Hello everyone and welcome to the History of England episode 165, Bloodshed.

Somerset and the Queen had done their utmost to avoid the consequences of Henry's incapacity

and the birth of a son and heir to Henry and Margaret, Julie named Edward, was helpful

in distracting the world.

It's difficult to know exactly where Margaret became York's enemy, but the evidence seems

clear by this stage.

When her child was born, the Queen looked around for a man she trusted and relied on and

Julie selected Somerset as the prince's godfather.

Her records show her giving an annuity payment at this time to Somerset worth a hundred

marks, describing him as her most dear cousin, and writing of his good counsel and worthy

service.

Meanwhile she'd circulated instructions within the royal household that no one was to

contact York in any way on pain of royal displeasure.

But anyway something had to be done.

In 1422 the kings in capacity on account of the fact that he was one hundred percent

focused on his nappies had meant that the exercise of royal authority had been vested in the

Lords in Council and the Lords in Parliament.

And so Somerset and the Queen had to call a Parliament to find a solution.

Now they'd like to have done that without York and unaccountably forgot to send an invitation

to him.

But the bishops who kindly forwarded the invitation to York knew that for England to have any chance

the solution arrived at had to be one of unity and there could be no unity without England's

...