Meandering Through Time
  • Home
  • My Family Stories
    • Bustaine of Braunton: Introduction
    • Hunt of Barnstaple Introduction >
      • Christopher Hunt >
        • Edward Hunt >
          • Richard Hunt >
            • Richard Hunt
            • Mary Hunt
    • Lakeman of Mevagissey >
      • Peter Lakeman c1698-1740
    • Meavy Introduction >
      • 6th to 9th Century Meavy >
        • Meavy Pre Conquest >
          • 1066 and Life in Domesday England >
            • Domesday and 13th Century Charters >
              • The Anarchy >
                • Walter, Wido and William Meavy >
                  • The Beginnings of a New Era
    • Mitchell of Crantock: An Introduction >
      • William Mitchell of Crantock >
        • Samuel Mitchell of Crantock >
          • Edith Mitchell >
            • Epilogue: Lescliston Farm
    • Mohun of Dunster: Introduction >
      • William Mohun c1050 - c1111 >
        • William Mohun c1100 - c1143 >
          • William Mohun - 1176 >
            • William - 1193 >
              • Reynold Mohun c1183 - 1213
              • Reynold Mohun c1210 -1257 >
                • Alice Mohun
    • Purches of Hampshire and Cornwall >
      • Samuel Purches 1733 - 1804 >
        • Samuel Purches 1766 - >
          • William Samuel Purches 1803 - 1861 >
            • Henry James Purches
    • Scoboryo of St Columb Major >
      • James and Joan Scoboryo 1640 - 1686
    • Thomas Vaughan: An Introduction >
      • Chapter One: Monmouthshire, Wales.
      • Chapter Two: The Beaufort Patronage
      • ​Chapter Three: Out With the Old
      • Chapter Four: Kentish Connections and Opportunities >
        • Chapter Five: Getting Personal
        • Chapter Six: ​The Children of Thomas Vaughan
        • Chapter Seven: Moving on
        • ​Chapter Eight: At Ludlow
        • Chapter Nine: The Arrest
        • Chapter Ten: Three Castles
        • Chapter Eleven: The Beginning of the End
        • Chapter Twelve: A Death Deserved ?
    • Smith of Barkby Introduction >
      • Susanna Smith
    • Taylor Introduction >
      • Joseph Taylor >
        • John Henry Taylor
    • Tosny of Normandy >
      • Godehute de Tosny
    • Toon of Leicestershire: Introduction >
      • John Toon 1799 -
      • Thomas Toon 1827 - 1874
    • Underwood of Coleorton Introduction
  • Other Families
  • History Blog
  • Wars of the Roses Blog
  • The Ancestors
  • A to E
  • F to J
  • K to O
  • P to T
  • U to Z
  • Hendley of Coursehorne Kent
    • 5th to 12th Century Hendleys >
      • Gervais Hendley 1302 - c1344 >
        • Thomas Hendley >
          • Grevais Hendley c 1471 - 1534 >
            • Walter Hendley >
              • Elizabeth Hendley >
                • Ellen Hendley 1521- 1560 >
                  • Anne Hendley 1523 - >
                    • Other Hendleys
  • Pigott Family of Whaddon Buckinghamshire
  • Links
  • Contact

Battle of Wakefield

30/11/2017

0 Comments

 
On this day in 1460, the death of one of my all time heroes, Richard, Duke of York.
Picture
In the afternoon of the 30th December 1460, the Battle of Wakefield took place, this battle brought an end to the lives of Richard, Duke of York and his second eldest son Edmund, Earl of Rutland.
In the October of 1460, the Act of Accord acknowledged the Duke of York as the heir to Henry VI and effectively disinherited Henry's son Edward. It was hoped that this agreement would put an end to the political tension that had caused so much trouble in previous years, but it was not to be. The Act of Accord naturally left the Lancastrian's foaming at the mouth, many were angry that the act had swept the rules of primogeniture under the carpet, a rule that had protected the rights of the noble family for decades, without which there would be chaos.
Many Lancastrian's rallied to the cause resulting in a number of revolts occurring in the country with Henry's queen, Margaret of Anjou, at its helm. The first serious clash happened in Yorkshire, just over two months after the Act of Accord was signed. As Margaret had headed to Wales, the Duke of York, now heir apparent made his way towards Sandal Castle to meet the forces of the opposing army on the fields you see in the above images, even though York's force outnumbered the Lancastian's by two to one the battle went the the way of Lancaster.
Picture
Richard Duke of York died among his men that day at Wakefield, a noble but untimely death you could say, his second son, Edmund Earl of Rutland died that day too only his death was taken in vengeance. 

