Anne's story
Posted August 4th, 2012 at 01:03 PM by Crystal Rainbow
Richard III
XIV
The Christmas festive season was over and the New Year in 1485 had began, the country was quite and the abortive attempts of riots and schemes which was instigated by Henry Tudor and his followers had gained no real disaffection by his nation. The worrying thing that had worried Richard was the state of his wife’s health and the usual dissatisfaction with his lord’s. He kept himself busy by commanding his officers to preparing against invasion.
It was all too clear to everyone how ill Anne was looking, despite the fact that she had the best medical attention, but any hope of recovery was fast fading. Anne had taken the death of her son very badly and blamed herself for not being there when the young Prince Edward had died. Anne had never wanted to be Queen and by the time that her health was failing she had felt she and Richard had nothing but bad luck. The worries of the land and the revolts that had been caused by Henry Tudor had taken their toll on their relationship, as Richard had been absent by his wife’s side trying to quell the revolts caused by the rebels.
Anne had known Richard since she was a young girl and they had grown up together and had felt comfortable with one and another’s company. Her father was the mighty Earl of Warwick, who had been named the King Maker. He was very ambitious and he thought more about wealth and power than any proper thoughts and any feelings towards for his daughters. All that had changed when Edward had married Elizabeth Woodville and Warwick had lost all his power and influence to the large family of Woodvilles. Warwick was determined bring down Edward and the upstarts that had invaded all his influence. Anne had watched on when as her father had plans to bring George on his side with the marriage of her older sister Isabel to George. George was willing to go along with Warwick’s plans, as he also had no love for the Woodvilles. The one thing that Anne had etched on her memory was that dreadful night when she and her family had to flee to the coast when she was only fourteen. Her elder sister by this time had married George and was heavily pregnant with their first child. The memories were very harrowing as Isabel had gone into labour and they were just by nearby Calais and they had been refused permission to land. Anne had watched on as her mother helped Isabel as no mid wife was on the small ship, and to watch that poor baby girl die. She never had forgotten the screams of childbirth as her father was planning his next plans he had in store for Anne. They were welcomed in the French Court by King Louis, and she watched on when she watched her father grovel at Margaret of Anjou feet begging for forgiveness. She looked across to the young sullen man, who had a snarl on his face that was going to be her husband. They were married at Angers Cathedral on 13th of December
1470 and her father had put Henry VI back on the throne and had started make plans for her family to come back to England. During this time her life had become unbearable, as her husband and her mother in law, seemed to resent Anne’s Family. As she landed she was greeted with the news of her father’s death at Barnet and Clarence had gone back to his family fold, as they prepared to do battle at Tewkesbury. The battle was lost and they were in a nearby Abbey when they had heard that Clarence’s men had killed her husband in battle. She watched her mother law weeping and wailing over the news over his death. It was then when she had first seen Richard, the first person that she could open up to and tell him of her ordeal. Richard had promised her that he would marry her and she can live at Middleham and away from the conflict which had affected her. They did not have much time together on that day as Clarence had taken Anne and her mother into his household, to Clarence Anne and her Mother were nothing more than property. After for what had seemed a time and lot of arguments between Richard and George about Richard marrying Anne. George did not want to lose any of his Warwick inherited estates going to Richard. George had known how determined Richard was in marrying Anne and had her hidden away in some kitchen in London. It was some relief to her when Richard had found her in that dingy kitchen and she was taken into sanctuary and they had got married at Westminster Abbey on the 12th of July 1472. She was not an ambitious person, she had already had seen for herself the trouble and unhappiness that it bought in her life and the lives of the people around her to be bothered power and riches. On the day of her wedding she was looking forward to living in Middleham and living a fairly simple life as a lady in the north. The last thing they were thinking about was that they would be one day that they would become King and Queen. Anne was happy for she had felt that she was not a piece of property that could be brought and sold for the first time of her life. There were such carefree days, as she had fondly remembered them and she had enjoyed the first few years giving birth to a son, Edward and having her Mother staying with them. Occasionally they were reminded of what was going on in the courts and the goings on down in London and the corruptness of Edward’s court. When