tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7522540157533890952024-03-08T05:03:36.714+00:00 secret history storiesgreat English history stories at your fingertipsPeter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-15429176873705160192020-06-16T09:00:00.009+01:002023-10-29T10:54:43.534+00:00Winston Churchill's terrifying car accident<!-- Google Tag Manager -->
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<font face="verdana"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Winston Churchill almost died in a car accident in 1931. </span><br />
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The early 1930s were a tough time for the future Prime Minster, Winston Churchill. In 1929 he lost his status as Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Conservatives lost the General Election and in the same year the Great Wall Street Crash on the stock market meant he lost a great deal of money.</font></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 107%;"><font face="verdana">With this in mind Winston decided to travel to New York to earn some much needed income via a North American tour. On the 13<sup>th</sup> <span style="color: #222222;">December 1931 he found himself in the midst of a lecture tour for this very purpose. During the evening, Winston originally planned to go to bed early at the Waldorf Astoria, his Manhattan hotel. However at around 9pm Bernard Baruch called him by telephone and invited him to his home on Fifth Avenue to meet with two mutual friends.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></div>
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<font face="verdana"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 107%;">Unfortunately for Churchill he was unfamiliar with New York and exactly where he needed to go despite the fact he had already been to Baruch’s home before. He spent an hour fruitlessly trying to locate his friend’s home. In desperation he decided it would be easier to go on foot for a short while to get his sense of bearings as he was sure he would recognize the home when he saw it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><font face="verdana">He got out of the cab he was in and decided to cross the road and walk along the houses nearby. Half way along the road he looked left as in Britain the cars come from the left hand side. This was a cataclysmic error or judgement but an easy one to do as being used to the cars driving on the left in Britain he had ignored that in America they drive on the right. As a consequence he did not notice a car approaching from his right as he did not look in that direction.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
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<font face="verdana"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">Winston walked across. Meantime one Edward F. Cantasano (known as Mario) saw Winston crossing but too late to brake his car in time. Winston at the last moment recognised what was happening and according to an account he wrote later he thought </span><span style="line-height: 107%;">‘I am going to be run down and probably killed’. Straight afterward <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;">Churchill was hit hard. </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 107%;"><font face="verdana">“A man has been killed!” someone cried. Lots of bystanders quickly gather around and a police officer came along to see what help he could offer. Winston describes the impact as being similar to when he was hit by an artillery explosion in Flanders during World War One, such was the power of the incoming force.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
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<font face="verdana"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 107%;">Fortunately Winston was alive but as he says ‘I do not understand why I was not broken like an egg-shell or squashed like a gooseberry’. Perhaps some of it might have been down to his heavy fur-lined coat cushioning some of the blow. An alternative explanation was that at 200 pounds in weight Churchill had some extra padding. Indeed much later after the incident when Winston asked a Professor Lindemann for a possible physics explanation he was given the following witty reply.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 107%;"><font face="verdana">‘Assume average one inch your body transferred during impact at rate eight thousand horsepower. Congratulations on preparing suitable cushion and skill in taking bump. Greetings to all’. <o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
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<font face="verdana"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 107%;">Never the less Churchill suffered great physical pain. When the policeman came over to ask him ‘What is your name? he was given the reply ‘Winston Churchill”. Churchill then felt a compulsion to add “The Right Honourable Winston Churchill from England”. </span><span style="background-color: white;">The policeman asked for some details and enquired if he wanted to blame anyone but Winston stated ‘I exonerate everyone”. A taxi driver then came up to the gathering and said “Take him in my cab. There’s the Lennox Hill Hospital on 76</span><sup>th</sup><span style="background-color: white;"> Street”.</span></font></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 107%;"><font face="verdana">Along the way Winston fear he might be crippled for life however he started to feel pangs of pain and realised this meant he could not be paralysed. He arrived and then after informing his wife of his situation by telephone he was put under sedation to deal with his head wound. Afterward Baruch and Clementine, his wife were by his bedside. Afterwards out of curiosity and mischief Winston asked “Tell me, Baruch, what is the number of your house?”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> "1055" came the reply so Winston followed up with "How near was I to it when I was smashed up?". Baruch then probably knocked his Churchill's ego as much as his body when he stated "Not within ten blocks" (about a half of a mile). </span></font></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><font face="verdana"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Four days later Churchill received a visit from Constasino who was terribly upset about what he had done. Churchill though put him at ease and also managed to plug himself by presenting him with a signed copy of <em><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;">The Unknown War</span></em>, the final volume of <em><span style="border: 1pt none; padding: 0cm;">The World Crisis</span></em> that he had written.</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 107%;"><font face="verdana">Winston’s recovery was slow. Whilst inside hospital he caught pleurisy (tissue between lungs becomes inflamed). To deal with the pain he was suffering Winston was caught in a bind as alcohol was not allowed under Prohibition laws at the time. Never one to give up though he managed to get his American doctor, Otto C. Pickhardt, to write the following note for him:<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 107%;"><font face="verdana">“…the post-accident convalescence of the Hon. Winston S. Churchill necessitates the use of alcoholic spirits especially at meal times. The quantity is naturally indefinite but the minimum requirements would be 250 cubic centimeters”.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 107%;"><font face="verdana">Perhaps such a ‘medicinal approach might surprise some but not others. Famously Field Marshall Montgomery once said to him ‘I neither drink nor smoke and I am one hundred per cent fit.’ To which Churchill retorted ‘I drink and smoke and am two hundred per cent fit’.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div>
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<font face="verdana"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 107%;">Finally on the 28<sup>th</sup> January Winston was even well enough to give a lecture in Brooklyn and during February he completed a shortened series of lectures across <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">the United States. His close friends were very happy for him and decided to buy him a Rolls-Royce “to celebrate his recovery” and deliverance from oblivion. “We think there is a certain appropriateness in the presentation of a motor car to a man who has been knocked down by a taxi-cab!” wrote Brendan Bracken to Baruch.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><font face="verdana"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 107%;">His wife said he told her that he was not sure he would recover from the Wall Street Crash, loss of political status and his injury. In many ways this marked the beginning of his wilderness years. Some American journalists wondered how he felt about the USA and considering his American ancestry asked him if he might ever run for American President. Ever the joker he said</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> “I have been treated so splendidly in the United States that I should be disposed, if you can amend the Constitution, seriously to consider the matter”.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></div>
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<font face="verdana"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 107%;">Winston Churchill as he know went on the become Prime Minister and remarkably this was not his only brush with death. He managed to survive one house fire, two plane crashes, three car crashes, four bouts of pneumonia during World War II, five wars as a soldier and a prison break in South Africa. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<font face="verdana"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: white;">He also apparently was a short distance away from Adolf Hitler at one point during World War One when both were in the trenches and in the same month of December 1931 Hitler also had a nasty car crash. Apparently he was returning home following the wedding of Dr. Goebbels, his trusted aide. He was sitting in a car with General Von Epp when it crashed into another red Fiat car used by an 18 year old John Scott Ellis (later known as Lord Howard de Walden). </span></span><br />
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<span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: white;">At the time Ellis was just learning his way around Munich and he apparently took a right turn and bumped into a pedestrian man in his 40s. Of course this story comes from Ellis and differs from newspaper accounts of the time of two cars hitting one another. Scott Ellis was shaken by the incident but was unaware of who he had hit until his passenger remarked 'Don't you know you just knocked down Adolf Hitler?'.</span></span></span><br />
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<span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: white;">In later life he used to say '</span></span><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -0.16px; text-align: left;">‘For a few seconds, perhaps, I held the history of Europe in my rather clumsy hands. He was only shaken up, but had I killed him, it would have changed the history of the world.’</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: white;">The impact of the crash on Adolf Hitler was enough to shove into the car window and break his finger and make him suffer bruising but as we know he recovered and unfortunately went on to cause World War Two.</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: white;">Three years later the two once again met. This time Ellis had recently married and by now Adolf Hitler was Chancellor of Germany and de facto dictator of it all and they happen to meet in Munich for an opera where they are sat in boxes side by side. During the interval Ellis leaned across the boxes and spoke to Hitler and asked him if he remembered the car accident and Hitler did and despite his murderous reign having started by now was apparently 'quite charming to me for a few moments' to Ellis.</span></span><br />
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</font><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: white;"><font face="verdana">History will always have many what if questions such as what might have happened if Hitler had died that day but I am afraid will never be able to full answer.</font></span><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-80359123254040101732020-04-13T13:13:00.003+01:002021-02-28T15:04:17.281+00:00Prime Minister David Lloyd George's brush with death from flu in 1918<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">Prime Minister David Lloyd George almost died from flu in September 1918 just when he was celebrating winning World War One.</span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">At the time the war is at a critical phase requiring important decisions to be taken so it is most unfortunate timing for David Lloyd George. By the autumn the Allies are finally starting to dominate. The German Spring offensive has petered out and the growing intervention of the Americans mean the Allies have a growing numerical superiority over Germany in troop numbers. By September the Allies are winning a succession of battles in France and the German Army is struggling to get new recruits to replace their heavy losses. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">However the ‘Spanish Flu’ (contrary to most people’s beliefs the flu was most probably due to American or British troops travelling around France in origin) as it became known in 1918 is causing great damage to British society and the Allied armed forces. According to the American War Department influenza has an impact on at least 26% of the Army, more than a million men. The German army fare little better. Their generals are using it as an excuse for why they ran out of attacking momentum in their 1918 Spring Offensive. The British Minister of State, Bonar Law says at the time that ‘there is intelligence that the Germany Army is being swept by Bolshevism as well as Spanish Influenza, a lack of munitions and general sloppiness’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Just when this first wave starts to die down in the Autumn a second wave that is more virulent than the first and seems to attack the youngest and healthiest more, begins to emerge. It soon appears on the Allied lines and causes a great deal of worry judging by the confidential correspondence between the Medical Research Council, the War Office and the Army Medical Service due to the perceived possible impact it might have on all the fit and healthy soldiers at a critical moment in the war. The Local Government Board Chief Medical Officer put it that the war took priority over all other considerations and the military authorities could not afford to allow doctors and nurses to leave the war front to help those struggling at home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Of more concern to the British public is how deadly and quickly it is spreading across their own country. Official advice is not very helpful. </span><span style="background: white; color: #121212;">The main advice is to gargle with salt water and to isolate yourself until the fever has passed. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">By the time the epidemic is over it is estimated that over 228,000 civilians have died from it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">One of the epicentres in England for this outbreak is Manchester. Over the course of the summer of 1918 over 100,000 Mancunians catch the influenza and 322 die from it. Remarkably it is to this city that Prime Minister David Lloyd George decides to visit on 11<sup>th</sup> September 1918.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Why you might ask does he go to this city given the obvious risks? Well he was in fact born in Manchester and even though he was raised in Wales he has a strong affinity for it no doubt in part because as a Liberal Party member he feels close to the city due to it's strong Liberal leaning. In contrast to now the flu disease was not a notifiable disease so it was not well reported either officially or in the newspapers. Anything thought to have a negative impact on morale was censored. However perhaps the biggest factor is that he is invited to receive the Freedom of the City as a recognition for his wartime leadership. For a man with his enormous ego it is just too much to ignore.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">When he arrives he is given a massive welcome. His short journey to get to Albert Square where he is staying overnight becomes a one hour journey due to the huge crowds desperate to catch a glimpse of him. Crowds of soldiers and munitions workers Unfortunately it is also a typical day in Manchester full of rain so many people end up soaked in rain including the Prime Minister. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">The next day on the 12th September David Lloyd George gives a rousing 90 minute speech at the Manchester Hippodrome. He touches on many issues but a couple of statements have a certain irony given what happens next. Namely his remarks that ‘you cannot maintain an A1 Empire with a C3 population’ (A1 is a military reference to being in very good health whilst C1 is a military term for poor health) and also that ‘nothing but heart failure’ can prevent a British victory. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">Not content with one performance for the day Lloyd George then decides to have a civic lunch at Midland Hotel with a gathering of the local Welsh community. Shortly afterwards he falls ill in the afternoon. As a consequence he is too ill to attend the Reform Club in the evening to give a further speech. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">One of the little known facts is how easily this whole situation could have been prevented. Back in July 1918, Sir Arthur Newsholme, Chief Medical Officer of the Local Government Board was considering various nationwide measures to deal with the pandemic. Notable ideas he was looking at making use of included stopping large crowds from gathering and also preventing over crowding on public transport. However he changed his mind in August and he did not revive them until October 1918 by which time David Lloyd George had contracted and recovered from the flu. </span></span><br />
