Christ Stapleton (the Deputy News Editor who identifies as He/Him) has written an article about “the run-up to Roses [2023]”. You can read about Roses 2023 here. Unfortunately, the first mention of Richard III describes him as “infamous”. Then we get: “….Richard schemed to have his brother’s two children proved illegitimate, which would allow him… Continue reading He/Him knows Richard III plotted his way to the throne….!
Tag: illegitimacy
Buc
Here it is at last, a publication sponsored by the Society of Antiquaries and the Richard III Society. Over forty years after his last edition of Buc‘s magnum opus, Arthur Kincaid has managed to remove the “wrapping paper” added by the author’s less painstaking great-nephew and namesake so that only the original remains. Through the… Continue reading Buc
Why was Maud Francis her father’s heir when she had elder brothers?
The thrice-married Maud Francis, who eventually became Countess of Salisbury, was undoubtedly the heir of her father, the extremely wealthy Sir Adam Francis (1325-75), at one time Lord Mayor of London. Yet she had no fewer than three elder brothers, born to the same mother, so how could this be? The answer is, dear Reader,… Continue reading Why was Maud Francis her father’s heir when she had elder brothers?
Monarchs and the perils of legitimacy….
“….In medieval and Tudor times, it was important for people to know that their king had actually died and that the succession was ‘safe’…. “….We all remember the story of the little princes in the Tower. The older of the two would have been King Edward V, had he lived. But no one ever really… Continue reading Monarchs and the perils of legitimacy….
How Edward IV’s bigamy should have been resolved
Canon law, as practiced in most of Europe to the late mediaeval period, is noticeably different to the laws of the United Kingdom today, although it is somewhat looser today in several ways. Consequently, secret marriages were banned eventually, only first cousins now require dispensations and relationships do not beget affinity, although previous manages still… Continue reading How Edward IV’s bigamy should have been resolved
The Stanley who found religion – Sir John Stanley of Honford.
Sir John Stanley was a grandson of Thomas Stanley, Earl of Derby and Eleanor Neville. His father was James Stanley (c 1465-1525) a cleric who eventually became Bishop of Ely. (He retained multiple benefices and seems to have been as often in Lancashire as in Ely. He is buried in what is now Manchester… Continue reading The Stanley who found religion – Sir John Stanley of Honford.
Antony Woodville and his daughter, Margaret.
Antony Woodville, quite early in his career, had an affair with Gwenllian Stradling which led to the birth of a daughter, Margaret Woodville. As it turned out, although he subsequently married twice, this was his only child. Or certainly, his only child who grew up. The Stradlings were a long-standing Glamorgan gentry family, based at… Continue reading Antony Woodville and his daughter, Margaret.
Some minor problems with Thomas More’s account.
King Edward, of that name the fourth, after that he had lived fifty and three years, seven months, and six days, and thereof reigned two and twenty years, one month, and eight days, died at Westminster the ninth day of April. King Edward was born 28 April 1442 and died 9 April 1483. He was… Continue reading Some minor problems with Thomas More’s account.
THE HAUNTING OF RICHARD III- A NEW MUSICAL
When I saw that a new musical called THE HAUNTING OF RICHARD III was on at the Merlin Theatre in Frome, a mere 40 minutes away, how could I resist? I realise musical theatre is a bit of a ‘marmite’ subject for many, but in my own misspent youth, yes, I confess I tread the… Continue reading THE HAUNTING OF RICHARD III- A NEW MUSICAL
Settling the Bosworth Debt….
With the denizens of Hades gathering to do their worst, here is a horror tale of Sir William Stanley’s final Hallowe’en, when retribution snatches him at last. “Settling the Bosworth Debt” is the story of what happened to William when he was confronted by some terrible truths about Henry Tudor. Friday, 31 October, 1494, Hallowe’en,… Continue reading Settling the Bosworth Debt….
murreyandblue 