This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle, This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, This other Eden, demi-paradise, This fortress built by Nature for herself Against infection and the hand of war, This happy breed of men, this little world, This precious stone set in the silver sea, Which serves it in the office of a wall Or as a moat defensive to a house, Against the envy of less happier lands,-- This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England. ~~William Shakespeare, Richard III



Saturday, May 1, 2010

This Day in History...

May Day - In England, middle and lower classes would gather flowers - ‘go a maying’ - and the prettiest village maid was crowned Queen of the May, celebrated with dancing around the maypole. The "festival" was originally Roman marking the beginning of summer.

May 1, 1118 – Edith of Scotland, Henry I's first wife, died at the Palace of Westminster. She is buried at Westminster Abbey.

May 1, 1464 - Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville secretly marry at Grafton Regis, Northamptonshire. This marriage would have grave consequences once it was announced in September.

May 1, 1707 - The countries of England and Scotland were finally united.

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