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<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As a consequence the national response was markedly different from today. For instance pubs were allowed to remain open and although men's football stopped the women's league was allowed to carry on. Several factories also allowed smoking to carry on in the belief that it helped prevent the flu. Eating porridge was recommended by the News of the World newspaper as a possible preventative measure. Even MP's were not always dependable for useful information. During one parliamentary debate the Conservative MP, Claude Lowther asked "</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Is it a fact that a sure preventative against influenza is cocoa taken three times a day?"</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Any hope that this flu is just the ordinary one are dashed and Lloyd George has to spend nine days in the committee room at the front of Manchester Town Hall. According to the recollections of the Secretary of State for War Sir Maurice Hankey, Lloyd George’s illness is very serious indeed and his valet mentions that at one point it is ‘touch and go’. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">The situation is desperate and as David Lloyd George looks out of his window to see the John Bright statue it drips with Manchester’s all too frequent rain. Who can blame him if he feels gloomy at this point. </span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">If news breaks out that the Prime Minister is gravely ill many fear it will dampen morale and weaken the war effort. Lloyd George himself states in December 1917 to C.P. Scott, the editor of the Manchester Guardian, that if people really knew the truth about the war it would be stopped tomorrow. <o:p></o:p></span></span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">However the Prime Minister is fortunate at the time in that the media barons are willing to underplay the severity of his condition for fear of presenting the Germans with a propaganda coup.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Instead with the help of the attending physician, Sir William Milligan, and friendly newspaper barons such as C.P. Scott, the true gravity of his illness is kept out of the public prints. The Manchester Guardian jokes that Lloyd George had caught a ‘severe chill’ when he had accidentally been soaked in a downpour in Albert Square and that he had since become ‘a prisoner of [Manchester’s] not too kindly climate’. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">In the meantime, The Times censors several of Milligan’s medical bulletins. Finally the Prime Minister's health recovers</span></span><span face="verdana, sans-serif"> and perhaps one specific piece of news goes some way to improve his countenance. It is that British troops at the Salonika bridgehead have finally defeated the Turks and Bulgarians. </span><br />
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</span> <span face="verdana, sans-serif">It is not until the 18th that The Times reports that the Prime Minister is on his way to recovery. Fortunately he is given good advice unlike some of the more dubious ideas put out at the time such as to eat lots of porridge, wash your teeth. Unfortunately j</span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">ust when things begin to look up for the Prime Minister his wife ends up with the flu too (another similarity with Boris Johnson and his fiancé Carrie Symonds). Those close to him are worried that if he finds out it might strain him too much and wreck his recovery so they decide to hold back on this information. </span><span face="verdana, sans-serif"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Three days later on the 21<sup>st</sup> of September he finally returns to London still wearing a respirator and then moves on to rest at the home of his friend, Danny Park. Meantime his wife slowly recovers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Eventually the couple, Frances Lloyd George and David are well enough to meet again. He walks into her room on his return holding the Freedom of the City – a silver coffer with enamel plaques, containing the elaborate scroll of the Freedom. Obviously he is very happy to see her but as she looks at his appearance she is aghast at what the illness has done to him. Later she writes ‘He must I fear have been very near death’s door. But he was exhilarated by the turn which events in the war had taken, and this helped his convalescence’. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">David Lloyd George’s recovery is slow. Even as late as the 4th of October 1918 he writes ‘I am off by the 8am train from Charing X. My temperature is still very low and my pulse too feeble’ to his wife. No doubt this will also be true for our current Prime Minister, Boris Johnson as he recovers this month.<o:p></o:p></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">If you want to read another similar story to this then purchase my book ‘Secret English History' to learn what happened to Winston Churchill in 1953 when he suffered a heart attack whilst Prime Minister. Hear how he struggled to survive and to keep his illness secret from Parliament and from the press in the most trying of circumstances.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h2 style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #eeeeee; color: black; font-size: 13pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.5467px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></h2><h2 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-weight: normal;">'Secret English History' - learn about the greatest English history stories you have never heard of. </span></h2><h2 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-weight: normal;">My book is now available for purchase at the link below.</span></h2><h2 style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=englishhistor-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=1072886669&asins=1072886669&linkId=e495f2f3b2a52c61fb70432d9219dacc&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=e6d6d6" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></h2>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-89821784572101988892019-07-30T20:18:00.002+01:002020-06-25T12:08:03.956+01:00Paperback 'Secret English History' Book Released<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, it's finally happened, a paperback version of my 'Secret English History' book has been released. It is packed full of exciting stories that you can now read where ever and when ever you want. Go ahead and buy it now!</span><br />
<h2 style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">'Secret English History' - learn about the greatest English history stories you have never heard of. </span></h2><h2 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2;">
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</span></h2><h2 style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">My book is now available for purchase at the link below.</span></h2>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-39962140102476691832019-05-27T09:15:00.000+01:002020-05-20T10:52:56.479+01:00The Unbelievable Story of how Alfred the Great got his Name<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Alfred the Great deserves his name due to his magnificent reign. Here is one of the many exciting stories I have included in my 'Secret English History' book. Enjoy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In all English history there has only ever been one leader called Great and his name is Alfred. Quite why this came about owes much to the character of Alfred, the way he handles the terrifying Vikings rampaging throughout England during the 870s and the legacy he leaves behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">To understand Alfred it is necessary to know about his tough, tumultuous upbringing. From an early age his life is dedicated to survival and war against the relentless onslaught from the Vikings. In 871 when he is just a young man he fights eight battles, killing one King and nine dukes. To add to the responsibilities and pressure he feels he also has to contend with being anointed as King in 871 when he is only 22. As a consequence he now forces himself to make life and death decisions on a regular basis on behalf of others too. Undoubtedly this harsh upbringing has a bearing on him and probably accounts for his firm, resolute character and military prowess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In 877 after seven years of rule and almost continuous warfare, King Alfred looks to be managing the impossible and bringing peace at long last. This is a testament to the success of Alfred as a military tactician. It is also due to a slice of good luck. Whilst he deserves credit for creating our nation’s first naval fleet it is also the case that good fortune plays a role. This has the effect of wrecking a great Viking army that has set sail for England with 120 ships and 5,000 men. Such is the storm’s ferocity few survive to land ashore. As a consequence their Viking leader Guthrum signs a treaty of peace in return for him and his men being allowed to stay in Mercia (modern day Wessex).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">At this point King Alfred probably believes that he has earned a well deserved rest. He retires back to his Chippenham villa fortress and lets his nobles go back to their estates. If the story ended here then his reign would still go down in history as very successful. Unfortunately for him his good luck runs out. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">What he has not counted on is the duplicity and treachery of Guthrum. Alfred makes a critical error in failing to appreciate the character of his Viking opponent for not only is Guthrum very slippery and conniving but he is also a proud and ferociously violent man with the will to gain more land by any means. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">On 12<sup>th</sup> January 878 the folly of letting his guard down is cruelly exposed. Guthrum joins up with a separate marauding force from South Wales and carries out a lightning attack by night on the kingdom of King Alfred. Caught by surprise, Alfred and his men have no chance and lose their land to the marauding Vikings. Soon after Guthrum decides to call himself the King of Mercia. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Almost as surprising as the attack is the fact that Alfred somehow manages to escape to fight another day. Never the less by the time of 878 the Viking hordes are all over southern England and Alfred’s prospects look very poor. Forced to beat a retreat to the Isle of Athelney tidal marshes in Somerset he has only his royal bodyguard and a small army of followers. Isolated and left standing as the only West Saxon leader who has not submitted to the marauding Vikings he is in no position to take on any foreign army. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In fact just surviving and evading capture is all Alfred can manage. Whilst in these marshes he is often forced on the move ‘under difficulties through woods and into inaccessible places’. It is from here that he takes shelter during the winter. To survive he has to rely on his good reputation to rally the men in the surrounding region and to encourage them to join his cause. This proves not to be a problem as he is held in such high esteem that men flock to join him from all over the areas we now know as Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. For them Alfred is a source of uplifting joy as many thought he was dead.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">It is during this time that the story of King Alfred being confused with a soldier by a woman and being asked to look after some cakes. When she returned apparently he had either fallen asleep or been in such deep thought that the cakes were burnt so she scolded him. This shook Alfred out of his lethargy and he started his comeback. Unfortunately this story is probably fictional. Cakes did not exist at that time, only loaves and it appears this story was borrowed from an earlier story about the Viking warlord, Ragnar Hairybreeks. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Alfred uses his winter productively. He builds up his military strength, practices fighting drills, creates a fortified base and develops a campaign of guerrilla warfare much like the Dane Vikings have used before against him. Eventually during the Spring he has enough confidence in his men to come out of hiding in the Athelney marshes and rally his soldiers at Egbert Stone near Selwood forest. Here he speaks passionately to all the men in an eloquent rousing speech that inspires his men into a fervour. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The next day Alfred moves to Okely and prepares for war. All the time more and more men flock to join his army. The day after is the crucial day as it is this day that he moves with his army to Edington in Wiltshire. This catches the Danes under Guthrum completely unaware as they have no idea that a mighty threat exists on their doorstep. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Battle is inevitable. Just before the great battle commences, Alfred reminds his men that it is their duty to rescue themselves and their country from the intolerable oppression of a horde of pagan idolaters; that God is on their side and that he has promised victory. Finally he urges them to act like men, so as reap the rewards of victory.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Alfred then quickly puts his men into position and begins advancing. For their part the Danish Vikings are not ready for battle and so are not in formation when they are attacked. This also put them at another crucial tactical disadvantage to add to the psychological momentum against them. Alfred’s strong leadership also inspires his men to fight very hard too. According to early chronicles he is supposed to be someone who ‘fought like a wild boar’ and in turn his own army fights with matching spirit. Further motivation comes from the knowledge that this is their last chance to avoid defeat and a lifetime of degrading servitude and humiliation under the Vikings. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Alfred's fyrd (army) give themselves a further chance as they used a tactic familiar to the Roman infantry, called a shield wall. This means placing shields side by side to create a solid wall and attacking in dense order. Spears are then thrusted through small openings in the shield wall. Even so a fierce battle ensues and lasts all day as it is so bitterly contested. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Finally Alfred's men wear down the Danes so much so they break apart and flee. Guthrum and the remnants of his army are forced to race back to their base at Chippenham, an ironic turn of fate. Whilst here they are besieged for two weeks all the time desperately hoping for a rescue that will never come. Eventually the starving Guthrum accepts his fate and surrenders. He agrees to retreat from the Kingdom of Wessex ruled by Alfred, accept baptism as a Christian and become Alfred’s godson. This means that he is also now bound by personal honour to follow the peace treaty. The baptism is solemnized at Wedmore, in Somerset, some weeks later, giving us what is known as the Peace of Wedmore. Then following this agreement the Danes retreat to East Anglia.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Not content and concerned not to be caught out again King Alfred further stabilises affairs for his Wessex Kingdom by creating a more stable law and order in his kingdom through a change of our laws that come to be known as the Book of Dooms (Book of Laws). In addition he follows up these measures by encouraging the emergence of burhs, or fortified towns that were looked after groups of soldiers on a rota basis. His people are then persuaded to settle in each collection of towns (that are built in a row to act as a string of border fortresses) so as to ensure their protection. Each burh is also armed and kept in a continuous state of alert to deal with any possible Danish incursions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This system does much to stabilize the political situation and bring a measure of peace to the ravaged islands. It is not until 895 that the Dane Vikings finally leaves following a succession of defeats due once again to King Alfred. It is because of all these tremendous achievements that he is rightly praised so highly and here on ever after known as Alfred the Great.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-size: small;">For more exciting stories like this go ahead and read my book 'Secret English History'</span></span><br />
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-74233854450904411502019-05-13T09:46:00.001+01:002020-05-24T11:25:14.292+01:00The Latest Secret English History Ebook News<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-51181182350653813902018-08-14T13:41:00.001+01:002020-06-25T12:09:41.677+01:00Queen Elizabeth and the 1579 river barge 'assassination attempt' <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Queen Elizabeth was mighty lucky to survive a gun repeatedly firing at her river barge in 1579. For the man responsible, </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thomas Applegate, his fate hangs by a thin thread. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The story begins on 17th July 1579 when Thomas Applegate decides to lark around with his friends along the River Thames between Greenwich and Deptford. At the same time her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth I is cruising along the river in her regal barge with the French Ambassador, Jean de Simier, the Earl of Lincoln, and her Vice Chamberlain, Christopher Hatton, discussing the prospect of her marrying the Duke of Anjou. Nothing more would have been said and this event would have passed unnoticed in history had Thomas not fire his Caliver or Harquebush pistol wildly with enjoyment around three or four times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It’s a foolish gesture. Whilst it amuses his party it also results in a bullet that shatters the glass side of Elizabeth’s barge and hits her helmsman who is only six feet away from her. The first reaction of the Queen is to think that the bullet is meant her and fear for her life as there have been many plots recently to topple her from the throne. The bullet itself passes through both of the helmsman’s arms and causes him to cry out in anguish with great pain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is at this point that the Queen displays her regal airs and wonderfully myopic perspective. She comforts him with a scarf to wrap around his arms and says ‘be of good cheer, for you will never want. For the bullet was meant for me’. Small cause to celebrate when you feel you are dying in a pool of your own blood but one has to remember that royalty is treated with great deference in medieval times. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A major investigation quickly ensues as the fear of an assassination attempt gives a sense of urgency that dark forces are at work and may soon strike again. The culprit, Thomas Applegate is found soon after, sentenced to death by the Privy Council and the following Tuesday paraded through the city, out to Blackwall and finally to a gibbet beside the river. His prospects look bleak. In desperation he pleads “God is my judge, I never in my life intended to hurt to the Queen’s most excellent Majesty… I am penitent and sorry for my good master, Mr Henry Carey, who hath been so grieved for my fault, suffering rebuke for the same”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">No mercy is granted. Tears pour from his eyes and the executioner fastens a noose around his neck and the young man prepares to die a quick, painful death. The crowds who are milling around feel he has been foolish but accept that it was an accident and not deliberate so they side with him and shout ‘Stay, stay, stay!’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Right at the last moment, Sir Christopher Hatton, the Vice Chamberlain steps forward and announces that what Thomas Applegate has done is foolish and wicked but the Queen has decided to grant mercy on his life. At this he is taken down from his ladder and at once gives praise to God and to Sir Christopher Hatton. