Duty is the ultimate beauty.

‘Well, that is what he thought!

And boy, how the young king fought!’

But,  first things first.

Henry’s coronation took place at Westminster Abbey on Passion Sunday, 1413 in the midst of a snowstorm. The young king cut a distinctive figure as he strode towards the throne in his coronation robes. Standing a lofty six feet three inches in height, he towered above all of those assembled within the abbey’s hallowed walls. There was always something rather austere about Henry. At the coronation banquet it is said that he did not partake of any food or drink. He appeared not to be in a celebratory mood, but in more of a pensive frame of mind.

‘This is not an occasion to be filled with food and become sodden with a surfeit of drink!

A prudent king needs time to ponder the future, reflect and think!’

Young Hal.

Henry V had been born on September 16th, 1386 at Monmouth Castle in Wales. He was not born to be king, because although he was of royal blood, it was his father’s cousin, King Richard II who sat on the throne. By modern standards, Henry’s childhood was a rather unstable one. His mother, Mary de Bohun died in June 1394 when Henry was seven years old.

Mary de Bohun.

In 1398, King Richard sent Henry’s father, Bolingbroke into exile in France which must have been traumatic for the boy. However, the king took Henry into his care and treated him well.

King Richard II.

Clearly, Richard did not believe that the sins of the father should be paid for by the children. This probably explains why as king Henry V, he had Richard II’s body exhumed from a relatively obscure grave in Kings Langley Priory and re-interred in Westminster Abbey. This act also illustrated Henry’s strong sense of duty. It was simply the right thing to do for a king and kinsman who had met an unfortunate end.

Henry as Prince of Wales presents a book to a favoured noble.

In the summer of 1399, Bolingbroke had returned to England with an army and launched a successful coup against his cousin, King Richard. Bolingbroke forced Richard to abdicate in his favour and was crowned king as Henry IV. This meant that his eldest son, young Hal became the Prince of Wales, and therefore the heir to the throne.

Government experience.

The fact that Henry IV was in poor health meant that Prince Henry would have the opportunity to participate in government. In fact, from 1410 until late 1411, he was the de facto ruler of England.

Military prowess as Prince Henry.

Henry was first ‘blooded’ in battle in July, 1403, aged sixteen at the Battle of Shrewsbury. He was engaging rebel forces, when for some reason he raised his visor and was hit with an arrow in the face.

‘The young prince received a grievous arrow wound to his face!

But falter, he did not, moving forward he led his men with courage and grace!’

In fact, Prince Henry made a very real contribution to the royal victory that day at Shrewsbury. His facial wound could have been fatal, but the skill of the king’s personal physician, John Bradmore saved his life.

The Battle of Shrewsbury.

Prince Henry showed early promise as a military commander in Wales, dealing with the Welsh insurgent, Owen Glendower. His energetic policy of ‘search and destroy’ which included the tactic of deliberate starvation eventually forced Glendower to abandon his rebellion against the English crown.

The new king showed promise of becoming a most effective ruler of the realm.

‘No, you insolent young pup!

Don’t you tell me that my time as king is up!’

So said the old, tired hound, King Henry IV to the eldest of his litter, Prince Hal! Henry was angry beyond measure that his son would suggest that he should abdicate as king.

Teaching Prince Hal a lesson!

The king also said:

‘You know kid, I could name your younger brother, Tom as my heir as king!’

‘If I were to do that, you would not be king, but just another duke!

Doesn’t the prospect of that, cause you to go pale in the face, and want to puke!’

To young Tom you, an older brother, would spend your life playing second fiddle!

In that role, you would be no more significant than a piggy in the middle!’

However, words are one thing, but action is another.

In 1410 Prince Henry had elevated his ally, Sir Thomas Beaufort as chancellor, but the king soon replaced him with his own man, Thomas of Arundel. The former Archbishop of Canterbury was a loyal friend of the king and had previous experience as chancellor.

Thomas of Arundel.

The king also had some of the prince’s supporters arrested and incarcerated in the Tower.  Late in 1411, Henry IV convened a parliament where the possibility of abdication was debated, but thrown out; the old king still ruled. Prince Henry soon saw sense and proceeded to ingratiate himself with his father.

