Wordings of Titular Regis

I am struggling with the wordings of the Titulus Regis. Of course I have not read the document itself but just the excerpts from Annette's book.
The passage  that she quotes seems highly critical of E4's reign. It is on page125, last paragraph. Specially where it says "....this land was ruled by selfewill and pleasure, feare and drede....".etc
Not that they were untrue, but I find it strange that Richard let them put such  harsh criticism of his brother in that document! They had to run the wording by Richard and needed his approval...... Considering he was his brother's staunchest supporter, I find it contradictory......Buckingham and Stillington had axes to grind but the fact that Richard allowed it seems surprising.

Also I find the phrase "uncorrupted descendent of duke of York" a rather strange one........ Is the document alluding to the gossip that Edward might not have been ? So that the throne was doubly Richard's? That would cast doubt  on  his mother's reputation and I am not sure Richard would want to do that. Wasn't he  living with his mom at that time? Or was she at Berkhamstead and he was just using her house?

So many questions!!!
Ishita

Ishita Bandyo wrote:

"I am struggling with the wordings of the Titulus Regis. Of course I have
not read the document itself but just the excerpts from Annette's book.
The passage that she quotes seems highly critical of E4's reign. It is on
page125, last paragraph. Specially where it says "....this land was ruled by
selfewill and pleasure, feare and drede....".etc
Not that they were untrue, but I find it strange that Richard let them put
such harsh criticism of his brother in that document! They had to run the
wording by Richard and needed his approval...... Considering he was his
brother's staunchest supporter, I find it contradictory......Buckingham and
Stillington had axes to grind but the fact that Richard allowed it seems
surprising.
Also I find the phrase "uncorrupted descendent of duke of York" a rather
strange one........ Is the document alluding to the gossip that Edward might
not have been ? So that the throne was doubly Richard's? That would cast
doubt on his mother's reputation and I am not sure Richard would want to do
that. Wasn't he living with his mom at that time? Or was she at Berkhamstead
and he was just using her house?
So many questions!!!"

Personally, I tend to believe that references to "rule by selfewill and
pleasure, feare and drede..." were to those surrounding Edward; ie,
Elizabeth Woodville and her relations. More along the lines that Edward had
failed to keep track of what those acting in his name did, rather than in
anyhting Edward himself had done. While it didn't reflect all that well on
Edward, it wouldn't be the same as making those charges against the late
king.
The reference to "uncorrupted descendent of duke of York" is a reference to
Edward IV's children by Elizabeth Woodville. The "corruption" was their
illegitimacy, something that didn't apply to either Edward IV or Richard
because they were legitimate descendants of Richard, Duke of York. Their
mother, Cecily, WAS legally married to their father. Elizabeth Woodville,
the mother of Edward, Richard, and their sisters, WASN'T legally married to
Edward IV.
Henry Tudor, on the other hand, WAS a "corrupt" descendant; definintely on
the Beaufort side and most likely on the Tudor side as well.
I think that one thing that slips people up is the numbering; ie, Edward IV,
V, Henry I, II, III, etc. It's something WE do, but people alive during
those reigns rarely would, if ever. How often nowadays does anyone in
England refer to the present monarch as "Elizabeth II" in general
conversation? Isn't it usually "the Queen" or "Queen Elizabeth"? The same
would have applied in 1483.
Only then there was an added problem: A king named Edward was followed by
another king of the same name. So which Edward was being referenced? Edward
IV, who had just died or Edward V, who was being declared ineligible to
inherit the throne because of illegitimacy? It could be confusing enough
without anyone deliberately trying to make trouble and a rare opportunity
for those who wished to.
Doug

Ishita Bandyo wrote:
>
> I am struggling with the wordings of the Titulus Regis. Of course I have not read the document itself but just the excerpts from Annette's book. <snip>

Carol responds:

Maybe this link will help. It includes the entire Titulus Regius, along with explanations of the meaning and significance:

http://home.cogeco.ca/~richardiii/Titulus%20Regius.htm

Carol

Thank, Carol!

Sent from my iPad

On Jan 23, 2013, at 7:27 PM, "justcarol67" <justcarol67@...> wrote:

> Ishita Bandyo wrote:
> >
> > I am struggling with the wordings of the Titulus Regis. Of course I have not read the document itself but just the excerpts from Annette's book.
>
> Carol responds:
>
> Maybe this link will help. It includes the entire Titulus Regius, along with explanations of the meaning and significance:
>
> http://home.cogeco.ca/~richardiii/Titulus%20Regius.htm
>
> Carol
>
>