Richard’s generosity is contrasted with his successor’s parsimony

Here is a Telegraph documented article about Richard III’s distribution of money and other gifts at Christmas. Helpfully, they estimate the current value of some of his expenditure. Without mentioning any of Richard’s contemporaries, I am reminded of “Hey, Big Spender” reducing Ernie Wise to tears …

Loyalty Binds Me (II)

A revised version of the Legendary Ten Seconds‘ first album, inspired by Richard III’s rediscovery in Leicester, is now available. Apart from the music, with Ian Churchyard and Ian Zarquon inter alia, the narration now features Sandra Heath Wilson (writer) and Elaine Churchward in a dialogue between Cicely Duchess of York and Margaret Duchess of…

The Time Travellers Conference….?

I know you’re ahead of me here (ha! joke!) but can you imagine what my nincompoop brain did at first glance of the illustration below? That’s right, my brain leapt to “The Time Travellers Conference”. Oh, if only! What a thought, with or without Covid restrictions, but who/what/why/where would be involved in such a conference?…

The English Medieval Cathedral

Durham Cathedral in the moonlight.. Reblogged from A Medieval Potpourri sparkypus.com A familiar sight to both medieval royalty and commoners alike our Cathedrals soar above us, centuries old,  constant, enduring, and kind of  reassuring.   There is nothing more thrilling as you approach a cathedral city than the first glimpse of their cathedral appearing on the horizon.   So…

Was the 3rd Duke of York like his youngest son in appearance….?

  When I posted on my Facebook page that it had been suggested to me I write an M&B article about the physical appearance of the 3rd Duke of York, a friend commented: “. . . .According to John Ashdown Hill’s biography of Cecily, he was probably tall because of some poem written about how…

The mystery of William of Norwich….

  England and Wales abound with saints who have never figured very highly—or even at all—in the estimation of Rome. British saints rarely seem to reach the hallowed list, unless they were of the calibre of Becket. But in their local area these saints were much revered and of considerable importance. One of them is…

Um, Princess Anne Neville of Bohemia….?

Don’t have a drink in your hand as you read the following:- “ . . . Princess Anne Neville of Bohemia, who was looked to as the embodiment of virtue and modesty, rode side-saddle across Europe prior to her marriage to King Richard III in 1472. Their marriage lasted three years, as King Richard died…

Where is Anne Boleyn’s heart….?

According to this article Anne Boleyn’s heart was not buried with her, but somewhere else, as yet unknown/unconfirmed. I confess to being startled, because I hadn’t heard of this before, but it seems two places in England vie for being the heart’s resting place. They are the Church of St Mary in Ewarton, Suffolk, and…

Welcome to Shakespeare Land….

“….Margaret of Anjou challenged all gender notions, defied her own banishment and even brought down Richard III‘s terrorising rule….” Er, Margaret of Anjou did what? She died in 1482, so how’d she manage that? Well, we are in Shakespeare Land here, where any lie is possible. Even poor old Richard’s “terrorising” reign. Perhaps they know…

The Wakefield Medieval Portaloo!

In Wakefield Museum there is a rather unusual artefact–a late medieval chamber pot that was discovered in the ruins of Sandal Castle. This would be an unusual find at the best of times, but what makes this porta-potty even more interesting and special is that is is mounted with the large figure of a boar!…