they had heard the news of Isabel’s death just when they were about to celebrate Christmas 1476, Anne and Richard and Anne’s mum were really upset. The grief was unbearable for Anne as she was very close to her sister as she had too had been used as pawn in her father’s ambitions and both sisters understood each other very well. Isabel was only 25 when she had died and it had come clear to them that she had been poisoned. The Duke of Clarence had got the guilty party who was called Ankarette Twynyho and accused her of poisoning his wife with ale that was mixed with poison and that the Woodvilles were behind the plot to murder his wife. Every time there was a crisis in the family it was Richard that had to be the peacemaker and try and resolve the problems. Richard had tried to plead for Clarence’s life as Edward had imprisoned Clarence. The Woodvilles had an unhealthy hold over Edward and he seemed helpless to stand in the way of what his wife and her family wanted. As Clarence had been murdered within the walls of the Tower of London, Richard had vowed he would never have anything to do with Edward’s court. Things never felt the same ever again, but Anne her mother and Richard had brought the orphan’s Margaret and the little boy Edward, Earl of Warwick up at Middleham as their own little son Edward. Richard and Anne had felt very uneasy about what was going on with Edward IV and his court, but they did their best to just stay in the North. Even when Edward had wanted Richard to come down and celebrate the success Scottish Campaign. Richard and Anne had both shown reluctance to go down to see Edward and he eventually went down during the Christmas season of 1482. During this time Edward health had deteriorated and Edward had no interest in Elizabeth for a while and he had spent much of his time with his mistress Jane Shore. She was very witty and had a charming personality, and was very popular with the people. She was everything that Elizabeth Woodville was not. Richard had left Edward for the last time; it was one day two months later that in April, that Richard’s and Anne’s and their families life were turned upside down. The news of Richard brother was the last thing they wanted they knew that the Woodvilles would assume power over the new King who was only 12 years old. This was the start of things that had changed their lives after much persistence from Lord Hastings in getting Richard to take over the proctectorship from the boy king; Richard had reluctantly left Anne at Middleham. As she had seen Richard gather his men and ride down towards, she was just left to worry knowing what a dangerous world it was with the Woodvilles in it. She had long heard of the stories of anyone that had dared cross Elizabeth’s path would face uncertain death under mysterious circumstances. It was well known that Elizabeth Woodvilles Family had dabbled in which craft and that was how Elizabeth had attracted Edward all those years ago. There was nothing Anne could do but pray that God would be on their side and listen for any news of what was going to happen. News had come through that Richard had taken control and had taken Prisoners, Anthony Woodville, Thomas Vaughan and Richard Grey and were sending them north to imprison them. Anne had breathed a sigh of relief when she had heard that Elizabeth was in Westminster Abbey in sanctuary and things seem to be under Richard’s control. Richard had sent letters keeping her informed about the plans for the coronation of Edward V; it had appeared that is was safe for Anne to go down to London. Anne had never like it in London as it had reminded her of what had happened in her past and all its court intrigues and Richard had told her of many other things that had gone on in the late Kings Court. She had never been separated from her son and his health was always a source of worry to her. She had decided that her son Edward was not strong enough to make such a journey and she felt it was best that her son was left to her mother’s capable hands. She had left and headed south thinking what will lay ahead, but one thing for sure that she knew was life was never going to be the same again. Anne had stopped to visit the men of York and she had promised them that Richard would not forget them now he was running the realm. Anne had arrived in London on 5th of June and Richard had welcomed Anne and had written to the citizens of York, while Anne had retired to her apartments in Crosby Place.
Anne had felt an air of unease; there were all these people that she did not feel at ease with. They were nice to her, but she felt that there was always something going on with their minds. What were they really thinking, she was never quite sure of their agendas. She knew that deep down that she would never get used being surrounded by those sorts of people. Anne was used to being surrounded by people that she had known all her life, she had never known people that behaved with court etiquette. People were used to a Queen that had commanded that everyone had bow and curtsy, both she and Richard found this rather unnecessary, but within a few days something happened that was going to change there lives even more. Richard and Anne had resigned themselves to not being able to go back to Middleham for a number of years until the king had come of age.
