Richard was the
last child of Richard and Cecily's. In my research I have found that sources
deter between Cecily having 10 or 11 children, including one child born after
him, which did not survive very long. Infant mortality and mothers others who
gave birth during the Middle Ages, prove over and over, to be a very life
threatening situation. The medieval person, and midwives included, had no
knowledge of disease, germs, how to prevent infection or access to painkillers
or antibiotics if a problem arouse. You could have a fairly smooth delivery but
the risk for infection resulting in “child-bed fever” was exceptionally high due
to lack of preventative hygiene. The
next hurdle for any child who made it past their first year which held its own
mortality rate of 25%, was surviving childhood in where, mortality alone was a 50% survival
rate. Noting, these statistics varied socioeconomically
and demographically as well.
 | |
| The little castle toy (above) would have been a typical toy in the 15th C. |
Richard’s early years were rather turbulent. It’s a surprise to some
that because of the war and conditions, he made it through this time. He definitely did not have a peaceful childhood
like one would hope. Looking at all the experiences he went through, it is very
easy to understand why some would conclude he might have been a bit of a
control freak or a tad insecure in later life. [1] After surviving infancy swaddled and nursed
by a wet nurse, memories he more than likely would not remember suggest that
the chaotic world around him was constantly changing, for good and for
worse. When other children his age where
playing with toys such as kites, spinning-tops, hobby horses or making castles
out of wooden blocks, he was being shuffled around to escape the dangers of war
with his mother. We know from literature
written later in the Middle Ages, primary after 1400’s most children were aware
of their roles in the household at a young age.
But this documentation also stresses the importance of play in the
household. This aspect of play helped
the children learn their duties. Knowing
this, Richard and his siblings might of had little toys similar to what a
knight would have, a wooden sword, a castle with figures where his sisters had
dolls.
But even the aspects and the adventures he might have had during play,
as a child could not prepare him for what was to come. Cecily seems to have been more apart of his
life than most parents during his childhood, more than likely due to war and
the need to keep her sons safe. His father on the other hand, he saw not so
much, it was a relationship that was rather brief, but expected during this
time. At the age of seven during the battle of Ludlow, his father and older
brother Edmund, fled to Ireland escaping pending Lancastrian forces. Richard with his brother George, one of their
sisters, and the Duchess Cecily were all taken as prisoners of war. They were held at Wigmore, and then later
moved to Tunbridge Castle by their mother’s sister whom had married a
Lancastrian husband. His brother Edward (later Edward IV) had fled to Calais.
 |
| A manuscript showing very young children in the care of women. |
Cecily escaped from Tunbridge after a short time and was able to gain
safety for her small children in the chambers of John Paston. Meanwhile, war
waged around them. The adventures of
childhood play more than likely limited because of the war for Richard and his
siblings. Cecily had been called to
London, not two days after they came to the Pastons’ and the children were left
in the care of servants. Edward had returned to London after his victory at
North Hampton. Henry VI was now his prisoner. Due to this time, and on going
war, relations with the immediate family were close and treasured. Because of
this, it is important to recognize the early relationships Richard had as a
child, specifically with Edward. This
closeness that he developed with his older brother is what made him into the
honorable and loyal brother he is noted to have been. The relationship Edward
had with his younger siblings, specifically with Richard was a close one, for
he visited the children almost every day, if possible. Richard probably admired
and looked up to him greatly as he grew older, like a mentor.
In October 1460, Richard’s father Richard, Duke of York and his mother,
and Edmund, Earl of Rutland returned to London. Parliament came to an agreement
and enacted an Act that would make the Duke of York, “Heir-Apparent” and Lord
Protector for the whole duration of Henry’s life. This case was probably not hard at all to
present to Parliament, as Henry had repeated bouts of insanity multiple times
during his reign. Richard, Duke of York
had rights to the throne as well, through his family line that ran down through
second son of Edward III. Henry VI was only related through the third son. This stated that Henry VI could still be on
the throne, but he had to acknowledge that Richard Duke of York was the
“Heir-Apparent.” This didn’t go over well, as Queen Margaret fled with her son
to Scotland in opposition to the decision made by Parliament.
The family spent that winter and Christmas at Baynard’s Castle. It was
apparently the last time Richard saw his father. The Duke and his son Edmund
traveled to Sandal Castle and spent their holidays there. As the festivities of the winter months
continued, so did the threat of ongoing war and unbeknownst to Richard, his
mother Cecily, and the other children, they were to never see their father or
husband, or Edmund their older brother again. On December 31, Richard Duke of
York fell in the battle at Wakefield, with his son Edmund and many of his loyal
knights. The heads of Edmund and the Duke were stuck on different gates of the
city of York. It is noted that the Dukes’ was placed on Micklesgate Bar with a
paper crown, as a form of insult. [2]
News traveled to London about the devastation of the battle of
Wakefield. Duchess Cecily was grief stricken, and terrified for the safety of
her children. Fearing harm would come to
them, she put Richard and George on a boat and sent them to Holland out of
harms way. According to “The History of
Richard III” by George Buck, Richard and his brother George, eventually were
sent to Ulrich, which at the time was the largest and most prestigious city in
Holland. A move perhaps to be near their older sister Margaret whom was married
to Charles the Bold of Burgundy. It was there they received a “Princley and
liberall education.” Richard did not return for a good few years later, by then
he was ready to become a knight.
Notes:
[1] http://www.livescience.com/27625-king-richard-iii-control-freak.html
[2] Markham, Richard III: His
Life & Character Reviewed in Light.
Sources cited:
http://www.representingchildhood.pitt.edu/medieval_child.htm
http://www.the-orb.net/non_spec/missteps/ch6.html
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