executions

The treacherous Welshman who supposedly killed Richard III….!

Aug 1, 2017

anniversaries, genealogy, television reviews

Battle of Bosworth, bridges, Carew Castle, Channel Four, Earl of Oxford, executions, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Howards, ingratitude, Jane Parker Viscountess Rochford, Katherine Howard, Lucy Walter, Pembrokeshire, Rhys ap Thomas, Rhys FitzUryan, Richard III, Sir William Parker, Wales, yesterday

A few days ago I watched a TV documentary about Rhys ap Thomas, The Man Who Killed Richard III. It made my Welsh blood boil! The man was a bullying, thieving snake, not a hero! Anyway, here is the TV company’s blurb:- “Who killed Richard III? http://www.historychannel.com.au/shows/man-killed-richard-iii/ “This is a story of conspiracy and…
Why Castle Isabel became Castle Philipp….

Jul 26, 2017

buildings, genealogy

castles, Earls of Arundel, executions, Fitzalans, Isabel d’Aubigny, Phillippa Mortimer, Shrawardine, Shropshire, Welsh Marches

There are numerous castles in the Welsh Marches. I was going to say countless, but I’m sure someone will have counted to the very last motte. Among the lesser known is Shrawardine (pronounced Shray-den), in Shropshire, not far from Shrewsbury. What remains of it overlooks the River Severn, and as there was another fortification of some sort on…
Black Vaughan of Hergest Court in Herefordshire….

Jul 25, 2017

battles, buildings

Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgecote, Edward V, executions, Henry of Buckingham, Herefordshire, Hergest Court, Kington, Pontefract Castle, Richard III, Sir Thomas Vaughan, Thomas Vaughan, Wales, Woodvilles

Thomas Vaughan ap Rosser was born in 1400, and nicknamed ‘Black’ Vaughan because of his black hair; or perhaps because of his black nature. No one knows which. His main residence was Hergest Court, near Kington in Herefordshire, and his wife was Ellen Gethin of Llanbister, Radnorshire. She was, from all accounts, a formidable…
The Battle Of Shrewsbury, 1403

Jul 21, 2017

anniversaries, battles

Anne of Gloucester, archers, Battle of Shrewsbury, Chester, Clwyd, Cocklaws Castle, Earl of Arundel, Earl of Douglas, Earl of Kent, Earl of Warwick, Edmund Earl of Stafford, executions, Flint, George Dunbar Earl of March, Henry IV, Henry Percy, Henry V, Homildon, Owain Glyn Dwr, Percies, Ralph Earl of Westmorland, rebellions, Richard II, Sandiway, Scotland, Shropshire, Sir Walter Blount, Tarporley, Thomas Percy Earl of Worcester, Venables, Vernon, Wales, Whitchurch

In order to appease (as he hoped) the Percy family Henry IV granted them all those parts of southern Scotland that they could conquer. Despite advice from Northumberland that royal assistance was not needed he set out in the summer of 1403 to march to the borders with a small army to support their siege…
Jack of Lincoln, be not bold….?

Jun 16, 2017

anniversaries, battles

“Tudors”, executions, Henry VII, John Earl of Lincoln, Stoke Field

We all know the couplet that was supposedly pinned to the Duke of Norfolk’s tent on the eve of Bosworth. Well, it could as easily be applied to John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln. Jack of Lincoln, be not bold, for Dickon, thine uncle, is bought and sold. Lincoln could have taken the simple…
Is This The Face of Clarence’s Daughter

May 28, 2017

anniversaries, art, genealogy

altered portraits, barrel, Barrington Hall, drowning, executions, George Duke of Clarence, Hazel Pierce, John Barrington, Malmsey, Margaret of Salisbury, National Portrait Gallery, Rous Roll, Roy Strong, Winifred Pole

Portrait of an Unknown Lady formerly known as Margaret Pole Countess of Salisbury PLEASE SEE UPDATED POST Is This the Face of George Duke of Clarence’s Daugher For many years this was believed to be a portrait of Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, daughter of George Duke of Clarence, and a niece to two kings. Tantalisingly…
Margaret Pole Countess of Salisbury 1473-1541 Loyalty Lineage and Leadership by Hazel Pierce.

May 27, 2017

anniversaries, Book Reviews, religion

Anne Boleyn, book review, Christchurch Priory, Earl of Southampton, Edward IV, Edward of Warwick, executions, George Duke of Clarence, Hazel Pierce, Henry Lord Montagu, Henry Pole the Younger, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Human Shredder, Margaret of Salisbury, Mary I, Reginald Cardinal Pole, Sir Geoffrey Pole, Sir Richard Pole, St. Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London, Warblington Castle

Those looking for an in-depth assessment of the life of Margaret Pole need look no further. Hazel Pierce has more than adequately supplied it in her biography of Margaret – Margaret Pole Countess of Salisbury 1473-1541 Loyalty Lineage and Leadership. Covering Margaret’s life from early childhood – orphaned at five years old, Margaret’s earlier needs…
No more chocolate-box boys in the Tower, PLEASE….!

May 19, 2017

battles

“Princes”, “Tudors”, armour, art, cats, Edward of Lancaster, executions, George Duke of Clarence, Henry VI, Knights, Margaret of Anjou, Richard III, Second Battle of St. Albans, Tewkesbury, White Tower

And to cap it all, we even have Kittens in the Tower! Oh, for heaven’s sake! Right, there is a famous “story” about one of our 15th-century princes of Wales, specifically Edward of Lancaster (or Westminster), seven-year-old son and heir of Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou. The fame goes that after the 2nd Battle…
Treason from a Scottish perspective

May 10, 2017

law

Archibald the Grim, Battle of Falkirk, Battle of Methven, Blind Harry, England, executions, George Dunbar Earl of March, Henry IV, James III, John Barbour, Malcolm Drummond, poetry, propaganda, Richard II, Robert I, Scotland, Sir James Douglas, Thomas Randolph Earl of Murray, treason, William Wallace

This article tells the story of Scottish treason in the time of William Wallace, Robert I and afterwards, through the tradition of oral history. The image below is supposedly of Hugh le Despenser the Younger, although there must be some cases more relevant to Scotland.
CAN A PICTURE PAINT A THOUSAND WORDS?

Apr 17, 2017

Uncategorized

“Princes”, Anne Boleyn, Anne Neville, art, Baynard’s Castle, Catherine Howard, Cecily Duchess of York, Edward V, Edwin Austin Abbey, Elizabeth Wydeville, executions, Henry of Buckingham, Jane, John Everett Millais, John Morton, Margaret of Salisbury, Paul Delaroche, Philip Calderon, portraits, propaganda, Richard III, Richard of Shrewsbury, Shakespeare, Thomas Grey Marquess of Dorset, Three Estates, Tower Green

UPDATED POST AT sparkypus.com A Medieval Potpourri https://sparkypus.com/2020/05/14/can-a-picture-paint-a-thousand-words-ricardian-art/ It’s said a picture can paint a thousand words. It certainly can but not always accurately. It can distort the truth. Art work based on the Ricardian period is certainly true of this. Take for example the stunning painting by Edwin Austin Abbey, Richard Duke of Gloucester…