executions
-
I have just read in Margaret Aston’s excellent biography of Thomas Arundel, Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor, that according to Walsingham (always a fount of truth, of course) when Sir John Arundel, 1st Baron Arundel, died at sea in December 1379, among his lost belongings “were fifty-two new suits”. This, it seems, led one…
-
At the moment I’m trawling around medieval rulers in Europe. And lo! I’ve come upon this gentleman: His contemporary likenesses aren’t much better, so why was he called Philip the Fair/Handsome? Was it tongue-in cheek? If you look through the various recreations of him in this link below, if they’re even halfway accurate you can…
-
During lockdown, I found myself walking around local villages, some that I had only passed through before. An interesting one was Orcheston, a tiny, sleepy place which has not one, but TWO medieval churches, St George’s and St Mary’s, one set at either end of the village. Both were interesting to visit but what was…
-
Sorry, Frederick Forsyth and John Stonehouse, but Henry VII did it first
“Perkin”, Anne Wroe, Austin Friars, Australia, Burgundy, Edward of Warwick, executions, faked death, false identities, Frederick Forsyth, Henry VII, John Stonehouse, Margaret of Burgundy, Miami, Richard of Shrewsbury, The Day of the Jackal, torture, Tournoi, Tower of London, Walsall, Westminster AbbeyI expect you all know the basic premise of Forsyth’s The Day of the Jackal (published in 1971). A mysterious and ruthless assassin obtains a birth certificate and passport in the name of someone who died as a child, before setting out to kill de Gaulle. In 1974, John Stonehouse followed this method by “borrowing”…
-
This was shown on BBC2 during August and the subject has been covered several times in recent years, not least with our old friend Dr. Starkey. However, I am pleased I watched it for two reasons. The first is that The Boleyns: A scandalous family discussed the situation from the perspective of Thomas Boleyn seeking…
-
V.B. Lamb’s unanswered questions
“Lambert Simnel”, “Perkin”, bigamy, books, denialists, Edward IV, Edward of Warwick, Edward V, evidence, executions, Henry VII, illegitimacy, Lady Eleanor Talbot, pre-contract, Richard III, Richard of Shrewsbury, Robert Stillington, Sir James Tyrrell, The Betrayal of Richard III, Three Estates, Tower of London, V.B. Lamb(see this article) If Henry VII “knew” that Edward IV‘s sons were dead by the time of his accession, why did he take nineteen years to produce any “evidence”, particularly when two individuals appeared claiming to be one or both of those “Princes” in 1487 and 1491? If he “knew” that Edward IV hadn’t committed…
-
Salisbury Grey Friars has all but disappeared from the archaeological record. Founded in 1225-8 , it was never a very large house, situated near the still impressive medieval St Ann’s Gate leading into Salisbury’s Cathedral Close. At the reformation, Grey Friars was destroyed and any extant buildings and stonework sold off and re-used (several…
-
Ashby de la Zouch Castle – Home to William Lord Hastings
Ashby, attainder, castles, chapels, Charles the Bold, Domenico Mancini, Edward V, English Heritage, engraving, executions, Great Council, Hastings Tower, high treason, illustrations, Jasper “Tudor”, Katherine Hastings, Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire, Lord Chamberlain, Louis XI, National Gallery, Richard III, Rosemary Horrox, slighting, The Road to Bosworth Field, Tower of London, Towton, William Lord Hastings, WydevillesReblogged from Ashby de la Zouch Castle – Home to William Lord Hastings An intriguing doorway leads into the Great Chamber where the family would have entertained important guests. A fine 15th century fireplace has survived as well as a 16th century window. Photo from the English Heritage Guidebook book Following on from my earlier post…
-
Elizabeth Woodville was queen in her own right….?
“Lost London”, “Tudors”, attainder, bastardy, bigamy, denialists, Edward IV, Edward of Middleham, Edward of Warwick, Edward V, Elizabeth Wydeville, executions, George Duke of Clarence, Henry VII, Henry VIII, judicial murder, Lady Eleanor Talbot, Margaret of Salisbury, Richard III, Richard of Shrewsbury, royal mysteries, Tower of London, Vic KeeganAccording to this article (titled Vic Keegan’s Lost London 111: Elizabeth Woodville’s Westminster Abbey sanctuary) Elizabeth Woodville was “queen in her own right”. I think not. She was queen because she married King Edward IV. She was his consort. Well, perhaps that too should be qualified, because Edward appears to have been careless enough to…
The New Murrey and Blue blog 