Richard’s mottoes

TANT LE DESIREE (I have longed for it so much)

Written in Richard’s own hand, together with his name, on a page of the story of Ipomedon, the ‘best knight of the world’, during his adolescence and probably before 1470. Longleat, MS 257, f. 98v

ILLA TREZTANT DESYRE (he has longed for it so much)

Found in a small collection of drawings of heraldic beasts and mottoes together with Richard’s title. BL, MS Add. 40742

A VOUS ME LY (I am bound to you)

Found in Richard, Duke of Gloucester’s New Testament and appears above his title. New York Public Library, MS De Ricci 67.

A VOTRE PLAISIR  (at your service)

This is can only tentatively be attributed to Richard, Duke of Gloucester. It was found at Middleham Castle, engraved around a metal plaque with a central motif of a linked RA. Although the initials could stand for Richard and Anne the previous owners of the castle were Richard Neville and Anne Beauchamp and before them Richard Neville and Alice Montague

LOYAULTE ME LIE  (loyalty binds me)

First known to be used in 1483, bracketed with his signature, on a scrap paper which also includes the signatures of Edward V and Henry, Duke of Buckingham. BL, MS Cotton Vesp. F xiii, f. 123.  It next appears on the charter of incorporation for the Wax Chandlers’ Company of London dated 16 February 1484.

The above is taken from Richard III’s Books by Anne F. Sutton and Livia Visser-Fuchs. Gloucester 1997.