Richard III may be the Rodney Dangerfield of sovereigns. He “got no respect” by Shakespeare (in my favorite play, Richard III) and appears to have gotten even less respect in his burial. Indeed, if a recent human skeleton recovered under a parking lot proves to be Richard III, he came close to be dug up and thrown out by a construction crew in the nineteenth century. Indeed, the Queen mother’s words to her hated son in the play appears to have been an omen: ““Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end; Shame serves thy life and doth thy death attend.”
The grave escaped destruction in the nineteenth century by only 12 inches. If true, people later parked daily over the grave of the sovereign best known for exclaiming in the play: “A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse.”
The location fits with historical accounts. Richard III was believed to have been buried at Greyfairs, a medieval church, after he was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field during the War of the Roses. The church later disappeared, but was traced by Leicester archaeologists to beneath the parking lot for the Leicester City Council offices.
In 1612, a man named Christopher Wren (it is not clear if he was related to the famous architect who was born in 1632) said that he found a 3-foot (1-meter) tall stone pillar in the garden that was inscribed, “Here lies the body of Richard III sometime King of England.”
Even more intriguing is the fact that the skeleton shows signs of trauma to the skull and back before death, which would be consistent with a battle injury. Richard was struck down (only the second such king to die on a English battlefield) in August 1485 in facing Henry Tudor, 2nd Earl of Richmond and later King Henry VII. Accounts indicate that Richard III fought exceptionally bravely and well in the battle. By some accounts, Sir Wyllyam Gardynyr killed King Richard III with a poleaxe to the head. The Welsh account says “Richard’s horse was trapped in the marsh where he was slain by one of Rhys Thomas’ men, a commoner named Wyllyam Gardynyr.”
If found, Richard III is more fortunate than his alleged victims, the sons of his brother the late King Edward IV who were believed murdered upon the order of Richard while in the Tower of London. He had previously arranged them to be declared illegitimate to clear his own path to the Crown.
At last, Richard can have one more day in the sun: “Shine out, fair sun, till I have bought a glass, That I may see my shadow as I pass.”
Source: History
Tom Price,
Where did you get that information?
What evidence is there of Wyllyam Gardynyr killing King Richard III?
I don’t know of any Jermain Gardyner being executed in the trial of Anne Boleyn.
I have seen document of Sir Richard Gardyner pawning some of the crown jewels.
Regards,
John Gardner
I also find it very interesting that Shakespeare was in a life long legal battle with William Gardiner the grandson of the same yeoman Wyllyam Gardynyr who dispatched Richard III with a poleaxe on the field at Bosworth Market. The Royal Families yeoman Guard was formed on the Battlefield at Bosworth and still carry the poleaxe to this day. Wyllyam Gardynyr was murdered by supporters of Richard III on his way home from his shop soon after he returned to London. Wyllyams brother was Alderman, Sheriff, Mayor and President of the Mercers Guild of London. Richard Gardiner whom Richard III had pawned some crown jewels to fund the up coming Battles. Richard Gardner returned the Jewels to Henry VII after the matter of Richard loan was settled. Wyllyam Gardynyr’s children were removed and placed in protective custody at Crown expense in the same location as young Henry VIII. Wyllyam Gardynyr’s son Thomas Gardynyr was Henry VIII personal Chaplin and wrote the definitive work on why Henry VIII was entitled to be King of England. Jermain Gardyner was Henry VIII personal bodyguard and was beheaded for refusing to testify in the trial of Anne Boleyn. Jermain Gardiner is some times called German Gardiner.. I have been working on this mystery for 20 years. I believe it was Alderman Richard Gardiner who sealed Richard III fate. The Pardon that Henry VII issued to Richard Gardiner was for matters related to the Crown..
Agreement is not required.
Being able to adequately defend your positions factually and logically when challenged is highly encouraged.
AY, Thanks. I’m learning the drill here. I can ignore the drivel sometimes but I was taught by my parents, teachers, and coaches to never quit.
Nick,
Trying to state a point that is against a prevailing opinions here will get your nuts sliced….. Now if you want to get along all’s you have to do is surrender….. Or ignore the dribble…..
Blouise,
Better a smartass than a dumbass.
I submit there are posts made by others here and elsewhere on the Web on a daily basis that illustrate just that point.
I won’t even mention politicians.
Gene,
Well, eulogy is really the correct word as eulogies are often given to the elderly, which Elizabeth certainly was, in order to express words of love and gratitude before they pass away. I stuck in the pre only because I was afraid people would question the passage as an eulogy as most think of a eulogy as something given at a funeral. You, of course, are not most people.
Smarta**
Dear Santa Claus,
All I want for Christmas is a binder full of women. I will leave you some extra milk and cookies. I love you, Santa.
Your Friend,
HenMan
whoa, can’t wait for 2550 when they find jimmy hoffa
Blouise,
I think the word is “testimonial” but “pre-eulogy” is an interesting neologism.
Gene,
That quote I used is often credited as his pre-eulogy of the virgin queen … I say pre-eulogy because of the dates involved which means it was a celebration of her living, not her death.
To the victor go the spoils and the history books. Shakespears historys of the Lancasters were good boxoffice and good politics seeing that good Queen Bess was on the throne and would not looked brightly on a portrayal of a hardy and heroic Richard. Richard must be portrayed as twisted as his black soul. But it is just as likely that when Henry VII rode into the tower there were the two sons of Eddie IV playng cricket in the court yard. OH what to do … do away with em and blame black richard. …. Nahhhhh But somewhere inbetween. If we cant figure what happened in Dallas 50 years ago we will never figure out what happened in england 600. But if DNA does prove it to be Richard Plantaganet I do hope we can do away with that tired theatrical trick hump
Much Ado is my favorite comedy also but I do like the politically incorrect Tamimg of the Shrew (especially put to music by Cole Porter)
chimene,
It is uncompromised bone marrow they are looking for. One of the best bones in which to look for DNA is the femur. Unfortunately, all too often the long bones become compromised over time as soil leaches out the calcium. Dental enamel is the hardest substance in the body, and most resistant to natural decay.