The Tudor enemy
Posted June 5th, 2012 at 01:30 PM by Crystal Rainbow
Richard III
VI
The rebellion had shaken Richard despite of his success; he knew who were the people who had conspired against him. He was taken aback that people could be so nice to his face, the minute his back was turned those very same people were plotting his downfall. As he was considering his plans about what to do with the rebel’s lands, and he thought of Thomas Stanley, he had to keep Stanley on his side. Stanley was a slippery character, who himself had royal blood coursing though his veins from his mothers side of the family. Stanley was a descendant of Edward I of England by Elizabeth Plantagenet, Countess of Hereford and the Fitzalan family of Arundel. His family had come from the earliest supporters of Henry Bolingbroke. Richard had to make sure that he could keep him on side. As on the day of Buckingham’s execution, Lord Stanley was granted Buckingham’s Castle and the lordship of Kymbellton. On the 18th of November Stanley was made Constable of England with an annuity of £100, and further grants of land had followed. Richard had remembered his wife, who was one of the main conspirators to the Buckingham Rebellion and had fled the country. He had added a condition that to receive the title and the land, Margaret Beaufort was stripped of her titles and her lands were given to her husband to enjoy for his lifetime. Richard’s generosity towards Stanley was he had felt satisfied that Stanley had proved that he was loyal at the time of the Buckingham Rebellion. His younger brother William Stanley was awarded more land in North Wales and was appointed chief Justice of North Wales for his loyal services. He was later was appointed Constable of the Casle and Captain of the town of Caernarfon with a retinue of 24 soldiers.
The other offices of Buckingham’s, the Chief Justiceship of South Wales went to William Herbert, Earl of Huntington. The Great Chamberlainship of England was awarded to the Earl of Northumberland, who had accompanied on the Buckingham Rebellion. A few weeks later Northumberland was awarded a large grant of estates and the lordship of Holderness in the East Riding, which had belonged to Buckingham.
Other offices were split up between Welshmen and an annuity of 40 marks was awarded to the native chieftain, Rhys ap Thomas.
Richard had dealt out punishment to those who were the Rebel leaders and had spared the their armies and allow them to go home peacefully back to their homes. He did not harass ordinary folk or impose heavy fines or plunder any homes when he had dealt with this and any other campaign that he had led. In parliament which 96 men were arrested for treason, and they had their goods confiscated, but it was not long that a third of the prisoners were released and pardoned. Even the leaders of the Rebellion, the Bishop of Ely, the Marquess of Dorset, and Sir Richard Woodville were offered royal clemency. Even when Richard had shown kindness to Walter Hungerford and Sir John Fogge when Richard had just became king and they returned his kindness by joining the rebellion. Richard was still lenient with their punishment, by pardoning them and partially restored their estates. It seemed that Reynold Bray, who was Margaret’s Beaufort’s chief advisor, had received a pardon two weeks before Parliament had met. It might be that Stanley had seen to it that Bray was let off lightly, not that much had been mentioned about in the months ahead after he had been released. He would no doubt gone back to plotting the next conspiracy with Margaret Beaufort. On having heard the fate of Buckingham it seemed to Reynold Bray that it brought the Tudor claim just a little closer to the throne. Margaret Beaufort was disappointed, that her son had never made it to the coast she had also had taken consolation in the fact that the Duke of Buckingham claim to the throne was longer a treat.