Then early on the Morning of 8th of June a messenger had arrived in a hell of a state saying that the young King was dead. Richard had run out straight to the Tower and called on all his advisors. Anne did not know what to do, but she knew one thing and it seemed to her that it was all becoming a nightmare. She shuddered at the thought of her son coming down to Court; she made up her mind that she would never bring her son to such a place.
The Lords were called for a meeting the next day and an investigation was made how the boy King had met his death and who caused it. The men had also had to address to what they were going to do about the younger son that was in sanctuary with his mother at Westminster Abbey. Decisions had to be made and they found who was the murder was.
A meeting had been arranged at the Tower of London on Friday 13th of June and Hastings was executed on Tower Green having been found guilty of murdering Edward the boy King. It had seemed that Hastings had a long-term enemy of the Woodvilles and he had taken the King mistress and Marquess of Dorset had taken Jane Shore away from Hastings.
The three prisoners in Yorkshire, had their dates of execution had been set and the executions were going to take place at Pontefract and on the 25th of June Anthony Woodville, Richard Grey and Thomas Vaughan they were executed.
A decision had been made that the younger brother Richard would be safer in the North with the other children. The council had come to the decision that the country needed a king, who was not a child and as Richard was next in line it was decided that Richard, Duke of Gloucester was to be King.
Anne had come down for young Edward’s coronation and now she had been to his funeral, things were rapidly spiralling out of her control as she thought about her young boy that she had left in Middleham. She had barely seen Richard, as he seemed to be very busy with affairs of the state. When she was told the news that she was going to be Queen, she knew then that she never wanted such a position. She knew that she would be surrounded by people who she was did not like, she had started to wish she was back in Yorkshire. The Children of Edward and Elizabeth Woodville had been declared illegitimate. The Archbishop of Bath and Wells, Robert Stillington had presented evidence that Edward had married a lady called Eleanor Butler, before his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville.
The Coronation day was set on the 6th of July and Richard had made his pledge to serve his country. There were some faces that Anne were familiar with as Francis Lovell was given the posts of Lord Chamberlain and Chief Butler of England. Richard Brackenbury had been given the all Hastings old posts as Master and Worker of the King’s Moneys and Keeper of the Exchange and was also made Constable of the Tower. On that day her lady’s had got her ready, there was one lady, who was the wife of William Stanley who Anne had felt uneasy about. It had brought to her attention that she was very friendly towards Elizabeth Woodville. Anne knew that, she had to be very careful of her, she could not wait to get away from those sorts of people. The Duke of Buckingham was another tiresome person that she could not really take to and she could not wait to get away from such people. Richard had promised her that as soon as he had seen to some affairs of state, which he would take her on a progress and she could stay in Windsor, where the air was a little cleaner.
Two weeks later they had set have on a progress going though Reading, Oxford, Woodstock, Gloucester and Tewkesbury to pray for the souls of her sister Isabel and George that were buried at Tewkesbury, also in the abbey was Anne’s first husband. They had decided to stay in Warwick Castle for a week the place where Anne was born. Anne had started to feel homesick and wanted to be with her son, so they had travelled northwards stopping at towns along the way.
They had a wonderful reception at York, where the people had been preparing for a month to show there love for their King and Queen. ‘As soon as the Mayor had heard that Richard had become King, he had four aldermen had rode to Middleham to pay their homage to the little Prince Edward and to present him with demain bread, a barrel of red and a barrel of white wine, six cynets, six herons and twenty-four rabbits.’ It was said that Prince health was so poor that, instead of riding a horse, he had to be conveyed in a chariot. The Prince had been formally created the Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, as Anne watched the ceremony she must have wondered how her poor son could take to handling the power of running the state.
Anne had realised that she was not very fertile to give Richard an heir that was robust and healthy, like his natural son. Richard had an affair with Queen Elizabeth’s lady in waiting before they had got married. Her name was Katherine Hault. Katherine had two children who were named Katherine Plantagenet and John of Gloucester. Richard had never really felt it was that important to have a large family and they both seemed happy with their extended family of nephews and nieces.
