Introduction
Below is a brief overview of the Kings of England from Henry VI, Duke of Lancaster, who lost out to Edward IV, Duke of York, in 1471, to Henry VII, who became the last King of England to win his crown on the battlefield.
THE loss of his French crown and lands in 1453 broke Henry VI’s mental health, and his weakness, combined with his grandfather Henry IV’s debatable claim to the throne, sorely tempted Richard, Duke of York, to seize it himself.
But the Wars of the Roses only swung York’s way when Richard’s son Edward overwhelmed Henry’s forces at Towton in 1461, and was proclaimed King Edward IV. A six-month restoration ten years later ended with Henry’s murder.
In 1483, Edward’s thirteen-year-old son and successor Edward V was on his way to his coronation when his uncle, also named Richard, unexpectedly took him into custody, and declared him illegitimate. Uncle Richard then crowned himself Richard III, and young Edward and his brother were imprisoned in the Tower of London, where the two princes apparently died.
However, after just two years Welshman Henry Tudor, a descendant of Edward III, rallied the Lancastrian cause, and defeated Richard at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, to become Henry VII.
The Wars of the Roses take their name from the emblems of the two rival Royal Houses, the white rose of the Dukes of York, and the red rose of the Dukes of Lancaster. Both Houses traced their claims to sons of King Edward III, the Lancastrians to John of Gaunt, the Yorkists to Edmund of Langley. See The Wars of the Roses.
Précis
Having had to renounce the French crown, Henry VI became the first high-profile casualty of the Wars of the Roses, losing the crown of England to Edward IV in 1461. Edward’s brother Richard then stole it from his teenage nephew Edward V, but lost it in battle to Henry Tudor, who became Henry VII in 1485. (56 / 60 words)
Having had to renounce the French crown, Henry VI became the first high-profile casualty of the Wars of the Roses, losing the crown of England to Edward IV in 1461. Edward’s brother Richard then stole it from his teenage nephew Edward V, but lost it in battle to Henry Tudor, who became Henry VII in 1485.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: besides, despite, just, may, or, otherwise, since, unless.
Archive
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Brother. Duke. Way.
2 But. Defeat. Grandfather.
3 Combine. Health. Throne.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Verb and Noun Find in Think and Speak
Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Break. 2 Name. 3 Swing. 4 Claim. 5 Force. 6 War. 7 Battle. 8 Tower. 9 Combine.
Variations: 1.if possible, use your noun in the plural, e.g. cat → cats. 2.use your verb in a past form, e.g. go → went. 3.use your noun in a sentence with one of these words: any, enough, fewer, less, no, some.
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
slps (5+1)
slaps. sleeps. slips. slopes. slops.
sloops.
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