![]() I knew little of the grand fourteenth century palace remains, as the Hotel Lagorce was built on the site in 1785. Although they effectively became his prisoners, it is said Duke Francis treated the Tudors as his own brothers, with ‘honour, courtesy and favour.’ Encouraged by King Louis, Duke Francis promised to ensure their safety as his guests while they remained ‘within his dominion’. It seems the duke was soon visited by York’s envoys who tried, unsuccessfully, to negotiate their return. Duke Francis appreciated the political value of the exiled Tudors to King Edward IV, as well as to King Louis of France, to whom they were related through the Valois family of Jasper’s mother, Henry’s grandmother, Queen Catherine. My own journey began in the old Breton port of Vannes, where I visited the Château de l’Hermine, the residence of Duke Francis of Brittany, where the Tudors requested his protection. I can imagine Jasper and Henry Tudor would have stood at the ship’s rail and felt relieved to escape – but also sad to be leaving their troubled country as refugees, with only what they could carry and no idea of when, if ever, they would be able to return. There is a great sense of freedom as you leave the confines of the little town with its narrow streets and pass the monastic island of Caldey before heading out into open water. There are perilous rocks just below the surface as you head out into the Bristol Channel bound for the equally hazardous Land’s End, which their ship had to navigate before they could even begin heading for the uncertain welcome they might receive in Brittany. I have sailed from Tenby harbour many times, including in complete darkness to catch the tide, just as the Tudors would have done. The tunnel had several exits which were bricked up but although it wasn’t possible to follow the trail to the harbour, I could see the stories of how the Tudor’s escaped from Tenby could be true. I saw the remains of an ancient fireplace, complete with chimney, an odd luxury to have in a tunnel, which could be evidence for its use in the past to hide people who might need a fire for warmth. As we entered the tunnels, deep under the street, we were plunged into darkness and had to rely on torches. The manager of Boots agreed to show me the tunnels and we started in the extensive basement cellars, now used as store-rooms. In 1485 he landed at Dale and defeated Richard III at Bosworth to take the throne as the first Tudor monarch. Under a Tudor rose the plaque reads: By tradition Henry Tudor with his uncle Jasper Tudor Earl of Pembroke was hidden in the cellar on this site before escaping to Brittany in 1471. It was easy enough to find the location of Thomas White’s house in Tenby, as there is a plaque on the wall outside what is now Boots the Chemists in Tenby High Street. The story handed down over the centuries is that Jasper and Henry Tudor hid in a cellar belonging to a wine merchant named Thomas White, then escaped to the harbour at night through a secret tunnel. Tenby, the nearest town where they could hope to find a ship, was full of danger, as it had been taken by the supporters of King Edward IV. I live close to Pembroke Castle and the seaside town of Tenby, so it was relatively easy to research their movements in Wales. There are many stories but the documented historical record raises questions and I wanted to see for myself what primary evidence I could discover. Finding themselves besieged in Pembroke Castle, Jasper Tudor and his young nephew Henry realise their only hope is to somehow escape to France.Īs part of the research for this book I decided to follow the Tudor’s journey from Wales to their fourteen year exile in Brittany – and ultimately their return to victory at the pivotal Battle of Bosworth. The Lancastrian heir to the throne, Edward, Prince of Wales, was slaughtered in the massacre of Queen Margaret’s forces at Tewkesbury and many Lancastrian nobles were executed by York’s army. Their Lancastrian cause was lost with the news that King Henry VI had been found dead in his chapel in the Tower of London. ![]() Forced to flee the massacre of his Welsh army at the Battle of Mortimer’s Cross, his only hope is to organise a rebellion to return his half-brother King Henry to the throne. Researching JASPER – Book Two of The Tudor Trilogy, by Tony Richesīook Two of The Tudor TrilogyWales had become a dangerous place for the Tudors by 1471 – and the second book in the Tudor trilogy begins with a disaster for the hero, Sir Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke. I’m delighted to be hosting Tony Riches, author of Jasper: Book Two of the Tudor Trilogy, a novel about one of my favorite people, Jasper Tudor! Over to Tony:
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