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Quite why he is saved is open to debate. Applegate’s master, Henry Carey is a member of the Privy Council and may have used his high position to influence the Queen. Then again it might have been that the Queen only sought to know that Thomas Applegate was sorry for his behaviour and once Hatton knew this he was able to grant mercy. A further reason for the Queen’s action might have been that she sought to display her magnamity and thereby win over the crowds. Whatever the real reason it is probably of little consequence to Thomas Applegate who must have felt mightily lucky to escape death and no doubt dined out on this story for the rest of his life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-70984230560053265482018-04-17T21:09:00.000+01:002020-05-01T15:26:18.744+01:00The tragic death of the Princess during the Plague, 1348<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No one is immune from the plague when it strikes England during the Medieval Ages not even royalty like Princess Joan. In fact everyone suffers either directly or through the loss of someone close to them. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even today it is still remembered in seemingly innocent rhymes like ‘ring a ring of roses’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A large part of the problem is that no one knows how to heal the victims. General medical ignorance and widespread desperation drive many to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>crazy cures. One option is to place a live hen next to the swelling to draw out the pestilence from the body. Then to aid recovery you drink a glass of your own urine twice a day. If that does not take your fancy than consider another alternative. It involves using a mixture of tree resin, roots of white lilies plus dried human excrement and then applying them to the places where the body is cut open. If that isn’t enough to kill you then you can always try drinking arsenic poison. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An early example of how the Black Death offered no favouritism occurs in early August, 1348 shortly after the plague has arrived in Europe. Joan, daughter of Edward III, is leaving England on a journey to be married to Pedro, the heir to the kingdom of Castile. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Everything appears to have been taken care of. She is accompanied by a heavily armed bodyguard. These included over a hundred English bowmen, some of them veterans of the Battle of Crecy 1346 (one of the most important battles of the Hundred Years' War). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They protect not only her but the large dowry she brings. It includes a huge red silk marriage bed and her trousseau (cloth and linen for her marriage) alone requires an entire ship. Joan's wedding dress itself is made with more than 150 meters of rakematiz (a thick silk fabric embroidered with strands of gold). This is an extremely rare and valuable commodity and helps illustrate her special status. In addition she also has a suit of red velvet, two sets of twenty four buttons made of silver gilt and enamel, five corsets woven with gold patterns of stars, crescents and diamonds and at least two elaborate dresses with an in built corset. Such is her ostentatiousness that she even travels with a luxurious portable chapel so she can enjoy Catholic services without having to use the local churches along the way to Castile in Bordeaux. So large is all of this retinue for the princess that it requires four whole English ships. They leave from Portsmouth and arrives at Bordeaux where a dumbstruck Mayor called Raymond de Bisquale greets them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From Bordeaux to Castile should be straight forward but what Princess Joan does not know is that a Black Death plague is racing through Europe and sweeping aside all in its wake. In all probability as the pestilence has not been seen in England she probably knows nothing of it. Some say the Mayor immediately warns Joan and her companions about the danger of the Plague, but they don’t listen and proceed to settle in the royal castle overlooking the estuary of the Gironde.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It soon became apparent that a severe outbreak of a lethal disease is taking hold in Bordeaux but such is the ignorance of its potential lethalness the young princess and her advisors do not seek depart quickly enough. Very soon though she regrets her decision as she watches in horror as the members of her entourage begin falling sick and dying. On August 20<sup>th</sup> even Robert Bouchier, the main leader of the retinue and a tough veteran of the Battle of Crecy falls sick and dies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A decision is taken to seek isolation and Joan, the 13 year old second daughter of King Edward III is moved, probably to a small village called Loremo where she remains for some time. However even here she can not escape the disease. Tragically for Edward his daughter suffers a violent and quick attack of the Black Death and dies on 2<sup>nd</sup> September 1348. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is left to Andrew Ullford, a diplomatic lawyer who does not fall victim to the Plague to depart for England in October and to inform the King of what has occurred. The royal family are shocked even though by now with the spread of disease across the English Isles they are aware of its devastating mortal destruction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Her dramatic and sudden death sends shock waves across the country. Not only is she one of the earliest english victims of the Plague, but her death disproves the idea that royalty will be spared by God. King Edward III expresses his feelings in a letter he sends to King Alfonso of Castile on October 15, 1348. With regret he ends the marriage arrangements and describes writes ‘but see, with what intense bitterness of heart we have to tell you this, destructive Death (who seizes young and old alike, sparing no one and reducing rich and poor to the same level) has lamentably snatched from both of us our dearest daughter, whom we loved best of all, as her virtues demanded". <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He describes Joan as a martyred angel looking down from Heaven to protect the royal family, and concludes "we have placed our trust in God and our life between his hands, where he held it closely through many dangers". Then on a more emotional note he finished with "no fellow human being could be surprised if we were inwardly desolated by the sting of this bitter grief, for we are humans too.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On October 25, Edward III sends an expedition to Bordeaux that is supposed to find the body of Joan and bring it back for burial in London. The leader is a northern ecclesiastical lord, the bishop of Carlisle. In recognition of the danger he is exposing himself to he is very well paid by the King at five marks per day. Unfortunately the story ends here as we are not quite sure happens next in the story. There is no record of Joan's remains being returned to England, nor any account of a funeral of any kind. One possibility is that when the Mayor of Bordeaux decides to burn large parts of the town to stop the spread of the disease he might have also burnt her remains. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Her life is but a footnote in history but it has been suggested that actually it is significant as by preventing dynastic union between England and Castile it stops a potential shift in the balance of power between France and England. Had this happened it might have altered the course of the Hundred Years' War (1337 to 1453) and prevented England from losing the war. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As for the bubonic plague it continues to cause outbreaks that spare no victims. A famous occasion occurs when King Richard II’s wife dies of the bubonic plague in 1394. So distraught is he that when the Earl of Arundel turns up late to his wife’s funeral he rushes over to him and strikes the Earl on the face.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-32314812571240910652018-04-17T21:02:00.001+01:002020-06-25T12:13:06.938+01:00The Greatest Ever Escape from the Tower of London, 1716<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">The greatest ever escape from the Tower of London happened in 1716. Guy Fawkes was not the only person to fail with his insurrection. Another person set to suffer this fate is the Jacobean, William Maxwell, better known as Lord Nithsdale. </span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">His crime is to have supported and played a significant role in the Catholic led, Jacobit rebellion of 1715</span><span style="background-color: white;"> that supports the Old Pretender’s attempt to seize the throne back from its Protestant King for himself. The Jacobite forces initially have some successes but at the Battle of Preston in Lancashire they are soundly beaten. In the subsequent aftermath Lord Nithsdale is arrested on the 14th November of 1716 and moved </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">to the Tower of London. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">His future prospects look bleak. Rather forlornly he pleads guilty at his trial and begs the King for a pardon on the basis that he felt pressurized into joining the rebellion against his will. The King is in no mood for granting mercy and so in January 1717 he sentences him to death for high treason on 24 February. Such is the King’s displeasure that Lord Nithsdale is ordered to suffer the indignity and horror of being hung, drawn and quartered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In most instances this would be the end of the story as the prisoner<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>reluctantly accepts that there is little they can do to change their fate. However what makes this story different is the dogged resolve of his wife, Winifred, the Countess of Nithsdale. She simply can not accept life without her husband and is prepared to go to any length to help him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As soon as she hears the news about her husband she races from York to London. When her carriage gets stuck in snow she simply switches to horseback for the rest of the journey. Finally she arrives in London and immediately visits various Lords to encourage them to petition the King. It is all for waste though as the King disdainfully ignores the petition for Nithsdale and refuses to see her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Undeterred Winifred and her servant Lady Nairne ride to St. James Palace. She is absolutely determined to meet the King and plead with him to save her husband. When she finally does meet him she throws herself at the feet of King George I, grasping the skirt of his coat and begs for her husband's life. It is at this point that his blue riband servants belatedly intervene. One grabs her by the waist whilst the other releases her grip on his coast. The King is not best pleased by this act. As far as he is concerned Lord Nithsdale has directly challenged his life and regal status so he feels no sympathy for him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The situation is now dire and yet the indefatigable Winifred refuses to give up. In desperation she comes up with an all together more dangerous plan. On the evening of 23 February Lady Nithsdale visits her husband before his intended execution alongside her faithful </span><!--[if supportFields]><span
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is no ordinary visit for Winifred has concocted an elaborate plan to make use of visitor regulations to help her husband. The rules for visiting Lord Nithsdale’s cell are that only two visitors at a time are allowed to enter it. However Winifred thinks up a way around this by making herself and her friends go back and forth into and out of the cell on the pretext that each will share some last intimate moments alone with the broken man. The aim is to confuse the guards as to who is inside and outside. She also takes the further precaution of plying the guards with money, drink and urging restraint on their part by stating that the petition has been passed in the Lord’s favour in the Houses of Parliament. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Once inside the jail Winifred pulls out a spare cloak and puts some make up (powder and rouge) on her husband so as to disguise him as one of the visitors. Lord Nithsdale quickly puts on a dress identical to that worn by Mrs. Mills. Lady Nithsdale then calls out to her friend, loud enough for the guards to hear, to bring her maid, whom she requires to carry a last minute plea for mercy to the King. Mrs. Mills is then brought into the cell, suitably distraught and with her face buried in her handkerchief. Lord Nithsdale then dons her hood (same colour of Mrs Mills hair) and is led out by his wife, also clutching the handkerchief to his eyes. This is a crucial component of the disguise as otherwise the guards will notice that one of the women has a long beard!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Winifred then returns to the cell and pretends to be in a deeply emotional and intimate conversation with her husband. After a suitable period of time has elapsed for her husband to leave she leaves the cell and buys some time for herself by telling the guards that her husband is praying and should not be disturbed. This is a clever ruse as it allows the escape to go unnoticed for a longer period of time than otherwise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Finally just to complete the clever escape and appear suitably distraught when they leave they give a tearful goodbye to the empty cell walls and are escorted sobbing from the Tower. Later the couple reunite in a small cottage just opposite the guardhouse. Here they enjoy a bottle of wine and a loaf of bread before Lord Nithsdale heads on to the Venetian embassy. He lays in wait here for a few days and then (dressed in Venetian livery) as a servant of the Venetian Ambassador he travels to Dover and from there to France. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">When the king hears of his escape next morning, he observes that “it was the best thing a man in his condition could have done”. He is not so objective though in his comments about Lady Nithsdale. He complains that she has “given him more trouble and anxiety than any woman in Europe".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lady Nithsdale though is not finished with all her business. She is worried that her son’s legacy will be extinguished since she believes that as a punishment the Lord’s land might be confiscated. So at still greater risk to herself she decides to travel on horseback to Traquir in Scotland where the estate papers are kept before returning to London. As justification she writes “as I had once exposed my life for the safety of the father, I could not do less than hazard it once more for the fortune of the son". From London she then travels to Rome to meet up with her husband once again. Here she stays for another thirty three years until the end of her life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-13099458235368312572016-05-16T09:16:00.001+01:002020-05-01T15:26:50.190+01:00Henry I and the catastrophe that befell the White Ship, 1120 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">King Henry I suffers catastrophe with the White Ship in 1120. He achieves many great things during his life but written history is not kind to him. Rather than focus on his hard work to modernize the legal statutes of government into the ‘Charter of Liberties’ our popular history has gazed instead upon his colourful personal life. This is not really surprising though as he fathers over 20 illegitimate children. This focus is a shame as it means many people are unaware of the events in his life. One such example is the voyage of the ‘White Ship’ on the 25<sup>th</sup> November 1120. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The voyage comes about because Henry is King of England and much of France so he regularly has to cross the Channel. Before the journey a man called Thomas Fitzwilliam asks Henry I if he will board his new ship. Thomas pleads with him for his regal honour to join him and mentions that he is the son of the sea captain who took his father, William the Conqueror across the Channel back in 1066 for the invasion of England. Henry replies that he already has his own ship but that this new ship called the ‘White Ship’ is fit for his son and successor, William Adelin and his other son, Richard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So it comes to pass that the King and his 300 strong retinue decide to cross the channel. The mood is one of joy and good spirits. King Henry I sets out first and his sons follow in the ‘White Ship’. Gradually though the crew with his sons become more and more drunk and the mood sours. Perhaps in some ways this is not surprising. Henry of Huntingdon said that William is ‘a prince so pampered’ that he seems ‘destined to be food for the fire.’<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlt279398847"> </a>This explains why his men think little of insulting some ministers who have tried to bless the ship earlier on. It is in this atmosphere that a rather rash bet is decided upon. William and his men agree it will be fun to race up to the King’s ship and then overtake it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With 50 eager oarsmen on board the ‘White Ship’ heaving with all their might they are able to surge forward. It is by now night-time and rather unwisely no one sees fit to check the route ahead. Suddenly there is an almighty bang as the ship hits a rock that has been hidden by the full tide. Immediately the ship capsizes and many drown as they do not know how to swim. Tragically their screams are heard in the King’s ship but no one thinks to question what they are. In fact many assume they are just shouts of revelry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Only a few remain who can swim and survive the treacherously cold waters. Eventually the survivors dwindle down to only the Captain, Thomas Fitzwilliam, Berold of Rouen and Geoffrey a young man and son of Geoffrey of Laigle. Thomas asks for the king’s son and when he is told that he has died he rather forlornly despairs ‘it is vain for me to go on living’. He promptly gives up the struggle to keep his head above the water and lets his body sink beneath the waves. The bitterly cold night is also too much for Geoffrey and he also perishes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">By the next day only Berold the butcher of Rouen is alive. His good fortune owes much to the thick ram-skin coat he wears. By sheer good luck he is found by some fishermen the next day who he proceeds to recount the events to. Such news is sensational and travels fast but even though many barons know what has happened all are fearful of the King’s wrath and so say nothing to him even though he grows increasingly concerned by the absence of news regarding his sons’ arrival.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One baron, Count Theobold hears the news and after a while musing over the predicament that he faces he manages to come up with the following ruse. Since he can not muster the courage to tell the King directly, the following day he makes a young boy fall to the king’s feet and tell him. When Henry hears this appalling tragedy he falls to his feet in utter despair. His family and friends then help take him to his private quarters where he weeps inconsolably. