Another Lie (or 3) Bites The Dust

Since I live in the States, I was really disappointed that the latest Channel 4 show "Richard III The New Evidence" was not going to be broadcast outside the UK or available online for streaming. Hello, this is the 21st Century, folks, the world of YouTube & Roku & simulcasting. But thanks to some unknown kind-hearted soul, I was able to view it to see what all the screaming was about.

Unlike many Ricardians who watched the show, I don't think that it made Richard look like a glutton or a drunkard. On the contrary, I came away from the show with two things: a much deeper respect for Richard III, & sadly,  the impression that he was on a downward spiral health-wise.  As demonstrated by Dominic Smee who has the exact same condition as Richard had, his rib cage was twisted & prevented him from getting the deep breaths necessary for stamina in battle. However, the lack of lung capacity could have been fatal in other ways. A bad cold could have easily turned into pneumonia. Even if he had survived Bosworth, remarried, & had a son or sons, I don't think he would have lived long enough for those children to reach adulthood, throwing England back into chaos over succession.  Hate on me all you want, I just don't see him living that long.

Others have attacked the show for not bringing up the Stanleys & treason & all the political undercurrents of 1485. This view frustrates me to no end. The show was about Richard III & what the scientists have discovered about his health, not a re-telling of the Battle of Bosworth. They put Smee through his paces & even though he hadn't trained in medieval warfare from childhood as Richard had, he put a big, fat "BS" stamp on all those claims that Richard was a coward, was weak, physically incapable of riding a horse, or leading troops in battle. 

The information about the changes in his diet (an uptake in alcohol consumption & more exotic table fare) was interesting, but not as important as Smee's demonstrations.  Anyone with passing knowledge of the Middle Ages knows that people didn't drink water. They drank various forms of beer & wine, all of which was a lot weaker than what we drink today.  And there is no evidence from anyone that Richard was anything but slender, so really, it's a tempest in a teapot. It wouldn't be the first time that evidence was sensationalized in order to get high ratings. It won't be the last.

After watching this show, I came away with a deeper respect for Richard as a human being.   It boggles my mind that despite the limitations caused by the scoliosis, he still took down at least two men larger & in better physical shape than him, before ultimately losing his life.  How anyone can think that a TV program that demonstrates this is a bad thing for Richard III is beyond me. 

In Memoriam

Peace

In reading the legitimate reviews of the King Richard III Visitor Centre, it struck me how many reviews mentioned the same word, or variations of it: "Peace."

"It is peaceful." "peaceful surroundings" "quiet" "respectful" "peaceful"

Peace. Peace. Peace. Peace.

PEACE 

Think on this for a moment. Such a simple word. Such a simple concept. And yet:

From the moment he was born, Richard III never knew peace. True peace, that is. Not just a cessation of war, but peace from strife, in-fighting, scheming. Not one day. Ever. No wonder he ground his teeth down.

Richard lived in a snake pit, surrounded by family & "friends" who continually plotted & schemed to get "The Next Big Thing" for themselves. (I'm looking at you, Kingmaker.) He died in the midst of battle, betrayed by others still plotting & scheming to get their own "Next Big Thing." (why, hello there, Stanleys, Buckingham, & Lady Grey)

For the thirty-two years of his life on Earth, he never knew a moment of true peace, when he didn't have to worry about what someone was planning or plotting to do when he wasn't watching. (GEORGE!)

So it's almost a shock to see reviews of a Visitor Centre devoted to Richard III repeatedly using the one word people would not logically associate with him: "Peace."

Shortly before the judges announced their decision, I was on the fence about where Richard III should be re-interred. It really didn't matter to me because my own choice, Westminster Abbey, was so far out of the running, it never made it to the starting gate.

And then I watched a Youtube video about Leicester, & I was so struck by a feeling of peace, I knew instantly what the right decision should be. And so it was.

Isn't it a good thing, then, that it is Leicester where Richard will finally get the one thing he never had in life? Peace.