David Hume in his History of England writes of York's death

"The Duke himself was killed and beheaded, and when his body was found among the slain, the head was cut off by Margaret's orders and fixed on the gates of York, with a paper crown upon it, in derision of his pretended title.'
Picture
As the country woke to welcome in the new year, the residence of the City of York rose to find the Duke of York’s head had been placed on a pike at the very top of Micklegate Bar. In a pitiless act of humiliation it was plain to see what Margaret of Anjou was saying when she ordered a paper crown placed on his head.


0 Comments

The King Maker

19/11/2017

0 Comments

 
For a number of years, depending on who was on the throne at the time, England had been on good terms with either France or Burgundy, using this to his advantage Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick proposed to the council that a peace treaty be signed with Louis XI of France. Also, some members of the council had agreed with Warwick’s suggestion that it was high time Edward IV was married. Louis thought so too, an English alliance with France was far better for him than a Burgundian alliance, eventually, Warwick succumbed to a bit of flattery and bribery and put it to Edward that Bona of Savoy would be a perfect match.

In the September of 1464, Edward IV made a surprise announcement during a discussion of this subject, and to the amazement of many, Edward indicated that the idea of marriage was indeed a good one, he never batted an eyelid at the suggestion of a French bride, even though he himself favoured Burgundy. After a long silence, he finally relayed the fact that he had already made his choice and in fact, he had already married one Elizabeth Grey, a member of the lowly Woodville family of Northamptonshire.
Picture
Edward IV in the Plea Rolls c 1463
Edward had succumbed to lust and not with a weak, mild-mannered virgin either, but with a strong-willed widow with two young sons, and with eight siblings to boot! Edward had undertaken all this without the knowledge of Richard Neville, the one man who was so instrumental in bringing him to the throne. 
​
For Warwick Edward’s news was shattering, he had already pledged Edward in marriage to the sister of the queen of France. Edward's irresponsible behaviour humiliated Warwick and ruined his plans, his prestige both at home and abroad was in tatters, and to say that Warwick was enraged would be an understatement, the dagger of betrayal had cut too deep, and it was a wound that would never heal. By 1469 he had turned his coat and had gone over to the Lancastrians, by 
1470 he had restored Henry VI to the throne. ​
Picture
The Beauchamp bear and ragged staff combined were used by Warwick and used as his families insignia.
Richard Neville was born on the 22nd November in 1428 into a world that shaped him. It was full of powerful characters, in his early life there was his father Richard Neville and uncle Richard, Duke of York and later there were Charles, the Duke of Burgundy, and Louis XI King of France. At some point in his life, Warwick had decided to either to outshine or eclipse them all, but in doing so he became overly ambitious, and somewhat erratic and yet he was quite remarkable - he was a kingmaker! Author Michael Hicks calls him "the very model of medieval nobility" however Paul Kendall calls him a "gigantic failure."  

Has history been unfair to Warwick? The mind boggles at the thought of what might have been if he had stayed onside in 1469, certainly the Lancastrian cause would have been weaker without him. Did he really think he could rule without a crown? I believe Richard Neville did consider that there was nothing that was beyond his grasp, nothing that could not be overcome yet for someone so brilliant he never considered a failure, he never saw himself teetering at the top of a slippery slope that leads to an abyss.