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">His reaction is a stark contrast with his image as a tough, uncompromising ruler. After all this is the very same man who has earlier fought with his brother for the English throne, imprisoned him and when he escapes and is recaptured, burnt out his eyes so as to stop any future attempts by him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This event has big ramifications for the English throne. Namely it leaves his daughter Matilda as the heir to the throne. This is astonishing as in the Norman culture of this time women are routinely looked upon as inferior to men. That is not to say that Henry I does not try to have more children to create a male heir. Just two months later he marries Adeliza, a young woman. Unfortunately for him in one of those curious twists of fate he becomes infertile. We know this because he has no children with her and yet after his death she remarries and goes on to have seven of her own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Matilda’s fate is also sealed by the ‘White Ship’. It is alleged that her great rival, Stephen of Blois, only remains as a contender for the throne by disembarking from the ‘White Ship’ due to a sudden bout of diarrhoea. This leads to one of the great what if questions in history. Had he not disembarked he would have died so would have left Matilda as the unchallenged ruler of England from 1135 onward instead of plunging England into a long drawn out and very violent civil war.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-7173947325773322552016-02-08T08:49:00.001+00:002020-05-01T15:27:11.660+01:00The ghastly death of the pirate Blackbeard, 1718<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blackbeard lived and died in a terrifying way. He is the most famous pirate that ever lived. Who can forget a man so successful, dangerous and terrifying to look at. It is all a far cry from his origins. He is originally known as Edward Teach and his first experience of the seas is gained with the English Navy but when the lure of great wealth proves irresistible he moves on to pirating. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He first gains notoriety in Charleston where his ship and several other pirate ships he controls carry out a South Carolina naval blockade of the port. Eventually a man called Maynard takes it upon himself to go after him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On November 21<sup>st </sup>1718 he catches up with the Blackbeard ship when their two respective ships meet and a fierce hand to hand fight soon ensues. Blackbeard takes the initiative and clambers on to the ‘Jane’ ship used by Maynard in the mistaken belief that his broadside attack has killed most of his adversaries. His confidence takes a hit when several men in hiding come out. This has little bearing on Blackbeard’s stomach for a fight. He barks at Maynard ‘damnation seize my soul if I give you quarters, or take any from you’. When Maynard and Teach (Blackbeard) come across one another they lunge straight for one another with their swords. Maynard makes a thrust and catches Blackbeard’s cartridge box with the point of his sword with such force he bends it to the hilt. Teach counters by breaking his guard, and wounds Maynard's fingers but not enough to finish the fight. It is a desperate situation but Maynard is quick witted enough to realise his only chance is to use his pistol so he jumps back, throws his sword away and fires his pistol at Teach. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This time he wounds him. Another officer, Demelt then intervenes and catches Blackbeard with his sword on the pirate’s face. Blackbeard praises him and Demelt attacks him once again. They only break off because both get attacked by others. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maynard continues to fight long after. Later during the battle, while Teach is loading his pistol he finally dies from blood loss. According to Maynard’s report, when he examines <span lang="EN">Teach he has five shot marks and has been stabbed more than twenty times. </span>Maynard then completes the coup de grace by cutting off his head and hanging it from his bowsprit. It is such a triumph that <span lang="EN">Teach's head is later placed as a trophy on the ship where it is kept until Maynard can show it to claim his prize when he returns home.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN">If you like reading about the Blackbeard death and enjoy hearing about Pirates then go ahead and read about</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://englishhistorystories.blogspot.com/2015/03/henry-every-and-his-amazing-pirate.html">Henry Every and his Amazing Pirate Theft from the Mughal Convoy, 1694</a></span></h3>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-22587963438744084182015-12-12T19:54:00.002+00:002020-06-25T12:14:19.771+01:00Winston Churchill's Miraculous Escape from a Terrifying Prison, 1899<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Winston Churchill's escape from prison is little known today. He was one of our finest Prime Ministers. His resolute spirit during the war is widely celebrated. Few are aware though that this stubborn streak is part of his character even from a young age and gets him into a lot of scrapes when he is only a young man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Back in 1899 Winston Churchill is caught up in the Boer war between the South African Boers and the British Government over sovereign rule in his role as a news reporter</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">. He is anxious to be right in the thick of the action so he stays alongside the British Army as they travel on a train.</span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">All of a sudden the Boers carry out a surprise ambush attack and manage to derail his train at 40 mph. At this point the safe and maybe sane thing to do would be to leave but Winston can not resist adventure and decides to stay. Seeing the problem he immediately sets out to help the driver barge away three carriages that are blocking the track</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">.</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">According to him the next thing to happen is for two men in plain clothes to appear who are ‘tall figures, full of energy, clad in dark, flapping clothes with slouch, storm-driven hats’ ready to fire at him for around a hundred yards away. Winston rushed to escape to the engine as bullets whistled past his face. He finds a bank nearby but it offers little in the way of cover so again he rushes onward. In the distance he can see some masonry and further ahead at about two hundred yards away he sees the rocky gorge of the Krantz river. Just as he makes a rush cavalryman gallops up to him and aims right at him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He now has two choices fire back with his pistol or surrender. Being the plucky man that he is he decides upon the former but then realises that he has left it behind so he resigns himself to surrender. This is despiriting for him but as he notes ‘"When one is alone and unarmed," said the great Napoleon "a surrender may be pardoned." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Alas for him it helps him not one bit and so being an impatient young man he decides he absolutely has to escape. On the night of December 12</span><sup style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> his opportunity comes along with his fellow Prisoners of War, Captain Aylmer Haldane and Sergeant Major Brockie. Noticing that the prison guards have turned their backs on him he seizes the moment to climb over the prison wall at a spot where it is poorly lit</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">. He waits for his two friends to join him but when it seems that this will not happen he departs in a leisurely manner so as not to arose suspicion whilst wearing a brown flannel suit with £75 (the equivalent of $375) and four slabs of chocolate in his pocket to keep him going</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">.</span></div>
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<span lang=""><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He makes his way straight to the Delagoa Bay Railway in the hope of making a quick and rapid escape straight to British held territory. When Winston arrives he sees a passing train and jumps on it. He then hides among the soft sacks covered in coal dust. He stays there for several hours all the time conscious and fearful of being caught. By daybreak he feels the risk of capture on an obvious escape route is now too great he must leave so he jumps off the train and moves on. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As he moves further and further along Churchill grows increasingly desperate through exhaustion and fear of being caught so he takes a bold risk and knocks on the door of a nearby home ready to plea for sanctuary. It happens to be owned by Mr. John Howard, manager of the Transvaal Collieries. When Mr. Howard sees him and hears his request for help he replies “Thank God you have come here! It is the only house for twenty miles where you would not have been handed over. But we are all British here, and we will see you through.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Winston is lucky. Mr. Howard first hides him in a coal mine then transports him to safety by having Churchill squeeze into a hole at the end of a train car loaded with bales of wool. Whilst there he is aided by another Englishman, Charles Burnham who owns the consignment of wool. He helps out by bribing any Boers who might otherwise have discovered him. This is critical as the Boer leaders are now offering £25 (a then considerable sum) for him to be found dead or alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally Winston arrives safely to Durban, South Africa where he is in British held territory and feted as a hero. Some controversy now exists as to quite how Winston managed to escape. His fellow captives, Captain Haldane and Sergeant Brockie seem to have felt that Churchill spoilt their plan and did not try to help them over the wall. Perhaps Winston is only seen as successful by history because in his words ‘I will write it’. The South African General, Joubert held a different opinion of him at that time. When told that Winston had escaped he referred to him dismissively as ‘a little bit of a newspaperman’. What is not in doubt is that he is a very strong willed man even as a young man and thank goodness nothing changes when he becomes Prime Minister.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><h2 style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><font size="5">Read 'Secret English History' and learn about the greatest English history stories you have never heard of. </font></span></h2><h2 style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><font size="5">My book is now available for purchase at the link below.</font></span></h2>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-89777757884582884242015-11-03T11:14:00.001+00:002020-05-01T15:27:44.594+01:00Margaret Thatcher's Fall from Power, 20 November 1990<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Margaret Thatcher's fall from power in 1990 is spectacular. She is without doubt a remarkable woman who as Prime Minister makes a huge indelible mark on British society that we are still feeling today. She is also very divisive as is most apparent in 1990 when a leadership contest is held against her by a stalking horse, Sir Antony Meyer. She calls a date quickly fully expecting her great rival Michael Heseltine to lead the assault but thinking it will only be a ‘fortnight’s agony’ and then she will be able to carry on as before. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Little does she realise the storm clouds rapidly gathering. Her long-time political colleague, Geoffrey Howe resigns on 1<sup>st</sup> November 1990 and delivers a thinly veiled attack on her in his resignation speech. In it he says ‘the conflict between the instinct of loyalty to the Prime Minister which is still very real and loyalty to what I perceive are the true interests of the nation had become intolerable. That is why I have resigned. The time has come for other to consider the tragic conflict of loyalties with which I have wrestled for perhaps too long’. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is an open call to arms as Thatcher is all too aware. The challenge worries her enough that to pacify her ambitious colleagues who have become wary of her promise to go ‘on and on’ she decides according to her memoirs to make “more frequent visits to that fount of gossip, the Commons tea room." She also institutes a series of meetings with Tory MPs where everyone is invited to "speak their mind". However she has such a dominant, aggressive aura most are too terrified of her to do so. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">An air of complacency also exists amongst her supporters. When Alan Clark pays Peter Morrison, her parliamentary private secretary, for an afternoon visit to see how the campaign is going he finds him asleep in his room. "For want of a nail, a kingdom was lost," he observes. He feels she does not realise how precarious her position is due to poor advice from her sycophantic advisors. He calls it ‘the Bunker syndrome. Everyone round you is clicking their heels. The saluting sentries have polished boots and beautiful creased uniforms. But out there at the Front it’s all disintegrating. The soldiers are starving in tatters and makeshift bandages. Whole units are mutinous and in flight’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Those who do actually fight her corner don’t help her either. Many take an abrasive stance. Norman Tebbit describes all who oppose her as suffering from ‘mad bullock disease’. Margaret Thatcher herself seems to make a poor judgement too. Instead of canvassing for MP support she goes to Paris for a meeting that basically celebrates the end of the Cold War. Many Conservative MP’s see this as contempt. As Conservative MP, Kenneth Baker puts it ‘The plaudits are abroad but the votes are back home’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When she fails to get a clear victory in the first contest (she is short by four votes) her great rival, Michael Heseltine steps forward to challenge her in the second round. By now opinion has hardened against her. Norman Tebbit decides to take her round the Commons tearoom where she finds out how low she is now held in regard. ‘I had never experienced such an atmosphere before’ she notes. Repeatedly she hears the refrain ‘Michael has asked me two or three times for my vote already. This is the first time we have seen you’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She knows that cabinet support is key so she organizes a series of one to one meetings with her cabinet members. With a good working majority in Parliament she hopes she will have the support of her colleagues. In public, she takes a steadfast view as she knows from her recollection of history that any news of her possible departure will undermine her authority. Thatcher recollects that ‘a complaint from Churchill, then Prime Minister, to his Chief Whip that talk of his resignation in the Parliamentary Party (he would shortly be succeeded by Anthony Eden) was undermining his authority. Without that authority, he could not be an effective Prime Minister.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Michael Heseltine sees the situation differently. He feels ‘to anyone with the faintest knowledge of how Westminster politics work, her position was manifestly untenable. It says much for Mrs Thatcher’s capacity for self-delusion that at first she stubbornly refused to recognise this fact’. Her husband, Dennis sees which way the wind blows and begs her not to continue saying ‘don’t go on love’ but to no avail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The meetings take place in her House of Commons Room. What happens next knocks her back. ‘Almost to a man they used the same formula. This was that they themselves would back me, of course, but that regretfully they did not believe I could win.’ It is clear her own ministers have conspired against her beforehand to deliver a standard line and repeat it to her. Her position is untenable. Some of the men such as Ken Clarke are blunt that she needs to step aside. Others talk about the need for her to step down so that John Major can have a viable challenge against Michael Heseltine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Distressed, betrayed and worn out, Thatcher has little left to give. As she puts it ‘what grieved me was the desertion of those I considered my friends and allies and the weasel words whereby they had transmitted their betrayal into frank advice and concern for my fate… treachery with a smile on its face’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kenneth Clarke has a different take on this ‘desertion’. For him ‘as Prime Ministers go, she was a good butcher; that was part of her strength. But she could not complain when she was butchered in turn. She had only gained the leadership in the first place by boldly challenging Ted Heath when all his other colleagues were restrained by loyalty. She had lived by the sword and as always likely to perish by the sword’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To give herself some respite and chance to gather her thoughts she decides to sleep on the matter. It makes no difference though and the next morning she decides to resign. She prepares a statement for her Cabinet Ministers, one for the media and makes the other necessary arrangements to leave. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the day of reckoning, 28th November 1990 Thatcher resigns. She packs her belongings with her husband Dennis and walks out of Number 10 Downing Street to give one last farewell speech before huge throngs of reporters. Before large crowds the whole enormity and sudden turn of events became too much for her. Unable to control her emotions she can not stop tears rolling down her cheek. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">She still musters some defiance "We're leaving Downing Street for the last time after eleven-and-a-half wonderful years and we're happy to leave the UK in a very much better state than when we came here". She also gives her support to her successor. "Now it's time for a new chapter to open and I wish John Major all the luck in the world". She then goes to see the Queen to confirm her departure. Just fifteen minutes later, her successor John Major replaces her at the Queen’s residence at Buckingham Palace to become the new Prime Minister. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The once proud and seemingly unstoppable leader who at one time had promised to go ‘on and on’ leaves and brings about the end of a tumultuous and seminal era in British history. It has become defined and personified by her style of leadership so much so people still talk about the 1980’s as the decade of Thatcherism. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-20935938266368928552015-10-10T11:17:00.000+01:002020-05-01T15:27:58.875+01:00Jack the Ripper's Most Gruesome, Horrific Murder Ever<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mary Jane Kelly suffered horrific injuries at the hands of Jack the Ripper in 1888. The macabre fascination with all things related to Jack the Ripper will continue for a long time. Much of it comes from the fact we still have little idea as to just who he was. We do however have some tantalising information about who he might have been based on an eyewitness who sees Mary Jane Kelly with a suspicious man on the night of her murder, 9<sup>th</sup> November 1888. