Uncategorized
-
I have just bought an interesting and absorbing book, the ‘Encyclopaedia of Superstitions’ by E & M Radford, originally published in 1949. Reaching the section on the King’s Evil (scrofula, which was believed to be cured by the touch of the monarch) I read: ‘The practice was introduced by Henry VII of presenting the person…
-
I must admit that the following article didn’t come as quite the surprise it should. Henry has always struck me as a man who enjoyed the good things in life, and was prepared to be lavish when he felt like it. Yes, indeed! And he enjoyed being entertained and so on…but that he was…
-
The following is taken from an item in one of the Mortimer History Society newsletters. It was by a member, Stefan Zachary, and concerns a sword of state in the British Museum. Mortimer Heraldry on a Sword of State This sword is dated c1460-70 and it is said to be a ceremonial sword of the…
-
I have been watching the BBC’s ‘The Hollow Crown’ with interest, as I have never actually seen the whole of Shakespeare’s Richard III and none of Henry VI (Parts I and II). At first I was appalled at Benedict Cumberbatch’s grotesquely exaggerated portrayal of Richard, but consoled myself by thinking that at least, because people…
-
Last night on the Yesterday channel, I again watched the TV documentary Henry VII: Winter King, present by Thomas Penn. It’s still good, although, dealing as it does with Henry’s character, it necessarily skirted around some of the other folk. For instance, I was again left with the impression that Penn believes Elizabeth of York…
-
TREASON 1 – The Merciless Parliament 1388
Alexander Neville Archbishop of York, Bellamy, Bishop of Chichester, Black Death, Chrimes, Chris Givern-Wilson, Dafydd ap Gryffudd, Edward II, Edward III, executions, Frederic Maitland, Glorious Revolution, Henry de Bracton, Henry IV, Hugh le Despenser, John Blake, John Carey, John Holt, Lords Appellant, Magna Carta, Mark Ormrod, Merciless Parliament, Michael de la Pole, Nicholas Brembre, Nigel Saul, Peasants’ Revolt, Richard II, Richard of arundel, Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland, Robert Tresilian, Roger Mortimer, Sir James Berners, Sir John Beauchamp, Sir John Salisbury, Sir Simon Burley, Sir William wallace, Thomas Arundel, Thomas Mowbray Earl of Norfolk, Thomas of Warwick, Thomas of woodstock, Thomas Usk, treason, Treason Acts, William Burgh, William de la Pole, Wonderful ParliamentIntroduction Treason is a terrible crime. It denotes a betrayal so wicked as to be unforgivable. In medieval England a traitor was executed with the maximum of corporeal pain and all his goods and chattels were forfeited to the crown, thus disinheriting his heirs and successors forever. Henry de Bracton a thirteenth century English jurist,…
-
Being totally uninterested in football, it’s not like me to wait on tenterhooks for a match result – but that’s what happened last week, and now I’m absolutely delighted that Leicester City have just become champions of the Premier League. Five years ago, news that the football team of an obscure Midlands city had beaten…
-
A Ricardian author, C J Lock, has long been interested in John F Kennedy and has kindly given permission to reproduce her post about the parallels between JFK and Richard III. “On the anniversary of the death of John Fitzgerald Kennedy , it struck me that there are many similarities between two of my personal…
-
http://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2016/03/20/review-richard-iii-peoples-light-theatre-company-malvern-pa/ At present, the theatrical world is obsessed with the Bard’s “Richard III”, and to me it seems there cannot possibly be anything new to say about this multitude of productions. But this review caught my eye for a very Ricardian reason. What might that be? The curious doubling up of ‘one actor = two characters’.…
-
For those of us who wish Time Team were still with us, here is a reminder of their artist, Victor Ambrus. I loved his illustrations, and now he has painted his view of Bosworth. A lovely work of art. https://ssl.bbc.co.uk/faqs/forms/?eid=contacting_bbc&id=V7GFCAR28RA4527BOJVCO7C0IM&mid=contact&uid=420651531
The New Murrey and Blue blog 