Richard III

Humpty-Dumpty and his wall were Richard III and his horse….!

Jan 2, 2022

battles, culture

Battle of Bosworth, cannon, English Civil War, horses, India, nursery rhymes, one-eyed Jack, Richard III, siege of Colchester, slang, Tik-Tok

Well, we’ve all heard versions of the true meaning of Humpty-Dumpty, including that it was a reference to a 17th-century cannon used in the Siege of Colchester. Oh and Humpty may also have been a drink of brandy boiled with ale. All nursery rhymes had beginnings somewhere, and also have some wild notions about their…
The year of three kings

Dec 31, 2021

law, religion

1483, bigamy, Edward IV, Edward V, Ian Churchyard, illegitimacy, John Peel, Pageant of Torbay, pre-contract, Richard III, The Legendary Ten Seconds, Year of three kings

Here is an alternative version of the Legendary Ten Seconds‘ song “The Year of three Kings” and here is the official press release:
Dickon’s Diaries 3

Dec 28, 2021

Alternative History, buildings, humour

“Dickon’s Diaries”, Amazon, Anne Neville, Carry On series, Edward of Middleham, Francis Viscount Lovell, Joanne Larner, Middleham Castle, Richard III, Susan Lamb, The Two Ronnies

The Dickon’s Diaries series was written to lighten the mood surrounding Richard III as the authors felt that there was so much tragedy and sadness regarding his life, especially the last few years. Susan Lamb has a Facebook page, Dickon for his Dames, and on meeting Joanne Larner (me!) she asked her to collaborate to…
Three of Richard’s ships taken over by Henry….?

Dec 25, 2021

anniversaries, battles, religion, travel

Christmas Day, Edward IV, Governor, Grace Dieu, Hampshire, Henry VII, John Howard Duke of Norfolk, Marie of the Toure, naval fleet, Richard III, River Hamble, River Hook, Southampton, warships

Yet again, while searching for one thing I came upon another. A book called The Hamble River by H.W. Trinder, from which the above map is taken, seemed likely to contain the information I was seeking, i.e. Southampton and its immediate environs in the 14th century. Then, I read the following:- “….Receyved [probably to lay…
From Yule Log to Buche de Noel

Dec 24, 2021

culture, Events, religion

Buche de Noel, candles, chocolate, Christmas, France, frumenty, Germany, Joyce Maynard, mediaeval food, mistletoe, mulled wine, New York Times, Nigella Lawson, pagan origins, posset, Richard III, Sir James George Frazer, Switzerland, traditions, Twelfth Night, Westphalia, winter solstice, Yule log

While the traditional Yule Log is associated with Great Britain – as its television broadcast/DVD version is associated with America – it seems to have originated in the misty past of Central Germany and Westphalia. It is certainly of pagan origin as are many of our Christian customs. To quote Sir James George Frazer in…
Anne Beauchamp Countess of Warwick – Wife to the Kingmaker

Dec 22, 2021

anniversaries, art, battles, buildings, sources

Abergavenny Castle, AJ Pollard, Barnet, Beauchamp Pageant, Beaulieu Abbey, Bisham Abbey, Calais, Caversham, Cecily Neville, Countess of Warwick, Despencer estates, Edward IV, Edward of Lancaster, Edward of Warwick, Elizabeth Berkeley, George Neville, Henry Duke of Warwick, Henry VI, Henry VII, Honfleur, Ireland, Isobel Despencer, John Neville Marquis of Montagu, John Rous, Louis XI, Margaret of Anjou, Middleham Castle, Paul Murray Kendall, Reading Abbey, Richard Beauchamp Earl of Warwick, Richard Duke of York, Richard III, Richard of Salisbury, Richard of Warwick, Rous Roll, Royal College of Arms, Sheriff Hutton, Sir James Tyrrell, Tewkesbury, Wars of the Roses, Warwick Castle, William Catour

Reblogged from A Medieval Potpourri sparkypus.com Anne Beauchamp and her husband, Richard Neville, ‘The Kingmaker,’ Earl of Warwick. From the Latin version of the Rous Roll. Donated to the College of Arms by Melvyn Jeremiah. Anne Beauchamp, Countess of Warwick, daughter of Richard Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick and his second wife Isobel Despenser, was born…
The Renaissance, wedding dresses….and Robert de Vere….

Dec 19, 2021

anniversaries, art, battles, genealogy, law, religion, Science

Agnes Lancecrona, Anne of Bohemia, Battle of Bosworth, blue, Eugenie of York, Henry VII, marriage, Philippa de Coucy, Radcot Bridge, renaissance, Richard II, Richard III, Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland, Royal Marriage Secrets, scoliosis, wedding dresses, Wilton Diptych

Well, I wasn’t looking for observations on when the Renaissance commenced, rather was I trying to find information on the wedding of Robert de Vere, Duke of Ireland, Marquess of Dublin, and 9th Earl of Oxford KG. The wording of my Google search brought up a site in which I found the following: “….During…
A review of Mike Ingram’s book on Richard III and the Battle of Bosworth….

Dec 17, 2021

archaeology, battles, Book Reviews

Battle of Bosworth, Mike Ingram, Richard III

I like to read a good review, and here is one about Mike Ingram‘s book Richard III and the Battle of Bosworth. There is no point in reviewing the review, so I’ll just say that after reading this one you’ll know exactly what you’ll get if you purchase the book. No, it doesn’t contain…
The “awkward mediaeval cities” (2) : Northampton

Dec 16, 2021

anniversaries, battles, religion, Science, sources, travel

artillery, Battle of Bosworth, Battle of Northampton, Bletchley, coaches, delapre Abbey, Dissolution of the Monasteries, DNA, Edward I, Eleanor of Castile, Fotheringhay, Francis Crick, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Northampton Castle, Oxford, Peterborough, rail journeys, Richard III, siege of Roxburgh, St. Albans, St. Thomas Becket, Stony Stratford, trials, Weston Favell

Another such is Northampton. Like Oxford, most (all in fact) of the trains run to or from London, although the latter will reconnect to Cambridge in a few years, with Milton Keynes and Northampton joining the line via Bletchley. Northampton is only currently accessible from East Anglia via London, Birmingham, or switching to a coach…
Chief Sitting Bull, Henry V and Richard III….

Dec 15, 2021

anniversaries, archaeology, battles, genealogy, Science

“Lancastrian”, “Princes”, DNA, false paternity, Lancastrians, Native Americans, Richard III, Sitting Bull, USA

This article might seem to be solely about Chief Sitting Bull and his great-grandson, and a new method of proving DNA and so, but here’s the penultimate paragraph: “….Dr. Willerslev said it was possible, for example, that the methodology could help solve one of England’s most confounding cold cases: the fate of the…