. Ibid, pp. 195–6. The Declaracion is held the losing side.13 in the Wiltshire and Swindon Record For the moment we therefore have Ralph Office (Chippenham), ref 366/1. 28 11. Ibid, p. 197; CPR 1485–94, p. 4. 13. George Buck is best known for his book 12. Arthur Noel Kincaid, ed., The History of The History of King Richard the Third King Richard the Third by George Buck, (1619). In the history he traces his own 1982, p. xliv. The Society of Antiquaries genealogy and claims that his grandfather, was founded in 1586 and dissolved in John Buck, was attainted after Bosworth. 1607; attempts were made to revive it in As with the other histories, he relied on 1614. family tradition.

In at the death and daggers. Following common individual I would like to propose a different scenario to combat tactics of the day, the points of the one currently suggested for the death of polearms are jabbed towards his face. (It takes King Richard III. At this stage, please note that a man of exceptional courage and training not I am working from photographic evidence to flinch when sharp points are thrust at his only, with no exact measurements of the face, even if he is wearing full plate armour.) wounds present on the bones, but with a This could explain the square-profiled stab working knowledge of the weapons likely to wound to his face (which matches the top spike have been involved, and the wounds they can of many polearms), especially if Richard’s inflict. I acknowledge with thanks the visor has been knocked open, or the king has contribution to my thinking from osteo- opened it himself, to see better and to breathe archaeologist and forensic anthropologist Dr more easily. It is very probable that Richard Corinne Duhig,1 with whom I have pored over receives a concussive blow to the head, forcing the available photographs of the wounds, and him down to the ground, in a staggered discussed the different scenarios which might kneeling or all-fours position. This blow could have caused them. Corinne would be the first even be the cause of the small squarish-profiled to point out there is no way to exactly tell what wound on the top of his head. A strike from the happened, or the order in which the blows fell. spike at the rear of a halberd/poleaxe/war I am also making an educated guess about the hammer could conceivably pierce his helm and type of armour Richard would be wearing. damage his skull in this manner. Once he’s On 22 August 1485, King Richard presses down, the end is not far away: he is vulnerable home his attack on the rebel Henry Tudor. to attack on all sides. Mounted and supported by a small band of Scenario: Richard is forced to his knees by loyal knights, he charges directly at Henry many violent blows and thrusts to his face, Tudor and his personal entourage. He kills head and body, while trying to keep his footing several of Henry’s bodyguard and unhorses his on uneven ground. He’s already bleeding from standard bearer. At around this point Richard’s at least one facial injury; now almost horse either becomes stuck in boggy ground, or defenceless, he receives more blows to the is injured, and the king is unhorsed. He’s now head. If it has not already happened while he cut off, on foot, and surrounded by enemy was standing, a crashing blow from the beak of troops. He is well aware that losing his mount a polearm or war hammer penetrates his helmet places him in mortal danger. He is still not an and damages his skull. In the process of it easy target for Henry’s foot soldiers: he is being wrenched free, it pulls back the flakes of encased in the best-quality plate armour, bone that have been pushed into his skull. His sculpted and engineered to resist blows from head falls forward, exposing the base of his most battlefield hand weapons. But on foot, skull to a powerful scything blow from a and surrounded, the odds are rapidly stacking polearm such as a halberd or poleaxe, which up against him. No doubt he receives many slices into his skull and brain. The blade’s violent blows, resulting in bruising and internal progress is probably hindered by the stiff maile trauma: injuries to the body which will not of collar he wears, hence the smooth cut course be visible once the soft tissue decays. interrupted by a ragged edge. He now falls Most of the foot soldiers surrounding him unconscious almost instantly due to massive are armed with polearms such as halberds or blood loss from one of the major blood vessels poleaxes, bills and glaives, as well as swords of the skull base, and dies very shortly 29 afterwards. His helmet can now be wrenched battlefield was full of knights encased in plate or cut off, and he receives more blows about armour is a false one. By the date of the battle his head and body, at least one from a sharp of Bosworth, full plate armour was prohibit- blade that glances off his head, scooping out a ively expensive; indeed, some notable section of the skull and scalp. A thrust from a members of the aristocracy preferred to fight in sword or bladed polearm, again to the base of limited plate and a brigandine rather than full the skull, penetrates deeply, ensuring the king plate, although this was probably down to is well and truly dead. personal preference rather than cost. The This is just one scenario for the death of average foot soldier would have worn a King Richard. Exactly which weapons were combination of different styles of armour. The involved is hard to tell. It is sometimes quite weapons preferred by these men were the easy to identify blade shapes from injuries in halberd, bill and glaive, polearms that gave bone, the angles of the cutting-edge, the them the ability to strike powerful blows and amount of trauma delivered, and indeed the thrusts while retaining some distance between angle of the cut itself. But on the medieval themselves and their combatants: a very useful battlefield there were many pointed, sharp feature, when engaging a fully-armoured objects that could be responsible for these knight or man-at-arms. injuries. The order in which they were Many of these polearms seem to overlap in delivered is almost impossible to interpret, their designs, causing a little difficulty in their apart from what appears to be a stab or cut to categorisation. Indeed, some halberds could be the back, and the wound to the pelvic bone classed as poleaxes, and vice versa. Quite often which could only have occurred after Richard’s the type of weapon carried by a man was armour and clothes were being – or had been – categorised by his social rank: foot soldiers removed. When the body was stripped of its carried halberds, knights and men-at-arms armour, it would probably have been cut away, carried poleaxes. So it looks as if the written and it is easy to see how wounds would have accounts are correct, and the authors knew how been generated in battlefield conditions, by to distinguish between the weapons and the slips from knife or dagger when trying to cut social class of the wielders, since some of the through a plethora of leather straps and wounds suggests the use of weapons such as buckles. the halberd. The death of Richard III can be The suggestion of ‘humiliation wounds’ is, placed at the feet of a minor member of the of course, also entirely plausible. But the new gentry or a commoner; at least one, possibly King Henry VII would want Richard’s corpse several. Which explains why there was no great to be recognisable to one and all, and certainly magnate leaping up and down, shouting ‘I did not so badly disfigured by facial wounds so as it!’ and waiting for a rich reward from the new to hinder recognition. He probably gave strict king. instructions as to the condition in which he Ragnar Magnusson wished the body to be delivered. Humiliated, 1. Dr Duhig is affiliated to the McDonald yes, but unrecognisable, no! Institute for Archaeological Research, The common notion that the medieval Cambridge. Leicester City Council and the search might – lie over the remains of King Richard for King Richard III III. Philippa was convinced it was worth a try, even though the chances were remote. The In March 2011 I was asked to attend a high- Archaeology Service was also keen because level meeting in the council with someone who years of excavations related to city centre had an unusual request. Philippa Langley had redevelopment meant they had a wealth of already been put in touch with Richard information about medieval Leicester, and this Buckley, of the University of Leicester car park, tantalisingly in a place called Archaeological Service, and had enlisted his Greyfriars, between Greyfriars and Friar Lane, help to demonstrate that the council’s car park was one of the last important remaining pieces for its Social Services offices might – just of the jigsaw. Philippa had not dealt with a

30 council or commissioned an excavation before, and what she was suggesting was a tall order, since the car park was heavily used for essential council business and it was hard to see where the money could come from. Nevertheless, she made a good case and as a result I was asked to be the lead council contact. And so we set out on our long journey. There were many setbacks, which Philippa unfailingly approached with charm, common sense, a willingness to learn, relentless determination, and a spirit of co-operation, all of which, encouraged people along the way to share her enthusiasm and want to be involved. The crucial support of one council colleague in particular shines out – this was Mick Bowers, who was responsible for the Greyfriars council offices and the car park arrangements for all its staff. Mick kept everyone informed. Victorian school adjacent to the Greyfriars car park, location of The excavation attracted much the of the proposed visitors' centre. Note the new tarmac over interest from the teams based there one of the filled-in excavation trenches. and was even accompanied by a mini-exhibition about Richard III. office with a story an hour in the telling. Sir We really thought the dig would happen in Peter Soulsby, our City Mayor, opened our new April 2012, just after the Queen had sat in Visit Leicester Centre that day, and Richard Leicester Cathedral right next to King Taylor and I walked up and down the street Richard’s memorial stone, on her Jubilee visit, outside, telling him this incredible news. but it didn’t. A few weeks later, there was On 12 September the University’s press Philippa on the phone to me again with another conference at the Guildhall gave the story to plan, and this time with support from Richard the world. It has remained in the news ever Taylor, the University of Leicester’s Director since, such is the interest in this man and the of Development. Then at the last minute amazing story of how his grave was lost in a another source of support reduced. ‘You’ll just decaying friary church, forgotten under a town have to fund-raise’ I said. So Philippa got on house garden, and found again, after half a with it. The council agreed to underwrite part millennium, under a council car park. of the shortfall. Thanks to the Richard III Since Sir Peter Soulsby became City Mayor Society’s generosity, this was not needed, but in May 2011 he has promoted Leicester’s the council and university eventually shared heritage as a way of bringing its citizens the costs of an extra week’s excavation. I together, by encouraging a shared sense of finally gave Philippa permission to start the pride and belonging. Valuing their heritage also excavation just over three weeks before it helps to make places more attractive to visit, started, on Saturday 25 August. work in and live in. The King Richard III It stopped raining, the sun shone, the discovery is therefore very important, and so Olympics morphed into the Paralympics and the council has responded in the following then one morning Philippa rushed into my ways: 31 • Immediately after the announcement we council offices are already embellished organised a series of open days. Around with window vinyl displays about the 10,000 people in total came to see the search for King Richard III and more are excavations, finds and grave site. planned across the city. • Although most of the trenches had to be backfilled and the car park returned to use, It was wonderful to meet so many Richard III we erected a large and very weatherproof Society members during the course of the tent over the grave site and it has excavation and open days. The Society’s help continued to attract a great deal of interest. in promoting this important chapter in We plan to resume weekend tours of the Leicester’s story over the years is very much grave site once spring comes and the appreciated. We look forward to welcoming weather improves. Society members to Leicester on 2 March for • On 7 February we opened a temporary your conference at the University of Leicester, exhibition at the Guildhall about the and we hope you enjoy our temporary archaeological excavation and subsequent exhibition. We would value your comments research, called ‘Richard III: Leicester’s about it, because these will help to shape our search for a king.’ A full events plans for the permanent visitor centre, and we programme will be provided during this will soon be discussing with the Richard III exhibition. We hope this will include Society ways in which the Society and its screenings of the Channel 4 documentary. members can become involved in this major • Following this we will open a permanent new project. visitor centre in the Victorian school Finally, Leicester City Council would like buildings adjacent to Greyfriars car park, to thank one extraordinary lady, Philippa dedicated to telling the story of King Langley, who followed her dream and never Richard III’s life and death. This will gave up. She was a joy to work with and the include access to the grave site, and is next good she has done for the people of Leicester, to the cathedral. The Richard III Society as well as for the world’s understanding of have generously funded a reconstruction King Richard III, can never be underestimated. of King Richard III’s head, vividly Sarah Levitt showing how he would have appeared in life, and we are delighted that the Society Sarah Levitt is Head of Arts and Museums at has offered this as an exhibit in the new Leicester City Council. visitor centre. For more details of exhibitions, events and • A King Richard III walking trail will soon opening times visit the Leicester Museums & be published, and information provided on Arts Service website: our ‘Story of Leicester’ website. Our www.leicester.gov.uk/museums.

Celebrations down under Reportedly, large quantities of bubbly and It has been a very exciting few days in New chocolate were consumed into the early hours, Zealand. On Sunday 3 February the NZ Branch with one member even indulging in a hot bath held its annual summer picnic at branch while doing so! secretary Rob Smith and Helen’s country home The NZ media gave full coverage to the in Greytown. Twenty-eight members and announcement, which was front page news in guests were determined to be in celebratory both national and local papers and also mood, anticipating what was to prove a red- highlighted in radio and television news letter day for the Society. reports. Both branch chair Deirdre Drysdale Being 13 hours ahead of UK time, the and secretary Rob Smith have been following day several members stayed up late interviewed by local press, with more to tune into the University press conference scheduled. Past chair Annette Parry, who is the and when the results were announced the last holder of the NZ Mastermind title (and phones started ringing, even from Australia. therefore the reigning champion), was asked to 32 appear on National Radio’s major afternoon lines started up as the bubbly was flowing. programme and, during a lengthy interview, There has been widespread media coverage impressed with her encyclopaedic knowledge during the following days, in print, radio and of Richard’s times and ensured the Society’s TV, some very well researched, but unfortun- role was to the fore. Subsequently the ately also some less so. publishing of the facial reconstruction re- The Sydney Morning Herald interviewed ignited the story and it would be difficult to me for an article on what the finds might mean imagine the average New Zealander not being for performances of Shakespeare’s play. Our aware of both Richard and hence the Society’s branch member Karen Clark was also existence. Roll on 2014 and the reburial! interviewed by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) Overnights programme. Rob Smith, New Zealand Branch Various other interviews have also been scheduled. Most of the coverage, even the less For members in Australia the situation was well-researched, emphasised the importance of similar. On Monday morning my day began the find. with phone calls from two radio stations in Unfortunately there were also a few less Brisbane asking about my feelings on the savoury remarks. The ABC News Breakfast upcoming announcement. Being only 11 hours programme included a feature on Richard, ahead of the UK, for us in Australia the press which also mentioned the dispute over whether conference started at the much more civilised Richard should be reburied in Leicester or time of 9 p.m., compared to New Zealand. York. Then one of the hosts made a flippant, Many of us tuned in to follow it live and there rather tasteless remark that maybe they should were quite a few homes where the clapping and share the bones, with each getting some, as if cheering might have woken neighbours when it he was a bag of sweets. was finally announced that the skeleton was indeed Richard’s. Then telephone and e-mail Dorothea Preis, NSW Branch

The discovery of Richard III – a gazed on the craniofacial ‘reconstruction’ of review of Channel 4’s The King in the Richard III – ‘so full of joy’. Philippa, with Car Park John Ashdown-Hill, must take her fair share of Channel 4’s ‘world exclusive’ on the Monday credit for the chain of events. Equally evening was hardly that. They had given the memorable was the reaction of Michael Ibsen game away nearly two weeks earlier, with their to the news that he, indeed, was a nephew of press release entitled ‘Richard III: The King in the 17th generation. the Car Park’. The weekend print media had Truth may well be the daughter of time; but also had a field day, which was then capped by it is often also the offspring of rigorous, the morning conference in the Council academic investigation. The cross-disciplinary Chamber of Leicester University, which collaboration which was engaged in revealed what most of us had already assumed. establishing the ‘truth’ in this instance must be Notwithstanding the immensely irritating heartily commended. Those of us well versed advert punctuations, the programme was able in programmes such as Cold Case, and the to project the narrative quite effectively. American series CSI and Body of Evidence Excerpts from Olivier’s film (still my favourite knew what to expect – radiocarbon dating, slice of ‘ham’); assured cameos by Tony radiological evidence, bone analysis and other Pollard and Pamela Tudor-Craig; and the archaeological results. Gradually the evidence positive use of the Richard III Society’s built up: the ‘arrow’ found lodged in the back website were meshed with animated scenes proved to be a ‘Roman nail’; the scoliosis and visits to Bosworth Field. Visual high- probably did not start until the age of ten; the points for me were the expressions on Philippa high protein diet, with plenty of fish; the Langley’s face when she realised the body ‘gender shocker’ (Farnaby) in the laboratory suffered from a spinal abnormality, when she which revealed the skeleton had some feminine was told the DNA matched, and when she characteristics; the trauma and armour 33 specialists who surmised that several blows writer Simon Farnaby, perhaps best known to were delivered after any helmet had gone, and younger viewers for playing William Burke (of who pointed out two fatal blows to the skull, Burke & Hare), Caligula and the Grim Reaper one from a halberd and one from a sword, in CBBC’s Horrible Histories series – not either of which would be fatal. another ‘determined to prove a villain’? Once I The DNA findings (apparently the ‘killer got past the ‘big hair’, I warmed to Simon’s piece’ of evidence), was presented by Dr Turi understated but genuine involvement in the King of the University of Leicester’s eminent case: “He could have been a hunchback but genetics department. It is interesting, however still been a nice guy”. One highlight came at to read the view of Mark Thomas, a professor the end, when he announced: ‘My name is of evolutionary genetics at University College Simon Farnaby and I am a Ricardian’. We must London: “People tend to privilege DNA hope for many more, who viewed the because they see it as firm science [but only programme and who have read and will read when] you put it together with the spine about the discovery, to join him and join the deformation, the wounds and so on, it makes Society. for a more persuasive case.” Still compelling The last couple of years have now proved was the moment it was revealed that the so- that the battle of Bosworth was in the wrong called ‘mtDNA’from the skeleton matched that place and that Richard III was in the correct from Michael Ibsen. place (and will now, rightly, be reburied in The programme’s presenter, mercifully not consecrated ground nearby). the ubiquitous Tony Robinson, was actor and Kenneth Hillier

