The New Murrey and Blue blog

Matthew Lewis

Another book of solid evidence

Dec 28, 2023

archaeology, battles, Book Reviews, buildings, genealogy, Science, sources

“Lambert Simnel”, “Missing Princes Project”, “Princes”, Albert of Saxony, Ann Wroe, Annette Carson, Battle of Stoke, Bertram Fields, Coldridge, continental archives, evidence, Gipping Hall, Human Shredder, Jersey, John Ashdown-Hill, John Howard Duke of Norfolk, Matthew Lewis, Maximilian I, Philippa Langley, Pontefract Castle, Sir John Evans

This time, Philippa Langley and her team have discovered proof that both the “Princes” survived into 1487, by which time Henry “Tudor” had re-legitimated them both by repealing the original Titulus Regiuss unread. Both went on to challenge Henry, albeit unsuccessfully. The evidence, verified by the likes of Dr. Janina Ramirez, includes: An invoice from…
Was the Bard having a go at Robert Cecil when he wrote Richard III….?

Oct 15, 2022

culture, humour, religion, The play’s the thing

“Princes”, Elizabeth I, James VI/I, Matthew Lewis, Richard III, Robert Cecil, satire, secret Catholics, William Shakespeare

Matt Lewis is, of course, a force to be reckoned with when it comes to supporting Richard III and this link is a very interesting article he’s written concerning why Shakespeare may have bad-mouthed Richard. I had no idea the Bard could have been a secret Catholic who wanted the return of the old…
Just a hypothesis, but …

Jun 16, 2022

anniversaries, genealogy, Science, sources

“ghost children”, death in infancy, Edmund Crouchback, Edward I, Eleanor of Provence, Flores Historiarum, Hazel Pierce, Henry III, Henry IV, James II, John of Gaunt, Kathryn Warner, Lancastrian propaganda, Margaret Howell, Matthew Lewis, Matthew Parris, mysteries, planets, Sir Richard Pole, St. Edmund, St. Edward the Confessor, twins, Weir

We know that John of Gaunt and Henry IV claimed their ancestor, Edmund Crouchback Earl of Lancaster, to have been born before Edward I, however we have sources showing this propaganda to be specious. We know Henry III and Eleanor of Provence, to have had five children: Edward, Margaret, Beatrice, Edmund and Katherine. Sources such…
The Kingmaker’s Anger

Nov 22, 2021

anniversaries, battles, buildings, genealogy, sources

Alexander Neville Archbishop of York, anarchy, Anne Beauchamp, Anne Neville, Barons Latimer, Calais, Captain of Calais, Cardiff Castle, Catherine Parr, Catherine Woodville, Countess of Shrewsbury, Countesses of Arundel, daughters, de Veres, Duchess of Somerset, Duchess of Warwick, Dukes of Buckingham, Dukes of Norfolk, Earls of Arundel, Earls of Kent, Earls of Northumberland, Edmund Duke of Somerset, George Duke of Clarence, George Neville, George Neville Duke of Bedford, Henry Fitzhugh, Henry II, Henry IV, Henry of Buckingham, Henry VI, Henry VIII, Isabel Neville, Joan “Beaufort”, John Mowbray Duke of Norfolk, Losecoat Field, marriages, Matthew Lewis, Monthemer family, Nevilles, Percies, Ralph Earl of Westmorland, rebellions, Richard Duke of York, Richard Earl Rivers, Richard III, Richard of Warwick, Rous Roll, sibling double marriages, Sir John Woodville, summary executions, the Beauforts., Thomas Lord Stanley, Wakefield, Wars of the Roses, William de Longespee, William Lord Hastings

I’m working on a biography of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick – the man best introduced as The Kingmaker. I have written on the Wars of the Roses, on Richard, Duke of York, and Richard III. Warwick has been a constant presence throughout. I spent some time in an earlier dispute over the throne of…
Gone Medieval Podcast

