 |
| “Each story is gripping.” Discovering Diamonds Reviews |
 |
| FREE on Amazon getbook.at/BetrayalStories |
My Inspiration for House Arrest
All
the authors involved are very excited about the imminent release of
Betrayal, a collection of short stories by historical fiction authors.
The inspiration for my short story House Arrest was, of course, the
recent lock down. When Covid-19 struck I didn’t mind too much about having to
stay home. I work from home anyway so, apart from missing my family and
grandchildren, I was happy. I prefer to be home. It is my favourite place and I
am fortunate to have a beautiful garden, a sea view, and a beach close by on
which to take my hour exercise. The weather was fabulous. I pottered in the
garden, my husband painted the exterior house walls, I sewed – sometimes I even
did some writing. It was good for me but as I strolled around my fragrant rose
beds, I was not unaware of the difficulties some people faced. I pitied those
trapped in high rise flats, with no gardens, and lacking somewhere pleasant to take
their hour of exercise. Comparatively, my lockdown prison was a gilded cage, rather
like Margaret Beaufort when she was placed under house arrest by Richard III in
1483. Unlike Margaret though, there was no executioner’s axe dangling above my
head and I was not involved in a treasonous plot against the king.
After
years of civil unrest in England, the Lancastrians had been vanquished and by
1483 Margaret had seemingly come to terms with York’s rule. She enjoyed a
prominent position at court serving Queen Elizabeth (Woodville) and was negotiating
terms with King Edward IV for the reinstatement of her son, Henry Tudor’s
rights and properties. But King Edward’s sudden death put an end to her hopes
of seeing Henry’s return from exile. I imagine she was crushed by this but
harboured hopes of resuming negotiations with the new king, the boy who would shortly
be crowned Edward V.
However,
as we all know, Edward never ascended the throne. He was swallowed into the
Tower and it is doubtful the events that followed will ever be fully explained.
What we do know is that Edward’s uncle, Richard of Gloucester, became king in
his nephew’s stead. The outcry that followed was nowhere near as loud or as
violent as social media exchanges on the subject today.
 |
| Richard III, Anne and family |
When
Richard and his queen, Anne Neville, were crowned, Margaret was given the
honour of bearing the queen’s train and took full and an apparently joyful part
in the ceremony. Shortly afterwards, for unknown reasons, she somehow became involved
in a plot with the Duke of Buckingham and the dowager, Elizabeth Woodville, to
overthrow Gloucester. Their ultimate aim is unclear. She may have been
supporting the ambitions of Buckingham or he may have been supporting hers. Elizabeth
Woodville, never a fan of Gloucester, would have backed either of them in the
hope that somehow her family would be reinstated. At this point Margaret’s
husband, Thomas Stanley, was a keen and trusted supporter of King Richard. It
is probably due to this that when the initial plot failed, the king chose to
show leniency. Instead of sentencing Margaret to death for treason, she was
attainted, her properties confiscated and she was placed under house arrest … in
the care of her husband.
From
the six years of study while writing The Beaufort Chronicle I concluded
that Margaret was a woman who needed to be in the centre of things. From the
moment she emerged from Wales on the death of her husband, Edmund Tudor, and
married Henry Stafford, Margaret worked toward gaining the favour of King
Edward and the honour of a post in the royal household. This is often seen as a
negative aspect of her character but as duchess she was born for a role in
upper echelons. It was her right and her duty to serve and she’d been trained
for it. This does not mean she believed it her right to rule or even dreamed of
doing so. She would have been well aware since infancy of the taint of bastardy
on her blood line that removed them from succession.
 |
| Margaret Beaufort |
Her
incarceration at Lathom would have been hard on Margaret. The house may have
been luxurious. She may have had a huge household, enough to eat, warm
clothing, pleasant gardens to walk in but she would still have chaffed against
the situation. She was not the sort of person to be content with idleness. She
was vitally intelligent and informed. In her later life, as the King’s Mother
she took a keen interest in charity, education and politics. But, in 1483, as
she sat in her chambers, looking at the same view every day, waited and watched
over by the same faces, her every move reported she was blind to the glory that
awaited her in the future. During that time she must have felt that the rest of
her life would be spent under house arrest.
During
her imprisonment, she would have heard of the steady stream of courtiers
leaving Richard’s court to join Henry in exile. She must have itched to join
them. She possibly felt disempowered and overwhelmed with hopelessness.
Margaret would not have been content to sit and moulder in a plush gaol when
life and possible glory there for the taking. It is little wonder that she
found a way to work against a king she did not trust and knew would never
forgive her.
I
do not subscribe to the belief that Margaret spent her entire life plotting and
scheming to place her son on the throne. She was not precognitive and can never
have imagined such an opportunity would ever present itself. Initially, as a mother, she just wanted her
son home. I can relate to that. She fought for his reinstatement as the Earl of
Richmond, I can excuse that. It was not until the opportunity arose to aid
Henry in his bid for the crown that she threw her dice on the table.
My
short story House Arrest is set before and just after falling from King
Richard’s favour. While Margaret waits and wonders at the outcome of her schemes
she considers the question of allegiance and whether anyone can be wholly
trusted.
About Judith
A lifelong history
enthusiast, Judith Arnopp holds an honours degree in English/Creative writing,
and a Masters in Medieval Studies. Judith has written twelve novels to date.
Nine of which are based in the Tudor period covering women like Elizabeth of
York, Anne Boleyn and Mary Tudor but her main focus is on the perspective of
historical women from all roles of life. The Beaufort Chronicle: the life of
Lady Margaret Beaufort (three book series) covers the transitional period
between Bosworth and the death of Henry Tudor. She is currently taking a break
from Tudor women and writing from the perspective of Henry VIII himself in ‘A
Matter of Conscience: The Aragon Years.’
Her books are
available in paperback, kindle and some titles are available on Audible.
Amazon page: author.to/juditharnoppbooks
Webpage: http://www.judithmarnopp.com
Blog: http://juditharnoppnovelist.blogspot.co.uk
Twitter: @JudithArnopp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetudorworld
Instagram: @judith_arnopp
Judith, one of your more intriguing skills is twisting prception on historical peeps, making me as a reader question what I believe to be true. It helps that you write in such an engrossing style as well :)
ReplyDeleteThoroughly enjoyed this story - was never too keen on Margaret Beaufort but, as Anna says above, a great writer can make anyone review their perception
ReplyDeleteJudith, your insights on Margaret are superb. Such an intriguing woman, and you capture her so well in this story. Your Beaufort Chronicles have a treasured place on my bookshelf.
ReplyDeleteA very interesting insight into Margaret Beaufort as many writers haven't dealt kindly with her before.
ReplyDeletethank you every one
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone. My main interest is perspective and because I write in the first person, the narrator gives their own version of events. None of us, even the greatest sinners, think we are bad. I don't cast judgement on anyone. I just present their world from the view of my character. it is interesting how persuasive this can be. When I write about Margaret from the pov of Elizabeth of York or, most recently, Henry VIII, she comes across quite differently - although she is never monstrous. I don't believe in monsters - lol.
ReplyDelete