Flavour of the month which also wanted an interview as soon as After decades of being ignored by the media, possible; I think that Philippa got this one. except for the odd ‘pot shot’ at Richard from Later I received a call from a television station time to time or a review of a Shakespeare play, in Canada that wanted to do an interview on-air there has been little media interest in the king. within half an hour for their early morning Now suddenly with Philippa Langley’s breakfast show – this one I picked up. ‘Looking for Richard III’ project and the dig at The calls just kept coming from far and Leicester we find that both Richard and the wide, including contact from Ukraine National Society are, as the saying goes, ‘the flavour of Television, which wanted to send a camera the month’ with the media falling over crew over to film the dig. A request from the themselves trying to get an interview. French National Radio for an interview in During the week of the dig I found that I London – this one went to our Chairman, who literally spent the whole time in my little office spent over three hours with the interviewer. at home answering media requests for Major US newspapers were also keen to get in interviews coming in both by phone and e- on the act, with requests from the New York mail. As an indication of how widespread these Times, Washington Post and the Los Angeles media contacts were, and to follow on from Times, all of which visited the dig site and we Geoffrey Wheeler’s media retrospective in the also arranged for them to talk to Philippa. December edition, we received calls from not I must say just how surprised I was at the only the national television stations but also amount of interest that this project has contacts from local BBC television stations as generated worldwide, and now we are awaiting well as the BBC’s local radio stations. the next avalanche as the DNA results are In addition to this calls came in from all announced and inevitably the question of over the world. To list just a few, I fielded an reinterment. Before finishing, thanks go to early morning call from the Australian John Ashdown-Hill, Wendy Moorhen, Lynda Broadcasting Commission’s Sydney radio Pidgeon, Philippa Langley, Annette Carson and station, wanting to do an interview within the Phil Stone for doing these interviews, many at next hour; this went out to Wendy Moorhen, a moment’s notice. who did the interview. Next was a call from a Johannesburg radio station in South Africa, Richard Van Allen 34 That was the week that was The signature tune of the iconic 1960s television satirical review, sung by Millicent Martin, and remembered by those of a certain age, continued with the line ‘It’s over, let it go’. Week commencing 4 February 2013 is a week that Ricardians will not let go. This article takes a look at our press campaign leading up to the most exciting of weeks for Ricardians and how the media reacted to the news that King Richard III had been found. Our newly appointed Press Officer, Peter Secchi, wrote in December’s Bulletin about managing the opportunities in light of the discovery of the Greyfriars human remains. Since coming on board he has been planning our PR campaign with a small team from the Philippa Langley talks to the media after the 4 Executive Committee, a plan which would February press conference in Leicester. peak with the announcement of the test results Langley, John Ashdown-Hill and Annette and the transmission of the Channel 4 Carson – as well as the Society Chairman, documentary. Deputy Chairman and Research Officer. Our Initially we did not have ‘news’ but we anchor man throughout has been Richard Van needed to raise the Society’s profile, so we Allen, our Public Relations Officer, who rarely issued a series of focused press releases left his desk and telephone over the next few designed to keep the media aware of our days. All were asked to keep track of the presence. On 8 October we issued a tribute to interviews given but in reality there was so the exemplary archaeological research which much media interest at home and throughout led to the Greyfriars discovery and another the world that it became an impossible task. later in the month stressed that scoliosis was a The buzz began a day or two before D-Day, condition and not a deformity. Christmas with press enquiries coming in and requests for offered a more seasonal approach and a press television and radio interviews, live or release about celebrating a medieval Christmas recorded; many journalists were seeking led to Research Officer Lynda Pidgeon being telephone interviews for features they were interviewed on the radio. In late December we writing. Meanwhile, the Society’s PR team had were able to announce that the Society was its own problems. It was agreed that we would funding the facial reconstruction of the be given at the last minute a preview of the Greyfriars skull (which of course we always results, so that we could finalise our own hoped would be Richard’s) and in order to statement, planned to go out immediately after promote a balanced image of the king we took the university’s press conference. We also had out advertorials (these are paid features) in the launch of our new website and the Bulletin BBC History magazine and History Today. For Extra to consider – both had to reflect the the BBC magazine we looked at the positive results and both were working to tight aspects of Richard’s parliament, and History deadlines. We had several versions of our press Today examined his military career. We release ready to meet all contingencies: version followed these up with a press release on 8 A (the positive result), version B (DNA January emphasising Richard III’s many inconclusive), version C (it wasn’t Richard – achievements as king of England. However, all the one we hoped not to have to use). The final this was just a dress rehearsal of the big day – scene for the documentary was being filmed on D-Day – 4 February 2013. the Sunday morning and once the results had A number of members had been identified been made known to Philippa Langley she was as spokespersons: the key players in the under embargo and could not talk to the press Looking for Richard III project – Philippa until after the announcement on Monday 35 morning. The day wore on and the university hit the papers on Tuesday. It’s not always a were playing it very close to their chests. Only good thing to ignore professional advice but in two people were to be let into the secret: Sir this occasion we did. Something told us that Peter Soulsby, the Mayor of Leicester and our the Greyfriars discovery would dominate own Chairman, Phil Stone. It was very late Tuesday’s media and our chances would be afternoon before Phil got the call and he could better the following day. tell us was to go with version A of the press We had a great line-up for the press release. conference, Philippa Langley and Phil Stone, Monday 4 February was the most amazing as well as Janice Aitken of Dundee University, day. The press conference was televised – the artistic interpreter for the facial sadly, coverage was interrupted by another reconstruction. She represented Professor news story – but for those in Leicester that Wilkinson, who had undertaken the actual morning it was something that will never be reconstruction, but unfortunately had another forgotten. The day started early, Sky News at engagement that day. We also had Sarah Levitt, 7.30 a.m. were clamouring for a live interview head of Leicester City’s Arts and Museum with Phil Stone for early afternoon and the Service (the reconstruction will eventually be Australian Broadcasting Corporation in displayed in their planned visitor centre) and Sydney wanted a live interview during the Graham Turner, the artist who has painted press conference. This was eventually fielded Richard III many times. Other guests included by Annette Carson at home in East Anglia. Plantagenet descendant Michael Ibsen and John Ashdown-Hill was whisked off in a car to Greyfriars archaeologist Richard Buckley. The the BBC’s Ipswich studio for the their Today venue, of course, was poignant: we gathered in programme and suddenly there were not the Antiquaries meeting room, where their enough spokespeople to cover the media famous portrait of King Richard is displayed – frenzy. Call after call came in for interviews the portrait reproduced on the Bulletin’s cover from all over the UK and overseas. After the and on our website’s home page. Our press official press conference finished at the officer surpassed himself by arranging for university Phil and Philippa spent the next Getty Images to photograph the head, and for couple of hours talking non-stop in front of the Press Association to interview the key cameras, including a crew from the Qatari- players. Before the press conference the based Al Jazeera channel. One of Philippa’s ‘official’ photographs took place in the most memorable interviews was with The Antiquaries library and ‘King Richard’ was Scotsman, a newspaper she used to work for. prepared for his media appearance by Janice Tuesday 5 February, however, was the Aitken, who insisted on a quiet five minutes Society’s day; the unveiling of the facial with him to arrange the wig and hat. (The wig reconstruction of Richard III at the Society of is real hair and King Richard has his own set of Antiquaries. The face had, of course, been hair straighteners, coloured purple of course.) revealed during the previous evening’s The Although with nowhere near as many King in the Car Park documentary and journalists and camera crews as the previous inevitably there had been some screen ‘grabs’ day it was still an impressive turnout and once of the image in the next morning’s media. We the official presentations were over the had been under pressure to release pictures of interviews began and continued for nearly two the face, under embargo until the documentary hours. Philippa’s final interview was with CNN had been broadcast, to the press before in their London studio for a live breakfast Tuesday’s conference. This we resisted, not programme broadcasted to around 300 million least because of the logistics, which involved people in the United States and beyond. Phil Stone collecting ‘Richard’ from the A week later, it all began again with the premises of the production company, Darlow decision to launch the design for the proposed Smithson, on his return from Leicester late tomb of King Richard and once again the Monday afternoon. Both Peter Secchi and interest was enormous; the phones kept ringing Richard Van Allen urged us to have the with requests for interviews or comments. photography done that evening so that it would Suddenly it seemed as though history was back 36 on the nation’s agenda and everybody was remains. However, there is no time to rest on talking about Richard III. our laurels, for our work continues to ensure it The Society has received massive press will be Good King Richard that people coverage and no doubt interest will continue as remember next spring. we move towards the spring of 2014 and the expected reinterment of King Richard’s Wendy Moorhen

A day in Leicester makes available to us, is fantastic, I certainly On Sunday 10 February I queued for 40 believe that his remains should remain personal minutes to see Leicester Council’s Richard III and private. I suddenly had the flash of an exhibition. I thought the exhibition was nicely image; crowds of medieval faces pushing designed, and despite its necessarily compact forward to see the remains of the dead king layout did its best to set out the basic recently slain at Bosworth and I thought, are information of the archaeological project and we any different despite those 500 years? the life of the king as well as the passion of I was relieved and touched by contrast at my those that lay behind the quest to discover his visit to the cathedral, which is literally four remains. The plastic 3D print of the skull was strides from the entrance to the Guildhall quite beautiful, luminous as fine bone china where the temporary exhibition is being held. and positioned above the digital rendering of I must admit I did believe that Richard III the skeleton it seemed to me to have the should be laid to rest in York, and in fact I atmosphere of a twenty-first century reliquary. voted to have him laid to rest in York Minster. Earlier, as we reached the front of the queue However, when I visited Leicester Cathedral after suffering the cold and the rain, a rather on Sunday I was struck by its warm abrupt man came up to me. ‘What’s this?’ he atmosphere, and its relatively small size gives said. ‘It’s the exhibition for Richard III’ I said. it an unusually intimate feel. Although it did I’m shy and tongue-tied by nature and not not become a cathedral until 1927 it is an comfortable with being approached by ancient religious site. The information about strangers. The man grunted. ‘Are the bones in Richard III that was on display struck me as there?’ ‘No,’ I said, forgetting my diffidence, being genuinely welcoming. We mistimed our ‘they’re not.’ A bigger grunt. ‘Uh, the bones first visit, as there was a talk going on and all aren’t there? Is this something they’ve cobbled were gathered around the memorial stone together then?’ ‘Not exactly,’ I said, but the provided by the RIII society in 1982. We went man had already humphed off, telling those back after visiting the exhibition hoping to take with him ‘the bones aren’t there . . .’ a look at the stone, but the tour party had now I thought this was incredible and I was been replaced by a choir who were singing laughing (partly in disgust) with my friend beautifully. We were leaving when the verger when I heard an echo behind me in the queue very pleasantly asked us if we had seen the ‘oh, the bones aren’t there.’ Moments later, as memorial. ‘You must go and see it, you’ve we were told we could enter the exhibition come so far.’ He was so helpful and genuine now, an American lady coming out looked at that I am convinced that Leicester Cathedral is me archly and said ‘the bones aren’t in there a really apt choice for the resting place of you know.’ ‘I know,’ I said. ‘Where are they Richard. In the leaflet Richard III & Leicester then?’ she asked me. ‘I think they’re in Cathedral it says that Richard ‘resembles most Leicester University.’ ‘Oh they’re there are human beings who try to do their best even in they?’ She laughed, walking off towards the the worst of times’. I am sure that Leicester cathedral. Cathedral will do their best to honour and give While the discovery of Richard’s burial a home to Richard III. place, and all the knowledge that this discovery Kay Fletcher

37 The king in the car park crowned: archaeologists’ aim was to try and establish the initial reflections on the press and ground plan of the Franciscan friary, and then television coverage if the choir of the church could be identified, this was where the search for Richard’s Prelude remains would be focused. Having decided that Before the press launch by Leicester University the first trench was to be located across the on the morning of 4 February, the media had choir it was decided to extend part of it, which been informing us for several weeks that the allowed the rest of the skeleton to be scientific evidence would confirm that the uncovered. Interestingly, they initially felt that skeleton found last September in Leicester was their chances of finding Richard’s remains really the remains of our last Plantagenet king. were quite remote, and so as the evidence that Despite the official embargo we were being they had actually found him slowly mounted drip-fed news that evidence including DNA their mood changed from scepticism to links would be forthcoming to confirm the surprise. It is extremely rare for the remains of identification. The Sunday Times (3/2/13) ran named pre-Reformation individuals to be the story ‘I had a hunch’ in which Phillipa archaeologically identified and studied in Langley explained how an eerie feeling when England; almost all bodies which are examined she first visited the car park in 2009 made her from this period are anonymous. think that this was the site of Richard’s grave. We witnessed a rather harassed Jo Appleby This inspired her to raise the money on behalf excavating the regal skeleton and saw her of the Richard III Society to allow Leicester admit that she had accidentally damaged the University Archaeological Services to carry skull with a mattock! It was immediately out the excavation that was to prove her correct apparent that this particular individual had a and also confirmed John Ashdown-Hill’s spinal deformity, later to be identified as hypothesis on the location of the Grey Friars scoliosis. A fragment of iron found between (The Last Days of Richard III, 2010, pp two of Richard’s vertebrae, initially thought to 93–109). be an arrowhead, proved to be a Roman nail. Much was made of the discovery of this Channel 4 documentary supposed arrow head last year when it was Throughout 4 February national radio and TV suggested that he had been shot in the back (see informed us that the remains of the missing Bulletin, December 2012, pp 49–50). It was king had indeed been identified. In the evening apparent that the supine posture of the body when Channel 4 broadcast their documentary was slightly distorted by the fact that the grave Richard III: the King in the Car Park, the was too small, so his skull was upright. When element of surprise had gone. The only in- the exhumed skeleton was placed in a depth advance review of the documentary in cardboard box for removal offsite the occasion the weekly TV guides appeared in the Sunday was marked by Philippa placing a replica of Telegraph (3/2/13), while the background to Richard’s banner over the box, which John its production was discussed in Broadcast Ashdown-Hill then reverently carried to the (1/2/13). waiting van. So via a means of transport that Actor-comedian turned presenter Simon would have been incomprehensible to Richard, Farnaby talked us through the excavation, his remains left the friary after 527 years of starting with the fortuitous discovery on the residency. first day (25 August) in the first trench to be The latter part of the programme focused on opened up of part of the legs of a human burial, the scientific study of Richard’s skeletal which subsequently proved to that of the king. remains. The horrific nature of his battlefield Appropriately there was already a stencilled R injuries and later mutilations were explained in on this part of the tarmac and at the time of the detail. The radiocarbon dates produced a range discovery there was even a dramatic storm. of 1450–1540 (95% probability), while a DNA Thus started Philippa Langley’s quest, which link between samples obtained from the was to end with her coming face to face with skeleton and descendants of Richard’s sister Richard III, so to speak. At this stage the was successfully established. Simon clearly 38 wanted to find out more about Richard’s life than the other evidence as ‘people tend to and he quickly discovered the ongoing battle privilege DNA because they see it as firm for the king’s reputation. The programme science [but only when] you put it together ended with a dramatic premiere of Richard’s with the spine deformation, the wounds and so facial reconstruction produced by Professor on, it makes for a more persuasive case’. In fact Caroline Wilkinson of Dundee University. before the press conference Leicester University geneticist Dr Turi King had not What the papers said completed her analysis of the DNA samples. This is the sort of story that the press dream of: She had only matched traces of mitochondrial the heady combination of royalty, grisly death, DNA extracted from the skeleton with samples mystery and scientific detective work makes taken from both relatives and she only had time for compulsive reading, so every major paper to sequence the DNA control region (New ran it, doubtless aware that it would keep their Scientist 9/2/13). opinion columns and letters pages full for Published pictures of Richard III’s new many weeks to come. Most of the in-depth facial reconstruction tally reasonably well with press reports produced during the following the Society of Antiquaries portrait of him, days included a large-scale photograph of the which it is believed was produced in c 1510. now-famous skeleton with annotations However, some papers felt that Richard’s pointing out the battlefield injuries, the reconstructed facial image looked rather scoliosis, plus some judicious quotes from similar to that of the Shrek villain Lord Shakespeare’s Richard III (Daily Mail; Daily Farquaad (Daily Mail and Daily Star 6/2/13; Mirror; Guardian; Independent; Times 5/2/13; and Sun 7/2/13). Sunday Express 10/2/13). The king’s feet had been removed by nineteenth-century activity Richard’s reputation and further research on site or, according to the Daily Mail, ‘they The amount of media interest generated in the were lost in earth movements’. Various Plantagenets may well inspire some research accounts mentioned that Richard was buried into a variety of topics, apart from the ongoing ‘naked’, that is say there was no evidence for reassessment of Richard’s reputation. As the the existence of a coffin, shroud, or clothing study of history has been described as and the fact that his hands were crossed over ‘endlessly contentious and argumentative’ his pelvis was misinterpreted as evidence that (New Statesman 8/2/13), there is plenty of his wrists may have been tied. During the scope here for debate. One commentator noted medieval period some individuals were buried that claims that the details concerning with their hands placed over their chest or Richard’s injuries ‘will “rewrite history books” pelvis in a position of prayer as a sign of is unconvincing’ (Analysis, Guardian 5/2/13). reverence. It is fairly certain that his burial was Another article (Analysis, The Times 5/2/13) a hasty affair, hence the grave being too small. argued that Richard was a contender for our However, haste would have been necessary due worst king and that his deformity makes Tudor to the fact that his mutilated corpse was already propaganda about him ‘more plausible’. decomposing, as at least two days elapsed Conversely it could be argued that Tudor between his death and his burial. It would have propaganda sought to exaggerate his spinal been highly irreverent of the friars not to have deformity, so he could be portrayed as twisted wrapped Richard’s corpse in a cloth shroud, in mind and body and therefore unfit to rule. which would have left no archaeological trace. Hopefully, now Richard’s physique can be The Guardian (Science) pointed out that the properly understood we can get away from mitochondrial DNA evidence for Richard’s Shakespeare’s fictional portrayal of a identification was imperfect as there are only hunchback king with a withered arm (TLS two direct descendants and there was no ‘deep 8/2/13). We now know that Richard’s height match’ of data. Professor Mark Thomas, a would have been significantly reduced from 5ft geneticist at University College London, 8in. (1.72m) by his scoliosis and that his right pointed out that the DNA evidence was of less shoulder was probably higher than his left. importance in determining Richard’s identify Also his build was quite slender. However, as 39 Richard lived an active life and took part in unmarked grave in Winchester; through tracing battles, he was certainly not incapacitated by his descendants may be difficult (Times his condition. One journalist noted that Henry’s 5/2/13). A further article compared the chroniclers deftly presented Richard ‘as a achievements of Alfred and Richard (Times regicide and child killer, the very epitome of 9/2/13). It has been pointed out that besides evil’, which was a fine piece of PR Alfred, the burial places of Henry I and ‘manipulation’ (Times 8/2/13). This was a Stephen are also lost, but might be theme that Shakespeare elaborated upon by rediscovered by archaeological investigation having Richard describe himself as (Sunday Times 10/2/13). Richard III was also ‘deformed’, ‘subtle, false and treacherous’ in listed along with various other people the opening scene of his play (Richard III Act including Genghis Khan, all of whom have 1, Scene 1). Sadly, the media still struggles to been ‘misjudged by history’ (10/2/13). disentangle Shakespeare’s character from the Another suggestion is to re-examine the two real Richard III, as their coverage is often individuals, believed to be the ‘Princes in the illustrated by actors in costume and Tower’, who were reburied in Westminster Shakespeare’s fictional description of Richard Abbey in 1678 (Times 5/2/13). In 1933, their is sometimes cited as historical evidence. Some skeletal remains were subjected to osteological Shakespearean actors and commentators in the study, which established that the two light of Richard III’s rediscovery are now individuals were both juveniles, but their reconsidering how his character should be gender was not determined and their ages portrayed on stage (Guardian 5/2/13* and remain uncertain (Archaeologia, 84, 1934, Stage 14/2/13). pp.1–26). Edward, the older of the two princes, Several other themes emerged in the was 12 in spring 1483 and his younger brother commentaries that accompanied the news Richard was aged 10. Reappraisal of the 1933 coverage. First, the battle of Bosworth and data confirms that the dentition of these two Richard’s last hours (Daily Mail and Times juveniles indicates age ranges of c. 11.6 to 5/2/13). We now know Richard was bare- 14.3, and c. 7.8 to 9.5 years old respectively. headed when he was apparently struck down Estimates of their ages derived from their by head injuries. The Times pointed out DNA skeletal development range from c. 12 to over may now help identify the missing remains of 14 years old for the older juvenile, and c. 10 to Alfred the Great, reputedly buried in an 13 for the younger one (London Archaeologist, 40 The face of a king

The face of Richard III. This facial reconstruction from a CT scan of the Greyfriars skull was created by Professor Caroline Wilkinson and commissioned by the Richard III Society. Photos © Getty Images

A tomb fit for a king (see p. 3)

Richard III’s tomb: proposed design. © Richard III Society

i The skeleton

Left: The skull of the skeleton found at the Greyfriars excavation in Leicester, identified as that of King Richard III. Above: The complete skeleton, showing the curve of the spine. © University of Leicester

ii The remains at the Greyfriars dig

Human remains found in Trench One of the Greyfriars dig. © University of Leicester

iii The Blue Boar Inn (see p. 15)

3D computer model of the Blue Boar Inn, with an old engraving from the same angle. Computer image © University of Leicester

Recent Ricardian finds (see p. 17)

A gold coin dating from 1484 found near to the site of the battle of Bosworth, bearing Richard III's personal emblem of the boar (see magnified detail). Other details show St Michael spearing a dragon and on the reverse a ship on the waves with a shield and crucifix above it. Image courtesy of Spink, London.

