"The Last Plantagenets" by Thomas B. Costain Quiz

Answer: had his brother and father swear to Richard's succession

When Edward, the Black Prince, was dying he wanted to ensure that his son would be crowned upon the death of the current king, Edward III, his father. Edward III was under the influence of Alice Perrers, his mistress, and John of Lancaster (or John of Gaunt as he is referred to now) was more in his favor. Both men swore fealty to Richard.

The Black Prince died in June 1376, and Edward III died in February 1377. Richard II, at ten years of age, was crowned King.

Answer: John Wycliff

Wycliff retired to Lutterworth in Leicestershire in 1381 to begin working on translating the Latin Bible, or Vulgate, into English. The "Early Version", now known as the "Wycliff Bible" was completed before his death in 1384. His followers continued after his retirement.

Forty four years after his death, his remains were exhumed and burned for heresy.

Answer: the peasants despised Richard II

The story goes that, although people had been preparing for the revolt for years, it actually started in Dartford. A poll tax collector wanted to collect from the daughter of the house and stripped her to prove that she was old enough to pay. Wat Tyler's hammer bashed in the collector's brains. The revolt spread through the country, and though it ended without the fulfillment of the peasant's demands, more understanding and consideration was given to their plight.

Richard actually tried twice to meet with the peasants to understand their demands. The first time, from a barge on the Thames, was unsuccessful because the peasants were shouting over each other. During the second attempt, Wat Tyler made a move that the nobility found threatening and he was killed on the field.

Answer: John of Gaunt

John had been a favorite of their father, Edward III, and was a very rich and powerful man. He was a traveler, and brought back many items that were also destroyed when the Savoy burned. He longed for a crown, but his efforts at claiming the Castilian throne were unsuccessful.

Lionel of Antwerp died in 1368, soon after Richard took the crown. Not much is mentioned of Edmund of Langley. Thomas of Woodstock was of the belief that he should have been the English king, and made sure that all knew it.

Answer: sidesaddle

She was also wearing the horned headgear that was seen on the continent, and this fashion was also adopted by the ladies of England. She became known as Good Queen Anne when, after her coronation, she acted to have amnesty granted to all the Peasant Revolt's remaining prisoners.

Answer: burning at the stake

William Sawtree, a curate from St. Bennet Sheerhog, was the first to be punished in this manner. He had been charged with heresy and recanted, but it was determined that he had relapsed. He was burned in chains as an example to all heretics.

Henry IV was the son of John of Gaunt, and the first King from the house of Lancaster. He was sickly during his reign, and had several acute episodes of what was called leprosy, though it is speculated today that the troubles could have been heart related.

Answer: Henry, wandering, found and preferred a quaint church.

Henry was betrothed to the Fair Kate the second time they met, with negotiations over the lands of France continuing. Henry arrived in full armor and placed the ring belonging to successive English Queens on Kate's finger. In addition, he appointed an English knight to be her guard while she remained in France.

The wedding took place at St. Jean, a church that Henry had found while wandering. Apparently he liked the quaintness and the ivy on the walls, and pictured their troth in a friendly chapel.

Answer: Henry VI, House of Lancaster, and Edward IV, House of York

Henry VI was less than a year old when his father, Henry V, died in 1422 and the crown was his through primogeniture. He took control of the throne in 1437 and reigned until 1461. His second reign was from 1470 for less than 6 months.

Edward IV was the first king from the House of York. He reigned from 1461 to 1470 and then again from 1471 until 1483.

Answer: drowned in a butt of malmsey

The execution took place on the seventeenth or eighteenth of February. The story circulated that Clarence had requested, and been granted, the drowning in a butt of malmsey (a large cask of a sweet white wine) as the execution method.

Answer: Battle of Bosworth Field

The battle was fought between Richard III and Henry Tudor, who became King Henry VII and the first of the Tudor dynasty.

Since that time many historians, scholars, and others such as William Shakespeare, have blamed Richard for a number of felonious deeds. The last portion of the book discusses the belief that because Richard lost and died during the Battle of Bosworth Field, that the history written at the behest of Henry VII told the victor's story, not the truth.