S10 E7 | The Tribute Act

Hello friends, just a quick one from me about what's in this week's bonus episode, and this time it's all about two figures who are on different ends of the thespian spectrum. First, producer Al and I discuss Edward IV's bad Henry V cosplay, and then we get into Margaret Beaufort's Oscar-worthy performance of piety and patience in the face of absolute idiocy. Plus, yet another update from the on-again, off-again romance between England and Burgundy. You can watch all of that ad-free over at our Royal Court. Hit patreon.com forward slash thisishistory to subscribe. But for now, it's time for the Plantagenet's best, hmm, tribute act. Ugh, I hate Mondays. King's Hawaiian Cinnamon Swirlbite? Taylor Hansen? Sure, I'll try one. Mmm. Hey, let's get back to work, please. But Taylor Hansen's making my day way better with these new soft and swirly King's Hawaiian Cinnamon Bites. Taylor Hansen? Nice. Try one. Mmm. King's Hawaiian Cinnamon Bites. There's nothing like it. In Our Time is a world-class seminar every week. Why was Jeremy a lonely snail? What were lions doing in York in the 3rd century? I'm Misha Glennie, and every week I'm joined by expert guests to explore the ideas that shape our world. It's one of the first times, really, that you consistently see someone painting teeth. I know that sounds bonkers. If I was going to define mathematics, I would say it's the study of structure. In Our Time. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Or watch on YouTube. Tea or coffee? Love a cup of tea. The yard outside Knowsley Hall is busy. With men preparing to go to war. Horses are being groomed and their tack checked over. Bows and arrows are packed, along with foodstuffs that won't perish on the long journey overseas. Banners are stitched and tents rolled up. Pieces of steel armour are buffed until they're gleaming. It won't be long until this roadshow rumbles out of Knowsley and makes the long trip south to London. From there. The Lord of the Manor, Thomas Lord Stanley, will take his men on to Canterbury, where a massive army is mustering under the Plantagenet King, Edward IV. The drums of war are beating. And for once, it's not civil war. Edward IV is planning a huge invasion of France, bigger than anything seen since the legendary campaigns of Henry V, more than half a century ago. Stanley is going to serve as one of his top advisers. It makes a big change for the English to be banding together to fight someone else. The whole country is crackling with excitement. Stanley's wife, 31-year-old Margaret Beaufort, watches the war preparations in their courtyard with interest. It's 1475, four years on from the last round of bloodletting in the Wars of the Roses. Since then. Plenty has changed for her. For a start, Margaret has been widowed for the third time and married for the fourth. Her most recent husband, Henry Stafford, died in 1471 after wounds he sustained fighting for King Edward at the Battle of Barnet. So now she's married to 40-year-old Stanley, the most powerful lord in northwest England, as well as steward of the royal household. This close connection between the two is a key. His connection with the Yorkist king is keeping Margaret immune from suspicion that she's a closet supporter of the Lancastrian faction Edward recently destroyed. And that's just as well. It's true that the Lancastrians were crushed in 1471. Henry VI murdered, Warwick the Kingmaker slain in battle, Margaret of Anjou arrested, and her son killed. But that makes Margaret a little more vulnerable. Because it may be that her only son, Henry Tudor, is now the last heir to the Lancastrian cause. Aged 18, Henry's living in exile across the Channel, on the assumption that England and Wales aren't safe for him anymore. Could it be that one of Edward's side quests in his military expedition to France might be to get Henry back in his clutches? Margaret has to assume it. So as she watches her husband Stanley put the final touches to his war preparations, she knows her entire family's survival hinges on what happens next. I'm Dan Jones, and from Sony Music Entertainment, this is History. Season 10 of A Dynasty to Die For. Episode 7, The Tribute Act. Episode 10, The Tribute Act. 25 years ago, or thereabouts, when I was a student, and forever on the lookout for high jinx and entertainment, I would often go on a Monday night to an Irish pub to watch a singer we used to call Fat Elvis. Fat Elvis probably had a name. One that wasn't Fat Elvis, I mean. But the fact was, he was an Elvis Presley impersonator, and even by late period Elvis standards, the guy was carrying some timber. So Fat Elvis was the name we gave him. Never to his face. What was the appeal of Fat Elvis? Honestly, the same as pretty much every musical tribute act, from Guns Not Roses, to the Australian Pink Floyd, to Wrong Jovi. It was an exercise in hearing the greatest hits belted out, and not worrying too much about the dodgy wig, cheap plastic sunglasses, and exceptionally tight-fitting rhinestone jumpsuit. You know how it is. Some nights, you just want to hear Hound Dog and Unchained Melody howled in the direction of the moon, and you don't care who it is that's doing the