Holding on for a Hero (or a Leader)

Just a short note to express just how damn frustrated I am that the Ricardian leadership has yet to say anything about the controversy stirred up by the Pro Yorkist zealots & two of the main people involved in the search & discovery of Richard III's remains.

Not even the fact that this has hit the major media has gotten them to crack their jaws open. What the hell is going on?

If the Ricardian leadership is appalled at the coordinated, premeditated online abuse suffered by the much-anticipated King Richard III Visitor Centre, the longer this turmoil continues without comment from them, the further their own reputations sink.  The longer it takes them to say something, the more people will begin to think they condone it.

None of the leadership made a public appearance at the opening of the Visitor Centre last Saturday, & two of the main people involved were caught red-handed conspiring with the zealots to give the Centre false negative reviews.

The one occasion when leadership could have done the most to heal the rift & end the nonsense & not only were they silent, a couple of them added to the controversy!! (Were they members of the Stanley family in a past life? I'm beginning to wonder.)

It is beyond me just how these people could have let this opportunity get away from them!

Just when is someone going to stand up & say something to put an end to this nonsense? What are they afraid of? A few internet trolls? That some people will unfriend them on Facebook & say mean things about them on Twitter? Post fake reviews of their books on Amazon?

It's got to stop, and we're looking at you, leaders, to stop it, because that's what leaders do. If you're not willing to take a stand, then the time has come to step aside & let others take your place.

Richard III's Tomb Design: Hit? Miss? I Don't Know.

Today, the plans for Richard III's tomb design were released to the general public. I am not sure what to make of them. My first reaction was "Oh hell, no" but throughout the day, I've gone back to the designs & looked at them further & have found they are growing on me.

You can see them here: http://kingrichardinleicester.com/reburial/tomb/

I do like the black plinth. It makes the tomb (which will be white) stand out from its surroundings, instead of blending in. It will also help the white roses brought by Ricardians in tribute stand out as well.

While I'm not wild about the sole decoration on the tomb (a deeply-incised cross), I understand the symbolism behind it. Richard, after all, is being buried in a Christian church. He was a Christian himself, a devout one.

I admit also that I do not care for OTT memorials, all gaudy & showy (think Albert Memorial--omg poor Prince Albert!). There is need for something quiet, too.

I keep thinking of the initial reactions to the Vietnam Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C. When the design was first announced, it was widely panned, but after it was completed & people got to see it first hand, it turned into one of the most popular & moving memorials constructed. I have a feeling that opinions about Richard III's tomb design will go through a similar metamorphosis.

I hope they announce the dates of the ceremony soon, as I really want to go to Leicester & be there when history happens there. Again.

Midnight at Grey Friars

Well, it might have happened this way. This is one of those stories that just come to me & I have to write down as it flows through my head. This is not intended to be a factual retelling of history. It is just what popped into my head when I was wondering how Richard's grave remained "known" yet "unknown," especially after the Dissolution & in light of the widespread belief that Richard's tomb was desecrated & his body thrown in the river.

William fell to his knees before the altar.  His brothers behind him did the same. ‘Forgive us, Lord, for what we are about to do.”  William remained on his knees for a moment longer, hoping for a sign that what they were about to do was not God’s will.  After a few moments, though, and there was no apparent sign of displeasure from God.  William sighed, crossed himself & rose to his feet.

His brothers stood up as soon as he rose. He could see their anxious faces illuminated in the candlelight. “Are you sure this is what we should do, William?” asked Thomas.

“What else would you have us do, Thomas? Let the King’s men come in, find out that the one tomb they’ve been looking for is here? You saw what they did with the tombs at Newarke & Black Friars! Would you have that happen to King Richard’s tomb as well?”

“We were sworn to protect his resting place, not destroy it!” argued James.

William groaned. “We’ve been over this again & again, James!  Either we do it & claim we can’t remember which tomb is the King’s or Tydder’s men destroy it & cast the body in the river along with the rest of the bodies they’ve desecrated!” he replied.

