The New Murrey and Blue blog

I sometimes have huge sympathy for Henry II’s heartfelt desire to be rid of his turbulent priest, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_no_one_rid_me_of_this_turbulent_priest%3F. Meddling churchmen were rife back in medieval times. Kings were both supported and beset by them, and Richard III was beset by at least two of the tiresome traitorous ticks, John Morton (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Morton_(cardinal)) and Richard Foxe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Foxe).

Ricardians loathe Morton, and rightly so. He was “….Bishop of Ely and under Henry VII he became Lord Chancellor, Archbishop of Canterbury and a cardinal….” He didn’t deserve any of these lofty titles. He was a miserable, scheming traitor and it was a pity he lived to an old age and died in his holy bed. I only wish St Peter had thought twice at the Pearly Gates.

Supporters of Richard III (we are many!) don’t much care for sneaky Richard Foxe either. He was “…. Bishop of Exeter, Bath and Wells, Durham, and Winchester, and became also Lord Privy Sea….” and a Tudor darling. Apparently he fought alongside Henry Tudor at Bosworth. Well, taking that literally, it means he skulked with Henry at the back behind the latter’s guards.  The man even looks like the Tydder’s long-lost brother! All I can say is….Boo! Hiss!

And what has stirred my vitriol this morning? An article about Fox in the Farnham Herald. Apparently Foxe once lived at Farnham Castle. See https://www.farnhamherald.com/news/nostalgia/peeps-into-the-past-the-farnham-bishop-who-shaped-the-tudor-dynasty-876413

I trust that by now Farnham and its castle have recovered from such a blot on their history! ☺️

by viscountessw