On the 30th August Richard, Anne and Prince Edward had made their state entry into York. ‘accompanied by their splendid retinue which included the Bishops of Worcester, Coventry, Lichfield, Durham, St. Asaph’s and St. David’s, the Duke of Albany, the Earls of Northumberland, Warwick (Clarence’s young son), Surrey, Huntington, and Lincoln; the Lords Stanley, Dudley, Morley and Scrope, as well as Viscount Lovell the Lord Chamberlain, the Chief Justice of England, and many officers of the Household.’
‘It was a great pageant as the mass of citizens had met them at Micklegate, the Mayor of York had gave them a great speech of welcome and had presented King Richard with a hundred marks in a cup of gold and the Queen with a hundred gold pounds in a piece of rich plate.’
It was a grand occasion, as there was a second coronation in York Minster on the 8th of September. Richard and Anne had looked on with pride as the young Prince of Wales was given a golden wand and a golden wreath was fitted upon his brows.
There was no sign of the Duke of Buckingham at this large state occasion and his absence seemed to be left to speculation to why he had not shown up. As far as anyone had known was he was dealing with his affairs of his estate. The Duke of Buckingham had John Morton with him under his custody, since Hastings execution. Richard had set up a household for his Nephews and Nieces at Sheriff Hutton, and left it under the care of his cousin John, Earl of Lincoln, who was the eldest son of Elizabeth, Duchess of Suffolk. He was appointed the Kings lieutenant of Ireland and president of the council of the North.
Anne and Richard had parted company as she was accompanying her son to Middleham Castle during the middle of September. News had come that there was growing unrest from the south and Henry Tudor was stirring trouble calling himself ‘Lord of Richmond’ and strange stories had started to surface about the way that Richard had taken the throne. Anne had worried as Richard had travelled south, she had heard of the growing concerns that there was a rebellion that had broken out in the southern counties and she had realised the reason for Buckingham’s absence. Anne did not seemed be overly shocked that someone could be so helpful in bringing Richard to the throne would turn his back on him and take the crown for himself. Her father was ambitious and she had seen him do anything just to have power and control. To Anne, Buckingham was someone who had just been given a taste of given power and just wanted to the whole lot for himself.
The Buckingham Rebellion had ended, with all his followers deserting him and Henry Tudor had sensed to all was not in his favour and had returned to his exile.
Anne had come down for the Christmas celebrations but again she had left her son in Yorkshire, despite her reluctance on leaving him as he was in a poor state of health. She had to show her husband her support and celebrate the success in quashing the Buckingham revolt. Richard had given Anne lavish gifts and jewellery, but Christmas had been spoiled by News that Henry Tudor had swore an oath to marry Elizabeth, the daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. Anne knew that Henry Tudor had announced his intentions to invade England and replace her, with the lady Elizabeth and kill Richard out right. So concerned about this announcement Richard had issued the Titulus Regius, proclaiming that the Marriage of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville was invalid in early 1484.
Richard and Anne had decided to make their base in Nottingham in March 1484, they felt it was ideal, as it was half way from Middleham and London. They could also keep an eye on Tudor’s movements, but also to know of the health of their son Edward. Both parents did not enjoy the best of health as children and their son was at the age of eleven and had shown no signs of improving health. It was about the middle of April that a messenger from the North had brought news that their little son was dead. It had been quoted from the Croyland Chronicler ‘have seen his father and mother in a state almost bordering on madness, by reason of their sudden grief’. Anne had been given to despair, her health had not been great of late and as a Queen she had been going though a lot of stress. She did know that she had been unsuccessful in begin able to conceive and carrying a child full term. The Prince was her only hope of having an heir and she had never forgiven herself for not being by his side. She had began to think that they had been cursed the minute that Richard’s brother Edward had died.
Anne’s health had started to deteriorate further as Richard had more problems from across the Channel and the loyalty of some of his Lord’s were coming into question. The land was having a time when uneasy peace seemed to occupy the realm. Anne’s health was visually noticeable during the Christmas of 1484, prayers were offered to her health and the best doctors had declared to Richard that her illness was not only mortal but contagious; he must not share her chamber. By the time it was February 1485, Anne had taken to her bed and from then on she did not rise from that bed confinement. On the 16th of April 1485, Anne had died, while the people of England had watched a great eclipse of the sun.
