Bosworth: The Birth of the Tudors (64 page)

Henry’s return to Normandy and journey back to Britanny is in Bouchard,
Grande Chroniques
, pp. 459–60 and payments in BnF Clairambault 473. Bouchard gives the Christmas Day ceremony as taking place at Vannes,
Grande Chroniques
, p.459, though Vergil pp. 203–4, the main narrative account, suggests Rennes. Brittany’s preparations against Richard are in Dom Morice,
Mémoires
, vol. III, pp. 431–2.

Chapter 6: The Rat, the Cat and the Dog

For Richard’s proclamation, see
Harleian 433
, vol. II, pp.48–9. The full text of the
Titulus Regius
is in
Rotuli Parliamentorum
(RP), vol. VI, pp.240–2. Margaret Beaufort’s treatment is recorded on RP VI, p. 250,
CPR 1476–85
, pp. 389, 423–8, 501 and
Harleian 433
, vol. I, pp. 173, 186. For the comment on Margaret’s patience, BL Additional MS 12060 fo. 22v.

Richard’s relationship with his northern gentry is covered by A.J. Pollard,
North-Eastern England during the Wars of the Roses: Lay Society, War and Politics 1450–1500
(Oxford, 1990), K. Dockray, ‘Richard III and the Yorkshire Gentry’ in Hammond,
Loyalty, Lordship and Law
, W.E. Hampton, ‘John Hoton of Hunwick and Tudhoe, County Durham’,
The Ricardian
VII (1985), pp. 2–17, Horrox,
Richard III
, pp.178–205, and A.J. Pollard, ‘The Tyranny of Richard III’,
Journal of Medieval History
III (1977). Marmaduke Constable’s rise can be followed through
Harleian 433
, vol. II, pp. 81, 124,
CPR 1476–85
, p. 557 and K. Dockray, ‘Sir Marmaduke Constable’, in Petre (ed.),
Crown and People
.

Evidence of Richard’s reconciliation with the Woodvilles is taken from
Harleian 433
, vol. III, p. 190. For Richard’s attempt to strengthen his royal title and confirm the inheritance of his son, see A. Sutton, ‘Richard III’s “Tytylle and Right”: A New Discovery’,
The Ricardian
IV (1977), pp. 2–7 and the
Crowland Chronicle
, p. 171. For Edward of Middleham, see
Harleian 433
, vol. II, pp. 24–5 and Hammond and Sutton, pp. 162–3.

Richard’s military interests and restocking of the Tower’s arsenal are covered in A. Sutton and L. Visser-Fuchs, ‘Richard of Gloucester and la grosse bombard’,
The Ricardian
X no. 134 (1996), M. Jones, ‘Richard III as a soldier’ in J. Gillingham (ed.),
Richard III: A Medieval Kingship
, J. Raine, ‘The statutes ordained by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, for the college of Middleham. Dated 4 July, 18. Edw. IV, (1478)’,
Archaeological Journal
, vol. 14 (1857) and
Harleian 433
, vol. I, pp. 160–1, 175, 268, 288, vol. II, pp. 103, 112, vol. III, p.192 and TNA E404/78/2/33.

William Collingborne’s arrest and trial is covered in
Great Chronicle
, p. 236 and Gairdiner,
Richard III
, pp. 189–90. Richard’s letter to his mother is BL Harleian MSS 433 fo. 2v and to the Mayor of Windsor, BL Harleian MS 787 fo. 2r. For William Finch’s treatment, TNA C255/8/11 m.5. Arrests in Cornwall and the West Country are featured in Horrox,
Richard III
, pp. 275–6 and
Harleian 433
, vol. II, p. 164. The order to prevent ships departing for Brittany is in
Historical Manuscripts Commission
2nd Report, p. 91.

