Messages & Previews 11

Summary

Rex Factor – “Messages & Previews 11” (October 24, 2025)
Hosts: Graham Duke (“Daniel” in transcript) & Ali

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Episode Overview

In this lighthearted and interactive episode, Rex Factor's Graham and Ali celebrate the completion of their English consorts series. Now between main series, they dive into a lively batch of listener messages—covering everything from contested Rex Factor verdicts, historical corrections, and favorite podcast moments, to playful discussions on water parks, legendary monarchs, and the mechanics of “consort ordinals.” The hosts also preview exclusive bonus content available to Patreon subscribers, including new limericks and quirky historical tangents. Packed with banter, historical insight, and audience engagement, this episode is both a recap and a teaser of what’s to come.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Wrapping Up the Consorts Series (01:57–02:22)

• Graham and Ali announce they've finished reviewing English consorts, including a playoff for the best of the best.
• “They're done, dusted. We've even done a playoff of the best of the best. So what we doing here then?” – Ali (02:07)
• They explain the focus of the episode: reading out listener messages and offering previews of bonus content.

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2. Listener Messages: Debates, Corrections & Banter (03:00–33:10)

Annoyance, Agreement, and Defense of Various Consorts (03:34–06:54)

• Alison Waldman shares opinions on historic reviews:
  • Edgar the Peaceable: “wasn’t robbed”
  • Disappointment about Isabella (John’s consort) versus Caroline of Brunswick
  • Elizabeth Woodville and Charles II as the “cool kids” of Rex Factor heaven:
    “In the pantheon of Rex Factor winners in the sky, they are the cool kids.” – Ali (04:38)
• The water parks tangent: Graham teases Ali about being as familiar with water parks as Elizabeth Woodville was with grief; listeners offer Texas and Florida as better water park destinations.

Favorite Podcast Guests & Episodes (06:30–07:18)

• Praise for the Olivia Miller interview (Bloody Mary Live).
• Coronation history episode: “Sadly for England, its first recorded coronation event was the best. No one is surpassing Edwig’s celebration…” (Leonore Youngster, 07:18)

Special & Fictional Rex Factor Episodes (07:51–08:39)

• Listener suggestion for covering Emperor Palpatine (Star Wars); hosts prefer well-developed fictional “rexies” (like Aragorn), hinting most fictional characters lack the depth required for a full episode.

Linguistic & Cultural Asides (08:47–10:06)

• Danish “folk ting” (parliament) discussed – both as legal forum and “gentle festival,” referencing an incident with circus elephants and a laughing parliament.

Historical Gifts & Royal Oddities (10:06–11:19)

• Gandhi sending cloth to Elizabeth and Philip’s wedding: confusion over whether it was a simple gift or Gandhi’s “loincloth,” leading into a discussion of Britain’s colonial textile policy.

Dunstan & Deep Dives into Name Lore (11:19–14:08)

• Dunstan chat: playful exasperation with recurring themes (“contain your inner Dunstan”).
• Dunstan’s pervasiveness in place names; hosts celebrate when listeners develop inside jokes around Dunstan.

Debates Over Rex Factor Decisions (14:47–16:48)

• Listeners argue for Henry IV’s Rex Factor credentials, emphasizing his adventurous life, chivalric romance, and musical talent.
  • “He must have been a complete babe... champion jouster, adventurous traveler, and by all accounts, fairly decent person, given the insanity of the age he lived in.” – Daniel reading Brogan (14:56)

Scottish & Norwegian Historical Trivia (16:11–17:13)

• Snapshot of Alexander III’s acquisition of the Western Isles: Norwegian King Magnus Lagerbot preferred lawmaking over war, so sold the isles to focus on legislation.

Corrections & Consort Confusions (17:13–18:36)

• Correction about Hugh Despenser’s execution location: “It was in fact Hereford, as the Mortimers were and are a Herefordshire family...” – Listener Josh

Tidbits on Other Consorts (18:36–21:13)

• Catherine Parr’s mythical “milky baths,” oat baths recalled for eczema.
• Royal Albert Hall anecdote: Victoria’s grief over Albert led her to finish his memorial instead of the hall itself, changing its funding landscape.
• Catherine of Braganza: “Queen of the British Kitchen” for tea and marmalade, but failed to clinch Rex Factor (“all gear, no idea”).

Prince Philip Discussions (21:20–24:37)

• Debate over Philip’s “battliness” score and explanation of “mentioned in dispatches.”
• Addressing infamous “throwing spears” remark—contextualized as a misunderstood event.

Playoff and Finalists Reflections (25:01–28:15)

• Aethelflaed’s inclusion in playoffs likened to “a grizzly bear in an MMA tournament” (25:35)
• Lively discussion of Anne Boleyn’s divisiveness: “Anne is the Taylor Swift of this competition. She’s so popular that there’s a counterculture of people who think she’s overrated.” – Tash Moy (27:20)

AI Weighs In: Deep Sleep’s Consort Ratings (28:19–29:39)

• AI ranks the best consorts with a focus on political influence and stability. Results include Prince Albert, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen Mother, Prince Philip, Catherine of Aragon—hosts find the AI’s logic suspect.

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3. Fun & Games: The Ordinal Consorts Quiz (32:24–39:11)

• Listener Douglas submits a “regnal numbers” list for consorts.
• Graham quizzes Ali on various consorts by ordinal numbers, leading to confusion and laughter:
  • “Never show your workings.” – Ali (36:18)
• Consorts like Mary III (Mary of Teck), Philip II (Prince Philip), Matilda III (Matilda of Boulogne), Anne V (Anne of Denmark), Eleanor III (Eleanor of Castile), and others stymie and delight Ali.

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4. Previews: Behind-the-Scenes & Exclusive Content (39:57–54:44)

Privy Chamber & Limerick Lore (39:57–45:24)

• Graham previews upcoming Privy Chamber content: Mini-reviews, unused research, and “consort limericks”:
  • First ever consort limerick for Æthelflaeda Anita Candida:
    “She’s known to us just as a breeder,
    The mother of England’s brief leader.
    St. Edward the Martyr, she witnessed no charter,
    Æthelflaeda, Anita Candida.” – Graham, reading Louise’s limerick (42:15)

Bonus & Special Episodes (45:31–48:42)

• Expanded range of Patreon content: Extended specials on topics like the Battle of Waterloo, tea, John of Gaunt, the history of biscuits, and Wu Zetian (“the only female Chinese emperor in history,” 46:03).
• Quirky highlights from the Wu Zetian episode: “There is no escape from accusation when even the Avon lady is a witch.” – Ali (46:39)
• Local Legends series: Illuminates lesser-known figures/places such as Seneca Village (pre–Central Park Black settlement) and the PR spin used to displace residents.