XIV
The Christmas festive season was over and the New Year in 1485 had began, the country was quite and the abortive attempts of riots and schemes which was instigated by Henry Tudor and his followers had gained no real disaffection by his nation. The worrying thing that had worried Richard was the state of his wife’s health and the usual dissatisfaction with his lord’s. He kept himself busy by commanding his officers to preparing against invasion.
It was all too clear to everyone how ill Anne was looking, despite the fact that she had the best medical attention, but any hope of recovery was fast fading. Anne had taken the death of her son very badly and blamed herself for not being there when the young Prince Edward had died. Anne had never wanted to be Queen and by the time that her health was failing she had felt she and Richard had nothing but bad luck. The worries of the land and the revolts that had been caused by Henry Tudor had taken their toll on their relationship, as Richard had been absent by his wife’s side trying to quell the revolts caused by the rebels.
Anne had known Richard since she was a young girl and they had grown up together and had felt comfortable with one and another’s company. Her father was the mighty Earl of Warwick, who had been named the King Maker. He was very ambitious and he thought more about wealth and power than any proper thoughts and any feelings towards for his daughters. All that had changed when Edward had married Elizabeth Woodville and Warwick had lost all his power and influence to the large family of Woodvilles. Warwick was determined bring down Edward and the upstarts that had invaded all his influence. Anne had watched on when as her father had plans to bring George on his side with the marriage of her older sister Isabel to George. George was willing to go along with Warwick’s plans, as he also had no love for the Woodvilles. The one thing that Anne had etched on her memory was that dreadful night when she and her family had to flee to the coast when she was only fourteen. Her elder sister by this time had married George and was heavily pregnant with their first child. The memories were very harrowing as Isabel had gone into labour and they were just by nearby Calais and they had been refused permission to land. Anne had watched on as her mother helped Isabel as no mid wife was on the small ship, and to watch that poor baby girl die. She never had forgotten the screams of childbirth as her father was planning his next plans he had in store for Anne. They were welcomed in the French Court by King Louis, and she watched on when she watched her father grovel at Margaret of Anjou feet begging for forgiveness. She looked across to the young sullen man, who had a snarl on his face that was going to be her husband. They were married at Angers Cathedral on 13th of December
1470 and her father had put Henry VI back on the throne and had started make plans for her family to come back to England. During this time her life had become unbearable, as her husband and her mother in law, seemed to resent Anne’s Family. As she landed she was greeted with the news of her father’s death at Barnet and Clarence had gone back to his family fold, as they prepared to do battle at Tewkesbury. The battle was lost and they were in a nearby Abbey when they had heard that Clarence’s men had killed her husband in battle. She watched her mother law weeping and wailing over the news over his death. It was then when she had first seen Richard, the first person that she could open up to and tell him of her ordeal. Richard had promised her that he would marry her and she can live at Middleham and away from the conflict which had affected her. They did not have much time together on that day as Clarence had taken Anne and her mother into his household, to Clarence Anne and her Mother were nothing more than property. After for what had seemed a time and lot of arguments between Richard and George about Richard marrying Anne. George did not want to lose any of his Warwick inherited estates going to Richard. George had known how determined Richard was in marrying Anne and had her hidden away in some kitchen in London. It was some relief to her when Richard had found her in that dingy kitchen and she was taken into sanctuary and they had got married at Westminster Abbey on the 12th of July 1472. She was not an ambitious person, she had already had seen for herself the trouble and unhappiness that it bought in her life and the lives of the people around her to be bothered power and riches. On the day of her wedding she was looking forward to living in Middleham and living a fairly simple life as a lady in the north. The last thing they were thinking about was that they would be one day that they would become King and Queen. Anne was happy for she had felt that she was not a piece of property that could be brought and sold for the first time of her life. There were such carefree days, as she had fondly remembered them and she had enjoyed the first few years giving birth to a son, Edward and having her Mother staying with them. Occasionally they were reminded of what was going on in the courts and the goings on down in London and the corruptness of Edward’s court. When they had heard the news of Isabel’s death