iv vol 5, 1987, pp. 259–62). These figures are Where Richard should be reburied? important, as various letters and press reports This matter was discussed by the House of have often either overlooked or misrepresented Commons (30 October 2012), the options them. All recent requests for the re- considered including Leicester, Worksop and examination of these juveniles have been York. On 29 November the Justice Minister refused and it has been foolishly suggested that Helen Grant confirmed that if this individual the authorities have resisted examination of was conclusively identified as Richard III, then these remains as ‘the tests could not firmly his remains would be reinterred in Leicester establish if Richard III is to be let off the hook’ Cathedral in accordance with the terms of the (Guardian 6/2/13)*. There seems to be a Ministry of Justice exhumation licence granted complete misunderstanding about what re- in 2012. Of course the problem is we know examination of these two juveniles would nothing of Richard’s wishes – he obviously did reveal. For instance, it is extremely unlikely not expect to die at Bosworth and doubtless that re-examination would determine their expected to live for many more years as he had cause of death and radiocarbon dating would not started to build a funerary monument. only establish a broad date range for their To date a number of options for places of death: it would certainly not differentiate reburial for Richard have been discussed in the between 1483 and 1485. However, it would be press and letters pages. First, in September an excellent idea to have a modern re- 2012 the Queen apparently vetoed his reburial examination of these juveniles, as currently in Westminster Abbey, where his queen, Anne their remains are undated; modern osteological Neville, was buried in March 1485. There have study may be able to provide more precise data been calls for Richard to have a state funeral concerning their respective ages (the aging of and for him to be reburied in Westminster medieval juvenile skeletal remains is Abbey (Daily Mail and Evening Standard complex). If DNA could be extracted from 6/2/13). Second, Fotheringhay, where Richard their remains this would help determine their III was born and his parents are buried and identity and their kinship relationship (with Middleham, where Richard lived for several each other and with other Plantagenets). years, have both been suggested as appropriate places for his reburial. Third, Gloucester *Items included in the collage are denoted by Cathedral has been suggested as compromise, an asterisk (*) as Richard was also duke of Gloucester. 41 Fourth, York Minster has been suggested: 31 October Times, ‘Winter of discontent as MPs because Richard intended to create a collegiate fight for Richard III’ (Parliamentary sketch) Ann college of priests at the Minster he clearly Treneman, illustration: NPG portrait of Richard favoured York. Also York came top in the BBC lll. History Magazine poll in autumn 2012, with 2 November Daily Mail, ‘Has Richard III been unfairly treated?’ (debate). 60% of the votes as his place of reburial 30 November Times, ‘Bring up the body – but the (latterly York City Council and the city’s MPs mystery remains’ Ben MacIntyre (comparing the have called for Richard’s reburial in York – decision to exhume Yasser Arafat to determine Guardian 6/2/13). Last, Leicester Cathedral, his cause of death with the analysis of Richard where Richard is already commemorated by a III’s supposed remains). Your Family History ledger stone in the chancel, appears to be the Magazine ‘Hunchback in the car park? Genetic chosen location for his reburial. A computer- genealogy set to help identify the remains of generated image of a design for a limestone Richard III’. chest tomb for Richard has been produced 8 December Guardian, ‘To catch a king’ (interview) already by the Society (Telegraph and Times Joanna Moorhead illustrations: NPG portrait and 14/2/13). An article in the Church Times M. Ibsen. 15 December Telegraph, ‘Skeleton will be con- (4/1/13) argued that Richard’s reburial in firmed as lost body of Richard III’ Nick Collins, Leicester could boost faith: ‘Richard III came illustrations: Windsor portrait of Richard III. from troubled times: history now helps us to 16 December Sunday Times, ‘DNA or no DNA, we see beyond that uncertainty to a confidence in reckon it’s Richard III’ Jack Grimston, God’. A Times editorial (5/2/13) stated: ‘Dead illustration: NPG portrait. Editorial: ‘Dirty Dick, chuffed: the great and good of Leicester are saviour of ye printed word’. Sunday Sun, ‘A brimming with civic pride over their royal hunch it is Richard’. link’. On 7 February it was announced by 1 January 2013 Times, ‘Man who holds the key to officials representing York Minster that they Richard III’s fate’, inset: ‘No bones about city’s now supported his reburial in Leicester (Times excitement’ (mood in Leicester), illustrations: Soc of A’s portrait, armed figure of Richard III at 8/2/13). There is also the question of what form Bosworth centre and M. Ibsen. of ecumenical service should mark Richard’s 4 January Church Times, ‘Richard III can build reburial; a Latin requiem mass would seem confidence: the king’s reburial in Leicester could appropriate (Evening Standard 6/2/13 and boost faith’ ; illustration: Cathedral ledger stone. Telegraph 14/2/13). 13 January Sunday Independent, ‘Art: Visions of Richard’ Alistair Smart, illustration: Windsor portrait (Seven magazine feature). Selective reports from UK newspapers and 1 February Broadcast, ‘A hunch, some luck and a magazines concerning the determination of lot of spadework’, illustrations: scenes from Richard’s identification. documentary. This survey summarises material produced 2 February Independent, ‘Is the body in the car since September 2012: park really that of Richard III? At last the answer . . .’ Steve Connor, illustrations: Olivier as 17 October Country Life, ‘Villain or Victim? Even Richard III and re-enactors at excavation. if DNA confirms Leicester bones are Richard 3 February Sunday Independent ‘The man who will III’s Michael Billington doesn’t think our unmask Richard III’ (interview), illustrations: impression will change’, illustrations: Olivier, A. NPG portrait, M. Ibsen and re-enactors at Sher, and M. Rylance as Shakespeare’s Richard excavation. ‘Could the skeleton found under a III. car park really be King Richard III?’ (review of 26 October Guardian, ‘Fighting over bones and forthcoming documentary in Seven), illustration: badgers’ (Simon Hoggart’s sketch – House of NPG portrait. Sunday Times, ‘I had a hunch: the Commons discussion over Richard III’s place of true story of the hunt for Richard III’ Philippa reburial). Daily Mail, ‘Yesterday in Parliament: Langley (PL) interview, plus ‘Council car park Quentin Letts – ‘That Richard III – is ‘e still on skeleton will be crowned Richard III’, the electoral roll in York?’. illustrations: Soc of A’s portrait; PL; the 28 October Mail on Sunday, ‘King Richard III to excavation and M. Rylance playing Richard III. get cathedral burial’, illustration: copy of Society 4 February Evening Standard, ‘Skeleton under car of Antiquaries of London portrait of Richard III. park is Richard III’ Rose Lydall, illustrations: 42 skeleton and Soc of A’s portrait. Daily Express, team who started digging up a city centre car ‘A hunch it’s Richard III’ Adrian Lee, park soon realised they had struck gold’, ‘The illustrations: K. Spacey as Richard III; portrait of hunch paid off – proving it would be hard part’, Henry VII [sic] and PL on excavation. *Daily ‘Killed by a sword thrust to the base of the skull’, Mail, ‘Is this the skull of Richard III?’, ‘The king’s speech’ (Richard III had West illustrations: skull; grave excavation and NPG Midlands accent) and ‘Keeping the secret’ portrait. Daily Mirror, ‘Head of state: experts (extracts from souvenir issue), numerous ready to unveil skull as Richard III’s’ Mark illustrations including: project participants; Jefferies, illustrations: skull; excavation and Soc excavation; skull and statue of Richard at of A portrait. Daily Telegraph, ‘Is this the skull of Bosworth centre. Metro, ‘Their hunch was Richard III?’, illustrations: skull, excavation and correct: car park skeleton is that of Richard III’, battle of Bosworth engraving. Guardian, ‘Car illustrations including: skeleton. *Times, ‘Alfred park man – who may be Richard III’. the Great the next in line to be dug up’, Independent, ‘Richard III – the final act’, ‘Ignominious fate of the soldier king who met a illustrations: annotated skull and NPG portrait. valiant death in battle’, ‘Now DNA team turn to Metro, ‘Battle scars clue to the “lost” king’, Princes in the Tower’, ‘Difficulty in tracing illustration: skull. Times, ‘Richard heads for a descendants set to dent Alfred hopes’ and ‘A grave in the cathedral after DNA tests’, “rudely stamp’d” character with only one aim in illustration: skull. mind’, illustrations including: skeleton; NPG 5 February Daily Express, ‘Hunch pays off: car portrait; Battle of Bosworth engraving; King park body is Richard III’ Giles Sheldrick, Alfred; the Princes in the Tower by Millais and illustrations: skull; skeleton; grave excavation M. Rylance playing Richard III. Analysis: and Soc of A portrait. *Daily Mail, ‘500 years on, ‘Hunchback and tyrant? Yes. Child killer? May the grisly secrets of Richard III’s lost grave are be’. Editorial: ‘Dead chuffed: the great and good revealed’ insert ‘Calls for a state funeral’ and of Leicester are brimming with civic pride over ‘“Treason” he cried as he charged into the their royal link’. Sun, ‘Richard III: the last resting carnage’, illustrations: skeleton; NPG portrait place’ illustrations: including skull; skeleton and and battle of Bosworth engraving. *Daily new facial reconstruction of Richard III. Mirror, ‘I had a hunch it was him!’, illustrations 6 February *Daily Express, ‘Richard III: including: skeleton and PL on excavation. *Daily murderous tyrant or misunderstood monarch?’ Telegraph, ‘It’s him: Richard III rises from the illustration NFR, skeleton, debate R. Gore- grave’, illustrations: skeleton; NPG portrait and Langton and Lynda Pidgeon. *Daily Mail, battle of Bosworth engraving. Editorial: ‘The ‘Richard III . . . king of Shrek?’ and ‘Give him a DNA detectives’. Financial Times, ‘Genetics right royal send off’, illustrations including: provides key to identification of Richard III’. NFR. *Daily Mirror, ‘The face of a king (with Illustration skeleton. Sun, ‘Richard III – the last the voice of a Brummie)’, illustrations including: resting place’, illustrations skull, new facial NFR. *Daily Star, ‘Face it! I’m really king reconstruction (referred to as NFR hereafter), Richard III’, illustrations including: NFR. skeleton, Greyfriars site aerial view. *Guardian, *Evening Standard, ‘Royal send-off for Richard front page masthead montage of NPG portrait is up in the air’, ‘Pressure mounts for funeral to skull and skeleton, ‘Bent spine, slashed skull and be Catholic not Protestant’ , ‘Bury Richard III in DNA to match: Leicester finds its king’, Science: the abbey . . . my kingdom for a hearse’. ‘Accuracy of evidence may be bone of Editorial: ‘Bring back Richard’, illustrations contention’ Analysis: ‘Bringing up the body including: skeleton and NFR. *Metro, ‘Meeting won’t bury arguments’, illustrations: skeleton; my royal relative’ illus, NFR and M. Ibsen. NPG portrait; reconstruction of Richard’s place *Guardian, ‘Now is the wider discontent for of burial within friary and K. Spacey as Richard some in York’, ‘ Why the princes in the Tower III, statue. G2: ‘Could Leicester become the next are staying six feet under’ and ‘It’s like he holiday hotspot?’ and ‘My first thought was poor wanted to be found he was ready’ Maev Kennedy man’ (actors reconsider playing the role of (PL interview), illustrations including: PL with Richard III). NFR and Millais’s Princes in the Tower. Independent, ‘DNA tests prove car park king Independent, ‘The recasting of Richard III’, really is Richard III’ Steve Connor and Eric illustration: NFR. Times, ‘Yorkists go into battle Short, illustration: skeleton. *’i’ ‘King Richard for Richard’s body’, illustrations: NFR and Soc III skeleton bona fide, DNA tests confirm’ Illus. of A’s portrait. T2 ‘Richard and me: a love story’ skeleton, skull, grave, NPG portrait. , ‘Richard (PL interview), illustrations: PL on excavation III: it seemed like a massive long shot, but the and with NFR. 43 7 February Sun, ‘Royal’s cartoon lookalikes; Heir gives hope to all lost causes’. ‘After the Brushed’ (NFR compared with other discovery of “villainous” Richard III’s bones individuals). come new efforts to clear his name, so who else 8 February Church Times, ‘Richard III raises grave has been misjudged by history’. Sunday Times, issues’. New Statesman Editorial: ‘The king is ‘That’s one royal dug up – plenty more to go’ and dead’. Times, ‘York throws in the towel in the ‘Car park king or reservoir dog? It’s your call’, battle of Richard’s bones’ and ‘Meet Polydore illustration: NFR. Vergil, the original spin doctor’ Ben MacIntyre. 14 February Daily Telegraph, ‘Wolsey next on TLS, ‘Richard crookback: how the physical historic dig wish list’ (proposal to search for remains of Richard III compare with historical Cardinal Wolsey’s lost remains in Leicester and literary accounts of the king’, illustration: Cathedral), illustration: proposed tomb design skeleton. for Richard III. Editorial: ‘Burial fit for a king’. 9 February *Financial Times, ‘Return of Stage, ‘The Bard and some old bones’. Professor Machiavellian monarch on the make’. New Stanley Wells. Times, ‘Tomb fit for king Scientist, ‘My kingdom for a hearse’ and ‘Royal revealed’; illustration: proposed tomb design. truth will out’. (Editorial) Times, ‘Alfred saved 18 February *Newsweek cover NPG Richard III us from Danes: what did Richard ever do?’ ‘He’s Back … ignore the revisionists he was as 10 February Independent on Sunday, ‘Hero or bad as we thought.’ Simon Schama plus various villain’, PL. caricature.* Observer, ‘ What features. Leicester needs to do now is to launch a Richard 21 February Times, ‘Leicester may have Richard – III theme park’. David Mitchell. Sunday Express, but we have his killer …’ illustration: funerary ‘The last Plantagenet: Richard III’ (illustrated effigy of Sir Rhys ap Thomas. souvenir and wall chart), and ‘I couldn’t believe we found him. I jumped and swore’ and ‘Is Richard III’s son next?’. Editorial: ‘A royal find Bruce Watson and Geoffrey Wheeler

On the lighter side? Satirical swipes III” by Our Archaeological Staff: Gloria and graveyard humour Summer. (1) The body was found in a disabled If we thought that all the ‘car park’ cartoons space (2) Near a hump (3) And a “Yorkie” bar and jokes had been exhausted, the ‘breaking wrapper (4) During a winter of discontent (5) news’ from Leicester this February showed DNA reveals remains of Richard’s horse that, regrettably, that this was not the case. nearby in aisle seven.’ Illustrated by the ‘Pugh’ (DM 5.02) depicted a sign for the city Leicester skull captioned ‘Keith Richard III’. A car park advertising ‘Short stays up to 2 hours. rock star connection also occurred to Stephen Longer stay up to 600 years’ [sic], and Collins for his strip cartoon in the Guardian similarly ‘Tim’ (Ind. 5.02) showed one headed Weekend (16.02), which pictured a ‘bass- ‘Pay and Decay’ ‘Very Long Stay car park’ playing skeleton king’. The two other favourite with an arrow pointing to the tarmac. A reporter topics coinciding with the university’s interviewing an attendant was Roger Beale’s revelations were the downfall of MP Chris subject (Fin.T. 5.02), with him saying ‘Richard Huhne and the ‘horsemeat burger scandal’, III is clearly an overstayer and we’re checking which inspired a number of artists. But ahead for outstanding penalty notices’ whilst the of the latter, Haldane had kicked off (Tim. Mirror (5.02) reported a Twitter user had 19.01) with a sketch of the king serving at a calculated ‘The day rate for an NCP car park is ‘Richard III Royal Barbecue’ captioned ‘A £18.50p, so as Richard had been there for horse, a horse, etc’ and he also contributed on 2 192,649 days, he owed £3,546,006.50p’ The February two archaeologists contemplating the Sun’s Rod Liddle thought ‘He was a short- laid-out skeleton with the text ‘It was always a tempered man and it is almost certain that he case of following a hunch’. Metro’s Robert died of rage trying to get his pound coin into Thompson had the familiar Shakespeare plea the slot of one of those trolleys.’ (7.02) Private enacted on stage with a box of ‘Value Burgers’ Eye (8-21.02) was also under the mistaken thrown at him from the audience, whilst ‘Tim’ impression as to the site, as its cartoon was (Ind. 11.02) showed two laboratory technicians headed ‘The Body in the Supermarket Car Park at a screen , one revealing ‘It’s worse than we “. . . crucial evidence proves that it is Richard thought, this burger contains traces of Richard 44 III’s DNA.’ A photo of the skull again featured Villainy’ soliloquy alongside ‘Now is the in Brian Reade’s column (Sun, 7.02) headed winter . . . made complete bummer by this sun ‘Exhumed King Richard III brings his of Dork.’ And then facing a costumed Boris catchphrase up to date’ with a speech bubble Johnson attacking him with a sword, from declaring ‘A horse, a horse, my burger’s full of which he reels exclaiming ‘A Clegg! a Clegg! horse.’ The more overtly political satires, often My Kingdom for a Clegg!’ under a scroll half-page full-colour artworks, commenced reading ‘Battle of Borisworth’. Additional with Steve Bell (Gu.Weekend 5.02) picturing Commons humour was related by Andy Gordon Brown as the NPG Richard III portrait, McSmith in his ‘Diary’ (Ind. 7.02) reporting with Gothic lettering ‘History will come to ‘Joke thief alert. The Labour MP Mike know that he was not as bad as he was painted.’ McCann raised a laugh at Prime Minster’s Dave Brown (Ind. 5.02) showed Prime Questions yesterday by asking David Cameron Minister David Cameron in Olivier Richard III “Can the Prime Minister confirm that ATOS costume (complete with coronet, but has declared Richard III fit for work?”’ Two anachronistically, a Lancastrian collar of minds with similar thoughts were illustrated by Esses) at the despatch box turning to overhear the Church Times’ Noel Ford cartoon of his two conspiring members whispering ‘A version of the NPG portrait saying ‘Actually, Hearse, a Hearse, a Hearse for his kingdom!’A I’d have preferred Stratford upon Avon, where body-strewn battlefield of Bosworth was Peter I could have got my hands on that dratted Brookes’ scenario (Tim. 5.02) showing a Shakespeare!’ and Tony’s View (S. Exp. 10.02) kneeling Chris Huhne in armour beneath a simply had the Richard III skull wishing to be tattered Liberal Democrat banner, exclaiming put ‘Anywhere except next to William ‘Three points, three points. My kingdom for Shakespeare!’ Finally, a few textual parodies three points!’ For the Comment and Debate and verses were also offered in the press, the page (Gu. 9.02) Martin Rowse also chose longest being a take on ‘Dick Three: the Bosworth, with a more conventional grossly Musical’ Joe Joseph’s re-working of the lyrics humpbacked Richard at the centre pleading ‘A to Chicago: ‘They’re gonna crown me king . . . horse! A horse!! My ..ooh! Hello.’ surrounded And all that jazz!’ (Tim. 9.02). ‘Beachcomber’ by armoured figures of David Cameron under (Exp. 5.02) was not far behind with a lengthy attack, Chris Huhne decapitating his wife and Shakespearean rewrite of Bosworth, managing Michael Gove slicing through his own legs, to find a rhyme for ‘mitochondrial’ (‘a bond with a large packet of ‘Findus Beef Lasagne’ in real’) and Martin Nowell (S.Exp. 10.02) the foreground, and the caption ‘Think that just dedicated ‘The Week in Verse’ to Finding about covers it all’. But even this was exceeded Richard: ‘A warrior king uncovered – there in ‘Riddle’s View’ (Obs. 10.02) an inspired and came a final pause. Historians and nation, even more comprehensive creation. This time a Broke into stunned applause.’ cadaverous one-eyed skeleton bursts through Included in this issue’s collage (p. 40) are the tarmac, his crown bearing the legend two of the most impressive contributions. ‘TORY RIGHT’, with a broken sword in his Philippa Langley was granted a signal honour left hand labelled ‘HOMOPHOBIA’ and a of a full-page affectionate caricature, skull in battered shield in the other inscribed hand, by Andre Carrilho and text ‘Hero or ‘EUROPHOBIA’. To the left a ‘PAY AND Villain?’ (IoS. 10.02) and the uncredited artist DECAY’ ticket machine and right under an illustrating Simon Schama’s feature (Fin.T. ‘NCP MIDDLE ENGLAND’ sign, a discarded 9/10.02) also in ‘Hamlet’ mode, must be the takeaway box labelled ‘Lasagne, lasagne, my first to have made use of the new facial kingdom for lasagne.’ His speech-bubble reconstruction image. declaring ‘Now is the winter of our discontent Geoffrey Wheeler . . . time to deal with those Princes in the Tower, Dave and Nick.’ In similar vein (NPG: National Portrait Gallery; DM; Daily Mail; ‘Backbiter by Birch’ in the left-wing Tribune Tim.: The Times; Fin.T.: Financial Times; Gu.: The Guardian; Ind.: The Independent; IoS: The (8.02) showed David Cameron in NPG Richard Independent on Sunday; Obs.: The Observer; S.Exp.: disguise, first rehearsing Shakespeare’s ‘Naked Sunday Express; Exp.: Daily Express.) 45 The Man Himself Richard III – a psychological portrait

MARK LANSDALE AND JULIAN BOON

oes a psychological analysis tell us anything new about Richard III? This analysis by Professor DMark Lansdale and Julian Boon of the School of Psychology, University of Leicester, was commissioned for the Looking for Richard III project in Leicester.