howling. Why am I telling you about Fat Elvis? Well, because in 1475, Edward IV, who by this stage has piled on a few pounds himself, has decided to perform a tribute act of his own. It's more than 20 years since the last English land holdings in France, other than Calais, were lost. It's coming on for half a century, since anyone over in the land of the long white baguette was genuinely scared by the prospect of an English invasion. But Edward has decided that in the aftermath of his dire trouble with Warwick and the Lancastrians, what England needs to lighten the mood is to turn the clock back and party like it's 1429. It's the Hundred Years' War redux. When in doubt, go give the French a good kicking. In 1475, that means raising a massive army and shipping it across the Channel with the intention of causing some good old-fashioned mayhem. It means allying with the Duke of Burgundy to batter the King of France. It means Edward squeezing his rapidly expanding ass into his armour and making like he's Fat Henry V, or indeed making like he's Fat. any of the other Plantagenet kings who went to war back in the day. Which, to be fair, Edward freely acknowledges. When he's in the planning stages of his campaign, he gets one of his flunkies to stand up in Parliament and make a speech asking Parliament to grant a war tax. That speech directly references the foreign campaigns of Henry II, Richard the Lionheart, Edward I and Edward III. And it mentions. It mentions them all most approvingly. It's a fact of English policy, says the flunky, that it is not well possible, nor has been since the conquest, that justice, peace and prosperity have continued any while in this land, in any king's day, except in such as have made war outward. War is peace, you see. Or war on the fromage guzzlers who've been England's enemies since time immemorial is, at any rate. So, even though. Even though the Hundred Years' War wrapped up with a comprehensive French victory at the Battle of Castillon in 1453, Edward now wants to stir things up again. He says he wants the old Plantagenet heirlooms back, Normandy and Gascony, or things will get nasty. And while this war is definitely retro, it's not going off half-cocked. Because the military mobilisation that takes place in 1475 involves Edward assembling the biggest army in living memory. 13,000 hard bastards, tough from decades, of civil strife at home he hires artillery manufacturers to make him some ridiculously huge cannon his big guns include a frankly monstrous bombard named the great Edward of Calais it's the size of sixty or more regular cannon if war is on some level a pintle waving contest Edward is determined to have the biggest swinging bombard on the block the upshot is that when Edward sets sail across the channel in 1475 backed by loyal lieutenants like his best mate Lord Hastings and Margaret Beaufort's husband Thomas Stanley it may be a throwback but it's definitely not a joke so what's Edwards intended strategy well that's pretty retro too after shipping his men and guns to English-held Calais Edward makes it known that he'll march on Paris via towns held by the Burgundians working with Burgundy was a mainstay of Henry V successes back in the day and Edward has spent his whole reign cultivating the Duke who's married to Edward's sister under the terms of 1474 treaty of London the Duke of Burgundy is honor bound to support Edward in his war if things go Edwards way this little setup could be a pretty tasty campaign except well there's a catch even though no one can doubt the scale of Edwards military preparations French diplomats at the court of the fifty-two-year-old Louis the 11th reckon they have the Yorkist Kings measure they don't doubt his ambition or his military resume but they do see that Edward is only a Henry V tribute act and not the real deal because that beer belly Edwards carrying now he's in his mid-30s it tells a story of its own the king has a reputation for enjoying the finer things in life with more stamina for sinking pints and chirps in wenches than for long grueling months on foreign campaign the smart money says look past the big guns and the legions of doom ignore the white noise about having Normandy and Gascony back Edward probably has a price give him enough gold and a few tasty treats and this war could be over without a shot being fired Edward probably has a price give him enough gold and a few tasty treats and this war could be over without a shot being fired Edward probably has a price give him enough gold and a few tasty treats and this war could be over without a shot being fired in anger so while Edward disembarks his troops in anger so while Edward disembarks his troops in anger so while Edward disembarks his troops at Calais in July 1475 and goes on a at Calais in July 1475 and goes on a at Calais in July 1475 and goes on a little March which includes camping two little March which includes camping two little March which includes camping two nights at Agincourt and shouting yaboo nights at Agincourt and shouting yaboo nights at Agincourt and shouting yaboo sucks but a few minor nearby cities sucks but a few minor nearby cities sucks but a few minor nearby cities there's