Lady Isabella, born in 1441 to King Richard III and Queen Anne Neville, was a well-educated and privileged child who developed a passion for literature and languages. As her father's health declined, she took on increasing responsibilities and began an urgent search for a suitable suitor, which involved organizing a tournament for noble knights to compete for her hand. Throughout this time, Isabella maintained a close relationship with her family and was dedicated to supporting her father and her future as a queen.

1. TobiasRymer
Lady Isabella'sStory
Lady IsabellawasborninYork in1441 on the 2nd
of January,daughtertoKindRichardIII,and
daughterto QueenAnne Neville.She wasextremelyspoiltasa child,beingbornintothe Royal
Family,she sawthe luxuriesatherdoorstep.She washighlyeducatedasa child,havingprivate
tutors,the finestinall the lands,andspecificallyshe wastaughtmanydifferentlanguages.Aswell as
academicallyshe wastrainedinEquestrian,ridinghorsesassoonasshe couldstand.Richard III
wantedherto be as Intelligentandskilful aspossible,nottomentionbeautiful astofindan
appropriate suitor.Duringteenage yearsIsabellabecame veryfontof literature,especiallythatof
the Spanish,she knewmanylanguages;English,French,Spanish,ItalianandGerman.Whenshe was
inher teenage years,she startedcontactingForeignagents,negotiatingandcreatingrelationswith
them.It wassomethingtokeepherbusy,butalsoimprove herandput herlanguage skillstouse,all
the while creatingopendoorsforEngland.Isabellaalsowasgreatlyintoherreading,she wouldread
several booksperweek,she believedinthe more she couldtake in,the more literal she couldbe
and the more successful she wouldbecomewhenhavingtoperformhighertasksafterhermother
and father.Herrelationshipwithherfatherwasclose,buttoher motherevencloser,she usedto
spenda greatdeal of time withhermother.Whetheritwasgoingto tournaments,publicevents,she
wouldtravel andbe by hermothersside wheneveroutof the Castle.
Whenshe turned20, Isabellahadherbirthdaycelebratedonthe streetsof Yorkwitha huge parade,
there were soldiersmarchingthroughthe streetsbearinggreatbannersthatflew the lordships
colours.Thiswasa bigday forIsabella,the searchforherSuitornow hadbegun,RichardIII wanteda
goodand appropriate manwhowouldbe worthyof beinginline tobe King.He wantedtobe at the
centre of the search,andso hisclosestrelationstriedtonegotiate andshowcase someof the family
membersthatcouldbe appropriate,buthe wasnot goingto give upthe HusbandrytoIsabellaso
easily.Isabellabegunlearningthe wayof beingaQueen,hermotherAnne startedtospeakand
showIsabellawhatherrole wouldbe asQueenandwhatit wouldconsistof.Isabellabegantotake
more of an interestinmen,she wasexcitedbythose whowere brave,thosewhohadskill andwere
capable soldiersandknights.
Shortlyafterturning21, late Januarywas whenRichardbeganto fall prone tosome slightillness,this
was whenIsabellaandherMother had to stepup and supporthim;takingonresponsibilitiesthey
didnot have before.After7monthshadpassed,herfatherwas still veryunwell,infacthisillness
was worsening.The familywasworriedthatif he wasto perish,there wouldbe nomantotake his
place,the immediate needforIsabella'ssuitorwasdesperate.Unable todosohimself,Richard,with
the blessingof hismotheranddaughter,allowedloyal BaronWilliamPevereltobe incharge for the
searchof hersuitor.Isabellawasstressedout fromherfatherbeingunwell,butshe tookfocusof
fromRichard,and aidedBaron Williaminhissearch.Isabellawrote manypoemsaboutherlife
duringthe nextfewmonthsandyears,expressingherdearnesstotravel andlove forherfatherand
family,hercountryalso.She visiteddifferentareaswithinEngland,withherfatherbarelyleavinghis
dorm forthe most part, she thoughtthat itwas herdutyto make a presence aroundEnglandand
gathersupportfor the Kingto become well again.Asshe travelled,sodidBaronWilliam, she wanted
to letthe Baron getto knowher; that wayhe wouldbe more successful infindingthe appropriate
suitor. In 1463, Baron WilliamwasworriedthatRichardwouldnevercome outfromthisillnessthat
he was still within,andsoaskedforthe permissionof Isabellatosetup a Joustingtournamentfor
onlythe greatestof noblestocompete forherhand.Isabellahavingakeeneye forthose talented
knights,agreedimmediately,she toowasworriedabouthercurrentsituationandsobelievedit
wouldbe bestto finda suitorimmediately.She wasexcitedandspoke topthe Baronabouthim

2. oprganisingthe competitionwithinthe nextyear,he wouldfindsuitableknightstocompete,and
knowingthe foreignrelationsthatIsabellawas interestedin,he seekedthatof all overEurope.
Isabellakindlyawaitedthe tournament,andtookcare of her fatherwithinthe meantime,she also
beganto see some of the smallercompetitionsandtournamentstoscoutoutsome of the knights
and whatJoustingwasreallyabout,She thoughtthatif she had gottensome ideasof whatkindof
skill levelswereoutthere,she wouldunderstandthe capabilitiesof whowasenteringthe
competitionsinthe bigtournament.Onthe leaduptothe tournament,she hadconversationswith
herfather,regardingthe situationof England.He gave herthe blessingtochoose whomshe
believedwasright,andsupportedthe decisionforthe tournamentthatthe Baronhad conjured.
Isabellanowawaitedandpreparedforthe tournament.
TobiasRymer