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From: Hillsboro, OR, USA
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posted October 02, 2017 09:00 AM            

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Acsy_LNrgzw

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posted October 04, 2017 07:30 AM            

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May, 1483

We couldn't wait for William Catesby any longer.
I crossed myself for my dearest companion and set out.
I believe it was just outside of Leeds when we saw my best friend galloping fiercely towards us seemingly unaware of our party. But at last glance, at the other side of the lake he looked at my banner.
"The Blue Boar!" He yelled a bit in reassurance of himself. "Dicken!" And strode his horse to a shallow end where he could cross.
"William Catesby!?" I hollered. A bit angered.
"Where in the Lord's name have you been!? We..."

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posted October 04, 2017 07:52 AM            

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"Forgive me Dicken!" He yelled. "There isn't time to explain!" His horse gave a panic, and his clothes were soaking and muddy by the time he had gotten to me.
"We must to Wakefield!"
"Well, slow down man, good God...tell me a bit..I..."
"No! We must to Wakefield, The Earl of Rivers, and the Lord of Kidwelly have taken off for London with the King! But this night they shall settle at Pontrefact Castle.
"What?!" I cried enraged and kicked mine horse to its fullest speed. My men followed suit.
It was a blustery day when we rode into Pontefract Castle, we were sure to beet them there.
"Get a fire going someone!" Yelled William Catesby. Mine arms were crossed as I shook mine head staring out the window waiting for him. Anthony Woodville. The ******* who almost murdered me affront the boy King he now had in his custody. "Calm down Dicken, after all you will learn to get on for the King" said William Catesby assuringly. He was rubbing his hands, making them warm. I laughed.
"Oh, William Catesby, you know I seek your advice and approvals in all matters of my life, but in this case, you were born the son of a banker, and I the son of a Duke." And something within him knew.
"Well, let me tell you truth how it came about. The Lady Dowager Queen has second say after the King until he takes a Wife. And it was she who did assign Earl Rivers as the King's Lord protector. We all just want what's best for England Dicken. We all just want what's best for the boy our King, do keep in mind. It was God's fortune I was late, On my way to your manor I spied the banners of the King through Yorkshire. And indeed word had spread that the King was making his way through Yorkshire to London with his chief Constable and Lord Protector."
"Well, then I thanketh God for that." I replied.
There was no use in talking to William Catesby of the history between Anthony and I.
I met him when I was twelve. In a darkly lit chapel in the little town of Woodstock. A wedding at night? A wedding between a King and Queen at night? In Woodstock?
He always had a way of influence to his sister, and she to him that was sickening. He had scrunched pink lips and a face like a woman's...almost...Tall and stocky. His arms were always folded on his chest.
He flashed me a smile on the side of Elizabeth Woodville, I on the side of the King.
"Vouchsafe this ring to wear?" Asked Ned customarily. And his smile widened at me. was twenty four, and it seemed he was always competing with me, I wouldn't know for what five years well after I had been created the Duke of Gloucester.

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posted October 04, 2017 08:06 AM            

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But it was more then that...I think he coveted me as a friend. There was a certain attention he had paid only me from the time we had met, and I was the youngest in our families feuds. No less on the opposite end.
Anthony Woodville was a very religious man, or was so in the name of pomp...But, he was also very stylish, I guess one could say. He had a way of wearing a very decretive yellow scarf. with a light brown fleece to match.
I was always running about, more then other children, it wasn't so much I was hyperactive, just that I enjoyed such things more then say reading, or chess.
He was always watching me...
"What an athletic child you are Dicken." He said. "Like Achilles!" I know now that he was only being nice so that when the time came for me to be declared the Duke of Gloucester I would give it to him..I think...Mayhap he wanted me as a best friend too? But he was twenty four and I was twelve. To this day I will never know his true intentions of me. Well, the history got stranger from there.