not a chance of a real set to on there's not a chance of a real set to on there's not a chance of a real set to on the scale of Henry the fifth's great the scale of Henry the fifth's great the scale of Henry the fifth's great battle in fact right from the start battle in fact right from the start battle in fact right from the start messengers are running back and forth messengers are running back and forth messengers are running back and forth between Edwards camp and Paris asking between Edwards camp and Paris asking between Edwards camp and Paris asking how much it would cost for him to go how much it would cost for him to go how much it would cost for him to go away away away on August the 29th that question is on August the 29th that question is on August the 29th that question is answered answered answered after just a few weeks of haggling after just a few weeks of haggling after just a few weeks of haggling Edward meets Louis the 11th of France at Edward meets Louis the 11th of France at Edward meets Louis the 11th of France at the town of Peking on a bridge over the the town of Peking on a bridge over the the town of Peking on a bridge over the river Somme there they shake hands on a river Somme there they shake hands on a river Somme there they shake hands on a treaty which gives Edward a large treaty which gives Edward a large treaty which gives Edward a large payment in gold up front and a regular payment in gold up front and a regular payment in gold up front and a regular pension worth 10 000 pounds a year pension worth 10 000 pounds a year pension worth 10 000 pounds a year thereafter English troops are allowed to thereafter English troops are allowed to thereafter English troops are allowed to drink for free for five days in the drink for free for five days in the drink for free for five days in the nearby pubs in return Edward agrees to nearby pubs in return Edward agrees to nearby pubs in return Edward agrees to drop once and for all the English claims drop once and for all the English claims drop once and for all the English claims to Normandy and Gascony to Normandy and Gascony to Normandy and Gascony an eyewitness who sees the meeting an eyewitness who sees the meeting an eyewitness who sees the meeting recalls the two Monarchs embracing each recalls the two Monarchs embracing each recalls the two Monarchs embracing each other through a safety barrier erected other through a safety barrier erected other through a safety barrier erected on the bridge to prevent any funny on the bridge to prevent any funny on the bridge to prevent any funny business he recalls Edward wearing a black velvet cap on his head decorated business he recalls Edward wearing a black velvet cap on his head decorated with a large fleur-de-lis of precious with a large fleur-de-lis of precious with a large fleur-de-lis of precious stones he was a very good-looking Prince stones he was a very good-looking Prince stones he was a very good-looking Prince but he was beginning to get fat and I had but he was beginning to get fat and I had but he was beginning to get fat and I had seen him on previous occasions looking seen him on previous occasions looking seen him on previous occasions looking more handsome the same chronicler also more handsome the same chronicler also more handsome the same chronicler also overhears Louis offering to host Edward overhears Louis offering to host Edward overhears Louis offering to host Edward Paris where he'll give him a table of Paris where he'll give him a table of Paris where he'll give him a table of ladies to dine with and a confessor to ladies to dine with and a confessor to ladies to dine with and a confessor to absolve him from sin afterwards behind absolve him from sin afterwards behind absolve him from sin afterwards behind Edward's back he later jokes that he's Edward's back he later jokes that he's Edward's back he later jokes that he's driven the English out of his country driven the English out of his country driven the English out of his country with wine and venison pasties with wine and venison pasties with wine and venison pasties it's fair to say that Louis has Edward's it's fair to say that Louis has Edward's it's fair to say that Louis has Edward's number or is great but have you ever number or is great but have you ever number or is great but have you ever tried eating a deer pie off a naked tried eating a deer pie off a naked tried eating a deer pie off a naked French girl's back while rolling in a French girl's back while rolling in a French girl's back while rolling in a bed full of money bed full of money bed full of money five days later the English Army is back five days later the English Army is back five days later the English Army is back in Calais by the end of September the in Calais by the end of September the in Calais by the end of September the army is back in London when word gets army is back in London when word gets army is back in London when word gets out of the debacle there's a widespread out of the debacle there's a widespread out of the debacle there's a widespread public disbelief that such a huge Army public disbelief that such a huge Army public disbelief that such a