The Wars of the Roses

[coz1]

Fb-fb:

Making connections in court is definitely a good idea.

He will need to, no doubt.

As is typical Coz has raced through many things. A very unexpected shock in killing Edward off, I freely admit I did not see that coming. It is going to be interesting to see what Richard does now he actually has the throne after all that it has cost him, though I am reassured that he is statesman like enough to realise that War with France is always a good move. I am also hopeful that Edmund isn't going to be too permanently scarred by all this, Leighson is a good man and his advice is sound, of course Edmund can never forget or 'get over' this, but it does not have to dominate his life. Fingers crossed for him on that last one I admit.

I think of it a bit like cresting a wave. The higher you get, the more the rush. The events happened quickly and while I could have drawn out each moment, I chose not to. Which leads to...

As we are now looking back at things, or at least our author has done, I think I will grapple with this point.

I maintain those were excellent questions, because as a matter of pacing 320,000 words is two good length novels, that's a lot reading before you get to the change that was promised. Of course there are excellent works that pretty much follow history, Wolf Hall springs to mind as being a similar sort of period and hitting all the major historical beats while still being an entertaining read, so this is not a problem with historical fiction but one of a very extended setup.

I also suspect that the forum setting did not help. An audience that probably mostly knows the main beats of history and is used to a commenting culture where speculation and discussion about a work are encouraged is not exactly calculated to be a patient one. Equally the episodic nature as opposed to a single complete book makes for a different experience, though word wise this has been perhaps the equivalent of reading The Fellowship and The Two Towers and at the very end of the second book someone mentioning The Ring for the first time.

That said you know your own work best, so the long build up to the change was clearly required. And just to be clear on the spirit behind this comment I do want to repeat that I have enjoyed reading and commenting on this work and I'm look forward to seeing how King Richard and the others fare as we wait for the Wars to flare up again.

A perfectly valid point, and in truth I am only razzing you.

That said, I maintain that I needed all of the lead up to the moment. In this case, "The Ring" is the throne. And one cannot say that it was not brought up early and often. It is true that much of what came before was/is well known by many of the readers and I agree that the episodic nature of how we post here drags it out a bit more than is ideal, yet despite that it was fun and interesting to me to explore these characters in the lead up to what was planned. It is hoped that having grown to know these figures, that the end result is that much more impactful.

It'll be interesting to see what happens next, because one of several 'benefits' of the wars of the Roses going on for so long was that it killed the idea of conquering France and unifying the realms. Everyone with a solid claim was dead and France had in the meantime just about managed to sort itself out.

Meant the English had to instead pivot to becoming the british, which is not something they ever really tried before (the other nations being distractions or occasional targets of assault).

If the Yorks win soonish, and they sort of have to for this to be alt history (if this all just ends with Henry and Richard and Edmund dead regardless then what was the point?) then the big focus will stay on making France their...ahem...Wench.

Both because they pick up right where Henry V left off and partially out of vengeance against rhe Queen. Plus it'll bring the realm together again, and move all surviving armies onto the continent.

Then again, some OTL factors remain. Wales and Ireland are proven weak points for English defence that require plugging, and Scotland just invaded England and pillaged rhe North. Some kind of reckoning or recommence will be required there.

I do agree that the end of the Hundred Years War and subsequent WOTR changed the course of history for England. Up to that point, England was a continental actor. By losing the war with France (and most lands within) it caused England to become more insular. That and 30 years of civil unrest/internal familial battles. By the time they came out of it during the Tudor period, England looked more to the seas and beyond. In many ways this was beneficial.

Here we won't see that. Richard has already promised that he still remembers the loss of Normandy and wants revenge. Slight spoiler, but it creates a bit of trouble with one fairly well known member of his court. Plus...Henry, Margaret et al remain out there.

To that score, the next scene is brief but sets up a little of what comes after. In all truth, it possibly should have been the first scene of the chapter but there were some loose ends that needed tending.

 

[coz1]

Dijon, Burgundy, April 1461​

“Your father is dead,” Isabella of Portugal said as she entered the roasting solar warmed by a large fire, “And I am now Dowager Duchess.”

Count Charles of Charolais did not look to her as he answered, “You do not seem to weep, maman.”

“Why should I?” she questioned as she moved to her son and held to his back, “Your father was cruel. There is reason that I did retire from court.”

The Count showed a slim smile, “You never did retire.”

“No,” she stated with a nod, “I did not. Three score years and I hold my own.”