Aug 5, 2021

anniversaries, archaeology, genealogy, Science, travel

Africa, Apple podcasts, barfleur, building, Cat Jarman, Charles Earl Spencer, diving, Gone Mediaeval, Henry I, History Hit, Indian Ocean, John of Gaunt, Lindisfarne, Matilda, Matthew Lewis, Normandy, Plantagenets, podcasts, The Anarchy, The White Ship, trade, Vikings, William Adelin, wreckage

I’ve Gone Mediaeval. That may not be a surprise to most, but now you can come with me. I am co-hosting a new podcast from History Hit called Gone Mediaeval. I present an episode every Saturday, mostly covering the high and late medieval period. The other host is Dr Cat Jarman, a bioarchaeologist, who specialises…
Matt Lewis goes from strength to strength….!

Jan 27, 2021

archaeology, Science, The play’s the thing

“Princes”, Express, Henry VII, Matthew Lewis, Richard III

Matt Lewis is definitely Richard III’s new champion, and is managing to achieve various excellent articles that express his (correct!) views on our maligned king. Here in the Daily Express is an example I’ve come upon in the last couple of days. Well done, Matt. I’m sure that if Richard could, he’d show his appreciation…
10 Facts About Simon de Montfort

Jan 8, 2021

anniversaries, battles, Book Reviews, religion

anti-Semitism, Barons’ Crusade, Battle of Evesham, Battle of Lewes, de Montfort University, Earls of Leicester, Edward I, Eleanor Plantagenet, Gascony, Henry III, History Hit, Matthew Lewis, Parliament, rebellions, secret marriage, Simon de Montfort, Wigmore Abbey

Following his successful Henry III biography, here is Matthew Lewis’ contribution to History Hit about Simon de Montfort, the rebel who secretly married Henry’s sister before capturing him and Prince Edward, then being killed in battle at Evesham.
Together in Mechelen?

Jan 5, 2021

anniversaries, archaeology, battles, buildings, genealogy, religion, Science

“Princes”, Battle of Nancy, Burgundy, Canada, Charles the Bold, Edward V, Jack Leslau, John Ashdown-Hill, John Clement, Joy Ibsen, Margaret of Burgundy, Matthew Lewis, Mechelen, mtDNA, Ricardian, Richard III, royal burials, St. Rumbold’s Cathedral, The Survival of the Princes in the Tower

As Ashdown-Hill found, although he was unable to locate her precisely in the genealogical research that eventually located Michael Ibsen as a mitochondrial DNA match for Richard III, Richard’s sister Margaret Duchess of Burgundy was buried in a Franciscan church in Mechelen, in her Duchy Although it was destroyed during subsequent religious conflicts, a reconstruction…
Prince Charles ‘poised to solve 550-year-old royal mystery’ on throne….

Nov 14, 2020

anniversaries, archaeology, genealogy, law, religion, Science, The play’s the thing

“Princes”, “Tudor” propaganda, Charles Prince of Wales, Matthew Lewis, Richard III. More, Shakespeare, Westminster Abbey

Well, while it seems the Queen wants awkward bones to be left tucked up in their urn in Westminster Abbey, Prince Charles is more curious about the whole “Princes in the Tower” mystery. Maybe he’ll even probe enough to reveal the truth at last. I do hope so! To read more, go to This Express…
Once again, Matt Lewis to the rescue on his white charger…!

Oct 29, 2020

archaeology, battles, buildings, Science

“Lambert Simnel”, “Perkin”, “Princes”, Dublin Cathedral, Edward of Warwick, Edward V, executions, Guildford family, Henry VII, Jack Leslau, Lord Guildford Dudley, Matthew Lewis, More, Old St. Paul’s, Richard III, Richard of Shrewsbury, Stoke Field, Sunday Express, Tower of London, Wars of the Roses

Yet again we have Matt Lewis to thank for pointing out the error of journalistic and other writers’ ways. There are some bloopers in this Express piece but Matt sorts them out with good, plain, beautifully written English. Job done. Excellent.