His return from Exeter was not so much a military campaign put had served as a progress to meet the people of the SouthWest. He had returned back to Salisbury on the 18th of November and he had made his way through Winchester and Farnham and though the Kentish Coastal towns. Richard was welcomed by Lord Cobham, one of John Howard’s lieutenants, at Canterbury and had a warm and friendly welcome from the people of Canterbury. Richard was back in London on 25th of November; he had been away from his family for about four months. The Mayor and the Aldermen of London dressed in scarlet and 500 of the chief citizens dressed in violet had came to greet King Richard at Kennington and they had escorted him through Southwark and across London Bridge to the Wardrobe beside Blackfriars, where he temporarily lodged. The next day in the Star Chamber at Westminster, Richard had redelivered the Great Seal in its white leather bag to Chancellor Russell. All Bishops were gathered with the noticeable absence of the Bishop of Ely. Archbishop of York was forgiven and restored to royal favour as a councillor. Three eminent scholars of the New Learning: John Sherwood, Bishop of Durham, Thomas Langton, Bishop of St David’s and John Gunthorpe, Keeper of the Privy Seal. The Bishops of Bath and Wells and of St Asaph’s Thomas Barowe, Master of the Rolls; John Howard, Duke of Norfolk. William Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel and Warden of the Cinque Ports, Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland; Thomas, Lord Stanley. It had seemed that the only two men that had stood beside him though Richard’s reign and were the most loyal was Sir Richard Ratcliffe, Knight of the body and William Catesby, Esquire of the Body. Sir James Tyrell was bestowed the title of the master of the Royal henchmen.
It was getting close to Christmas and Richard had heard that his son was too weak to travel down to London. His health had always been a constant worry for Richard and Anne and it was decided that he would remain with his Mother in law in Middleham. Richard had wanted to celebrate Christmas with the message that he had wished to have peace in the realm. It seemed that Richard had wanted to unite the nobles to the crown. He wanted to celebrate his success in quashing the rebellion but Richard was mindful that the Woodvilles had amounted a lot of debt, before he had come to become the protector of the boy king Edward. He felt the court had needed a celebration after the failed rebellion he went to the London merchants to see if they would be interested in some of the things up for sale. One of the items was a helmet of King Edward’s that was embellished with gold, gems, and pearls. He managed to raise enough money to brighten up their wardrobes and provide gifts for the court. The King and Queen had run up a bill of £1,200 with a mercer as they had given new clothes for his nephew’s and nieces to fit the status of children of a late King.
Across the English Channel, the court of the Duke of Brittany was celebrating Christmas with another kind of ceremony. On Christmas morning in the cathedral of Rennes, Henry Tudor had sworn an oath to marry Elizabeth, the daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. Pledging that he was uniting the houses of Lancaster and York together. The service was a lengthy and sullen one and his followers had knelt and behaved as if he was already crowned. When the news had reached Richard’s court, the news was received by Richard’s foul temper, as Richard had dismissed him as an upstart.
Since Richard had got back to London, He had to send a message to the Duke of Brittany that it was a mistake in supporting Henry Tudor. During the winter of 1483 and 1484 the English Channel was a dangerous place for the wool merchants that had traded at Calais. Richard had called on his Admiral, the Duke of Norfolk; he had well respected his knowledge of naval warfare. It did not take long before men were gathered at the ports and vessels were refitted and weapons and armour as captains and shipmasters were briefed on how the merchant’s ships should protection. By the middle December in the icy cold weather the English fleet was commanded by Thomas Wentworth, had set out in locating and bringing the fleet of Brittany to battle. When Richard had got word that the Duke of Brittany’s flotilla had been located. He quickly dispatched commissions to the magistrates of the port towns ‘to man out their small boat and help the English fleet in case they shall see them engaged with the fleet of the Bretons, now lying in Flanders’. Unfortunately there is not that much documents that support what really happen during this time in the English Channel. There is a letter that Richard had issued a few days before Christmas ‘for certain Bretons taken prisoner to go into Brittany to fetch money for ransome of themselves and their fellows’. It seems like the magistrates of London were ordered to seize all the Breton goods and deliver them to the Exchequer as a way replenishing the dilated royal treasury that Richard had inherited. He had also increased his navy and given the merchant ships added protection. There was a number of East Anglican fishing craft and trading ships that had taken a dangerous voyage to Iceland, Richard he sent them strict warning to follow the convoy system that he had established:
For as much as we understand that certain of you intend hastily to depart towards Iceland, not purveyed of wafters for your surety we straitly charge that none of you severally depart out of any of our havens without our license first had so to do; and thereupon, that ye gather and assemble yourselves in such one of our havens or ports as ye shall think most convenient, well harnessed and apparelled for your own surety, and so for to depart all together toward Humber, to attend there upon our ships of Hull as your wafters, for the surety of you all; and that ye dissever not without tempest of weather compel you…
The convoy had arrived at Iceland safely and in July the convoy was ordered to use the same system on the return voyage. It seemed that Richard’s English Channel campaign had been a success as the Francis, Duke of Brittany had made a peace treaty with England. The envoy that Richard had over to Brittany a certain Dr Thomas Hutton had come back when he had felt was too dangerous to remain in the court of Brittany. He had been telling Richard, that Henry Tudor and his followers had been telling the Duke that Richard had done away with the both of the princes during the summer of 1483, then had usurped the throne. It had seemed that these rumours were had come from the Woodville exiles and Henry Tudor had supported these claims. Francis had known Henry Tudor for a while, as he had been an exile in his country for 14 years and it seemed that the Duke of Brittany had taken their word about their stories.