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posted October 04, 2017 08:15 AM            

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Anthony Woodville was not a fighter, one could not call him that in the slightest. He complained of the mice on the ship when we fled to Burgundy and ate his supper as the dignified gentleman he had been raised.
And during that time he would glare at me in jealousy and, or hurt? I still never really will know. Though, I think perhaps he always wanted to be my best friend. He would say to Ned; "Sire, could we not have two Dukes of Gloucester?" It was half in jest and half in seriousness. And then would flash me a devious smile.
"You grow more and more handsome every day Dicken." He would say every time he saw me.
He used to grasp mine arm muscles uncomfortably. "Oh yes, those muscles of thine."
When Ned and Lizbet had gone to the back room to **** after a year of not seeing one another. He made a most vile joke to sting me.
Grabbing my arm muscle again he declared in a mean and phesecious manner;
"Should not the Two Dukes follow suit?"
I threw him from me very aggressively and he unsheathed his sword as he stumbled back.
Ned hated him and naturally as a youth of nineteen I would follow what the most like thing I'd had of a father thought.
And now here he was, it had been five years since last I say him and I gazed out the window waiting.

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posted October 04, 2017 08:30 AM            

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It was only an hour or so after we had arrived that the King's party pulled in. So very formal as opposed to how mine own party had come.
The horse's hooves seemed to be in a rehearsed trot, making music on the cobblestone. The carriage was of a golden color as it rolled in through the gates.
As soon as I saw the Earl step out I rushed downward. Our eyes met through the stone.
"What in God's name do you think you have done! You have defied the wishes of the Late King Edward IV! And have taken off with his son the King Edward V!?
"Now Dicken," spoke William Catesby following close behind. But I was too enraged.
But I peered at Edward then. His shrunken lips were like Anthony's, and his eyes were blue and hair dark like mine, in a strange way I came to the realization that he was OUR Nephew, and we had to put him first. We had to put England first.
And Richard Grey was there, and he and I never had a problem with one another. It was all Anthony's doing. It was between Anthony and I, not them.
"Oh, the Duke of Gloucester!" He declared. "Age has treated you well!" He was forty two and in turn age had not been kind to him. He was balding, thin about the cheeks, pale skinned, and sickly.
Maybe we could discuss it like Gentleman.

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posted October 04, 2017 08:41 AM            

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It was clear that Edward was a spoiled child and it was also clear that whatever Anthony Woodville had told the boy of me was exactly the way he gazed up and down at my personage; a look of suspicious admiration. Edward was a tall boy, and handsome. "How now Uncle Gloucester?" He asked in a plain manner. Like a true King to his subject.
"Well, Your Grace, and you?"
"Well, I wanted to speak about arrangements for a Wife."
Anthony petted the boy's long black locks.
"He's been ever so anxious." He marveled. And I laughed in turn.
"Would you like to go and take your pick in the town?" I asked him.
He looked at me confused. He was a shy boy, like I had been, though, I knew he genuinely had no idea what I was talking about. So I dropped it.
"Let us be bathed and prepared for a supper, we've much to talk about," and Anthony and I exchanged weary glances, his in a callous smile.

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posted October 04, 2017 09:11 AM            

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It was to be only I, Richard Grey, William Catesby, Henry Stafford, The Count of Yorkshire, King Edward and I.
But Anthony called in musicians.
I didn't see the point in this, it wasn't a formal thing. But he picked grapes off of the stem in his folded hands looking at me in that strange smile, his lips moved with his chewing.
"We are gathered like the last Supper." He laughed, and later that night those words would haunt me and today they do.
"Neidhart, meie, din liehter schin." He hollered to them in perfect German.
They began a gay jig. The Hurdy Gurdy man squatted up and down to the melody.
"You know, Gloucester," He said. "I think we should betroth our nephew to the Flanders Princess."
"Are Flanders' women beautiful?" Edward asked peering from his brother to me.
He looked at William Catesby. "Do they have golden hair and plump bosoms?"
Henry Stafford pulled out a bone from his mouth licking it like the gluttonous portly man he was.
"Well, Your Grace, I've had a few, and while their **** are as big as melons, their hair borders on dirty colored tresses." I glared at him.
"Then I should not want to marry a Flanders Princess," he said so with an air of superiority in his voice.
"Oh come Sire, put her culture before her looks!" Anthony then looked at me and translated, bobbing his head to the song.

"When the beautiful scorned me
I'd rather be dead."

"Why did you take off with the King against my dead brother's wishes? It was I who was named Lord Protector of his Grace."
"And then my sister named me as such." He said.
"I do not believe you." I didn't. Elizabeth Woodville was a bold woman, but the English people did not like the Woodville's, never had, and she would not do something like that for fear of a rebellion. I do believe that she would have sent word to her brother to leave though before I myself could get to Ludlow.
"Well, that is how it happened."
I glanced at Richard Grey, he was took a bite of his biscuit and it seemed as though he was staring me down. I couldn't return it, he was young and trusted his Uncle's opinions of me, even if they were not founded in reality.

