Origins: Who was King Edward of 17th century?

Subject: RE: Origins: Who was King Edward of 17th century?
From: greg stephens
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 09:09 AM

Edward I seems to be the only one with two wives. Edward II didnt trouble the ladies unduly, Edward III and Edward IV only had one queen apiece if I hacv read Wikipedia correctly.Edward V was a prince in the tower and didnt have time for wives. Edward VI likewise died young.

Subject: RE: Origins: Who was King Edward of 17th century?
From: Stower
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 09:07 AM

bubblyrat, have you anything useful to contribute? Or have you already answered that?

Subject: RE: Origins: Who was King Edward of 17th century?
From: bubblyrat
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 08:56 AM

It might have been Edward The Confuser, who used to bemuddle his enemies by laying a false trail of sliced and sauteed Maris Pipers, or as Nelson said " I see new chips !"

Subject: RE: Origins: Who was King Edward of 17th century?
From: Stower
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 08:53 AM

OK, I think we've exhausted the potato debate.

Any more on the identity of the Edward in the song? Was there a 17th century European King Edward? I don't think so, but I defer who anyone who knows better. It's probably a sly reference to Charles II, I'm guessing.

Subject: RE: Origins: Who was King Edward of 17th century?
From: greg stephens
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 08:50 AM

It doesnt have to be about a recent Edward, could have been one of the first four Edwards? The reference in the song to Rosamund and Henry refer to HenryII and his naughty doings in the 12th century.

Subject: RE: Origins: Who was King Edward of 17th century?
From: GUEST,guest gutcher
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 08:45 AM

There certainly is a breed of potato called "King Edward".
Unfortunately it only dates from the early 20th C.
Probably so named as a joke at the expense of the then King Edward
due to his shape and/or his mental capacity.
Joe.

Subject: RE: Origins: Who was King Edward of 17th century?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 08:32 AM

I think he means this:

http://www.lovepotatoes.co.uk/king-edward/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Edward_potato

The Wikipedia page says they were introduced in 1902 and named after King Edward I&VII.

I was once part of a group of musicians in a play about potato pickers in Midlothian. We formed a band afterwards. One name we considered using was "King Edward and the Pentland Squires".

Subject: RE: Origins: Who was King Edward of 17th century?
From: Stower
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 08:03 AM

Thanks, Jack. No, I probably wouldn't be able to make sense of an allegorical song, if this is one, either.

bubblyrat, did you post to the right thread?

Any more?

Subject: RE: Origins: Who was King Edward of 17th century?
From: bubblyrat
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 07:59 AM

He was a potato ; his real name was Murphy = Spud = Potato. Being somewhat louche,he was probably the first true "couch pototo".

Subject: RE: Origins: Who was King Edward of 17th century?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 07:40 AM

Could it be allegorical, about the succession of James II&VII?

If so I still can't make sense of it - religio-political allegories of the period are often hard to interpret.

Subject: Origins: Who was King Edward of 17th century?
From: Stower
Date: 09 Dec 10 - 05:36 AM

I am researching (for performance) 'A Courtly New Ballad of the Princely Wooing of the fair maid of London, by King Edward', published as a broadsheet 1684-1686 and found here.

The song is about King Edward. The previous Edward to the broadside was Edward VI, reigned 1547-1553, the boy king, so it can't be him. And the next was Edward VII, who was not to reign until 1901, so it's not him.

So is the King Edward of the song a literary device, or might it be about the real antics of a European King Edward, married twice and not especially faithful? Or could King Edward be a pseudonym for King Charles II, famously a sexual profligate, making the song a statement that women should keep away from this predatory and unwholesome man?

Any suggestions or information would be very welcome.

Stower.