Reconciliation – father and son!

The reconciliation was something of a dramatic affair, a veritable touch of the theatre was deployed by young Prince Hal. In June, 1412 Prince Henry arrived at Westminster and sent word beseeching his father to receive him.

Entering his father’s chamber, he approached the old king with head bowed, his face a mask of anguish. The king sat impassively, his fevered frame still as a statue. The son then went down on his knees and drawing his dagger, he looked up at his father’s visage and paused. Young Hal then meekly offered the dagger to his father. With tears in his eyes, the prince implored the king to slay him, if it would bring comfort and ease to his heart and mind.

‘Father, if I offended you, then the price of the offence, I must and will pay!

Then take this dagger and with it, yes, my errant self you may slay!’

The old king wept and embraced his son with great warmth, in a true spirit of reconciliation. Henry IV then stood up, the tears glistening on his cheeks, and his voice breaking with emotion said:

‘You Prince Hal! You are my first born son and to the crown of England, the heir!

A truly awesome undertaking and one that must borne with dignity and great, unrelenting care!’

This was probably the last moment of happiness that Henry IV would ever know. His mortal coil was unravelling quite swiftly as his illness intensified in the final months of 1412. The end could not be far off and indeed, it was not.

In February 1413, the king was stricken once again while praying in Westminster Abbey. Henry had sought solace at King Edward the Confessor’s shrine, but this was where his kingship was to cease.  The king had entered the abbey alive, but would not leave until his last breath had expired.

He was then taken to the Jerusalem Chamber of the abbey and remained there until he died on March 21st. He was forty-six years old.

‘To be constantly poorly and ill!

It has a terrible effect on a man’s strength of will!’

Whatever satisfaction Henry might have derived from putting down the final Percy rebellion, it was to be short-lived. Less than four months later he was stricken by a serious stroke on June 8th 1408, the third anniversary of Archbishop Scrope’s execution.

An extremely odd coincidence!

What was the cause of this ailment? Some said that it was undoubtedly divine retribution for the execution of Archbishop Scrope. Others pointed to his time on the crusades. Crusaders were known to return from their time as holy warriors in Palestine with the distinctly unholy disease of syphilis. Henry howled aloud that his skin and innards were on fire! The agony was unbearable and there seemed no end to his torment.

‘The king is afflicted with an ailment so very bizarre!

Has it anything to do with the women that he encountered in the eastern bazaar?’

‘Well of course, he approached these ladies and his bidding, they dutifully did!

But the lusty old rascal has been left with a disease of which he cannot get rid!’

Down in the castle guardroom some of the grizzled old knights winked and whispered:

‘We told him about those Turkish girls.’

Another, slyly chuckling into his ale:

The Turkish girls used to say, master crusader, you will always remember me!

One old knight, slapping his thigh, guffawed:

Well, there’s at least one girl who gave him something that he will never forget, haha!

There were occasions that the king was so grievously stricken that he needed to be carried on a litter, when he visited the holy shrines to pray for a cure.

Cash!

‘Money! Money! Money!

Life as a king is not all milk and honey!

Apart from physical illness, Henry suffered from a chronic shortage of money. There was never enough money to pay for the governance of the country. In May of 1406 a council was established to assist Henry with the government of the realm. An additional council was created to oversee royal finances, and this was to be chaired by Prince Henry.

Henry the younger – Prince Hal!

Around 1410, with the king clearly in terminal poor health, many at court were pondering a post-King Henry IV scenario. As the king’s future was expected to be of a short duration, it was hardly surprising that some were casting inquiring glances in the direction of his son, Prince Henry. The young man possessed an impressive curriculum vitae. As a youth of a mere sixteen summers, he had deported himself well at the battle of Shrewsbury in July 1403.

The Battle of Shrewsbury, 1403.

Young Hal had also gained valuable experience in campaigning against Owen Glendower in Wales and had proven himself to be a promising military commander. Prince Henry was also establishing himself as a man of government, by heading the council on royal finance.  The king, racked by pain, had left the powerhouse of Westminster and was now resident in his grandfather, Edward III’s beloved Windsor castle. This, of course, allowed greater scope for Prince Henry to expand his power.