Henry Tudor’s relationship with the French government and the nature
of French military assistance for his campaign can be followed in P. Pelicier,
Essai sur le gouvernement de la Dame de Beaujeu
, 1483–91 (Chartres, 1882) and A. Spont, ‘La marine française sous le régne de Charles VIII’,
Revue des Questions Historiques
XI, (1894), pp. 387–484 and is also covered in A.V. Antonovics, ‘Henry VII, King of England, “By the Grace of Charles VIII of France”’ in R.A. Griffiths and J. Sherborne (eds.),
Kings and Nobles in the Later Middle Ages
(Gloucester, 1986); A. Grant, ‘Foreign affairs under Richard III’ in
Richard III: A Medieval Kingship
, and re-examined in M.K. Jones, ‘The myth of 1485 – Did France really put Henry Tudor on the Throne?’ in
The English Experience in France 1450
–
1558: War, Diplomacy and Cultural Exchange
, ed. D. Grummitt (Ashgate, 2002). See also articles by Cliff Davies including ‘Bishop John Morton, The Holy See and the accession of Henry VII’,
English Historical Review
, CII (1987), pp. 2–30 and ‘Richard III, Henry VII and the Island of Jersey’,
The Ricardian
IX (1992), pp. 334–42.

Payments by Duke Francis II to the English exiles at Vannes are preserved in AD Loire-Atlantique E 212 no. 17 fo. 17v; E 209 no. 23 fo. 7v: ‘2500l. … deu des Angloys qui y ont este logez quelx estoient o le sire de Richemont et don’t le duc a voulu prenre la charge’, and AD Loire-Atlantique E 212 no. 18 fo. 16: ‘Aux Angloys que leur a este paye ou moys de mars derrain, savoir au Marquis, IIIIc l, a Messire Edouart de Wudeville, C l., Maistre Halouel, IIc l, a Messire Robert Wlby, C l. A Messire Edouard de Wdville … pour employer en la mise de la despense de luy et de ses gens 900 l.’ The Breton truce of June 1484 is printed in Rymer,
Foedera
, vol. XII, pp. 221–2. The agreement for 1,000 archers to be sent to Brittany is discussed in C.S.L. Davies, ‘Richard III, Brittany and Henry Tudor, 1483–1485’,
Nottingham Medieval Studies
37 (1993), pp. 110–26.

Chapter 7: A Confederacy of Rebels

The offering of alms in Vannes cathedral is printed in Allanic, pp. 38 and 49. The main source of Henry’s escape is Vergil, though payments by Duke Francis to the remaining exiles to journey to France are in AD de la Loire-Atlantique E212/93 fos. 15r, 17v. Henry’s reception in France is documented in
Procés-verbaux de séances du Conseil de Régence du roi Charles VIII
, ed. A. Bernier (Paris, 1836), pp. 128, 148 while Charles VIII’s letter is printed in Spont, ‘La marine française’, p. 393: ‘accompagnes de 5 à 600 Engles, en disposition de faire venire d’Autres tant qu’il voldra, pour tenir bon port au roy et recouvrer le royaume de Englettere sur les ennemis de la coronne de France. Et les a le roy benignement recues en son service et doint
pour leur entretenement bonne et grande provision’.

Oxford’s escape and plots surrounding it are described in J.A. Buchon (ed.)
Chroniques de Jean Molinet
(Paris, 1828), vol. II, p. 406, TNA KB27/908 rex rot 8, Vergil, pp. 208–9. Its effect on French confidence in Henry is reflected in the further payments to his men, in Bernier, pp. 164, 168. The earl’s influence over Henry’s claim to the throne is in
Molinet
, vol. II, p. 406: ‘deux grands seigneurs d’Angleterre entre les autres … exciterent le comte de Richmemont de aspirer a la couronne’. M. Jones, ‘The myth of 1485’, pp. 92–3 and Commynes, p. 354 highlight the problems with the strength of Henry’s claim. Henry’s letter is BL Harleian MS 787 fo. 2r, with Richard’s proclamation and commissions of array printed in
Harleian 433
, vol. III, pp. 124–5. The Christmas celebrations at court are described in CC, p. 173.

Henry’s relations with the Beaujeu government are described in Vergil, pp. 209–14 and Pelicier,
Essai
, p. 254. For Richard’s loans, CC, p.175 and
Harleian 433
, vol. III, p. 128 with context in Horrox,
Richard III
, pp. 306–7. Reconciliation with former rebels is covered in Horrox,
Richard III
, pp. 293–4,
CPR 1476–85
, p. 528 and
Great Chronicle
, p. 237. For Morton, see Chrimes,
Henry VII
, p. 106.