Richard seemed to be troubled about the rising in Kent, which the county had a long record of unrest, it was the most important county as Kent had the most important ports in the realm. It was very important to keep trade open to help England prosper. In early January Richard had decided to go on a progress through the county, hoping to win the loyalty of the inhabitant of Kent. He had also had ordered the Chamberlain of North Wales and the Sheriff of Staffordshire to administer an oath of allegiance to all inhabitants. As they were warn not to take ‘any liveries, clothing, badges against the crown. The same announcements were dispatched to the citizens of Gloucester, Bristol, and Canterbury amongst other cities and counties as well.
On the 10th of January, Richard had addressed the inhabitants of Canterbury and he went on to Sandwich on the 16th of January where he issued commissions to lords, knights, and gentlemen to administer an oath of allegiance to the people of Kent and of the crown. One of Richard’s household knights from Yorkshire Sir Marmaduke was appointed Constable of Tunbridge and lordship of Penshurst, and commanded the inhabitants to attend upon Sir Marmaduke. ‘Whom the King has deputed to make his abode amongst them; and that they in no wise presume to take clothing or to be retained by anybody’.
Richard had taken great care to mention to the people of Kent that he commended those subjects that who had remained loyal or had quickly had abandoned the rebellion. He told the people that he would reward anyone very well if they find any rebels that were still at large or give any information of rebel activity.
To see due administration of justice throughout this his realm to be had, and to reform, punish and subdue all extortion’s and oppressions in the same. And for that cause with all, that at his coming now into this his said county Kent, that every person dwelling within the same that find himself grieved, oppressed, or unlawfully wronged, do make a bill of his complaint and put to his highness, and he shall be heard and without delay have such convenient remedy as shall accord with his laws; for his grace is utterly determined that all his true subjects shall live in rest and quiet, and peaceably enjoy the lands, livelodes and goods, according to the laws of this his land, which they be naturally born to inherit. And therefore the King chargeth and commandeth that no manner, of whatsoever condition or degree he be, rob, hurt, or spoil any of his said subjects in their bodies or goods, upon pain of death; and also that no manner man make, pick, or continue any quarrel to other for any old or new rancour, hate, malice, or cause, or offers made, upon pain of death, nor also take man’s meat, horse-meat [i.e., fodder],or any other victual or stuff, without he pay truly therefore to the owners thereof, upon pain of losing of his horse, harness, goods, and his body to prison at the King'’ will...