The king and his disagreed over policy towards France. Prince Hal was keen to revive the ‘Hundred Years War’ back to its previous status of total war but King Henry wanted none of it. On occasions their verbal sparring became quite intense. The old king exclaimed:

‘Over war with France, m’ boy, you are a hawk!

But fighting the French requires more than mere talk!’

By 1411, young Henry, greatly encouraged by members of his household, appeared to have donned the mantle of king-in-waiting and this did not go unnoticed by his ailing father. Indeed, it is rumoured that Prince Henry had quietly mentioned to his father the possibility and benefits of his abdicating in the near future.

The old king then decided that it was time to reassert himself and put a halt to his son’s gallop.

‘Oh to gain widespread approval for my new regime!

Oh, yes that is indeed my most earnest, earthly dream!’

Henry IV.

Archbishop Scrope’s rebellion 1405

Richard Scrope, Archbishop of York.

There had been a rebellion led by the Archbishop of York, Richard Scrope in May 1405, who had denounced Henry as a usurper and a wastrel. Another complaint was unnecessarily high levels of taxation. Scrope had amassed a large force and Henry hurried north in order to deal with the emergency. In the event, Scrope was tricked into disbanding his men by the Earl of Westmoreland, a supporter of the king. Westmoreland told Scrope that his demands would be met, but first he must tell his army to disband. Scrope addressed his men and said:

‘You loyal men may take your leave, the king will grant all that we desire!

Go hither to your homes in the towns and villages of this great county of  Yorkshire!’ 

Cheering uproariously and throwing their hats in the air, Scrope’s men departed in high spirits.

‘The Earl of Westmoreland stood with the visor of his helmet down!

Was this to hide an irritated frown?

Nay, Westmoreland knew that by lying, he had committed a grievous sin!

On his face was spread  an enormous, devilish grin!

Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmoreland.

Scrope was then promptly arrested by a grinning Westmoreland and held at Pontefract. Grabbing the stunned Archbishop by the shoulder, he said:

‘C’mon you old fool of a traitor!

It’s off with you to Pontefract in chains and the king will deal with you later!’

The Archbishop was brought before the king as soon as he had reached York, and was condemned to death. Executing an Archbishop was no casual undertaking, but Henry would brook no opposition. Indeed, Henry personally led the unfortunate prelate to his place of execution outside York on June 8th. Scrope, a man of great learning and gentle good manners was a popular figure, and many mourned his death.

‘You have executed the holy Archbishop, Richard Scrope!

For a peaceful life thereafter, you King Henry, now have no hope!’

Divine retribution?

Then on that early summer’s day in 1405, with Scrope’s corpse barely cold, a strange thing happened. Henry was struck by a sudden and extremely painful, mysterious ailment. He screamed aloud that his skin was burning and red pustules appeared on his body. The illness soon abated, but there would be regular relapses for the rest of his life. Some, including at least one chronicler thought it to be divine punishment for the execution of Archbishop Scrope.

‘Oh, dear King Henry, the execution of Archbishop Scrope was an event that put you at your ease!

Oh my goodness, how now! Yes, how now, is it that you are afflicted with a terrible skin disease!’

By 1406, Henry had passed through a number of crises and his throne was no longer in any real danger. Nevertheless, he was still a little nervous about antagonising the nobility. Henry allowed the magnates a degree of independence that they had not enjoyed under Richard II.

Percy’s last hurrah!

Would the north ever be at peace? Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, had once been a loyal supporter of King Henry IV. However, disputes over money had since soured their once cordial relationship. Percy had supported Glendower and more latterly, the rebellion of Archbishop Scrope. His support for Scrope had resulted in the confiscation of his estates and his banishment to Scotland.  In early 1408, he returned to England with a small army, hoping that he would be joined by many others. This was not to be, but even at the age of 66 years the spirit of rebellion shone bright within him. On the 19th February, the old earl’s hopes were finally dashed on a snow covered Yorkshire moor by the county sheriff, Thomas Rokeby. Percy was killed and his head was sent south to London, where it was placed to adorn the top of London bridge as a warning of what will befall traitors to the realm.

