The Winter of Our Discontent, Part I: This Sun of York (NOTES)
Because the post was too long and LJ complained.
1. Wakefield: The Battle of Wakefield (30 December 1460) was a turning point during the Wars of the Roses, where the Lancastrian army defeated and killed Richard, Duke of York, the leader of the Yorkist faction, along with many of his supporters, including his second son, Edmund, Earl of Rutland. His eldest son, Edward, became head of the faction as a result.
2. Warwick has the King in custody: Referring to the Earl of Warwick, one of the Yorkist commanders, who was holding King Henry VI in London after the Yorkists captured him at the Battle of Northampton on 10 July 1460.
3. Random acts of piracy: Warwick was rather guilty of randomly pillaging French and Burgundian ships while he was Captain of Calais during the late 1450s.
4. Lost her once she'd crossed the Severn: The Queen's whereabouts between the battles of Northampton and Wakefield are recorded in detail in only one source, the London chronicle of William Gregory. He relates that she was set upon by robbers on her way to the castle of Hardlagh, in Wales, and that she spent the intervening there, plotting, before heading north to Scotland. The authors might have embroidered a little.
5. Thomas More: The authors see no reason why the Doctor can't have met Thomas More.
6. Greek gods have nothing on that: Although it's difficult to tell from extant portraits (most of which were either painted after his death or very late in life), a number of contemporary accounts at least mention that Edward IV was exceptionally good-looking. Usually in the context of his sex life, which was impressive by most standards. Philippe de Commynes, notorious for not liking the English at all, goes so far as to refer to him multiple times as the handsomest prince in Christendom. The authors suspect he might have fancied him.
7. Jane Shore: Famous for sleeping first with Hastings, then with Edward IV, and then with Hastings again, before Richard III had to spoil all her fun by cutting off Hastings' head. Thomas More called her Edward's 'merriest' harlot, which is actually a compliment. Also, if you believe Thomas Heywood, everyone and their mother wanted to sleep with Jane Shore.
8. Veronica Franco: The authors see no reason why ships carrying clockmen shouldn't all be named after famous mistresses (i.e. Madame de Pompadour).
9. King George: Edward had two remaining brothers, George and Richard.
10. Parhelion: Actually, it was. Although the authors will also accept any explanations involving alien robots.
11. Another French whore: Owen Tudor was notorious for having had an affair with (and eventually marrying) Katharine, the widow of Henry V and mother of Henry VI. His grandson became Henry VII, and, if you're reading any chronicle between 1530 and 1600, they won't let you forget it.
12. April is not a good fishing month: It is more or less agreed that Edward IV died from pneumonia, supposedly contracted while fishing in April.
13. A kiss that was amazing even by his exceptionally high standards: The authors would like to state for the record that they are not the first people to slash Edward IV. See Gregory's Chronicle for Edward's ambiguous--and angsty--relationship with Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, in 1462-3. Also, More claims Queen Elizabeth hated Lord Hastings because 'shee thoughte hym secretelye familyer with the kynge in wanton coumpanye'. Judge you all the rest.
1. Wakefield: The Battle of Wakefield (30 December 1460) was a turning point during the Wars of the Roses, where the Lancastrian army defeated and killed Richard, Duke of York, the leader of the Yorkist faction, along with many of his supporters, including his second son, Edmund, Earl of Rutland. His eldest son, Edward, became head of the faction as a result.
2. Warwick has the King in custody: Referring to the Earl of Warwick, one of the Yorkist commanders, who was holding King Henry VI in London after the Yorkists captured him at the Battle of Northampton on 10 July 1460.
3. Random acts of piracy: Warwick was rather guilty of randomly pillaging French and Burgundian ships while he was Captain of Calais during the late 1450s.
4. Lost her once she'd crossed the Severn: The Queen's whereabouts between the battles of Northampton and Wakefield are recorded in detail in only one source, the London chronicle of William Gregory. He relates that she was set upon by robbers on her way to the castle of Hardlagh, in Wales, and that she spent the intervening there, plotting, before heading north to Scotland. The authors might have embroidered a little.
5. Thomas More: The authors see no reason why the Doctor can't have met Thomas More.
6. Greek gods have nothing on that: Although it's difficult to tell from extant portraits (most of which were either painted after his death or very late in life), a number of contemporary accounts at least mention that Edward IV was exceptionally good-looking. Usually in the context of his sex life, which was impressive by most standards. Philippe de Commynes, notorious for not liking the English at all, goes so far as to refer to him multiple times as the handsomest prince in Christendom. The authors suspect he might have fancied him.
7. Jane Shore: Famous for sleeping first with Hastings, then with Edward IV, and then with Hastings again, before Richard III had to spoil all her fun by cutting off Hastings' head. Thomas More called her Edward's 'merriest' harlot, which is actually a compliment. Also, if you believe Thomas Heywood, everyone and their mother wanted to sleep with Jane Shore.
8. Veronica Franco: The authors see no reason why ships carrying clockmen shouldn't all be named after famous mistresses (i.e. Madame de Pompadour).
9. King George: Edward had two remaining brothers, George and Richard.
10. Parhelion: Actually, it was. Although the authors will also accept any explanations involving alien robots.
11. Another French whore: Owen Tudor was notorious for having had an affair with (and eventually marrying) Katharine, the widow of Henry V and mother of Henry VI. His grandson became Henry VII, and, if you're reading any chronicle between 1530 and 1600, they won't let you forget it.
12. April is not a good fishing month: It is more or less agreed that Edward IV died from pneumonia, supposedly contracted while fishing in April.
13. A kiss that was amazing even by his exceptionally high standards: The authors would like to state for the record that they are not the first people to slash Edward IV. See Gregory's Chronicle for Edward's ambiguous--and angsty--relationship with Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, in 1462-3. Also, More claims Queen Elizabeth hated Lord Hastings because 'shee thoughte hym secretelye familyer with the kynge in wanton coumpanye'. Judge you all the rest.