Patreon Tiers & Content Access (53:06–54:44)

• Outlining three Patreon levels: Privy Chamber, Special Episodes, Star Chamber.
• Over 400 bonus podcasts, including Tuesday Talks, pub quizzes, Q&As, Local Legends and the Star Chamber decision-making live streams.

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5. What Comes Next? (55:45–56:51)

• No new main series episode immediately scheduled (“might be a bit of a gap”).
• Potential for more interview episodes (success of Gareth Russell’s appearance noted).
• Next review will feature Æthelfrith (early Anglo-Saxon king).
• “Whatever comes next, I’m sure it’ll be fantastic listening.” – Daniel (56:45)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If this is a movement we’ve got going, all power to you.” – Ali, on listeners sighing at Dunstan street names (12:28)
• “She is the one who inspired consort limericks.” – Daniel (42:08)
• “Anne is the Taylor Swift of this competition. She’s so popular that there’s a counterculture of people who think she’s overrated.” – Tash Moy, via Daniel (27:20)
• “You get beyond a point, she’s got absolute power now. Then it gets weird. That’s the pattern.” – Ali, on Wu Zetian's reign (48:11)
• “Never show your workings.” – Ali (36:18)
• “All gear, no idea.” – Ali, re: Catherine of Braganza (21:11)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:57 – Series wrap-up, what’s next
• 03:34 – Listener reviews: Consort debates (Edgar, Isabella, Woodville)
• 06:30 – Praise for Bloody Mary Live interview
• 07:51 – Special episodes, fictional monarchs
• 08:47 – Danish “folk ting” and gentle festivals
• 10:06 – Gandhi’s wedding gift and family textile discussions
• 11:19 – Dunstan banter and listener in-jokes
• 14:47 – Henry IV’s “babe” phase and chivalric romance
• 16:11 – Norse kings and the sale of Scottish Isles
• 17:13 – Correction: Hugh Despenser’s execution location
• 18:36 – Catherine Parr’s baths & the story of the Royal Albert Hall
• 21:20 – Prince Philip and “battleliness”
• 25:01 – Playoffs: Aethelflaed as a “grizzly bear in an MMA tournament”
• 27:20 – Anne Boleyn is “the Taylor Swift of this competition”
• 28:19 – AI/Deep Sleep’s best consort rankings
• 32:24 – Consort ordinal quiz
• 39:57 – Previews: Privy Chamber, bonus content, limericks begin
• 45:31 – Further bonus episode previews (Wu Zetian)
• 48:42 – Local Legends: Seneca Village
• 53:06 – Patreon tiers and bonus content explained
• 55:45 – What’s next: Series pause and future plans

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Tone & Style

As always, the episode showcases the hosts' signature mix of irreverent humor, genuine historical curiosity, and interactive spirit. They play off each other’s memory lapses and get lost in a delightful tangle of anecdotes, tangents, and listener-fueled debates, making even the quirkiest royal trivia engaging and accessible.

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For Further Listening

• Join the Rex Factor Patreon for hundreds of bonus podcasts
• Engage with other fans—and the hosts!—via Discord
• Look forward to Series Four’s focus on the “nearly monarchs,” with future crossovers and surprises promised

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Summary prepared for listeners seeking all the historical hijinks, listener debates, and previewed extras—no need to fear having missed the fun!

Transcript

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[Ali (Co-host)]

Welcome to Rex Factor. This week, messages and previews 11. With your hosts Graham Duke and Alex. Hello.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Hello and welcome to Rexfactor where we have finished reviewing the English consorts and we are now officially between series. We are.

[Ali (Co-host)]

They're done dusted. We've even done a playoff of the best of the best. So what we doing here then?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Well, this is an excellent opportunity to go through some of our listeners. Fantastic messages.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Okay.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Plus we'll be sharing a few previews of some of our bonus content which you can access by signing up to join the privy [e-mail] Rexfactor and Discord and all that.

[Ali (Co-host)]

They do that. Exactly.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Yeah, yeah. I'm less than used by this stuff now, Graham. So. Yeah, yep, yep. You know what it is.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, they know by now I have

[Daniel (Co-host)]

to keep on selling it.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I can't see previous episode for details.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

See previous episodes for enthusiasm. Anyway, let's hear what you've been saying, starting with some general messages.

[Ali (Co-host)]

General messengers. General message. It's sort of lost meaning on my tongue now. You know what I mean? Message. Messages. Messages.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Messages.

[Ali (Co-host)]

General messages. He sounds French.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Or it's French.

[Ali (Co-host)]

General.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

It's because you want to say messengers, I think, was what you were going for.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Why would I want to say that, though? But I did.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

I think maybe because of the word general put you in mind of a person with a position rather than an adjective.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Yep. Anyway, some general messages to start with and we're going to kick off with Alison Waldman. I've got a few things to say that I've put off saying forever. So Here we go. 1. Oh, God, Edgar the Peaceable wasn't robbed Quite right.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I mean, if I'm giving people power to come out of the Saxon closet, as it were, and sort of declare, you know, that the Emperor has no clothes, all power to you.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Honestly, I could take him or leave him. Pretty cool. But I don't think your decision, Ali, warrants the amount of flak you've gotten.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, well, promote this person.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

2. I was more upset that Isabella, John's consort, didn't get the Rex factor. If Caroline of Brunswick got it, then she should too.

[Ali (Co-host)]

That's a good point.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Three, I'm a little salty that Elizabeth Woodville was knocked out, but I'd like to think she and Charles II are really hanging out, talking about how, if they really wanted to, they could have tried harder and won the whole thing, but that would have been too much work. So just getting the Rex factor was good enough for them.

[Ali (Co-host)]

You know what? She's onto something there. In the pantheon of Rex factor winners in the sky, they are the cool kids.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Ali (Co-host)]

They'd be the ones hanging out around the back of the bike sheds who they get straight A's, but they don't try.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Didn't revise.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Didn't revise. Spent most of the time doing the stuff that you wish you did back in the day anyway. Yeah. All power to you.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

4. In Elizabeth Woodville's episode, Ali mentions about being as familiar with water parks as Elizabeth is with grief.

[Ali (Co-host)]

What could I possibly have meant by that?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

I think just that she had a lot of close relations die and that you were quite into water parks at that point in time.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Really? Yeah, I did like them as an eight year old, but.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Well, I think you'd been revisiting them from a parental perspective and holidays.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I always Want to go to them? I'm very pro a water park.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Well, so she continued. He then says he went to California to go to a water park and was disappointed because it was closed and therefore gave up on his waterpark dream.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I was about to tell you that story. How do these people know stuff?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

I'm from Texas but now live in Los Angeles and I can say with absolute confidence that California is not the place to go. If you want a great water park. We've got the beach and Disneyland here. That's all you need. If you want to go to some really great water parks, try Texas or Florida. It's much hotter there year round and the parks are usually open six months or all year round. Much hotter than California. Than California for longer.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I mean, imagine that. Imagine having. Imagine having the variation in climate that you could choose that. I mean, we're clinging on to the southernmost eastern tip of this country just to get as far away from the foul weather as possible and they've got those kind of options.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

5 a few years ago you did an interview with Olivia Miller about her one woman show, Bloody Mary Live. Yeah, my husband and I just saw her first show here in LA tonight and it was so cool and nerdy to talk to her after the show and tell her that I'd heard about her work from your podcast and started following her on Instagram after that episode. It was a great show. She did an amazing job and I want to thank you for having her on the podcast and for all the interviews and guests that you bring onto the show.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, she was great. Her show was great too, wasn't it?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

And that was one where you mainly experienced it through going to the show because the interview was the one where you were trying to do it whilst.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh God yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

In a lay by various lay bys outside Leicester trying to find signal.

