New battle to clear Richard III’s name: Lost 17th Century history which casts the king as ‘good’ and ‘just’ is set for republication – and will challenge Shakespearean depiction of a ruthless tyrant
- Richard III Society members secured a text approved by Society of Antiquaries
A new battle to clear Richard III’s name has begun as a lost 17th Century history casting the king as ‘good’ and ‘just’ is set for republication.
The Shakespearean depiction of a child-murdering power-hungry King has scarred Richard III’s reputation in the years since his two-year reign and death at the Battle of Bosworth, in Leicestershire, in August 1485.
But now defenders of Richard who have continually fought against what they believe is character assassination with evidence that he in fact was a better person than he has been portrayed.
Richard III Society members have secured a republication of a lost 17th century history text titled The History of King Richard III by Sir George Buck, which has been approved by the Society of Antiquaries.
Philippa Langley, the historian who led the discovery of Richard III’s body in 2012, told The Times: ‘It’s a really important text. The Society of Antiquaries guards its reputation fiercely. For them to give it their thumbs-up is huge.’
A new battle to clear Richard III’s name has begun as lost 17th Century history casting the king as ‘good’ and ‘just’ is set for republication
The Shakespearean depiction of a child-murdering power-hungry King has scarred Richard III’s reputation in the years since his two-year reign and death at the Battle of Bosworth, (pictured) in Leicestershire, in August 1485
Written in the early 1600s, it is understood that Sir Buck, who was a ‘master of revels’ for James I, ‘worked hard’ to find historical sources and ‘his conclusions challenged the orthodox, villainous view’ of the King, the publication reports.
But the text was not published before his death, with a great nephew sharing Buck’s name instead taking over later on. He had edited the piece ‘heavily’ and hid ‘its true contents’.
The first draft by Sir Buck was later damaged in a fire in 1731.
Academic Arthur Kincaid later in the 20th century dedicated his life’s work to piece together the work originally completed by Buck before the heavy editing took place. He published a first edition in 1979.
After the body of King Richard III was found in Grey Friars car park in Leicester in 2012, there have been calls for a new edition to be made as Kincaid’s publication has been out of print for many years. Kincaid sadly died in July last year after a battle with lung cancer.
Richard III Society members have secured a republication of a lost 17th century history text titled The History of King Richard III by Sir George Buck, which has been approved by the Society of Antiquaries (pictured, the discovery of Richard III’s body in 2012)
His work is much more credible with the backing of the Society of Antiquaries publication committee, who look to promote understanding of the human past.
The recent revelation is that Sir Buck found ‘contemporary evidence’ describing the King as ‘good’ and ‘just’.
Historian Ms Langley read an extract to detail this, which said: ‘And Richard was accounted a good and faithful man all his life.
‘And was reputed a virtuous prince and wise. And his law and government were of the best and without stain.’
Richard III reigned for just over two years before his defeat and death at the Battle of Bosworth, in Leicestershire, in August 1485.
The defeat marked the end of the rule of the House of York and the beginning of the reign of Henry VII, the first Tudor monarch.
His body was taken to Leicester to show the public that he was truly dead, before being given a simple Christian burial by the choir of the Grey Friars church.
