V. CHAP. worth. The same night Henry proceeded from Tamworth to Atherston, where he joined the Stanleys, and was encouraged by the repeated arrivals of deserters from the enemy. In the Aug. 22. morning both armies (that of Richard was double in number) advanced to Redmore: and the vanguards, commanded by the duke of Norfolk and the earl of Oxford, engaged. Richard was dismayed to see the Stanleys opposed to him, the earl of Northumberland remaining inactive at his post, and his men wavering and on the point of flying, or going over to his competitor. Chancing to espy Henry, he determined to win the day, or perish in the attempt. Spurring his horse and exclaiming, "Treason, treason, trea66 son, "30 he slew with his own hand sir William Brandon, the bearer of the hostile standard, struck to the ground sir John Cheney, and made a desperate blow at his rival, when he was overRichard is powered by numbers, thrown from his horse and slain. immediately slain. Lord Stanley, taking up the crown, placed it on the head of Henry, and the conqueror was instantly greeted with the shouts of "Long live king Henry." In the battle and pursuit the duke of Norfolk, the lord Ferrers, some knights, and about three thousand others were killed. The victors lost but few: and to add to their joy lord Strange, whom Richard had ordered to be beheaded at the beginning of 30 Ross, 218. V. the battle, escaped in the confusion, and rejoined CHAP. his father. The body of the late king was stript, laid across a horse behind a pursuivant at arms, and conducted to Leicester, where, after it had been exposed for two days, it was buried with little ceremony in the church of the Grey friars. Henry entered the town before it with the same royal state with which Richard had marched out the preceding day. He was careful, however, not to stain his triumph with blood. Of all his prisoners three only suffered death, the notorious Catesby, and two persons of the name of Brecher, who probably had merited that distinction by their crimes.31 Of the character of Richard it is unnecessary to say much. If he was guilty of the crimes laid to his charge, he was little better than a monster in human shape. Writers have indeed existed in modern times who have attempted to prove his innocence: but their arguments are rather ingenious than conclusive; and dwindle into groundless conjectures when confronted with the evidence, which may be arrayed against them.32 * Count. Croyl. 573–575. Ross, 218. Fab. 520. CHAP. VI. HENRY VII. CONTEMPORARY PRINCES. Emperors of Ger. | Kings of Scotl. | Kings of France. | Sovereigns of Spain. Maximilian. Popes. .1504. PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT THE KING'S MARRIAGE-INSUR- CHAP. THE long quarrel between the two houses of VI. York and Lancaster had deluged England with Defects of blood: by a fortunate concurrence of circumHenry's title. stances it was given to Henry of Richmond, an exile and an adventurer, without means and without title, to unite the interests of the "two "roses," and to bequeath to posterity the bless VI. ing of an undisputed succession. From the CHAP. field of Bosworth he proceeded to Leicester. Victory had placed the crown on his temples: and the absence of a rival secured to him the present possession of the sovereignty. But a perplexing question occurred on what title he was to ground his claim. On that of hereditary descent? The right of hereditary descent, even supposing it to be in the family of Lancaster, and not of York, could not be propagated through an illegitimate branch, which, to prevent dispute, had been originally cut off from the succession by act of parliament. Should he then depend on his stipulated marriage with the princess Elizabeth? But his pride, disdained to owe the sceptre to a wife, the representative of a rival and hated family. That would be to justify the dethronement of Henry VI., to acknowledge himself a king only by courtesy, and to exclude his issue by any succeeding marriage from all claim to the throne. There remained the right of conquest: but, though he might appeal to his late victory as an argument that heaven approved of his pretensions,' he dared 'It was the common persuasion at the time that, as in private duels, so in battles, the event shewed the right of the victorious party. Henry alluded to it in parliament. Rot. Parl. vi. 268. And the same doctrine had been openly maintained by Edward IV. In "division and contraversie moved betwyxt princes uppon the high soveraigne power roiell, more evident prove or declaration "of trouth, right and Godds will may not be bad than by the means "of reason, auctoritie, and victorie in batailles," Rym. xi. 710. 66 VI. CHAP. not mention the name of conquest, or he would have united his friends with his foes in a common league against him." The question became the subject of long and anxious deliberation ; and it was at last resolved to follow a line of proceeding, which, while it settled the crown on the king and his heirs in general, should not bring either his right, or that of the princess, into discussion.3 He sends Elizabeth The reader has seen that Richard before his to London. fall, had named his nephew, John de la Pole earl of Lincoln, to be his successor. Him and his pretensions Henry treated with contempt; but there was another prince, Edward Plantagenet, son to the late duke of Clarence, whom he viewed with peculiar jealousy. After the execution of Clarence, Edward IV. had sent for the child to court, and had created him earl of Warwick, the title borne by his grandfather. Even Richard, when his own son was dead, had at first assigned to him the honours of the heir apparent: but afterwards, fearing that he might become a dangerous competitor, had confined him in the castle of Sheriff-hutton in Yorkshire. The first act of the new king at Leicester, was to transfer the young prince, who had only reached his fifteenth year, from his prison in the north to a place of greater security, the Tower., 2 Because it was taught that a conqueror might dispossess all men of their lands, since they held them of the prince, who had been conquered Bacon, 2-4.. 3 |