The Black Arrow: A Tale of the Two Roses and calling card is a black arrow, cause Dick to suspect that his guardian Sir Daniel Brackley and his retainers are responsible for his father's murder. Dick's suspicions are enough to turn Sir Daniel against him, so he has no recourse but to escape from Sir Daniel and join the outlaws of the Black Arrow against him. This struggle sweeps him up into the greater conflict surrounding them all. The novel is set in the reign of "old King Henry VI" (1422–1461, 1470–1471) and during the Wars of the Roses (1455–1487). The story begins with the Tunstall Moat House alarm
Giovanni Battista Savelli Giovanni Battista Savelli Giovanni Battista Savelli (1422, Rome - September 18, 1498, Castel Gandolfo) was an Italian cardinal from the 15th century. Of the noble Savelli family to which belonged Pope Honorius III (1216–1227) and Pope Honorius IV (1285–1287) and Cardinals: Bertrando Savelli, Silvio Savelli, Giulio Savelli, Fabrizio Savelli, Paolo Savelli and Domenico Savelli. He was called "the Cardinal Savelli". He was honoured protonotary apostolic.Named governor of Bologna, 1468 - 1470. There is no data about his education. Savelli was created cardinal "in pectore" by Pope Paul II in May or June 1471,because of the opposition of Cardinal Latino Orsini