‘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 …
‘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 …
‘France and Scotland, in the year of 1386 did conspire to put an end to King Richard’s reign! But by the year’s end, it was a case of something ventured, but absolutely nothing gained!’ Scotland. In 1385 the Scots, encouraged by the French who were planning an invasion of England, began to raid the northern …
As 1381 drew to a close, King Richard II, supping his yuletide wine, reflected on the horrors of the Peasants Revolt and sighed: ‘My God, those two devils, Tyler and Ball, causing a diabolical commotion in the pursuit of making everyone equal! With a bit of luck, its dismal failure and the subsequent executions will …
‘After a peaceful slumber, Wat Tyler awoke, his cloak covered with the morning dew! Having arisen early, he was focussed on the day and what he had resolved to do!’ Tyler had received word that the king wished to speak with him again. This pleased the rebel leader because he was intent on pressing his …
‘In the month of June, like wildfire the revolt did spread. Thus filling the minds of the English nobility with terrible, unholy dread!’ In June the rebels of Kent, now having elected a leader, one Wat Tyler, entered Maidstone jail and freed the inmates being held there. One of these newly freed prisoners was a …
The new king was a mere boy, ten years of age! Thus his kingly talents were somewhat hard to gauge! Richard II Richard had been born in 1367 at Bordeaux, which was his father’s base when ravaging south-western France. Richard’s coronation on July 16th 1377 was a splendid affair which took place a month after …
All of Edward’s gains in France were made at enormous cost! Now, one by one, they were all eventually lost!’ King Edward III’s dream of becoming king of France had proved to be a costly delusion. His third surviving son, the mediocre John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, launched a blistering chevauchee from Brittany, towards Paris …
‘Poor King Edward becomes a doddering old fool! Such a sad end for one who considered himself born to rule! His consort dead, King Edward fell weeping into the arms of one, Alice Perrers, a woman eminently skilled in the dark arts of whoredom. Alice was wed at the age of twelve, and widowed at …
‘1357, a year for Edward which began so fine, in fact, almost divine! Then came the unfortunate years, which for the king marked a decline, so sad a decline!’ It was certainly ‘Happy New Year’ in January 1356. Edward was in the highly unusual, and greatly fortunate position of having two of his royal enemies …