 

The accession of Bolingbroke to the throne as Henry IV was marred by the muttering that he was a usurper.

The coronation of Henry IV in October 1399.

Despite the jollity at the coronation banquet, others were quietly bitching about Henry as they tucked into their venison. To them, he was not the rightful king, and they remained loyal to Richard II. The snarls of these malcontents were hidden by raised goblets.

‘A most angry, bitter faction!

But could idle, drunken chatter become sober, serious action?’

As 1399 drew to a close, Henry looked forward to 1400 and his first calendar year as King of England. However, it was not to be a happy year.

‘Those early years, for Henry, brought nothing but pain and tears!

 

(Problem 1)

Rebellion at New Year!

A number of Richard II’s supporters hatched a plot to murder Henry and his sons and restore the former king to the throne. It was known as the Epiphany Plot, because it was planned for January 6th 1400, at a jousting tournament. However, the plotters were betrayed and Henry was alerted to the danger, and with his sons escaped in the nick of time. The conspirators fled, but were hunted down and executed.

‘Oh! You, yes you, would come to murder the king and his sons on Twelfth Night!

For the cause of King Richard, you were determined to fight!

But your plot was betrayed and you were all put to flight!’

It had been a most unpleasant experience, but something of a salutary lesson. While Richard was alive, Henry’s place on the throne would remain insecure. Henry’s followers impressed upon him the gravity of the situation. Perhaps they said:

‘It’s time that dear Dick, the former king, becomes a trifle sick!

Because while he breathes!

you can never, on the throne sit at ease!’

Richard would die the following month, at the age of 33, in circumstances which remain shrouded in mystery.

 

(Problem 2)

Wales.

Henry’s attitude to the province was one of ill-concealed contempt.

‘When I think of Wales and the Welsh!

I simply wish to sit back, pat my stomach and loudly belch!’

Unfortunately, Henry would not be afforded the opportunity to become so inactive. Owen Glendower, a Welsh noble who had been educated at the Inns of Court in London, decided to rebel against Henry IV in September 1400. Proclaiming himself Prince of Wales, Glendower soon attracted substantial Welsh support and his rebellion enjoyed a number of early military successes.

‘It is news from Wales concerning Owen Glendower!

His actions, your majesty, are calculated to make you glower!’

Owen Glendower

Glendower soon gained control over most of Wales. In 1404, he had himself crowned Prince of Wales and had called a Welsh parliament. His cause was aided by the Percy family’s decision to revolt against Henry in 1403.  Glendower even managed  to enlist support from the French, who sent an armed force to Wales.

Wales for the Welsh!

Never before or since had an independent Welsh nation become so close to being a reality. However, after Glendower’s defeat at the battle Pwll Melyn in 1406, his forces never regained the initiative and were forced into a constant retreat. Eventually, Glendower became a fugitive in his own land and despite the offering of a huge reward for his capture, he was never betrayed by his people. He was probably dead by 1416, but his ultimate fate remains unknown.

(Problem 3)

The Percy revolt of 1403.

Given his problems with Glendower from 1400 onwards, the last thing that Henry wanted was a fight with a powerful baron. However, in July 1403, this was exactly what happened. When  Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland rebelled in July 1403, the king’s worst nightmare came to pass. Percy had been a loyal supporter of Henry against King Richard and had since protected the northern border against Scottish incursions. However, the Percys maintained that they had been starved of funds with which to protect the borders from attack.  There had been a dramatic confrontation at Westminster in late 1402, when Percy’s son, known as Hotspur, demanded additional funds in the presence of King Henry. The king was furious at such impertinent conduct.

‘That upstart hound, Hotspur!

Hath proven himself, an insufferable common cur!’

The Percys agreed to make common cause with Owen Glendower. In the summer of 1403, an army led by Hotspur and the forces of Owen Glendower were due to meet at Shrewsbury. King Henry was determined to avoid the prospect of meeting their combined armies on the field of battle. The king moved fast and managed to engage Hotspur at Berwick on July 21st, before he could  team up with Glendower. At first, Hotspur gained the initiative, but all was lost when he was felled by an arrow despatched by a royal archer.

