War of Roses

[Goddlefrood]

> Catlady:
> In case anyone has read this far, this group sometimes talks 
> about the War of the Roses. Does anyone have a good mnemonic 
> device for which is red and which is white? 

Goddlefrood:

There's only two things to remember, so I doubt there's an 
existing mnemonic. Yorkshire is split into ridings, so if 
you remember Little Red Riding Hood and think that she does 
NOT come from Yorkshire, but from Lancashire, that may assist.

Of course, it may not.

> Catlady:
> As Geoff pointed out, Lancaster and York are two counties 
> that are right next to each other up north by the border 
> with Scotland. 

Goddlefrood:

I doubt if the erudite Geoff did say this as both counties 
do not border Scotland at all. There's the small matter of 
Northumberland and Cumbria in between.

> Catlady:
> So I was wondering why they were fighting each other for 
> the throne in London way down south.

Goddlefrood:

London has been England's capital for a very long time, and is 
the seat of its Kings and Queens, no real mystery about that, 
is there? Lancashire and Yorkshire are both English counties.

> Catlady:
> Did the House of York have any connection with York?

Goddlefrood:

As with the Duchy of Lancaster, the House of York had its 
ostensible seat at York. The current Dule of York is Prince 
Andrew, although he is not the one of the 10,000 men with 
the penchant for marching them up and down hills.