just when they were about to celebrate Christmas 1476, Anne and Richard and Anne’s mum were really upset. The grief was unbearable for Anne as she was very close to her sister as she had too had been used as pawn in her father’s ambitions and both sisters understood each other very well. Isabel was only 25 when she had died and it had come clear to them that she had been poisoned. The Duke of Clarence had got the guilty party who was called Ankarette Twynyho and accused her of poisoning his wife with ale that was mixed with poison and that the Woodvilles were behind the plot to murder his wife. Every time there was a crisis in the family it was Richard that had to be the peacemaker and try and resolve the problems. Richard had tried to plead for Clarence’s life as Edward had imprisoned Clarence. The Woodvilles had an unhealthy hold over Edward and he seemed helpless to stand in the way of what his wife and her family wanted. As Clarence had been murdered within the walls of the Tower of London, Richard had vowed he would never have anything to do with Edward’s court. Things never felt the same ever again, but Anne her mother and Richard had brought the orphan’s Margaret and the little boy Edward, Earl of Warwick up at Middleham as their own little son Edward. Richard and Anne had felt very uneasy about what was going on with Edward IV and his court, but they did their best to just stay in the North. Even when Edward had wanted Richard to come down and celebrate the success Scottish Campaign. Richard and Anne had both shown reluctance to go down to see Edward and he eventually went down during the Christmas season of 1482. During this time Edward health had deteriorated and Edward had no interest in Elizabeth for a while and he had spent much of his time with his mistress Jane Shore. She was very witty and had a charming personality, and was very popular with the people. She was everything that Elizabeth Woodville was not. Richard had left Edward for the last time; it was one day two months later that in April, that Richard’s and Anne’s and their families life were turned upside down. The news of Richard brother was the last thing they wanted they knew that the Woodvilles would assume power over the new King who was only 12 years old. This was the start of things that had changed their lives after much persistence from Lord Hastings in getting Richard to take over the proctectorship from the boy king; Richard had reluctantly left Anne at Middleham. As she had seen Richard gather his men and ride down towards, she was just left to worry knowing what a dangerous world it was with the Woodvilles in it. She had long heard of the stories of anyone that had dared cross Elizabeth’s path would face uncertain death under mysterious circumstances. It was well known that Elizabeth Woodvilles Family had dabbled in which craft and that was how Elizabeth had attracted Edward all those years ago. There was nothing Anne could do but pray that God would be on their side and listen for any news of what was going to happen. News had come through that Richard had taken control and had taken Prisoners, Anthony Woodville, Thomas Vaughan and Richard Grey and were sending them north to imprison them. Anne had breathed a sigh of relief when she had heard that Elizabeth was in Westminster Abbey in sanctuary and things seem to be under Richard’s control. Richard had sent letters keeping her informed about the plans for the coronation of Edward V; it had appeared that is was safe for Anne to go down to London. Anne had never like it in London as it had reminded her of what had happened in her past and all its court intrigues and Richard had told her of many other things that had gone on in the late Kings Court. She had never been separated from her son and his health was always a source of worry to her. She had decided that her son Edward was not strong enough to make such a journey and she felt it was best that her son was left to her mother’s capable hands. She had left and headed south thinking what will lay ahead, but one thing for sure that she knew was life was never going to be the same again. Anne had stopped to visit the men of York and she had promised them that Richard would not forget them now he was running the realm. Anne had arrived in London on 5th of June and Richard had welcomed Anne and had written to the citizens of York, while Anne had retired to her apartments in Crosby Place.
Anne had felt an air of unease; there were all these people that she did not feel at ease with. They were nice to her, but she felt that there was always something going on with their minds. What were they really thinking, she was never quite sure of their agendas. She knew that deep down that she would never get used being surrounded by those sorts of people. Anne was used to being surrounded by people that she had known all her life, she had never known people that behaved with court etiquette. People were used to a Queen that had commanded that everyone had bow and curtsy, both she and Richard found this rather unnecessary, but within a few days something happened that was going to change there lives even more. Richard and Anne had resigned themselves to not being able to go back to Middleham for a number of years until the king had come of age.