The death of Hotspur at the Battle of Shrewsbury.

King Henry had successfully defeated his opponents, and this particular threat to his throne had been thwarted.

‘By his many actions so base, senseless and awful!

King Richard sowed the seeds of his own ignominious downfall!’

Richard now embarked upon a policy which he believed would secure him his coveted position as absolute monarch. In fact, it would bring about his own dramatic fall from power and ultimately his untimely death, aged just thirty three. He introduced a series of new laws and inflicted heavy fines on the areas of the country which had been loyal to the Duke of Gloucester.

The people howled! Oh how they howled!

‘You punish us for being faithful to your uncle, our overlord!

You hit us with heavy, horrible taxes that we can ill- afford!

Things came to a head when John of Gaunt died in February of 1399. Richard refused to allow his son, Henry Bolingbroke to inherit the duchy of Lancaster. In fact, he had Bolingbroke exiled from the realm of England for life. Richard’s actions would have the effect of reducing Bolingbroke’s status to that of a pauper.

Henry Bolingbroke.

Bolingbroke’s anger knew no bounds:

‘King Richard has turned me out to live my life as a beggar on foreign soil!

I have a friend in the king of France, so Richard’s dastardly plans, I will foil!

Bolingbroke took refuge at the French court and coolly plotted his revenge on Richard. A good many people in England were aghast at Richard’s action, and sympathy for Bolingbroke was growing throughout the country. If the king could deprive one noble of his rightful inheritance, he might do it to others. King Richard, loftily oblivious of the mounting discontent amongst the nobility, departed for Ireland in June 1399. Richard left his uncle, the Duke of York, in charge whilst he was away. Bolingbroke saw his chance and that July, landed in Yorkshire with three hundred followers. With Richard away in Ireland, many people took the opportunity to join Bolingbroke’s army and force the king from his throne. Even the Duke of York threw his lot in with Bolingbroke.

‘While the cat’s away, the mice will play!

Oh wicked King Richard, you have had your day!’

The city of London declared their allegiance to Bolingbroke and in the west, his supporters captured Bristol. When Richard landed in Wales in late July, his own soldiers were deserting him in droves. His cause was lost, but after entertaining  initial delusions of victory, he accepted defeat. Captured at Conwy castle in Wales, the king was taken to Flint castle to meet with Henry Bolingbroke.

King Richard and Bolingbroke at Flint castle

Henry then escorted King Richard to London where he was lodged in the Tower to await his fate. From his chamber, he was probably able to hear the raucous jeers and insulting slogans shouted by the local people. His misery must have been almost unbearable for a man so thin-skinned and proud. Great pressure was brought to bear on Richard to abdicate the throne and this he did on September 29th.

King Richard abdicates in favour of Henry Bolingbroke.

It is clear that he was threatened with death if he did not agree to do so. On September 30th, Richard’s cousin, Henry Bolingbroke was proclaimed king as Henry IV. However, Richard’s supporters staged an uprising against Henry in late 1399 and early 1400, which was defeated. The rebellion probably convinced Henry that while Richard lived, his own hold on power was threatened. In any case Richard died on or around February 14th 1400. The precise details of his death have never been revealed, although murder remains the most likely explanation.

‘Well, ain’t life just really swell!

All’s well that ends well!’

King Richard II

On the surface, the king and their lords Appellant maintained a veneer of friendliness. But inside, Richard was seething with resentment. Nevertheless, there was a certain chumminess in the air when John of Gaunt returned from Castile in November 1189. The old warrior had managed to extract a large fortune during his time in Spain, and had left his daughter Catherine there as Queen consort. King Richard welcomed his uncle warmly and they embraced:

‘Oh welcome back from Spain, dear uncle Jack!

It is so good to have you back, running around on your old familiar track!

John of Gaunt

In fact, John of Gaunt became a loyal supporter of Richard’s policy of making peace with France.