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The most credible witness is George Hutchinson. He sees Mary on the night of the murder with a man he describes as being in his thirties with a pale complexion, dark hair, a heavy moustache, about 5 foot 6 inches tall, a waistcoat with a gold chain and a foreign appearance. He also happens to note rather sinisterly that the man ‘walked very softly’ and ‘he carried a small parcel in his hand about 8 inches long’. Could this really have been the murderer? Unfortunately we will probably never know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What we do know though is that his savage murders shed a lot of light on the tough life of those who lived in the East End. At that time there are many people regularly living in congested slums and perhaps as many as one in three of all the women in London are prostitutes. George Bernard Shaw famously comments on the problem with a sarcastic letter to the Star newspaper in September 1888. He states ‘Whilst we conventional Social Democrats were wasting our time on education, agitation and organisation, some independent genius has taken the matter in hand, and by simply murdering and disembowelling … women, converted the proprietary press to an inept sort of communism.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The life of Mary Jane Kelly offers us a good glimpse into the deprived lives of those who live in the inhospitable parts of the Victorian East End London. By some misfortune she ends up living in London without regular work and she feels she has no option but to make the most of her good looks and resort to prostitution. Such is the drudgery of her life she quickly succumbs to the temptation of alcohol. Whilst sober she is thought of highly. A neighbourhood friend says she is ‘a pleasant little woman, rather stout, fair complexion, and rather pale… she spoke with a kind of impediment’. However when drunk she frequently becomes abusive and as a result she is nicknamed ‘Dark Mary’. Her life is unfortunately typical of so many and would not be remembered had it not been for the gruesome manner of her death. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Her death is to be the last verifiable murder of Jack the Ripper and it manages to seal his infamous reputation in the most ghastly manner possible. It also goes a long way into explaining just how and why he manages to leave such a prominent mark on English criminal history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The tragedy unfolds the very day after her death when a young man goes to collect her rent and gets the shock of his life when he peers through an opening left by a broken window and sees ‘a lot of blood’. He quickly finds and tells his landlord who has a look too and then informs the police. When he arrives he is so scared he can not talk. Eventually the police coaxed him into saying ‘Another one, Jack the Ripper. Awful. Jack McCarthy sent me’ (the young man’s landlord).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even the police themselves are shocked when they see what has happened. McCarthy himself describes the site as ‘the sight we saw I can not drive away from my mind. It looked more like the work of the devil than of a man. The poor woman’s body was lying on the bed, undressed. She had been completely disembowelled, and her entrails had been taken out and put on the table. It was those that I had seen when I had looked through the window and took to be lumps of flesh. The woman’s nose had been cut off, and her face gashed and mutilated so that she was quite beyond recognition. Both her breasts too had been cut away and placed by the side of the liver and other entrails on the table. I had heard a great deal about the Whitechapel murders, but I declare to God I had never expected to see a sight as this. The body was of course covered in blood and so was the bed. The whole scene is more than I can describe. I hope I may never see such a sight again’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">All this happens on the day of the Mayor’s Show and quite over shadows it. The whole nation is left in shock and even Queen Victoria voices concern as to what is being done to find him. Alas the murderer is never found and his horrid nickname goes down in history as a way of describing him and his abhorrent behaviour.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-70391516803730429382015-09-17T10:58:00.002+01:002020-05-01T15:28:09.468+01:00Grace Darling and her Heroism with a Rowing Boat in 1838<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Grace Darling plays a heroic role in saving others with her rowing boat. The 7th September 1838 is an unremarkable day in many ways and history records would not mention it except for the heroic efforts of Grace Darling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">A</span> major catastrophe is in the making when the SS Forfarshire’s boilers stop working and it drifts, hitting some jagged rocks and tosses its occupants overboard as the ship is carrying 63 people. The vessel breaks in two almost immediately as it smashes into the Big Harcar rocks driven by strong gales. The weather is atrocious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fortunately nine of these Forfarshire passengers and crew do manage to float off a lifeboat from the stern section before it sinks. Later that night they also happen to be picked up in the night by a passing Montrose sloop and brought into Shields. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another group of survivors is not so lucky. They have been in the bow section of the vessel. The rocks holds them up long enough to escape before that section sinks but they still have to decide on what to do next. All they can decide upon is to scramble over to the Big Harcar, a rocky island nearly one mile away from the lighthouse. Here surrounded on all sides by the devastating seas they wonder how on earth will they survive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">First light on the 8th, Grace spots the wreck of the Forfarshire from her bedroom window and immediately tells her family. As the morning light increases the family are able to see the survivors all huddled on the rocks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next problem though is how to rescue them. The father, William Darling wants to attempt a rescue with his sons but alas they are not at home so he decides he will reluctantly makes use of his 23 year old daughter, Grace Darling. Knowing the weather is too rough for the lifeboat to put out from Seahouses (then North Sunderland), he instead takes a rowing boat (a 21 ft, 4-man Northumberland Coble) across to the survivors. To be on the safe side they take a long route that keeps to the lee side of the islands, a distance of nearly a mile. When they finally arrive Grace keeps the Coble steady in the water while her father helps four men and the lone surviving woman, Mrs. Dawson, into the boat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is a difficult moment for Mrs Dawson as she faces the loss of her two children and having to leave them behind. Meantime Grace has to face the fear that at any moment her wooden craft might be smashed to pieces by the big tides. To keep it in one place, she takes both oars and rows backwards and forwards, trying to keep it from being smashed on the reef.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once aboard, Grace and her father with the three rescued men row back to the lighthouse, while Grace and the fourth man comfort Mrs. Dawson. Here Grace remains while William Darling and three of the rescued crew members row back and recover the remaining survivors. Meanwhile, the lifeboat sets out from Seahouses, but arrives at Big Harcar rock after Grace and her father. All they find are the dead bodies of Mrs Dawson's children and the body of a dead vicar. It was too dangerous to return to North Sunderland so they row to the lighthouse to take shelter. Their adventures do not end quickly either as the weather deteriorates so much that everyone is forced to stay at the lighthouse for three days before returning to shore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When the newspapers hear this story they all publicise it and focus on the role of Grace. Her fame spreads so widely that men propose marriage to her, Queen Victoria gives her £50 and many people make requests for locks of her hair. Today however her fame rests with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution who promote her achievements. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you enjoy reading about brave women then check out</span><br />
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-91937612542528626152015-09-03T09:39:00.001+01:002020-05-01T15:28:25.320+01:00Britain's Worst Ever Maritime Disaster, The Princess Alice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Princess Alice Disaster in 1878 remains the largest British maritime disaster ever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back in 1878 the River Thames is a foul smelling, disgustingly unsanitary river that is deeply unhygienic. During the 1850’s efforts are made under the directions of the brilliant engineer, Bazelgette to sort out the sewage problem that is making a large amount of sludge at the mouth of the Thames. Even this though is only because the MP’s in Parliament were suffering from the noxious smell known as the Great Stink so much they had to put lime on their curtains. Progress is being made but the river remains something you would not want to swim in at any cost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Never the less this does not stop passenger liners from ferrying people across the river and merchant ships from carrying valuable cargo. It is this combination of a busy Thames with an unregulated set of rules regarding ships passing one another that conspire on one balmy evening in 3<sup>rd</sup> September 1878 to create a cataclysmic event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The exact circumstances of the event are unclear but somehow a fully laden passenger liner manages to crash straight into a merchant collier called ‘Bywell Castle’. Within minutes both ships capsize and all the crew and passengers on both ships fall straight into the river.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Quite apart from the horrifyingly scary moments of seeing their ship go over most of the working class people on board can not swim. A moving account of this disaster has been written by a newspaper man called Mr Vincent below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘Tuesday, the 3rd day of September, 1878, had been sultry, and the evening was warm and "muggy." Weary with a troublesome days work I was preparing for an early rest when a message came that there had been a collision on the river, and that a big steamer had gone down with an untold freight of precious lives. Casting off fatigue with my slippers, I made all haste to reach Roff's Pier, enquiring of such acquaintances as I chanced to meet, a few of whom had heard "something" of a wreck on the river, others who had heard nothing, and laughed at the "old woman's tale." Too soon the matchless horror was revealed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the wharf and pier a small crowd had collected, not more than fifty as yet, and among them were several well—known townsmen who, from that moment to the end of the long and heavy strain, devoted themselves day and night without pause, without thanks, and without reward, to do all that was in the power of humanity, if not to lessen the evil, at least to fulfil its sacred obligations, to bear a share of it burdens, and to bring lasting honour and renown for its humanity and public spirit upon the town of Woolwich. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘Soon policemen and watermen were seen by the feeble light bearing ghastly objects into the offices of the Steampacket Company, for a boat had just arrived with the first consignment of the dead, mostly little children whose light bodies and ample drapery had kept them afloat even while they were smothered in the festering Thames. I followed into the steamboat office, marvelling at the fate which had brought the earliest harvest of victims to the headquarters of the doomed ship, and, entering the board-room, the first of the martyrs was pointed out to me as one of the company's own servants, a man employed on the 'Princess Alice', and brought here thus soon to attest by his silent presence the ship's identity. The lifeless frames of men and women lay about, and out on the balcony, from which the directors had so often looked upon their fleet through the fragrant smoke of the evening cigar, there was a sight to wring out tears of blood from the eyes of any beholder. A row of little innocents, plump and pretty, well-dressed children, all dead and cold, some with life's ruddy tinge still in their cheeks and lips, the lips from which the merry prattle had gone for ever. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Callous as one may grow from frequent contact with terrors and afflictions, one could never be inured to this. It was a spectacle to move the most hardened official and dwell forever in his dreams. Then to think what was beyond out there in the river. It was madness!’ <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On horror's head horrors accumulate’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Due to the appalling levels of sewage in this stretch of the river (by the Beckton North Outfall Sewer) many of the desperate survivors who gulp in water consequently end up poisoned and die. Dead floating bodies are everywhere and because of the chemicals in the water an odd slime oozes out from their pores long after their death. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This disaster is the Titanic of its day. Over 640 people die making it the largest maritime disaster in British history. By contrast the Titanic suffers around 1523 deaths but these are outside British waters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-26760361981099454562015-08-13T20:12:00.001+01:002020-05-01T15:28:41.734+01:00The Extraordinary Death of the Duke of Buckingham, Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For Part One check <span style="color: red;"><a href="https://englishhistorystories.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-extraordinary-death-of-duke-of-part.html">here</a></span>.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It seems that Buckingham is untouchable. Clearly protected by the king, Buckingham heads off to Portsmouth to start organizing another sea-going venture. It is here though that events take a turn for the unexpected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What he does not appreciate is the degree of anger amongst the navy’s sailors. One in particular, the 40 year old John Felton is particularly aggrieved. He is owed 80 pounds in back pay and is angry about having been passed over for promotion twice. Parliament issuing an Act of Grievances is the final spur for him to set in motion his own solution for dealing with Buckingham, murder. Before leaving home Felton writes and sews into his hatband two apologies for his planned murder. In them, he insists that he has acted as a patriot, a gentleman and a soldier. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Felton finds Buckingham in Captain Mason's Greyhound Inn house on the morning of 23 August 1628. As Buckingham leaves the breakfast room, John Felton appears suddenly, leaps forward and manages to stab him in the breast. In a scarcely audible voice Buckingham mumbles "The villain hath killed me!" pulls the dagger out of the wound, lurches forward a few paces, collapses in the hall, with blood gushing from the wound and from his mouth and dies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the confusion that immediately follows the stabbing, Felton makes his way through the building and into the kitchen area. At the point of successfully escaping he thinks he will be celebrated as a hero so he returns to the scene of the murder and gives himself up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">News of his death provokes markedly different reactions. When Charles I hears it he retires to his room stricken with grief. However when Buckingham’s funeral is held at Westminster Abbey several soldiers have to form an armed guard to protect the coffin from the cheering crowds who are glad to hear of his demise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As for John Felton the authorities feel unsure of his motives and want to know if he is part of a wider conspiracy. He is taken under armed guard from Portsmouth to the Tower of London, where he is repeatedly interrogated, possibly under torture, about his motives and accomplices. For three months the authorities attempt to uncover the conspiracy they are sure lie behind the Duke’s murder, but the Felton insists he acted alone. The King asks for torture to be used but is refused. By late November, the investigation is over and Felton is put on trial for Buckingham’s murder. He is soon convicted and sentenced to death. Two days later, at Tyburn on 28<sup>th</sup> October 1628 he is put before the gallows and perhaps because he seeks remission he confesses before a crowd of onlookers, and openly repents his crime. It makes no difference and he is hanged. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Afterwards his body is cut down, carried to Portsmouth and then strung up again to rot in chains. This is a mistake. Large numbers treat his body with respect as Portsmouth is a sailing community and many have suffered loss at the hands of Buckingham. This explains how a victim is seen as a villain and a murderer as a hero.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-85499490648078028022015-08-05T19:44:00.002+01:002020-05-01T15:28:54.658+01:00The Extraordinary Death of the Duke of Buckingham, Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify;">The Duke of Buckingham is one of the most despised people alive in the era of King James I. His Majesty’s decision to allow the Duke to get involved in policy matters and decision-making he is ill suited to proves to be ruinous for the nation. In the process he also manages to alienate powerful groups in Parliament who feel more and more alienated from both the king and decision-making.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A good example of Buckingham’s ineptitude is his attempt to seize Cadiz, a Spanish port in 1625 with his army. Unfortunately his army is composed of troops who are so ill-equipped, ill-disciplined and ill-trained that when they come upon a warehouse filled with wine, they simply get drunk, and rather embarrassingly the attack has to be called off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">None of this seems to matter though because Buckingham has the all important ear of the King even all the way through to his Majesty’s final months of life. In one of the last letters written by James to Buckingham in December 1624, James signs off with: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“And so God bless you my sweet child and wife and grant that ye may ever be a comfort to your dear dad and husband.