Our monarchs’ nicknames….

When I first saw this list of monarchs’ nicknames I felt sure I’d have come across them all. But no, I only knew ten of the eleven. No doubt you know them all, but the one on which I came a cropper was number seven, the Be-Sh*tten – James II. Or James the Sh*t.  Good… Continue reading Our monarchs’ nicknames….

Richard III – in Rochdale Town Hall

This link leads to a photo of Richard III as depicted in stained glass in Rochdale Town Hall. The boy with him is Edward V. Richard and Edward are by no means the only English/British monarchs honoured in this way. The series runs from William the Conqueror to William IV, with Oliver Cromwell thrown in… Continue reading Richard III – in Rochdale Town Hall

The Secret Diary of Edward VI (and other monarchs)

Yes, Edward VI and other monarchs wrote diaries. Here are some extracts : Edward VI, early 1547: “After the death of King Henry th’eight his son Edward prince of Wales was come to at Hartford by th’erle of Hartford and S[ir] Anthony Brown Master of t’horse for whom befor was made great preparation that he… Continue reading The Secret Diary of Edward VI (and other monarchs)

Three unlucky kings?

They are: Edward IV, Charles II (buried today in 1685) and William IV, all of whom had a large number of illegitimate children, but none left a legitimate heir. Edward IV (1442-83) had twelve to fifteen children by various mistresses, including Elizabeth Wydville, but none by Lady Eleanor Talbot, his only legal wife, whose probable… Continue reading Three unlucky kings?

Putting Edward IV’s life in context

Given the amount of evidence that has accrued over the past decade both about Edward IV’s bigamy and the cover-ups, both in his reign and those of the “Tudors”, he can now be classified as having no legitimate and fourteen or fifteen illegitimate children. Charles II’s record is almost identical, although he was more open… Continue reading Putting Edward IV’s life in context