huge Army came back having seen virtually no came back having seen virtually no came back having seen virtually no action except what they found in the action except what they found in the action except what they found in the taverns and bath houses taverns and bath houses taverns and bath houses among the ordinary people Edward's among the ordinary people Edward's among the ordinary people Edward's approach to International diplomacy is approach to International diplomacy is approach to International diplomacy is met with a mixture of scorn and hilarity met with a mixture of scorn and hilarity met with a mixture of scorn and hilarity but one person isn't laughing but one person isn't laughing but one person isn't laughing that's Margaret Beaufort because she that's Margaret Beaufort because she that's Margaret Beaufort because she knows that the treaty Edward has struck knows that the treaty Edward has struck knows that the treaty Edward has struck with the French King but her son Henry with the French King but her son Henry with the French King but her son Henry Tudor in considerable danger Tudor in considerable danger Tudor in considerable danger Henry isn't mentioned in the Treaty of Henry isn't mentioned in the Treaty of Henry isn't mentioned in the Treaty of piccini but with Louis bending over piccini but with Louis bending over piccini but with Louis bending over backwards to offer Edward bribes to stay backwards to offer Edward bribes to stay backwards to offer Edward bribes to stay at home he could very well be next at home he could very well be next at home he could very well be next year's venison pasty the medieval aristocracy had many the medieval aristocracy had many the medieval aristocracy had many virtues but dressing subtly wasn't one virtues but dressing subtly wasn't one virtues but dressing subtly wasn't one of them some outfits look less like Lord of them some outfits look less like Lord of them some outfits look less like Lord of the Manor and more escaped upholstery of the Manor and more escaped upholstery of the Manor and more escaped upholstery which is one reason I like quince they which is one reason I like quince they which is one reason I like quince they make the opposite timeless pieces in make the opposite timeless pieces in make the opposite timeless pieces in premium materials like 100 Mongolian premium materials like 100 Mongolian premium materials like 100 Mongolian cashmere and merino wool I've been cashmere and merino wool I've been cashmere and merino wool I've been wearing one of their soft cashmere wearing one of their soft cashmere wearing one of their soft cashmere sweaters lately and these 100 Mongolian sweaters lately and these 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shipping on your order and 365 day shipping on your order and 365 day returns now available in Canada and the returns now available in Canada and the returns now available in Canada and the UK too and when quince asks where you UK too and when quince asks where you UK too and when quince asks where you heard about them let them know it was heard about them let them know it was heard about them let them know it was this is history it's the best way to this is history it's the best way to this is history it's the best way to support the show I hate Mondays King support the show I hate Mondays King since making my day way better with since making my day way better with since making my day way better with these new soft and swirly King's Hawaiian these new soft and swirly King's Hawaiian these new soft and swirly King's Hawaiian cinnamon bites Taylor Hansen nice try one cinnamon bites Taylor Hansen nice try one cinnamon bites Taylor Hansen nice try one hmm hmm hmm King's Hawaiian cinnamon bites there's King's Hawaiian cinnamon bites there's King's Hawaiian cinnamon bites there's nothing like it nothing like it nothing like it the guards lead Henry Tudor up the the guards lead Henry Tudor up the the guards lead Henry Tudor up the stairs of the huge octagonal keep of a stairs of the huge octagonal keep of a stairs of the huge octagonal keep of a castle in Brittany known as the Chateau castle in Brittany known as the Chateau castle in Brittany known as the Chateau la goy it's a hell of a slog the keep or la goy it's a hell of a slog the keep or la goy it's a hell of a slog the keep or Central Tower stands 45 meters tall Central Tower stands 45 meters tall Central Tower stands 45 meters tall which makes it one of the biggest in which makes it one of the biggest in which makes it one of the biggest in Brittany or anywhere else in Greater Brittany or anywhere else in Greater Brittany or anywhere else in Greater France and Henry is being taken almost France and Henry is being taken almost France and Henry is being taken almost to the top to rooms in the sixth of its to the top to rooms in the sixth of its to the top to rooms in the sixth of its seven stories seven stories seven stories he blinks as they trudge up the endless he blinks as they trudge up the endless he blinks as they trudge up the endless flights of steps trying to adjust his flights of steps trying to adjust his flights of steps trying to adjust his eyes to the