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The meeting of the Three Estates – 25th June 1483

Artist’s impression of the offer of the Kingship to Richard, Duke of Gloucester, Baynards Castle by the Three Estates of the Realm. Mural in the Royal Exchange. Artist Sigismund Goetz. I am happy to have a guest post written by Brian Wainwright first published on Murrey&Blue back in 2018. It’s an eloquent, succinct explanation ofContinue reading “The meeting of the Three Estates – 25th June 1483”

PRINCES IN THE TOWER: A DAMNING DISCOVERY: PROFESSOR TIM THORNTON AND DR TRACY BORMAN: ‘A SMOKING GUN’ OR A SHOOTING OF THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT?

Professor Thornton shows Jason Watkins and Dr Tracy Borman his ‘new discovery’ that no one has ever seen before but only they have…. Channel 5 Documentary ‘Princes in the Tower: Damning Discovery’ Where to begin…should I even do so? But needs must…. Around early November 2024 it had begun to be mooted about onContinue reading “PRINCES IN THE TOWER: A DAMNING DISCOVERY: PROFESSOR TIM THORNTON AND DR TRACY BORMAN: ‘A SMOKING GUN’ OR A SHOOTING OF THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT?”

LADY ELEANOR BUTLER/BOTELER NÉE TALBOT – THE SECRET WIFE OF EDWARD IV & CATALYST FOR THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF YORK

Unfortunately no reliable image has survived of Eleanor Butler/Boteler née Talbot but the above image of her younger sister, Elizabeth, duchess of Norfolk, may give us some idea of her appearance. 15th century stained glass. Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford, Suffolk. Dear Reader – since I begun the writing of this post, and doing someContinue reading “LADY ELEANOR BUTLER/BOTELER NÉE TALBOT – THE SECRET WIFE OF EDWARD IV & CATALYST FOR THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF YORK”

Intriguing events at Northampton and Stony Stratford April 1483 – Mancini, the Croyland Chronicler and Vergil – who to trust?

A medieval scribe. Royal MS 18 E. III, fol. 24r The British Library, London THE SETTING Following the sudden death of King Edward IV (1442-1483) at his palace of Westminster on the 9th April 1483 an unseemly scramble ensued to get his son, now King Edward V, from where he was residing at Ludlow Castle,Continue reading “Intriguing events at Northampton and Stony Stratford April 1483 – Mancini, the Croyland Chronicler and Vergil – who to trust?”

INVESTIGATING HENRY VII’S REPEAL OF TITULUS REGIUS – A GUEST POST BY ANNETTE CARSON

Titulus Regius. Now in the National Archives. Photo thanks to thehistoryofengand.co.uk Titulus Regius was the Act of Succession that confirmed Richard III’s title to the throne. With many thanks to Annette Carson for this following guest post which explains in great depth why Henry VII’s repeal of the Act did not have the effects generallyContinue reading “INVESTIGATING HENRY VII’S REPEAL OF TITULUS REGIUS – A GUEST POST BY ANNETTE CARSON”

EDWARD V – HIS LIFE PRIOR TO JUNE 1483

‘He had such dignity in his whole person and in his countenance such charm that, however much they might feast their eyes he never sated the gaze of observers’. Domenico Mancini Edward V from the window at Coldridge Church, Devon. Despite the late historian Professor Helen Maud Cam opining rather harshly “I just do not understandContinue reading “EDWARD V – HIS LIFE PRIOR TO JUNE 1483”

THE GELDERLAND DOCUMENT – ‘PROOF OF LIFE OF RICHARD, DUKE OF YORK’* ALIAS PERKIN WARBECK

*This is the title of a chapter from The Princes in the Tower by Philippa Langley. Without the aid of this invaluable book I would never have been able to write this post… The Gelderland Document is a unique, tantalising and quite astonishing document that was discovered back in the 1950s in the Gelderland ArchivesContinue reading “THE GELDERLAND DOCUMENT – ‘PROOF OF LIFE OF RICHARD, DUKE OF YORK’* ALIAS PERKIN WARBECK”

SIR ROBERT BRACKENBURY ‘…gentle Brakenbery…’*

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 ********** ‘Of all Richard III’s Northern Lieutenants few were more closely associated with the defence of his crown and his realm than was RobertContinue reading “SIR ROBERT BRACKENBURY ‘…gentle Brakenbery…’*”

THE ELEANOR CROSSES – TWELVE OR FIFTEEN?

‘The Passing of Eleanor’ – artist’s impression of the funeral cortège of Eleanor of Castile watched over by her grieving husband, Edward I. Artist Frank Salisbury, 1910 (1). ‘Pray for our consort, who in life, we loved dearly, and, dead, we do not cease to love….’ Edward Ist in a letter to the Abbot ofContinue reading “THE ELEANOR CROSSES – TWELVE OR FIFTEEN?”

REVEALING RICHARD – AN APPRAISAL BY PHILIPPA LANGLEY MBE

The two princes as shown on the jacket of Philippa Langley’s book ‘The Princes in the Tower’. Here is a link to Philippa Langley’s blog – Revealing Richard III – with an up to date appraisal of the investigations so far led by Philippa aided and abetted by her team of researchers. Bravo! ManyContinue reading “REVEALING RICHARD – AN APPRAISAL BY PHILIPPA LANGLEY MBE”