The Earl of Oxford’s life has recently been explored in J. Ross, John de Vere, Thirteenth Earl of Oxford (1442–1513): ‘The Foremost Man of the Kingdom’ (Boydell, 2011) but see also C.S. Scofield, ‘The early life of John de Vere, thirteenth Earl of Oxford’, English Historical Review XXIX (1914), pp. 228– 45. Richard’s treatment of the earl’s mother is explored in M. Hicks, ‘The Last Days of the Countess of Oxford’, English Historical Review CII (1988). Oxford’s movements after Barnet are tracked in the Paston Letters, vol. V, pp. 84–5, 101–2, 186, 188, 189. Oxford’s capture of St Michael’s Mount is detailed in Warkworth’s Chronicle, pp. 26–7 and Paston Letters, vol. V, p. 201. The earl’s attempted suicide is remarked upon in Paston Letters, vol. VI, pp. 2–3.
Louis XI’s letter to Francis II is printed in Dom H. Morice, Mémoire pour server de prévues a l’histoire ecclésiastique et civile de Bretagne (Paris 1742–-6), vol. III, cols. 266–70. The description of the robe of black damask is found in Les Archives départementales (AD) Loire-Atlantique, serie B, parchemins non classés, dossier Francois II: ‘A monsr. de Richemont pour robbe longue du don de mondit seigneur [le duc] sept aulnes de veloux noir trespoil, val’ a IIII reaulx l’aune XXXV l., pour doublez le hault des manches demi tierz de noir val’ XXIII d. Et pour le doublez quatre aulnes de taffetas changeant a II realux l’aune, val’ X l. fac[on] de chescun, somme XLV l. XIIIs. IIIId A luy pour ung pourpoint une aulne et demie de Damas noir a IIII l. L’aulne et estoffes I escu, VII l. IIs. Xd.’ For the financial records concerning Henry’s stay in Brittany, see M.C.E. Jones, ‘For my Lord of Richmond, a pourpoint … and a palfrey: Brief Remarks on the Financial Evidence for Henry Tudor’s Exile in Brittany, 1471–1484’, Tant d’Emprises, So Many Undertakings: Essays in Honour, ed. Livia Visser-Fuchs (The Ricardian, XIII, 2003), 283–93.
Edward IV’s treaty at Picquigny and its accompanying festivities recorded in detail in the memoirs of Philippe de Commynes is conveniently translated in Memoirs of Philippe de Commynes: The Reign of Louis XI, 1461–83, ed. Michael Jones (Harmondsworth, 1972). Another increasingly important source is the Crowland Chronicle, reprinted in The Crowland Chronicle Continuations ed. N. Pronay and J. Cox (full details in the notes to chapter 4 below).
Henry Tudor’s escape from capture by Edward IV’s agents is principally recorded in Vergil, pp. 163–6. The story of Henry’s fortunate escape has come down solely through the hands of Vergil, writing decades after the event, though a cryptic payment, partially mutilated, survives, shedding further light upon the episode. It is a receipt from Francis ordering for ‘the expenses and costs of the Earl of Richmond’ to be paid to him when ‘he left Brest to go to St-Malo, with two others … for the guard and conduct of the same … for six days when they were at the said place of St-Malo’: Archives départementales (AD) de la Loire-Atlantique B parchemins non classés, dossier Francois II, printed in Jones, ‘Financial Evidence for Henry Tudor’s Exile’, p. 289.
Chapter 4: Usurpation
The key works on Richard III’s reign include C. Ross, Richard III (London, 1981) and R. Horrox, Richard III: A Study of Service (Cambridge, 1989). Richard III: A Medieval Kingship, ed. J.Gillingham (London, 1993) contains important articles. P.W. Hammond and A.E. Sutton, Richard III: The Road to Bosworth (London, 1985) provides a narrative of Richard’s life through contemporary documents. Other works include A.J. Pollard, Richard III and the Princes in the Tower (Gloucester, 1991), and essays published in P.W. Hammond (ed.), Richard III: Loyalty, Lordship and Law (1986) and R. Horrox (ed.), Richard III and the North (Hull, 1986), J. Petre (ed.), Richard III: Crown and People (1985) and J. Gillingham (ed.) The Kingship of Richard III (1993). Richard’s movements during his reign can be found in R. Edwards, The Itinerary of Richard III (1983). Richard’s coronation is covered in A.F. Sutton and P.W. Hammond (eds.) The Coronation of Richard III: the Extant Documents (Gloucester, 1983).