On the face of it, amongst any number of triangulate upon Richard in order to see historical figures, Richard III is an obvious whether there is anything new to be said that candidate for psychological analysis. The adds value to our understanding of him and his received wisdom of Tudor calumnies and times. We leave it to others to judge whether historical circumstance surrounding key events this experiment succeeds. such as his assumption of the throne, the Our approach is to start by discarding the execution of Hastings and the disappearance of theory that Richard was some form of his nephews generates a prima facie case for Caligula-like monster. This calumny originates questioning his personality even if, individ- in the times of the Tudors, and, as Josephine ually, the accuracy of Tudor commentaries and Tey’s The Daughter of Time reflects, it has their interpretation of each of these events is, at stubbornly clung to Richard’s name ever since. the very least, open to serious doubt. From a psychological point of view, this seems One might argue that historical biography is to us a very straightforward argument to make, a form of psychological analysis. Indeed, by not least because, actuarially speaking, it was way of example, one way of looking at always very unlikely. We then move away from Kendall’s excellent 1955 biography of Richard the aberrantly evil to consider aspects of is as an extended conjecture on the nature of personality – traits that we all possess to a his personality. Beyond the clarity of writing greater or lesser extent and which have been and the attention to historical sources, much of the object of detailed psychological study over the quality of this book lies in the coherence the past 50 years – to ask how those expressed that his account of Richard’s character brings themselves in a man in Richard’s circum- to the interpretation of historical facts. But stances. We do this in three specific ways. what is this worth? How can we know, for First, we explore the issue of Richard’s example, what Richard actually thought of his putative deformity and the effects this would brother’s lifestyle? Apart from the obvious be expected to have had upon him. Second, we formalism of style and attention to source consider the notion that, as a result of his materials, how do we differentiate Kendall’s childhood, he was probably more than usually approach from fiction such as Hilary Mantel’s sensitive to, and intolerant of, uncertainty. This rich portrayal of Thomas Cromwell in Wolf characteristic is seen in varying degrees in all Hall? And how would psychologists go about adults and its expression has wide-ranging the same enterprise differently? In this article, consequences for the motivations and behav- as psychologists who know something of the iours of individuals. Finally, we consider how historical controversies surrounding Richard the circumstances of his final years would have III’s life, we aim to explore some psycho- interacted with these personality traits to logical approaches through which we can account for his behaviour as events unfolded. 46 This is, of course, a partial analysis – there machiavellism; and the ability to control are other psychological perspectives that we do relationships. not consider. We may also fail to convince that the approaches we adopt are particularly Narcissism insightful – although we would hope In the context of personality disorders, otherwise. Nor do we spend much time narcissism is defined as pathological self- discussing the chronology and facts of importance; grandiosity associated with a lack Richard’s life in order to make space for our of empathy with others, extraordinary psychological arguments – we assume that arrogance and aggression. It is one of the most readers are already familiar with this. Rather, common elements of a psychopathic our aim is to humanise Richard: the image of syndrome. Obviously, when talking about the man we have inherited from More and medieval monarchy, some degree of narcissism Shakespeare has become something of a could be seen as a constitutional requirement, cartoon sketch; a pantomime villain. We aim, at because potential claimants to the throne would the very least, to consider aspects of have been brought up with an obvious degree personality that reconnect us to that obscured of self-importance. However, in Richard’s figure with ways of analysing his behaviour case, there seems little or no evidence of undue that remind us that Richard was a real human narcissism. From all accounts, his dress and being – even if, in detail, our argument must demeanour were hardly grandiose and, if perforce be speculative. anything, his behaviour with confederates is more akin to primus inter pares (i.e. self- Was Richard a murderous effacing) than one would expect from someone psychopath? with a narcissistic personality disorder. For anyone seeking a genuine insight into the nature of Richard III, the reputation of a Cowardice murderous psychopath is the elephant in the Although narcissists are often seen as room that stubbornly refuses to leave. For that aggressive and highly effective in engendering reason, we seek to dismiss it first and at some anxiety in the targets of their aggression, length to indicate how inappropriate the label psychopathic personality disorders are often would seem to be here. The bedrock of reliable associated with forms of cowardice when an evidence (disregarding texts that are better seen overly-developed instinct for self-preservation as Tudor propaganda) is ludicrously thin prevails. Thus, while such a person might compared with the standards psychologists set strike you down from behind, when faced with themselves today, given that most contemp- a genuine threat they will not confront it but orary analysis of individuals (as in, for will seek other methods of response unless example, the preparation of case notes for forced to fight to maintain face and sustain criminal proceedings) is based upon several self-image. It seems unlikely that Richard interviews, interviews with family and showed any such pattern, as the battles of acquaintances and psychometric testing. We Barnet, Tewksbury and ultimately the final are therefore immediately at a disadvantage in fateful charge at Bosworth (rather than a attempting to conclude anything at all about a retreat) indicate. For him, discretion was rarely poorly documented individual who died over the better part of valour. 500 years ago. Nevertheless, we believe there is no strong Psychosis evidence that Richard exhibited much by way Although some sufferers of extreme person- of abnormal or psychopathic personality ality disorders can be described as high- disorders. If anything, the evidence suggests functioning (which cynically can be taken to the opposite. We come to this conclusion by indicate no more than the individual concerned considering character traits that might indicate actually does rather well in life and therefore psychopathic tendencies. These include their condition has to be defined by amongst others: narcissism; cowardice; psychologists as being hard to detect), other thought disorder; superficial charm; psychopathic disorders are associated with 47 obvious psychosis, in which the individual understand and share other people’s feelings – appears not to be self-aware of disordered but it is equally likely to betray a narcissistic thought. This might express itself as ‘voices in contempt for others’ emotions coupled with a the head’ or simply incoherent cognitions. finely tuned ability to read other people’s Medieval historians were certainly capable of emotional needs and manipulate them detecting and discussing this – as descriptions accordingly. The same skills also enable of Henry VI in his later years suggest. But psychopaths to be capable of superficial charm again, no evidence whatsoever appears to to the point of charisma. This in turn heightens suggest Richard III showed such tendencies. In their ability to develop and exploit controlling the circumstances, were any such tendencies relationships in which their objects are held, evident or common knowledge, we can enthralled and sycophantic, to be used for reasonably expect that subsequent Tudor whatever end. Apart from a callous tendency to writers such as More would have happily drop or betray such people when their purpose alluded to them as further evidence of has been served, and confident of their own Richard’s monstrosity. importance and ability to reassert control at will, psychopaths can also be socially careless, Machiavellism showing increased likelihood of laziness, Shakespeare’s characterisation of Richard as a rashness, inconsistency and gratuitous abuse of devious, suspicious and scheming usurper is those around them. To summarise, psychopaths what we might expect of a disordered, are motivated to seek and exploit emotional narcissistic personality. In this respect, the vulnerability in others, but in an entirely one- important characteristic is that morality is sided way. Relationships in which empathy, completely subverted by self-interest and consideration and trust are genuinely expediency. We argue below that while reciprocated are therefore uncharacteristic of Richard has been described as Machiavellian, psychopaths. This does not seem consistent it is probably incorrect, with the attribution with what we know of Richard. Lacking saying more about the accuser than the superficial charm and charisma, he accused. Straightforwardness and transparency nevertheless shows considerable empathy to seems much more the norm. Thus, for close confederates and the ability to form close example, we see Richard, alone among Edward bonds with others. He showed trust in others IV’s delegation negotiating with the French and expected it back. However, as we see King Louis, publicly (but apparently logically below, that characteristic came with and politely) dissociate himself from his psychological baggage of its own. brother’s policy and leave in good grace. Nor, We also attach significance to the functional whatever Kendall tells us of the personal way (as opposed to anything dysfunctional) attraction Richard felt for his feckless brother Richard ran his affairs before 1483. George, is there any evidence that Richard Psychopathic behaviour is a reasonably stable colluded with, or encouraged, him. Rather trait and it expresses itself early in life. Any Richard sticks rigidly in his loyalty to his such tendencies in Richard would almost crowned brother. These are not the actions of certainly have been detectable well before the someone whose principal purpose was to critical final two years of his life, when his manipulate, dissemble and draw attention away motivation and the pressures upon him from his own stratagems. To argue otherwise changed significantly. Overall, therefore, the requires us to produce evidence of such pattern is of an absence of evidence for deviousness and as yet there is very little. psychopathy. This goes beyond a ‘not proven’ verdict insofar as the evidence – for example, Interpersonal relationships exemplified by the strong loyalty shown by the Psychopaths often show a complex and towns of the North – indicates the opposite. apparently paradoxical pattern in their Further, when we think that the Tudor writers interpersonal relationships. Their ability to can be expected to have gone to some lengths inflict cruelty and pain upon others is often to find such evidence, the balance of evidence described as a lack of empathy – the inability to tilts towards supposing that that evidence was 48 not there to be found. Richard was almost possible responses come to mind, depending certainly not suffering from any personality upon whether he attributed cause to himself. If disorder that could be described as patho- he did, the likely response for a devout logical, for those times or indeed our own. This Christian was humility: seeing the disability as is not to say that Richard did not exhibit a burden from God requiring further penitence character traits that other people would find and piety (rather like wearing a hair shirt). If he uncomfortable, irritating, or otherwise worthy did not, and refused to accept personal of remark, but we are almost certainly not responsibility, his alternative response would describing a monster. be anger and denial; resulting in rather more aggressive and anti-social behaviour. Such as it Richard’s deformity is, the evidence suggests that piety and On his brother’s death, and hearing from devotion was Richard’s way; and that an Hastings that the Woodville clan were seeking emphasis on duty, loyalty and service was, in to control the government of England, Richard part, expressing a compensation for his self- proceeded south with more disadvantages than perceived failings. having to assert himself as Lord Protector amid Whatever Richard’s internalisation of his a hostile court. If the skeleton unearthed in deformity was, we can be reasonably sure that 2012 proves to be Richard’s, he was also he will have attributed similar attitudes to the deformed. The scoliosis of his spine was very people with whom he was dealing – particul- advanced, probably uncomfortable, and almost arly if he did not know them very well. Indeed, certainly very visible as one shoulder being he may have amplified them in his own mind, higher than the other, even if he attempted to this being a characteristic of those in this compensate with padded or tailored clothes and situation. Psychologically speaking, the his own deportment. In the present day, reasoning goes as follows: (a) I am very ‘deformity’ is not a description that lies well conscious of this physical deformity; (b) it is with political correctness, and for the most part equally apparent to this other person; and (c) every attempt is made to avoid reference to it in therefore they have already drawn conclusions any pejorative sense. However, we use it here about me before we have become acquainted. because in medieval England, deformity was a In extreme cases, the response is to induce a serious business. It represented not only a self-stereotypy in which the individual physical disadvantage, but it was also taken as concerned actually chooses to behave in the the visible indication of a twisted soul. To manner they feel is expected of them. For the appear malformed in any way risked moral same reason, overweight individuals some- judgement. times adopt the persona of the jolly figure of We cannot know what judgement Richard fun, since it is a stereotyped role that comes made of himself in this respect, but it is not with a modicum of social approval. unusual for victims of this misfortune to We can therefore speculate that Richard III project upon themselves a sense of guilt. It is struggled in everyday dealings other people, therefore possible that Richard laboured particularly new acquaintances. Depending against what he saw as defects in himself. Such upon how the scoliosis developed over his life attribution generally induces a degree of (a question to which we may ultimately get an defensiveness and caution; and both of these answer), this may have been an issue for most have been used to describe Richard in the past. of his adult life, or may have been one more How he attributed such deformity would have intense in the later, more politically important, a significant impact upon the core of his years of his life but less so in his formative personality. However, he would not have been years. If this analysis applies, he would have able to dissociate from the condition (in the been suspicious of the motivations of everyone way possible today) as the ‘luck of the genetic dealing with him. He would also be more likely draw’ because the fabric of scientific under- to believe that his interlocutors, on the basis of standing that underlies that attitude was simply his appearance, assumed his motivations were not there. Richard may therefore have malign and devious. In these circumstances, confronted this in himself as a failing, and two trust would be harder to establish and 49 misunderstanding more likely because of the alternative is that Richard was so devious and potentially vicious circle in which his manipulative that he was able to conceal likelihood in questioning other people’s malign motivations, as he had done for many motivations towards him is reciprocated by years. The other is that Richard was, in fact, a exactly the same dynamic in them. In seeking convincing and skilled negotiator to whom evidential substance for any reputation Richard Rivers correctly (in a legal sense) surrendered had for being devious and suspicious, this is authority. Richard was, after all, the legitimate something of a smoking gun; taking care to Protector. Rivers’ subsequent misfortunes at remind ourselves that the assumption is being the hand of Richard do not in themselves made at the time of writing is that the scioliotic vitiate that interpretation. This latter view 2012 skeleton is indeed Richard. would leave us to conclude that whilst And yet there seems something very odd Richard’s putative deformity may have caused about this analysis. Whilst to psychologists him some social difficulties, it was not what we have described seems a highly likely sufficient – in and of itself – to be a major dynamic, the evidence in Richard’s life offers factor in subsequent events. This is not to say so many counter-indicators. The first 30 years that it did not contribute to his overall of his life show little or no evidence of the demeanour, and in the next section we explore marginalisation that we might have expected. a second personality trait that would have Rather, he seemed remarkably able to engender combined with it to significant effect. and build trust with the people with whom he worked. One possibility here is that, at this The ‘Intolerance of Uncertainty’ stage, the scoliosis had not yet made its impact syndrome felt. It is also striking that little or no evidence Beset by threats of invasion and having lost an of this dynamic is seen in the critical last three heir and wife in short order, in summer 1485 years of his life, where the effects of scoliosis Richard returned to Nottingham Castle; by were at their greatest and when, socially, the tradition ‘the castle of his care’. In this phrase, most intense stress on his interpersonal and by the accounts at this time of a brooding relations would be felt. For example, one of the personality, we see another way with which to puzzles in Richard’s life is why Earl Rivers and flesh out our image of Richard III as a real his well-armed comrades behaved the way they man. A number of reasonably reliable did at the crucial meeting in Stony Stratford as indicators suggest Richard was more than Richard travelled south to assume the role of usually intolerant of uncertainty in a way that Protector. How did Richard, with his smaller will have had a marked impact upon his entourage, manage to separate Rivers from his personality and his dealings with others. army in such a way as to engineer both custody Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) is a of the uncrowned Edward V and the arrest of common syndrome that varies between Rivers and Edward’s other protectors? This is individuals in degree and is associated with all the more surprising when one considers their general levels of anxiety. It probably has that, as a Woodville, Rivers must have been its origins in childhood as a need to seek safety aware of the threat Richard represented. And in by being able to control one’s environment. those ages this threat was mortal. If Richard’s Thus, if a child’s perception of their caregivers appearance and demeanour was such as to is as being weak or vulnerable, one (but by no exaggerate this threat with an overlay of means the only) response to the social anxiety deviousness, how and why did Rivers and his associated with that is to develop a degree of associates lose the initiative from a position of self-reliance. This can take many forms strength? Shakespeare, with playwright’s associated with an IU syndrome. Without licence, effectively takes this as evidence of suggesting pathological degrees of this, those just how devious and dissembling Richard evident in Richard include: the tendency to could be – moving that portrayal closer to the show excessive trust, attachment and loyalty in territory of Richard being a high-performing his positive attachments; piety and rigid moral psychopath. Thus we have to consider two values, possibly to the point of priggishness extreme alternative hypotheses. One and inflexibility; a strong emphasis upon 50 justice and the law; a high sense of personal personality profile to Richard’s, in which responsibility; and a strong sensitivity to opportunism and a very high tolerance for potential threats. Finally, with this constellation uncertainty run hand-in-hand. In Stanley’s case of traits, it would not be surprising in IU this extended as far as gambling with his son’s syndrome to see an attention to detail that, life at Bosworth. It may well be that both men combined with a need for rapid closure in his saw this contrast in Richard and with it a preferred paths of action, could be seen as serious threat. Instead of the wheeler-dealer verging towards the obsessive and opportunism of previous monarchs – even authoritarian. Edward IV – in which past or current mis- To a greater or lesser extent, all of these demeanours were overlooked in transactions of tendencies have been associated with Richard, land and power as short-term expedients (one and no one can doubt that his childhood fits the is reminded of Richard’s distaste at Edward pattern. He would have known from his earliest IV’s dealings with Louis XI of France), here years that his family was engaged in a to-the- was a man who favoured consistency, justice death conflict with another family. At the age and the law over opportunism. He introduced of 6 was left with his mother and his brother legislation, for example, in the composition of George to the mercy of Lancastrians at Ludlow juries and the declaration of interests. The after his father and elder brothers fled. He will threat of this would be to reduce the power of then have learned of his father and brother magnates such as Stanley and Percy yet further. Edmund’s death at Wakefield, and soon No wonder the common folk of the North were afterwards be forced to flee to the continent loyal, but for these warlords, Richard could with Margaret of Anjou bearing down on have seemed like an inflexible, sanctimonious London. There is no doubt that Richard will prig who threatened their autonomy in the have known he was growing up in very north and who was unlikely to give up easily in dangerous times. his chosen path. While Edward IV was alive, The IU syndrome is linked with one more these barons may well have been sufficiently telling pattern in this case. It is associated with satisfied with Edward’s judgement to feel a strong sense of self-control and repression. disposed to some co-operation with Richard in As a result, religious and moral beliefs can be the North. Subsequently, it may well be that, extreme and inflexibly defended (for this unfettered by Edward, the speed of his reason this syndrome is closely associated with legislation in the short time of his own reign authoritarianism and right-wing ideology). and the inflexibility of Richard’s character However, it is particularly significant that the might have sealed his fate at Bosworth. It is a price of this control is such when these beliefs common fate of modern political leaders are violated, self-control is compromised and ultimately to be laid low when they threaten the the likelihood of a disproportional and/or self-interest of those whose support they rely impulsive response is greater. The execution of upon to remain in power. Hastings might be seen in these terms. Having been persuaded (by whatever evidence) that the The transition to monarchy, 1483–5 previously loyal Hastings was actually ‘Personality’ does not exist in isolation and the conspiring against him, Richard’s anger at very essence of some personality traits is betrayal and the desire to re-establish order and entirely dependent on circumstances and an certainty is extreme even if, perhaps, some individual’s perception of how events are regret follows. A similar argument might apply unfolding. Therefore, whilst of obvious to Richard’s intractable attitude to Buckingham significance to the history of England, the after his rebellion. Richard was not someone to years 1483–5 are also of great significance in betray lightly. the psychological analysis of Richard’s In these character traits we also see a personality because this covers his transition possible motive for the behaviour of Stanley from Lord of the North (with little expectation and Percy at Bosworth. As representatives of of accession to the throne), to Protector, and the landowning aristocracy both of these men – then to king. Richard’s rise and fall can be said Stanley particularly – show a constrasting to fit a very common pattern – that of the loyal 51 and hard-working deputy who, coming to emphasise the reverse. Paradoxically, at a time power after the passing of a long-standing, of relative security and peace, these powerful leader, is overcome by events in circumstances will have reinforced the relatively short order. In recent British political behaviours that reflected Richard’s underlying history three similar cases come to mind in IU syndrome (the origins of which lay in Prime Ministers Eden, Major and Brown. insecurity and strife). At this stage, the life Following the dominance of Churchill, experiences that would have led to a more Thatcher and Blair respectively, these certainly adaptive mentality, and with it a more finely had hard acts to follow, as did Richard tuned political sensitivity and ability to following Edward IV. compromise, were substituted by experiences The diversity of these three figures – and the that reinforced the status quo. different reasons why each of them might have If his previous experience made it difficult shared a common fate (we do not need to for Richard’s character to adapt to the different explore them here) – should immediately alert role of king, the immediate crises of his reign – us to the dangers of generalising about Richard in particular the executions of Hastings and III from this perspective. We cannot conclude Buckingham – will have served to have the that these three prime ministers were similar in same effect. He appears to have trusted them, personality to each other because of what and they were probably more adept than he at happened to them. But from the psychologists’ the social skills of politics. But consistent with perspective, this context is still an interesting an IU syndrome Richard placed too much store one to view Richard; this time not looking so in his associates’ trust and loyalty. For their much at traits of the individual personality to part, perhaps Hastings and Buckingham came draw conclusions about motivations and to believe – as we speculate that Stanley and personality, but looking at the interaction of Percy eventually did – that here was a man that personality and dynamics of the already too flawed, too inflexible, to broker environment and context in which people are compromise and in any sense share power. placed. Is there anything about the dynamics of They may therefore have concluded (possibly transition from deputy to king that can be used even with regret) that they had levered the to cast further insight into this more bloody wrong person into power. Whatever they stage of Richard’s career without resorting to believed, the effect of their loss would have ideas of an abnormally disordered personality? been to make it less likely that others could The first point of note is that for ten or more influence Richard in that way. In the nature of years prior to Edward’s death, Richard was personalities characterised by IU, betrayal will being strongly reinforced in his modus have rendered Richard even less likely to trust operandi. Service and loyalty to his brother had new people and new ideas as they came along. served both well, and his role as viceroy in the To summarise, the interaction of established North further allowed him significant freedom character traits and the immediate pressures of in how he conducted his affairs. He was the transition to monarchy could have had the surrounded by a loyal team, was fulfilling his effect of amplifying those traits in what is a duty to the king and was not exposed to the self-reinforcing cycle of behaviour and uncertainties and vicissitudes of the Woodville- feedback. It is a moot point whether that packed court. This arrangement was mutually tendency, in itself, made the crises with beneficial. With his expectation that his brother Hastings and Buckingham inevitable (in which would rule for sometime and then be replaced case one would conclude that Richard’s by Edward V in due course, any resentments personality profile was sufficiently extreme as (even if he was aware of them) he might to undermine his ability to reign effectively), already be generating in the likes of Stanley whether they were merely treacherous, or and Percy were hardly likely to cause him to whether (as seems most likely) the truth lies lose much sleep. Therefore, at an age when somewhere between the two. Whatever, such most apprentice politicians (who are not tied crises had the effect of removing key into office by birth) are required to be flexible personalities capable of mediating between and adaptive, Richard’s experience served to Richard’s particular style of management and 52 the more opportunistic expectations of the and in using such terms, we are able to powerful subjects upon whom he would need exemplify how variably this can be perceived to rely. by others in the context in which they work. At This issue is subtle and hard to judge, and one extreme, some individuals are tolerated perhaps we should be careful not to overstate with good humour and friendship for their the effects of this transition. There is little endearing qualities – they may be a bit of a reason in documented records to think that the pain sometimes, but their heart is in the right dynamics we describe produced much that was place. At the other extreme, perhaps where obviously aberrant. The factors governing social discretion is replaced by managerial Richard’s personality would not be very authority and a palliative sense of humour is remarkable in terms of his overt behaviour, missing, such control freaks can be perceived however fundamental they may have been to as vindictive and sanctimonious prigs. his motivations and ultimately to other people’s In our assessment of Richard, the point here estimate of him as a leader. By way of contrast, is that how his personality was perceived is an to make this point, consider ex British Foreign interaction between how extreme certain Secretary David Owen’s 2007 account of the personality traits were, and the perceived ‘Hubris Syndrome’. This book attempts to functional relationship between the people account for the behaviour of powerful leaders making that assessment. Clearly, some of his such as Margaret Thatcher in terms of the close associates, both in the North, but also in results of similar self-reinforcing patterns of his monarchy, showed great loyalty and behaviour. But the dynamics of this seem quite attachment. Others, such as Stanley and Percy, different, as a potted selection from Owen by their behaviour, did not. But these latter indicates in describing the Hubris Syndrome: individuals cannot be expected to have found Richard’s monarchy very palatable and would a narcissistic propensity to see the world • have felt their interests to be compromised by primarily as an arena in which they can those controlling characteristics. Those exercise power and seek glory; characteristics need not have been very a disproportionate concern with image and • extreme to produce the response in Stanley and presentation; Percy we observe – nor even in Hastings and excessive confidence in their own • Buckingham if we accept that they believed judgement and contempt for the advice or that, in those times, Richard’s inflexible or criticism of others; controlling style would ultimately lead to more recklessness and impulsiveness; • trouble. For these reasons, we speculate that loss of contact with reality; • Richard would have been recognised as of a incompetence in carrying out a policy . . . • personality type in which rectitude, justice, self-confidence has led the leader not to piety and loyalty were valued highly and which bother worrying about the nuts and bolts might also have been seen as verging towards of a policy. the sanctimonious and/or authoritarian. To us at least, this does not sound like Richard. However, it seems unlikely that this would True, medieval monarchs did have a propensity have been seen as extreme to the point of to behave hubristically as a matter of abnormality. In that case, Richard’s misfortune expectation. But if anything, the record of was that the febrile state of England and its legislation and of command and control in his aristocracy were not ready for him and his style years of monarchy suggest a far more of monarchy. controlled and balanced pattern of behaviour than is associated with other monarchs of the Summary time. Rather, we suggest that the key element This brief analysis points to simple summaries here is this sense of control and engagement. of Richard’s personality. We argue that any This, from all we have seen, is characteristic of suggestion that Richard was a murderous, Richard and is a predictable element of the IU Machiavellian psychopath is highly unlikely syndrome. In modern parlance, such behaviour and lacks evidence. Furthermore, most of the is sometimes associated with ‘control freaks’, expected attributes of such an aberrant 53 personality type are contra-indicated by be to inform the way we see the key events of evidence. But, as is sometimes the case, we do Richard’s life, where questions remain not wish the exclusion of one extreme unanswered. We now turn to some of these hypothesis to be taken as evidence for its polar briefly by way of speculation in the light of the opposite. This, in itself, is not evidence that tentative conclusions we have drawn. Richard was a charismatic or saintly monarch. There is nothing beyond a comparatively What does Hastings’ execution tell efficient government in the time available to us? him to suggest that Richard was significantly It is not clear what it is that Hastings was more ‘good’ than any other monarch. To flesh accused of, but it is clearer that, however out his personality a little more, we speculate alarming and rushed the events were, Richard that his behaviour as king and human being is probably operating within his authority in was influenced by two things. First, his ordering this summary execution. With the deformity would have led to greater reserve character of Richard that we have portrayed, it and social caution, both on his part and his is entirely consistent for him to have behaved interlocutors (except possibly the most somewhat extremely and impulsively on intimate). This could have been interpreted as discovery of some betrayal or other (although controlling and cautious and, in the extreme, that betrayal is surmise). It is equally verging towards the devious and dissembling. characteristic that he should have shown This was probably not a serious impediment, magnaminity to Hastings’ family subsequently. but it probably nuanced all interactions The crucial evidence here, however, is missing. negatively. Second, his childhood, and the If we were more sure why it was that Hastings repeated accounts of adult characteristics such had given offence, we would be in a better as piety, loyalty and a sense of justice (to name position to judge the proportionality of a few) all point to an individual for whom Richard’s response and with it his state of control and the reduction of uncertainty was mind. All we can do without that information is important. The evidence does not suggest that to comment that any number of plausible this was expressed in an extreme way, but we scenarios can be identified in which Richard’s have tried to argue that the interaction of this response would not have seemed particularly tendency with the needs and expectations of remarkable. others may well nevertheless have had dire consequences, either because he would be Could Richard have murdered his disliked on a personal basis as a controlling, nephews? authoritarian individual, or, more importantly, Richard seems, above all other things, to have because he communicated a real threat to the been a careful person. However abhorrent the power of those whose support he needed. double murder of minors might seem to us Overall, this portrays a slightly damaged, but today, it was usual for displaced monarchs to within his own lights, sincere and effective be disposed of. Since other kings were happy individual who is projected into circumstances to do this, there is no reason to rule out the for which he ultimately lacked the political possibility that Richard felt compelled to do flexibility and luck to prevail. likewise, for similar reasons to theirs. That As we have said, this analysis is based upon lower threshold for murder accepted, it was thin evidence and we suspect any number of never an act to be considered lightly, and we other psychological approaches will also need to think about why Richard should wish generate interesting alternative perspectives of to destroy them and whether our assessment of Richard. It is an experiment in historical his personality gives any useful insight upon analysis in which we have sought to apply this. His legal claim to the throne, once the psychologically oriented guiding principles to princes’ illegitimacy was established, was such evidence as is available to provide a strong. With the law on his side, he might have plausible account of the man. If this, or indeed felt that this was sufficient to minimise the risk any other psychologically oriented, approach of their being the focus of a rebellion. Nor was adds any value to the historical process, it must a serious attempt being made to abduct the 54 royal children and use them in this way (unless course of events, were it the case that the we accept the hypothesis that Buckingham was illegitimacy of the princes was established, a conducting some nefarious operation prior to man of his demeanour and position would have his rebellion). Furthermore, if the princes were no choice but to regularise the situation by indeed dead for whatever reason, little enabling the lawful process of succession to go advantage would follow from not telling ahead. That is entirely consistent with the anyone. On the other hand, had they been sent character we have painted. Equally, for a man to a secret place of safety, silence was essential. whose entire career had apparently been based For a controlled and careful man, with a keen upon the carrying out of his duty according to sense of justice, it is more in character to have the station he had inherited by birth, it seems done this than to have carried out a pre-emptive unlikely that he would suddenly become murder without then appropriately clarifying skilled in a coherent act of deception that (i.e. tidying up and reducing uncertainty) the appears never to have fallen apart and thereby situation afterwards. In sum, our analysis of revealed its true nature. The alternative Richard would point to his being more likely to hypothesis that Richard was a long-term have removed the princes to a secret place of usurper who had been biding his time for the safety and less likely to have been complicit in whole of his adult life lacks evidence or their murder. plausibility.

