Richard III
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Oh, the wonder of computers. They can impart such power, even to making Richard III show his true colours at last, by smiling from his hitherto moody portrait. The portrait of him held by the Society of Antiquaries is believed to be the earliest of the few portraits that still survive of Richard. All of…
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Note, in particular, the beginning of the last paragraph: THE BONES IN THE URN The main accusation against Richard III has always been the assumption that he murdered his nephews, and the discovery of the skeletons of two children under a Tower staircase in the 17th century has often been quoted as virtual proof of…
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What connects St. George’s Hall, Windsor, to a wild boar pie??? No, not a feast at the castle, but a fireplace. I wanted to know how many fireplaces there are/were in the hall, and so Googled pictures of it. Lots and lots of pictures, some new, some old, but no sign of a fireplace at…
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We already know that William, Lord Hastings, was one of several people arrested on the morning of 13 June for a conspiracy against the Duke of Gloucester, who was both Constable and Lord Protector. We know that Bishop Morton was among the others but that Hastings alone was executed, that the Constable had the right…
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Lady Antonia Fraser’s “The Kings and Queens of England” was a favourite of mine nearly forty years ago – my grandmother owned it and I read it whilst visiting her. Anyway, I consulted the entries on Charles II and James II – Maurice Ashley wrote the Stuart chapter and he said: 1) (p.236) “(the Rye…
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“For though I dare myself speak what seems to me to be the truth, the poor dare not do so.” – Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, in a statement to Henry VI, 1440 The Yorkists seem unique, almost tantalizingly modern, in their use of populist rhetoric during the Wars of the Roses. Of course, they were…
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Following on from the blog above, entitled More C17 coincidences, it occurred to me that there is another strange set of coincidences concerning Richard III (1452-1485), and his predecessor and namesake of the previous century, Richard II (1367-1400). And I do not only mean being killed and usurped. Both had a queen named Anne…
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8) Richard III was negotiating to marry the King of Portugal’s sister when he died. Henry VII may also have tried to do so. Charles II did marry the King of Portugal’s sister. 9) Edward IV was paid a secret annuity by Louis XI after 1475. Charles II was paid a secret annuity by Louis…
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St Cuthbert was born somewhere in the Scottish Borders, maybe just in England, maybe just in Scotland, but he grew up near Melrose Abbey, which is now in Scotland. His birth date is somewhere around 634, but he definitely died on 20 March 687. He was known as St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, and was revered…
