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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 for it.
and have suffered so much from passions and cares and shortened their lives, and perchance their souls will pay for it.
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