“At least our way, the King will remain in his resting place, undisturbed, James,” said Luke, the eldest of the group. “I remember Brother Matthew telling me how the King was buried here in haste, on Tydder’s  way out of town. The brothers did their best, since neither Tydder or his men offered them any help. They swore to themselves, after the new king left, to protect King Richard. Brother Matthew swore me to the same oath, as I swore all of you. As much as it pains me to destroy the outer monument, I will rest more soundly in my grave knowing he remains undisturbed in his.”

“I still don’t like it!” James thundered back, “but I admit we have little choice.”

The brothers all looked back at Willliam. “Then may God & King Richard forgive us all” said William as he picked up his hammer.

They took up the tools they brought with them & walked one last time to the King’s tomb.  They all seemed to hesitate, no one wanted to make the first strike on the modest, but well-cared for monument.

“We do this for you, King Richard. Loyalty binds us all,” said Luke.  He feebly raised his hammer & brought it down on the tomb.  His efforts made little damage to the monument, but the others, encouraged by his actions, quickly got to work. 

Although the monument was small, it was almost dawn before what was left was cleaned away. The brothers cleaned the stone & dust as best they could, placing the larger fragments in the wagon to haul away. 

William stood with Luke, looking at the bare space that was the only remnant of the King’s tomb left in the choir. “Do you think we did the right thing?” he asked.

“You know this was the only thing we could do. Now we can say we do not know where the King lies.” Luke replied. “Never doubt you did the right thing, Brother.”

“But how can a King of England lie in an unknown, unmarked grave, Brother Luke? He will be forgotten just as easily as he has become reviled!”

“Brother William, the deed is done! And it is better that he be forgotten, than to have his body desecrated & unable to rise with Christ upon His Return!  Would you rather that happen?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then do for yourself what you’ve asked God & King Richard a thousand times since we started: Forgive yourself.”

A crash behind them startled them. They turned to see Brother John & Brother Andrew struggle with some tiles. “Oh, sorry, Brother William, Brother Luke. We need to get started before the King’s Men come!” said John cheerily.

“What are those for?” asked William.

“To cover the bare space with, of course.  I thought it would look less obvious if covered in tile like the rest of the floor. The light in here is dim enough to make it look as though these tiles have been in place forever,” replied John.

“Please, brothers, you are in our way” added Andrew.

William & Luke nodded, stepping aside to let the Brothers do their work.

 When the King’s Men did arrive at Grey Friars, they found very little. A few men, one of them elderly, little treasure, & no monument to King Richard III. As William walked away from what had been his home, he overheard the following exchange:

“Well, how do we report this to the King, sir? We were charged particularly with destroying any monument to King Richard & disposing of what was left of his body,” asked one of the men to his leader.

“Easy, my friend. We find another monument, destroy it, & say that it was Richard’s! Who’s going to know the difference, or much less care!”

The door shut, & William smiled to himself. They had fulfilled their duties. The King was safe. 

The Sunne in Splendour, & in Laredo, Texas of All Places

This afternoon, social media lit up with photos of what the local weatherman informed us was a "circumscribed sun halo." It was absolutely amazing!! I, along with many others, ran outside & took photos of it on our cellphones. In many of them, a small dot appeared, which I initially thought was a planet or just the camera freaking out at being aimed at the sun. What that dot was, however, was a sun dog!!

As Ricardians all know, the sigil of Edward IV was "the sunne in splendour," to commemorate the three suns that appeared in the sky before the Battle of Mortimer's Cross in 1461.  These sun dogs were taken as good omens since Edward won the day. (If he had lost, would they have been considered bad omens?)

Anyway, if you have never seen a sun halo or a sun dog, here are some of the pictures that I took today, along with a few that were posted on Facebook by others.  It was really hard to get these shots, as the sun was incredibly bright. I simply aimed my phone in the general direction of the sun & hoped I got some good shots.

I took these just around 12:00 noon today, in the front yard of my house. The tree kept getting in the way, so I didn't get a clear shot of the entire inner halo. But there were two halos around the sun.

For more photos of this event taken around Laredo today, check out the Laredo Morning Times on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lmtonline/photos/a.10151518198300118.841873.10150095255780118/10154240357735118/?type=1&theater