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For all those who suppose that the death of King James on March 27th, 1625 will mark the end of Buckingham there is great disappointment. The reason is that the Duke has anticipated this possible loss of status and got around it by cultivating a friendship with his successor, Prince Charles, since the time the future ruler was but a boy. This is why the new ruler is more than happy to have him by his side and the Duke becomes his new chief minister.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For many people this is simply too much. They had hoped that Buckingham would disappear from the political scene but now he seems as strong as ever. Parliament in particular is very angry. When Buckingham signs treaties with Denmark and Holland for English participation in the Danish phase of the Thirty Years War he involves the nation in a costly affair. Eventually 12,000 men set sail. Astonishingly 8,000 manage to die on board their ships without even landing in the Netherlands due to disastrous organisation. Blame is laid squarely on Buckingham. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 1626, Parliament, led by radicals such as Sir Edward Coke, start impeachment proceedings against him. Charles escalates the crisis by dissolving Parliament. Buckingham desperately tries to turn around the situation. In July 1627 he leads 6,000 men to the Isle de Rhé in support of the Huguenot defenders at La Rochelle. Once again though calamity strikes and he leaves in November 1627 having achieved nothing except the loss of nearly half his force. “Since England was England, it received not so dishonourable a blow.” says one contemporary chronicler called Denzil Holles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The attacks by Parliament mount. In 1628 Coke calls him the “grievance of grievances”. One seditious ballad of the time even sneers 'Who rules the Kingdom? The King. Who rules the King? The Duke. Who rules the Duke? The Devil.' Parliament sends a remonstrance to Charles with this resentment in mind declaring that they fear for England’s religion, her standing in Europe and her success in the Thirty Years War if Buckingham continues in power. Charles merely absolves Parliament. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://englishhistorystories.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/the-extraordinary-death-of-duke-of.html">The Extraordinary Death of the Duke of Buckingham, Part 2</a></span></div>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-79796299694683296772015-07-30T19:17:00.000+01:002020-05-01T15:29:08.606+01:00The Most Infamous Witch Trial in English History, Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">(Check out Part 1 <span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://englishhistorystories.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-salmesbury-witch-trial-part-one.html">here</a></span></b></span>)</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The charges against the women are very serious. Whilst the Pendle witches are accused of maleficium (harm by witchcraft) the Salmesbury women are instead charged with the child murder and even cannibalism. Fourteen-year-old Grace Sowerbutts begins proceedings with her testimony. She alleges that that both her grandmother and aunt, Jennet and Ellen Bierley, are able to transform themselves into dogs and that they have "haunted and vexed her" for years. Even more bizarrely she claims that on one occasion her relatives have taken her to the house of Thomas Walshman and his wife, stolen a baby and driven a nail into its navel through which they sucked its blood. According to Grace, the child died the following night and that, after its burial at Samlesbury Church, Ellen and Jennet dig up the body, take it home, cook and eat some of it and use the rest to make an ointment that enables them to change themselves into anything they wanted to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As if these charges were not enough Grace produces further spectacular revelations. She alleges her grandmother and aunt, with Jane Southworth, attend sabbats held every Thursday and Sunday night at Red Bank, on the north shore of the River Ribble. At these secret meetings they meet with "foure black things, going upright, and yet not like men in the face", with whom they eat, dance, and have sex with. Grace even suggests there are more witches involved that she knows of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Any chance that the evidence from Grace will be dismissed is dashed when others line up to undermine the defendants. Thomas Walshman, the father of the baby allegedly killed and eaten by the accused sets the tone when he offers his evidence next. He confirms that his child has died of unknown causes at about one-year-old. He adds that Grace Sowerbutts was discovered lying as if dead in his father's barn on about 15 April, and did not recover until the following day. Two other witnesses, John Singleton and William Alker, confirm that Sir John Southworth, Jane Southworth's father-in-law, has been reluctant to pass the house where his son lived, as he believes Jane to be an "evil woman, and a Witch". It is clear to some that personal grudges are now being waged but all the same it is still mounting evidence against the accused. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When the judge asks the accused how they will reply to these charges many felt the trial will soon finish. What they do not expect is for the women to fall on their knees, plead with him and with weeping tears request that the trial judge, Sir Edward Bromley cross-examine Grace Sowerbutts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is a defining moment in the trial. The court recorder, Thomas Potts notes that immediately "the countenance of this Grace Sowerbutts changed". The judge sees this as evidence “a priest or Jesuit” has coached the child making her "the perjuring tool of a Catholic priest". Soon after the prosecution witnesses "began to quarrel and accuse one another", and eventually admit that Grace has been coached in her story by a Catholic priest called Thompson. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With this in mind, Bromley commits the girl to be examined by two Justices of the Peace called William Leigh and Edward Chisnal. Under questioning Grace readily admits that her story is untrue, and said she has been told what to say by Jane Southworth's uncle, Christopher Southworth aka Thompson, a Jesuit priest who is in hiding in the Samlesbury area. Leigh and Chisnal question the three accused women in an attempt to discover why Southworth might have fabricate evidence against them, but none can offer any reason other than that each of them goes to the Anglican Church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next the judge ordered the jury to find the defendants not guilty after the statements have been read out in court. Potts then goes on to praise the judge for his “great care” in rooting out a wicked Papist plot that would have seen three innocent (Protestant) women sent to their deaths. The judge also warns those in the court that they need to be constantly on their guard against manipulative people who had no respect for “kindred or friendship.” With this the court case finishes and unfortunately little is known about what happens next to the individuals concerned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Salmesbury case is a fascinating study in medieval court life and their outlook on witchcraft. It illustrates how easily people make accusations about witchcraft that play havoc with the lives of those who accused. Paranoia and opportunism then allow for these situations to rapidly escalate in gravity and scope. Fortunately common sense eventually prevails. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-29831481578700619382015-07-26T11:33:00.000+01:002020-05-01T15:29:21.754+01:00The Most Infamous Witch Trial in English History, Part One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Salmesbury Witch trial was one of the most infamous witch trials ever in England. It scarcely seems believable that people were genuinely afraid of witches during the medieval ages. Common beliefs held that witches cause untold distress. A lot of these fears inform people’s expectations and as paranoia increases so do the charges. <o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Examples of this include calling for Satan's aid using a cat as a medium; causing financial ruin, death as revenge on an unwilling suitor and rather euphemistically ‘causing lameness to her husband’. No wonder then today we say when accusations are running wild that accusers are pursuing a ‘witch hunt’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fear of witchcraft during the Middle Ages is widespread. Even the King himself, James I has a purient interest in these matters. He reads many witch books and appoints himself expert enough to explain his views in a book called ‘Daemononlogie’. This fear can even be traced back as far as 1441, when Eleanor, wife of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester and brother of Henry V is accused of using sorcery to attempt murder of the new King, Henry VI. These charges are so serious that two of her ‘accomplices’ are executed and she has to divorce her husband. Paranoia even exists well into the 1640’s when Mathew Hopkins infamously becomes a notorious witchfinder general and starts to rounds up, torture and executes suspects. Estimates suggest he murders hundreds of ‘witches’ in this manner and also uses the famous torture of drowning suspects on the basis that the innocent go to heaven and the guilty will not drown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the most famous examples of this fear in our country to ever happen begins in 1612 in Salmesbury. The case of the Salmesbury Witches is very interesting in its own right and neatly contrasts with the Pendle Witch trial that happens at the same time, in the same location in Lancashire but has a different outcome. In this later saga two families fall out with each other and ended up implicating one another in witchcraft. The prosecution rely upon one main source of evidence for all this, Jennet Device, a nine year old daughter of one of the two families. As flimsy as it sounds it is still enough in the eyes of the law for ten people to be executed for their ‘crimes’ based on her evidence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Samlesbury witches involves three women from the Lancashire village of Samlesbury—Jane Southworth, Jennet Bierley, and Ellen Bierley. They are accused by a 14-year-old girl, Grace Sowerbutts, of practising witchcraft. Their trial at Lancaster Assizes in England on 19 August 1612 is one of the few recordings we have left of how witches are dealt with and so it offers us lots of insight into how others think at that time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">How the saga develops also sheds some light on why prosecutions happen. Back on 21<sup>st</sup> March 1612 Alizon Device meets John Law and a petty disagreement ensues. A few minutes later he suffers a stroke. The local magistrate, Roger Nowell investigates the case and after some heavy-handed interrogation he manages to extract evidence and confessions out of Alice and ten others. They are sent to Lancaster jail for sentencing at the next court hearings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">News of this large scale witch prosecution spreads rapidly and other Lancashire magistrates become aware of it and either out of fear or trying to leverage cynical advantage (by obtaining a large number of successful prosecutions) decide to seek out witches in their own area. One such investigator is Robert Holden. On 15 April 1612 he begins investigations in his own area of Samlesbury. Sure enough he finds eight individuals who are then committed to Lancaster Assizes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A trial is held for them at Lancashire castle on 19 August 1612 in front of Sir Edward Bromley, a judge seeking promotion to a circuit nearer London. As the trial begins Bromley orders the release of five of the eight defendants from Samlesbury, with a warning about their future conduct. For the remainder though there is no let up. The three women left (Jane Southworth, Jennet Bierley, and Ellen Bierley) are accused of using "diverse devillish and wicked Arts” on Grace Sowerbutts (Jennet's grand-daughter and Ellen's niece) for which they plead not guilty. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part two can be found here</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://englishhistorystories.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/the-salmesbury-witch-trial-part-2.html">The Salmesbury Witch Trial, Part Two</a></span><br />
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comGreat Britain51.23440735163458 -0.08789062546.284931351634583 -10.415039125 56.183883351634577 10.239257875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-28323592894204890412015-07-11T07:25:00.000+01:002020-05-01T15:29:30.519+01:00How Henry VIII Helped the Astronauts Land on the Moon in 1969<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">King Henry VIII's armour played a key role in astronaut suit design. On the face of it the idea of a link sounds implausible and far-fetched and yet when NASA engineers were at a loose end on how to create a strong yet flexible astronaut space suit for a trip to the moon they decide the best option is to look at the King Henry VIII suit of armour.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Throughout the 1950’s they experiment with a variety of designs that will allow astronauts to move unhindered so they can travel around the moon whilst being protected from the atmosphere. The problem they come up against is that the existing options are either very cumbersome or just slightly modified versions of fighter pilot clothing that offer little flexibility. Suddenly in a moment of inspiration one of the engineers argues that perhaps a workable solution already exists if they will only examine the best medieval armour that has been made. So the NASA engineers head off on a mission to find the best examples of medieval armour to assist them in finding a solution to their problem. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Naturally one site they are very interested in looking at is the Tower of London as it is well known for its excellent collection of armour. In 1962 a team arrives in England and examines a suit of armour designed for Henry VIII that was created for </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://englishhistorystories.blogspot.com/2015/06/henry-viii-and-his-infamous-festival-of.html">1520 Festival of Cloth</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">the and is held in the Tower of London</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They are astonished at what they find. Looking at it carefully they can see that the layers of armour completely cover the whole body down to the millimetre without restricting flexibility. The solution hit upon hundreds of years ago is to use overlapping layers carefully designed to allow movement without the plates rubbing against one another. When one of the team has a moment to reflect upon this he says that if only they had known this earlier they might have saved themselves years of wasted effort.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you would like to read more about King Henry VIII then check out</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://englishhistorystories.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/henry-viii-and-his-infamous-festival-of.html">Henry VIII and his infamous Festival of the Cloth of Gold Meeting, 1520</a>.</span></div>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-61073791078619001702015-07-04T09:37:00.004+01:002020-06-25T12:22:13.787+01:00The Real James Bond, Dalziel-Job and his adventures in Wartime Norway, 1940, Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">(The first part of this story is <a href="https://englishhistorystories.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-real-james-bond-dalziel-job-and-his.html?m=1">Here</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">)</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The German land forces take Narvik during the early stages of World War Two without much difficulty and 3,000 troops are soon stationed there. Then British ships arrive and their infantry move eastwards and retake Narvik. Patrick then flouts orders and goes on a motorcycle straight into the town to meet the Mayor and warn him of the need to evacuate within the next 24 hours before the town is bombed by the Germans .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Patrick endures great hardship with unflagging spirits despite having barely any sleep at all. He is helped by some French Legionnaries. Patrick notes many are often half-drunk and willing to steal but they also have a tough character and are generous to a fault. One in particular sticks in his mind. He is a wounded man and yet shows his gentle nature despite his obvious pain and gives Patrick a cigarette to help him. Patrick does not even smoke but is so overwhelmed with gratitude he smokes his first and last ever cigarette .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Times runs out and the Germans strike hard. Two Norwegian coastal defence ships are sunk with only eight men surviving out of a crew of 182 on the ‘Eidsvoll’ ship. Such is the speed and shock of the attack on Narvik, the local garrison commander mistakenly assumes the German ships are actually British ships and the troops landing are there to help the Norwegians. When he finds that the troops are German, Colonel Sundlo, warns the Germans that he will order an attack in 30 minutes if they do not re-embark. However the German commander, Dietl holds firm and tells him this will only lead to needless bloodshed .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A standoff ensues but eventually Sundlo decides to capitulate and surrender the port. In so doing he takes a risk as he knows it might look cowardly. As soon as this happens Dalziel-Job’s particular role becomes evacuating the allied soldiers from the town as quick as possible. However he feels deeply troubled with his conscience at the thought of leaving behind all the civilians. It is at this point he shows his brave character by deciding to disobey orders to ‘not repeat not’ help the civilians .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Instead he makes use of his knowledge of the Norwegian coastline to facilitate the evacuation of the civilians too. On 2nd of June the Germans begin bombing with 23 bombers who proceed to set the town ablaze. When the Mayor and Patrick leave the town on to the last fishing boat on the harbour quay one Friday evening on the 7th June less than one hundred people remain in the town .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Far from this being the end of this particular adventure Patrick then has to deal with the aftermath of disobeying his orders. Not to be outdone though he next displays his cunning. According to his son Iain "He made sure he took the Major of Narvik back with him. He got the Norwegian King, who was based in London then, to present him with a medal, so he really couldn't be court marshalled after that .”