Picture
Richard Neville in the 15th century Rous Roll.
Richard Neville should not bare the total weight of responsibility for the events of 1464 to 1469 Edward's behaviour was reprehensible and unforgivable! Yes, Edward IV was a popular king, he was affable, intelligent, and an outstanding military leader, but he was a fool, he was also ruthless, vengeful, and totally irresponsible. With one swish of the bed sheets, (two as it turns out) Edward undermined everything his father had worked so hard to achieve, not only shortening the life of his brother but that of the Plantagenet dynasty itself. 

To end, the words of Philippe de Commynes apply quite nicely here, I think.
Now you see the deaths of so many great men in so little time, men who have worked so hard to grow great and to win glory
and have suffered so much from passions and cares and shortened their lives, and perchance their souls will pay fo
r it.
0 Comments

Death of Margaret of York

19/11/2017

0 Comments

 
The last week in November of 1503 saw the death of Margaret of York, the daughter of Richard, Duke of York and Cecily Neville.
Picture
In 1465, after the death of his second wife Isabel of Bourbon, Charles the Bold was in need of a new wife. This time the Yorkists were in a far better position than they had been in 1454, now an English marriage was possible. In 1467 Margaret became the wife of Charles, the newly created Duke of Burgundy.

It was as the Duchess of Burgundy that Margaret is mostly remembered and in this position she was undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with especially following the unexpected death of her brother Edward IV in 1483 and again two years later after the death of her last remaining brother Richard III when he died facing the forces of Henry of Richmond in 1485. Margaret did everything she could to prevent Henry Tudor's reign running smoothly, including supporting Perkin Warbeck's claim to the English throne.

Interestingly, Margaret and Warbeck both died on the same day, the 23rd November.
0 Comments

Proposed Repairs to Sandal Castle

14/11/2017

0 Comments

 
While I was visiting Sandal Castle in Yorkshire last month I did think that the site was in urgent need of repair. Walkways were unsafe and were boarded up and this caused people to climb the banks. Also, and to my amazement, three teenagers were climbing and mucking about the walls.

​Photographs two and three show the children, click on the photos for a clearer image.
First and foremost is the safety of the public, but this kind of behaviour damages the ruins and once they've gone so has our heritage, and Sandal Castle plays a big part in that. Therefore new proposals to repair and improve the site can only be good news.

Friends of Sandal Castle write:

The proposals take into account the state of disrepair of the monument as a result of the closure of the bridge and walkways and they highlight the fact that the public is concerned that this important historical site is slowly deteriorating. They also make note of the obligations upon them to comply with the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act of 1979.
The proposals are wide-ranging and include removal of the vegetation growing on the monuments, replacement of all the wooden structures, including the platform on the keep, the bridges and walkways and putting a plan in place to maintain the site. A considerable capital investment of up to £734,000 is required.


You can read the report here:


mg.wakefield.gov.uk/documents/s87963/Cabinet%20Report%20Sandal%20Castle%20FINAL%20updated%2026.10.17.pdf
0 Comments

Paul Delarouche.

4/11/2017

0 Comments

 
​On this day in 1856 the death of one of my favourite French artists - Paul Delarouche.
Picture
​​Delarouche had a 'straightforward technique that was firm, solid and smooth' he also had a wonderful talent for the dramatic. He was known to build little stage sets, including model figures to aid his work, he was also well known for his cloaked references to the French Revolution in which he often used English historical 'victims' such as Charles I, Lady Jane Grey and Thomas Wentworth to make a point.
Picture
​​Delaroche cared little about historical inaccuracies if he succeeded in getting his point across to the French public.

