Ricardian Propaganda?

On 7 December 1484, Richard III issued a call to arms against Henry VII

On 7 December 1484, Richard III issued a brutal patriotic proclamation taking aim at the collection of rebels that had gathered across the English Channel in France. It was a masterful exercise in propaganda, and chastised those who had ‘one Henry Tydder, son of Edmond Tydder, son of Owen Tidder', to be their captain.

In the proclamation, Richard lashes out at some of the leading ‘rebels and traitors’, men like Peter Courtenay, Bishop of Exeter; Thomas Grey, Marquis of Dorset; Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke; John de Vere, Earl of Oxford; and Edward Woodville. Among their number, the king claimed, were many murderers, adulterers and extortioners, men who had abandoned England to follow the ‘ancient enemy’, France.

Henry Tudor’s paternal lineage is pointedly mentioned (Henry Tudor, son of Edmund Tudor, son of Owen Tudor), emphasising his lack of royal credentials on this side of his family tree. Interestingly, the surname is given as ‘Tydder’, which some observers have taken to be a conscious mocking of the family name. In fact, Tydder is very close to the correct Welsh pronunciation of Tudur, and suggests no more than Richard III having a decent aural grasp of this name.

Henry’s ‘ambitious and insatiable covetous’ nature is condemned, and his intention to take upon him the name and title of king of England, ‘of which he hath no manner interest, right or colour, as every man well knoweth’. Strong words, Richard.

Intending to appeal to an Englishman’s heart, Richard warned his subjects that Henry intended to give up the English claim to France, and upon entering England, would commit cruel murders, slaughters and robberies unlike anything ever known before. Richard, therefore, as a ‘well-willed, diligent, and courageous prince’, appealed to all his ‘natural subjects’, those ‘good and true Englishmen’ willing to fight for their wives, children, and inheritances against the foreign-backed invasion.

A fascinating example of Ricardian propaganda, that would, for Richard, ultimately fail.

Below, I reproduce the proclamation in full:

"Forasmuch as the King our sovereign lord hath certain knowledge that Piers Bishop of Exeter, Thomas Grey late Marquis Dorset, Jasper Tydder son of Owen Tidder calling himself Earl of Pembroke, John late Earl of Oxford and Sir Edward Wideville, with other diverse his rebels and traitors disabled and attainted by authority of the high court of parliament (of whom many ben known for open murderers, adulterers & extortioners, contrary to the pleasure of God and against all truth, honour & nature), have forsaken their natural country, taking them first to be under the observance of the duke of Brittany, and to him promised certain things which by him & his council were thought things too greatly unnatural and abominable for them to grant, observe, keep and perform, and therefore the same utterly refused.

The said traitors, seeing that the said duke and his council would not aid and succour them nor follow their ways, privily departed out of his country into France, there taking them to be under th’obeissance of the King’s ancient enemy Charles calling himself king of France; and, to abuse and blind the commons of this said realm, the said rebels & traitors have chosen to be their captain one Henry Tydder, son of Edmond Tydder, son of Owen Tidder, which of his ambitious & insatiable covetise, stirred and excited by the confederacy of the King’s said rebels and traitors, encroacheth upon him the name and title of royal estate of this realm of England, whereunto he hath no manner interest, right or colour, as every man well knoweth.

And, to th’intent to achieve the same by the aid, support and assistance of the King’s said ancient enemies and of this his realm, hath covenanted and bargained with him and with all the council of France to give up and release in perpetuity all the title and claim that the kings of England have had and ought to have to the crown and realm of France, together with the duchies of Normandy, Gascony and Guienne, castles and towns of Calais, Guisnes, Hammes with the marches pertaining to the same. And over this, and beside the alienation / of all the premises into the possession of the king’s said ancient enemies, to the greatest aneyntesment, shame and rebuke that ever might fall to this land, the said Herry Earl of Richmond and all the other the king’s rebels and traitors aforesaid have intended at their coming to do the most cruel murders, slaughters, robberies and disherisons that ever were seen in any Christian realm.

For the which, and other inestimable dangers to be eschewed, and to th’intent that the King’s said rebels and traitors may either be utterly put from their said malicious purposes or soon discomfited if they enforce to land, the King our said sovereign lord desireth, willeth and chargeth all and everyche of the natural subjects of this his realm to call the premises to their mind and, like good and true Englishmen, to endeavour themselves at all their powers for the defence of themselves, their wives, children, goods and inheritances against the said malicious purposes and conspirations which the ancient enemies of this land have made with the King’s said rebels for the final destruction of the same land as is aforesaid.

And our said sovereign lord, as a well-willed, diligent and courageous prince, will put his most royal person to all labour and pain necessary in this behalf for the resistence and subduing of his said enemies, rebels and traitors, to the most comfort, wele and surety of all and singular his true and faithful liegemen and subjects. And these our letters shall be therein your warrant.

Given under our Signet at our palace of Westminster the 7 day of December the 2nd year of our reign.

To the right reverend father in God our right trusty and wellbeloved the Bishop of Lincoln, our chancellor of England."