A Rose for the Crown (102 page)

houppelande
—Full-length or knee-length tunic or gown with full sleeves and train.

jennet
—Small saddle horse often used by women.

jerkin
—Jacket.

kersey
—Coarse woolen cloth.

kirtle
—Woman’s gown or outer petticoat.

leman
—Lover, sweetheart—usually mistress.

liripipe
—Long scarf attached to a hat or chaperon.

malmsey
—Kind of wine.

mess
—Platter of food shared by a group of people.

murrey
—Heraldic term for purple-red (plum).

osier
—Willow shoot used for baskets.

palfrey
—Small saddle horse.

patten
—Wooden platform strapped to the sole of shoe.

pennon
—Triangular flags attached to lance or staff; often rallying points during battle.

pibcorn
—Hornpipe.

pillion
—Pad placed at the back of a saddle for a second rider.

pipkin
—Earthenware or metal pot.

plastron
—Gauzy material tucked for modesty into the bodice of a gown.

points
—Lacing with silver tips used to attach hose to undershirt or gipon.

puling
—whining, crying in a high, weak voice.

readeption
—Name given to the government that was formed following Henry VI’s reemergence from captivity in 1470.

rebec
—Three-stringed instrument played with a bow.

sackbut
—Early form of trombone.

sanctuary
—Place of protection for fugitives. Safe haven, usually for noble women and their children, who pay to stay.

sarcenet
—A fine, soft silk fabric.

seneschal
—Steward of a large household.

shawm
—Wind instrument making a loud, penetrating sound often used on castle battlements.

solar
—Living room sometimes doubling as bedroom.

squint
—Small window in a wall between a room and a chapel. Often women would participate in a service through it.

stews
—Brothel district.

stewpond
—Private pond stocked with fish for household use.

subtelty
—Dessert made of hard, spun colored sugar formed into objects or scenes.

Sunne-in-Splendour
—Heraldic badge name for full sun with rays.

surcote
—Loose outer garment of rich material, often worn over armor.

trencher
—Stale bread used as a plate.

tun
—Barrel.

verjuice
—Sour fruit juice used for cooking and medicines.

The Weald
—Wooded area that runs across the south of England between the North and South Downs.

Bibliography

Clive, Mary.
This Sun of York.
New York: W. W. Norton and Co., 1962.

Crawford, Anne.
The Career of John Howard, Duke of Norfolk.
Unpublished thesis, University of London.

Davies, R. T.
Medieval English Lyrics: A Critical Anthology.
London: Faber & Faber, 1987.

Dockray, Keith.
Richard III: A Source Book.
Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: Sutton Publishing, 1991.

Fields, Bertram.
Royal Blood: Richard III and the Mystery of the Princes.
HarperCollins, 1998.

Gairdner, James, ed.
The Paston Letters.
Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: Sutton Publishing, 1986.

Hamond, P. W.
Food and Feast in Medieval England.
Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: Sutton Publishing, 1993.

Hartley, Dorothy.
Lost Country Life.
New York: Random House, 1979.

Hicks, Michael.
Richard III.
Collins Brown Ltd., 1991.

Horrox, Rosemary.
Richard III: A Study in Service.
Cambridge University Press, 1989.

Kendall, Paul Murray.
Richard the Third.
Unwin Hyman Ltd., 1955.

Leyser, Henrietta.
Medieval Women: A Social History of Women in England
1450–1500.
London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1989.

Norfolk, John Howard.
The Household Books of John Howard, Duke of Norfolk, 1462–1471, 1481–1483.
Alan Sutton Publishing, Ltd., 1992.

Norris, Herbert.
Medieval Costume and Fashion.
London: J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927.

Pollard, A. J.
Richard III and the Princes in the Tower.
Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: Sutton Publishing, 1991.

Reeves, Compton.
Pleasures and Pastimes in Medieval England.
Oxford University Press, 1998.

Richardson, Geoffrey.
The Deceivers: The Solution to the Murder of the Princes in the Tower.
Baildon Books, 1997.

Ross, Charles.
Edward IV.
Eyre Methuen Ltd., 1974.

———.
Richard III.
Berkeley: University of California Press, 1983.

Scofield, Cora L.
The Life and Reign of Edward IV
(2 vols.). Frank Cass & Co. Ltd., 1967.

Speed, J.
The Counties of Britain: A Tudor Atlas
(pub. 1611). Pavilion Books, Ltd., 1995.

St. Aubyn, Giles.
The Year of the Three Kings.
New York: Atheneum, 1983.

Stuart, Malcolm.
The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism.
Crescent, 1987.

