WI: Edward IV Really Was a Bastard?

This is one of those things that I see every so often, and on the most recent sighting, I started wondering what the repercussions thereof would be.

From what I know, Edward was born (probably premature), and thus christened in the side-chapel at Rouen Cathedral. And everyone takes this argument when compared with the christening of his brothers, as a sure sign that his mother cuckolded his father.

Now, leaving aside the fact that Proud Cis doesn't seem to have the personality that she would cheat on her royal husband with a mere archer (or whatever), let's say the cuckoldry occurs. Edward is not the son of the duke of York.

However, Richard is aware of his wife's affair as he is also aware of Edward's paternity. How does the saga play out from there? How do Richard, Cecily, the royal courts in both France and England, react? Does Richard have his marriage to Cis annulled? Does she get shut away in a convent? And if Richard remarries, to whom? And what becomes of poor Edward, since I doubt he'll be sitting on the throne in this scenario.
 
The marriage causes a scandal and is quietly dissolved. Cecily is forced to retire to an abbey - perhaps Bermondsey? - while Richard marries again. Not sure which English girls are available. Maybe Isabeau d'Armagnac? As to young Edward, bastard children went either into the church or the army. Army more likely, given Ned's tastes ("alive he'd fuck it, dead he'd eat it).
 
I'm going to say that this is going to be helpful for the House of Lancaster for a couple of reasons, although I think they will still face the same issues in the 1450s and 1460s.

1. The Duke of York's earliest base were Cecily's brother and nephew, the Earls of Salisbury and Warwick. The Duke of York didn't have EIV's winning personality and had a bit of contentious reputation. He's going to have a hard getting support from the other nobles. If he brands Cecily a whore, he isn't going to get the support of the Beaufort Nevilles and may not get very far in asking for reform or against the crown.
2. In the OTL, one of the Duke of York's advantages as a monarch was the fact that he and Cecily had a whole brood of children. At one time they had 4 boys and a couple of a girls. He certainly had a few children before Henry VI's son was born. The picture's less rosy if there's a scandal involved and the Duke of York's heir is branded a bastard. If there's an annulment and the Duke of York remarries, the heirs might come along a couple of years later, but I doubt people would look at the Duke of York's family as a good bet for a stable succession as in the OTL.
3. The Duke of York might take on less of a public role if he's dishonoured so badly.
 
So perhaps the Duke of York will say nothing even if he knows the child isn't his? If the scandal will mean losing that much support then he might decide that practicality trumps pride and keep his mouth shut.
 
So perhaps the Duke of York will say nothing even if he knows the child isn't his? If the scandal will mean losing that much support then he might decide that practicality trumps pride and keep his mouth shut.

Given Cicely's personality I think the only reasonable chance of this POD is if she's raped. Which might still have Richard repudiate her, but perhaps with less certainty than if she has an affair.
 
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