Chapter 8: The Spiral of Decline

Queen Anne’s death is covered in J. Ashdown-Hill,
The Last Days of Richard III
(2011) and in CC, p. 173. Richard’s hawking activities are in
Harleian 433
, vol. II, p. 216. Richard’s letter to York is in York House Books 2/4 fo. 163v. Henry’s reaction to Richard’s possible marriage to Elizabeth of York and his attempt to seek support for a Herbert alliance is from Vergil’s manuscript of the
Anglia Historia
, Vatican Library, Urb.Lat. 498, fos. 229v–230r. For Welsh prophecies, see G.A. Williams, ‘The Bardic Road to Bosworth: a Welsh view of Henry Tudor’,
Cymmrodorion
(1986), p. 23 and University College of North Wales, Bangor MS 1267 fo. 10r. Richard’s military preparations are documented in
Harleian 433
, vol. II pp. 222–3 and TNA E404/78/3/46.

For Charles VIII’s entry into Rouen and Henry Tudor’s formal recognition, see Beaurepaire,
Entrée de Charles VIII à Rouen en 1485
(Rouen, 1902), p. 9: ‘le conte de Richemont, soy disant roi d’Angleterre’, pp. 22–4 and A.E. Goodman, ‘Henry VII and Christian Renewal’ in
Studies in Church History
XVII (1981), p. 116.

For rumours of Henry’s landing at ‘Milford’ and the subsequent preparations at Southampton, see the Crowland Chronicle and Hammond and Sutton, p. 206. Richard’s June proclamation and commissions of array are
printed in
Harleian 433
, vol. II, pp. 228–9 and
Paston Letters
, vol. VI, pp.81–4. The commission to Gloucester is in
Harleian 433
, vol. III, pp. 127–8. For the possible list of commissioners, dated May 1484, see
CPR 1476–85
, pp. 397–401. Caxton’s dedication is printed in A.T.B Byles (ed.),
The Book of the Ordre of Chyvalry printed by William Caxton
, EETS 168 (1926), pp.121–5. Richard’s orders for Chancellor John Russell to hand over the Great Seal are in
Calendar of Close Rolls 1476
–
85
, nos. 1457–8. For the impact of the seal, see
Paston Letters
, vol. III, no. 894.

Henry’s offering at Rouen is in Rouen, AD Seine-Maritime G2 143; ‘Ecu d’or d’Aquitaine offert par le roi d’Anglettere, prince de Richemont, quant il vint dans la chapelle de la Sainte Vierge’. For Beton, see Campbell,
Materials
, vol. I, p. 413. Jean Lallement’s account roll is BN Nouvelles Acquisitions Françaises 7642, fos. 159v–60: ‘A Henry, comte de Richemont, 10,000 l.t. pour partie de 40,000 l.t. a lui ordonées par le Roi pour l’aider a supporter les frais, missies et dépenses qu’il lui convient faire pour l’armée qu’il fait mettre sus pour le passer en royaume d’Angleterre et pour executer certain enterprise qu’il a faite pour le recouvrement d’icellui royaume qui lui appartient et où quell il a bon et apparent droit’. See also BN MS Français 23266 fo.45: ‘10,000 l.t. pour son passaige en Angleterre’. John Morgan’s message is in Vatican Urbs.Lat. 498, fo. 230r. For the role of French mercenaries and the war camp at Pont-de-l’Arche see A. Spont, ‘La malice des Francs-Archers’ (1448–1500),
Revue des Questions Historiques
LXI (1897), pp. 474–7 and A.V. Antovics, ‘Henry VII, King of England “By the Grace of Charles VIII of France”’,
Kings and Nobles in the Later Middle Ages
, ed. R.A. Griffiths and J. Sherborne (Gloucester and New York, 1986), 169–84 pp. 183–4.
Molinet
, vol. II, p. 406 and Commynes, pp. 355, 397 add further detail. On Esquerdes, see Mancini, p. 81 and Gairdiner,
Letters and Papers
, vol. I, pp. 18, 20–1 and for Colinet Lebouef, AN JJ 218 no. XIX, fo. 11r. The nature of Scottish support is examined in N. MacDougall,
James III
(Edinburgh, 1982).

