‘Every tale condemns me for a villain’

One of Shakespeare’s most famous history plays tells the story of how Richard, Duke of Gloucester plotted to take the throne after his brother’s death, despite having two nephews who were in front of him in the line of succession. In the play, Richard is implicated in the mysterious disappearance of the two young boys in the Tower, and took the throne. He was defeated and killed in battle in 1485 by Henry Tudor, who became Henry VII.

Much of the historical sources used by Shakespeare in his play came from the memories of Cardinal John Morton. He was the tutor to the two royal princes, and was convinced of Richard’s guilt in their disappearance. His views were published by Thomas More, along with his description of Richard’s curved spine and malicious nature. Morton threw in his lot with the Tudors and became a highly influential statesman under Henry VII. His skull was rescued from the desecration of his tomb during the English Civil War, and was smuggled across the Channel to St Omers, the ancestor of Stonyhurst College, for safekeeping.

‘Today the French, all clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods, shone down the English; and, to-morrow, they made Britain India: every man that stood show'd like a mine ‘

One of Shakespeare’s less performed plays, it is thought to be a collaboration of Shakespeare and his contemporary playwright, John Fletcher. It is generally accepted that it was first performed in the reign of James I, Elizabeth’s successor, but some scholars think it possible that it was first performed during the last years of Elizabeth’s reign and was then amended for the 1613 performance under James. The plot walks a political tightrope, in that Queen Elizabeth I was the daughter of Anne Boleyn, executed by her own father, Henry VIII. It ends with the birth of the infant Elizabeth.

The quote describes the fabulous clothing and jewels worn by the French and English kings and their retinue on the Field of Cloth of Gold in 1520. This political meeting was marked by excessive use of rich textiles, gold and jewellery and ostentatious parades and even a wrestling match between the two kings. This detail is from the only surviving chasuble, or mass vestment, which was worn by a priest at the event. It was originally made for Henry VII for use in Westminster Abbey but was taken by Henry VIII to France. The reference to India invokes the reputation n England of the extraordinary wealth of the gold and diamond mines of Indian princes.