A selection of contents from the Summer 2007 Ricardian Bulletin

STRATEGY UPDATE

Subscriptions: ‘An Inconvenient Truth’

The Executive Committee has recently reviewed the Society’s long-term financial situation to assess the income required for the Society to fulfil its aims. It will be proposing an increase in the subscription at the AGM in September 2007, effective from 2008 for existing members.

Constitution Working Party Report on Reforming the Voting System

Members of the Constitution Working Party report on their consideration of changes to the voting system for Society business.

Raising our Profile

The Executive Committee outlines how it is trying to raise the Society’s profile.

NEWS AND REVIEWS

DNA Research Update

John Ashdown-Hill gives an update on his research in this area, which has recently attracted national media coverage. He has just received a sample of Edward IV’s hair from the Ashmolean Museum and this will sent away for DNA analysis.

The Fotheringhay oaks – an update

Members have recently contributed to the cost some oak saplings, to be planted on Fotheringhay churchyard. These were planted in February and Phil and Beth Stone visited at Easter to see them in position.

Restoration of the Medieval Glass at Stratford St Mary Church, Suffolk

John Ashdown-Hill was among those who attended the unveiling of the restored medieval glass at this church, towards the cost of which Society members contributed. The church was once under the patronage of Elizabeth, Duchess of Suffolk, sister to Edward IV and Richard III and both men visited there before they became king.

The Crowland Chronicler

Peter Hammond highlights a recent article by Michael Hicks in English Historical Review, which sheds some interesting light on the authorship of the Crowland Chronicle. The article is now in the Society Non-Fiction Papers Library.

The King Richard III College

Phil Stone has been in correspondence with the Director of the King Richard III College in Mallorca. The Director, James Berry, turns out to be a Society member, who has named the College as ‘a means of promoting the cause of a much-maligned king’.

Richard goes to Washington

John Saunders reports that while the National Portrait Gallery’s Henry VII languishes in storage, the gallery’s portrait of Richard III is currently on show at Washington DC’s Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, as part of an exhibition entitled ‘Great Britons: Treasures from the National Portrait Gallery, London’. The exhibition runs from 27 April to 3 September 2007.

In Deadly Hate: Richard III and the Wars of the Roses

In March Wendy Moorhen attended this lecture at The National Archives, given by Drs Sean Cunningham and James Ross. The reigns of Henry VI and Edward IV were also covered, but Wendy particularly appreciated the balanced approach taken to Richard III’s life and career.

Electronic e-Bulletin

Richard Van Allen asks that members contact him if they are interested in receiving e-mail alerts about topical events of interest to Society members.

ARTICLES

The Man Himself – Richard III and the Miraculous

Tony Goodman tells the story of Henry Walter, who serving in Richard’s fleet in summer 1484, was seriously wounded but recovered, he believed because of the miraculous intervention of Henry VI. Tony Goodman wonders whether this apparent evidence of Henry’s saintliness influenced Richard’s decision to move the former king’s remains to Windsor later that summer.

Medieval Migration

Peter Lee discusses the subject of internal migration, looking at surname evidence in charters from 1350 to 1450 that relate to Spon Street in Coventry.

A Proclamation Against Henry Tudor, 23 June 1485

David Candlin reproduces Richard III’s proclamation against Henry Tudor and his followers, with notes on some of the individuals and issues mentioned.

Hastings and the Meeting at St Paul’s

Gordon Smith re-examines Lord Hastings’ reaction to the capture of Edward V at Stony Stratford in April 1483 and discusses the significance of a meeting at St Paul’s Cathedral in its aftermath, and which is mentioned in certain sources.

Chedworth Parish Church

Gwen and Brian Waters write about this church in Gloucestershire, parts of which date back to Norman times. It contains carved heads said to depict Warwick the Kingmaker and his wife and their daughter and son-in-law Clarence. Other heads are said to show Henry VII and Elizabeth of York and the Waters discuss the evidence for a visit to the village and church by Queen Elizabeth in 1491.

A ‘Lost’ Medieval Document

Lynda Pigeon mentions the re-discovery of a document from 1399/1400. It is an account roll for York’s Gild of the Lord’s Prayer and had previously been thought lost. Lynda discusses what it tells us about what the gild’s activities.

Logge Notes and Queries: Helen Barker’s Miracle

Lesley Boatwright continues her series by looking at the story of one testator, John Ravenyng, a name which features in an account of one of Henry VI’s alleged miracles. Lesley is continuing her research into this miracle story, to produce a more detailed account.

REGULAR FEATURES

Correspondence

The mailbag for this issue includes letters on such subjects as books on Elizabeth of York; a second wife for Richard III; Joanna ‘La Beltraneja’ of Castile; Lord Olivier and Richard III and ‘Richard-bashing’ in Germany.

Guidelines for Contributors for Bulletin

Lesley Boatwright discusses the Bulletin’s house style and explains her role as proof reader. She also requests members to send material as an electronic Word document, wherever possible.

The Barton Library

Non-Fiction Books Librarian, Keith Horry, is interested to receive any locally published material on out period that can be added to the Library. He also gives details for the annual Postal Book Auction. Non-Fiction Papers Librarian, Becky Beale, highlights the number of guidebooks that she holds on places of historical interest, for those that are planning a visit to a particular site. There is also the usual report on the latest additions to the four sections of the Library.

Report on Society Events

Australasian Convention 2007

Rob Smith reports this event which was held in New Zealand this year. The weekend was a combination of substantial business and the more light-hearted. The highlight was the medieval themed banquet, with many in costume.

‘Medieval Warfare’ Study Weekend, York, 13-15 April 2007

Heather Falvey writes an account of this study weekend. The lectures ranged across a number of subjects related to warfare – from castles to chivalry – but had a particular focus on the Yorkshire battles of Wakefield and Towton and it included a guided walk of the Towton battlefield site.

1482: Crisis in Edinburgh

David Fiddimore reports on this day conference run by Scottish Branch. It examined Richard, Duke of Gloucester’s 1482 campaign in Scotland. The lectures focused on the diplomatic background, the key figures involved, the logistics of Richard’s army and the defence of Berwick upon Tweed during the medieval period.

In exsequiis Ricardi III Regis et Annae Reginae, 2007 style

Phil Stone writes about the annual requiem Latin mass for King Richard III and Queen Anne Neville at St Ethelreda’s in London’s Ely Place and the wreath-laying near the grave of Queen Anne at Westminster Abbey.

Future Society Events

Full details of Bosworth Sunday (19 August); Bosworth commemoration in Colchester (25 August); a day visit to Romney Marsh Churches and Winchelsea (8 September); the Norfolk Branch Study Day on the theme Crown and Sword at The Assembly House in Norwich (10 November); and advance notice is given of the 2008 Triennial Conference on the Princes in the Tower, to be held at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester (28-30 March 2008).

Branches and Groups

Reports are in from the Gloucestershire Branch, Worcestershire Branch and Yorkshire Branch. There are also some changes of contact details to note.

Obituaries

Noreen Armstrong, David Yuill and Dorothy Mitchell are all remembered.