Chapter 9: March to War

The location of Henry’s landing place is discussed in S.B. Chrimes, ‘The Landing Place of Henry of Richmond, 1485’,
Welsh History Review
II (1964–5), pp. 173–80. For the knighting ceremony, BL Harleian 78 fo. 31v and standards BL Landsdowne 255 fo. 433r. For Vergil’s comment on the composition of Henry’s forces, see Vatican Urbs.Lat. 498, fo. 230r. Lewis Glyn Cothi, see G. Mechain and I. Tegid (eds),
The Poetical Works of Lewis Glyn Cothi
(Oxford, 1837), pp. 480–1. Rhys ap Thomas’s seventeenth-century
‘Life’ has been printed with valuable commentary in R.A. Griffiths,
Sir Rhys ap Thomas and his family: A Study in the Wars of the Roses
(Cardiff, 1993). My reassessment of Henry’s march is taken from the manuscript of Vergil’s
Anglia Historia
, Vatican Urbs.Lat. 498, fos. 230r–231r, in comparison with the first printed edition of 1534. The ballad accounts that cover Henry’s march are printed in several forms. ‘Bosworth Feilde’ can be found in
Bishop Percy’s Folio Manuscript. Ballads and Romances
, ed. J.W. Hales and F.J. Furnivall (3 vols, London, 1868), vol. III, pp. 233–59, though its prose version, taken from BL Harleian MS 542 fos.31–3 is printed by W. Hutton,
The Battle of Bosworth Field
(Tempus, 1999). The ‘Ballad of Lady Bessie’ is printed in
Percy Society Publications
XX (1847).

The Crowland Chronicle is the best source for Richard’s final months and reaction to Henry’s landing. The reception of the news by Richard is analysed by O.D. Harris, ‘The Transmission of the news of the Tudor landing’,
The Ricardian
IV, no. 55 (December, 1976), pp. 5–12. Henry’s letters to supporters appealing for aid can be found in G. Grazebrook, ‘An unpublished letter by Henry, Earl of Richmond’,
Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica
, 4th Series, V (1914), pp. 30–9 and J. Ballinger (ed.),
The History of the Gwydir Family written by Sir J. Wynn of Gwydir
(Cardiff, 1927). Both are analysed by R. Horrox, ‘Henry Tudor’s letters to England during Richard III’s reign’,
The Ricardian
VI, no. 80 (March, 1983), pp. 155–8. Henry’s Welsh support and bardic prophesies are analysed in G.A. Williams, ‘The bardic road to Bosworth: a Welsh view of Henry Tudor’,
Cymmrodorion
(1986), pp. 7–31.

Richard’s military attitudes as reflected in his books is discussed in A. Sutton and L.Visser-Fuchs, ‘Richard III’s books: Chivalric ideals and reality’
The Ricardian
IX, no. 199 (1992). Von Poppelau’s observations have been translated in L. Visser-Fuchs, ‘What Nicolas von Poppelau really wrote about Richard III’,
The Ricardian
XI, no. 145 (1999). Other comments on Richard’s reaction are in
The Ballad of Bosworth Field
, p. 243 and
Molinet
, vol. I, p. 407: ‘Le roy Richard se vouloit joindre avecq les seigneurs d’Angleterre, pour ester a la descente, mais ils lui manderent: “Ne vous bougez, nous ferons bien”’. Richard’s letter to Vernon is printed in
Historical Manuscripts Commission 12th Report, Rutland MSS
, vol. I (1888), pp.7–8. Norfolk’s letter to John Paston is in
Paston Letters
, vol. VI, p. 85 with details of Norfolk’s muster list from J. Payne Collier (ed.),
Household Books of John, Duke of Norfolk
(1844), pp. 481–92. Thomas Longe’s will is in Norfolk Record Office, NCC, Will Register, Caston, fo. 256v.