Charles seemed surprised by his emotions, “I did not think to honor him.”

“Yet honor him, you shall,” Isabella pressed to his neck, “For you honor this tradition. You are now Duke of Burgundy, sir. And...I think more.”

He watched the flames, “You think it time?”

“Why not?” Isabella asked, “The Lord to Champagne calls it so and the King of France...he is no King.”

Charles allowed a smile, “Yet there is a new King of England.”

His mother turned him quickly and pressed to his chin, “You are not so old that I cannot tell you, sir! By your father you hold the blood of Kings, and so too by myself with the blood of John of Gaunt. Your fascination with monsieur le Warwick should be done. I say so too with this Louis le Dauphin. It is fourteen and sixty one, sir. Meat rains from the tree tops and we shall take our own!”

“I see that you did not retire, maman,” Charles stood and kissed her gently to the cheek, “And glad I am of it. Yet I am not done with either man. This new King Richard...he holds a son. Mores the pity about the first. I met him. Quite charming. Yet this new one...this new Prince of England...quite a catch for my Mary.”

She shifted to a settle and folded her arms in answer, “Indeed. So too the son of Louis. And we? We are in between. There is France and there is England...”

“And there is Burgundy,” he followed her, “With the Emperor to our east and these others to the west. I know it well, maman. I cannot simply snap my fingers and make it so.”

“This Richard has done,” Isabella pointed.

Charles allowed a smile, “Things are done...differently to England.”

“D’Albert of Champagne has done it,” she countered, “So many others declare. A republic to Toulouse? It is laughable. You, my son...you are the strongest of these men. If you are not a King, then who is?”

“He will want Normandy,” Charles considered to himself.

She pressed, “And the King of France claims it now.”

“And the King of France will never die,” he followed.

Isabella smiled, “And Louis le Dauphin is not yet King.”

“Yet I am,” Charles looked off to the distance, “And they will both want more.”

She gave nod, “And then so shall we.”

 

[El Pip]

“Your father is dead,” Isabella of Portugal said as she entered the roasting solar warmed by a large fire, “And I am now Dowager Duchess.”

"As you know, your father, the Duke, is dead."

If nothing else Richard is lucky in his enemies, France is a mess and clearly there are deals to be done. On which note it may be time for Richard to poke the Ambassador from Castille, point at the crown on his head and raise his eyebrow meaningfully, if the Castille marriage alliance is still possible then it is well worth grabbing. Then teaming up to give France an even more thorough kicking.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

"As you know, your father, the Duke, is dead."

If nothing else Richard is lucky in his enemies, France is a mess and clearly there are deals to be done. On which note it may be time for Richard to poke the Ambassador from Castille, point at the crown on his head and raise his eyebrow meaningfully, if the Castille marriage alliance is still possible then it is well worth grabbing. Then teaming up to give France an even more thorough kicking.

Good time to do it. Get Castille as an ally, make some friends, conquer France together in exchange for some help in Iberia, then discover the new world and split the difference.

Burgundy is a powerful player, dependent on good fortune and France and the HRE being weak however. Still, OTL they became the biggest player in Europe and that wasn't by accident. If England can get them onside with conquering France in exchange for some border switching and possible help if the germans ever feel like sniffing around, it'll be worth it.

Basically all England really needs to do is stop fighting itself and it can make bank on the continent and in Wales and Ireland. But how they're going to end this rather long running domestic dispute, relatively quickly, is less clear.

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

Burgundy has joined the game.

 

[HistoryDude]

What kind of republic is Toulouse?

Also, this is the Mary that married into the Habsburgs in OTL, right? That could change a lot of history in the HRE too.

Also, if the Burgundian Succession occurs as in OTL, Burgundy and England would then enter into a personal union. If they'd conquered France by that point... I imagine that the situation in Western Europe would be very interesting.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

What kind of republic is Toulouse?

Also, this is the Mary that married into the Habsburgs in OTL, right? That could change a lot of history in the HRE too.

Also, if the Burgundian Succession occurs as in OTL, Burgundy and England would then enter into a personal union. If they'd conquered France by that point... I imagine that the situation in Western Europe would be very interesting.

Means a slightly more...balanced Europe. Castille gets super wealthy with America, Austria remains the HRE and doesn't kill itself trying to hold Europe and America together, and in-between, an English burgundian union.

Meaning Europe has two large naval powers and three large land powers.

 

[coz1]

Fb-fb:

"As you know, your father, the Duke, is dead."