Richard was hoping to bring people together to weed out any throught of further rebellion by policing his realm. He had some other matters to attend to as to the late King Edward’s Children, he believed that the children were being used as political pawns. Dorset had attempted to take his nephew Richard the Duke of York for whatever scheme he was proposing. More worrying was that Henry Tudor had shorn that would marry Elizabeth of York and what his sources had told him was that Henry Tudor had his eyes set on the crown, which would put Richard, Duke of York life’s in danger. There had already had been one murder he did not want anything like that to happen again. As the naval warfare was going on with the Bretons, Richard and his councillors were preparing the Titulus Regis. The bill had been informally drawn up in June after Edward V murder, but after the Buckingham rebellion and Henry Tudor’s pledge Richard was left with no choice than to act. He opened Parliament on the 23rd of January 1484, which was assembled in the Painted Chamber at Westminster. Chancellor Russell had delivered the opening address, with the gospel of text for the day. The formal speech had started with all Bishops, Lords, Earls and Dukes were gathered to a very formal gathering ‘We have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office’. Russell had felt it was necessary to restore England back to prosperity and everyone had to do his duty. ‘The prince to give equal justice with pity and mercy and to defend his land from outward hostility, the subjects to do their true labour and occupations where by his royal and necessary charges may be supported’. The faithless French has shaken the security of the realm. ‘Our old new-reconciled enemies, who have broken oaths and treaties; worse yet, the kingdom has been led into darkness by those who recently rebelled against their King, an act contrary to the commandments of God Himself. This darkness can be remedied only if the people of England employ the light of reason for the advancing of the common weal.
On the 26th of January the Commons had showed their goodwill towards the King. The speaker was Sir William Catesby who was one of Richards trusted councillors. He had studied law under the service of Lord William Hastings and was proving that he worked faithfully for the King. He had worked hard and diligently in the Titulus Regis, which enacted a settlement of the crown on King Richard III. He had named Richards son Edward, Prince of Wales and as heir apparent. It was passed formally, only one copy had survived the Tudor Dynasty in whom, a historian had seen the Titulus Regis and had written a manuscript in 1619, which it was, stated that the marriage between Elizabeth Woodville and Edward IV was null and void as he was already married. He had also passed an act of attainder against the chief troublemakers of the late rebellion and authorised the King to make grants of lands taken by the attainder, the wives of the rebels were allowed their property rights. The Bishops, Ely, Salisbury and Exeter were only not allowed the benefits of their possessions. As a reward for loyalty and good service Viscount Lovell and Sir James Tyrell were granted lands and a petition of the Earl of Northumberland was granted that the confiscation’s of land that had been granted by Henry IV to annulled.
Even though Richard had been though the plots and conspiracies he still was lenient towards his enemies. As Sir George Buck had stated ‘ he should have beheaded, Morton and Stanley along with Hastings.
VI
The rebellion had shaken Richard despite of his success; he knew who were the people who had conspired against him. He was taken aback that people could be so nice to his face, the minute his back was turned those very same people were plotting his downfall. As he was considering his plans about what to do with the rebel’s lands, and he thought of Thomas Stanley, he had to keep Stanley on his side. Stanley was a slippery character, who himself had royal blood coursing though his veins from his mothers side of the family. Stanley was a descendant of Edward I of England by Elizabeth Plantagenet, Countess of Hereford and the Fitzalan family of Arundel. His family had come from the earliest supporters of Henry Bolingbroke. Richard had to make sure that he could keep him on side. As on the day of Buckingham’s execution, Lord Stanley was granted Buckingham’s Castle and the lordship of Kymbellton. On the 18th of November Stanley was made Constable of England with an annuity of £100, and further grants of land had followed. Richard had remembered his wife, who was one of the main conspirators to the Buckingham Rebellion and had fled the country. He had added a condition that to receive the title and the land, Margaret Beaufort was stripped of her titles and her lands were given to her husband to enjoy for his lifetime. Richard’s generosity towards Stanley was he had felt satisfied that Stanley had proved that he was loyal at the time of the Buckingham Rebellion. His younger brother William Stanley was awarded more land in North Wales and was appointed chief Justice of North Wales for his loyal services. He was later was appointed Constable of the Casle and Captain of the town of Caernarfon with a retinue of 24 soldiers.
The other offices of Buckingham’s, the Chief Justiceship of South Wales went to William Herbert, Earl of Huntington. The Great Chamberlainship of England was awarded to the Earl of Northumberland, who had accompanied on the Buckingham Rebellion. A few weeks later Northumberland was awarded a large grant of estates and the lordship of Holderness in the East Riding, which had belonged to Buckingham.
Other offices were split up between Welshmen and an annuity of 40 marks was awarded to the native chieftain, Rhys ap Thomas.