But in 1394, tragedy struck when Queen Anne died of the plague at Sheen Palace, leaving Richard devastated. Queen Anne was truly the great love of his life. Richard was engulfed by an all-consuming grief, which occupied his mind to the exclusion of any other consideration. In his sorrow, the king ordered that the palace be destroyed, because it reminded him of his terrible loss. A huge funeral for which no expense had been spared was held at Westminster Abbey. The Earl of Arundel interrupted the solemnities by arriving late, and then telling the king that he had to leave early. An infuriated Richard struck the unfortunate noble with a staff and then had him carried off to the Tower of London.

‘From you, ungracious earl, with this staff, I have drawn a little blood!

Were it  for the fact that we are in church, it would not have been a mere trickle, but an almighty flood!

However, despite his sense of loss, Richard’s status as a widower was short lived. In 1396 he married Isabella, the daughter of King Charles VI of France. Richard, who considered the Hundred Years War to have been a terrible waste of lives and money, wished for better relations with France.

King Charles VI of France.

 

There was a considerable age difference between bride and groom. King Richard was twenty seven and Isabella was six years old.

 

However, Richard was becoming almost imperial in his style of kingship. His sense of majesty was so great that it had to focussed upon and acknowledged with the utmost deference by all.

‘Oh King Richard of England, superstar!

All will applaud your majestic Highness, whether they be near or from afar!’

Richard’s haughtiness recognised no limits amongst these temporary, worldly confines. He deferred only to God Almighty and did so with great piety. Richard endowed religious abbeys and churches with large amounts of gold and silver, so they might provide for a greater reflection of God’s glory against the backdrop of this dreary, temporal existence.

In the summer of 1397, Richard moved against those whom he considered to be his enemies.

‘Oh vengeance is mine!

Oh, how sweet, indeed almost divine!’

Arundel, Gloucester, the king’s uncle and Warwick were arrested. Gloucester had made himself particularly unpopular by complaining about Richard’s extravagances and the level of taxation levied to pay for them. Richard had Gloucester sent to Calais and it is claimed that he was smothered or strangled whilst preparing for dinner.

The murder of Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester.

Gloucester’s murderers then placed his body in bed and maintained that that was how they had discovered him dead. The official explanation for Gloucester’s death was that he had died of natural causes. Arundel’s demise was effected by a more familiar, traditional method of despatch. On September 20th 1397, he vociferous duke had his head severed from his body on Tower Hill in front of a large crowd. Warwick was stripped of his lands and exiled to the Isle of Man.

‘Justice has been done to ye three!

If you cross me, then this is how it will be!’

Richard, constantly surrounded for protection by a large body of archers, watched the events with great satisfaction. He then pondered his next move and thereby his own downfall.

‘

King Richard was not prepared to meekly accept parliament’s intrusion into his affairs. The king declared:

‘I may be, but a fledging, not yet twenty-one!

But, I am the anointed king and therefore, my will, can, must and will be done!’

Almost at once the young king began sounding opinion and canvassing support from various quarters. In August of 1387, he declared that henceforth, he would rule with the assistance of his own handpicked advisers. Richard was supported by a number of judges, who ruled that those who had restricted the powers of the king could be tried as traitors and punished accordingly. This was simply too much for Gloucester and Arundel. They and their supporters, dubbed the ‘Lords Appellants’ exclaimed;

‘Do they expect us like sheep to the scaffold, quietly go!

And suffer, without complaint, not a murmur, the axeman’s blow!’

The Lords Appellants rose in revolt.

A royalist army under William de Vere, Duke of Ireland, confronted a force commanded by Lancaster’s son, Henry Bolingbroke at Radcot Bridge in Oxfordshire in December 1387. Here, Bolingbroke shattered de Vere’s army and the unfortunate duke was forced to flee the field in the most humiliating fashion. De Vere took off his armour and swam along the river until he found woodland in which he took shelter for the night.

The Battle of Radcot Bridge.

‘Oh, dear Robert de Vere at Radcot Bridge was forced to strip off his gear!

He dived into the water and swam away from  the battlefield in a frenzy of fear!’