[Ali (Co-host)]

So much of my professional life is spent asking about trying to find signal in lay bys.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Leonore Youngster enjoyed our special episode on the history of coronation. Thank you for a timely, detailed episode. Sadly for England, its first recorded coronation event was the best. No one is surpassing Edwig's celebration anytime soon, I'm afraid. Cheers from Brazil.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Which one?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

He was the coronation threesome where Dunstan dragged him away.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I mean I bet there were. There were others that had a similar sort of events on, isn't it event. It's probably not ticketed.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Op Ninja was inspired by our special on Aragorn. Love the podcast, only started on the original series recently. Would you consider a Star wars character for example Emperor Palpatine as another special episode.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I don't know how much I like the fictional ones.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

No, I think. And the thing with Aragorn, and thus obviously Lord of the Rings, why I think it worked is a. He's a sort of rexy figure. His character is written as a sort of rexy figure. And also because of Tolkien's deep, deep. You know, how deep he goes in his writing, that there was sufficient backstory, literal appendices to flesh out an episode. I'm not sure that that works for all fictional.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I've completely forgotten it. You know, I mean, I know this is a boring trope of this show, but it has its advantages. I couldn't tell you a thing.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Mallou picks up on a discussion from a previous messages and previous episode. I just listened to your messages and previews 8 and you mentioned the Danish folk ting, a meeting they have where they all gather together.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, the thing.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

The thing. A listener called Barney, I think, who lived in Denmark in the last decade, mentioned the Danish word ting. Being Danish myself. I love your review of my country's history in sort of third person. Ali said folk ting sounded like a gentle festival or something. And I remembered a clip from 2019 where our Danish prime Minister briefs the folk ting about buying some elephants and camels from a circus as a means of reimbursing the circus of a law against keeping animals in circus. So, yes, a gentle. A gentle festival sometimes.

[Ali (Co-host)]

What a lovely idea.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

And it was.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Well, unless that encourages people to sort of. I've had this camel but kicking back here, give me ten grand, then it'll be breed camels.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

And they sent a clip as well. I think. I think this. I think it was this one. Unless someone sent me another clip similar, but where they can't help but laugh and everyone just starts laughing. It's like Parliament, but they're all just having a lovely laugh together.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, gosh. Oh. You know, that could be normal. It's just a decision we all need to make.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

And Fiddle Twist replying to a discussion about Gandhi's gift of a cloth for Elizabeth and Philip's wedding and Mary of Teck's horrified reaction, I think because Mary of Tech was worried that it was like his loincloth or something.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, right. Not that it wasn't grand enough, just that she thought she'd been sent a pair of undies. I think about.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Well, both, I suppose it works for both, doesn't it?

[Ali (Co-host)]

Okay, yeah, true.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Sorry, I missed the right to reply window. I'm a little late. It immediately occurred to me to wonder if Gandhi made the trade cloth himself. One of his big crusades was for India to make its own textiles. And he was photographed spinning cotton on a sharka.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Did it not? I mean, it's a huge producer these days, isn't it? It just seems amazing that it.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Oh, I guess the issue would have been that probably, like we would have been taking all the produce and sticking into British, of course, factories.

[Ali (Co-host)]

We'd stacked the deck.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

But yes, I think. I think. I think I did look this up when the message came through and then forgot to write it down for myself afterwards. But I think he did. I think he would have made it himself. That's even harsher of Mary to be so unimpressed.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, I mean, he's got a lot on, hasn't he? Yeah, he's doing his finger knitting at the same time now.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

It wouldn't be a Rex Factor messages episode without some Dunstan chat.

[Ali (Co-host)]

We've already had it.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Elspeth reacted to a photo I shared on social media of your glum face with your presence on the most recent St. Dunstan's Day. Anyway, she reacted to your. Your face on receipt of latest presents. Between this actors and puns, Ali is at risk of becoming a fun sponge himself.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I know, I know, I know. It's. It's the dreadful irony that you sort of. Yeah, I've got to. How do you reverse that?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Got to contain your inner Dunstan.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, but I mean, actors are still going to act, aren't they? So I can't give up on that. What was the other ones?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Puns.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I'm just. All right, fine. It's just the way of the world, then.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Monkey bones. More sympathetic. My parents have moved to the north of England. Loads of Dunstan names on street signs. Me and other half always sigh and shake our fists at them.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah. If this is a movement we've got going, all power to you.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

We've had Dunstan. So here's Denise on Edgar.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Mmm.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

No way. You did not just not give him the Rex Factor. What is more rexy than being so powerful that no one dares to challenge you, thereby sparing your people from the terrible fate of warfare?

[Ali (Co-host)]

I dunno, it sounds really good whenever I hear it back. I've just lumbered with this now.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Dazzler H enjoyed our episode on William Rufus. Great episode and covering a lot of detail, which is quite unknown on the surface level of William II's history. Thinking, has William Rufus ever been on telly? Like a version of William Rufus?

[Ali (Co-host)]

Prince Harry,

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Surprisingly, we've recently had a couple of messages arguing the case for Henry iv. The Rex factor.

[Ali (Co-host)]

The usurper, heavy as the head.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Indeed, indeed. First up, silver justice for Henry iv. I would totally have given him the Rex factor.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Why?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

I guess there's an element to him whereby until you get to the point of him actually having to be king, it is quite an impressive story. You know, he's this incredibly gifted, brilliant knight who wins tournaments all across Europe, serves on a sort of Teutonic crusade. The drama of being kicked out of the country, going into exile, coming back, taking the throne by force, pretty good. Then it all. Then he gets leprosy and everyone's horrible to him and he has a horrible time of it and dies.

