I am delighted to share with you a guest post by Susan Higginbotham, author of The Woodvilles: The Wars of the Roses and England’s Most Infamous Family. To celebrate the release of Susan’s book we are giving away one copy to a lucky commenter.
Competition now closed!
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For your chance to win a copy of The Woodvilles by Susan Higginbotham you must be subscribed to On the Tudor Trail’s newsletter (if you are not already, sign up on our homepage).
Then simply leave a comment after Susan’s guest post below, between now and 27 October 2013.
Thanks to Susan’s generosity, this giveaway is open worldwide!
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Good luck!
Elizabeth Woodville’s Move to Bermondsey
By Susan Higginbotham
In September 1486, Elizabeth Woodville made what would prove to be her last major ceremonial appearance: she served as godmother to her grandson Prince Arthur. Within a few months, she moved to Bermondsey Abbey, a Cluniac monastery on the banks of the Thames.
Elizabeth’s removal coincided with, and has often been linked to, a conspiracy against Henry VII which had been building since the previous autumn. The conspiracy, which arose in Ireland, took the unlikely form of recruiting a boy, Lambert Simnel, to impersonate Edward, Earl of Warwick, the young son of the Duke of Clarence. In fact, the unfortunate Warwick was shut up fast in the Tower of London, to which the cautious Henry VII had moved him shortly after winning his crown at Bosworth.
On 1 May 1487, Henry VII, for what is described in classically vague bureaucratic terms as ‘divers considerations’, transferred Elizabeth Woodville’s real properties to her daughter, the queen. According to Polydore Vergil, the decision to ‘deprive’ the dowager queen of her possessions was taken in the midst of a council meeting called at Sheen to discuss the rebellion. Yet the reason Vergil gives has nothing to do with the nascent rebellion, but with Elizabeth Woodville’s 1484 agreement with Richard III to leave sanctuary. The Tudor historian Hall follows Vergil in ascribing Elizabeth’s loss of her properties to her long-ago deal with Richard, adding, ‘By this folly and inconstancy of the queen, she incurred the hatred and displeasure of many men, and for that cause lived after in the Abbey of Bermondsey beside Southwark’. As Elizabeth’s rapprochement with Richard III was old news in 1487, this hardly seems a plausible explanation.
It was not until the seventeenth century, when Francis Bacon wrote his history of Henry VII’s reign, that Elizabeth was explicitly linked to the Lambert Simnel conspiracy:
That which is most probable [is] that it was the Queen Dowager from whom this action had the principal source and motion. For certain it is, she was a busy negotiating woman […] and was at this time extremely discontent with the King, thinking her daughter (as the King handled the matter) not advanced but depressed: and none could hold the book so well to prompt and instruct this stage-play, as she could. Nevertheless it was not her meaning, nor no more was it the meaning of any of the better and sager sort that favoured this enterprise and knew the secret, that this disguised idol should possess the crown; but at his peril to make way to the overthrow of the King; and that done, they had their several hopes and ways. That which doth chiefly fortify this conjecture is, that as soon as the matter brake forth in any strength, it was one of the King’s first acts to cloister the Queen Dowager in the nunnery of Bermondsey . . .
Bacon’s admitted conjecture, arrived at more than a century after the events in question, has for some taken on the aura of historical fact. Yet, as others have pointed out, it defies credibility that Elizabeth would support supplanting her daughter’s husband (and his heir, her new grandson) in favour of the Earl of Warwick. The young earl was the son of George, Duke of Clarence, who in 1469 had been involved in the deaths of Elizabeth’s father and her brother, John. An alternative explanation that has been offered is that Elizabeth believed that Simnel was not Warwick, but her vanished son Edward V. While such a belief certainly would give Elizabeth a motive, the argument is undermined by the failure of any contemporary or near-contemporary source to mention such a claimed identity for the pretender, or such a motive for Elizabeth. Moreover, as the rebellion attracted close associates of Richard III such as Francis, Viscount Lovell, it is difficult to imagine any of them fighting to restore Edward V to the throne when they themselves had helped remove him from it in the first place.