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As if that did he would still be a war hero and yet afterward he still went on to do so much more. He learnt how to parachute, navigate using a miniature submarine and ski backwards and most excitingly get involved with the clandestine undercover 30AU unit . It is here he is introduced to Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond novels and takes on various missions deep within Nazi held territory. One of the commanders in the unit, Rear-Admiral Jan Aylen, later described Dalzel-Job as "one of the most enterprising, plucky and resourceful" people he had encountered during the war . Who knows what other great stories have been hidden away from us that were carried out whilst on ‘Her Majesty’s Secret Service’.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span> <span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium; line-height: 25.2px;"><h2 style="color: black; text-align: center;"><font face="arial" style="font-weight: normal;"><span>Read 'Secret Eng</span>lish History' and learn about the greatest English history stories you have never heard of. </font></h2><h2 style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">My book is now available for purchase at the link below.</span></h2>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-63791730301227321382015-06-29T09:55:00.002+01:002020-05-01T15:30:00.858+01:00The Real James Bond, Dalziel-Job and his adventure in Wartime Norway, 1940, Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dalziel-Job may be the best candidate for inspiring the fictional James Bond spy. Every war brings out brave characters and World War Two is no exception. What many people do not know is that the inspiration for James Bond, the spy created by Ian Fleming was based on real people that he met during that conflict. One of the more exciting and likely sources for Ian Fleming’s iconic character is Patrick Dalziel – Job. Indeed it is fair to say that his adventures during the Second World War are every bit as exciting and dangerous as his fictional counter part. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Born in Scotland he travels widely during his youth including spending two years in Norway from 1937 to 1939. He also happens to be the son of a distinguished army officer who dies in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. As a result of these formative experiences he develops a tough, independent, rugged character with a very firm resolve. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">All of this proves to be good use when war breaks out. Right away he joins the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Soon he is serving as Navigating Officer on a Fleet Tug operating from Scapa Flow in Norway from January to March 1940 and then from April until June as part of the Allied North-West Expeditionary Force. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This force is in Norway because for the Allies and the Nazis it is seen as being of great strategic value. Most notably it has considerable mineral resources. In addition control of Norway’s extensive coastline is very important in the battle for control of the North Sea and easing the passage of German warships and submarines into the Atlantic. Lastly control of Norway also aids Germany’s ability to import iron ore from Sweden. In fact at the start of the war, Germany imported about 10 million tons of iron ore from Sweden, much of it through Narvik during the cold winter months. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Both sides desperately wanted Norway but prevarication on the part of the British means that just as the Allied forces are about to invade the Germans rush ahead and get there before them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the grave situation Dalziel-Job thrusts himself into and yet it is in this role that his talent is first displayed as time and time again he shows great guile, daring and determination to succeed against all odds. The first task he is involved with is helping to organise the landing of the Allied North-West Expeditionary Force in Norway, using mainly small local craft. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He quickly proved his worth. Not a single life is lost despite German bombing throughout. After this task is completed, Dalzel-Job is congratulated by "Ginger" Boyle (the 12th Earl of Cork and Orrery), Flag Officer Norway, with the words: "You are a lad after my own heart." For the next task Dalziel-Job helps out at the port of Narvik when it comes under attack from the Germans. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is a big responsibility. Many civilians live there. Narvik also holds great strategic value. Whilst nine million tons of iron ore comes from north Sweden via the port of Luleå during the winter months it freezes over whilst the Norwegian port of Narvik does not. Therefore control of Narvik, in the north of Norway, will ensure continuous transportation of iron ore into Germany.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you liked that story then you will also enjoy reading about</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 25.2px;"><a href="https://englishhistorystories.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-real-james-bond-dalziel-job-and-his.html">The Real James Bond, Dalziel-Job and his adventures in Wartime Norway, 1940, Part 2</a></span></span></div>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-68960428624756313992015-06-06T11:21:00.001+01:002020-05-01T15:30:16.589+01:00Henry VIII and his infamous Festival of the Cloth of Gold Meeting in 1520<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">King Henry VIII’s Festival of Cloth of Gold is a hugely lavish affair in 1520. His ego is rather large even when he is a young King so much so that when he comes up against the proud King of France, Francis I during the magnificent Festival of Cloth it is inevitable that tensions will mount. What no one can predict is how far they will go to prove who is greater.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To understand the reasons for the clash it is important to understand their characters. Both want to make a favourable impression on their own nation and hence their prestige. For instance we know that Francis I is the first French king to insist on being called ‘Your Majesty’. To this end each becomes a patron of the burgeoning Renaissance movement and Francis in particular is famous for building a large art collection we can now see in the Louvre collection and for using his influence to persuade Leonardo da Vinci to live in France. At the same time they both want to be seen as heroic fighters and in Henry’s case he wants to be thought of as a ‘Medieval Warrior King’ in the same mould as legendary Henry V. It is for these reasons that a clash becomes inevitable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The origins of their enmity toward one another begin with the 1518 treaty between England and France. Following this agreement both Kings decide that a special festival will be a good way to tighten their diplomatic ties still further whilst also being an excuse to flaunt their renaissance style.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A meeting place is arranged at the very edge of Calais. The site is carefully chosen as England still has a claim to France and holds land near to Calais. At the same time to sooth both Kings’ egos everything is arranged to provide equality between the two sides. For instance the valley where the first meeting takes place is also carefully chosen and landscaped to provide areas of equal elevation for the two national parties. Such a grand event takes meticulous planning so it is only to be expected that it is planned and executed by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Henry VIII’s leading advisor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whilst talking of equality in practice right from the start both Kings seek to out do the other with incredible displays of ostentatiousness that have never been seen before. King Henry pitches his marque using an elaborate cloth of gold. Built beside the Guides castle for the English this temporary palace covers an area of nearly 10,000 square meters for the reception of the English king. The palace itself is in four blocks with a central courtyard; each side is about 300 feet long. The only solid part is the brick base about 8 feet high. Above the brickwork, stand the 30-foot high walls made of cloth or canvas on timber frames that are painted to look like stone or brick. The slanting roof itself are made of oiled cloth painted to give the colour of lead and the illusion of slates. Contemporaries comment especially on the huge expanse of glass, which makes visitors feel they are in the open air. It is decorated in the most sumptuous fashion and is furnished with a profusion of golden ornaments. Red wine flows from the two fountains outside. Pavilions are set up made with cloth of gold (real filaments of gold sewn with silk to make the fabric) The chapel alone is served by 35 priests. As if that is not enough Henry VIII has 500 horsemen and 3,000 foot soldiers accompany him into the valley of the Golden Dale. Not to be outdone France’s King, Francis I uses a similar number for himself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some idea of the size of Henry's following may be gathered from the fact that in one month 2200 sheep and other viands (exquisite dishes) in a similar proportion are consumed. In the fields beyond the castle another 2800 tents are also erected for less distinguished visitors and the whole panorama is littered with conspicuous wealth. Ladies and knights try to demonstrate their bearing through the use of their ornate dress and revive the mythological age of chivalry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">King Henry arrives at his headquarters at Guînes with his wife Catherine of Aragon on 4 June 1520 whilst his counterpart Francis take up his residence at Ardres. Cardinal Wolsey then visits the French king using his own long train to arrange a meeting between the two monarchs at the Val d'Or, a spot midway between the two places on the 7th.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Their first meeting is a portent of things to come. When the two Kings meet declarations are made by the heralds and officers-of-arms of both parties. Each one declares that the 7,000 soldiers should stand absolutely still on either side of the valley. The matter is treated so serious that the soldiers are ordered to stand completely still whilst the two kings ride down the valley or they will suffer the pain of death. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When finally they reach the bottom of the valley they embrace each other in great friendship and then, dismounting, embrace each other again, taking off their hats. Henry’s sword is held, unsheathed, by the Marquess of Dorset whilst the Duc de Bourbon retains the French king’s sword.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After this remarkable meeting a series of tournaments and banquets take place soon after. Incredibly both kings take part in the tournaments themselves. Whilst at the banquets the kings entertain each other's queens. For instance when Francis I finishes his dinner he spends some time dancing in the banqueting hall. Before he starts to dance, the French king goes from one end of the room to the other, carrying his hat in his hand and kissing all the ladies on both sides – except for four or five who are too old and ugly. He then returns to the Queen and speaks with her for a while before spending the rest of the day dancing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the same time there are many other entertainments included archery displays and wrestling between French Breton and English wrestlers. All the time the Kings seek every opportunity to show off. A classic example takes place on Saturday 17 June when both kings enter the field. King Henry’s armour-skirt and horse-trapper are decorated with an incredible 2,000 ounces of gold and 1,100 huge pearls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not to be out done the French king seeks to display his chivalrous might and battles with Earl of Devonshire in a tournament joust. They both charge at each other. The Earl himself is particularly well adorned. He appears that day wearing cloth of gold, tissue-cloth and cloth of silver, all elaborately embroidered, with his retinue wearing the exact same uniform. Neither is keen to act cowardly and so they race head on and when they meet they strike so aggressively their lances break. In all they charge each other eight times, during which the French king breaks three lances while the earl breaks two lances and the French king’s nose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The climax comes when Henry asks for a wrestling session after he has entered the French Kings tent. To refuse this offer will appear weak and yet the French King knows in a contest of strength he stands little chance against the 6 foot 3 inch tall Henry. Rather than fight Henry on his own terms Philip decides it will be best to surprise him with sly tactics. When Henry VIII pushes with all his considerable might, Francis unexpectedly gives way making Henry lose some of his balance. He then follows this up with a sneeky leg trip manoeuvre that topples Henry and results in Francis victory. According to one French account following Henry’s loss the mood sours and soon after the event finishes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So what became of this meeting from June 7<sup>th</sup> to June 24<sup>th</sup>, 1520. Well for all its flaunting very little. It nearly bankrupts the treasuries of both France and England and yet no treaties are signed. Indeed only a few weeks later Henry signs a treaty of alliance with the French King’s rival, the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V and just two years later England is back at war with France. The event is however notable for one particular event that is to have seismic impact on the English nation for it is at this the venue that King Henry VIII meets Anne Boleyn, his future wife and the immediate cause of the religious upheaval known as the Reformation. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sadly for the Tudors and fortunately for us history fans Henry VIII is not the only vain Tudor. His daughter Elizabeth I is even worse and if you want to find out more about her then check out my<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: red;"> <span style="color: red;"><a href="https://englishhistorystories.blogspot.com/p/new-history-book.html">History Book </a></span>and also read more about him at<span style="color: red;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://englishhistorystories.blogspot.com/2015/07/how-henry-viii-helped-astronauts-land.html">How Henry VIII Helped the Astronauts Land on the Moon, in 1969</a></span><br />
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-29693634762582230172015-05-23T08:54:00.000+01:002020-05-01T15:31:05.258+01:00Britain's Worst Ever Spy Scandal - the Cambridge Spy Ring<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The infamous Cambridge Spy Ring is one of the biggest scandals to emerge in post war Britain. Unlike the <span style="color: red;"><a href="https://englishhistorystories.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-babington-plot-against-queen.html">Babington Spy Plot</a></span> in 1586 it did not end well either.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It first occurs when Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean leave for Russia. The traitors leave many secrets to the Soviet State under Stalin allowing them to discover and execute secret British under cover agents in Russia.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Great interest is aroused by a sense of betrayal and anger at these traitors. Much confusion remains as to who these people are. In an atmosphere of outright suspicion a growing feeling emerges that a ‘Third Man’ must have been involved in tipping off Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean that they were under suspicion. Why else would they attempt an escape?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Something less understood is just how did the two men escape? Well, we now know how they did it and it reveals something about the British secret service at that time. In May 1951 Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean realise they have to leave the country quick or risk being arrested. When Burgess gets to Southampton and tries to board a ferry to France he is recognised by the ferry officer who promptly passes on this information to the MI5 headquarters and soon the intelligence services are in pursuit. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A senior intelligence official goes home to collect his passport so he can take a plane to France and intercept the two men at St Malo where they are meant to be docking. He duly does this and then arrives at the London airport only to discover that his passport is out of date and so there is nothing he can do but abandon the task and allow the defectors to escape.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As a consequence Burgess and Maclean escape to Moscow and Phiby joins them in 12 years. As for the senior intelligence official, White, he is severely reprimanded and yet remarkably goes on to a leading role in MI5 and later still receives a knighthood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Intriguingly an alternative interpretation also exists that says actually no mistake was made and that actually White deliberately allowed the spies to escape as he was a double agent himself. According to this theory it is improbable that he could have been so negligent. The spies are allowed to escape to avoid the embarrassment of arresting them and then the public being aware of the spying establishment’s mistakes. There is good evidence for this view. The spymasters, Hollis and White did not tail Maclean over the weekend he left despite him being a suspect at that time. The official line is that the intelligence services are not aware of his escape until Monday when he does not turn up for work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even after the escape is apparent the intelligence service still do not bother conducting a full investigation. On 30<sup>th</sup> May, five days after the defection, Mrs Maclean is interviewed but her home is not searched. This is once again an unusual omission given the gravity of the situation. Perhaps the most frightening thought is that MI5 did not discover who all the traitors were and that some of those who escaped got to the top of the profession and sold the nation’s secrets to the Russians. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you like this story then you should also read </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://englishhistorystories.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/the-babington-plot-against-queen.html">The Babington Plot against Queen Elizabeth, 1586</a></span></div>
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Peter Straffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581848001850909839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-752254015753389095.post-91739786573210724742015-05-06T22:13:00.002+01:002020-06-25T12:16:34.162+01:00Lambert Simnel's Rebellion against King Henry VII, 1487<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">King Henry VII’s strangest threat during his reign comes from Lambert
Simnel.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Battle of Bosworth was supposed to signal the end of the War of the
Roses and the beginning of strong and stable rule across England. However King Henry
VII’s problem post the Battle of Bosworth is that he still has many rivals.
