Copy Book Archive

One Hand on the Throne The Wars of the Roses pitted two royal houses against each other for the crown of England.

In two parts

1460
King Henry VI 1422-1461, 1470-1471 to King Edward IV 1461-1470, 1471-1483
Music: John Stanley

US Department of Defense, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain. Source

About this picture …

The throne of the United Kingdom in the House of Lords, Palace of Westmister, as it is today.

One Hand on the Throne

Part 1 of 2

Henry VI was a descendant of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster; his closest relative was Richard, Duke of York. From 1455 to 1471, the two royal families, the Red Rose and the White, strove bitterly for the crown of England.

KING Henry VI suffered from periodic insanity, and his Queen, Margaret of Anjou, was the power behind his throne.

Neither was popular. Many people were glad that after capturing the King at St Albans on May 22nd, 1455, Richard, Duke of York, left Margaret no choice but to reinstate him as Lord Protector, governing in Henry’s stead.

At the first sign of an improvement in Henry, however, Margaret ousted Richard, who withdrew to Ireland; but his loyal friend, Richard Neville, Duke of Warwick, fought on, and Henry’s recapture at Northampton on July 10th, 1460, opened the way to a triumphant return.

Once more in Westminster, Richard of York stood in the House of Lords by an empty throne. For a moment he rested a hand upon it; then drew it back, contenting himself with being named Henry’s successor, disinheriting Henry’s son Edward.

Margaret escaped to Scotland, raised an army, and came south to meet Richard at Sandal, near Wakefield, on December 30th, 1460.

Jump to Part 2

Précis

Many people in England were relieved when Henry VI’s poor health allowed Richard, Duke of York, to govern instead, but Queen Margaret was not one of them. She forced Richard into exile, but after Henry was captured at Northampton in 1460, Richard returned. Surprisingly, he did not take the throne at once, and Margaret took advantage of his hesitation. (58 / 60 words)

Part Two

© Steve Partridge, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0. Source

About this picture …

The abandoned ramparts and ruined stones of Sandal castle near Wakefield in Yorkshire, as they are today.

AT Sandal on 30th December, 1460, Richard rashly left the safety of his castle and engaged the enemy, losing two thousand men.

He was taken prisoner, and Margaret’s men sat him upon an ant-hill, twisted grass for a crown, and mocked him. Then they beheaded him.

His young son Edward, Earl of March, still held King Henry as his captive, and joined with Richard Neville to avenge his father. On 17th February, 1461 they met Margaret’s forces again at St Albans, but this time the Yorkists were defeated, and the King was restored to his family.

Yet Edward judged that Margaret and her unhappy husband had forfeited the country’s love.

He continued to London, where the Bishop of Exeter asked a crowd gathered in Clerkenwell whether they would have Henry for their King. ‘No, no!’ they cried, ‘King Edward! King Edward!’

And where Richard of York had briefly laid a trembling hand, his son took his seat as Edward IV of England.

Copy Book

Précis

Richard’s rash sortie from Sandal Castle ended in his execution, but his son Edward took up the cause at once. Defeat and the loss of the captive King Henry at the Second Battle of St Albans seemed a blow, but Edward trusted to his greater popularity in the country. His guess was right, and he was acclaimed King in 1461. (59 / 60 words)

Source

Based on ‘A Child’s History of England’ by Charles Dickens.

Suggested Music

1 2

Concerto for Strings Op. 2 No. 3 in G major

1: Adagio

John Stanley (1712-1786)

Performed by The English Concert conducted by Trevor Pinnock.

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Concerto for Strings Op. 2 No. 3 in G major

4: Allegro

John Stanley (1712-1786)

Performed by Collegium Musicum 90 conducted by Simon Standage.

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