It is possible, however, that Henry VII’s seizure of Elizabeth’s properties was linked to his suspicions of her son, Henry Grey, Marquis of Dorset. According to Vergil, the king, preparing to meet the rebels in battle, arrived at Bury St Edmunds, where, believing Dorset to be privy to the conspiracy, he arrested him and sent him to the Tower. Bacon amplified the story:
And being come to St Edmund’s-bury, he understood that Thomas Marquis Dorset […] was hasting towards him to purge himself of some accusations which had been made against him. But the king, though he kept an ear for him, yet was the time so doubtful, that he sent the Earl of Oxford to meet him and forthwith to carry him to the Tower; with a fair message nevertheless that he should bear that disgrace with patience, for that the King meant not his hurt, but only to preserve him from doing hurt either to the King’s service or to himself; and that the King should always be able (when he had cleared himself) to make him reparation.
Unlike his mother, Dorset did stand to gain from putting Warwick upon the throne: Dorset had been Warwick’s guardian during Edward IV’s reign and had probably hoped to marry him to one of his many daughters. That old tie, combined with Dorset’s defection from Henry during his exile, might have been enough to awaken the suspicions of the jittery king, who after all had good reason to know how easily a ruler could be pushed off his throne. That Dorset was indeed under a cloud at this time is confirmed by the king’s failure to summon him to Parliament that autumn. Nonetheless, whatever reservations the king had about Dorset’s loyalty, they did not extend to the whole of the Woodville family: Elizabeth’s younger brother Edward Woodville not only fought for the king against the rebels but held high command in the king’s army. Furthermore, if Henry did suspect Elizabeth of plotting, Bermondsey, an abbey conveniently located on the Thames, seems an odd place to stow her; there were more secure and more remote locations to which she might have been sent.
It is quite possible that Elizabeth’s removal to Bermondsey was prompted chiefly by financial concerns on the part of the king. The order transferring Elizabeth’s estates is sandwiched in among a number of routine matters of royal business, suggesting that the order had likewise been an administrative matter rather than a security measure. Due to chance and political upheavals, it had been a century since a married king had faced the situation of maintaining a queen dowager while assuring his own queen of her proper landed endowment. Henry solved this problem by transferring Elizabeth Woodville’s lands to her daughter; in recompense, Elizabeth received an annuity of 400 marks, raised on 19 February 1490 to £400. While a different king might have treated Elizabeth Woodville more generously, the events of the past few years had left England on shaky financial ground, and Elizabeth could at least console herself that her daughter was receiving a suitable endowment. She was also not the first queen dowager to retire to a religious house: Catherine of Valois, Henry V’s widow (and Owen Tudor’s wife) had spent her last months at Bermondsey, apparently due to ill health, and Henry III’s widow, Eleanor of Provence, spent her last years as a nun at Amesbury.
Moreover, Henry may have initially thought that Elizabeth would soon have no need of an endowment in England, because on 28 November 1487, he and the Scottish king, James III, agreed that the latter would marry Elizabeth. The negotiations had been carried on pursuant to the three-year truce that the English and the Scots had formed the previous July. It seems highly unlikely that Henry would have agreed to such a match had he believed that Elizabeth had been plotting against him. James’ death in June 1488, however, kept Elizabeth from becoming the Queen of Scots.
Following Elizabeth’s removal to Bermondsey, we have few glimpses of her. We do know, however, that in 1489, Elizabeth Woodville was staying with Elizabeth of York when the latter was awaiting the birth of her daughter Margaret. This belies Bacon’s later claim that she had been ‘banished [from] the world into a nunnery; where it was almost thought dangerous to visit her or see her’. Clearly, she had not been shut off from all contact with her family, although the extant records furnish no clue as to how often she saw or heard from them. Elizabeth of York’s privy purse expenses, which would give us an idea as to whether messages or visits were exchanged between mother and daughter, do not survive for this period (or indeed for any other period other than the last year of the queen’s life), and heraldic accounts by their very nature were concerned only with court ceremonies, not day-to-day interactions.
In June 1491, Elizabeth of York bore a second son, Henry. The birth of the future Henry VIII, the “spare,” did not provoke much comment at the time, and we do not know whether Elizabeth Woodville was a witness to his birth. She could not have left any lasting impression on her grandson, for she died a year later at Bermondsey, leaving Elizabeth and her other children her blessing. Henry VIII could at least look at his grandmother’s portrait, however, for it hung at his palace of Westminster.