If nothing else Richard is lucky in his enemies, France is a mess and clearly there are deals to be done. On which note it may be time for Richard to poke the Ambassador from Castille, point at the crown on his head and raise his eyebrow meaningfully, if the Castille marriage alliance is still possible then it is well worth grabbing. Then teaming up to give France an even more thorough kicking.

Good memory on the Castilian Ambassador. Let's just say he will return at a point. Richard certainly would like to keep the suggestion he gave to him last time, but perhaps this time with Edmund rather than Edward.

Good time to do it. Get Castille as an ally, make some friends, conquer France together in exchange for some help in Iberia, then discover the new world and split the difference.

Burgundy is a powerful player, dependent on good fortune and France and the HRE being weak however. Still, OTL they became the biggest player in Europe and that wasn't by accident. If England can get them onside with conquering France in exchange for some border switching and possible help if the germans ever feel like sniffing around, it'll be worth it.

Basically all England really needs to do is stop fighting itself and it can make bank on the continent and in Wales and Ireland. But how they're going to end this rather long running domestic dispute, relatively quickly, is less clear.

It is the inner workings of what was left of France that becomes rather interesting coming up.

Burgundy has joined the game.

They hope so, but likely as a different player than we are used to.

What kind of republic is Toulouse?

Also, this is the Mary that married into the Habsburgs in OTL, right? That could change a lot of history in the HRE too.

Also, if the Burgundian Succession occurs as in OTL, Burgundy and England would then enter into a personal union. If they'd conquered France by that point... I imagine that the situation in Western Europe would be very interesting.

Not sure what kind, just a republic. I honestly did not pay too much attention at game time but did notice that when going back through the screens. They will play a little in what comes next, but they are not huge game changers.

And yes, that is the same Mary that OTL would marry into Habsburg. She is still very young so the suitors are not really lined up yet. The game of matches becomes quite interesting around this time (though I've made them all up since EUIV doesn't really do characters.)

Means a slightly more...balanced Europe. Castille gets super wealthy with America, Austria remains the HRE and doesn't kill itself trying to hold Europe and America together, and in-between, an English burgundian union.

Meaning Europe has two large naval powers and three large land powers.

There are some changes - no Spain as Castile and Aragon remained split and indeed France is a bunch of small minor Kingdoms rather than the large one of OTL. Let's just say that the French lands become a bit of a battlefield for most of the rest of this period between various powers.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Castile and Aragon remained split

I still feel economics/politics/religion/maybe even colonial stuff will unify most if not all the iberian peninsula, unless castille goes west and takes Portugal and then south to Africa and America, and aragon goes north unto France and east into naples.

They're all so close together, there's no natural barriers, they're all related and they're all competing for the same stuff.

Sort of like Scotland not 'inevitably' being taken over by England but almost certain to happen in terms of culture, politics, economics, etc no matter what happens.

 

[coz1]

I still feel economics/politics/religion/maybe even colonial stuff will unify most if not all the iberian peninsula, unless castille goes west and takes Portugal and then south to Africa and America, and aragon goes north unto France and east into naples.

They're all so close together, there's no natural barriers, they're all related and they're all competing for the same stuff.

Sort of like Scotland not 'inevitably' being taken over by England but almost certain to happen in terms of culture, politics, economics, etc no matter what happens.

In a sense, that's true. In many ways, Castile by itself takes over for what we know of as Spain.

 

[coz1]

Baynard’s Castle, April 1461​

It was a stormy night and Anne of York sat close to the hearth with her knitting. She could barely see the slight pin holes yet it took her from other frustrations. It seemed a full house with everyone but her husband. Her mother remained distraught at the death of Edward and the rest seemed to get under her way. She loved her siblings, yet she was used to more freedom.

It was better than the Tower, she thought. There was at least that. She tried to hum a merry tune to keep out the sound of the pouring rain yet it had not stopped for two days. How dreary it all seemed. Her father was now King, yet...she had lost both a brother and a husband. One was dead. The other…

“Annie,” he said as the Duke of Exeter stepped into the chamber dripping wet from the rain.

She was shocked and dropped her needlework, “You...you should not be to here!”

“I do not plan to stay,” Henry Holland entered fully and removed his cloak, “Only a moment to dry out. And see you.”

Anne went to him and looked with confusion, “Where have you been?!”

“When last we were here...” he answered, “...you said that you hoped for my misfortune. You were not wrong.”

She found a cloth and helped pat him down as she replied, “I believe that I said that you brought it upon yourself and thus deserved it.”