Richard had dealt out punishment to those who were the Rebel leaders and had spared the their armies and allow them to go home peacefully back to their homes. He did not harass ordinary folk or impose heavy fines or plunder any homes when he had dealt with this and any other campaign that he had led. In parliament which 96 men were arrested for treason, and they had their goods confiscated, but it was not long that a third of the prisoners were released and pardoned. Even the leaders of the Rebellion, the Bishop of Ely, the Marquess of Dorset, and Sir Richard Woodville were offered royal clemency. Even when Richard had shown kindness to Walter Hungerford and Sir John Fogge when Richard had just became king and they returned his kindness by joining the rebellion. Richard was still lenient with their punishment, by pardoning them and partially restored their estates. It seemed that Reynold Bray, who was Margaret’s Beaufort’s chief advisor, had received a pardon two weeks before Parliament had met. It might be that Stanley had seen to it that Bray was let off lightly, not that much had been mentioned about in the months ahead after he had been released. He would no doubt gone back to plotting the next conspiracy with Margaret Beaufort. On having heard the fate of Buckingham it seemed to Reynold Bray that it brought the Tudor claim just a little closer to the throne. Margaret Beaufort was disappointed, that her son had never made it to the coast she had also had taken consolation in the fact that the Duke of Buckingham claim to the throne was longer a treat.
His return from Exeter was not so much a military campaign put had served as a progress to meet the people of the SouthWest. He had returned back to Salisbury on the 18th of November and he had made his way through Winchester and Farnham and though the Kentish Coastal towns. Richard was welcomed by Lord Cobham, one of John Howard’s lieutenants, at Canterbury and had a warm and friendly welcome from the people of Canterbury. Richard was back in London on 25th of November; he had been away from his family for about four months. The Mayor and the Aldermen of London dressed in scarlet and 500 of the chief citizens dressed in violet had came to greet King Richard at Kennington and they had escorted him through Southwark and across London Bridge to the Wardrobe beside Blackfriars, where he temporarily lodged. The next day in the Star Chamber at Westminster, Richard had redelivered the Great Seal in its white leather bag to Chancellor Russell. All Bishops were gathered with the noticeable absence of the Bishop of Ely. Archbishop of York was forgiven and restored to royal favour as a councillor. Three eminent scholars of the New Learning: John Sherwood, Bishop of Durham, Thomas Langton, Bishop of St David’s and John Gunthorpe, Keeper of the Privy Seal. The Bishops of Bath and Wells and of St Asaph’s Thomas Barowe, Master of the Rolls; John Howard, Duke of Norfolk. William Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel and Warden of the Cinque Ports, Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland; Thomas, Lord Stanley. It had seemed that the only two men that had stood beside him though Richard’s reign and were the most loyal was Sir Richard Ratcliffe, Knight of the body and William Catesby, Esquire of the Body. Sir James Tyrell was bestowed the title of the master of the Royal henchmen.
It was getting close to Christmas and Richard had heard that his son was too weak to travel down to London. His health had always been a constant worry for Richard and Anne and it was decided that he would remain with his Mother in law in Middleham. Richard had wanted to celebrate Christmas with the message that he had wished to have peace in the realm. It seemed that Richard had wanted to unite the nobles to the crown. He wanted to celebrate his success in quashing the rebellion but Richard was mindful that the Woodvilles had amounted a lot of debt, before he had come to become the protector of the boy king Edward. He felt the court had needed a celebration after the failed rebellion he went to the London merchants to see if they would be interested in some of the things up for sale. One of the items was a helmet of King Edward’s that was embellished with gold, gems, and pearls. He managed to raise enough money to brighten up their wardrobes and provide gifts for the court. The King and Queen had run up a bill of £1,200 with a mercer as they had given new clothes for his nephew’s and nieces to fit the status of children of a late King.
Across the English Channel, the court of the Duke of Brittany was celebrating Christmas with another kind of ceremony. On Christmas morning in the cathedral of Rennes, Henry Tudor had sworn an oath to marry Elizabeth, the daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. Pledging that he was uniting the houses of Lancaster and York together. The service was a lengthy and sullen one and his followers had knelt and behaved as if he was already crowned. When the news had reached Richard’s court, the news was received by Richard’s foul temper, as Richard had dismissed him as an upstart.