My interest in this era is just as strong as Henry VIII time… I have a huge fascination with Elizabeth of York and her mother Elizabeth Woodville and personally think that the determination of the women of the time have a lot more than we read about to do with the beginning of the Tudor line… I would be very keen to see how much of this is written into the book. Especially as there isn’t much on this period of time.
Thanks Natalie for this giveaway!
who WOULDN’T WANT TO WIN this novel??? Pick me! Pick me! Pick me! (I’ll be forever grateful, and will name my next pet after you!) Please? Pretty Please?
I find the seizure of her properties rather curious. Wouldn’t her property be inherited by her daughter or the heir to the throne – her grandson Arthur, anyway?
Was she unable to manage them properly?
Did she voluntarily go to Bermondsey? Convents at that time looked after the sick, rich and poor. Was Elizabeth sick or showing signs of dementia? Or was it simply that she needed spiritual comfort in her declining years. Poor woman – her life started so well, she gained the love of a King but she lost so much.
Great article. I’ve often wondered where Bacon might have gotten his ideas.
Great article! I’m sure Elizabeth Woodville would have made a very good Queen of Scotland. I really like this woman and feel sorry for her because she lost three sons and was extremely maligned in XX century historical fiction. I hope this new historical book shows the Woodville family in a better light.
One thing I’d like to know about is Elizabeth Woodville’s relationship with lady Margaret Beaufort. It is said they plotted to make Henry VII King of England with Elizabeth of York as his Queen but… Did they keep in good terms after Henry’s success?
I’m looking forward to read “The Woodvilles”!
I cannot wait to see if i won!!!! I just cannot seem to get enough of reading about Tudor times and i love a new and fresh perspective!!!!
Thanks Natalie And Susan, I don’t have words to express how happy i´m to have found this blog!!
Thanks very much for your informative and articulate articles, interviews and youtube posts. Im so busy that this is such an easy way for me to keep up to date and in the Tudor loop. I cant get enough of anything Tudor especially Anne and Elizabeth.
I just can´t wait until Sunday!
A warm hug !!! and wish me luck! 😉
Hi Natalie,
Great website, a friend just told me about it. Signed up for the newsletter. Book give away is a great idea. Love the detail & accuracy. Shows how much time and passion has gone into your research.
i will be visiting your blog soon! a Warm hug!!
Claudia
Another wonderful post, this time by Susan!
Well done, keep them coming, and the givaways!!!
Love the site! It’s very informative. Hope to win, but good luck to everyone!
I love history, in general. I always enjoy reading books that are well researched and bring to life major historical figures. I’m especially interested in royal history and in particular the period at the end of the Plantagenet dynasty. Aside from the fact that this is a fascinating period in British history; according to my research on ancestry.com, many of the key figures are among my ancestors. Indeed, Elizabeth Woodville is likely to be my 16th Great grandmother.
I find this period fascinating and learning more about Elizabeth Woodville. Thank you for writing this informative article plus the giveaway of your new book 🙂
I LOVE LOVE English History!
I find this period fascinating and learning about Elizabeth Woodville
I’m looking forward to reading this, win or not! I have loved Susan’s novels, and know that this will be a well researched book. Thanks for the chance to win!
I am so delighted to have found you on Facebook and thrilled there’s a proper website! I would love to win a copy of this book, as I too am very interested in the Woodville’s and their rise to power, but unfortunately I’ve only The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory to go by, which I’ve been told is not very accurate and also does not continue into Elizabeth’s later years. It would be fantastic to read a more in depth and truer account. Thanks so much for the opportunity, I look forward to the posts regardless and will be back on regularly now I’ve found this site! 🙂
Thank you for the great article, I love reading and studying about the Tudor period, it is so different yet similar at times. I look forward to reading your book!
Would love this!
Hi Susan,
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your piece. I am very new to the “Woodville’s” I find this era both completely fascinating and completely confusing. Of course I would love to win your book, but if not I will most definitely be buying it !!
It is this period that inspired me in my profession of being a teacher. My children all have Tudor and York inspired names!!!
Love everything about this Era.
I just signed up for the newsletter! I would absolutely love to win this novel.
