XXII. 1478. CHA P. those ignorant times, such a silly reason might have some influence: But it is more probable that the whole story is the invention of a subsequent period, and founded on the murder of these children by the Duke of Glocester. Comines remarks, that, at that time, the English never were without some superstitious prophecy or other, by which they accounted for every event. 1482. ALL the glories of Edward's reign terminated with the civil wars; where his laurels too were extremely sullied with blood, violence, and cruelty. His spirit seems afterwards to have been sunk in indolence and pleasure, or his measures were frustrated by imprudence and the want of foresight. There was no object on which he was more intent than to have all his daughters settled by splendid marriages, though most of these Princesses were yet in their infancy, and though the completion of his views, it was obvious, must depend on numberless accidents, which were impossible to be foreseen or prevented. His eldest daughter, Elizabeth, was contracted to the Dauphin; his second, Cicely, to the eldest son of James III., King of Scotland; his third, Anne, to Philip only son of Maximilian and the Dutchess of Burgundy; his fourth, Catharine, to John son and heir to Ferdinand King of Arragon, and Isabella Queen of Castile. w None of these projected marriages took place; and the King himself saw, in his life-time, the rupture of the first, that with the Dauphin, for which he had always discovered a peculiar fondness. Lewis, who paid no regard to treaties or engagements, found his advantage in contracting the Dauphin to the Princess Margaret daughter of Maximilian; and the King, notwithstanding his indolence, prepared to revenge the indignity. The French monarch, eminent for prudence as well as perfidy, endeavoured to guard against the blow; and W XXII. 1482. by a proper distribution of presents in the court CHA P. of Scotland, he incited James to make war upon England. This Prince, who lived on bad terms with his own nobility, and whose force was very unequal to the enterprise, levied an army; but when he was ready to enter England, the Barons, conspiring against his favourites, put them to death without trial; and the army presently disbanded. The Duke of Glocester, attended by the Duke of Albany, James's brother, who had been banished his country, entered Scotland at the head of an army, took Berwic, and obliged the Scots to accept of a peace, by which they resigned that fortress to Edward. This success emboldened the King to think more seriously of a French war; but while he was making preparations for that enterprise, he was seized with a distemper, of which he expired 9th April. in the forty-second year of his age, and the twenty- Death and third of his reign: A Prince more splendid and of Edshowy, than either prudent or virtuous; brave, ward IV. though cruel; addicted to pleasure, though capable of activity in great emergencies; and less fitted to prevent ills by wise precautions, than to remedy them after they took place, by his vigour and enterprise. Besides five daughters, this King left two sons; Edward Prince of Wales, his successor, then in his thirteenth year, and Richard Duke of York in his ninth. character 1483. State of the court. CHAP. XXIII. EDWARD V. and RICHARD III. Edward V-State of the Court.-The Earl of Rivers arrested.-Duke of Glocester Protector.-Execution of Lord Hastings.-The Protector aims at the Crown. -Assumes the Crown.-Murder of Edward V. and of the Duke of York. - Richard III.-Duke of Buckingham discontented. The Earl of Richmond. -Buckingham executed.-Invasion by the Earl of Richmond.- Battle of Bosworth.- Death and character of Richard III. - EDWARD V. peace СНАР. D DURING the later years of Edward IV., the XXIII. nation having, in a great measure, forgotten the bloody feuds between the two roses, and ably acquiescing in the established government, was agitated only by some court-intrigues, which being restrained by the authority of the King, seemed nowise to endanger the public tranquillity. These intrigues arose from the perpetual rivalship between two parties; one consisting of the Queen and her relations, particularly the Earl of Rivers her brother, and the Marquis of Dorset her son; the other composed of the ancient nobility, who envied the sudden growth and unlimited credit of that aspiring family. At the head of this latter party was the Duke of Buckingham, a man of very noble birth, of ample possessions, of great X 1483. alliances, of shining parts; who, though he had CHAP. married the Queen's sister, was too haughty to act_XXIII. in subserviency to her inclinations, and aimed rather at maintaining an independent influence and authority. Lord Hastings, the chamberlain, was another leader of the same party; and as this nobleman had, by his bravery and activity, as well as by his approved fidelity, acquired the confidence and favour of his master, he had been able, though with some difficulty, to support himself against the credit of the Queen. The lords Howard and Stanley maintained a connection with these two noblemen, and brought a considerable accession of influence and reputation to their party. All the other Barons, who had no particular dependance on the Queen, adhered to the same interest; and the people in general, from their natural envy against the prevailing power, bore great favour to the cause of these noblemen. BUT Edward knew that, though he himself had been able to overawe those rival factions, many disorders might arise from their contests during the minority of his son; and he therefore took care, in his last illness, to summon together several of the leaders on both sides, and, by composing their ancient quarrels, to provide, as far as possible, for the future tranquillity of the government. After expressing his intentions that his brother the Duke of Glocester, then absent in the north, should be entrusted with the regency, he recommended to them peace and unanimity during the tender years of his son; represented to them the dangers which must attend the continuance of their animosities; and engaged them to embrace each other with all the appearance of the most cordial reconciliation. But this temporary or feigned agreement lasted no longer than the King's life: He had no sooner expired, than the jealousies of the parties broke out afresh And each of them applied, by separate messages, CHA P. messages, to the Duke of Glocester, and endeaXXIII. voured to acquire his favour and friendship. 1483. THIS Prince, during his brother's reign, had endeavoured to live on good terms with both parties; and his high birth, his extensive abilities, and his great services had enabled him to support himself without falling into a dependance on either. But the new situation of affairs, when the supreme power was devolved upon him, immediately changed his measures; and he secretly determined to preserve no longer that neutrality which he had hitherto maintained. His exorbitant ambition, unrestrained by any principle either of justice or humanity, made him carry his views to the possession of the crown itself; and as this object could not be attained without the ruin of the Queen and her family, he fell, without hesitation, into concert with the opposite party. But being sensible, that the most profound dissimulation was requisite for effecting his criminal purposes, he redoubled his professions of zeal and attachment to that Princess; and he gained such credit with her, as to influence her conduct in a point, which, as it was of the utmost importance, was violently disputed between the opposite factions. THE young King, at the time of his father's death, resided in the castle of Ludlow, on the borders of Wales; whither he had been sent, that the influence of his presence might overawe the Welsh, and restore the tranquillity of that country, which had been disturbed by some late commotions. His person was committed to the care of his uncle the Earl of Rivers, the most accomplished nobleman in England, who, having united an uncommon taste for literature to great abilities in business, and valour in the field, was entitled, by his talents, still › This nobleman first introduced the noble art of printing into England. Caxton was recommended by him to the patronage of Edward IV. See Catalogue of Royal and Noble Authors. more |