[Ali (Co-host)]

That sounds like a. Who's the other fella? Like an Edward? No, like a Tudor. Who's that first guy? Henry vii. Yeah. And he's. He sort of had the same deal. Right. It was all. By the time he then got to power and just turned a bit miserable and saved money.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Well, yeah, I suppose. I mean, Henry II had long. A lot longer as King Henry iv. But it's a similar thing in that perhaps being that first one who has to establish a sort of usurper dynasty is just. It's a hard toil and maybe it's then the son that can reap the benefits of the stability. Like Henry V. Henry V, Henry viii.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, my word. Is this. Is this a theory we've stumbled upon or is it well documented? I'm catching up.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Also, in Henry IV and Brogan, Henry IV is one of those people from the past I would love to meet. He must have been a complete babe. Not only was he a champion jouster, adventurous traveler, and by all accounts, fairly decent person, given the insanity of the age he lived in. He was also a dab hand at playing the harp and even composed music. On top of that, his doomed relationship with Lucia Visconti is straight out of an age of chivalry romance. He was betrothed to an Italian lady and who apparently he did visit or like when he was on one of his, you know, adventures. Did go and see. I think she was a little bit younger, so she's sort of teenage. So she was besotted with him. And then marriage is broken off when he's sort of sent off into exile by Richard ii. The father said, no, he can't marry him now because he's, you know, he's lost his status. And then when he becomes king, she was apparently still holding out, still desperate, still, like, insisting she Wouldn't marry anyone else. She wanted Henry. But what did Henry do? They marry Joan of Naval.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Happily. Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Oh,

[Ali (Co-host)]

that's brilliant. I mean, what a story.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Why didn't he get it? Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

You've been convinced. Moving on to the Scots for one message, Hannah Fisher on Alexander III and the acquisition of the Western Isles. Because for a long time the Western Isles and Orkney Shetland on the other side were not actual Scottish territory, even though it's at Scotland and is now. It was actually Norse, so she says. Apparently the new Norwegian king, Magnus Lagerbot, was not very interested in war. He was interested in working on making a big set of the first Norwegian laws. So he sold off the Scottish Isles so he could focus his reign on lawmaking.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Wow. Good egg.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

So if we ever did the Norwegians. Good for subjectivity, but that's not good battleliness.

[Ali (Co-host)]

No, but I mean, it must be a hell of a book if you've got to sell off land.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

There's a lot of expectation on this one, Magnus.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, we've given up a bit of a country for this. I mean, if this doesn't have a decent ending, I mean, you're in trouble.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Onto the Consorts now. And a correction from Josh for Isabella of France's episode. I would like to offer a correction. It was asserted that Hugh Despenser was killed in Hertford. It was in fact Hereford, as the Mortimers were and are a Herefordshire family based in Wigmore. It's also where Owain Tudor, who we just mentioned, was beheaded and is still buried semi likely under a car park. And where Edward IV was a duke. Wonderful history.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Edward iv,

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Elizabeth Woodville's husband. Hot one. Tall. Hot.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, yeah, okay. It's just confusing because I thought the Ed. Sometimes the Edwards, like the Georges, go, good one, bad one, good one, bad one. Yeah, good one, bad one, good one, good one. Yes.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Yeah. They have a nice gap, though, between three and four. So it's almost like it's sort of Edward IV is the. A reboot for the Edwards, the franchise. Yeah, yes, yes, that is correct. Anyway, the point, initial point, Hugh Dispenser's Hereford, not Hartford. I suspect that I said Hartford because a sort of Freudian slip that because Hartford is on the border with Essex or at a border with Essex. So I probably defaulted when I saw the her and Ford, I went, yeah,

[Ali (Co-host)]

if it doesn't feature on BBC look east, it can't exist.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Sarah Hilcox on Catherine Parr. Very enjoyable. Haven't really reread much about her in the last 30 years. Apart from Shard Lake, where it goes into some detail about her book, by the way. We used oat baths for eczema. Very soothing. But in tights and knotted. She had the Milky Baths.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, we did. That's. We've done that for chicken. Chickenpox. Yeah, yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

So maybe that. Because I was imagining that she just has a bath and they just pour vats of milk.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

But maybe it was a bit more.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's true.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

It was sort of infused into the bath rather than a bath of pure milk. An anonymous listener got in touch about the. About the Albert Hall.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Or rather they weren't anonymous, but they asked me to not to say their name. I worked at the hall for years, years ago and was told this fun fact by the brilliant archivist there. You're correct in saying the proceeds from the Great Exhibition were put into funding a lot of the institutions on Exhibition Road, with one exception, mostly. The Royal Albert hall was one of Albert's most beloved projects and construction did indeed begin before his death. But when he did die, we all know how distraught Victoria was. So instead of using the funds set aside to finish building the hall, she built the big gold Albert Memorial across the road instead. And left Albert's favourite project unfinished. No, to finish the construction, the funds had to be raised by wealthy individuals, hence why the hall has about one third of its seats and boxes still privately owned. Yeah, you can Google it. And it often gets the hall into trouble with the Charities Commission. Anyway, a pretty bizarre story and seems pretty on brand for Victoria. Yeah.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, that is fascinating.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Joss on Catherine of Braganza. A great episode. I knew absolutely nothing about Catherine beforehand and came out wanting to learn more. She is truly the Queen of the British Kitchen.

[Ali (Co-host)]

What?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

She brought tea and marmalade.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, right, yeah. Yeah. That was surprising that she didn't get it right. Yeah. It's like she grabbed at the start all of the. You know, in. When you had PE lessons and you had to grab equipment, everyone would go for the best bits and you might be left with the lily, you know, broken bit or whatever. So, like, she got all the best kit and then. But didn't know how to. All gear. No idea.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

There we go.

[Ali (Co-host)]

If you're gonna win Rex Factor, I'll have TM Marmalade. And then, yeah,

[Daniel (Co-host)]

a couple of messages on Prince Philip. Maggie Wiggin asks, I didn't finish the last episode for Philip, but did Ali figure out a way to give Philip an 11 for battliness? He was really gunning for It.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I don't think so.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

No, you didn't know because it was the second. It was Second World War. Yeah, the battleliness was fighting in the Second World War.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, yeah, that. I mean. Oh, I'm aware of my bias there, but yeah, well, yeah, I mean, exactly.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Now I was very Settled on a 10. Settled on a 10. And some info from Leonard Goodnight being mentioned.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I mean, is he a Bond villain

[Daniel (Co-host)]

being mentioned in dispatches? Sometimes called despatches, though I couldn't tell you why. I'm American is basically just short of getting a medal. It means your gallant or meritorious service was recorded in the official report your boss wrote about the battle. Because I think we said in the episode. Because Philip was mentioned in dispatches and it's one of those things that we say, oh, that means. Yeah, something amazing. I don't actually know what it is

[Ali (Co-host)]

really used to be in the. What he said. Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Additionally, in terms of some of Philip's.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Is it still.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Sorry, I don't know. Do you still get mentioned in dispatches?