​
A good example of this is his painting The Princes in the Tower, for which he drew his inspiration from the work of Shakespeare, a story he knew to have some truth. With this in mind, he was able to make a comparison of the deaths of the two English boys to draw attention to the mysterious deaths of Louis XVII of France.
Picture
Delaroche always denied any reference to the revolution in his works, but why would a French artist produce work based on the deaths of English victims of tyranny, if it was not to represent his own.
Picture
Paul Delaroche had married Louise Vernet, daughter of a noted French artist famous for his portraits of battles/French revolution. He never recovered from Louise's death, his Head of an Angel was based on a study of her.
0 Comments

Death of Edmund Tudor

3/11/2017

0 Comments

 
3rd November 1456
​Edmund and his brother Jasper had arrived at the court of their half brother Henry VI in 1446, four years earlier, following the death of their mother, Catherine of Valois, the two boys had been placed under the care of Abbess of Barking Katherine de la Pole, the abbey was paid an allowance of £52 12s for their care. It was Katherine who introduced and encouraged the relationship with Henry VI, this was more to do with lack of money for her to continue their support, rather than noticing that they were a couple of likely candidates for the ‘Wales Got Talent’ contest. Henry accepted them into his court, it may have been for dynastic reasons or personal reasons, no one really knows, although it must have been of some comfort to a quiet and retiring king to have brothers on whom he thought he could rely. 

The boy's father Owain ap Marededd ap Tudur’s origins, are somewhat vague, he is said to have arrived at the court of Henry V in 1415, but at some point he was under the command of the Welsh warrior Dafydd Gam, the maternal grandfather of the Vaughan's of Tretower and a staunch opponent of Owain Glyndwr. Tudor’s affair with Catherine of Valois had been conducted away from court and resulted in a number of other children, besides Edmund and Jasper. The twenty or so years that covered the Tudor sons adolescence under the control of the aforementioned Katherine de la Pole, appears to be have been unremarkable and prior to them being formally recognised as the Henry VI’s legitimate uterine brothers in 1452 and their ennoblement as earls of Richmond and Pembroke, their ‘Welshness’ can be called into question, Edmund, it seems, had no connection with the Welsh until after his marriage to the teenage Margaret Beaufort in 1452, and neither did Jasper until he moved into Pembroke Castle and took up Lancaster's cause.
Picture
In 1455 as mentioned he had married the twelve years old Margaret Beaufort and wasted little time getting her pregnant, the poor child gave birth to the future Henry VII a year later.