Was he Machiavellian? Why did he die at Bosworth? The concept of being Machiavellian emphas- With Percy’s ambiguous inactivity at ises political expediency above moral or ethical Bosworth, Richard might well have withdrawn considerations. In Machiavellian politics, truth to fight another day; as had many successfully and justice are more likely to be defined post before him. His chances of regrouping, as the hoc rather than determining what the ends of legitimate king, were reasonable, and it is far those politics should be. In this respect, whilst from clear how the future would have unfolded doubtless Richard was capable of shrewdness afterwards. Instead he chose to gamble on what and possibly diplomacy amounting to proved to be an ill-fated charge. Why? We economies with the truth, it seems more likely suggest the following logic. First, he was the than for other monarchs that his policy was anointed king and it was the will of God driven by what he believed was right. Indeed, whether he remained so. For a man of his piety we have argued earlier that this fixity of it was his duty to defend his monarchy to the purpose may have been seen by the magnates death. Fatalism is not unusual with his of the time as a threat, precisely because character traits (although we note it is less Richard was less likely to be swayed or likely in psychopathic personalities). Second, deflected from his purpose by the he was a seasoned warrior and quite capable of Machiavellian operators around him. It is easy executing the manoeuvre he proposed. These to see, with a reserved manner and cautious points given, perhaps at this crisis in the battle demeanour he could be attributed with (and indeed in his life, this battle following on Machiavellian motives, but we suggest that this so soon after the loss of his wife and son), he is could be a complete misreading of his decisive: Richard’s aversion to the uncertainty character. that would follow his retreat makes common cause in his mind with the opportunity to put an Did he usurp the throne end to Henry Tudor for once and for all, and opportunistically? the product is a chivalric coup de main. It may By the same token, we surmise that Richard, in have been seen as a desperate, impulsive act as moving to legitimise his monarchy, was not the fortune of battle swung against him, but we driven by ambition. Even whether or not he argue that Richard may have construed it as a was pleased to become king is debatable. The duty and an act of faith in God. History tells us question could be framed in terms of whether that when the character traits we have he felt he had a choice. Despite recognising attributed to Richard appear in leaders – traits how his political enemies would interpret the which are self-reinforcing and less likely to 55 lead to compromise – an uncompromising and with long and established cultures and the sudden end is the likely outcome. If so, had different expectations that go with them. Richard’s reign not ended at Bosworth Field, it Largely covert in works such as this, these might well have ended soon enough in similar cultures contextualise in the reader’s mind circumstances. what the authors intend. If the readers come from a different culture, then the words used by Postscript authors often take on different and unwelcome If the purpose of historical analysis is to relate meanings. Perhaps it must necessarily be so. the flow of events to the personality and Either way, it leaves our foray into historical motivations of the characters within them, it analysis flawed: psychologists may feel that we seems logical that psychological analysis of have been incautious in our speculation beyond individuals could be used to inform historical what meagre evidence allows; historians may debate. However, judging by critical reviews, feel that our inexpert grasp of late medieval historians might previously have made a better history undermines our ability to understand show of informing psychological insight than the cognitions of fifteenth-century figures. We have psychologists influenced the historical accept both limitations and offer this defence: interpretation of events. One thinks, for if we accept that there is no single correct example, of John Keegan’s influential and interpretation of history – or indeed of human beautifully written The Face of Battle as an behaviour – then the one thing we can be sure example of the former. On the latter side, of is that it is a mistake to seek orthodoxy and historians seem unimpressed with the to close down new or challenging approaches. psychologist’s approach: the brickbats hurled Our purpose here has been to think as at Norman Dixon for his analysis of Douglas psychologists about Richard III to offer Haig in The Psychology of Military plausible hypotheses that might add flesh and Incompetence still echo through the literature humanity to the bones of the historical record. of the Great War. Arguments swing from side For us, our version of Richard has emerged as to side. Historians argue the analysis is silly to someone sharing character traits we see all the point of character assassination. Psycho- around us: some good and some bad. We can logists (including Dixon himself) would argue also see how those character traits played out in that historians have missed his point and failed the constraints and demands of his social to grasp the subtlety of psychological analysis. station and his times. Whether this analysis is The truth is that two disciplines, with even so right or wrong, we cannot say. The debate is obvious a common ground as the study of all. But if its effect is to reconnect us with people in historical events, struggle to exploit Richard’s humanity, warts and all, that, at least, it. This is in part because both disciplines come is something.

AUSTRALASIAN CONVENTION 2013 The NSW Branch will be hosting the biennial Australasian Convention ‘Richard III: the Man behind the Myth’ Friday 12 to Sunday 14 July 2013 at Novotel, Darling Harbour, Sydney All members and friends of the Richard III Society are welcome. For further information and/or registration please contact the New South Wales Branch at [email protected] Let’s mark the 530th anniversary of Richard’s and Anne’s coronation with one big celebration!

56 Aymer Vallance: an early Ricardian

JOHN SAUNDERS

n a notebook belonging to Saxon Barton, and he was present at the disinterment.’ Iprobably dating from the mid 1930s, is a list Interestingly, he had previously been involved of some dozen names and addresses headed with another set of controversial bones, those ‘Admirers of Richard III’, the only record we unearthed in January 1888 by workmen have of the membership of the Fellowship of excavating in the East Crypt of Canterbury the White Boar. Among those listed is the name Cathedral. These were thought at the time to be Aymer Vallance. the remains of St Thomas Becket; however, Philip Lindsay dedicated his polemic On their provenance remains unproven Some Bones in Westminster Abbey to three The Westminster Abbey urn had been people: Saxon Barton, Philip Nelson and opened on the 6 July 1933 and five days later it Aymer Vallance. He praised them as ‘three of had been resealed and returned to the Abbey. In Richard’s most gallant champions’. The book the intervening period the contents were was written in response to the official report on subject to a scientific examination by a team the contents of the urn in Westminster Abbey, lead by Professor William Wright. The results said to contain the remains of the Princes in the were announced to the public at a meeting held Tower. Lindsay noted that ‘The moving spirit at the Society of Antiquaries on 30 November of the un-urning was Mr Aymer Vallance, well that year; the conclusions were controversial known antiquary and archaeologist and a lover and remain so today. Certainly they were a of King Richard. For many years, Mr Vallance surprise to the four members of the Fellowship had agitated for these bones to be examined, of the White Boar – Saxon Barton, Philip Lindsay, Philip Nelson and Aymer Vallance – Aymer Vallance, MA, FSA, circa 1900 who were present at the meeting. Professor Wright’s report was subsequently published in the 1934 edition of Archaeologia; for an analysis of the investigation and its conclusions see Bill White’s article ‘70 Years of the Bones: the investigation in Westminster Abbey’ in the Autumn 2003 edition of the Ricardian Bulletin, pp. 34–5. The recent archaeological dig on the site of the Grey Friars church in Leicester and the finding of human remains would have delighted Aymer Vallance and he would also have been a great enthusiast for the project to locate King Richard’s remains. Whilst 1933 had been a disappointing year for the Fellowship, with the unfavourable outcome of the urn investigations, 1934 was a happier one. In April of that year the Richard III memorial window in Middleham church was unveiled and dedicated; it is likely that Vallance was among the party of Fellowship supporters present for the ceremony. For an 57 Architect’s drawings for the restoration of Stoneacre, Aymer Vallance’s home in Kent. © National Trust account of this event see my article ‘The to pursue his growing interest in Gothic Middleham Window’ in the Spring 2004 issue architecture and worked as a lecturer for the of the Ricardian Bulletin, pp. 34–6. Architectural Association. He also had a career Who was Aymer Vallance? Born William as a writer and contributed to the Art Journal Howard Aymer Vallance in 1863, he claimed and The Studio, leading artistic magazines of descent from Aymer de Vallance, a cousin of the time. He travelled extensively both in Edward I. By the nineteenth century the family Britain and on the continent pursuing research were involved in banking and brewing and for his writing. their home was in Lynsted, Kent. Vallance was In many respects Vallance was a typical educated at Harrow and Oriel College, Oxford, Oxford aesthete of the late nineteenth century; where he read classics, and in 1885 he was he was talented in many fields – an artist, a granted his MA. During the following year he writer, and an acclaimed expert on ecclesias- was ordained in the Anglican Church and from tical architecture, an archaeologist and a 1886 to 1888 was a curate at the Church of the connoisseur of the applied arts. Indeed, from a Annunciation in Brighton, noted for its stained- very early age he showed an interest in art and glass windows designed by Sir Edward Burne- at the age of 19 began to collect old oak Jones and made by William Morris. In 1889 furniture. Vallance converted to Roman Catholicism, In 1895 he was made a Fellow of the which was not such an unusual path for Society of Antiquaries and contributed to their someone of Vallance’s background to follow. journal; he was also an active member of the Oriel College was where Cardinal John Royal Archaeological Institute. He exhibited at Newman taught and it was the focal point of the Royal Society of British Artists and was the Oxford Movement, which sought a revival also a skilled photographer, leaving his of traditional Catholicism. However, Vallance extensive collection of photographs to the did not become ordained in the Roman Courtauld Institute of Art. As an author he Catholic Church; instead he moved to London published a number of biographies and

58 influential books on English church screens, Vallance came into contact with one of the lychgates and old crosses. In the 1911 census, country’s leading experts on medieval glass, Dr aged 49, he gave his profession as ‘writer on art Philip Nelson, a close friend of Saxon Barton and archaeology’. and a member of the Fellowship. Aymer Vallance also moved in rather In 1920 Vallance purchased a badly run- exalted artistic and literary circles, and through down fifteenth-century half-timbered manor such contacts became influenced by the house in Kent. The house, located in Otham Aesthetic Movement, which emphasised the near Maidstone, was called Stoneacre, and it sensuousness of art and stood in contrast to the dated from the early 1480s. His work in bland industrial materialism of the Victorian restoring the house has been described as ‘a Age. He was a friend of Aubrey Beardsley and fascinating exercise in inspired scholarship’. It played a significant role in launching his was an opportunity to put his extensive artistic career. Another friend was the art critic knowledge of medieval architecture to Robbie Ross, Oscar Wilde’s executor, into practical use, and the restoration and whose circle he introduced Beardsley. It was improvements were extensive. Vallance gave his close friendship with another artistic giant the house to the National Trust in 1928 and it of the period that was ultimately to lead to the remains in their care and open to the public. Fellowship of the White Boar. This was He married shortly after acquiring Stoneacre William Morris, whom Vallance had known and remained there for his retirement years, since the early 1880s. Shortly after Morris’s becoming an active member of the Kent death he published the first biography of the Archaeological Society and contributing many great designer and campaigner for social articles to their journal Archaeologia Cantiana. reform. In his preface to the book Vallance When he died in 1943 he bequeathed his large writes ‘I approached Morris in the autumn of collection of books and prints to the Society of 1894 on the question of the proposed book, he Antiquaries. told me frankly that he did not want it done by Aymer Vallance has not featured promin- me or anyone else as long as he were alive, but ently in the history of the revisionist cause, but that if I would only wait until after his death I he was an important figure and an interesting might do it.’ one too. Hopefully he will now be a little better William Morris founded the Society for the known, and members visiting Stoneacre can do Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) in so in the knowledge that it was once the home 1877 and this, combined with Morris’s Arts of a Ricardian. and Crafts background, brought together two Dr. Robert Baxter’s ‘Aymer Vallance – Son important elements for Vallance. Morris of Lynsted’ has been a useful source of epitomised Vallance’s dual interests in information in the compilation of this article, medieval history and in church architecture. and I am also very grateful to Helen Challinor With a growing reputation in these fields for her helpful comments and insights.