Robert de Vere depicted in a boat departing Radcot Bridge. He did not leave in such a convenient and dignified manner, for naked, he swam the whole way.

News of de Vere’s ignominious defeat soon reached London. King Richard was asked:

‘Pray sire, what are you to do?

I’m going to cower in the Tower!’

That is exactly what he did do. Following their victory, Bolingbroke and the other ‘Lords Appellants’ marched to London and confronted King Richard as he cowered in the Tower of London. Bolingbroke, just like his father John of Gaunt, did not mince his words:

‘You said that you were the sovereign king and that your will must be done!

But King Dick, after Radcot Bridge, you are right back to square one!’

A new parliament was summoned in February 1388 to tie up the loose ends. It was aptly named the ‘Merciless Parliament’ as it ordered the executions of so many of Richard’s allies.

An example of the Merciless Parliament conducting essential business.

This could have meant the end of Richard’s reign, but his crown was saved by the intervention of his cousin, Henry Bolingbroke. Their Lord’s Apellants judged that Richard, having learnt his lesson, would now rule in accordance with their view of how things should be done. On this occasion, they had in fact, misjudged the young monarch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘A medieval literary interlude!

A good yarn puts everyone in a better  mood!

Whether they be of gentle tone, or even a little lewd!’

Geoffrey Chaucer

The man writing the yarns in the latter part of the 14th century was Geoffrey Chaucer, a man of many talents. He was a soldier, diplomat, administrator, Member of Parliament, gardener and a poet. Many would be impressed by this compelling man, including the royal family, especially King Edward III. Chaucer would remain in royal favour, with the ascension to the throne of Richard II and also under his successor, Henry IV in 1399 . To enjoy the pleasure of three kings over a period of forty years, during times of dangerous political intrigues in which many heads rolled, was an achievement in itself.

Chaucer was born in London around 1443 into a prosperous family of vintners.

‘Life is simply divine when you are partaking of the fruit of the vine!’

The Chaucer family’s connection to wine would continue in an unexpected vein, later in Geoffrey’s career. Chaucer would gain a fan in King Edward III, who admired his poetry. In recognition of his literary talents, the king in 1374, granted Chaucer a gallon of wine a day for the rest of his life.

King Edward III.

‘My dear Chaucer, thou dost write many a fine poetic line!

So I am rewarding you with a daily ration of  delicious vintage wine!’

Geoffrey Chaucer

In fact, Chaucer had caught the eye of King Edward III as a teenager, long before his literary career had borne fruit. In 1359, he sailed to France as a soldier in one of Edward’s military expeditions. However, he was captured by French forces at the siege of Rheims and held for ransom.

The siege of Rheims.

The king happily paid the princely sum of £16 (more than £11,000 in today’s money) for young Geoffrey’s safe return. The king remarked:

‘Oh yonder Geoffrey, a lad so fair and handsome!

For his safe return, I will gladly pay the requested ransom!’

It is likely that the king considered the ransom fee as money well spent. Chaucer would go on to serve the crown as a diplomat, travelling to France, Italy and Spain during the 1360’s. He must have made an impression, as King Edward awarded Chaucer a pension of 20 marks for services rendered.

Geoffrey Chaucer married the politically connected Philippa Roet, the two having met as children in the household of Elizabeth of Ulster. They probably had four children and Philippa died around 1387.

To be a pilgrim.

‘You know, life can at times, be a trifle grim!

Well, liven it up by going forth and becoming a pilgrim!’

There was no such thing as a holiday in medieval times, because few people left the area in which they were born. Although the term holiday is derived from ‘holy days’ when people would meet to enjoy sports and a little feasting with their neighbours at the local church. However, some people would be lucky enough to travel on a pilgrimage to one of England’s many holy shrines. The pilgrimages gave rise to an industry rather like today’s commercial tourism. The places where they were located would of course offer accommodation and food to the pilgrims, as well as souvenirs to take home. One of the most famous and frequently visited places of pilgrimage was the shrine of Thomas Beckett at Canterbury Cathedral.

The Canterbury Tales.

Chaucer decided that a pilgrimage to Canterbury was a basis for a good story and the result was The Canterbury Tales.

