Ecurb
08-25-2019, 06:59 PM
I recently listened to a audio book entitled "The Daughter of Time" by Josephine Tey. Tey apparently writes mystery novels, and in this one her fictional detective (whose name I can't remember and can't look up because the book is on CDs atthe library) investigates the disappearance of the two Princes which Shakespeare and others suggest resulted from them being murdered by their uncle, Richard III. Tey's sleuth finds this incredible, and thinks Henry VII is the villainous murderer. He digs up a great deal of evidence, most of which I can no longer recall, but it's all persuasive. In addition, he thinks Richard wasn't a humpback, and was in most respects admirable.
Among the evidence pointing to Henry is the fact that he exiled, murdered or executed everyone he could lay his hands on who had any Plantaginet claim to the throne. He also sent the Prince's mother off to a nunnery, whereas Richard treated her very well. He ascribes the "Richard murdered them" theory to Thomas More, who, he discovers, didn't write the book in which he makes that claim, but merely copied it from the writings of John Morton, archbishop under Henry VII and inventor of the notorious "Morton's Fork" (as tax collector he claimed that those living modestly must be saving money, and could thus pay taxes, and those living extravagantly must be rich, and could do the same). Tey's detective refers to More (sarcastically) as "The Sainted More".
The book provides a convincing case, but I have no idea how persuasive the opposing argument (if well argued) might be.
Among the evidence pointing to Henry is the fact that he exiled, murdered or executed everyone he could lay his hands on who had any Plantaginet claim to the throne. He also sent the Prince's mother off to a nunnery, whereas Richard treated her very well. He ascribes the "Richard murdered them" theory to Thomas More, who, he discovers, didn't write the book in which he makes that claim, but merely copied it from the writings of John Morton, archbishop under Henry VII and inventor of the notorious "Morton's Fork" (as tax collector he claimed that those living modestly must be saving money, and could thus pay taxes, and those living extravagantly must be rich, and could do the same). Tey's detective refers to More (sarcastically) as "The Sainted More".
The book provides a convincing case, but I have no idea how persuasive the opposing argument (if well argued) might be.