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posted October 04, 2017 09:22 AM            

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyzpYmszYZ4

"My Lords." Declared William Catesby. "I think we are all agreed I, as the King's chief Financial Advisor, Lord Kidwelly as his Constable, Lord Gloucester and Lord Rivers as his Lord Protectors, and Henry Stafford as the head of his military, that we all wish what is best for he and this country."
"And this is agreed Lord Catesby." Spoke Edward formally. "All of us my Lords, are agreed?" He was trying to appear as a mighty Lord.
"Yes, yes we are Your Grace." Spoke Anthony assuredly. I got the impression that he had raised Edward as a pretty trained dog who he loved to groom.
"You've no formal title to the King above us," I spoke "Not anymore."
"My sister named me such." He snapped with his head as a woman in argument.
"Produce the paper." I spoke intently.
"Oh, it was lost to me in the wind." He said.
"Show me the paper!" I demanded.
"You doubt the Queen's words!" He shouted.
"You should be executed for treason!" And that was it. I kicked the table over. Never in my life had I been angrier. And Richard Grey rose ready to take me on.
"You!" I said pointing to Anthony. "You are under arrest for the very crime you accuse of me!"
"Guards!" I yelled. They came swift.
"Take these men to the Dungeon of Pontrefact Castle!" He and his men looked confused for a moment, glancing from me to Anthony Woodville.
I produced the letter of Ned's with his signature and since Anthony could produce nothing he was dragged off. He looked at me in shock. And Richard began to try and fight them away but to no avail. He looked terrified and mine heart took a bit of pity.

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posted October 04, 2017 09:49 AM            

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Edward's eyes widened and his face bordered on panic. William Catesby gathered him up into his robe and gave him a protective love. He was still a boy and in need of a trusted adult. "Wh...Where are you taking my brother and..and mine Uncle!" He yelled as he shuddered.
"Your Grace, let's us to a game of chess?"
"N...Noo..No! Why are you executing Uncle Anthony and my brother Lord Grey!?" He screamed at me fearfully.
Finally I came to and sighed. "They'll not be harmed Sire, I promise, let the adults to it aye?" He nodded and gave me a trustful look. I think he could tell I had reacted only in anger.

"You know you're going to have to execute them," William Catesby said later after he put the King to sleep.
"I promised the King I wouldn't, so I shan't."
"But they have committed treason. And if you let this go Lancastrian supporters will hear word, your character shall be called week, and there will be rallying."
"Tudor is from the female line, and the ******* line!" I shouted.
"But he's still a claim Dicken, and you know as well as I do that his mother is the Wife of the Duke of Somerset. And that we cannot risk Somerset's cold shoulder."
I knew it. I did.
I decided to go and see Anthony.

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posted October 04, 2017 02:02 PM            

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"Well, here is the Duke to my dungeon." He said. He was sitting there calmly amidst the cold and the damp, the ball and chain about his leg. Richard was sleeping on the bench beside his own.
"Anthony Woodville," I said. "You are to be executed for treason. You and Richard Grey."
He seemed to be ponder this for a great while before speaking.
"I've only one request Gloucester that you execute me in the chapel and that you be present."
A strange request, but I would grant it.

Richard Grey shivered in his shackles they clacked together as he was led to the block, he was to go first. I close mine eyes to him. I did not want to see Richard Grey die, but what choice did I have? He was still shivering as they laid his head on the block. I heard the axe fall, but did not look.
Then it was Anthony in his chains. "Might I fist approach the Duke of Gloucester?" I permitted it. He walked towards me slowely and elegantly. The Earl of Rivers laid a kiss on my cheek, a slow and intimate one.
"Like Judas to Jesus." He said and stared into me in a queer manner.
With that he walked to the block laid his head down and this time I was sure to watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7Hse885ggw

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posted October 05, 2017 06:12 PM            

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjO55pKuBo4

There was one supernatural happening during the War of the Roses.
At the Battle of Barnet a rare cosmic happening occurred.
I don't know how it works, but it makes it appear as if there are three suns in the sky, it has something to do with the way the sun hits the earth, but its a very rare thing. You could google it.
This happened as the Yorkists rode out and they called it "The Sunne in Splendor," it was taken to mean that York was blessed by God.