The principal sources for Richard’s reign include R. Horrox and P. Hammond (eds), British Library, Harleian Manuscript 433 (4 vols., London, 1979– 83). The Great Chronicle is printed in facsimile in Great Chronicle of London, ed. A.H. Thomas and I.D. Thornley (London, 1938). Other key sources for the reign can be found in K. Dockray, Richard III: a Reader in History (Gloucester, 1988). The most recent edition of the Crowland Chronicle with parallel Latin-English translation is N. Pronay and J. Cox (eds), The Crowland Chronicle Continuations 1459–1486 (London, 1986). John Rous’s account of the reign is in Historia Johannis Rossi Warwicensis de Regibus Anglie, ed. T. Hearne (1716) with a translation in A. Hanham, Richard III and His Early Historians, 1483–1535 (Oxford, 1975). For Richard’s usurpation, Dominic Mancini’s account, published as The Usurpation of Richard III, ed. C.A.J. Armstrong (2nd edn Oxford, 1969) is a crucial contemporary account, to be supplemented by the Great Chronicle, Vergil and R.F. Green, ‘Historical notes of a London Citizen 1483–88’, English Historical Review XCVI (1981). Thomas More’s version of events is published in The History of King Richard III, ed. R.S. Sylvester (Newhaven, 1976). Richard’s June letter to the city of York is printed in A. Raine (ed.), York Civic Records, Yorkshire Archaelogical Society XCVIII, 1939, vol. I, pp. 73–4.
For Henry and Jasper Tudor’s removal to Vannes under the guard of Vincent de la Landelle and Bertrand du Parc see AD Loire-Atlantique E 212 no. 16 fo. 13, no.18 fo.9; BnF Fr. 6982 fo. 326v: ‘Le Comte de Richemont prisonnier a Elven en janvier 1474’, ‘Le Comte de Richemont a Vannes en la garde de Vincent de la Landelle octobre 1476’, ‘Le Comte de Pembrok prisonnier a Josselin avril 1475’, ‘Le Comte de Pembrok prisonnier a Vannes sous Betrand du Parc, novembre 1476’; Dom Morice, Mémoires, vol. II, col. 1777; vol. III, cols. 66, 122–3, 144, 238, 271–2, 391, 427–8; AD Loire-Atlantique B5 fo. 144, B6 fos. 46, 53v, 117, 154v, B7 fo. 68, B8 fo.22v, 82, 83, E 141 p. 21, E 214 no. 37; AD Loire-Atlantique 1 J 142, E 212 no. 16 fos. 4v, 13. Jones, ‘Financial Evidence for Henry Tudor’s Exile’, p. 287. For Henry’s movements after 1481 see AD Loire-Atlantique E 133 no. 10, B8 fo. 9v, B 3 fo.7; Dom Morice, Mémoires, vol. III, col. 388. Duke Francis’s payments for both Henry and Jasper can be found in AD Loire-Atlantique E 212 no. 15, no.16 fo. 4v; L. Maitre, ‘Le budget’, Annales de Bretagne, vol. 5 (1889), pp. 293–319, p. 295; AD Loire-Atlantique 1 J 142; Jones, ‘Financial Evidence for Henry Tudor’s Exile’, ‘Financial Memoranda’, p. 290. Henry’s offerings are recorded in Allanic, p. 38 n.3. Further payments suggestive of Henry and Jasper’s freedom are in AD Loire-Atlantique B, parchemins non classés, dossier François II, printed in Jones, ‘Financial Evidence for Henry Tudor’s Exile’, p.290. Richard III’s letter to Duke Francis II is printed in Gairdiner, Letters and Papers, vol. I, pp. 22–3; Francis’s reply is pp. 37–42.
Chapter 5: Rebellion
The various sightings of the Princes in the Tower are reported in the Great Chronicle, p. 234 and Mancini, p. 93. Rumours that both were dead emerge in the Great Chronicle, pp.236–7 and C.L. Kingsford (ed.), Chronicles of London (Oxford, 1905), p.191. On the possible ‘enterprise’, Richard’s own letter can be found in The National Archives (TNA) C81/1392/1 with the conspiracy referred to in J. Stow, Annales of England (London, 1592), p. 459 and Basin, Histoire de Louis XIII, vol. III, pp. 234–5. Horrox, Richard III, and M.A. Hicks, ‘Unweaving the Web: The plot of July 1483 against Richard III and its wider significance’, The Ricardian 114 (1991) investigate the charges. Richard’s nervousness in orders of weapons and commissions to investigate treasons are given in Harleian 433, vol. II, pp. 7–9 and CPR 1476–85, pp. 465–6.
Margaret Beaufort’s dealings with Elizabeth Woodville and the movements of Lewis Caerleon, Christopher Urswick and Reginald Bray are recorded in Vergil, pp. 195–6. For Buckingham’s communication with Henry Tudor see Crowland Chronicle (CC), p. 163 and Rotuli Parliamentorum (RP), vol. VI, pp. 244–9. Duke Francis II’s offer of aid for Henry’s possible invasion is given in Vergil, p. 197 and proved by AD Loire-Atlantique E 212 no. 18 fos. 17v–19 and British Library (BL) Additional MS 19,398 fo. 33. On Henry Tudor’s
journey to England see Vergil and I. Arthurson and N. Kingwell, ‘The proclamation of Henry Tudor as King of England, 3 November 1483’, Historical Research 63 (1990).
Richard’s stunned reaction to Buckingham’s rebellion is found in his letter, TNA C81/1392/6. Horrox, Richard III, contains the best account of the rebellion, but see also Griffiths and Thomas. For Cheyney and Daubeney’s flight, TNA C82/55/6; for Edgecombe, I. Arthuson, ‘A Question of Loyalty’ The Ricardian VII (1987) p. 404.
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).
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