The New Murrey and Blue blog

“….What ‘shocking’ chapters of real royal history influenced Game of Thrones’ Red Wedding and Cersei Lannister’s walk of shame….?”

So begins the article you can read at this link: https://tinyurl.com/5n95tjts. The “walk of shame” is said to have been inspired by a similar walk by the woman known to history as Jane Shore.

Her real name was Elizabeth, and she was born Lambert. Her first marriage to the goldsmith William Shore was annulled on the ground of his impotency. She became the mistress of King Edward IV, and subsequently of other lords, and while she herself didn’t actually commit adultery, her married lovers certainly did. So to state that she was the victim of “trumped-up charges of adultery” rather suggests she was a poor, picked-upon little angel. She was guilty of fornication, that’s for sure.

Jane Shore was certainly NOT an innocent in any respect, and on the death of Edward IV she turned her hand to political conspiracy. She helped the enemies of Richard of Gloucester, Edward’s sole remaining brother, who was the Lord Protector in the minority of Edward’s elder son, Edward V. Given that Richard’s enemies, led by Edward V’s mother, Queen Elizabeth Woodville, had every intention of disposing (permanently!) of Richard in order to rule England themselves, I think Jane Shore got off very lightly by being sent on her “walk of shame”.

The walk is described thus: “….She was forced to walk through the city wearing only a kirtle (a long medieval petticoat) and holding a taper in her hands. She was ridiculed and jibed throughout, according to her biography, though no physical harm was done to her….” (from https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/07/19/walk-of-shame-got/) So for the above article to state that she was flogged through the streets is rubbish.

Richard of Gloucester became Richard III, of course, because of the slight hitch of Edward IV never having bothered to get hitched to his “queen”, Elizabeth Woodville. He just said they were married. That meant their children were illegitimate. Now, you tell me who was the next rightful legitimate king? Right, Edward IV’s remaining brother, Richard of Gloucester. So Jane Shore was conspiring to put a baseborn boy on the throne of England. She was found out, and serves her right. Those she conspired with were found out too, and serves them right as well.

Richard III is always accused of terrible crimes, but when his life is really examined, it’s obvious that he was the very opposite of the creature created by the likes of Shakespeare and More. He was a strong man, prepared to do what was necessary, but he was always fair. And he was never guilty of violence toward women. (In some cases he damned well should have been!) He treated Jane Shore with a tolerance she really did not deserve. And when the King’s Solicitor General, Thomas Lynom, fell head over heels in love with her while she was imprisoned, Richard allowed them to marry….stating that he “marvelled” Lynom wanted her! I marvel too.

But Jane and Lynom were happy, had a child together and she eventually died at the age of 82 in 1527. So the “walk of shame” didn’t exactly ruin her life forever more.

Just imagine if she’d committed her political crimes during the Tudor period. She died during the rein of Henry VIII, so by then she certainly knew the nature of the Tudor beast! The only walk she’d have done for conspiring against them was to the block! The graceless Jane must eventually been hugely thankful for Richard III!

So please don’t be taken in by the above article at https://tinyurl.com/5n95tjts. There are many articles about Jane all over the internet, but here’s a link to one of them: https://royalcentral.co.uk/features/jane-shore-from-witty-mistress-of-a-king-to-dangerous-political-conspirator-163784/

Oh, and the Red Wedding referred to above was Scotland’s Black Dinner of 1440, about which you can read here: https://dundeescottishculture.org/history/scottish-history-at-a-glance-the-black-dinner-of-1440/

by viscountessw