Since Richard had got back to London, He had to send a message to the Duke of Brittany that it was a mistake in supporting Henry Tudor. During the winter of 1483 and 1484 the English Channel was a dangerous place for the wool merchants that had traded at Calais. Richard had called on his Admiral, the Duke of Norfolk; he had well respected his knowledge of naval warfare. It did not take long before men were gathered at the ports and vessels were refitted and weapons and armour as captains and shipmasters were briefed on how the merchant’s ships should protection. By the middle December in the icy cold weather the English fleet was commanded by Thomas Wentworth, had set out in locating and bringing the fleet of Brittany to battle. When Richard had got word that the Duke of Brittany’s flotilla had been located. He quickly dispatched commissions to the magistrates of the port towns ‘to man out their small boat and help the English fleet in case they shall see them engaged with the fleet of the Bretons, now lying in Flanders’. Unfortunately there is not that much documents that support what really happen during this time in the English Channel. There is a letter that Richard had issued a few days before Christmas ‘for certain Bretons taken prisoner to go into Brittany to fetch money for ransome of themselves and their fellows’. It seems like the magistrates of London were ordered to seize all the Breton goods and deliver them to the Exchequer as a way replenishing the dilated royal treasury that Richard had inherited. He had also increased his navy and given the merchant ships added protection. There was a number of East Anglican fishing craft and trading ships that had taken a dangerous voyage to Iceland, Richard he sent them strict warning to follow the convoy system that he had established:
For as much as we understand that certain of you intend hastily to depart towards Iceland, not purveyed of wafters for your surety we straitly charge that none of you severally depart out of any of our havens without our license first had so to do; and thereupon, that ye gather and assemble yourselves in such one of our havens or ports as ye shall think most convenient, well harnessed and apparelled for your own surety, and so for to depart all together toward Humber, to attend there upon our ships of Hull as your wafters, for the surety of you all; and that ye dissever not without tempest of weather compel you…
The convoy had arrived at Iceland safely and in July the convoy was ordered to use the same system on the return voyage. It seemed that Richard’s English Channel campaign had been a success as the Francis, Duke of Brittany had made a peace treaty with England. The envoy that Richard had over to Brittany a certain Dr Thomas Hutton had come back when he had felt was too dangerous to remain in the court of Brittany. He had been telling Richard, that Henry Tudor and his followers had been telling the Duke that Richard had done away with the both of the princes during the summer of 1483, then had usurped the throne. It had seemed that these rumours were had come from the Woodville exiles and Henry Tudor had supported these claims. Francis had known Henry Tudor for a while, as he had been an exile in his country for 14 years and it seemed that the Duke of Brittany had taken their word about their stories.
Richard seemed to be troubled about the rising in Kent, which the county had a long record of unrest, it was the most important county as Kent had the most important ports in the realm. It was very important to keep trade open to help England prosper. In early January Richard had decided to go on a progress through the county, hoping to win the loyalty of the inhabitant of Kent. He had also had ordered the Chamberlain of North Wales and the Sheriff of Staffordshire to administer an oath of allegiance to all inhabitants. As they were warn not to take ‘any liveries, clothing, badges against the crown. The same announcements were dispatched to the citizens of Gloucester, Bristol, and Canterbury amongst other cities and counties as well.
On the 10th of January, Richard had addressed the inhabitants of Canterbury and he went on to Sandwich on the 16th of January where he issued commissions to lords, knights, and gentlemen to administer an oath of allegiance to the people of Kent and of the crown. One of Richard’s household knights from Yorkshire Sir Marmaduke was appointed Constable of Tunbridge and lordship of Penshurst, and commanded the inhabitants to attend upon Sir Marmaduke. ‘Whom the King has deputed to make his abode amongst them; and that they in no wise presume to take clothing or to be retained by anybody’.