Visit Stoneacre

This National Trust property comprises a fifteenth-century half-timbered yeoman’s house, with a great hall, surrounded by a garden, orchard and meadows. It is a near- perfect example of a Wealden Hall-House, and contains collections of furniture, wood and metal. It is administered by tenants on behalf of the National Trust and is open during 2013 between 17 March and 29 September from 11 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on Saturdays and Bank Holiday Mondays; last admissions one hour before closing. The property is located in Otham, three miles south-east of Maidstone in Kent. For further information about visiting the property, see www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stoneacre.

59 A series of remarkable ladies

RITA DIEFENHART-SCHMITT

3. Jadwiga Jagellonka, Duchess of Bavaria (21.9.1457, Cracow, Poland–18.2.1502, Burghausen, Bavaria)

Parents: Casimir IV, King of Poland and Prince of Lithuania (1427–92) and Elizabeth of Bohemia-Hungary (c.1409–42) Husband: George the Rich, Duke of Bavaria-Landshut (d. 1503). Children: It is said that Jadwiga gave birth to five children, of whom only two girls survived infancy, Elizabeth and Margaret. Source: Johann Dorner: ‘Herzogin Hedwig und ihr Hofstaat in Burghausen’, Burghausener Geschichtsblätter, No. 53. Illustration: Anonymous portrait of Jadwiga, about 1502, redrawn by Geoffrey Wheeler.

Early in 1474 negotiations started between the courts of Cracow and Landshut for a marriage agreement between Jadwiga and Duke George, eldest son of Duke Louis IX (called ‘the Rich’) of Bavaria-Landshut. Both courts were related to each other. Therefore a papal dispensation was necessary to make the marriage possible. On 14 November 1475 George and Jadwiga Jadwiga died in 1502 in Burghausen and was were married in a splendid ceremony in buried in the Cistercian Monastery at Landshut. The festivities lasted nearly a week, Raitenhaslach. Her grave could be seen until attended by the Emperor and other famous the Secularisation. The Foerderer, the Society nobles of that time. Today this famous event is which organises the Landshut Wedding Re- still remembered in its re-enactment, ‘The enactment, donated a memorial plaque to her Landshut Wedding’, celebrated every four former burial place. years and one of Germany’s biggest medieval re-enactments. Note Like her predecessors, Jadwiga lived The Landshut Wedding re-enactment takes in the castle of Burghausen, where she also place this year from 28 June to 21 July; for gave birth to her children. Her husband died in more information visit www.landshuter- 1503. The lack of male descendants caused the hochzeit.de and click on the little Union Jack so-called Landshut Succession War (1504). for the English version. 60 A character reference for Richard III from an unlikely source

MARK DOBSON

as Richard a smoker? Well, no, of The second decade of his reign was a relatively Wcourse not. Tobacco wasn’t introduced peaceful period of pleasure seeking and to Europe for at least 100 years after his death. cultural pursuits.’ All true, but not the whole But would he have been, were that infernal truth methinks! weed available then? Again, one thinks Elizabeth Woodville: ‘Wife of Edward IV probably not. His brother Edward might have . . . was the first English Queen – the only one succumbed to the temptation, as he certainly before Anne Boleyn – to be chosen for love seems to have indulged in many earthly alone. Dynastic marriages were an important pleasures, including wine and women, but part of power politics. Warwick the Kingmaker Richard comes across as altogether more was negotiating a French marriage for Edward ascetic. After all, he was faithful to his wife, IV when, in 1464, he was dismayed to learn had few known mistresses and only fathered that his royal protégé had contracted a secret possibly two bastard children. marriage which could bring him no advantage. I pose the question because I have acquired Elizabeth was the widow of a lesser a collection of cigarette cards, ‘Kings and Lancastrian knight, and she brought to court Queens of England’ which, considering their numerous ambitious relatives. Her later age (probably from the 1970s) exhibit an relationships with Richard III are unfathomed. almost Ricardian view about Richard and other Henry VII sent her to a nunnery.’ The members of his family. On one side is the penultimate sentence is an interesting way of familiar painting of him from the National describing a clearly difficult period historically. Portrait Gallery. On the back is the following Edward V: ‘Proclaimed King in 1483, but description: ‘Richard III b. 1452 r. 1483–1485. never crowned. He was the elder son of Younger and only loyal brother to Edward IV, Edward IV, by his unpopular wife Elizabeth is presumed to have been appointed Protector Woodville, and was officially King after his in Edward’s lost will. He immediately assumed father’s death in 1483. However, on 22nd June Protector’s duties, outwitting the Woodvilles, he was declared illegitimate on the grounds of and then, encouraged by the Duke of his father’s previous contract with Eleanor Buckingham, accepted the Crown himself. His Butler, which, by Medieval Law, made him a short reign saw just government and bigamist. From that time Edward and his encouragement of the towns and common brother, Richard, Duke of York, apparently people. His wife and heir died before him and never left the Tower. The rumour, in circulation treachery, eventually led by Henry Tudor, by 1485, that Richard III had them murdered, defeated him on Bosworth field.’ All very lacks proof. Perkin Warbeck, the Pretender Ricardian! could have been the younger boy.’ On Edward IV: ‘Was every inch Henry’s Henry VII: ‘Had a slender, and partly grandfather. After his victory at Towton, and illegitimate, Lancastrian claim to the throne, backed by his cousin Warwick the Kingmaker, strengthened by the determination of his he ascended the throne on a wave of popularity. mother, the learned Margaret Beaufort, and the Bar an eclipse in 1469, when he fell into the promise to marry Elizabeth eldest daughter of Kingmaker’s power, and another in 1470– Edward IV. The strongest argument, however, 1471, spent in Bruges, he was to defeat was his victory at Bosworth, all ratified by virtually Lancastrians, the Warwick and his conquest. Henry was a careful replenisher of brother, Clarence. He also bought off Louis XI royal coffers. His stability was threatened by of France in a lucrative but unpopular truce. pretenders, but he came to see his line 61 Cards 15–21 in the series ‘Kings and Queens of England’ given away with Carreras ‘Black Cat’ cigarettes

acknowledged in the match between his heir, motive for being sure they were not alive. Did Arthur, and Catherine of Aragon. . . .’ Basically she know what had happened to her brothers? factual. She gave Henry 4 children and they became And finally, Elizabeth of York: ‘Took dear to one another.’ sanctuary in Westminster with her mother upon That last line looks a little strange. Just who Edward IV’s death. Richard scotched rumours became ‘dear to each other’ – Henry and that he planned to marry her after his wife’s Elizabeth or Elizabeth and the children? death, in 1485. Henry Tudor then landed in Perhaps if more history teachers had England [sic] as he had sworn to do. She was a smoked Black Cat cigarettes back then they political pawn whose value depended upon might have imparted a more sympathetic view whether there was any truth in the allegation of of Richard to their pupils! the family’s illegitimacy – and whether her I intend to donate this collection of cards to brothers were still alive. Hence Henry VII’s our Group for wider dissemination.

62 The Thameside Boar – another ‘dubious device’

GEOFFREY WHEELER

iven the media interest in Richard III Gcreated by the Greyfriars dig last August – September, it was strange that little space was given in the national press to the discovery reported on 4 December 2012. A small paragraph in The Times noted it amongst the items in the British Museum’s Annual Report of the Portable Antiquities scheme, whilst the Daily Telegraph printed a small photo [Fig. 1] under the heading ‘Find linked to Richard III’, revealing ‘A boar mount that could have belonged to Richard III has been discovered by treasure hunters on the Thames foreshore near Fig. 1 (All illustrations and photographs by and the Tower of London. King Richard took the © Geoffrey Wheeler). Another illustration can be white boar as his sign, while badges in the form found on p. 17 in this issue. of the animal were ordered at the time of his death in 1485’ (probably confusion with the 1483 investiture of Prince Edward in York). A search for contemporary parallels begins promisingly, as a similar beast, with a crown coronet, appears in the collection of drawings c.1466–70 assembled by Sir John Fenn,1 where it is paired with another detached MS example of Richard’s autograph early motto tant le desiere2 [Fig. 2]. Funeral effigies of his supporters wearing his livery collars, however, show the boar without any crown coronet around the neck; that of Ralph Fitzherbert (d.1483), Norbury, Derbyshire [Fig. 3], Fig. 2 includes a damaged supporting base, whilst an engraving of the one once on the wooden effigy of Ralph Neville, Brancepeth, Co. Durham, is freestanding [Fig. 4]. This had been missing since C. A. Stothard published it in 1876 and the figures were subsequently destroyed by fire in 1999. The latest ‘boar mount’ appears to be standing on a ‘torse’ or ‘wreath’ formed from the twisted folds of mantling on an heraldic achievement, seen between the crest and the helm, above the central shield. At least one authority chose to depict a boar pendant in this way [Fig. 5], the noted costume historian Fig. 3 63 Herbert Norris in his volume on dress from 1066 to 1485.3 Although it is possible to identify some of the source material for his illustrations, and he acknowledges information given by experts at the College of Arms, this may be one of his own creations, as certainly with the ‘collar of honour’ shown on the opposite page [Fig. 6] he combines the white lion from the 1471 Robert Harcourt effigy (one of the rare examples where that, too, is shown Fig. 4 on a torse or wreath) with the unique suns, roses and oak leaves design around the neck of Joan, Countess of Arundel (d. 1462). Norris was responsible for costumes and settings for productions at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre from 1919 to 1944 (including Richard III – John Laurie – in 1939) and as adviser to Mme Tussaud’s on their historical sections. He also chose to show their figure of Richard III wearing the Arundel Yorkist collar.4 Given the uncertainty about a definite Richard III connection, it would seem advisable to extend the search for other candidates who used similar badges. One certainly appears prominently in the Fig. 5 illustrations of Joseph Foster’s Dictionary of Heraldry,5 collared with a crown and chain, but curiously labelled the Earle Darbie [Fig. 7], whose family is certainly not associated with this animal. Like Sir John Fenn’s collection, Foster made use of contemporary fifteenth- century and Tudor MSS, but with less concern for accuracy, in assembling his ‘scrapbook’ of images. Those for Richard III (pp. 220–1) show his ‘improved’ re-drawing of the king’s standard and boar supporters based on the rather crude originals in Sir Thomas Fig. 6 Wriothesley’s manuscript book6 and on the pages devoted to Richard II’s heraldry we find Edward IV’s motto confort et liesse inserted between the tree-root badge of Thomas of Woodstock (and later of John, duke of Bedford) and the Tudor portcullis. A more reliable authority, Michael Powell Siddons, lists a number of families using the boar collared, including Poynings and the Stafford Dukes of Buckingham, in his recent definitive work,7 but if confirmation were needed to disprove any Richard III connection, it emerges from the Leicester Mercury (4 December 2012), which naturally devoted Fig. 7 more space, together with a large photograph 64 Fig. 8 of the copper alloy mount, reporting ‘Richard probability it should be assigned to a member of III badge turns up on beach’, with the text that family, rather than Richard III. claiming that ‘Badges in the form of the animal were ordered for the king’s cremation [sic – a 1. BL Add MS 40742 fol 5 (rear legs misreading of ‘coronation’] in 1485’ and restored), Fenn’s Book of Badges. On fol ‘experts believe it may have been used as a 13 is another similar boar, unidentified, piece of furniture or decorated an item of but probably also for Richard. leather once owned by a supporter of Richard 2. For Richard’s mottoes see Livia Visser- III, or possibly even the king himself’, but this Fuchs, Research Notes & Queries, The overlooks the very important detail given in the Ricardian, Vol VII, No 93, pp. 260–1. further description of the object as ‘a boar 3. Herbert Norris, Costume and Fashion, Vol chained, collared and wearing a crown with a 2, J. M. Dent, 1940, pp. 466–7. crescent above one of its legs’ (my italics), 4. See my article in the Ricardian Register easily overlooked in the Telegraph photo. This (US Branch magazine), Summer 2004, is clearly the cadency mark denoting a second ‘The Easy-Melting King: the history of son, which rules out Richard as duke of Richard III at Mme Tussaud’s’, illus p 5. Gloucester or king. The inclusion of the 5. Joseph Foster, The Dictionary of heraldic wreath at the base also shows it to be Heraldry, Studio Editions 1994 reprint, p. a crest (not a badge), such as adorns the tops of 219 – additional material advertising his helmets and not applicable to Richard, who, as forthcoming ‘Men of Coat Armour, seen from his Garter stall plate design, used the Bearings and Badges’. golden crowned lion of England. 6. Sean Cunningham, Richard III, a Royal A similar error was perpetuated by the carver Enigma, National Archives, 2003, illus p. of a chair, traditionally associated with Richard 62. From BL Harley MS 4682. and the Blue Boar Inn, Leicester, which in fact 7. Michael Powell Siddons, Heraldic Badges appears to be of quite recent origin, more ‘Arts in England and Wales, Vol II: Ordinaries’, and Crafts’ in style, now kept by Everards Boydell, 2009, p 16. Brewery Ltd.8 Interestingly, one of the colour 8. David Baldwin, Richard III, Amberley, plates in Michael Siddons’ introductory 2012, colour plate 56. volume9 shows an almost identical blue boar – 9. Siddons, op.cit., Vol Introduction, colour minus the crown coronet – on the standard of plate 11. From College of Arms MS A17 Sir John Vere (1513) [Fig. 8], so in all fol 62v. 65 Ricardian crossword 3

BY SANGLIER

Cryptic clues, mostly with a Ricardian or Wars of the Roses flavour. Solution on p. 80. Across 1 Is Gerry far from the burial site? (10) 6 Exploits emerging from numerous escapades. (4) 9 Henry VI get mad? That’s all . . . (10) 10 . . . because in his case this was characterised by cruel treatment and lack of clear leadership. (4) 12 Urgent call about difficult clients missing number of key dates in the calendar. (9) 15 Direct, as John Morton was with Ely? (7) 17 Make use of stuff for war. (7) 18 Inclined towards claiming the throne, avoiding publicity and not English. (7) 20 Odd choice of hostage for Richard. (7) 21 Fail to act on disturbances: that’s typical of fifteenth- 8 Action taken by nun to discover her century government. (9) possibly unwanted relative. (10) 25 Keen to impart gravity to times past. (4) 11 Rude person gives lead role to the Queen. 26 Religious ceremony consisting of Norse (6) god holding raven’s head before most of 13 A castle often captured, ruined and due to the people. (10) be destroyed. (10) 27 Give job to famous model on request. (4) 14 Inexperienced topless performers who 28 ‘Hah, to rebel violently!’, as Salisbury enliven e.g. Bosworth and Tewkesbury. might have said after this encounter. (5,5) (10) 16 One gets in, falls over: drinking too much Down of this may be the reason. (6) 1 Is this fun to sing? (4) 19 Hold up negative showing earl, slightly 2 They might say you are a great pitcher! blurred. Is he a high-ranking 20D? (7) (4) 20 Unhappy demoralised dame going out to 3 Lobby for opening of judicial get man in arms! (7) proceedings on the first of February. (5) 22 It’s no good ending parliament without 4 At home he sat uncomfortably without due consideration. (5) giving it much thought. (2,5) 23 City worth visiting and returning at the 5 Old name the Kingmaker’s grandfather earliest opportunity to write initial took, not unwillingly at first. (7) impressions for an article. (4) 7 Shields the children, sustaining wound 24 Go very slowly when taking part in Latin over most of chest. (10) chants. (4) 66 Correspondence

Will contributors please note that letters may be shortened or edited to conform to the standards of the Bulletin. The Bulletin is not responsible for the opinions expressed by contributors. Richard in Jeopardy we see tangible proof of an inward strength to From Elizabeth York Enstam, by e-mail carry the full burden of his dynastic respon- On 22 October 2012 I was very pleased to learn sibilities, despite an affliction that might well that the editors of my favourite television game have sidelined others or provided an excuse to show, Jeopardy, have accurate information take a back seat. about King Richard III. Jeopardy airs every In Richard’s efforts to uphold the House of weekday morning on CBS, one of the three York, both as duke and as king, we see a man major broadcast networks in the United States. who earned the loyalty and affection of those The show has been running since 1984. In who knew him best. Just as we today marvel at Jeopardy the answer is the clue, and the those who overcome disability to realise their contestant must give the question, not only true potential, so Richard’s friends and family with the right information but also in the must have felt similarly proud of his sheer correct phrasing. So the answer for King determination and unflinching loyalty to the Richard was, ‘When King Richard III died Yorkist cause. fighting at Bosworth Field, he shouted, “This crime! This crime!”’ None of the three From Sandra Hempel, by e-mail contestants knew the crime, but the editors I was so happy to watch the programme know: ‘Treason! Treason!’ If none of the concerning the discovery of his remains. I Jeopardy editors is a Ricardian then perhaps know the lady looked shocked when told of the she or he has read an accurate book or article deformity to his spine, as was I. But it was like about the king and knows not to repeat looking at my own back. I have had scoliosis Shakespeare’s dratted fib about that dratted since I was a teenager. It followed years of horse. And now several million faithful TV illness as a child and when it was discovered, viewers know too. no surgical cure had been dared upon. Nevertheless, I have grown up, am now in my Overcoming disabilities late 60s and can walk straighter than my From David Johnson husband, who has a straight spine. I go to the Surely Graham Ransom (Correspondence, gym, and when I was younger it did not stop December 2012 Bulletin, p. 64) is absolutely me doing anything, nor does it now, although correct to state that Richard’s exploits at age restricts many of the things I used to do. Barnet, Tewkesbury, and Bosworth are However, I do not have the pain described by ‘deserving of even more praise’. If, as seems the people on the programme: your body reacts overwhelmingly likely, the Greyfriars remains to it by building up muscles almost as if it is are confirmed to be those of the last trying to push the bone back into a straight line. Plantagenet king, then our collective The only way you can tell my back is curved is admiration can only be increased by the to look closely at my back – naked. My arms manner in which Richard overcame his and legs are not affected, neither is my disability. walking. Scoliosis, severe scoliosis even, did not incapacitate Richard in any way, and may even Who Killed Richard III? have served to strengthen his determination as From Mark Dobson, by e-mail a young man to live a full and active life. This Following on from the discussion in the would be entirely consistent with what we Bulletin about who killed Richard at the battle know of Richard’s conscientious character, of Bosworth, I have recently picked up a driven at all times to do the very best he could. booklet produced by Denbighshire County Perhaps in Richard’s martial achievements Council, Denbighshire People and Places by 67 Dr Charles Kightly. This describes Rhys Fawr we have. The writers of these reports are to be ap Maredudd, who famously retrieved Henry commended also for the diligence demon- Tudor’s standard when Sir Henry Brandon was strated in producing their articles within such a felled by Richard. According to the family tight timeline. No doubt some parts could have tradition it was Rhys who delivered the final been prepared beforehand, ‘in anticipation’ so blow onto Richard with his halberd. As if to to speak, but if that happened, it can only point reinforce this claim, the coat of arms of the to the faith held in the justification of the family displays a white lion holding ‘an project. Through the dedication of the whole uprooted white rose with royal purple leaves’, team – writers, reporters, photographers, perhaps symbolising the death of the last editors, printers, and probably many others Yorkist king. Although the Wikipedia article behind the scenes – the Richard III Society about Rhys Fawr (‘Big Rhys’) does not membership has been advised in a timely mention his part in the death of Richard there fashion, of the great events at Leicester in are other links on the internet which do, e.g. August/September 2012. http://tinyurl.com/Denbighshire-People-and- Places. Keeping things in perspective From Dr Ian Mortimer, by e-mail Playing over the grave It seems to me that, since the findings of the From Jacqueline Grainger (née Maisey) Greyfriars dig have become known, many (Alderman Newton’s Girls’Grammar School people (including members of this Society) 1952–7), by e-mail have lost a bit of perspective. Some have Living in Leicester, I was fortunate to be able equated finding Richard’s body with exoner- to visit the grave site, and was astonished to ating him of complicity in any and every crime find that it was in my old school playground! he might possibly have committed. Because of the proximity of the school to the I understand that, in the enthusiasm of the Cathedral and the old Greyfriars foundations, it discovery, it is difficult to remain level-headed, was always supposed that the king was but I do feel that the Society should do its best somewhere around, but how amazing to to be circumspect. Its purpose is ‘reassessment discover that I had actually been happily of the material’, not the rehabilitation of the playing over Richard’s bones. The school is man – and it has to be so, for the latter implies currently up for sale. A good site for a both a bias and a wilful historical myopia. museum? One of the great things about the Society is its determination to question received wisdom. Praise for the Bulletin It led the way in pulling apart dubious texts From Margaret Manning, Editor, Ricardian long before Deconstructionism was a gleam in Times, New Zealand, by e-mail Jacques Derrida’s eye. It would be a shame if Congratulations should go to the editorial team now that reputation for questioning the of the Ricardian Bulletin for the fine job done evidence is lost, and a little too much over- on the December 2012 issue. To have enthusiasm results in the Society being accumulated and incorporated in that issue of portrayed in the wider press as being biased the magazine so much detail, information, rather than objective. pictures and interesting data on such a very recent event as the Leicester dig and Richard III’s reburial discoveries, which only came fully to light at From Pauline Harrison Pogmore the end of September after all, was a feat of During the recent differing opinions as to considerable editorial proportions. Extremely where King Richard should be interred it has good organisation and hard work would have been said that there is no written proof of his been required to gather together the written wish to be interred in York Minster. This is a articles from the many people involved in the fact. So is the point that Richard also founded project, and their subsequent presentation in chantries in other places than the Minster. His the Bulletin. The very professional-looking foundation at Middleham was intended for six result is proof of the excellent editorial team priests, that at Barnard Castle for 12. Richard’s 68 foundation at the Minster was for 100 priests. remains should they be discovered. The design His brother Edward’s chantry at St George’s has undergone many changes and is now being Windsor was founded with just two priests and finalised’. Richard was by adoption a 16 bedesmen. Placed beside the plans for York northerner, his heart was in the north and he these foundations seem very small. There must was loved there. Where else, I ask myself, have been a reason for such elaborate plans. If would he have chosen. It is not justice for there was any written documentation it could Richard, the last Plantagenet king, to be buried very easily have been destroyed during a later anywhere but where he chose – York Minster. period. This tomb should be erected in York, and We have also heard that it is ‘common nowhere else. practice’ if not law that bodies should be buried in the nearest church to where they are Praise for the Greyfriars dig excavated. This argument falls flat when it is From Mrs Billie Shirley by e-mail discovered bodies from the battle of Towton I feel I must thank you and your colleagues for discovered in Tadcaster were reinterred, not in all your hard work that made the Leicester dig Tadcaster, but several miles away in Saxton. happen. My interest in Richard started some 46 These are just excuses. We are not talking years ago. On seeing his reconstructed face, about some unknown body here. We are talking I’m quite frankly enthralled, let's hope in the about the last Plantagenet king of England who future the truth about him will be revealed. died defending his crown in battle against a usurper and was buried according to that From Judith Veysey by e-mail usurper’s wish in Leicester. Many congratulations to all those members of All this aside, we come to a pertinent the Society and Leicester University fortunate question which no one has answered. If these enough to have been actively involved in this were not intended to be arrangements for his amazing project. The morning press confer- family chantry, where else would Richard have ence had me on the edge of my seat, as did the chosen to be buried? Certainly not West- Channel 4 programme in the evening. It has minster. He had no ties of affection for the been such an emotional journey for all of us Abbey, let alone the considerations of space in who over many years (60 in my case) have the interior. At Windsor the two most important grieved at the inhuman treatment of King places were occupied by Edward IV and Henry Richard's body after the battle of Bosworth and VI, whom Richard himself had had brought the subsequent destruction of his reputation. there for burial. York was the obvious choice. It answers the question as to why nothing had Interesting relationships been done about a fitting memorial for Anne. From Joan Bygrave, West Malling, Kent Despite his preoccupation with other matters, if I am interested in the following statement made this was meant to be her final resting place by Peter Hancock in his book Richard III and Richard was too meticulous not to have at least the Murder in the Tower: ‘And Stillington begun a plan for a suitable memorial. It further himself was actually related to Eleanor Butler answers the question of the mystery of where through his aunt Lady Lisle’s (Joan Cheddar) his son was laid to rest. He is most certainly not relations to the Talbots. Thus . . . Robert was at Sheriff Hutton. marrying off one of his relatives to the king.’ If Unfortunately it appears Richard will be any of your members have explored this interred far from the places he loved. In a trawl relationship I would be pleased to hear from through websites for some information I found them. My address is Rose Alba, Park Road, this post on the Lost in Castles website, dated Addington, West Malling, Kent ME19 5BQ, 24 August 2012: ‘An archaeological dig is now and I will reimburse any expense. under way to determine whether the mortal remains of Richard III are under a car park in [We have suggested to Joan that John Leicester. Over a year ago Lost in Castles were Ashdown-Hill’s Eleanor the Secret Queen invited to make the preliminary computer would be a good source of information about impressions for a potential tomb to rebury the the relationship.] 69 Book reviews and notices