Holland allowed a slight smile before he held her to him, “I am sorry, dear heart. You are right about it all.”

“I am pleased to hear you say it...” Anne returned his gaze with great sorrowful eyes, “...and yet it brings me no great fortune.”

The Duke held her more tightly, “I am...sorry about your brother. He did not deserve that.”

“Would that you had stood by him, he could not have!” Anne pulled from his embrace, “We are all devastated!”

He allowed a nod, “And your father is King.”

“And you are a cold heart, Henry Holland!” she persisted, “I have been shut to the Tower, caused to grief by the deaths of my uncle, my cousin and my brother along with so many more...and you would think to rekindle?! Find but a moment?!”

“Sadly, my dear...a moment is all that I have,” the Duke replied, “As I’m certain that you know, I...and yours for that matter...have been attained. No less than eighty of us, and I am sure that more are to follow. I wasn’t even there, Anne! And I found your father and brought him home to you! Does that not matter?!”

Anne looked on with question, “I’ve heard the story from Ed. I know not that he tells it rightly.”

“Your uncle!” Holland showed a plea, “I went to him...and only for you.”

“You are a sad man...” she started to say but he stopped her.

“Yes! I am! Only for that I have want of you and your love and find it not! I AM SORRY, Anne! Please forgive me!!”

Anne turned from him with a sad eye still but a hint of playfulness, “I should not. You have been cruel. So where have you been?”

“Where have I not been, madam?” Exeter stated as he tried to smile, “To the Channel and the Tower...all the way to north and back. It was my shame...and I have tried to do nothing since but regain my honor. It is not easy when your father does banish me after I have saved his life.”

She offered him a brief smile, “He does not like you.”

“Well I don’t like him,” the Duke moved to her and pulled her back into an embrace, “Yet now he is King and may carry out my sentence. I cannot stay, but I love you too much! I am so ashamed by everything but only the thought of you has carried me. Just to spy you one more time...have another moment.”

She did not like his words and frowned, “We have been married since I was but a child, sir! When did you ever cherish me?!”

“When I realized the woman that you became,” he answered, “You hold your father in you...and your mother...but so too your brother. I did not realize the strength you held until it was far away from me and I needed it so.”

Anne softened and held a gentle finger to his lips, “You hold still a golden tongue. Yet you will need to speak leagues to me before I forgive you.”

“I shall not have that chance I’m afraid,” he answered as he kissed her deeply.

The storm outside raged but inside the bedchamber, the Duke and Duchess of Exeter found a love they had not shared in some time. They heard none of it and only themselves. By early morning, the rain had ceased but her passion had not and Anne draped an arm over her husband with a smile, “We’ve been missing of that for some years I think...my Lord.”

“My Lady...” Henry mused as he traced his finger down her cheek, “...I think that we have never held that. Yet I am grateful.”

She propped up in the bed with a fake affront, “I should hope so!”

“Yet the light does shine...” he answered as he pointed to the window, “...and as I said. I have not much time.”

Anne held tightly to his bare chest, “Mama does promise me that he will forgive you! It is all an act. My father intends to be tolerant in the after. Those that have gone...my brother...they are the punishment, he says. He will forgive you, Henry!”

“There is little forgiveness in this world,” Holland sat up in the bed and kissed her before moving to dress himself.

She responded with a sigh, “I wish you would not go.”

“You may wish that I was never here,” Exeter answered over his shoulder and then turned to her as he sat to put on his boots, “Yet I was. And glad of it. But I must go, Annie. I am attained and thus my life is forfeit. I know not where, yet I must go. You will be fine even though you hold my name. After all...your father is King. He will not be kind to me. This I know.”

Anne sat up in the bed and covered herself, “You do not give him chance!”

“I am not blind, my wife,” he replied as he stood, “Nor am I deaf. Of all those attained, he takes back crown lands. He states it as reform. What he really means is to take what he wants and reward his men with the spoils. I am not one of those men.”

“Yet you could be!” she suggested with care.

“I am not Warwick...” Exeter answered with some disdain, “...given title as Earl by his wife, no less. Nor am I Wenlock or Hastings and the like. Low men brought up. It strikes me that your Lord father the King was right all those years ago. Only men of the blood royal should be given to Council. I was one of those...yet your father does banish me. My hope is beyond.”

Anne was suddenly sad once again, “So that is all? You are to leave me another time?”

“My lady wife...” Holland offered her a smile, “...I have said a lot of things to a lot of people this last year. For my life, frankly. Yet I say nothing more true than what I say now. I have done it all for you. For us.”