[Ali (Co-host)]

Let's have a quick. Can I. Oh, I've got airplane mode on. Sorry, hang on.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Having aeroplane mode on could be a euphemism for you just not paying attention to what people are talking about. Anyway, so. He also has a comment about one of Finlip's many, many gaffes. Additionally, the throwing spears at each other remark. This one where. And he said to Aboriginal sort of show. And he said, are you still throwing spears at each other? Was it Aboriginal? Was it somewhere else?

[Ali (Co-host)]

I think it was in.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Yeah. Anyway.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Where he said, do you still throw spears at each other? It's another one that's been taken out of context. They actually had just been throwing spears at each other. As one of the men in question. Oh, it would be Australia and boomerangs at each other. As one of the men in question told abc. And he includes a quote in which one of the participants explained that they'd been putting on a special performance and showing off by throwing boomerangs and spears when the royals were going past.

[Ali (Co-host)]

That one is one that is really heavily leaned on for as evidence of his out of touchness, out of context.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

And anyway, this chap then met Prince Philip and had been impressed when I shook his hand. There was so much energy. You don't build fellas like that these days. He was tough as nails from that moment. I had a deep respect for him.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I mean, he did seem like a bit of a tough cookie. Like that sort of boarding school master,

[Daniel (Co-host)]

I think you said I can't remember said at the time, one of his many episodes that he's sort of a kind of desert island companion, ideal person in the sense that you feel like he probably would be. He would be able to fashion a shelter and hunt food and build a boat and probably get you back home.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But wouldn't. Wouldn't stay in touch

[Daniel (Co-host)]

and he probably wouldn't want to.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

This weird fish that I had to carry with me.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Complaining about having splinters when I was trying to build. Get on with it, man.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Cold. Yeah. Oh, the cold that sort of get me every time. Do you see that thing in on Discord of what monks had written in the pages in the corners of an illuminated manuscript?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Oh, no.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I ended up saving it with sharing it with my family, WhatsApp group. And all of it seemed to relate to the crushing cold that was in their feet, in their bones and their knuckles. And it's just. I'd hate it.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Some messages from the playoffs now, Daniel, on the controversy of including Aethelflaed, lady of the Mercians. A rant on Aethelflaed. Should she have been in this series or the playoffs at all? No, she was a consort to a sub king rather than a king of England. However, since she has been put into the running, she should absolutely win the whole thing. I would see her legacy and incredible accomplishments, conquest, influence over the direction of English history at such a critical and formative stage as rivalling the best of the monarchs. And certainly no consorts can come close to her. The comparison that comes to my mind is a grizzly bear in an MMA tournament. Should it be there? Of course not. But since it's in the fight, we shouldn't pretend like it's not going to completely annihilate all the opposition.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Excellent. Yeah, maybe she should have been in the next series, but. Yeah, yeah, but she's there.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Makisleo on your struggles with Elfrith. Every time Ally gets lost in the horse story and asks if it really happened. Why, yes, of course, she magically transformed into a horse.

[Ali (Co-host)]

But.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

But the Abbot of Ely,

[Ali (Co-host)]

there's just such. There's just such perfect detail.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

It's the most ludicrous fantasy story we've had on the podcast. But it involves the Abbot of Ely and that makes it immediately the most believable thing you've told me.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah. Most relatable thing.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Say no.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah. And you sort of slip it in. Like there's. There's just this. This stuff that happens. Probably legal reform and Then the Abbot of Ely does whatever it happened. Hang on, what?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

And Tash Moy on Anne Boleyn's divisiveness. Anne is the Taylor Swift of this competition. She's so popular that there's a counterculture of people who think she's overrated. She's so divisive that she's an underdog despite being the obvious choice.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, that's. That's. I mean, I don't know if the Taylor Swift bit's accurate, but I. I get the. I get the point. That's true.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

You get to a certain level at which there's an immediate, obviously, reaction against. And the reaction becomes so big that you end up.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah. And. And they're going. All I'm hearing is Anne Boleyn.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Callum Robertson had been in touch during the playoffs. They're disappointed that some of the negative comments about Elizabeth Bowes Lying Queen Mother and I had a little friendly email correspondence about this with him and he decided to look at an alternative source of judgment to see what would happen. Alternative not so much to us so much as the wider public.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, right. As in. I thought you meant like he was going to look at other ways to take a head off.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Oh, no, no. As you pointed out, Callum, there seems to be a preference in the votes for earlier consorts. I know that your ratings based on Ali's public and your own scorings worked well, but wonder if a fourth contributor might be considered AI. The AI rating might be more objective. Anyway, here's what happened when I asked Deep Sleep to rate English consorts with the question, who has been the best consort for an English monarch with a particular focus on political influence, stability and enhancing the monarchy. And the AI verdict or the Deep Sleep verdict. Number one, Prince Albert reshape the monarchy's role in governance. Number two, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Unmatched political power, though turbulent. Number three, Queen Elizabeth. The Queen Mother saved the monarchy post abdication. Number four, Prince Philip modernised and stabilised the Crown. And number five, Catherine of Aragon. Effective early reign, but crises later.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Well, I never.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

And it had honourable mentions for Anne Boleyn. Indirectly caused the Reformation, but destabilised the monarchy. And Camilla Parker Bowles successfully rehabilitated her image, supporting Charles III's reign.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Well, I think that's just undermined it somewhat.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

I mean, that feels so. The flip side of it feels like that's very much going skewing modern with a few famous names thrown in.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah. And just trawling news articles to see.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

I wonder if we contribute to its musty It's a mix of opinions, a couple of people who are just really enjoying the playoffs and the finals, starting with Joe Pearce. Thank you for making my Friday so joyous. Ali has made me laugh out loud. I was excited to see what Ali would give us for the final episode and he did not disappoint, as within the first two minutes, he suggested removing his trousers. Don't stay away too long.

[Ali (Co-host)]

When was that? Which episode was that?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

The grand final

[Ali (Co-host)]

on stage?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

No, that was Ludlow.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Did I take my trousers off? It hasn't been known.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

I don't think you did on either occasion. You have done on occasion, but neither of those occasions. And a message from Rebecca. I'm really enjoying ranking all of the Rex Factor winners in the console series. Maybe while you're deciding what series four will be, you could consider revisiting series one and two winners who didn't take the top spot and letting us vote on them. I know it was a while ago, but if you do an episode recapping them, I think folks might be interested.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I just don't think you could take any more voting, could you, G man, I think we've.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

We've had enough. Had enough democracy on Rex Factor for a while. Enough work for me.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah. Now we must fully reclaim the feudal system and the serfs must return to the land.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

You will listen and accept whatever we say and do and vote on.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Remember what happened with Edgar the Peaceable? Yeah. Don't want another one of those, do you?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

A few comments on the series 4 vote. A very close one in favor of the nearly monarchs by one vote over the Scottish gods.