gloom the tower gets barely eyes to the gloom the tower gets barely eyes to the gloom the tower gets barely any natural light beyond what trickles any natural light beyond what trickles any natural light beyond what trickles through tiny windows barely bigger than through tiny windows barely bigger than through tiny windows barely bigger than arrow slits the dinginess is a reminder arrow slits the dinginess is a reminder arrow slits the dinginess is a reminder just in case Henry needed one that now just in case Henry needed one that now just in case Henry needed one that now he's inside the Chateau he isn't going he's inside the Chateau he isn't going he's inside the Chateau he isn't going anywhere which is both a relief and a bit anywhere which is both a relief and a bit anywhere which is both a relief and a bit of a worry Henry first arrived in of a worry Henry first arrived in of a worry Henry first arrived in Brittany in 1471 washed up near the Brittany in 1471 washed up near the Brittany in 1471 washed up near the little fishing port of leconque after he little fishing port of leconque after he little fishing port of leconque after he and his uncle Jasper Tudor fled Wales in and his uncle Jasper Tudor fled Wales in and his uncle Jasper Tudor fled Wales in the aftermath of the collapse of Henry the aftermath of the collapse of Henry the aftermath of the collapse of Henry the sixth's re-adaption back then it was the sixth's re-adaption back then it was the sixth's re-adaption back then it was a relief to be out of Wales where they a relief to be out of Wales where they a relief to be out of Wales where they were being pursued by Edward IV's men were being pursued by Edward IV's men were being pursued by Edward IV's men determined to round up anyone who might determined to round up anyone who might determined to round up anyone who might be a threat to the throne Edward had be a threat to the throne Edward had be a threat to the throne Edward had come so close to losing since then come so close to losing since then come so close to losing since then Henry and Jasper have been the Henry and Jasper have been the Henry and Jasper have been the Honourable guests of the Duke of Honourable guests of the Duke of Honourable guests of the Duke of Brittany Francis II old Francis is a Brittany Francis II old Francis is a Brittany Francis II old Francis is a sure they've been well fed and watered sure they've been well fed and watered sure they've been well fed and watered and kept in a keeping that befits their and kept in a keeping that befits their and kept in a keeping that befits their noble status noble status noble status which is only right after all Jasper which is only right after all Jasper which is only right after all Jasper Tudor is a half-brother of poor old Tudor is a half-brother of poor old Tudor is a half-brother of poor old Henry VI as was Henry's father Edmund Henry VI as was Henry's father Edmund Henry VI as was Henry's father Edmund not that he ever met the guy not that he ever met the guy not that he ever met the guy that said you get nothing for free in that said you get nothing for free in life and what's been clear from the life and what's been clear from the life and what's been clear from the get-go is that Francis of Brittany has a get-go is that Francis of Brittany has a get-go is that Francis of Brittany has a very good ulterior motive in being nice very good ulterior motive in being nice very good ulterior motive in being nice to Jasper and Henry Tudor he's a smart to Jasper and Henry Tudor he's a smart to Jasper and Henry Tudor he's a smart politician with one main goal in life politician with one main goal in life politician with one main goal in life that's to stop his Duchy from being that's to stop his Duchy from being that's to stop his Duchy from being absorbed into the Kingdom of France absorbed into the Kingdom of France absorbed into the Kingdom of France so from the moment he clapped eyes on so from the moment he clapped eyes on so from the moment he clapped eyes on them Francis has viewed the Tudors as them Francis has viewed the Tudors as them Francis has viewed the Tudors as Pawns in that bigger game of diplomatic Pawns in that bigger game of diplomatic Pawns in that bigger game of diplomatic chess since 1471 he's moved them several chess since 1471 he's moved them several chess since 1471 he's moved them several times on each occasion professing to have times on each occasion professing to have times on each occasion professing to have their best interests at heart but really their best interests at heart but really their best interests at heart but really safeguarding his own he had them at his court in Vannes, then in a remote castle called Soussigno, near the coast, then in the city of Nantes. And now Henry is here at the Chateau de la Gueuille, while Jasper is somewhere else entirely, 30 miles away at the Chateau Josselin. They've been split up for a reason, and Henry can guess what it might be. He's aged 18, a young man with a long face, with dark hair, and one eye a little higher than the other. He's old and gnarly enough to understand that somewhere outside this tower, the diplomatic game is