Then early on the Morning of 8th of June a messenger had arrived in a hell of a state saying that the young King was dead. Richard had run out straight to the Tower and called on all his advisors. Anne did not know what to do, but she knew one thing and it seemed to her that it was all becoming a nightmare. She shuddered at the thought of her son coming down to Court; she made up her mind that she would never bring her son to such a place.
The Lords were called for a meeting the next day and an investigation was made how the boy King had met his death and who caused it. The men had also had to address to what they were going to do about the younger son that was in sanctuary with his mother at Westminster Abbey. Decisions had to be made and they found who was the murder was.
A meeting had been arranged at the Tower of London on Friday 13th of June and Hastings was executed on Tower Green having been found guilty of murdering Edward the boy King. It had seemed that Hastings had a long-term enemy of the Woodvilles and he had taken the King mistress and Marquess of Dorset had taken Jane Shore away from Hastings.
The three prisoners in Yorkshire, had their dates of execution had been set and the executions were going to take place at Pontefract and on the 25th of June Anthony Woodville, Richard Grey and Thomas Vaughan they were executed.
A decision had been made that the younger brother Richard would be safer in the North with the other children. The council had come to the decision that the country needed a king, who was not a child and as Richard was next in line it was decided that Richard, Duke of Gloucester was to be King.
Anne had come down for young Edward’s coronation and now she had been to his funeral, things were rapidly spiralling out of her control as she thought about her young boy that she had left in Middleham. She had barely seen Richard, as he seemed to be very busy with affairs of the state. When she was told the news that she was going to be Queen, she knew then that she never wanted such a position. She knew that she would be surrounded by people who she was did not like, she had started to wish she was back in Yorkshire. The Children of Edward and Elizabeth Woodville had been declared illegitimate. The Archbishop of Bath and Wells, Robert Stillington had presented evidence that Edward had married a lady called Eleanor Butler, before his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville.
The Coronation day was set on the 6th of July and Richard had made his pledge to serve his country. There were some faces that Anne were familiar with as Francis Lovell was given the posts of Lord Chamberlain and Chief Butler of England. Richard Brackenbury had been given the all Hastings old posts as Master and Worker of the King’s Moneys and Keeper of the Exchange and was also made Constable of the Tower. On that day her lady’s had got her ready, there was one lady, who was the wife of William Stanley who Anne had felt uneasy about. It had brought to her attention that she was very friendly towards Elizabeth Woodville. Anne knew that, she had to be very careful of her, she could not wait to get away from those sorts of people. The Duke of Buckingham was another tiresome person that she could not really take to and she could not wait to get away from such people. Richard had promised her that as soon as he had seen to some affairs of state, which he would take her on a progress and she could stay in Windsor, where the air was a little cleaner.
Two weeks later they had set have on a progress going though Reading, Oxford, Woodstock, Gloucester and Tewkesbury to pray for the souls of her sister Isabel and George that were buried at Tewkesbury, also in the abbey was Anne’s first husband. They had decided to stay in Warwick Castle for a week the place where Anne was born. Anne had started to feel homesick and wanted to be with her son, so they had travelled northwards stopping at towns along the way.
They had a wonderful reception at York, where the people had been preparing for a month to show there love for their King and Queen. ‘As soon as the Mayor had heard that Richard had become King, he had four aldermen had rode to Middleham to pay their homage to the little Prince Edward and to present him with demain bread, a barrel of red and a barrel of white wine, six cynets, six herons and twenty-four rabbits.’ It was said that Prince health was so poor that, instead of riding a horse, he had to be conveyed in a chariot. The Prince had been formally created the Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, as Anne watched the ceremony she must have wondered how her poor son could take to handling the power of running the state.
Anne had realised that she was not very fertile to give Richard an heir that was robust and healthy, like his natural son. Richard had an affair with Queen Elizabeth’s lady in waiting before they had got married. Her name was Katherine Hault. Katherine had two children who were named Katherine Plantagenet and John of Gloucester. Richard had never really felt it was that important to have a large family and they both seemed happy with their extended family of nephews and nieces.