Fascinating article. I’m just beginning to read Tudor history. It’s so complex and intriguing!
Fantastic article. Such an interesting subject.
I am fascinated by this time period in English history, although I have read quite a few books, reading a new article always is informative.
I LOVE English royal history! I’ve read Phillipa Gregory’s books, and I’m now reading “In the Footsteps of Anne Boleyn”. I would love to add this book to my library! Thanks for the awesome website! LOVE all of the pictures on facebook. 🙂
I love Tudor history. I’m actually majoring in History in general right now. I haven’t pick a specific area yet because I find it all so fascinating! I just got done ready the series for “White Queen” and watched the mini-series based on it. I really loved the series but I want to know what really happened, that facts. Not just a good novel. It would be an honor to be awarded this book by Susan Higginbotham. I feel silly for not knowing more about the Woodvilles sooner, to be honest.
Great article about my favorite time in english history. I want to learn more about this family!
This book looks wonderful!
Great article! Interested in learning more about period of history.
Just can’t get enough reading for this period of history. I have been fascinated by this era since I was very young. Very informative article above – so much to learn.
Love this period in history – so much to learn! Very informative article – a joy to read.
Would love very much to win this book, I have found the Woodville Family fascinating since I was 13 years old… I’m now 57….love your Website and am looking forward to recieving your Newsletters. Sincerely, Charisse R. Lewis
The era of Elizabeth Woodville through Elizabeth I are incredibly fascinating. Thank you for such a fantastic site to learn more about Anne, who I am completely fascinated by!
I love reading all the articles you post on this site. I’m in college planning to major in history & historical research, and so is one of my closest friends. We went to high school together, but were never close – Until we discovered a shared love of English history – Particularly in 1300’s-1700’s. Thank you for all your info, links, and insight into my favorite topic:)
Not to play the pity card but Oct 27th is my deceased father’s bday. Anywho… fab article and can’t wait for Susan’s book!
Great article
Absolutely cannot wait to read this book!
I love this era! My b.f. went to take college courses in Paris and I was suppose to go along. But I took ILL and couldn’t go. My dream was to see London and all the places pertaining to the Tutors. So he went there for me and brought back as many photos and post cards as he could for me. I can’t wait to read your book. It is the next best thing to being there!!!!
Your article has me intrigued. With so many variations of stories of the Woodvilles and Yorks, It’s hard to know what is fact and what is fiction. Win or lose I will be reading this book. Thank you.
Elizabeth Woodville is one of the most fascinating queens to read about. One theme that occurs in her history constantly is how little she was liked and her family too. It was clear that what ever his reasons for settling her in the abbey, her son in law Henry did not like nor trusted her.
Am really interested in war of roses,and recently looking for books to help with order of events this book will really help
Hope I win:-)
Great article!!!
Being on a fixed income now that I’m retired, I do not often get a chance to buy new books; I’d love to win one so I can continue exploding my Tudor library.
I found the article very interesting. I have not read much about Elizabeth Woodville.
What a wonderful article. I’ve always been interested in the Plantagenet and Tudor Eras. I was so lucky to be able to live in England for 2 years from 1999 to 2001 and I honestly felt like I was on holiday the entire time. I went to as many places and saw as many sites where these people lived as I could possibly fit into the time allotted me. I would LOVE to win yout book, but if not it’s been a pleasure to read your article ! Well done !
Just getting into the pre tudor era after watching all the latest stuff about the discovery of Richard iii and the coverage of the white queen on the bbc. I would love to learn more about about this era especially Elizabeth woodville and her family.
My interest in medieval history, especially that of royal women, is relatively new. My degree is in modern history, but this period fascinates me. Please pick me to win a copy of the book, the majority of what I know on the woodvilles is from fiction and it would be great to get an insight from what looks like a finely researched book. Thanks for the artical, very interesting.
Fascinating period of history….The woodvilles story has always interested me, what an amazing family.what I hasn’t realised until recently was how much they were disliked!
Great article….always happy to read about the cousins war.
Great article. Would love to learn more. Thank you.
Elizabeth Woodville was a remarkable woman as were all the Woodville women, I especially like Jacquetta. Having read the article above the book is a must read for me. Love all the facts about their interactions with Henry Vll. Hoping to win!! Well done on the article.