Building Raport

The Night of 30th of April 1483 cannot have been an easy one for Richard, or his nephew, the young King Edward V.

Edward had been raised in Ludlow under the joint tutelage of his step-brother, Richard Grey and his maternal uncle Anthony Woodville, from the age of two. He knew them and no doubt he trusted them. Richard was his paternal uncle, with whom he had had some but little contact and Richard had some explaining to do.

Both Mancini and Crowland agree that both Richard and Buckingham, began  their interview with Edward showing all deference and honour due to their King. Beginning by offering their heartfelt condolences on the death of his father and going on to kneel as the swore their fealty to his son. Gifts would have been exchanged  as custom demanded.  Then with the pleasantries out of the way, It was time to get down to business. The king had one question, "where is my uncle Anthony?" it was time for him to learn some home-truths, if he wasn't aware of them already. Their followed, according Mancini, full condemnation of the actions of the Queen and the rest of her family, including his Uncle Anthony, for  the treasonous plots to prevent Richard from taking up the role of Protector of the Realm, as bequeathed to him by the late King. They had plotted and devised ways to take control of the realm for themselves.  Furthermore, certain members of that family, had encouraged the late king to live a  life of debauchery which had caused his decline in health that killed him. They would do the same to His Grace, unless they were prevented from being in a position to do so. Uncle Anthony, Thomas Grey and Thomas Vaughan, were in custody for the time being, until the situation in London could be assessed and made safe.

Not surprisingly, this was not what Edward wanted to hear. He put up a spirited defence of his Woodville Kin, and all those his father had chosen to tutor and nurture him  of whom Rivers, Grey and Vaughan were the leaders.  He also disclosed, to Buckingham's disgust, that he had great confidence in the governance, not only of the nobles of the realm but also his mother.  Buckingham responded in no uncertain terms, the governance of the realm had no place for women.

Buckingham had not helped the situation but over the next few days, as they worked on plans for their onward journey to London, Edward revealed that in Ludlow he had had a favourite chaplain, John Geffrey together they worked out a way to reward him. During their stay in St Albans, with the consent of  the Bishop of Hereford, he was appointed tp the rectorship of the parish church of Pembrigge.

They renewed their journey on to London on the 2nd of May.