Virgoe, Roger.
Private Life in the Fifteenth Century: Illustrated Letters of the
Paston Family.
London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1989.

T
OUCHSTONE
R
EADING
G
ROUP
G
UIDE

A Rose for the Crown

1. The prologue contains significant details about Kate and her two sons, one of whom dies tragically in these opening pages. Did having this information up front influence your reading of the story? Why do you suppose Anne Easter Smith chose to reveal these facts in the prologue?

2. When Kate is ten years old, her father tells her the story of how he came into possession of an
écu,
a French coin, in order to help her understand the concept of loyalty. Loyalty is “when you stand by someone you love or honor and do not desert him even in the bad times,” he says. What impact does this conversation have on Kate? How does the idea of loyalty play out in the story? Why does Kate give Richard the
écu
to wear when it comes into her possession?

3. When Kate’s parents decide to accept Richard Haute’s offer to have Kate join their household, John Bywood says to him, “As much as it do sadden us to see her go, we are obliged to do what is best for Kate.” Even eleven-year-old Kate acknowledges that “the thrill of a new life at the Mote must outweigh the loss.” How do these same statements apply to Kate and her own children many years later?

4. Kate is reluctant to marry her first husband, Thomas Draper, a man much older than she. But in what ways does Kate’s marriage to Thomas benefit her? Why then is Kate, a smart woman, so deceived by her second husband, George, who not only marries her for her money but harbors a dark secret?

5. When Kate finds out why George refuses to consummate their marriage, she decides to keep his secret. Why does she choose not
to reveal what she knows, even though it could be the very thing that will free her from her marriage? After George dies, Kate dreams of him and believes this is God’s way of “reminding her of the reason for [his] untimely death. If she had told him who her lover was from the beginning, he might not have attempted to find Richard and venture into Sherwood Forest.” Does Kate bear any responsibility for George’s death?

6. When Kate travels to the Howard estate and unexpectedly attends the birth of the Howards’ daughter, she strikes up a friendship with Margaret. In what ways does Kate’s friendship with Margaret play an integral role in her life?

7. When Kate first begins her affair with Richard, he is fifteen and she is two years older. What draws them together? Is their relationship based on more than youthful passion? After the initiation of their love affair at the Howards’ home, Richard attempts to persuade Kate to accompany him to London as his mistress. Although she’s tempted, as it would allow her to see him more often, why does Kate refuse Richard’s offer?

8. When they return to the Bywood farm in anticipation of Dickon’s birth, Geoff remarks to his sister, “Who would have believed how our lives would change, Kate. If it had not been for your boldness . . . we would still think there was no bigger river than the Medway or town than Tunbridge!” Is their change in fortune due to Kate’s “boldness”? Does Kate knowingly use it to her advantage? Is this quality more effective when it comes to the men in her life than the women?

9. Why does Kate insist on telling Richard in person that Katherine has died? When she breaks the news to him, he says, “I have nothing to live for, Kate. I have lost my wife, my son, my brothers, my nephews, and now my beautiful daughter. I swear to Almighty God I do not care if I live or die . . . I wish Richmond would come through that door this very moment and put me out of my misery!”
Did Kate do the right thing by telling Richard about their daughter’s death right before he went into battle?

10. Both Margaret and Kate’s cousin, Anne, disagree with her decision to send Dickon to Bywood farm to be raised as her brother’s child. When Kate tells Richard, however, he commends her for caring about their child so much that she would do such a selfless thing. How do you explain these different reactions? Did Kate make the right decision, particularly in light of what transpires later in the story? What compels Kate to finally reveal the truth to Dickon?

11. About his wife, Anne, Richard says to Kate “she is a simple soul, Kate, and too vulnerable. In many ways, you would be more suited as a queen.” Compare Kate with Anne, and the role each one plays in Richard’s life. If someone were observing their first meeting, what would they conclude about the two women? Why does Richard confide in Kate on numerous occasions after he becomes king?

12.
A Rose for the Crown
is a bittersweet story, and the characters experience moments of both great happiness and intense sorrow. What is your overall impression of the book? How does it compare to other works of historical fiction you’ve read? Did you come away with an understanding of what it was like during, as Smith says in her author’s note, “one of English history’s most complex periods”?

ENHANCE YOUR BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION

Set the scene—and enliven your taste buds—by serving tea and traditional English delicacies like shortbread, cucumber sandwiches, sugared plums, and scones with jam and clotted cream. If your group normally meets at a restaurant, or if you’d like a change of pace, visit
www.theteacaddy.com
for a directory of tearooms across the United States.