On the 30th August Richard, Anne and Prince Edward had made their state entry into York. ‘accompanied by their splendid retinue which included the Bishops of Worcester, Coventry, Lichfield, Durham, St. Asaph’s and St. David’s, the Duke of Albany, the Earls of Northumberland, Warwick (Clarence’s young son), Surrey, Huntington, and Lincoln; the Lords Stanley, Dudley, Morley and Scrope, as well as Viscount Lovell the Lord Chamberlain, the Chief Justice of England, and many officers of the Household.’
‘It was a great pageant as the mass of citizens had met them at Micklegate, the Mayor of York had gave them a great speech of welcome and had presented King Richard with a hundred marks in a cup of gold and the Queen with a hundred gold pounds in a piece of rich plate.’
It was a grand occasion, as there was a second coronation in York Minster on the 8th of September. Richard and Anne had looked on with pride as the young Prince of Wales was given a golden wand and a golden wreath was fitted upon his brows.
There was no sign of the Duke of Buckingham at this large state occasion and his absence seemed to be left to speculation to why he had not shown up. As far as anyone had known was he was dealing with his affairs of his estate. The Duke of Buckingham had John Morton with him under his custody, since Hastings execution. Richard had set up a household for his Nephews and Nieces at Sheriff Hutton, and left it under the care of his cousin John, Earl of Lincoln, who was the eldest son of Elizabeth, Duchess of Suffolk. He was appointed the Kings lieutenant of Ireland and president of the council of the North.
Anne and Richard had parted company as she was accompanying her son to Middleham Castle during the middle of September. News had come that there was growing unrest from the south and Henry Tudor was stirring trouble calling himself ‘Lord of Richmond’ and strange stories had started to surface about the way that Richard had taken the throne. Anne had worried as Richard had travelled south, she had heard of the growing concerns that there was a rebellion that had broken out in the southern counties and she had realised the reason for Buckingham’s absence. Anne did not seemed be overly shocked that someone could be so helpful in bringing Richard to the throne would turn his back on him and take the crown for himself. Her father was ambitious and she had seen him do anything just to have power and control. To Anne, Buckingham was someone who had just been given a taste of given power and just wanted to the whole lot for himself.
The Buckingham Rebellion had ended, with all his followers deserting him and Henry Tudor had sensed to all was not in his favour and had returned to his exile.
Anne had come down for the Christmas celebrations but again she had left her son in Yorkshire, despite her reluctance on leaving him as he was in a poor state of health. She had to show her husband her support and celebrate the success in quashing the Buckingham revolt. Richard had given Anne lavish gifts and jewellery, but Christmas had been spoiled by News that Henry Tudor had swore an oath to marry Elizabeth, the daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. Anne knew that Henry Tudor had announced his intentions to invade England and replace her, with the lady Elizabeth and kill Richard out right. So concerned about this announcement Richard had issued the Titulus Regius, proclaiming that the Marriage of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville was invalid in early 1484.
Richard and Anne had decided to make their base in Nottingham in March 1484, they felt it was ideal, as it was half way from Middleham and London. They could also keep an eye on Tudor’s movements, but also to know of the health of their son Edward. Both parents did not enjoy the best of health as children and their son was at the age of eleven and had shown no signs of improving health. It was about the middle of April that a messenger from the North had brought news that their little son was dead. It had been quoted from the Croyland Chronicler ‘have seen his father and mother in a state almost bordering on madness, by reason of their sudden grief’. Anne had been given to despair, her health had not been great of late and as a Queen she had been going though a lot of stress. She did know that she had been unsuccessful in begin able to conceive and carrying a child full term. The Prince was her only hope of having an heir and she had never forgiven herself for not being by his side. She had began to think that they had been cursed the minute that Richard’s brother Edward had died.
Anne’s health had started to deteriorate further as Richard had more problems from across the Channel and the loyalty of some of his Lord’s were coming into question. The land was having a time when uneasy peace seemed to occupy the realm. Anne’s health was visually noticeable during the Christmas of 1484, prayers were offered to her health and the best doctors had declared to Richard that her illness was not only mortal but contagious; he must not share her chamber. By the time it was February 1485, Anne had taken to her bed and from then on she did not rise from that bed confinement. On the 16th of April 1485, Anne had died, while the people of England had watched a great eclipse of the sun.
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