Henry Tudor treated Elizabeth Woodville with kindness and generosity….!

Hmm, yes. If you believe the above heading you’ll believe anything. Let me explain it. Back in 2013 I read this article this article, which is pro-Richard and follows the facts in general. But then everything was spoiled in the comments at the end, one of which contained the following:- “….Richard met his fate on… Continue reading Henry Tudor treated Elizabeth Woodville with kindness and generosity….!

A Royal guide to … Wales

This excellent documentary was featured on Channel Four during March. It told of Wales’ existence as a Kingdom before the Normans arrived and sought to reinforce their borders and the last Principality was suppressed about a year before the future Edward II was born at his father’s greatest military outpost at Caernarfon. It discussed the… Continue reading A Royal guide to … Wales

Henry VII was an “unexpected” ruler….?

  The following list deals with fifteen unexpected rulers. Well, these things are in the eye of the beholder, of course, but (for readers of this blog) the salient name on the list is Henry VII, who apparently won at Bosworth “largely by chance”. Hmm…. How, pray, can deliberate desertion and treachery be regarded as… Continue reading Henry VII was an “unexpected” ruler….?

Did Chaucer die a natural death….?

  Here is an extract from Terry Jones’s exquisitely researched book Who Murdered Chaucer? This extract deals with the first Lancastrian usurpation of the throne of England. The usurper was Henry of Bolingbroke, who became Henry IV, and the king he usurped and killed was his first cousin Richard II. I think Terry Jones’s words… Continue reading Did Chaucer die a natural death….?

Speed’s not up to speed….!

  Well, now I’ve read it all. Please look at the above map, into which you can zoom at here. Do you see the images of monarchs on the left (Lancaster) and on the right (York)? You’ll probably need to zoom at the Wikimedia link above to read the words atop the Lancastrian column. They… Continue reading Speed’s not up to speed….!

You didn’t eat coffins….!

Medieval cooking is always a fascinating subject, and I don’t doubt that we’ve all seen the word “coffin/coffyn” applied to pastries and pies. Well yes, coffin is a coffin in the usual meaning, but it also seems a sensible enough word to use for a well-filled pie! What we call raised pies, e.g. pork pies… Continue reading You didn’t eat coffins….!

SIR ROBERT BRACKENBURY – ‘gentle Brakenbery….*

My latest sparkypus.com post… The last charge of King Richard III.   It is possible that it was during this charge that Sir Robert Brackenbury fell, alongside his king. Painting by  artist Graham Turner   **********SIR THOMAS MORE , A MAN FOR ALL REASONS: SAINT OR SINNER? ‘Of all Richard III’s Northern Lieutenants few were… Continue reading SIR ROBERT BRACKENBURY – ‘gentle Brakenbery….*

The fiction and non-fiction about Edward IV….

Above is an illustration of the coronation of Edward IV, showing the new king’s golden splendour, and bottom right, his dark brother, the “vile, scheming, murderous” Richard of Gloucester. This illustration is, to me, a perfect illustration of fiction and non-fiction. Yes, Edward was a splendid king, but no, Richard of Gloucester was never the… Continue reading The fiction and non-fiction about Edward IV….

More praise for Philippa Langley’s discoveries concerning the Princes in the Tower….

  Praise and admiration abound for Philippa Langley’s new discoveries and the book that tells all about the work she and her colleagues have been doing to trace what really happened to the boys in the Tower, the sons of Edward IV. Well, they were princes until 1483, then they were illegitimate boys, and then… Continue reading More praise for Philippa Langley’s discoveries concerning the Princes in the Tower….