[Ali (Co-host)]

That's incredible, isn't it?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

I know. Obviously some were disappointed, such as you and Maxwell. So disappointed in series four. I don't see why you couldn't have done both. I very much enjoyed this podcast series, so thanks for that. If I hear you do end up doing console series, I'll be back. Don't know if that means he's not going to listen until we do this. Conscious cons. However, Tory C pointed out on the bright side, the people who wanted the Scottish consorts will get an episode on Francis II in series five anyway. Except Mary Queen of Scots, first husband.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Okay, why is that good?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Well, because we would have done him as a Scottish consort because he was the husband of Mary Queen of Scots.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

But in series five, we will do him as a French monarch because he was king of France. So he's.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Blimey, that's a skinny silver lining there, though, isn't It.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

But he's a crossover. Because currently we've only had James VI stroke first of England.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

As a crossover. So Francis II will be another one.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Nice.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Finally, Douglas Thompson sent this in ages ago, but I had long ago decided I was going to wait until we finished the series. You mentioned how Matilda of Scotland, that's Henry I's first wife, was called Matilda II and mentioned it's a shame they didn't keep that up.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, I hope he's done what I hope he's gonna have done.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

I agree. It's a lot easier to remember the queens and princes consort that way than trying to remember where they came from. And it helps you remember which order they came in. So in case you do want to start adding ordinals. This is a list.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yes.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

So, as he says, he sent in a full list of the consorts with regnal numbers instead of. Of. Yeah, xyz. Now, I've decided I'm not going to read them all out.

[Ali (Co-host)]

No. But can you send me the list?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Oh, yeah, Yeah. I could do instead, though, I thought I'd finish with a little quiz for you.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, no.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Can you tell me who these consorts are using numbers?

[Ali (Co-host)]

Okay.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Mary iii.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Do you know what? I think it's easier when you say where they're from. I have absolutely no idea.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Mary of Teck.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I was going to guess that. You should have done, because it was the only Mary that came to mind. Couldn't think of O of Modena.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Yes, it was Mary of Modena. I haven't got all the other ones written down. Now, it might be a little bit of a cheat that Henrietta Maria has been counted as Mary ii, possibly in Henrietta. Unless I'm forgetting another one. Philip ii.

[Ali (Co-host)]

El Greco. The one. The latest one.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Prince Philip. Yes.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Prince Philip. Yeah. Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

You were gonna go, oh, Philip.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

I like that one. I thought. I thought you got one. But I like that one because obviously the first Philip is Philip II of Spain.

[Ali (Co-host)]

It's very nice, isn't it? Of Spain.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Matilda iii.

[Ali (Co-host)]

There's gonna be a Matilda Flanders.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

She's Matilda the First. William the Conqueror's wife.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, I can't think of any that would have come after the Empress Matilda.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Who was her big rival?

[Ali (Co-host)]

Matilda of Bologne.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Yes.

[Ali (Co-host)]

She wasn't a consort, was she? I suppose she was, but she was before. Before Matilda.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Well, the Empress Matilda didn't become monarch. Stephen did.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, yeah. I still haven't quite got over that injustice.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Yeah. Except that Matilda Boulogne was one of your favorites, that you Ranked quite highly in the place.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Was she a consort?

[Ali (Co-host)]

I got that. Awards. So hang on.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Matilda of Flanders, William the Conqueror's wife, Matilda I. Matilda of Scotland, Henry I's first wife, Matilda ii. Matilda Boulogne, King Stephen's wife, Matilda iii.

[Ali (Co-host)]

And any others after? No, there must have been more Matilda's supporting cast then.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

It was just a very heavy Matilda period.

[Ali (Co-host)]

And then what happened after that? There was a. There's an Eleanor period. Yeah, Yeah. Okay, go on. Next question.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

The fifth.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I think it's gonna be a really modern one. I mean, clearly, because there's loads of numbers behind it, but I can't think of any before Anne Berlin. So I'm gonna say Anne of George and Fella.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Anne of George and Fella.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah. Was that one of those? Anne of Denmark. That sounds about right.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

It's one of those where all of your working out is wrong, but you've got the right answer.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yes, excellent. Never show your workings.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

So there was Anne of Bohemia, Richard II's first wife. Oh, Swan. Anne Neville, Richard III's wife.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Anne Boleyn. Anne of Cleves.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

And then James's wife, James the First Sixth of Scotland, Anne of Denmark.

[Ali (Co-host)]

All right, yeah. All my working was completely wrong. I definitely. But okay, good.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Eleanor iii.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Well, this is straight after the Matilda run. We hit the Eleanors. Got Eleanor of Acton, Eleanor of Castile, Eleanor of Provence. So now let's get the order right. Eleanor of Provence, is that right?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Who is she?

[Ali (Co-host)]

I don't know.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Who is Eleanor of Castile?

[Ali (Co-host)]

Edward.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Who's Edward's mummy?

[Ali (Co-host)]

Eleanor. So Eleanor of Castile, Correct? Yes.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

You never get this on Isabella the Third.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Well, I just. I might shock you. Isabella Vongelam.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

She is Isabella the First.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Isabella of. Don't know.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

So Isabella of France is Isabella ii. Isabella of Valois ii, second wife. It's Isabella iii, Catherine V.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Catherine. Who is the chaos, Chaos.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Lady Georgia, fourth wife, Caroline.

[Ali (Co-host)]

De Valois.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

I think I'm confused about the fact that the last one was Valois.

[Ali (Co-host)]

That was it. Catherine the Great.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

So we've got Catherine. Oh, no, no, you're right, sorry. Catherine of Alois is Catherine I. Oh, really? Isabella's younger sister. Catherine of Alwa. Catherine of Aragon.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Catherine Howard.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Catherine Parr. And the aforementioned Catherine of Braganza.

[Ali (Co-host)]

She was the crazy one.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

No. Caroline of Brunswick. Catherine of Braganza is tea and marmalade. Charles ii.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yep, yep. Just didn't exactly. Just didn't show up. I can't remember anything.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

And the final one, Elizabeth iii.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Dozeline.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Correct. Yeah, that wasn't too bad.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Wow.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Thank you. And that's a relative, but, you know.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah.

