The Rose of England
Encyclopedia
The Rose of England is Child ballad 166. It is an account of Henry VII of England
claiming the throne from Richard III of England
, frequently allegorically. It may be the oldest ballad on the Battle of Bosworth Field
, and as old as 1485, but the earliest manuscript is from the mid-seventeenth century.
Sir Rice ap Thomas
brought Wales to his support. Erle Richmond—Henry VII at that time—won Shrewsburye with the aid of letters from Sir William Stanley
. When Mitton, who had held the town against him, said that he knew no king but Richard and promised to serve him if he were named king, Henry pardoned him.
The boar and the eagle must meet, which causes the old eagle to lament the danger. The eagle fought, with the aid of the talbott, the unicorn
, and the harts head, and won, making the garden fresh and green again.
The garden is England, and the rose tree the House of Lancaster
, with the king being Henry V of England
. The boar is either the House of York
, which claimed the throne in the person of Edward IV of England
, or Richard III of England
, who endangerd the future Henry VII of England
's life, causing his uncle Jasper Tudor to flee the country with him—or represents both.
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
claiming the throne from Richard III of England
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
, frequently allegorically. It may be the oldest ballad on the Battle of Bosworth Field
Battle of Bosworth Field
The Battle of Bosworth Field was the penultimate battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the House of Lancaster and the House of York that raged across England in the latter half of the 15th century. Fought on 22 August 1485, the battle was won by the Lancastrians...
, and as old as 1485, but the earliest manuscript is from the mid-seventeenth century.
Synopsis
A lovely garden (England) had a rose tree, which produced a king over England, France, and Ireland. A boar wrought havoc in the garden, but an eagle bore a rose away to safety. The rose returned and asked the eagle, his father, for aid. The eagle rejoiced.Sir Rice ap Thomas
Rhys ap Gruffydd
Rhys ap Gruffydd or ap Gruffudd was the ruler of the kingdom of Deheubarth in south Wales. He is commonly known as The Lord Rhys, in Welsh Yr Arglwydd Rhys, but this title may not have been used in his lifetime...
brought Wales to his support. Erle Richmond—Henry VII at that time—won Shrewsburye with the aid of letters from Sir William Stanley
William Stanley (Battle of Bosworth)
Sir William Stanley was an English soldier and the younger brother of Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby. Stanley fought with his troops in several battles of the Wars of the Roses.-Private life:...
. When Mitton, who had held the town against him, said that he knew no king but Richard and promised to serve him if he were named king, Henry pardoned him.
The boar and the eagle must meet, which causes the old eagle to lament the danger. The eagle fought, with the aid of the talbott, the unicorn
Unicorn
The unicorn is a legendary animal from European folklore that resembles a white horse with a large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead, and sometimes a goat's beard...
, and the harts head, and won, making the garden fresh and green again.
Commentary
Many of the allegorical statements refer to the shields of those involved.The garden is England, and the rose tree the House of Lancaster
House of Lancaster
The House of Lancaster was a branch of the royal House of Plantagenet. It was one of the opposing factions involved in the Wars of the Roses, an intermittent civil war which affected England and Wales during the 15th century...
, with the king being Henry V of England
Henry V of England
Henry V was King of England from 1413 until his death at the age of 35 in 1422. He was the second monarch belonging to the House of Lancaster....
. The boar is either the House of York
House of York
The House of York was a branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet, three members of which became English kings in the late 15th century. The House of York was descended in the paternal line from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, the fourth surviving son of Edward III, but also represented...
, which claimed the throne in the person of Edward IV of England
Edward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
, or Richard III of England
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
, who endangerd the future Henry VII of England
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
's life, causing his uncle Jasper Tudor to flee the country with him—or represents both.
External links
- The Rose of England
- "The Battle of Bosworth", with information on the ballad