It must not be supposed that the citizens of London soli cited Richard to accept the crown entirely from the love they bore to him. He had caused the city to be surrounded by numerous bodies of troops, and would have proceeded to violent measures, had not the citizens acted as they did. The new king, soon after the coronation, set out with his queen, and only son, then about eight years old, on a royal progress through the kingdom. When the court arrived at York, the king, to gain popularity amongst the people, who flocked there in great numbers to see him, entertained them with the ceremony of a coronation, and was crowned in the cathedral at that city a second time. But while Richard was thus making a parade of his How were the citizens of London constrained to offer Richard the crown? Where was Richard III. crowned? What conspiracy was formed against Richard? royalty, a plot was already brewing to deprive him of it. Morton, bishop of Ely, had been committed to the custody of the duke of Buckingham. That shrewd prelate soon saw that though the duke had received great rewards from the king, he yet wanted more, and that resentment and discontent were rankling in his mind. Morton accordingly found no difficulty in persuading him, notwithstanding he had so greatly contributed to the exalting of Richard, to join in a conspiracy formed for deposing him, and for placing Henry Tudor, earl of Richmond, on the throne. The friends of Richmond were desirous of supplying the defects of his title by marrying him to Elizabeth, daughter of Edward IV., who certainly, now that her brothers were gone, seemed to have the best right to the crown. Having formed their plan, they sent messengers to the young earl, entreating him to come to England immediately; and they made preparations at the same time for a general rising on the 18th of October. But Richard, whose vigilance had not let this tempest gather unperceived, assembled an army rapidly at Northampton, to be ready to march to that part of the country where the storm should burst. Buckingham was prevented from acting against Richard, being betrayed to him for a reward of a thousand pounds. He was taken to London, and begged earnestly to see the king, and plead his cause before him; but Richard refused his request, and ordered him to be immediately executed. The other conspirators, discouraged by this disastrous beginning, dispersed, but were many of them taken, and the execution of some of the ringleaders terminated this formi dable insurrection. Richard made a triumphant entry into A. D. 1483. London, and all things now seemed to prosper to his wishes. But he, whose heart was too hard to feel for the affliction of others, was himself vulnerable in his paternal affection. Edward, his only child, died April 9, 1484; and we are told that the king's grief was so excessive that he almost "run mad." The grief of the queen was What plan was formed for the exclusion of Richard, and how did he prepare to frustrate that plan? What happened to the conspirators against Richard? What domestic misfortunes happened to Richard ? not less violent; and her death a few months afterwards, is generally ascribed to it. Richard, notwithstanding all his spies, and the secret intelligence he kept up in the country, does not seem to have been aware that, while Richmond was supposed to be in France, soliciting aid from foreign princes, he in fact passed great part of the time in Wales, making himself friends among his countrymen; for the Tudors were a Welsh family. Once, when at Tremostyn, in Flintshire, he was so near being discovered by one of Richard's spies, that he only escaped by jumping out of a back window, and getting through a hole, which is still called the king's hole. Richmond, on his return to France, heard a report of Richard's marriage with the princess Elizabeth. On this, hastily collecting all the English exiles, and a few French soldiers, he mustered a body of 3000 men, and with this small army he landed at Milford Haven, August 7, 1485, trusting to the co-operation of his friends in England. When Richard heard how small a number of persons accompanied the earl, he despised so weak an enemy. But when he found that enemy to be presently joined by some Welsh troops that had been sent against him, and that his numbers were fast increasing, he began to think the danger more urgent. His spies either could not or would not give him true information; and he began to suspect and distrust all about him. Richard at this juncture adopted the only measure he could devise, to prevent the defection of the army in his cause. Lord Stanley, to whom Richard had given the chief command in his army, was in secret league with Richmond, whose mother he had married. Richard, though he knew not exactly what to apprehend, seized on Stanley's son, and kept him as a hostage for the fidelity of his father, who was thus prevented from openly appearing in Richmond's cause. Richard being desperate, at length roused himself, and collecting what troops he could, marched from Notting Where was the earl of Richmond 1485? When and where did the army of Richmond land in England? How did Richard prepare for his adversary? What measure did Richard take in respect to lord Stanley? ham, where he was keeping his court, to Leicester. August 22d, he left Leicester with great pomp, wearing a crown on his helmet, but with a countenance indicating a troubled mind, and encamped at the abbey of Merivalle, not far from Bosworth, where Richmond had arrived the night before, The two armies were placed so near together, that during the night many deserted from the royal army and joined Richmond. The next morning the forces on both sides were drawn out in line of battle. The battle began, but no vigor or spirit was displayed in the royal army; and, when lord Stanley suddenly turned and attacked it, Richard saw that all was lost, and exclaiming "Treason! treason! treason!" rushed in the madness of rage and desperation into the midst of the enemy, and made his way to the earl of Richmond, hewing down all before him. The earl rather shrunk back at the approach of such a desperate antagonist; but his attendants gathered round Richard, who fought like a wild beast at bay, till at last he fell covered with wounds. His helmet was so beaten in by the blows it had received, that its form was quite destroyed. Scarcely any persons of note fell on this memorable field. years, and was He fell near a The dead body Richard reigned little more than two slain in the thirty-fifth year of his age. brook which runs through Bosworth field. of the king was treated like that of a malefactor, and thrown neck and heels across a horse, and carried to Leicester, where it was buried in the church of the Grey Friars.But his bones were not permitted to rest in this humble bed; for at the destruction of the religious houses by Henry VIII. they were torn from their burying-place. His coffin was afterwards used as a drinking trough for horses at an inn in Leicester. The consequences of the battle of Bosworth were of great importance, not only to the individuals who were engaged in it, but to the whole nation. Indeed, no battle How did Richard demean himself in the battle of Bosworth field? How did Richmond meet Richard, and how fell Richard? How long did Richard III. reign, and how was his dead body treated? What were the consequences to the English nation of the battle of Bosworth? since that of Hastings, had been productive of such material changes. The battle of Hastings brought in the feudal system in its most oppressive form; and the battle of Bosworth put an end to it, and also to the long line of Plantagenet kings, who had governed England for 330 years. There were fourteen Plantagenet kings: Henry the Se cond, and thirteen descendants. Four of these, John, Henry III., Richard II., and Henry VI., were feeble monarchs. The rest inherited all the abilities and bravery of their great ancestor but they were one and all of them ignorant of what may be called a Christian policy,-ignorant that it is the duty of princes to seek the improvement and happiness of their subjects, rather than the increase of territory, or the triumph of arms. But, in despite of the false notions of their kings, the English nation was gradually becoming more free, intelligent, and virtuous, during these successive reigns. Began to Reigned reign. years. 1154.... 35... .... .... ... .... .... 1189 1199 1216 1272 1307 1327 1377 1399 1413 .... 1422 1461 1483 .... .... 1483.... 10 17 56 THE PLANTAGENET LINE. .... Edward I. son of Henry III. Edward II. of Carnarvon, son of Edward I. Richard II. of Bordeaux, grandson of Edward III. 14 Henry IV. of Lancaster, cousin to Richard II. grandson of Edward III. 9.... Henry V. of Monmouth, son of Henry IV. 49 22.... Henry VI. of Westminster, son of Henry V. Edward IV. of York, third cousin to Henry VI. great great grandson of Edward III. 3m. Edward V. son of Edward IV. 2.... Richard III. Crookback, uncle of Edward V. and the last of the Plantagenets. Who were the Plantagenet kings, and what their general character? |