They feel he has a weak claim to power. In fact all told there are at least 29
others who can legitimately state their claim is better than his by virtue of
their ancestry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A weak man would have collapsed under all the stresses and strains but
according to one contemporary chronicler 'His body was slender but well built
and strong; his height above the average. His appearance was remarkably
attractive and his face was cheerful especially when speaking; his eyes were
small and blue; his teeth few, poor and blackish; his hair was thin and grey;
his complexion pale'.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What makes their threats so potent is that not only do they have the
intent to overthrow but they also have access to large numbers of soldiers who
can ensure they triumph. One major threat for Henry VII comes early on from one
of the ‘Princes in the Tower’. This is significant as they are heirs to the
throne. During the reign of King Richard III they had been restricted to living
in the Tower of London and have mysteriously vanished. Now all of a sudden one
of them reappears. Claiming to be a son of the recent King Edward IV he has far
greater legitimate right to the throne. He also happens to bear a strong
resemblance to the boy so his claim has added plausibility.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Many see the Princes as the rightful claimants to the throne. However
this boy is in fact none other than a ten year old called Lambert Simnel, a
pawn being used by others to reassert the rival House of York’s claim to the
throne over King Henry VII’s House of Tudor. Since Henry VII has only had a
brief period in office his regime is not yet stable enough to stop this threat
in its tracks right away. This allows the situation to rapidly degenerate into
one that threatens his very right to be on the throne.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The instigator who raises all of this commotion is the 28 year old
Richard Symonds, a priest from Oxford. An ambitious man, he secretly pines for
the top ecclesiastical position of the Archbishop of Canterbury. One of his
pupils happens to be Lambert Simnel. Symonds, a Yorkist, first decides to pass
off Simnel as Richard of York, the younger of the two boys but then changes his
mind and passes him off as Edward Plantagenet, the Earl of Warwick. This is another
audacious move as the Earl is also a young boy and had been the heir to King
Richard’s throne when Richard was still alive. To make the story seem more
plausible his supporters say he somehow managed to navigate an escape from the
Tower of London where he had been held under the orders of King Henry VII.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The next step for Symonds is to take Simnel to Ireland where it is hoped
that a Yorkist powerbase can develop and act as a springboard to raise revolt
across England. Here he is joined by the Earl of Lincoln (the closest heir to
King Richard III and a man with his own ambitions to usurp power for himself) and
Viscount Lovel who has earlier fled to Flanders to join his Aunt, Margaret of
Burgundy.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Margaret of Burgundy plays a key role in fermenting trouble for Henry
VII. She is the daughter of King Edward IV and niece of Richard III and so she
readily blames King Henry VII for slaying her brother in 1485 at the Battle of
Bosworth. We know about her reputation as contemporary chroniclers eager
to please the King are vociferous in their condemnation of her. Polydore
Virgil, a Tudor historian writes that Margaret ‘pursued Henry with insatiable
hatred and with fiery wrath never desisted from employing every scheme which
might harm him as a representative of the hostile faction’. Edward Hall goes a
step further and states rather graphically that she is ‘lyke a dogge revertynge
to her olde vomyte’. Famously King Henry VII describes her as a ‘diabolical
duchess’.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It was also here in Ireland that the Lord Lieutenant, the Earl of
Kildare, amongst other nobles proclaim Simnel as King Edward VI at Christ
Church Cathedral, Dublin on 24th May 1487. For de la Pole (the Earl of Lincoln)
this is a chance for himself to assert power as even though he is a supporter
of Richard III his real reason for allegiance is his desire to become a
Protector of England for Edward VI. As the eldest son of Elizabeth (the sister
of Edward IV) by the Duke of Suffolk he has his own claim to the throne. With
power safely in his own hands his hope is to rid himself of the ‘King’ at a
later date and become ruler of all of England for himself.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This development catches Henry VII by surprise as John de la Pole is one
of his councillors at the time when the plot to usurp begins and so this
amounts to a great act of betrayal. Even as late as 2 February 1487 after the
plot has emerged into the open the Earl of Lincoln is still attending council meetings
with the King at Sheen. This act of treachery by such a close advisor helps
explain why Henry is such a suspicious and cautious man. On this occasion he
has the right attitude as events take an even worse turn for Henry VII when
further forces begin to gather against him due to Margaret of York, the Duchess
of Burgundy openly pledging her allegiance to the new ‘King’. Most importantly
she sends a force of 2000 expert German mercenaries to Ireland to join the
existing forces. This small army itself also happens to be commanded by Martin
Schwarz – an able military leader.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A clear sign of the danger Henry VII is in comes from the senior
nobility who now start to waver in their support for him. If his critics and
enemies hope that Henry is all washed up they have under estimated the tactical
astuteness of him and his determination to maintain his grip on power. Indeed
an Italian scholar called Virgil at one time describes him as being ‘shrewd and
prudent so that no one dared to get the better of him through deceit and guile’.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">His first step is to march the real Earl of Warwick out of his prison
and parade him through the streets of London. In one swift stroke he manages to
destroy the credentials of Simnel as a genuine nobleman and heir to the throne
of England. Henry then makes a bold rather unconventional decision. He is
unsure how many nobles are conspiring against him and so he decides to make the
conciliatory gesture of pardoning known rebels such as Thomas Broughton. His
hope is to limit the extent of the rebellion by appearing fair and reasonable.
It is a risky strategy but it mainly works.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">All that is left now is to tackle the Earl of Lincoln and his army.
Since he has arrived on the 4th June 1487, Lincoln has been seeking support
across Lancashire, the Pennines in the north of England and then toward the
south. However, Lincoln’s campaign now begins to falter. The locals are
suspicious of the Irish soldiers who accompany Lincoln and so they refuse to
rally to his cause. Many are also worn out by civil war that had gone on
between the Yorkists and Lancastrians and seek to avoid trouble.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Finally on June 16<sup>th</sup> 1487 King Henry VII meets up with
Lincoln just outside of Newark at East Stoke, Nottinghamshire in what became
known as the Battle of Stoke Field. All the measures taken by King Henry
earlier to limit the threat can be seen to have taken effect as he now has the
upper hand. Whilst Lincoln’s army stands at 8,000 his opposite, King Henry has
12,000 men. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Battle commences and lasts for three hours in a closely fought
encounter. At the beginning Henry’s forces disperse a shower of arrows on the
Irish forces that inflicts massive casualties on them. However rather than be decimated
the Irish decide to attack at full speed downhill right into the thick of the
opposing 6,000 troops commanded by John de Vere, the Earl of Oxford. With the
well trained German mercenaries on the side of Lincoln it is a very tight
contest as each side tears into the other seeking any advantage possible. The
fact that Oxford’s men hold firm is crucial as they manage to regroup and make
use of their superior numbers. Lacking armour the Irish are also at a
disadvantage as the skilled longbowmen employed by Henry can decimate the
Yorkist forces with wave after wave of arrows. Eventually the Yorkist forces
are obliged to slowly retreat. They ended up being pushed back beyond their
starting point and then slaughtered at a bottleneck that becomes known as Red
Gutter. The rebels do not lack courage and there is some evidence that rather
than escape some of the German mercenaries alongside their Yorkist commanders
decide to fight to the death. According to the contemporary chronicler, Jean
Molinet the Irish troops end up ‘filled with arrows like hedgehogs’. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">By the end of the conflict the rebel leaders Lincoln, Schwarz, Broughton
(who had not accepted his pardon) and the leader of the Irish, Thomas
Geraldine, are dead and the last remaining Yorkist leader, Lord Lovell has
disappeared. In total over half of Lincoln’s force die.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">With this decisive victory Henry is now back in a commanding position.
To cement his position as King in the country on 25<sup>th</sup> of
November his wife, Elizabeth and mother of his heir, is finally crowned Queen.
He has the troublesome priest Richard Symonds arrested and sentenced to life in
a bishop’s prison. What happens to Lambert Simnel though is much more
surprising and again shows how canny Henry is. Rather than execute him and
appear callous he takes a magnaminous approach and he gives him a humiliating
position in the king’s kitchen as a scullion (washer of dishes) and turnspit
(turning a spit beside a fireplace). Henry does this because he recognises that
Lambert is not really to blame for what has happened and is merely a puppet. By
graciously allowing him to live he is not only showing his generous spirit but
also sending out a sign he is so confident he is not worried about allowing a
threat to remain alive.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The story does not end here. In later life Simnel is given the post of
King’s falconer in recognition of how well he has worked. However those nobles
who have opposed Henry fair less well. Twenty eight lose their estates to
Henry. This serves a dual purpose. It sends a clear message that anyone who
betrays the king will be severely dealt with. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Henry goes on to face many more threats during his reign but all who
challenge him end up losing. No matter what they do he is able to out manoeuvre
them and demonstrate what a canny King he really is. If an opportunity arises
to gain his vengeance he takes it. A very good example occurs many years later
when he meets the Earl of Kildare and some other Irish Lords. These are the
same men who had fermented trouble for him in Ireland during the rebellion so
Henry takes the chance to mock them with 'My masters of Ireland, you will
crown apes at length'. Initially the Irish Lords have no idea what he is
talking about so you can imagine their astonishment when it is then explained
to them that the person who has brought them their wine is none other than
their 'new King Lambarte Symenell’ who ‘brought them wine to drink, and drank
to them all'.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background: white;"><span><h2 style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Read 'Secret English History' and learn about the greatest English history stories you have never heard of. </span></h2><h2 style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">My book is now available for purchase at the link below.</span></h2></span></span></span></div>
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