Edward IV revealed his name's wife

24th November 1464

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          Edward IV has confirmed his wedding with a women and revealed her identity and sit down comfortably on your chair my Dearest Reader; she is a Lancastrian Woman!

The Marriage of Elizabeth Woodville and Edward IV

          Her name is Elizabeth Woodville, a Lancastrian widow of Sir John Grey of Groby who died on the battle field of St Albans in december 1461. She has two sons, Thomas and Richard Grey.

          But what an ironic thing, a Lancastrian widow married with Edward IV, a Yorkist fighting  and claiming the throne of England as his own.

          This announcement sounds has an horrible revelation, Yorkist soldiers died to put on the throne the heir of this house, and now he is married with a woman from the ennemy house. Warwick must be the most angry man of the world.

Richard Neville; 35 ; Earl of Warwick, the Kingmaker

          I cannot realise that Edward, my beloved cousin, is married to a Lancastrian woman. Does he forgot his brother Edmund and his father Richard has been executed by the Lancastrian army in 1461? Does he forgot all the sacrifies we've done for him? How could he do that to me and to the Yorkist soldiers? Then the betrothal with the French Princess, Bona of Savoy, is annulled but I won't forget what he has done to me. I have done too much for him and lost enough to forget. I swear I won't.

Jacquetta of Luxembourg; 48 ; Countess Rivers

           I am glad to see my eldest daughter happy with the king and this is an honour to be his mother-in-law. What could be more wonderful to marry my daughter by love to a man? I married Sir Richard Woodville because of love and we've had fourteen children. England will have heirs soon, I am sure of it. And I am not afraid of the rumours, King Edward IV loves Elizabeth and all will be fine for them.

 
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A Lancastrian Queen on the throne!

26th May 1465

Elizabeth's dress during her coronation

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          This is official, any other women will be the next Queen of England but Elizabeth Wydville, the wonderful woman with gorgeous blond hair. And she is just 28 years old!

          She has been crowned at Westminster Abbey as Queen of England, and the abbey was full of Yorkist Soldiers.

          All her familly was present as Jacquetta of Luxembourg, Countess of Rivers, her husband, Earl of Rivers, Richard Wydville, and her sisters and brothers as Anthony Wydville.

          Her beauty caught the attention of everyone and the whispers of jealousy current all of the coronation. She looked majestic on her seat with the crown on her pretty head. She gave us a little smile and among the crowd there were the Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester, the Earl of Warwick and his wife and daughters, Anne and Isabel Neville. All of the greatest nobility were here!

Have you seen the Queen of England, the woman who is called "the most beautiful woman in the Island of Britain" with "heavy-lidded eyes like those of a dragon".

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Gregory; 45 ; Loyal man from the House of Lancaster

          How could I be happy? She is not a Lancastrian Queen. She is a traitor who betrayed us of marrying this impostor! She is attracted just by the power, and she will fall as all of the women who've done this.

Good to see you, Gregory, I remind that after your declaration of the hasty coronation of Edward IV on 4 March 1461, you've been imprisoned during one month. But I am not sure you will keep your head where she is, the king is actually in love with his Queen. Pay attention of what you say.

Anne Wydville; 27 ; Lady-in-waiting

          My sister Elizabeth, the Queen Consort of England, was the most beautiful women in the abbey. She wore a pretty coat with ermine and the crown suits her perfectly. I guess, this was the wishes of God, she was made to be queen.

If this was the wishes of God, the we've nothing to say. I hope you will serve perfectly your beloved sister.

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Richard Neville, Earl of Warwrick, anger against King Edward IV

3rd March 1469

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Richard Neville,
Earl of Warwick

          The secret marriage of Edward IV and Elizabeth Wydville stopped the negociations of Warwick with the French crown for a betrothal in 1464. Bona, the sister-in-law of King Louis XI, was the princess whi interested The Kingmaker. Revealing that he was already married, Edward IV caused great offence to Richard Neville because he acted in secret.

           In july 1465, he escorted the fallen king, Henri VI, who was once more captured, in the Tower of London. Then Warwick has been sent in the spring of 1466 to carry out negociations with the French and the Burgundians to the continent. The marriage proposal of Edward's sister Margaret with them was the main thing which was negociated. But in October, Eward IV had already signed a secret treaty with Burgundy and Warwick was forced to carry on sham negociations with the French. Then, he asked to his cousin the king to marry George, Duke of Clarence, to his oldest daughter Isabel, but the king refused. The Rivers Family have a dominance's position at court.

           In autumn of 1467, rumours say that the earl has sympathetic to the Lancastrian cause but in July, John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, was involved in a Lancastrain conspiracy. Now Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, The Kingmaker openly broke with King Edward IV

            What will be the consequences of this tears? What are your reactions?

Francis Scrogs; 34 ; Earl of Bedfortmay

          I am torn, I am faith to His Garce King Edward IV, but I could understand the feelings of the earl of Warwick. He has done everything for his cousin but he has been put aside by the favour of the Rivers Family. And Isabel Neville is not betrothed to the Duke of Clarence anymore, the king has refused. And Richard, Duke of Gloucester, isn't betrothed to his cousin Anne too. But how could he socialize with the Lancastrian? He has lost his brother and father at battle of Wakefield. And he was aghast when Elizabeth Wydville, a Lancastrian women, was declared wife and queen of Edward IV.

Your words are full of meaning and this case, as you said, is not simple and not finished.

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Earl of Rivers and John Wydville executed

13th August 1469

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            Yesterday, the twelfth of this month, Earl of Rivers and his second son John were both beheaded at Kenilworth. They have been taken  prisoners at Chepstow after the Yorkist defeat on the battle field of Edgecote Moor on 26 July 1469. They were killed  after a hasty show trial, thus, Anthony Wydville suceeded his father in the earldom.

         Richard Wydville, father of Queen Elizabeth, had fourtheen children with his wife, Jacquetta of Luxembourg. Elizabeth, Anthony, John, by his marriage with an old woman, Catherine Neville, about 65 years old at this time and which was considered as an indecent grasp for money and power, and Anne are actually the most renown. All his children had a great wedding.

1. Elizabeth Wydville, wife and queen of King Edward IV;
2. Lewis Wydville, dead;
3. Anne Wydville, wife of William Bourchier;
4. Anthony Wydville, Earl of Rivers;
5. Mary Wydville, married William Herbert, Countess of Pembroke;
6. Jacquetta Wydville, married John le Strange;
7. John Wydville, married Catherine Neville, dead;
8. Lionel Wydville;
9. Eleanor Wydville, married Sir Anthony Grey;
10. Martha Wydville, married Sir John Bromley;
11. Richard Wydville;
12. Edward Wydville, soldier;
13. Margaret Wydville, married Thomas Fitzalan;
14. Catherine Wydville, married Henry Stafford.

             Sir John Wydville was the second son of the Rivers couple. King Edward IV appointed him as Knight of the Bath and in 1469 his father and John went in the north to put down the rebellion which was suppoted by Clarence, the king's brother. King Edward sent them away and they went to the River's house at Grafton.

                After their executions, their heads were placed on spikes above the gates of Coventry. Countess of Rivers and Queen Elizabeth are broken-hearted and won't forget the treation of Warwick.

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