Henry VII

Bolingbroke and his flute….!

Sep 30, 2022

anniversaries, battles, culture, humour

“Lancastrian”, flutes, Henry IV, Henry VII, Lancastrians, lutes, music, Richard II, usurpation, Wars of the Roses

I feel it’s time to take another pop at a Lancastrian King Henry. On this occasion it’s Henry IV, the warlike Lancastrian usurper who murdered his cousin Richard II and stole the crown. A process that led to the Wars of the Roses. So definitely not one of my favourite kings. When it comes to…
The price of one royal progress….

Sep 29, 2022

anniversaries, Events, law, religion

“Princes”, coronations, Elizabeth of York, Henry of Buckingham, Henry VII, Jean II, Joan of Auvergne, Lord Protector of the Realm, Reims, Richard III, Royal Progress, treachery, Wydevilles

King Charles III’s fleeting visits to the separate nations of the United Kingdom have been the modern equivalent of the royal progresses of the past. From very early times each new monarch embarked on a progress through their realm, to show themselves to their people. As their only transport was the horse, it took…
Ewelme Manor, Henry VII and what the manor house may have looked like….

Sep 28, 2022

buildings, genealogy

almshouses, banishment, confiscation, Country Life, de la Poles, Dukes of Suffolk, Edmund de la Pole, Ewelme, haunting, Henry VII, parsimony, royal palaces

“….Henry VII, doubtless after having taken good stock of the amenities of Ewelme Manor, during his self-proposed visit to Edmund de la Pole before the latter’s banishment, decided that it would be well-fitted for a country retreat, later on to be converted into a Royal Palace. In fact, it may have become to the King…
The Touchet/Audley Family in the Fifteenth Century.

Sep 26, 2022

anniversaries, battles, buildings, genealogy, law, religion

Alionore Holland, Arundels, Barnet, Battle of Bosworth, Battles of Sandwich, Bishop Edmund Audley, Bishop of Hereford, Blore Heath, Buckingham rebellion, Calais, Cheshire, Constance of York, Despensers, Dukes of Somerset, Edmund Holland, Edward I, Edward III, Edward IV, Edward of Lancaster, executions, Fitzalans, Francis Viscount Lovell, Heighley Castle, Henry III, Henry VII, Isabel Mylbery, James Lord Audley, Joan Bourchier, Joan of Kent, John Lord Audley, Lord High Treasurer, Ludlow Castle, Margaret Darrell, Margaret of Anjou, Margaret Roos, Mortimer’s Cross, Parliament’s power to determine legitimacy, Red Castle, Richard Duke of York, Richard III, Sir Humphrey Audley, surnames, Tewkesbury, Towton, Welsh Marches, Wydevilles

James Touchet, Lord Audley, was born about 1398. He was not in the first rank of magnates but nevertheless had significant estates, notably Heighley Castle, near Madeley in Staffordshire, and the Red Castle (Hawkstone) in Shropshire, as well as two small Marcher lordships in Wales. His first marriage was to Margaret Roos, daughter of Lord Roos…
‘Great magician, damned Glendower'(Part 1.)

Sep 16, 2022

anniversaries, battles, genealogy, law, The play’s the thing

“Tudor” era, bards, Clwyd, Dee Valley, Glyndyfrdwy, Henry IV, Henry VII, imprisonment, Iolo Goch, judges, lawyers, Marcher Lords, Mortimers, Owain Glyn Dwr, Prince of Wales, rebellions, Richard II, Sir David Hanmer, Sycharth, Tower of London, Wales

‘Great magician, damned Glendower’ is how Shakespeare makes Henry IV refer to his elusive Welsh adversary. Of course, we all know that Shakespeare was principally a dramatist and a great distorter of historical truth. Nonetheless, it’s likely that this quote accurately reflects Bolngbroke’s feelings of frustration as he struggled to deal with Owain ap Gruffudd…
Piel Island and its connection with Lambert Simnel….

Sep 9, 2022

anniversaries, battles, buildings

“Lambert Simnel”, “Princes”, Battle of Stoke, Coldridge, coronations, Cumbria, Edward IV, Edward of Warwick, Henry VII, House of York, kitchens, Margaret of Burgundy, Martin Schwarz, Piel Island., Richard III, Ship Inn

At just 50 acres, Piel Island off Cumbria isn’t very big, as can be seen in the illustration above, and it has a tradition of ‘Kings of Piel’, which title is enjoyed by the landlord of the Ship Inn. He has his coronation too, so it’s all pukka! 😊 “….The title – according to that…
Henry VII was handsome and had an almost divine nature….

Aug 23, 2022

art, battles, humour, sources

Anglia Historica, Anne Sutton, appearance, Arthur, Arthur “Tudor”, Henry VII, mythology, National Portrait Gallery, Polydore Vergil, spin

“….Polydore Vergil was one of the first to record the appearance of the king [Henry VII]: “His body was slender but strong and solid, a little above average in height. His appearance was handsome, particularly when his expression was happy in conversation. He had blue eyes, few teeth, and sparse hair. His intellect was great and clever, and…
Herald’s Lament

Aug 22, 2022

anniversaries, battles, Music Reviews, Uncategorized

Battle of Bosworth, Earl of Northumberland, Henry VII, heralds, Musical Almanac, Richard III, Sandra heath wilson, Stanleys, The Legendary Ten Seconds, treachery, usurpation

This Legendary Ten Seconds song, with lyrics by Sandra Heath Wilson, features on the new Musical Almanac album. A HERALD’S LAMENT . . .King Richard is dead Lyrics written by Sandra Heath Wilson King Richard is dead! Such dread news I bring!No joy to cling to, no hosannas to singI tell a tale so…
Richard III had the sweating sickness before facing Tudor….?

Aug 21, 2022

anniversaries, battles, Science

Battle of Bosworth, Brittany, France, health, Henry VII, mercenaries, sweating sickness

It has been argued before, especially by the late John Ashdown-Hill, that Richard’s sleepless nights and so-called ghastly appearance before Bosworth were caused by the sweating sickness. It has also been more generally understood that it was Henry VII and his army of foreign invaders who brought and spread the disease, which was new to…
Was Elizabeth Woodville a witch….?

Aug 12, 2022

anniversaries, battles, genealogy, law, religion

“Princes”, Arthur, Bermondsey Abbey, bias, Edward V, Elizabeth Wydeville, executions, Henry VII, Jacquetta of Luxembourg, Lady Margaret Beaufort, Merlin, plotting, Richard III, Sir William Stanley, Tower of London, witchcraft

Royalty and magic (black or otherwise). Well, the connection isn’t new, after all, King Arthur had Merlin. And when it suited one’s enemies, a charge of witchcraft was always a guaranteed spanner in the works. The first section of this article this article deals with Elizabeth Woodville, and is perhaps of most interest to…