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posted October 06, 2017 11:13 PM            

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1370915/Three-suns-appear-sky-rare-natural-phenomenon.html

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posted November 10, 2017 10:21 PM            

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June, 1483

She did not speak to me, her eyes were void of happiness as she stared affront her. But I could tell, Anne was not like most women, when she was truly angered at you, her silent pupils would show it.
"You look beautiful," I said as the Carriage rolled into Westminster Palace.
I placed mine hand on her own and she took it back.

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posted November 14, 2017 07:40 AM            

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(Put my heart and soul into this for a few people in understanding)

Also, my theory on what happened to the Princes in the Tower. There were two men who came forward claiming to be Richard, Duke of York. One was Perkin Warbeck, who was executed by King Henry VII, the other was a man also known as Richard, but with the latter, he was not executed, rather given the position of head cook in the King's kitchen and was well provided for. Makes you think???

March, 1484

Sometimes I wish we could all be like women putting our heartfelt emotional bonds first. Mayhap it is because they bear our young and do not understand that our role, is not to nurture, as them, but to protect.
I had inherited a Kingdom and a country divided by almost thirty years of war. Strangely enough, I was thirty years old. In that moment I give a chuckle as I write.
My whole life, this is all I have ever known, war, and perhaps, if it takes me, God Willing, it shall be the only think I know in death.
Anne and Bess were both livid with me. Yes, I had beheaded Henry Stafford, Will Hastings, Anthony Woodville, Thomas Vaughn Richard Grey, and yes, indirectly, I was responsible for my nephew's death. Women cannot see things in this light, Anne saw Henry Stafford as her friend, and Bess saw her brothers, her Uncle and Will Hastings. They saw the death of those they had loved. And truly, I did too. But, I had the weight of a nation upon me, I was now its Sovereign, it's King and all happenings upon it, was my responsibility.
England was not going to accept a child King, even if the child were the son of their beloved King Edward. No, no one was going to risk the recreation of King Henry VI. I did what I had to do.
I wished Bess and Anne could understand that, though I did not blame for them not doing so. Some day, God Willing, women know our tortures and plites.
She glared at me as she passed me in the hall. Bess, would not look at me, and customarily and mayhap a bit pompously, bow when we passed, and gave the proper reply to a King; "Your Grace." I wanted so many times to tell her where Little Rich was. I wanted to explain it all to her. It was all so simple.
Richard was taken to Burgundy, we had awoken him late on that June night and snuck him off to the Wharfs.
"But what of my brother?" He asked. And I kissed his head. He remembered me, he remembered his Plantagenet blood, and Edward saw only his Woodville one. But that was not the heart of the issue, no it was not and Richard as a boy of nine could not understand that.
"If I were to take this throne, and to tell you that what your Grandfather did to influence his right to the throne above King Henry's son, would you hate me?"
"I don't know what you mean Uncle." He replied. He was so young but I tried as best as I could to tell him that Richard, Duke of York, the same name and title he held now, his Grandfather had not wanted the throne of England. And for the first time had convinced the Lords to declare an heir born from the direct loin of a King, would not rule as rightful sovereign. Rather he would be named as one who could guide us into a more prosperous and peaceful nation.
"I don't understand Uncle." He said again. "Why does that mean I must leave?"
"Because Richard, I will rule as King and when you come of age, I shall surrender it to you."
"But why not Edward, why not now?"
I looked at him. He would execute me, he would execute my family and Anne would forever be confined to the hell I had saved her from.
"Some day, Richard, you will understand." I replied.
Still, I could not tell Bess or Anne this, for, they would tell others, and others would tell others. Especially Bess who would pester me all day and all night of where her brother was.
I lay in the bath, put a hot cloth over mine eyes and let the hotness take me.

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posted November 17, 2017 06:24 AM            

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March, 1464

"What are you doing Dicken!" She hollered. I looked down on her as I attempted to walk the tall wooden fence on my muscled arms. At eleven years old, I was proving to be a very active youth and I loved nothing more then to climb.
Seven year old Anne was proving to be my best friend. Whilst Isabel and George flirted and spoke of love, Anne and I ran about in childish games. Sometimes we would play Hide and Seek in her Father's Big Castle. Or wander it's fields for hours.
And oh, the shouts from Aunt Anne upon us when we returned with our muddy hair and clothes. Especially to her.
Truthfully, I think the three years spent at Warwick Castle were the happiest of my life.

