Kevin's Watch

Yes, I don't think any kings fought in battles after Richard.

I wish they would stop quibbling about his burial and just get on with it.

Io, my GF would love your title. That's one of her favourite poems.

So where should he be buried then?

--A

Leicester. It's where he's been for 500+ years, not far from the cathedral. York haven't got room for him, neither has Westminster Abbey. All the fuss by the "Plantaganet Alliance" and some members of the Richard III Society is, frankly, embarrassing.

The burial discussion is still going on? Don't they have to settle it soon?

kingrichardinleicester.com/news-blog/petes-blog/

Yep, still going on. It's all a big waste of time and money - Richard will be buried in Leicester Cathedral.

Bone chemistry reveals royal lifestyle of Richard III:

phys.org/news/2014-08-bone-chemistry-reveals-royal-lifestyle.html

--A

Unfortunately I missed the programme last night, but I may be able to catch it on iplayer. I have the two grandsons here for a few days (aged 8 and 9). A good collective noun for them would be "a handful"! I was playing monopoly with them last night and completely forgot about it.

I was able to watch the programme last weekend. There is some stuff about it here www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/ ... dence.html

It was amazing how the young man (Dominic Smee) who has scoliosis similar to Richard's was able to ride a horse using a medieval saddle, and wear armour specially made for him, to lead a charge as Richard did at Bosworth.

I agree with Iolanthe that all this fuss over where to bury Richard is a huge waste of time. Let him RIP again as soon as possible by burying him at Leicester.

Iolanthe wrote:Yes, I don't think any kings fought in battles after Richard.

I think it depends on how you define "fought in battle" as there were a few more kings that led their forces but probably didn't end up in the thick of it like Richard.

Henry VII (who was obviously on the winning side against Richard III but was not yet king) and George II (apparently the last king to lead his troops into battle) come to mind.

Perhaps Charles I too, and maybe William III?

Pedant! I don't think Henry VII actually fought? He just sat on his horse and watched from afar. Even when Richard charged him at the end it was those around Henry who fought. Did he fight at Stoke? Can't remember. That was a couple of years later. George II is too late for me, out of my period. I haven't read much after 1500.

To be honest I'm not sure of the details. Richard was definitely the last one to be in the midst of combat, but not sure how close the others got.

Not too close if they knew what was good for them!

Well, he's properly buried in Leicester Cathedral. I decided at the last minute to stay home and watch the service on the telly. Very emotional, and fitting. Poignant moment when the present Duke of Gloucester laid Richard's Book of Hours on the cushion in front of the coffin. I spend a lot of time touching very old documents, and it is always something of a thrill, but to actually hold the book that Richard would have held daily through most of his life is something else.

Now looking forward to June when a friend is taking me to Leicester to see the site of the burial and the new Richard III Visitor Centre.

Surprised to see Father Tom from my husband's church here in Lincoln standing next to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and taking a part in the service! He's now Monsignor Canon Thomas McGovern but back in the 70s he was one of the priests at the church that my children's school was attached to and he used to scrounge cigarettes from me!

I heard that Benedict Cumberbatch read a poem written by Carol Ann Duffy.

Yes, it was excellent. Now I know what Benjamin Cumberbach looks like and sounds like. I'd only seen pictures before. He was interviewed afterwards with Robert Lindsey who has played Richard III. He said after reading Phillipa Langley's book he wouldn't play Richard again! BC is about to play Richard of course. Have pasted the poem below.

Richard

My bones, scripted in light, upon cold soil,
a human braille. My skull, scarred by a crown,
emptied of history. Describe my soul
as incense, votive, vanishing; you own
the same. Grant me the carving of my name.

These relics, bless. Imagine you re-tie
a broken string and on it thread a cross,
the symbol severed from me when I died.
The end of time – an unknown, unfelt loss –
unless the Resurrection of the Dead …

or I once dreamed of this, your future breath
in prayer for me, lost long, forever found;
or sensed you from the backstage of my death,
as kings glimpse shadows on a battleground.

That was an interesting poem. So I looked it up to hear it read.

Watch Benedict Cumberbatch read poem at King Richard III's reburial

Thank you for the poem and the video, Iolanthe and wayfriend. I've always thought Richard III has been unfairly vilified by Tudor revisionist history (with Shakespeare's play being a part of all that). He is the last British king to die in battle, but I don't know about being the last to be in battle.

I watched part of the burial service for Richard III, very dignified.

Damelon wrote:I watched part of the burial service for Richard III, very dignified.

Exactly how old are you??