A Trail of Blood by Jeremy Potter (electronic editions) Bloomsbury Readers, E-Pub format, £1.99; Amazon, Kindle format, US$2.75 The late Jeremy Potter was Chairman of the Richard III Society from 1971 to 1989, and in 1970 he published a detective novel, A Trail of Blood. The novel provides a new solution to the mystery of the princes in the Tower and was described by Auberon Waugh as an ‘ingenious, exciting and well written novel.’ The book is now available as a Bloomsbury Reader, downloadable to E-Pub readers, and from Amazon, downloadable to Kindles. We are grateful to Jeremy’s daughter, Jocelyn Potter, for alerting us to this.

The Worm of Conscience by Carole Parkhouse Published 8 December 2012, Amazon, Kindle edition, £3.24, ISBN 9780957512405. Carole Parkhouse, a long-standing member who lives in York, writes to advise that her novel about Miles Metcalfe has been published in Kindle format available from Amazon. As Carole describes: ‘It’s the story of how Miles Metcalfe came up to town as a youth to study at the Inns of Court and became the Attorney-General to Warwick the Kingmaker; how he met and wooed his wife Matilda and their adventures in France and England as part of the Warwick faction before their connection with Warwick’s daughter Anne brings them into the sphere of Richard of Gloucester. The novel continues with the story of their son James, who serves Gloucester and culminates with the aftermath of Bosworth, and how that impacts on the Metcalfe family.’ She is keen to get the book into print and would be grateful for advice from members familiar with the publishing world; her e-mail is [email protected]. Carole is also the author of a scholarly article about Miles which appeared in the March 1989 edition of The Ricardian under the title ‘The Career of a Fifteenth-century Lawyer: Miles Metcalfe of Wensleydale’, so she is fully familiar with the historical facts about Mile’s life and career.

Mistress to the Crown by Isolde Martyn Trade paperback and e-book by Mira Harlequin (Australia), February 2013. Mistress to the Crown is the latest Ricardian novel from the former chair of the Sydney Branch, Isolde Martyn. The ‘mistress’ of the title is Elizabeth Shore, daughter of wealthy London mercer, John Lambard, and ‘the Crown’, of course, is Edward IV’s. Although mentioned in proclamations as ‘Mistress Shore’, Elizabeth was not known as ‘Jane’ until so-called by a playwright in 1599. She has been a subject of fascination ever since and one of the first plays to be performed in the new colony of Botany Bay, New South Wales, was her life story. In Mistress to the Crown, told through Elizabeth’s eyes, we are taken on a journey through medieval London and Westminster in which Isolde’s immaculate research shines through and we are able to see first-hand the luxury, corruption, squalor and medical ‘cures’ which make the flesh creep. We are also taken on the personal journey of a beautiful, witty and kind young woman who, although married very young to an impotent and frigid man, was able to take control of her own destiny and had many triumphs and trials before embarking on her second and happy marriage. Again we meet all our old friends and enemies including a complex King Edward IV and a most obnoxious Marquis of Dorset. Elizabeth takes many risks, from the leaving of the security of marriage, albeit unhappy, to the unwitting 70 favours she does as King’s mistress for others. Many plausible reasons are given for the events of 1483. There are many wonderful scenes in this book. My favourite is the re-enactment of the Siege of Troy at Edward’s court. I was also most moved when at the start of her penance at St Paul’s Cathedral Elizabeth summons all her courage from the scene on the Rood Screen. It is a long time since a novel has been centred on Mistress Shore and that is surprising, since she would have been at the heart of great matters in the kingdom. I’m delighted to recommend Mistress to the Crown as a worthwhile read. Babs Creamer

The Kingmaker’s Daughter by Philippa Gregory Simon & Schuster, 2012, hardback 426 pp. Anne Neville, daughter of Warwick the Kingmaker and wife first to Edward of Lancaster then to Richard of York, was at the very heart of the dynastic struggles of the fifteenth century, yet she remains a shadowy, largely unknown figure. So what does Gregory make of this unpromising material? Quite a lot, in fact; for this is the daughter of proud, ambitious Warwick who, denied sons of his own, wants one of his daughters on the throne of England. Anne is her father’s daughter, always conscious of her noble status. At Elizabeth Woodville’s coronation, for example, she despises her sister’s attempts to ingratiate herself with the queen: ‘Isabel can gurn all she wants, but I won’t be made to feel awkward.. . . We are of the great Neville family . . . we have royal blood in our veins’. (p. 7). Warwick shamelessly uses both sisters to further his ambitions. Turning his back on Edward, he now favours George of Clarence as the next king so Isabel is married to him at a magnificent ceremony in Calais ‘. . . a celebration of my father’s power’. (p. 33) But as the balance of power shifts and sways, Warwick decides that Edward of Lancaster is a better bet; much to her horror he abandons the Yorkists and marries Anne to the prince in July 1470. A year later Warwick and Edward are dead and Anne is left without protection – until the turncoat Clarence, his eye on her vast estates, takes control of her, with Isabel’s support: ‘I am not free. I am the pawn in possession of another player’ (p. 140). Anne renews her friendship with Richard, whom she has known since childhood and she pledges herself to him ‘in full knowledge of what I am doing. Because I don’t want to be anybody’s pawn again. The next move that is made will be mine. I will choose my freedom and I will choose my husband’ (p. 173). Yet, even as she walks up the aisle in May 1472, she thinks of the memorial stones under her feet, ‘here, lying in unending darkness, are all the other people who thought that they too would play their own cards’ (p. 193). Anne knows that Richard would not have married her without her inheritance but she is deeply shocked when he and Clarence have the countess of Warwick declared legally dead so they can get control of her estates as well. The countess, bitter and cruel, taunts Anne with the fact that Richard did not, and has no intention of, getting a full dispensation from the pope to make their marriage fully legal and therefore ‘He is providing for the denial of your marriage . . . you are not married and your son is a bastard and you a harlot’ (p. 244). Anne is crushed: ‘All this time I thought that I was playing myself, both the player and the pawn, and yet I have never been more powerless, never more of a piece in someone else’s game’ (p. 244). But the game isn’t over yet for soon Clarence and Edward are dead, Richard is king and Anne has achieved dead Warwick’s dearest wish – a Neville on the throne of England. But Anne no longer wishes to play the game: ‘Ever since I lost my son I have been weary to my soul . . . I am ready to lie down to sleep. I am tired’ (p. 419). Philippa Gregory does not pity Anne, nor does she sentimentalise her; what comes across in Anne’s words is her strength and her resilience, her honesty, her loyalty and her quiet determination 71 to be her own person. That she, governed by the law and custom of the times, is a pawn in the grand game played by more powerful people around her, does not diminish her qualities, rather it serves to emphasise them – for she is the Kingmaker’s daughter. Elaine Henderson

Bosworth: the birth of the Tudors by Chris Skidmore This new book will be published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in hardback on 23 May 2013. The book draws on eyewitness reports, newly discovered manuscripts and the latest archaeological evidence. In June’s Bulletin we will be giving details of a special discount offer for members wishing to buy the book.

The Barton Library Contact details for all the librarians are on the inside back cover.

News from the Non-Fiction Papers Librarian Once again we have several new additions to the Papers Library, covering a range of subjects. Here are a few that might be of particular interest to members. ‘On Some London Houses of the Early Tudor Period’ by Charles Kingsford (From: Archaeologia, Vol LXXI, 1921). This article provides detailed information regarding the interiors and furnishings of four great London houses, including Coldharbour and the Erber. In the 1460s and early 1470s Coldharbour was the property of Edward IV’s sister Anne, the estranged wife of the Lancastrian duke of Exeter. It was occupied by Margaret of York during her visit to England in 1480; Richard III gave it to the royal heralds as their headquarters, but immediately after Bosworth Henry VII confiscated it from them in order to bestow it upon his mother. Kingsford’s information comes from surviving accounts for Margaret Beaufort’s refurbishment of the house in the autumn of 1485. The Erber was a Neville property, owned successively by (amongst others) Richard Neville, earl of Salisbury, Warwick the Kingmaker, Clarence and Margaret, countess of Salisbury. Kingsford’s description is based on accounts surviving from the period 1514–24. Transcripts of the source documents are given in an appendix. Transcripts of the countess of Warwick’s parliamentary petitions requesting the restoration of her estates (sources: BL MS Cotton Julius BXII, The Red Paper Book of Colchester, and The Parliament Rolls of Medieval England). Unsuccessful parliamentary petitions of this period normally sink without trace because they were not recorded in the Parliament Rolls. We are, however, lucky to have the text of the countess’ unsuccessful petition written from Beaulieu Sanctuary to King Edward’s parliament of 1472–4 (preserved amongst papers belonging to Richard as duke of Gloucester), plus the record of a second unsuccessful complaint to Henry VII’s first parliament in 1485 (preserved in the Colchester town records), as well as the text of her (briefly) successful appeal to Henry VII’s second parliament in 1487. ‘He Contents the People Wherever He Goes’ – Richard III: His Parliament and Government, by Chris Puplick. This is the text of an address given to the Sydney Branch of the Society in 2007 examining Richard’s legislation in the context of the role and organisation of parliament in the fifteenth century. The author is an Australian parliamentarian. The de la Poles of Hull, by Rosemary Horrox, published by the East Yorkshire Local History Society in 1983. This scholarly history of the early de la Poles includes genealogical tables showing the lines of descent of the family up to the end of the fifteenth century. Look out for additions to the Fiction, Non-Fiction and Audiovisual Collections in the next Bulletin. 72 Branches and Groups

Contact list Branches America Mary Retallick: 401 S G St #408, Tacoma, WA 98405. Tel: 253 589 8527. E-mail: [email protected] Canada Ms Sheilah O’Connor, 156 Drayton Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M4C.3M2 Canada. Tel: 416 693 1241. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: http://home.cogeco.ca/~richardiii. Devon & Cornwall Mrs Anne E Painter, Yoredale, Trewithick Road, Breage, Helston, Cornwall, TRI3 9PZ. Tel: 01326-562023. E-mail: [email protected]. Gloucester Angela Iliff, 1 Court Road, Horfield, Bristol, BS7 0BU. Tel: 0117 908 9983: E-mail: [email protected] Greater Manchester Mrs Helen Ashburn, 36 Clumber Road, Gorton, Manchester, M18 7LZ. Tel: 0161 320 6157. E-mail: [email protected]. Hull & District Terence O’Brien, 2 Hutton Close, Hull, HU4 4LD. Tel: 01482 445312. Lincolnshire Mrs J. T. Townsend, Westborough Lodge Farm, Westborough, Newark, Notts. NG23 5HP. Tel: 01400 281289. E-mail: [email protected]. London & Home Counties Miss E. M. Nokes, 4 Oakley Street, Chelsea, London SW3 5NN. Tel: 01689 823569. E-mail: [email protected]. Midlands-East Mrs Sally Henshaw, 28 Lyncroft Leys, Scraptoft, Leicester, LE7 9UW. Tel: 0116 243 3785. E-mail: [email protected]. New South Wales Julia Redlich, 53 Cammeray Towers, 55 Carter Street, New South Wales, 2062, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: www.richardiii-nsw.org.au. New Zealand Robert Smith, ‘Wattle Downs’, 61 Udy Street, Greytown, New Zealand. E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]. Website: www.richard3nz.org. Norfolk Mrs Annmarie Hayek, 20 Rowington Road, Norwich, NR1 3RR. Tel: 01603 664021. E-mail: [email protected]. Queensland As New South Wales Scotland Juliet Middleton, 49 Ochiltree, Dunblane, Perthshire, FK15 ODF. Tel: 01786 825665. E-mail: [email protected] (lower case letter l, not figure 1) South Australia Mrs Sue Walladge, 5 Spencer Street, Cowandilla, South Australia 5033. E-mail: [email protected]. Thames Valley Diana Lee, 161 Green Lane, Shepperton, Middx, TW17 8DY. Tel: 01932 219665. E-mail: [email protected]. Victoria Hazel Hajdu, 4 Byron Street, Wattle Park, Victoria, 3128, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]. Western Australia Louise Carson, 26 Warrida Way, Maddington 6109, Western Australia. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: [email protected]. Worcestershire Mrs Pam Benstead, 15 St Mary’s Close, Kempsey WR5 3JX. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: www.richardiiiworcs.co.uk. Yorkshire Mrs P. H. Pogmore, 169 Albert Road, Sheffield, S8 9QX. Tel: 0114 258 6097. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: www.richardiiiyorkshire.com. 73 Groups Bedfordshire & Roger Bradban, 10 Grays Grove, Little Staughton, Beds MK44 2BT. Buckinghamshire Tel: 01234 378136. E-mail: [email protected]. Bristol (in affiliation with Keith Stenner, 96 Allerton Crescent, Whitchurch, Bristol. Gloucestershire Branch) Tel: 01275 541512. E-mail: [email protected]. Continental In process of formation; contact Rita Diefenhardt-Schmitt at Ulmenweg 8, 65520 Bad Camberg-O.selters/Ts, Germany. Croydon Miss Denise Price, 190 Roundwood Rd, London NW10. Tel: 020 8451 7689. Cumbria John & Marjorie Smith, 26 Clifford Road, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 SPP. Dorset Babs Creamer, 27 Baker Road, Bear Cross, Bournemouth, BH11 9JD. Tel: 01202 573951. E-mail: [email protected]. North East Mrs J. McLaren, 11 Sefton Avenue, Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5QR. Tel: 0191 265 3665. E-mail: [email protected]. North Mercia Miss Marion Moulton, 6 Shrewbridge Crescent, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 5TF. Tel: 01270 623664. E-mail: [email protected]. Nottinghamshire Mrs Anne Ayres, 7 Boots Yard, Huthwaite, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts & Derbyshire NG17 2QW. E-mail: [email protected]. Sussex Liz Robinson, 14 Queen’s Park Rise, Brighton, BN2 9ZF. Tel: 01273 609971. E-mail: [email protected]. West Surrey Rollo Crookshank, Old Willows, 41a Badshot Park, Famham, Surrey, GU9 9JU. E-mail: [email protected].

New contact details

Bedfordshire & Buckinghamshire Group Roger Bradban, 10 Grays Grove, Little Staughton, Beds MK44 2BT. Tel: 01234 378136. e-mail [email protected]

Yorkshire Branch Please note that Pauline Harrison Pogmore’s e-mail address has changed to: [email protected] (111 as figures, not letter ls).

Western Australia Branch Louise Carson, 26 Warrida Way, Maddington 6109, Western Australia. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: [email protected]

Devon and Cornwall Branch meetings 2013 At our November 2012 AGM it was decided to cut down the number of meetings held by the branch because of the rising cost of room hire and the diminishing number of members attending. Meetings will take place on the following dates during 2013: 9 March: Guns and Roses, a talk by Tomas Eriksson on the use of black powder ordinance and how it was employed by both Yorkist and Lancastrian forces during the Wars of the Roses. 11 May: Branch members’ research on Richard III’s visit to the West Country in 1483. We will meet to pool information with a view to possibly offering a short talk to external interested parties. 13 July: Richard III as Soldier, a talk by Keith Stenner. 12 October: Annual General Meeting. December: Christmas lunch. All meetings are held at the University of Plymouth on a Saturday afternoon and they run from noon until approximately 3 p.m. All members are very welcome to come along.