moving along. It's very possible that Francis is considering swapping him out for someone more valuable. Henry's right. In 1475, as we've just heard, Edward IV has sworn to be the king of France. He's the king of France. He's the king of swept over to France mob-handed and come back having changed the whole complexion of European diplomacy. The Treaty of Piquigny has put him on friendly terms with the French crown, and that has implications for Brittany and the Tudors. For one thing, it means that Henry and his uncle Jasper have lost an insurance policy. While they were in Brittany from 1471, they could rely on the fact that Louis XI of France was guaranteed to intervene to prevent them from being extradited to England. Jasper is one of the French king's cousins, through his mother Catherine de Valois. Besides which, having a potential rival claimant to the English crown would be a thing too tempting for Louis to resist when England and France were officially enemies. but now they're officially friends, Louis has far less incentive to interfere with any attempts the English might make to bargain with Duke Francis to get the Tudors back. In fact, Louis is more likely to actively push for Francis to send the Tudors back. Splitting Henry and Jasper up is an obvious sign that this is now a realistic possibility. And so it comes to pass. Throughout 1475 and 1476, Henry Tudor lives in the Chateau de la Goye with not very much to do except stare out of the tiny windows at the miles of surrounding woodland. But in late 1476, after a long period of lobbying from England, his guards come to tell him that he's been taken to Saint-Malo on the coast. There, English ships are waiting to bring him in. This is crisis time, and Henry knows it. Edward has promised Duke Francis a lot of gold to hand Henry back and assured him that he'll be treated respectfully in England and married off to some pretty young bride. Henry's filing that one under T for total horseshit. there's no doubt in his mind as to what'll happen to him if he's loaded onto those ships. Word has now got around Europe of what happened to another enemy of Edward IV's when he was on a ship crossing the Channel last year. In 1475, Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter, a troublesome nobleman Edward never liked, was travelling with the rest of the army by ship home from Edward's aborted military invasion of France. On the way, he very strangely happened to slip overboard and drown in the sea. Officially, it was an accident, but what are the chances? Gossips all over Europe have agreed on the story that he was thrown overboard on Edward's orders. What's good for the Duke of Exeter will be more than good enough for Henry Tudor, so when he reaches Saint-Malo, Henry does the only thing he can think of to try and save his own skin. He pulls a sickie, claiming to be far too ill to travel anywhere. Henry's a good enough actor to win himself a delay, and during that delay, Duke Francis has a change of heart. One of his leading advisors, who's been responsible for guarding Henry for the last few years, tells the Duke that if he lets Henry be sent back to England, he'll have blood on his hands. He'll be giving an innocent young man to butchers for the rending, the tormenting, and finally the killing. Francis hears this and has a change of heart. He arranges for Henry to take sanctuary in a local church at Saint-Malo, guarded by an angry mob of townsfolk who warn the English that if they try to get him out, they'll have their balls on a stick. By Christmas, Edward's men have realised they're not leaving Brittany with Henry. By Christmas, the young man is back at Vann, reunited with his uncle Jasper. This is the sort of tiny event on which history turns, and there's only one person more delighted at Henry's escape from extradition than Henry himself. That's his dear old mum, Margaret Beaufort. But Margaret knows she can't rely on good luck to save her lad every time. She needs to step up, and fast. Observe the North American Dad, fifties, great polo collection. He enters his vehicle information on Carvana. An offer appears in minutes, remarkable. He squints, reads it again, smiles and says, dang, that's a good offer. The highest form of approval. No haggling, no hassle, no one called him boss. still on the couch. Astonishing. Sell your car today on Carvana.com. Pickup fees may apply. The solemn parade of Yorkists files into the grand church at Fotheringay in the Midlands, accompanied by churchmen and a crowd of respectful onlookers. This is a service of the utmost solemnity, and everyone is on their most somber and magnificent behaviour. Margaret Beaufort stands among the women, playing her own part in the service. She watches as two coffins are drawn into the church and lifted into splendid tombs built to house them. The remains within the coffins are many years dead, but they're afforded as much respect as any of the living, because they belong to the Yorkist patriarch Richard, Duke of York, and his second son, Edmund, Earl of Rutland. Those two lost their lives at the Battle of Wakefield in 1460, after which Richard was beheaded and his head stuck on the city gates in York, a paper