However, Tudor was not destined to see his only child, he was dead of the plague by the end of this day in 1456.
0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    1420
    1450
    1461
    1471
    14th Century
    15th Century
    16th Century
    19th Century
    Acts Statutes And Treaties
    Adam Moleyns
    Alice De La Pole
    Alice Montacute
    Andrew Trollope
    Anjou
    Anne Beauchamp
    Anne Mortimer
    Anne Neville
    Anthony Woodville
    April
    Aristrocracy And Nobility
    Art
    Audley Family
    August
    Baron Sutton
    Battle Of Barnet
    Battle Of Blore Heath
    Battle Of Bosworth
    Battle Of Bramham Moor
    Battle Of Edgecote
    Battle Of Edington
    Battle Of Ferrybridge
    Battle Of Hedgeley Moor
    Battle Of Losecoat Field
    Battle Of Ludford Bridge
    Battle Of Mortimer's Cross
    Battle Of Shewsbury
    Battle Of St Albans 1455
    Battle Of St Albans 1461
    Battle Of Stoke
    Battle Of Tewkesbury
    Battle Of Towton
    Battle Of Wakefield
    Beaumont Family
    Berwick On Tweed
    Boston
    Bosworth Field
    Bredwardine Family
    Burgundian Wars
    Cadaver Tomb
    Calais
    Castles
    Cathedrals And Churches
    Catherine Of Valois
    Cecily Neville
    Charles The Bold
    Christmas
    Crowland Abbey
    Crowland Cronicles
    December
    De La Pole Family
    Despencer Family
    De Vere Family
    Dublin
    Duchess Of Burgundy
    Duchess Of Suffolk
    Duke Of York
    Earl Of Devon
    Earl Of Salisbury
    Edmund Beaufort Duke Of Somerset
    Edmund Earl Of Rutland
    Edmund Tudor
    Edward Earl Of Warwick
    Edward III
    Edward IV
    Edward Of Lancaster
    Edward Of Middleham
    Edward The Black Prince
    Edward V
    Elizabeth
    Elizabeth I
    Elizabeth Of York
    Elizabeth Woodville
    Execution Of Nobles
    February
    Food
    France
    Francis Lovell
    Gainsborough Hall
    Geoffrey Chaucer
    George Duke Of Clarence
    God
    Hampshire
    Henry Earl Of Lancester
    Henry Percy
    Henry Tudor
    Henry V
    Henry VI
    Henry VII
    Henry VIII
    Hereford
    Humphrey Duke Of Gloucester
    Humphrey Stafford
    Isabella Of Burgundy
    Isabel Neville
    Isabel Of Bourbon
    Jack Cade
    James I Of England
    James Tuchet
    January
    Jasper Tudor
    John Beaufort
    John Clifford
    John De La Pole
    John De Vere
    John Duke Of Bedford
    John Fiennes
    John Grey Of Groby
    John Leland
    John Morton
    John Of Gaunt
    John Sutton
    John Tuchet
    July
    June
    Katherine (daug Of Richard III)
    Lambart Simnel
    Lancaster
    Leicester
    Lincolnshire
    Lionel Of Antwerp
    Literature
    Lord Audley
    Louis XI
    Ludlow
    March
    Margaret Beauchamp
    Margaret Beaufort
    Margaret Of Anjou
    Margaret Of York
    Mary Of Guelders
    Mary Of Guise
    May
    Medicine
    Medieval Castles
    Medieval Music
    Medieval Warfare
    Micklegate Bar
    Mohun Family
    Mortimer Cross
    Neville Family
    Normandy
    Northamptonshire
    Nostell Priory
    Nottinghamshire
    November
    October
    On This Day
    Owen Glyndwr
    Owen Tudor
    Parhelion
    Parliament
    Percy Family
    Philippe De Commynes
    Phillippe Pot
    Plantagenet
    Pontifract
    Prince Of Wales
    Princes
    Princes In The Tower
    Princesses
    Propaganda
    Ralph And Edward Shaa
    Ravenspur
    Readeption Of Henry VI
    Rebellion
    Re Enactments
    Revenge
    Rhys Ap Thomas
    Richard Duke Of York
    Richard Herbert
    Richard II
    Richard III
    Richard Neville
    Richard Neville (The King Maker)
    Richard Of Conisbrough
    Richard Of Eastwell
    Richard Of Shrewsbury
    Road To Bosworth: Henry Of Richmond
    Robin Of Redesdale
    Roger Vaughan
    Rowland Lockey
    Rutland
    Sandal Castle
    Sand Sculptures
    Saxton
    Scarborough
    Second Battle Of St Albans
    September
    Shakespeare
    Skirbeck
    Statutes And Treaties
    St Paul's Cross London
    Sufflok
    Tattershall
    Tattershall Collage
    Tewkesbury Abbey
    The Arrivall
    The Beaufort Family
    The Black Death
    The Black Prince
    The Blue Boar Inn
    The Browne Family
    The De La Pole Family
    The Hollow Crown
    The King Maker
    The Legendary Ten Seconds
    The-road-to-bosworth-richard-iii
    The-road-to-bosworth-richard-iii
    The Tudors
    The Wakefield Tower
    The Woodville Family
    Thomas Browne
    Thomas Burgh
    Thomas Clifford
    Thomas Earl Of Lancaster
    Thomas More
    Thomas Percy
    Thomas Stanley
    Thomas Vaughan
    Tilney Family
    Tower Of London
    Towton 25
    Transie Tomb
    Treaties
    Tudor
    Tudors
    Tyrell Family
    Vengeance
    Vulgate
    Wales
    Walter Devereux
    Wars Of The Roses
    Wars Of The Roses In Art
    Weapons
    Welles Family
    Westminster Abbey
    William Aschough
    William Cromer
    William De La Pole
    William Hastings
    William Herbert
    William Hobbes
    William Of Hatfield
    William Of Worcester
    William Oldhall
    William Shakespeare
    Women
    Woodville Family
    York
    Yorkshire

    Archives

    December 2022
    September 2022
    June 2022
    November 2021
    January 2021
    September 2020
    July 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    December 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.