The Last Knight Errant: Sir Edward Woodville & the Age of Chivalry by Christopher Wilkins

and the Portuguese African campaign. There was no Moor fighting in Spain, as King Henry IV, ‘the Impotent’ of Castile, lived up to his name and did nothing. Perhaps Anthony – and Edward – had a good holiday with a tournament or two for entertainment. Perhaps it was enough for Anthony to feel his vow was redeemed, but whatever they did it gave Edward the opportunity to make a friend of the future King João II who was to greet him so warmly 15 years later. Anyway, that year the Portuguese had good cause for celebration, for not only had they achieved their military goal in Morocco but had also discovered gold in West Africa.
    Meanwhile the Speaker of the House of Commons praised the Queen for her ‘womanly behaviour and great constancy’ while her husband ‘our most dread and liege lord the King Edward iiii’, had been beyond the sea.47 He also expressed ‘the great joy and surety to this his land’ for the birth of the prince; he noted the ‘knightly demeninge’ of Clarence and Gloucester and then ‘the constant faith of my lords Rivers and Hastings’.48 But what next for Edward Woodville now that he was reaching a useful age? The King was, of course, the fountain of patronage and his brother-in-law.
    King Edward sounds a most engaging man. There is a delightful description of him taking a guest to the Queen’s apartments. She was playing marbles with some of her ladies, others were dancing and some were playing skittles with ivory pins, his daughter Elizabeth among them.49 The King, like any happy father, swept the little eight-year-old up in a dance. He was a big affable man who, reported Mancini, ‘was so genial in his greeting that, when he saw a newcomer bewildered by his regal appearance and royal pomp, he would give him courage to speak by laying a kindly hand on his shoulder’.
    He would certainly want to help his young brother-in-law who was now approaching the age when young noblemen were knighted and could become useful.

CHAPTER FOUR: PRINCES AND PEERS

    Edward Woodville was knighted some time in the first half of 1472. Knighthoods were often conferred on saints’ days, and St George’s Day (23 April) would be entirely appropriate. This was a seminal moment in Edward’s life and, with his brother interested in matters spiritual, Edward would not be taking his vows lightly.
    The ceremony would begin in the evening with a vigil, in church, with his arms beside him. It continued the next day with a bath of purification before he was dressed in full armour. Properly dressed, he would be conducted to church by two sponsors – perhaps one was Anthony – where he would hear high mass. After mass Edward knelt before his king who then dubbed him.2 The words used by King Edward would be on the lines of, ‘I now dub thee knight in the name of God and Saint George. Be faithful, bold and fortunate.’ His sword would be belted round his waist and his new gold spurs, that only knights were entitled to wear, strapped to his heels. This strapping was often done by some noble lady who wished the knight well, in this case it might have been by his sister, the Queen.
    The main commandments to which Edward would bind himself, in the name of God and the saints, were not to accept false judgement or be party to any form of treason; to honour all women and be ready to aid them to the limit of his power; to hear a mass every day and fast on Fridays (when possible). These were serious commitments undertaken by a young man who believed in the Trinity, also in Salvation and Hell. In addition there may have been further particular vows and undertakings. King Edward was good at display and inspiring allegiance, and this was an event for both of those; it also pleased some of those he wanted to please, such as the Woodvilles, and cost nothing. Such ceremonies were useful but he needed to replenish his treasure chest.
    The King had considerable charm and that certainly helped when it came to his financial