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[Daniel (Co-host)]

Previews All Privy Counselors get access to various other bonuses podcasts that we do, so we're going to give you some previews of those now. All Privy Counsellors get access to the Privy Chamber podcast, which is something that we do after each of the main episodes for when we review somebody. We then have an extras episode where I go through more of my research that didn't make it into the main episode, as well as various other goodies. Now, recently, of course, we've not had any Privy Chamber episodes because we've been doing the playoffs and they already have had their episodes. However, Ali and I are about to record an episode which I would sort of count as a Privy Chamber style thing. So we haven't done it yet, but there will be a preview of it because we're about to record it where in one episode we are doing all of the Queen and prince consorts of England as a final farewell to the Consul.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, so we haven't. We haven't. They're not. No, they're not done yet.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

But today is the last day,

[Ali (Co-host)]

so

[Daniel (Co-host)]

there will be a brilliant clip from that coming up.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Ethelfleeda, Anita. Candida.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

We don't know when she was born, we don't know who her parents were, but she was the consort to Edgar the Peaceable and the best name. Now, it's one of those where it's effectively variants of names that she may or may not have had. We have almost no details about her at all, even her very existence uncertain, other than the fact that somebody must have been the mother of Edward the Martyr.

[Ali (Co-host)]

That is infallible logic.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Yes, she likely died in childbirth or was discarded soon after Edgar became king. So, I mean, we don't know her consort dates. We can say we said 959 to 60 to give her a year, which make her joint 54th. But she does have a child one joint 33rd, Edwin the Mater. And she scored nine. Nine, which is a score 58. We're ranking at 58th, but on subjective factors, zero, which is bottom.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

But her real claim to fame is she is the one who inspired consort limericks.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, right.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Because when you heard Aethelflaeda and Ida Candida, you said, that should be a limerick. Someone have to write one for me. And that's what Louise did.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I was gonna say I didn't recognize any of the previous ones. Is that because I haven't heard them yet?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Because we didn't. We have heard them, but they were retrospective. A long time ago as well, to be fair. Anyway, so this was the first consort limerick. She's known to us just as a breeder. The mother of England's brief leader. St. Edward the Martyr. She witnessed no charter. Ethel Fleda. Anita Candida.

[Ali (Co-host)]

That is brilliant. That is absolutely brilliant.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Wilfrith of Wilton. Wilfrith of Wilton Wulfreth is born in about 937. We don't know who her parents were, but she had a noble family. Her cousin was the daughter of a Wessex nobleman, so she was somewhere high up. She is a consort to Edgar the Peaceable. Now, it's not clear if she was a nun or if she was being educated there. There being Wilton Abbey. But the legend has it that Edgar abducted her. Though probably if she's of noble stock, then it would have been a potentially significant marriage alliance.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Right.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

However, she quickly returns to Wilton with a daughter by Edgar and later became the abbe, the abbess. And she seems to have resisted the attempts of the new Queen Elfrith to reform the abbey and oversaw some of the most damning accounts of her rival, perhaps, such as the horse Bishop of Ely stuff.

[Ali (Co-host)]

She wrote that?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Well, possibly from her or from her acolytes that these sorts of black legends were writ.

[Ali (Co-host)]

She's got a filthy mind.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

And she, of course, also gave her sex with nuns, or Edgar gave her sex with nuns. She is the nun.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, she is, yeah. And she gave us the Abbey of Ely with this. What did spells come out of his box and. Or something.

[TurboTax Advertiser]

It was something like that.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

It's called a fart. But it smells.

[Ali (Co-host)]

So no spells.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

I know, I know.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Not smells.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

What would a spell coming out of a bottom be called? It is a fart by any other name.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I mean, would you take that as a skill, farting, having spoiled? No, but if your farts were magic, is that. Is that enough of an upside in order to have to fart in public to do your trick? I guess if you could say. I can. I was gonna say. So I was thinking of the best thing possible and all I could come up with was making the lights go green. Traffic lights. And if you could do that by farting, would it. Would you do that in front of people? Probably not. Maybe something better. Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Right. In she was consort from 961 to six two again a year, joint 54th and had a child joint 33rd which was St Edith of Wessex. And she scored 30 in the main series, 42nd, 21 and subjective factors, 40th and her limerick. As Wulfrith's devotions began, she was seized by a lecherous man. She cried out, I'm a nun, so you can't have your fun. He replied, I'm the king, so I can.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh dear.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

We do extended bonus special episodes at the special episode tier, which is also available for purchase on our Patreon store. So we can now sell stuff on Patreon we couldn't before. So I'm going to move all of the special episodes.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, cool.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

And these are on subjects commissioned by our top tier Star Chamber members. And this can be a whole range of topics. We've done the Battle of Waterloo, the history of Tea, John of Gaunt, History of Biscuits. And our most recent special episode was Wu Zetian, the only female Chinese emperor in history.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

She had a remarkable rise to power that involved sex with nuns and monks, murder, intrigue and Buddhism.

[Ali (Co-host)]

And that's before she even became emperor.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Indeed. So here's a clip from that episode. Now, a key figure in helping Wu in the wider project of cross promotion, that is the promotion of Buddhism and the promotion of Wu Sitia was Shui Huay. Now he was originally a seller of cosmetics, which perfectly respectful nowadays. But the time very much associated with sorcery and lasciviousness.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Really. Gosh, there really are. There is no escape from accusation when even the Avon lady is a witch.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Wu is very taken with him. So in 685 she has him tonsured as a Buddhist monk to enable him to enter the imperial palace and also to tackle his low birth, she forced her son in law to adopt him into his clan.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Does he have to have his.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Well, so Xue has the run of the palace, including the inner sanctum of the emperor, which is only accessible to concubines and eunuchs. Now it's widely suspected that he becomes her lover at this point and ministers petition her to follow precedent by making him a eunuch if he's going to have this privileged access. So they advise that he be castrated so that chaos will not be sown.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Presumably to Sway's relief, Wu declined to follow the advice and his influence grows.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Does it endure? Bad.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

She appoints him architect for the construction in Luoyang of the largest ever Ming Tang. So the ceremonial hall, the one we mentioned earlier, within the Imperial palace, it serves as a center for political but also religious affairs. Again, cosmetic seller that she turns into a monk so she can sleep with him. And she then appoints him as architect for the grandest building project of the age.

[Ali (Co-host)]

It. There is. There is a pattern. These that are. People follow. Definitely. I mean, not the. Not the cheese monger, whatever. No. The Avon man.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Yes, but

[Ali (Co-host)]

just promoting. Like when you get beyond a point, she's got absolute power now. Then it gets weird. That's the pattern.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Star Chamber members also get to commission something we call Local Legends, where we look at a person or place that is local to a Star Chamber member. And this gives us a chance to shine light on individuals that we wouldn't usually get to look at. In a slightly shorter format than the special episodes.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Which ones? Legends. Oh, yeah, I was on airplane mode. Sorry.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

This clip is from our Local Legend episode on seneca Village, a 19th century settlement for free African Americans in what would later become Central Park. Special Committee on Parks was formed to consider potential locations and initially settled on a place called Jones's Wood, which was between 66th and 75th street on Upper east side. But unfortunately, the people who owned the land weren't very keen. No. And they were rich people that owned the land, so it mattered when they didn't like it. But other opponents pointed out that actually the area wasn't large enough or central enough to really tick the boxes that they wanted for a new park in this way.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I mean, as bad as it is that this is going to happen, I've just been singing Central Parks praises.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