Richard had taken great care to mention to the people of Kent that he commended those subjects that who had remained loyal or had quickly had abandoned the rebellion. He told the people that he would reward anyone very well if they find any rebels that were still at large or give any information of rebel activity.
To see due administration of justice throughout this his realm to be had, and to reform, punish and subdue all extortion’s and oppressions in the same. And for that cause with all, that at his coming now into this his said county Kent, that every person dwelling within the same that find himself grieved, oppressed, or unlawfully wronged, do make a bill of his complaint and put to his highness, and he shall be heard and without delay have such convenient remedy as shall accord with his laws; for his grace is utterly determined that all his true subjects shall live in rest and quiet, and peaceably enjoy the lands, livelodes and goods, according to the laws of this his land, which they be naturally born to inherit. And therefore the King chargeth and commandeth that no manner, of whatsoever condition or degree he be, rob, hurt, or spoil any of his said subjects in their bodies or goods, upon pain of death; and also that no manner man make, pick, or continue any quarrel to other for any old or new rancour, hate, malice, or cause, or offers made, upon pain of death, nor also take man’s meat, horse-meat [i.e., fodder],or any other victual or stuff, without he pay truly therefore to the owners thereof, upon pain of losing of his horse, harness, goods, and his body to prison at the King'’ will...
Richard was hoping to bring people together to weed out any throught of further rebellion by policing his realm. He had some other matters to attend to as to the late King Edward’s Children, he believed that the children were being used as political pawns. Dorset had attempted to take his nephew Richard the Duke of York for whatever scheme he was proposing. More worrying was that Henry Tudor had shorn that would marry Elizabeth of York and what his sources had told him was that Henry Tudor had his eyes set on the crown, which would put Richard, Duke of York life’s in danger. There had already had been one murder he did not want anything like that to happen again. As the naval warfare was going on with the Bretons, Richard and his councillors were preparing the Titulus Regis. The bill had been informally drawn up in June after Edward V murder, but after the Buckingham rebellion and Henry Tudor’s pledge Richard was left with no choice than to act. He opened Parliament on the 23rd of January 1484, which was assembled in the Painted Chamber at Westminster. Chancellor Russell had delivered the opening address, with the gospel of text for the day. The formal speech had started with all Bishops, Lords, Earls and Dukes were gathered to a very formal gathering ‘We have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office’. Russell had felt it was necessary to restore England back to prosperity and everyone had to do his duty. ‘The prince to give equal justice with pity and mercy and to defend his land from outward hostility, the subjects to do their true labour and occupations where by his royal and necessary charges may be supported’. The faithless French has shaken the security of the realm. ‘Our old new-reconciled enemies, who have broken oaths and treaties; worse yet, the kingdom has been led into darkness by those who recently rebelled against their King, an act contrary to the commandments of God Himself. This darkness can be remedied only if the people of England employ the light of reason for the advancing of the common weal.
On the 26th of January the Commons had showed their goodwill towards the King. The speaker was Sir William Catesby who was one of Richards trusted councillors. He had studied law under the service of Lord William Hastings and was proving that he worked faithfully for the King. He had worked hard and diligently in the Titulus Regis, which enacted a settlement of the crown on King Richard III. He had named Richards son Edward, Prince of Wales and as heir apparent. It was passed formally, only one copy had survived the Tudor Dynasty in whom, a historian had seen the Titulus Regis and had written a manuscript in 1619, which it was, stated that the marriage between Elizabeth Woodville and Edward IV was null and void as he was already married. He had also passed an act of attainder against the chief troublemakers of the late rebellion and authorised the King to make grants of lands taken by the attainder, the wives of the rebels were allowed their property rights. The Bishops, Ely, Salisbury and Exeter were only not allowed the benefits of their possessions. As a reward for loyalty and good service Viscount Lovell and Sir James Tyrell were granted lands and a petition of the Earl of Northumberland was granted that the confiscation’s of land that had been granted by Henry IV to annulled.
Even though Richard had been though the plots and conspiracies he still was lenient towards his enemies. As Sir George Buck had stated ‘ he should have beheaded, Morton and Stanley along with Hastings.
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