𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄 || 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑾𝑯𝑰𝑻𝑬 𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑬𝑵

𝐸𝑃𝐼𝐿𝑂𝐺𝑈𝐸

~Historical Notes~

Constance of Bourbon was the first woman in English history to be given a seat on the privy council and effectively ruled England during her son's regency until it ended in July of 1491. During this time she was the leading voice in English politics and implemented many reforms to England's laws that not only secured her son upon the throne but made the justice system fairer for the poor.

While his mother ruled a young and vibrant court sprang up around the young king, boasting grand feasts and dances, hunting trips and lavish displays of courtly love - of which he was a great champion. The King soon amassed a group of dashing young noblemen and in time they became affectionately known as 'the young roses' by the older nobility and people for their youthful vigour and merriment which could be heard and seen wherever they went!

The young cohort were the King's closest friends and confidants and was comprised of : George Neville, Duke of Bedford, the Duke of Suffolk's younger sons - William and Richard de la Pole, Henry Scrope, later 6th Baron Scrope of Bolton, Sir Robert Percy (son of Sir Robert Percy of Scotton), George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury, Edward Hastings, 2nd Baron Hastings, William Hastings, and later the King's brother, Prince Richard, Duke of York, and his cousin, Edward of Middleham. The King kept them around him at almost all times.

It was also within these years, and before he began to bed his wife, that the King fathered three bastards - Joan Plantagenet (1486 - c.1542), Katherine Plantagenet (1490 - 1507), and William Plantagenet (1492 - 1563). It is unknown who the mother of the eldest was but many historians have suggested Jane Ashdown and Eleanor Stopher as possible candidates due to their ages and the king's movements about the country.

The mother of the younger two children was Lady Katherine Radford, daughter of Sir John Radford and later wife of Baron Aubin by the King's arrangement. Her affair with King Edward began around the summer of 1488 when the court stayed in Woodstock during the royal progress and was kept meticulously well hidden from the nobility and his queen - although there were rumours of a mistress.

Katherine rarely attended court and when she did, with her family, there was never rumoured to be an attraction between herself and the King. To see her Edward visited her family home near Woodstock or had her brought to him if he was with close companions when away from London.

As evidenced by surviving letters, when she became pregnant in early 1490, Katherine was sent to loyal friends of the King in the north of England before returning to her family after the birth of her daughter (and likely namesake), Katherine, where the child was immediately taken into the care of her father and acknowledged - though her mother's identity was not revealed to the court.

When their second child was born, a son, William, in 1492, Katherine was quickly married to Baron Aubin, becoming Lady Aubin, and her relationship with Edward came to an end. One year later, an annuity of twenty pounds per alum was settled on her by the King for 'certain special causes and considerations'. She went on to bear six children for her husband, four sons and two daughters, all of whom lived to adulthood.