The Canterbury Tales is undoubtedly Chaucer’s most well known work. It is a story of a group of pilgrims who set off from the Tabard Inn in London for their destination, the shrine of Thomas Beckett at Canterbury Cathedral.

Medieval pilgrims en route to a shrine.

‘

In his masterpiece, Chaucer vividly describes the characters, and their stories give a lively insight  into a slice of late medieval life. Pilgrimages were an important aspect of the medieval kaleidoscope and were undertaken for a variety of reasons. One might embark on a pilgrimage in order to atone for past sins and therefore receive a shorter sentence in purgatory.

‘My pilgrimage is a holy mission!

A journey of abject and sincere contrition!’

The Pardoner.

‘I beg your pardon!

Purgatory sure ain’t no rose garden!’

One of the characters in Chaucer’s epic work was the pardoner in the Pardoner’s Tale. The Catholic Church was the only religion of any significance in medieval times and it exercised great influence over the people. It taught people to think of the next world rather than the present one and the importance of doing good and avoiding sin. Priests would regale their congregations about the sublime rewards of heaven and the agonies of the fires of hell.

Purgatory was a half way house where the dead would suffer unspeakable torments before being admitted to heaven. However, a sinner might avoid a long stint in purgatory if they were to pay for the privilege. This is where the pardoner came in.

The Pardoner.

‘Today, people might call the pardoner, a cynical old religious freak!

But in those days, they simply marvelled at his amazing selling technique!’

The Pardoner was authorised by the Church to sell ‘indulgences’, a fee for spending less time in purgatory. The service raised huge sums of money for the Church as well as making people feel better about themselves..

Others would go in order to ask for divine intervention in the case of a loved one being afflicted by a terrible illness. Another reason for becoming a pilgrim would be to give thanks to God for deliverance from sickness. The Canterbury Tales was written towards the end of Chaucer’s life and remained unfinished at his death in 1400. Nevertheless, it is regarded as a truly great work of English literature and is studied in educational establishments all over the world to this very day.

Chaucer died in London in October, 1400 and is interred in what is now known as Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey.

 

 

‘Richard now had to contend with his uncle, Thomas, the Duke of Gloucester!

Good relations between uncle and nephew, were becoming increasingly difficult to foster!’

Gloucester and his supporters were angry with the calibre of the men who advised the king. One reason for this was unadulterated snobbery on their part. The nobles objected to them because they were of low birth. To Gloucester, if a man was not born into the aristocracy, he should not be elevated to the king’s side. Gloucester and his allies were particularly critical of Richard’s chancellor, Michael de la Pole. To Gloucester’s grumblings, Richard retorted:

‘You shout and rage about de la Pole and condemn him as a low born slob!

For no other reason than you are an insufferable old snob!’

In October 1386, parliament met at Westminster and demanded among other things, the removal of de la Pole. Richard, who had refused to leave Eltham palace to visit Westminster, replied:

‘I would not even remove a scullion from my kitchen at your request!

You may complain all you want, be my guest!’

Richard’s rather highhanded attitude did not sit well with their lordships at Westminster. Gloucester and another powerful noble, Richard FitzAlan, the earl of Arundel confronted the king at Eltham. They did not mince their words.

Richard receives Gloucester and Arundel at Eltham palace.

‘We demand the dismissal of that rogue, Michael de la Pole!

If you refuse, be warned, the result will be an own goal!’

The two nobles told the king that he was governing in a most unjust fashion and this had to stop forthwith. They even had the gall to remind him of the horrible fate of his great-grandfather, Edward II, some 60 years earlier. The king, a fledgling of 21 years, folded before the magnates and agreed to their demands. Michael de la Pole was dismissed as chancellor, and a commission was established to look into the affairs of both the government, and the royal household. The commission’s investigation was to last for a year.

‘Our intention, your majesty is not to cause you any unnecessary pain!’

However, necessity demands that you be kept on a tighter rein!’

Parliament now exercised unprecedented power over the monarch and Richard winced at what he regarded as its intrusions. In the meantime, Richard had no choice but to wait and bide his time.