"Stop lifting up my skirt!" Shouted Isabel to George once. She was twelve, and very healthy, not busty, but healthy and beautiful. She'd large breasts I could remember and was fond of tight sleeves. George was fourteen and had found a tree branch which could reach some feet and did so as she on a rock reading.
The four of us often set out together, it seemed there were always places to explore and every day we must have journeyed farther and farther for a picnic luncheon or just for fun.
And because George and Isabel always seemed to disappear, it was often Anne and I left alone. Most boys of eleven would grumble to be left with a seven year old girl. But not me, I was quite fond of Anne. And she seemed in awe of me, everything I did. To look at me as if I were her Knight in Shining Armor, or some cliché like of that nature.
I brushed her horses' mains. And she smiled at them as I did. Her hand holding an apple and the beast snorting and chewing at her. She did so love her horses.
And whenever she wanted to go for a ride, it was always I she requested to ready one for her. She had three; Angus, Horace, and Hey Hey. The last she had named because as a file the thing could not stay out of the hay barns she explained to me in pride. I listened smiling. It was nice to have a friend. George was the only friend I had known before my cousins, Anne and Isabel, and Isabel was too much like him.
I knelt and she put her foot in my cupped hands as I hoisted her atop one. She liked Angus the most because he had a black spot on his nose but the rest of him was white.
Horace was white with black spots all over, but was a very aggressive thing who was only given good grace by her. It took him quite a long time to warm up to myself, fearful I might harm his little Mistress, he butted me off of a stool once. But when he did, I was the only other human.
Anne was a very tiny thing, waist and height, and she had little blue eyes, accenting surprisingly well with her straight red russet hair.

"What are you doing Dicken!" She hollered again.
I didn't answer purposely. But suddenly I lost my balance and tumbled down, right upon mine arm.
I began to cry from the pain. "Oh...Oh..." I moaned, clutching it.
"Oh! Dicken!" She declared. "Are you hurt? Let me kiss it and make it better." She did just that and then helped me up.
I continued to keep moaning as we hobbled back to Warwick Castle, where Mine Uncle's Physician confirmed it to be a broken.
Aunt Anne was now very adamant that the four of us should not spend so much time outside. Though, as summer came, and Anne now being eight, we still did venture, though not as far because of Aunt Anne's watchful eye on the time.
George and Isabel left us alone, as usual. And with mine arm in a sling, I lamented to my friend of how bored I was and longed to run or do some pushups. For, I had been sent to Warwick to be trained as one day serving as a Knight in my brother's Army. I'd never loved sport parse, just the freedom of being able to exercise and exhaust my breath.
Anne was looking down at a daisy, plucking the petals. She did this often to curb her own boredom. But in a very strange, slow and methodical way. As if she were a woman at needlepoint.
"You're killing it you know." I said.
"Daisy's don't have life, silly." She replied.
"Actually they do, you see, Anne anything that grows from the earth has life."
"So then do we eat life in our cabbage stews?" She asked. And I nodded ardently
"Yes, we do."
"Then why don't I hear it scream?"
"Well, it is dead by that point, Anne."
"Then why don't cabbages have blood like people or cattle?"
"It is a different sort of life Anne." I replied thoughtfully.
A cool gust blew, the day was hot and it was much welcomed by us both, but it soon picked up and blew Anne's hair about her, like flames almost. She got frightened. "Oh! Dicken! Dicken!" She howled and I grabbed her close.
When it had stopped she peered into mine eyes and said; 'mine hero Dicken.' and kissed my cheek.
We were so innocent then, her and I. All we knew of love was what we had read in fairytales, and truthfully we were not in love then, but would act the tales out.
Once she hauled herself up in the silo and I called down to her like the Prince to Rapunzel. And she giggled and leaned her head out far.
And in our world, marriage was something arranged, marriage was not what our favorite story's portrayed. There were no Princesses courted by Gallant Knights. Nor were their Village girls who waited for a dashing Prince to enter their abode. But, looking back, sometimes I think Anne and I made the concept of it all a reality in later years.
But at eleven and eight we were content to just play.

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posted November 17, 2017 06:28 AM            

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsa05BGS8fw

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