She held her arms tightly to her bare chest, “You do not love me, sir!”

“Anne!” the Duke moved to her and held her fiercely, “I love you more than anything!”

 

[El Pip]

Henry is a surprisingly complicated fellow, though I suppose it is rarely for simple reasons that you change sides as often as he has.

One of his problems is that he is too prominent and important to be ignored or easily forgiven, but not powerful enough to be a major player. His connection with Anne means Richard will always be aware of him, but it comes with no real benefit at this point. I'm not going to feel sorry for him because it's entirely self inflicted, but I am once again slightly more sympathetic towards him than I thought I would be.

 

[Bullfilter]

Looking forward to see where both the narrative and the game diverge from here: just curious, have you basically separated the two in terms of England’s leadership and WOTR, paralleled by the in game bigger picture?

 

[coz1]

Fb-fb:

Henry is a surprisingly complicated fellow, though I suppose it is rarely for simple reasons that you change sides as often as he has.

One of his problems is that he is too prominent and important to be ignored or easily forgiven, but not powerful enough to be a major player. His connection with Anne means Richard will always be aware of him, but it comes with no real benefit at this point. I'm not going to feel sorry for him because it's entirely self inflicted, but I am once again slightly more sympathetic towards him than I thought I would be.

As inconsistent and seemingly arbitrary as Exeter is, I find him far more interesting (to me) than his RL counterpart. He has indeed brought all of his misfortune on himself and his attempts to rectify any of that have been even more failure. But give the guy some credit for trying.

Also, he does get around. Not quite Martin Magic of being in five places at once, but the man does travel.

Looking forward to see where both the narrative and the game diverge from here: just curious, have you basically separated the two in terms of England’s leadership and WOTR, paralleled by the in game bigger picture?

Good question. Once Richard took the throne, I edited the save game to make him King and changed his heir to Edmund. I did not go wild when I gave them stats, though York does have good admin. I also appointed him as a military commander. In game, I have two armies now. One, the Royal Army and the other York's Army. From this point forward (except in a few instances) what I relate will be what I take from the game. The map I put up recently is straight from the game as is the attempt at a RM with Castile.

Obviously with other characters not named Richard, I can be as free with them as I want as long as it sticks to what the map and/or events generate. I may not mention a revolt here or there (though when do I ever? Sometimes they are not worth it.) But the battles are mostly straight from the game going forward. There may be a few other things that I add for narrative purposes that are not provided by the game, but we are definitely in divergence land now.

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

Exeter must have Italian blood to be able to change sides so easily.

 

[HistoryDude]

I do feel sorry for Exeter.

Anne seems to think that York is going to be merciful. I don't think that she's right, although I do wonder why she thinks that.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

I do feel sorry for Exeter.

Anne seems to think that York is going to be merciful. I don't think that she's right, although I do wonder why she thinks that.

Doesn't make much sense for York to be going that hard against people with no power or influence until he's won the war completely.

Then again, Exeter is so annoying to both sides that he's going to get ganked by one of them.

 

[coz1]

More fb-fb:

Exeter must have Italian blood to be able to change sides so easily.

Not a bad guess.

I do feel sorry for Exeter.

Anne seems to think that York is going to be merciful. I don't think that she's right, although I do wonder why she thinks that.

Anne may want it to be right. Of all of the York children, she is likely the most naive.

Doesn't make much sense for York to be going that hard against people with no power or influence until he's won the war completely.

Then again, Exeter is so annoying to both sides that he's going to get ganked by one of them.

York holds a grudge against Exeter for not joining him before. Especially as Holland was a ward of his that he then married his first daughter to. He feels betrayed.

 

[coz1]

The Tower, June 1461​

The Most Noble Order of the Garter was founded in chivalry by King Edward III. It was a way to provide patronage for good and great deeds done for the sovereign. And upon every new coronation since, more had been included. Yet only twenty four were allowed by the rules and as luck would have it, a number of stalls were now empty. It was customary for the night before a coronation that the King would host his members to the Tower where they would bath together and find comrades. They would all be in turn hosts to His Grace the King.

It was that night that Richard told his sons it would be. He was now King. And he told them all, “My Lords...as we sweat here, let us know why and wherefore. Tomorrow I shall be anointed. Do you all follow me?”

“Aye!” rang the cry from those assembled.

“You, my Lord of Norfolk...are you pleased?” Richard looked to John Mowbray.