hat pinned mockingly on it. For a rerun of that battle, go back to episode 12 of season 9 of A Dynasty to Die For, Rise of the Yorks. Since then, they've lain in a monastery in Pontefract, But now King Edward has decided to give them the posthumous respect they deserve. So here are the whole extended family circle, pouring some out for the OGs. The chief mourner is King Edward's youngest brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester. But standing alongside him, right beside the coffins, is Margaret's husband, Thomas Stanley. And here's Margaret herself, keeping the Yorkist noblewomen company after they lay their offerings on the church's high altar. There could be no more visible association with the king's inner circle than this. And however hard Margaret has to bite her tongue, as she stands there, she's going to bite it. Because you know what they say, if you can't beat them, join them. Ever since Margaret's son, Henry Tudor, narrowly escaped a permanent dunking in the English channel, that's been her policy. Rather than trying to fight against the regime, she's cementing her position inside it. Her hope is that she can build the influence she needs to either secure a peaceful life for Henry abroad or bring him home with the genuine promise of safety. She's pragmatic enough to know that this is the only realistic aim. Every further year that Edward IV sits fat and happy on the throne makes the likelihood of one last Lancastrian revolution more unlikely. And he's not short on heirs either. His eldest son, Edward, born during the crisis of the re-adaption, is about to turn six years old. He and Queen Elizabeth Woodville also have a younger boy, called Richard, who's two. Then there's George, Duke of Clarence. Idiotic, but virile enough to have fathered several kids, including a boy called Edward, Earl of Warwick. And the king's youngest brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, also has a son. At a conservative estimate, that makes a royal succession of five males in the immediate Yorkist family. There's been no healthier line of succession since Edward III's days, a hundred years ago. This family is going nowhere. The key to survival is going to have to be going nowhere with them. And that's why Margaret is here at Fotheringay, paying her respects to the guy who arguably started the Wars of the Roses, it's also why, in 1478, she'll be at Westminster beaming with the rest of the congregation when the king's youngest son Richard gets married, aged four, to a six-year-old noble heiress from East Anglia. It's why two years later, when Edward and Elizabeth Woodville have yet another child, a daughter called Bridget, Margaret will be given the honour of carrying the baby to the font for her baptism. Since she was 13 years old, giving birth to Henry Tudor in Pembroke Castle, Margaret has been a survivor. Nothing's changed. What's more, she has a game plan. Sucking up to the royal house of York isn't an end in itself. What she wants, ultimately, is to convince the king to sign off on a deal that brings her son back from Brittany, gets him out of the politics of France, and hands him his late father's noble title. Once upon a time, before he died of plague, Edmund Tudor was Earl of Richmond, a wealthy area in North Yorkshire. That title comes with lands, prestige, and money. If Margaret can persuade King Edward that Henry Tudor should get it in right of his father, that would be a pretty good outcome. Of course, getting it is easier said than done, because there's one particular roadblock, standing in Margaret's way. Which is that someone else already holds the title of Earl of Richmond. It's been in his hands since the days of the re-adaption, when dithering old Henry VI gave it to the useful idiot, George, Duke of Clarence. At that hot moment, Clarence was a turncoat, who'd lined up with the Lancastrians and the re-adaption. Now, of course, he's back on the Yorkist side, but he's still Clarence. He's still the king of England, and he's still the king of England, clinging onto the earldom, among his many other lands and titles. And Clarence is a tricky opponent. For all that he's a snake, a backstabber, and a low-down grifter, Clarence seems to have a mental hold over his brother the king, unlike anyone else. Margaret is going to have to use all her powers of cunning to put one over on this guy. Unless, that is, Clarence. But that's never going to happen. Is it? Is it? To find out. Come back next time for another episode of This Is History. I said this season was beginning to sound a lot like a true crime podcast. Now, we have an augmented Edward IV, the king of England, and the king of England. Now, we have an augmented Edward IV, the alleged cold-blooded killer who's beginning to appear and act a lot more like Foghorn Leghorn. Now, there'll be more opportunity to see Edward fail upward, but in the meantime, it's time for the discussion starter for this episode. So, to my dear royal favourites, it's time to get your inner tribute act out. If you could cosplay any Plantagenet king or queen, who would it be? And what would your on-stage outfit be? Let's get the band going on patreon.com forward slash thisishistory.