Henry V

SHAKESPEARE’S RICHARD III: HERO OR VILLAIN?

Apr 24, 2019

anniversaries, sources, The play’s the thing

“Princes”, “Tudor” “sources”, Anthony Sher, Anthony Woodville, bias, Catholicism, Ceaucescu, Coley Cibber, Edmund of Rutland, Edward IV, Elizabeth I, Ferdinando Stanley, fiction, First Folio, George Duke of Clarence, Hamlet, Hannibal Lecter, Henry IV, Henry of Buckingham, Henry V, Henry VI, Henry VII, historical drama, Hitler, Idi Amin, John Manningham, Lady Margaret Clifford, Laurence Olivier, Lord Chamberlain’s Men, Lord Strange, Mao Tse Tung, Margaret d’Anjou, Polonius, Privy Council, Richard Burbage, Richard Duke of York, Richard II, Richard III, Richard of Warwick, Rylance, Saddam Hussain, Shakespeare, Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Richard Ratcliffe, Sir William Stanley, Stalin, tetralogy, Thomas Stanley, Tillyard, tyranny, White Surrey

” Never let it be said that fate itself could awe the soul of Richard. Hence babbling dreams, you threaten here in vain; Conscience avaunt, Richard’s himself again” (The tragical history of King Richard the Third)[1] Richard’s himself again: or is he? There is a moment in Olivier’s film of Shakespeare’s play…
Henry V and the tennis balls….?

Feb 23, 2019

art, battles, humour

Charles VIII, Henry V, Hundred Years War, tennis balls

The above image depicts Henry V receiving a box of tennis balls from the French Dauphin. Right. I know this was supposed to have happened – well, Shakespeare said so – but this doesn’t look like Henry V to me! It looks more like a Tudorised Richard III! Wearing Nora Batty’s wrinkled stockings. More bah,…
KEY TO THE CASTLE: LUMLEY CASTLE AND ITS OWNERS

Jan 7, 2019

anniversaries, battles, buildings, genealogy

Bamburgh Castle, Edward IV, Epiphany Rising, executions, George Lumley, Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VII, hotels, John Earl of Somerset, John Lumley, Lumley Castle, Margaret “Tudor”, Pilgrimage of Grace, Richard III, Scottish campaign 1482, siege of Berwick, sieges, Sir Ralph Lumley, Thomas Lumley, Wars of the Roses

Recently it hit the news that the key to Lumley Castle’s ancient banqueting hall had been returned after it was stolen during an event 40 years ago. Lumley Castle is currently a hotel (so another one to add to the list of interesting castles you can stay in!) and the family who lived there had…
War, English Delusion, and the effect on the Economy (4)

Dec 26, 2018

battles

“Beauforts”, Azincourt, Burg, Catherine de Valois, Charles VII, First Battle of St. Albans, Henry V, Henry VI, hospital pass, John Duke of Bedford, John Duke of Somerset, Lancastrians, Orleanists, Philip the Good, Richard Duke of York, Treaty of Troyes, Verneuil, Wars of the Roses

It was fortunate for Henry V that someone on the Orleanist side of politics decided to murder the Duke of Burgundy. This persuaded the new duke, Philippe the “Good” to take Henry’s side, a development which led to the Treaty of Troyes and Henry’s marriage to fair Catherine of France. Henry had by this time…
War, English Delusion, and the effect on the Economy (2)

Dec 12, 2018

battles

Azincourt, Charles VI, France, Harfleur, Henry IV, Henry V, Homildon, Hundred Years War, Ireland, Orleanists, Parliament, Percies, Scotland, Wales

Henry IV had the image of a warrior. It was just as well as no sooner was he established on the throne than he was fighting in Wales, Scotland, Ireland and France, as well as beating off his internal enemies. So it will not surprise you that the country was soon bankrupt, and that Henry…
So who did Anne Mowbray take after….?

Nov 18, 2018

anniversaries, art, genealogy

Anne Mowbray, Anne of Gloucester, bigamy, Canterbury Cathedral, Cecily Neville, death masks, Doyle’s Official Baronage, Edward III, Edward IV, Edward the Black Prince, Elizabeth Berkeley, Elizabeth Wydeville, facial resemblance, hair colour, Henry Bourchier Earl of Essex, Henry Duke of Warwick, Henry V, Henry VIII, illegitimacy, John Ashdown-Hill, John Earl of Shrewsbury, John Mowbray Duke of Norfolk, Lady Eleanor Talbot, Lady Elizabeth Talbot, Margaret Beauchamp, Richard Beauchamp Earl of Warwick, Richard II, Richard of Salisbury, Richard of Shrewsbury, Richard of Warwick, St. Mary’s Hall Coventry, St. Mary’s Warwick, Thomas Talbot Viscount Lisle, William Bourchier Count of Eu, William Lord Berkeley

What is one of the first things we say on seeing a new baby? Something along the lines of how much the new arrival takes after his/her father/mother/uncle/aunt/grandfather etc. etc. For those of us with a great interest in history, it is almost irresistible to compare various historical figures in the same way. For instance,…
How the House of Mortimer was cheated….

Nov 6, 2018

anniversaries, battles, genealogy

“Tudors”, Battle of Bosworth, Battle of Shrewsbury, Edmund Mortimer, Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VII, Ian Mortimer, Ireland, Lancastrians, Mortimers, Owain Glyn Dwr, Richard II, Richard III, Southampton plot, Wales

Here’s how the great House of Mortimer petered out and was supplanted by a Lancastrian usurper who killed the reigning king and stole his throne. Then, under the House of York, the House of Mortimer triumphed again….until, in 1485, along came another Lancastrian usurper to kill the reigning king and steal the throne….. Never trust…
IS THIS THE FACE OF KATHERINE de VALOIS?

Oct 27, 2018

anniversaries, art, buildings

Catherine de Valois, Dean Stanley, death masks, Edward III, effigies, Elizabeth Hickey, Henry V, Henry VII, Ireland, Jubilee Galleries, Lady Chapel, Lawrence Tanner, Meath, Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Samuel Pepys, Stackallen Church, Westminster Abbey

Catherine de Valois wooden funeral effigy on the left and the stone head thought to represent her on the right. Westminster Abbey is the home to a collection of unique and wonderful medieval wooden funeral effigies. These are to go on show once again in June 2018 with the opening the Abbey’s new Jubilee Galleries.…
Discovered in Norwich

Oct 26, 2018

anniversaries, battles, buildings, The play’s the thing, travel

archery, Azincourt, Harfleur, Harriet Martineau, Henry IV, Henry V, JD Wetherspoon, John of Gaunt, John Sell Cotman, Kett Rebellion, Lancastrians, Norwich, Norwich Cathedral, Norwich School artists, pubs, Shakespeare, Sir Thomas Erpingham, stained glass, Tomblands

Whilst visiting Norwich to see the Whitefriars plaque to Lady Eleanor Talbot, Richard’s sister-in-law, in Tomblands near the Cathedral, I happened to take lunch in a particular hostelry, the Glass House. It is principally named for the city’s stained glass industry and various panels, also commemorate the author Harriet Martineau, the rebel Robert Kett, Cotman…
The Thame Hoard….

Oct 22, 2018

art, buildings

Ashmolean Museum, Edward III, gold, Henry V, jewellery, Oxford, Reliquary ring, Richard II, Robert King, silver groats, Thame Abbey, Thame Hoard

I’m surprised that I have never heard of this hoard before. It was found in 1940, so has been in the public eye for longer than I’ve graced this earth.