XI. ficient for his present purpose from Charles VIII., CHAP. he left Dorset and Sir John Bourchier at the French court as hostages for the payment of the debt, and proceeded to Rouen, where he collected his friends, whilst a few vessels were preparing at Harfleur for the conveyance of the followers of his almost desperate enterprise. Richard's costly precautions in the defence of his kingdom had drained the treasury; the crown revenues were inadequate to the support of his splendid household, his well-appointed army, and the maiutenance of the numerous fortresses which his jealousy had garrisoned and equipped. Distressed for the necessary supply of money to carry on an expensive war, he was compelled to resort to a measure which he had abrogated and condemned. The extortion of grants from the people under the name of a benevolence had endangered the popularity of Edward IV., and this odious system offered a fair opportunity for Richard to animadvert upon the faults of his brother's government, and to conciliate the nation by annulling and denouncing a favourite plan of the late monarch as illegal, despotic, and unwarrantable; but when the crown was placed in jeopardy, Richard did not scruple to risk the forfeiture of public confidence by the revival of this hateful tax; he pledged his plate and jewels as a security for the payment of large loans, and finding the produce insufficient for the immense demands of a war establishment, replenished his exhausted coffers with gold wrung with difficulty from the unwilling hands of his murmuring subjects. Richard's conduct upon this occasion • Fabian. XI. CHAP. proved that no reliance could be placed upon his principles, he fell with every temptation, pursuing the right only so long as it was the expedient also; and by the ostentatious assumption of extraordinary merit in the performance of any equitable and popular act, he rendered his frequent derelictions from the strict laws of justice and morality more striking and conspicuous. The imposition of this burthen completed the national disgust; private property was no longer secure, and though the king would not permit the extortion to be called by its former name of benevolence, the people revived the same epithet with which it had been branded in Edward's time, and styled it a malevolence.* Loud and deep murmurs evinced the public disapprobation; the hearts of Richard's subjects became still farther estranged from his interests, and were either filled with active resentment or marked by careless indifference. A few, a very few personal friends clung to him to the last; and with the exception of this small and stedfast band, no class or portion of the community displayed the slightest token of the warm attachment which his struggling predecessors had so frequently experienced. • Chronicles of Croyle. CHAPTER XII. Unfavourable Aspect of Richmond's Affairs-Perfidy of Richard's Confidents-Intelligence conveyed to Richmond-Secrecy of Richmond's Measures-Richard's foreboding Fears-Henry Tudor lands in Wales-he commences his March—Encounters many Difficulties—is joined by Ap Thomas-and the Earl of Shrewsbury-Richard prepares for Battle-Arrest of Lord Strange-Imprisonment of the Princess Elizabeth-Numbers flock to the King's Standard—Muster at Nottingham-Small Number of Richard's Friends-Norfolk's Zeal-Warning Rhyme-doubtful Conduct of the Stanleys—Richmond's Danger at Shrewsbury—is joined by two Knights—Wanders out of the Road-Interview with the Stanleys-Sir John Savage and others go over to the Lancastrians—Richard marches from Leicester-Disturbed State of the King's Mind-his Prophecy concerning himself—his fearful Dream-his Threats of VengeancePeril of Lord Strange-Richard takes the Command of the ArmyDisposition of his Forces-his Address to the Soldiers-Disparity of Richmond's Numbers-The Stanleys remain neutral-Description of Richmond's Person-his Speech-Situation of the two Armies -Military Talents of the Earl of Oxford-Advantage gained by the Lancastrians-Richard's undaunted Courage-Defection of the Stanleys-Richard's last Charge-he is overpowered and slainDesertion of the Nobles-Richmond's Gratitude to his Followers-he is crowned on the Field-Death of Richard's Friends-Single Combat between Hungerford and Brackenbury-and between Norfolk and Oxford-Anecdote of Byron and Clifton-and of Rhys VychanEscape of Lovel-Execution of Catesby-Insults offered to Richard's Corse-Henry's triumphant Entry into Leicester. RICHMOND's prospects were still of a gloomy nature, his utmost force did not exceed two thousand CHAP. XI. CHAP. ill-appointed men, and these he proposed to embark XII. almost without a purpose; for the opposite coast was so strongly guarded by Richard that there appeared to be a very slight chance even of effecting a landing with so small a number. Lord Lovel was stationed at Southampton with a strong body of soldiers, and the king on learning intelligence of his enemy's hostile movements placed himself at Nottingham, a central point, prepared to rush upon the invaders before their English adherents could have time to join them. Richard's plans were prudent, well arranged, and admirably fitted to meet the dangers of the impending crisis; but they were rendered unavailing by the treachery of his council. Considerable forces were raising in Wales for the ostensible purpose of repelling the Earl of Richmond's invasion, but national feeling was favourable to an adventurer born upon the soil, and bearing a distinguishing mark of his native land in a name bequeathed by an honourable ancestry.* Morgan Kidwelly, the king's attorney-general, although enjoying the lavish bounty of his trusting sovereign, exulted in the hope of placing Henry Tudor on the throne: vanity, combined with the more reprehensible qualities of a deceitful heart, induced him to betray the confidence so unworthily reposed in him, and he sent instructions to France which directed Richmond to make his attempt upon the Welch coast: the Earl by this important message also learned that his English par Though Owen Tudor's claims to noble birth have been disputed, his marriage with Queen Catharine, and the high rank attained by his sons, gave him consequence with his countrymen, who favoured the pretensions advanced by Richmond to a descent from the native Princes of Wales. XII. tisans had successfully tampered with Sir Rice ap CHAP. Thomas, a powerful captain, who with Sir John Savage, another of the king's commanders in Cheshire, would lead their respective forces to join his standard; and moreover that Reginald Bray had collected a sum of money for the support of the foreign soldiers on their march. Thus admonished, Richmond obeyed the mandate of his friend with delighted alacrity, and shaped his course towards the remote and unsuspected quarter which he had described as the most advantageous point for the commencement of the war. Richmond's habitual caution and the vague nature of his plans previous to the adoption of Morgan Kidwelly's judicious advice, had completely baffled the untiring efforts of the king of England to penetrate his secret councils. Richard's spies never elicited intelligence of the slightest importance from the confederates; the trusted were too faithful, and their associates too ignorant to be ensnared by the subtle devices of their enemies; and the profound mystery which enveloped Richmond's intentions formed the earl's surest safeguard and thrilled even his gallant opponent's heart with dark apprehensions. Richard's invincible courage never shrank from open danger; but no man is proof against the peril which lurks unseen. The monarch's keen eye glanced vainly around in search of the spot whence the expected storm should arise, the thunderbolt was ready to fall he knew not where. The ground trembling beneath his feet indicated an approaching earthquake, but his erring steps without a guide might lead him to the brink of a yawning chasm. But |