So an alternative site is proposed across 750 acres. I haven't written down what Jones's Wood was, but it was much less than that. Bounded by 59th and 106th Streets between 5th and 8th Avenue. So in other words, Central park, including Seneca Village. Okay. Now, logistically, there are a lot of reasons to commend the idea other than the size and location. As we said, the topography is quite beneficial. We've got the Croton Receiving Reservoir, which is a major piece of public infrastructure right next to Seneca Village, which means that obviously you've thus got a water supply for the park, which is good. Furthermore, as we've been saying, with the Summit Rock or nanny goat hill, etc. Much of the area is quite rugged and rocky, so it would be difficult and indeed expensive to Just build, build over the whole thing to turn into real estate. Whereas a park much, much easier to deal with. You don't have to worry about rocks and boggy bits and whatnot. Some of it you can get rid of and deal with. Some of you can just leave as it is. Yeah, yeah, nice.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Make a feature of it, as they say.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Indeed. The only. Only tricky bit, of course, is that there are these people living there.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Most notably, but not exclusively, Seneca Village. So in order to justify the expulsion of the residents, many supporters of the plans speak damningly of the village and its people. So they present it as an opportunity to get rid of a less appealing element of the city. So it's referred to in pejorative terms and dismissed along with the other settlements as shantytowns, whose people are wretched and debased and accused of stealing food, operating illegal bars. So squatter, vagabond, scoundrels, with some even describing them as stubborn insects,

[Ali (Co-host)]

ever was the way when you dehumanize Egbert Veal,

[Daniel (Co-host)]

or to give him his full name, which I've done here, Egbert Ludwigesfeel.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Oh, that is my favourite. When they put the Ludovicus in it as well.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Central Park's first engineer wrote a report about the refuge of 5,000 Scotters. Again, whole of Central park, not just Seneca Village, criticizing residents as having very little knowledge of the English language and with very little respect for the law.

[Ali (Co-host)]

So is this. Is it? Do you find it reassuring that this is just human nature and it still

[Daniel (Co-host)]

happens now, isn't it, that we've always.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Not justice. It's not unique to us. Yeah, I find it sort of quite reassuring.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

A rare voice of sympathy came from the New York sun, which reported that most people who had built shanties had actually asked permission of property owners first and argued that they are respectable people. Not a few of them have been paying a small ground rent and raising fruits and vegetables on patches of land that would otherwise have been unproductive.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Always with the productivity. Let it be. It's a proper thing.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

It's a proper community. It's a proper place where you've got people's homes and houses working there, supporting themselves. It's not a shanty town. It's not this wretched hovel. It's a proper community.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Why is this fellow Bernard Beefchops lying about it, whatever his name is? What is it?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Egbert Ludovicus Veal.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Edgar Veal.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

But I think Bernard Beef Chops is hard to beat, though.

[Ali (Co-host)]

What's his beef?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Well, they want to justify getting rid of them to make.

[Ali (Co-host)]

What does he want to do?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

He wants the park. He's designing the park.

[Ali (Co-host)]

It is a good park. The Privy Council.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Now, as we said at the start, you can get all this bonus content by signing up to become a Privy Councillor on Patreon. So we have three tiers. Privy Chamber Special episodes and Star Chamber. At Privy Chamber level you get the Privy Chamber with each main review podcast, a Tuesday Talks chat that we do every week. That's kind of not history stuff, that's just us doing a little update what we've been up to. And Ali gets to enjoy lots of shop pun names where we review monocle history based films and decide whether they're historically accurate and or entertaining. As well as quarterly pub quizzes and Q and A sessions that we do live streams of.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, they're fun.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Plus messages episodes. There's a Royal Mail episode for Privy Councillor bonus content messages and also access to our Discord server where you can come and chat with other ex fans and us in a text.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, we hang out there. That's the closest I get to social media. You know,

[Daniel (Co-host)]

for those at special episodes tier, you get all of that plus free access to our bonus special episodes which are usually two hours or so long and based on top topics commissioned by Star Chamber members. Plus a special episodes extras episode which is like a privy chamber for the special episodes.

[Ali (Co-host)]

It's just loads of content. There's, there's. Is there more bonus episodes now than episodes?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Way more. Way, way more. Mainly because of Tuesday Talks. Because that's every week.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, but that. There's like 200 of those, isn't there? So if you take that away, we're probably. There's probably still.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

There is still more. Yeah.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Wow.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Also available Local Legends podcast where we do a slightly smaller episode. Looking at somewhere that's local to a Star Chamber member. Could be a person, could be a place, could be a thing.

[Ali (Co-host)]

They're some of my favorite eps.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Yeah, because it's not.

[Ali (Co-host)]

No, they're not. My favorite is the one where you get to choose and you give a preview of all of them. Is that it?

[Daniel (Co-host)]

That is. No, this. We're doing messages today. I'm reading out messages.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Right.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

What you're thinking of is the Star Chamber podcast. That's the top level Star Chamber where you get to help shape the content. Voting for what? Special episodes and local Legend podcasts. We do not. You get to nominate your own ideas and vote on ones that get selected. And there is a live Stream podcast we do, which is the Star Chamber, which is like a little tasting menu where we discuss the options for the next vote.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Yeah, I like that one.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

So loads of bonus content out there. So if you like what we do and you want to hear more, sign [e-mail] RexFactor and yes, over 400 bonus podcasts await you. Mmm. Anyway, that is all from us today. I can't actually say what our next episode is. We don't actually have something immediately planned.

[Ali (Co-host)]

I thought you said we were recording that thing.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Oh, yeah. But that's all bonus podcast in terms of regular listeners. What your next episode is going to be. I'm not quite sure yet. I'm sort of having a look at sort of trying to line up some interview episodes.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Nice.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Potentially. So hopefully we'll have some of those coming at some point, but we don't have any booked in at the moment, so there might. Might be a little bit of a gap. Potentially. We have a bit of a pause, get more stuff done. I need a break stroke doing that bonus podcast stuff and getting ready for series four and offer he'll be the first review that we will do.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Well, I've got lots of positive feedback from my dear mother around. The interview with Gareth Russell on Queen James is.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Yes, a lot. Yeah, a lot of people really enjoy that. Yeah, it's all great gas. Great guest, isn't he?

[Ali (Co-host)]

He's great, yeah. Yeah.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Well, he could just release another book a bit quicker than normal and just have him on the end a couple of weeks.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Let's bell him up, get him on the line for half an hour, see what happens.

[Daniel (Co-host)]

Anyway, whatever comes next, I'm sure it'll be fantastic listening. We'll see you next time.

[Ali (Co-host)]

Cheerio.

[Nordstrom Rack Promoter]

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