West Surrey Group report At our October meeting in Upper Hale we had a report from our chairman on the Society’s AGM in York, which included an update on the archaeological diggings at the Greyfriars, Leicester. Some of 74 our members took on the role play of characters, having researched them, for the period between Edward IV’s death and Richard III’s accession. So we were treated to episodes of the de la Poles, Jane Shore, Lord Mayor of London, King Louis XI of France, Elizabeth Woodville, King James III of Scotland, Bishop Stillington, Cardinal Bourchier, the earl of Northumberland and Margaret Beaufort. It was an interesting and telling exercise, with some of the characters proving unexpectedly sympathetic in their researchers’ eyes. Our November meeting welcomed a new member, Jan Frankom from Godalming, and then the meeting focused on our annual book review. This year’s selection was David Baldwin’s new biography of Richard III. A wide range of views and points were given, and various aspects debated at length, with a number of members thinking that the book would make a very good ‘first read’ for a person not familiar with that part of history. Our December meeting was our traditional Christmas lunch at the Princess Royal, in Runfold, Farnham, where we had the pleasure of welcoming members and guests from Devon, Lancashire, Oxfordshire and Worcestershire. We are now planning for 2013, with our AGM in January and our first three meetings already confirmed; Stephen David of the University of Swansea coming to talk to us in February on the European perspective on late fifteenth-century England and Keith Stenner of the Gloucestershire Branch talking to us in March on the battle of Bosworth; in April we are scheduled to have a talk on medieval calligraphy. We also look forward to welcoming new member Sarah Gerrard from Camberley. If you would like to receive any further information about the West Surrey Group, please do not hesitate to contact Rollo Crookshank, tel: 01252 319881 or e-mail [email protected] Gill Gibbins

Worcestershire Branch report The autumn of 2012 saw the Branch entertain two excellent speakers. In October, Stephen David gave a most interesting and carefully researched talk on Nicolas von Poppelau, who is usually no more than a footnote to Richard’s reign; his report, however, is often cited as evidence that Richard was not deformed or stunted and gives us a picture of the magnificence of the court. Von Poppelau was not, Stephen David said, a mere ‘traveller’, as he is usually described, but clearly a man of importance who came to Richard’s court for a specific purpose. He was an Imperial Knight of the Hapsburg Emperor, Frederick III, and was German, despite coming from the town of Poppelau, since 1945 named Oppeln, in the Duchy of Silesia in Bohemia. He spent eight days at Middleham Castle during Richard’s summer progress in 1484. He gave a speech to the king in Latin, dined with him at his table and was given a gold necklace by him, favours that indicate he was a man of some status. The thesis advanced was that von Poppelau was a player in the power struggle in Europe, an envoy sent from the Hapsburgs to bring England into an alliance with the Empire and Burgundy at a time when Margaret of York’s chaplain and commercial agent were also in England; Henry Tudor was seeking French assistance and France feared Richard would support Brittany’s struggle to remain independent. George Goodwin, author of the acclaimed recent book about the Battle of Towton, Fatal Colours, was the speaker in November. The branch had decided to make this a public lecture, so to accommodate larger numbers and provide the necessary technical equipment it was held at Hanley Castle School, where we were also able to have a Society stall, books from the Ledbury Bookshop and afternoon tea for all. Members and guests were rewarded with a most erudite and entertaining lecture, illustrated by a large number of appropriate slides. George Goodwin discussed not just the battle, but the crisis of the English monarchy created by the accession of the infant Henry VI and prolonged by his failure as a king; he failed to measure up to the military prowess of his illustrious father and he failed to provide strong and effective government. The result was the catastrophic ‘absence of kingship’ that led to civil war. George Goodwin led his audience through the intricacies of the theories of medieval kingship as well as through the political manoeuvrings of the mid- fifteenth century to present a very clear explanation of the reasons how and why Towton happened. He also explained its consequences: as a ‘defeat of a large army of the north by an “invader” from 75 the South’ it represented the ‘genesis of Yorkist rule’. However, Richard III relied on the north until he was defeated by Henry Tudor, from the south and west. Arguably Towton set the scene for further usurpations. It was a significant turning point not only in English history, but also in the development of the English monarchy. The December meeting was a purely social occasion. The light-hearted Ricardian quizzes compiled by members and the Christmas ‘Bring and Share’ tea were greatly enjoyed by all. Carol Southworth

Yorkshire Branch report The Yorkshire Branch committee remains the same as for last year, with Angela Moreton as chairman (and editor of Blanc Sanglier), Pauline Harrison Pogmore as secretary, Marjorie Hodgkinson as our treasurer and sales officer, and Hannah Moreton, Scowen Sykes and Lynda Telford completing the number of committee members. Pauline and Hannah are responsible for our website, which is managed by James Garton, and Pauline is also branch librarian and research officer. Our customary wreath-laying in commemoration of the battle of Wakefield took place at the duke of York’s statue near Sandal castle on 31 December. We were very pleased that several new members attended – it’s always good to put faces to names – and we were glad to welcome some familiar supporters too. After Sandal we went to the chantry chapel on Wakefield bridge to place flowers in memory of Edmund, earl of Rutland, near the site of his death. This part of the proceedings was interrupted by a cloudburst, but at least we had no snow. A report of the event by George Nairn- Briggs will appear in our April Blanc Sanglier. The Friends of the Chantry Chapel have recently announced that it is now possible to have simple memorial plaques placed in the chapel itself. The plaques are made of brass and cost £300 each. Yorkshire Branch committee feels it would be appropriate to commemorate Edmund of Rutland in this way, since he has no other memorial. We are also investigating the possibility of placing a plaque in memory of King Richard in his collegiate church at Middleham, and we will keep members informed on the progress of this initiative. If you would like to contribute to this appeal, cheques may be sent to our secretary, payable to ‘Yorkshire Branch Richard III Society’ and endorsed ‘Memorial Plaques’. We hope to attend the Towton commemoration to be held on Palm Sunday, 24 March. Further details on our website or from our secretary: please note her new e-mail address, [email protected]. (1119 is a date, not the letter L.) Flowers will be laid on behalf of Yorkshire Branch at the Dacre Cross near Towton battlefield – possibly the last surviving fragment of the memorial chapel to the dead of the battle that King Richard began (but did not finish). Our Arthur Cockerill Spring lecture will be held at Jacobs Well, Trinity Lane, York, on Saturday 27 April when staff from the Royal Armouries in Leeds will talk on ‘Arms and armour in the period of the Wars of the Roses’. The lecture will begin at 2 p.m. and tea will be available at £3.50 per person, payable on the day. The committee is very pleased to announce that the branch will have a stall at the Harewood Mediaeval Fair to be held on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 May (Spring Bank Holiday), and members of the branch have been invited to give short talks at this event. Please see our website for more details. In response to those members who asked us to run another Study Day, the committee is glad to say that Jacobs Well has been booked for Saturday 15 June. This event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Speakers will include Marjorie Hodgkinson, Lesley Lambert, Pauline Harrison Pogmore, Scowen Sykes and Lynda Telford, on such topics as the Black Death in York, Witchcraft and ‘Who do you think you are? – Warwick the Kingmaker’ . Booking will open in April and a booking form will appear with our April newsletter. The day costs £19.00 per person, or £22.50 to include a light lunch (otherwise own arrangements). Members and friends are all welcome to attend. Finally, we must apologise for a glitch to our website which, we now learn, has resulted in the non-arrival of some e-mails sent to our secretary. The problem has now been resolved and Pauline is catching up with the correspondence. Angela Moreton, chairman

76 New members

UK members 1 October–31 December 2012 Peter Gargett, Leeds Helen Ackland, Cleckeaton, West Yorkshire Sarah Gerrard, Camberley, Surrey John & Barbara Adams, Barnsley Les Gibbings, Milton Keynes Karen Andrews, Bishops Waltham Dorothy Gormlie, Barhead, East Renfrewshire Lillian Atkins, Nuneaton, Warwickshire Moira Goulty, Rotherham Neil Aufflick, Old Windsor, Berkshire Jacqueline & John Grainger, Lutterworth, Steven & Lynne Austin-Vautier, St John, Jersey Leicestershire Helen Bailey, London Geoff Gration, Derby Arthur Ball, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire Tracy Greenwell, Blandford, Dorset S Barnard, Leeds Valerie Hall, Guildford Charlotte Barton, Leicester Patricia Hall, Darlington Christine Beech-Law & Family, Tealby, Lincolnshire Susan Hanson, York Jennifer Bibby, Luton Joan Harmon, London Judith Bland, Keighley, West Yorkshire Mary Harrison, Brighton Sylvia Blundell, Sidcup, Kent John Hathaway, Birmingham Debbie Borley, Rothley, Leicestershire Andy Hathaway, Waltham Abbey, Essex Alexander Brondarbit, Winchester Karen Hockley, Birmingham Trevor Brooks, Rainham, Kent Rosemary & Don Hodgkinson, Northwich, Cheshire Nicola Bryant, London Alison Illsley, Wysall, Nottinghamshire Anne Burge & Hugh McMichael, Malvern, Helen Ingram, Ilminster, Somerset Worcestershire Gillian Ingram, Wirral Sue Byron, Eastbourne, East Sussex Philippa Jacobs, Holyhead Mountain Shaun Cafferty, Nantwich Ian Johnson, Loughton, Essex Elizabeth Cameron, Upminster, Essex Lynette Johnston, Birmingham Steven Capes, Llandudno, Conway Christa Keenan, Portsmouth Elizabeth Carrick, Brighton Margaret Knight, Guildford Ann Channon, Alton, Hampshire Peter Low, Twickenham, Middlesex Sylvia Charlewood, Cheltenham Mhairi Macleod, Stirling Jeanne Chattoe & Family, Witney, Oxfordshire Brian Magson, Hinckley, Leicestershire M Chedgey, Alresford, Hampshire Ashley Mantle, Kidderminster Margaret Clark, Ludlow, Shropshire Christine Marshall, Clitheroe, Lancashire Anne Collin, Rugby, Warwickshire Dorothy Martin, Crambe, Yorkshire Betty Comer, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk Iain Mc Lean, Stockport Allan Coombes, Bournemouth Nicola Meyrick, London John Coventry, Cleveleys, Lancashire Rosanne Morley-Mead, Birmingham Gregory Crane, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire Joanne Mungovin, Wigston Meadows, Leicestershire Caterina Crofts, Accrington G Musgrave, Westcott, Surrey Linda Cusdin, Heston, Middlesex David Newman, York Kate Czerny, Horsham, West Sussex Steven Norman & Family, Wigston, Leicestershire Mike Dagg-Jenden, Birmingham Suzanne North, Bromley, Kent Alison Day, Nottingham Patricia O’ Doherty, Chatham, Kent Maxwell Diment, Ivybridge, Devon Michael O’ Flaherty, Southport, Merseyside Sonia Dimmock, Nottingham Susan Ollier, Milton Keynes Janis Dixon, Stockport Richard Packer, Ilford, Essex Shirley Draheim-Jackson, Stamford Angela Parker, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire Katie Dungate, Reigate, Surrey Kate Parry, Worcester Jacqueline Dunn, Feltham, Middlesex Christine Peel, Milton Keynes Roger Dyer, Leicester Rebecca Piechowski, Warminster, Wiltshire Eileen Evison, Loughborough, Leicestershire John & Patricia Porter, Felixstowe, Suffolk Carol Fellingham Webb, Keighley Carole Potton, Hull Deborah Fiddaman, Beauchamp, Leicestershire Stacey Powell, Leeds Anne Firth, Doncaster Alison Prater, London Genevieve Fletcher, Brighton Christopher Price, Bromsgrove Zoe Fletcher & Lee Allott, Sheffield Ann Proudfoot, Liverpool Sylvia Fox, Monmouth Raluca Radulescu, Bangor, Gwynedd Stephen Frosdick, Dereham, Norfolk Howard Raingold, London 77 Jean Rees, Mere, Wiltshire J Berry, Mallorca William Rivers, Kidlington, Oxfordshire Erin Bissonnette, Mankato, Minnesota, USA Anita Roberts, Crawley, West Sussex Amy Cole, Geelong, Victoria, Australia Fiona Robertson, Dumfries Learna Coupe, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia Adrian Robinson, Coventry Ariana Ellis, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Kenneth Rochester, Southend-on-Sea Veronica Evans, Milton, Queensland, Australia Jill Rodgers, Felsted, Essex Amy Feldman, Hackham, South Australia, Elizabeth Rogers, Dundee Australia John Rozmus, Henlow, Bedfordshire Howard & Laurie Fitzpatrick, Dublin, Republic of Kenneth Russell & Family, Leicester Ireland Susan Ryrie, Coventry Dianne Herbert, Denistone East, NSW, Australia Paul Seal, Petersfield, Hampshire Andrew Hunter, Surrey, Ontario, Canada Val Seeley, Clevedon, Somerset Constance Klein, Norwood, NJ, USA Barbara Senior, Westwoodside, Doncaster Karen Ladniuk, Brazil Andrew Sharp, Leyburn, North Yorkshire Connie Leung, Tsuen, NT, Hong Kong Georgie Slater, Taunton Farrah Mcfadden, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Rosemary Smart, Tadcaster Lynsey Neil, Gore, New Zealand Jan Smith, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire Jan O’ Brien, Kelowna, BC, Canada Raymond Snaith, Stockton-on-Tees Ruth Overy, Redwood Park, South Australia, Kenneth Steel, Kings Lynn, Norfolk Australia Leonard Straughan, Liverpool Carol Parker, Durham, NC, USA Kate Sullivan, Leicester Roger Patrick, Mountain View, , USA Roger & Maureen Sullivan, Waterlooville, Mark Pearce, Kellyville, NSW, Australia Hampshire Christopher Puplick A M, Neutral Bay Junction, N Brian Taylor, Brixham, Devon S W, Australia Jennifer Taylor, Virginia Water, Surrey Janice Ratter, Mangerton, NSW, Australia Helen Teal, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire Connie Ruzich, Sewickley, PA, USA Charles Thomas, Barnstaple, Devon Julia Slayden, Tallahassee, FL, USA Deborah Toms, South Benfleet, Essex Michael Smith, San Francisco, CA, USA Gemma Towns, Stourbridge Emily Stap, Grand Junction, MI, USA Richard & Susan Turner, Beverley, East Yorkshire Tim Tully, Cable, WI, USA David Twining-Harris, Bristol Bill Tully, Vancouver, BC, Canada W Waddell, Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire Elaine Tyrrell, Duncan, BC, Canada Margaret Wadsworth, Barnsley Johanna Visser, East Bowral, NSW, Australia Judith Wadsworth, Bath Paul West, Paget, Bermuda Kathleen Walker, Belmont, Durham Jurgen Wulf, Hamburg, Germany Martin Wall, Whitbourne, Worcestershire Pamela Wells, Addingham, West Yorkshire Elaine Weyman, London, Angela & Peter Wheatcroft, Kibworth Harcourt, US Branch 1 October –31 December 2012 Leicestershire Thomas G. Adams, Placentia, California David Wilding, Nr Canterbury Rebecca Aderman, Tallmadge, Ohio Elizabeth Williams, Colchester Paul L. Beckley, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky Fred Williams, Haddenham, Cambridgeshire Harry Black, Birmingham, MI Colin Woodhouse, Atherstone, Warwickshire Jeanne Carr, Indianapolis, Indiana John Yarnold, Lymington, Hampshire Mary Cheyne, Woodstock, Connecticut William & Georgina Young, Knaresborough, North Richard Elder, Morgantown, Kentucky Yorkshire Richard Flaville, Sr, Ithaca, New York Jules Harris, Tucson, Arizona Elisabeth Lee, San Mateo, California Overseas members 1 October –31 December Susan McCosker, Albuquerque, New Mexico 2012 Timothy Tully, Cable, Wisconsin Rachel Allerton, Chatswood, NSW, Australia Thomas and Margaret Upham, Exeter, New Rickie Barak Sagiv, Tel Aviv, Israel Hampshire Kenneth Beem, Cantonsville, MD, USA Lynn C. Vandeberg, Mountain Top, Pennsylvania

78 Recently deceased members

Alison Bray, Penryn. Joined before 1985 John Cook, Runcorn. Joined 2000 Joan Pemberton, Ceredigion. Joined before 1985 Rose Skuse. Joined 2002 Dr Leslie Watkiss, FSA Dorset. Joined 1998 Obituaries

Alison Bray, 1958–2012 The Devon and Cornwall Branch are sad to announce the death of Alison Bray, who died peacefully at Mount Edgcumbe Hospice on 12 November. Alison was a long-standing member, having joined both the Society and the branch in 1983. She served on the branch committee as treasurer for several years. One of Alison’s other interests was cycling; until her office moved to St Austell she cycled daily from her home in Penryn to Truro. On branch trips she would arrive on her bike and on one memorable occasion when returning from a weekend in York we dropped her off at the Bristol service area so that she could cycle the rest of the way home to Cornwall. Alison was also passionate about football and Arsenal in particular. Occasionally branch meetings and important matches clashed and on such occasions she always came to the meetings but would be found with a radio close to her ear to make sure she didn’t miss how her team were getting on. When I last visited her in the hospice, Alison was very pleased to hear that the dig in Leicester had most likely found Richard III’s remains and that he would be honourably reinterred. She will be greatly missed by all Devon and Cornwall members. Anne Painter, Secretary, Devon and Cornwall Branch

Joan Pemberton Joan died 22 October 2011, aged 87; she was my housekeeper, and a long- term and faithful member of your Society. As she was blind, it was my task to read her the news and articles from your publications. I have now inherited the reproduction portrait of Richard III that I had given her many years before. Henry Tudor and his gaolbird ruffians passed through Cardigan in 1485. In 1985 the journey was replicated by an actor on horseback with a band of squaddies on leave from the army for the occasion. To deal with this unwelcome intrusion Joan had Richard’s banner made, covered the church notice board with it, and alongside it she planted a wooden post with a notice saying ‘Richard rules OK’, before absenting herself. The actor who played Henry came riding by, saw the display, stopped and ordered one of his soldiers to confiscate it; but I told the man to back off, which he decided was the safer course. The media were delighted and tried to interview me, but I pretended that the whole episode was a mystery to me, and said I had only ordered the soldier away because I, and no one else, had authority over the church notice board! Canon Seamus Cunnane

Rose Skuse The Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire Group are sorry to report the death in January of their secretary, Rose Skuse, after a prolonged illness. A full obituary will appear in June’s Bulletin.

79 Calendar We run a calendar of all forthcoming events notified to us for inclusion. If you are aware of any events of Ricardian interest, whether organised by the Society (Committee, Visits Committee, Research Committee, Branches/Groups, etc.) or by others, please let the Bulletin team have full details in sufficient time for entry. The calendar will also be run on the website. Date Events Originator 12–14 April Study Weekend and Yorkshire Museum visit. Fully Research Committee booked. 27 April Arthur Cockerill Spring lecture, venue Jacobs Well, Yorkshire Branch Trinity Lane, York; Royal Armouries speakers on ‘Arms and armour in the period of the Wars of the Roses.’ The lecture will begin at 2 p.m. and tea will be available at £3.50 per person, payable on the day. . 18 May Day trip to Beaulieu Abbey and Bucklers Hard. Visits Committee (see p. 12) 1–4 July International Medieval conference IMC (see p. 22) 11–15 July North to Newcastle: 2013 Long Weekend Visits Committee (see p. 22) 12–14 July Australasian Convention, Sydney NSW Branch (see p. 56) 17–18 August Bosworth Weekend Visits Committee 7 September Visit to Bodiam Castle Visits Committee 5 October Members’ Day and AGM, London Joint Secretaries 9 November Norfolk Study Day Norfolk Branch (see p.12). 23 November Visit to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry Visits Committee 14 December Christmas at Fotheringhay Chairman Late news The Greyfriars dig has won Current Archaeology’s Research Excavation of the Year award. The public choose this award and a record number voted for the Greyfriars. We will have full coverage of the award in June’s Bulletin.

Answers to crossword on p. 66 Across: 1 Greyfriars; 6 Uses; 9 Everything; 10 Rule; 12 Solstices; 15 Oversee; 17 Harness; 18 Tending; 20 Strange; 21 Factional; 25 Agog; 26 Ordination; 27 Task; 28 Blore Heath. Down: 1 Glee; 2 Ewer; 3 Foyer; 4 In haste; 5 Ranulph; 7 Scutcheons; 8 Stepsister; 11 Starer; 13 Pontefract; 14 Reenactors; 16 Spirit; 19 General; 20 Soldier; 22 Trash; 23 Pisa; 24 Inch. 80

The Achievement of arms of the Richard III Society

Front cover: Portrait of Richard III reproduced by kind permission of the Society of Antiquaries of London