Norfolk offered a bow as he held up his towel at the waist, “I did rescue you, sire. Brought you forth.”

“And you, Fauconberg...or shall I say my Lord Earl of Kent?” Richard smiled as he wiped a cloth at his body, “How do you find it?”

“Your Grace is most generous,” William Neville replied.

“We are,” Richard grinned, “For we have something very special to bestow. I call forth my boys.”

Edmund, George and Richard were there and had already been named knights. The eldest stood to the fore and questioned, “What more can it be, papa?”

Not usually a heavy drinker, these nights were often made for imbibing. Richard wobbled as he stood but tried to stand as tall as he might, “This order is named by Edward...Edward named the third. It is by his right that we stand here. My right. And that I have it to me, I would name more.”

The Earl of Worcester grinned, “You are too generous, Your Grace.”

He was the King! By God! Or would be anointed soon. Richard pointed to his three sons and answered, “On the morrow, lads, you will be made princes. Of the blood royal. There are a few of those out there.”

The chamber laughed as a group and Richard showed a stern eye to his sons, “I am to be undoubted King and you will follow me. For you will be undoubted as well. As I may hold the will of the Almighty, I then grant to you these things. My son, Edmund...step forward.”

Edmund of York did as told and bowed to his father. Richard held his hand high before making the sign of the cross, “King Edward had right mind when he rewarded his sons and I would do the same. The first male child since that time has historically been named Earl of Chester and Duke of Cornwall. I...cannot do that. Yet what I may do is name thee Edmund Plantagenet and my son as the Duke of Bedford. And with letters patent all that comes with it.”

“I do homage to you, father,” Edmund held his hands so that his father could grasp them on either side.

Richard smiled, “I give to you more. While some titles are held by others, there is one above many that you are owed. It is...too hard...to think of the other, yet with this raising I do also grant you title as the Prince of Wales.”

Edmund could only bow and Richard gestured for his other sons, “Kneel before your father and King.”

They did so and Richard made the sign of the cross over all of their heads as he spoke, “To you, George Plantagenet, I grant thee as Duke of Clarence. It is a time honored role of the second son of a King and while you be...my third...in accordance with your mother it is right and true.”

George bowed his head deeply but the youngest looked up to his father with anticipation as he continued, “And you, Richard Plantagenet...my namesake and son...I grant you title as Duke of Gloucester.”

“Is that not cursed?” the boy questioned with horror and all laughed.

King Richard held his youngest son’s head in both his hand, “You will make it all right and good, sir. I know it.”

“What of Lancaster, sire?” the Earl of Warwick questioned with a grin.

Richard turned to him and smiled, “Who may know? Yet I am not done, sir. For I have some more for you.”

“You really are too generous, Your Grace,” Norfolk jested but Richard Neville the younger looked on with eagerness.

The new King turned to them all, “I would not name a Duke of Lancaster for that title is held with the crown and some other claims it...wherever he is...”

Laughter followed and Richard looked back to Warwick, “...and I would not name one in any ways. For that title should fall to abeyance. Yet I will say to you, sir...my Lord Earl of Warwick through which none of this might have been possible...without your father. I will task you with the north. I’ve not yet decided on a marcher Lord yet...but I would have you keep it sound.”

That was not what the Earl of Warwick expected and it showed. King Richard looked to him with a curious eye, “Do you find that a trouble?”

“Nay, my Lord...” Warwick held his head low, “...Your Grace. I would do all for the memory of my father and keep the north. You honor me.”

“I honor you all,” Richard looked to the rest of his knights, “For it is to you that we hold this country...this realm. Peace, my Lords...for now. As we spy another in our sights. It is you good and gentle men that shall keep it so!”

Sir Henry Stafford called out, “Praise be the King!”

“Ah...Stafford...” Richard looked to him, “...you remind me. You must tell your wife the Lady Beaufort that her son is now ward to the Earl of Pembroke.”

“Your Grace?” Sir Henry looked to him with confusion, “Is not Jasper Tudor fled?”

Richard looked plainly, “Tudor is, sir. Though I shall not allow his nephew to run far. The boy should be to his Welsh home and that is Pembroke. Is that not right...my Lord Earl?”

The King turned to Black William Herbert in the corner of the bath house and he bowed his head, “Your Grace is ever generous and we shall not fail you.”

 

[HistoryDude]

How much of Wales do the Yorkists control? Is anyone supporting the queen?

I wonder if the addition of his children to the House of Lords will mean anything.