Page images
PDF
EPUB

Richard married, after much opposition from his brother Clarence, Anne, the second daughter of the earl of Warwick, and widow of Prince Edward. She died, after a lingering illness, March 16, 1485, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Their only child, Edward, born at Middleham, in Yorkshire, in 1473, was by Edward IV. created earl of Salisbury in 1477, and in the first year of Richard's reign, prince of Wales and earl of Chester, and appointed lordlieutenant of Ireland. He died April 9, 1484.

Richard had a natural daughter, Katherine, who married William Herbert, earl of Huntingdon', but is believed to have died shortly after. Two natural sons are also ascribed to him, and a tale has been told of one of them living in Kent to the time of Edward VI. (1550), and following for safety the craft of a bricklayer, but its truth is very doubtful.

[merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small]

Badges of Richard III.

The character by which Richard III. | is popularly known was drawn in the first instance by two or three writers who lived in the time of his victorious opponent'; but their glaringly prejudiced statements" having been adopted and embellished by the talents of Sir Thomas More, Lord Bacon, and Shakspeare, have thus gained a place in received history, and have caused him to be generally regarded rather as a monster than a man. The Public Statutes and Records of his reign, however, exhibit him in a very different light. It may also be remarked, that the crimes laid to his

[blocks in formation]

charge are not, in any one instance, supported by really conclusive evidence; while it is certain that his succession to the throne was agreeable to the main body of the nation, which seems to have imitated the example of Saxon times", in preferring the rule of a man skilled in arms and government to the dangers of a long minority. His enemies are obliged to confess that he swayed the sceptre with vigour and ability, and that wise and equitable laws were enacted by his parliament; they also allow him military skill and courage°; and it is now well understood that his

tained, or rather invented, the title of Protector.

He received his master, Edward, with kisses and fawning caresses, and in three months murdered him and his brother, poisoned his own wife, and, what was most detestable both to God and the English nation, slew the sanctified Henry VI."

n Ethelred and Alfred the Great both became kings, to the prejudice of their nephews, owing to the disturbed state of the nation. See pp. 43, 44.

It is, however, done reluctantly: "If I may venture to speak anything to his honour," says Rous, "though he was a little man, he was a noble

and valiant soldier."

fall was caused, not by hatred of his crimes among the ancient friends of his House, but by the arms of his and their hereditary foes rendered triumphant by the treachery of such men as Stanley and Northumberland, who held most important offices under him P.

Brief and troubled as was the period of Richard's rule, several matters which date from it, are justly considered of great importance at the present day. The statutes of his parliament are the first that were drawn up in the English language, as they were also the first that were printed; the office of consul, so necessary to the interest of merchants and travellers abroad, was established by him; and that great engine of modern convenience, the post-office, is based on a system of couriers established by him for the rapid transmission of intelligence during his campaigns in Scotland in 1481 and 1482.

The Public Statutes of Richard's reign may perhaps not be regarded as conclusive evidence of his personal character; but numerous entries on his Patent Rolls indicate with certainty that he has, in many most important particulars, been unjustly treated by historians in general. They prove him', like monarchs of very different reputation, to have granted numerous pardons to his opponents', and to have

Stanley was high constable, and Northumberland great chamberlain as well as warden of the Scottish marches. Both had received portions of the forfeited estates of Buckingham, and both had accepted their high offices long after the alleged deaths of the young princes, which gives rise to the question, did they believe the tale to be untrue, or were they the willing agents of a murderer?

The English merchants abroad had before his time chosen one of their number governor, but Richard first made him an officer of the state. Lorenzo Strozzi, of Florence, was in 1485 appointed consul and president of the English merchants in Italy by patent from the king.

See Note, p. 265.

Lord Howard was the grandson of Thomas

been lenient in his treatment of their families; lavish in his own grants3, and regardful of those of his predecessors; vigilant in providing for the defence of his shores, and the improvement of his ports; anxious to repress piracy, and ready to compensate the sufferers; desirous to encourage trade by affording protection to merchants and foreigners, of which they must have been fully sensible, judging from the numerous denizations recorded; guarding the purchaser against frauds in the wool manufacture, and also protecting the workman by directing his payment to be made in "ready lawful money 10" In his private character he appears grateful for services rendered to his House "in prosperity and adversity"" mindful of old servants, and willing to lessen his own revenue to benefit faithful towns, or relieve distress1. He devoted deodands and forfeitures to charity 15; liberated his bondmen 16; founded a collegiate church, and several chantries "7; bestowed liberal alms on various religious bodies 18; and was a benefactor to a college in each University 19.

A.D. 1483.

Richard assumes the crown, June 26. He is crowned, with his queen, at Westminster, July 6.

John Howard, lord Howard, is created duke of Norfolk, June 28.

Mowbray, the first duke of Norfolk, who was banished by Richard II. He held the office of sheriff of Norfolk, went to Gascony with Talbot, and was present at the battle of Castillon. He afterwards served principally at sea, at one time ravaged the coast of Britanny, and took the town

Arms of Howard, duke of Norfolk.

Ditto, with the augmentation.

of Conquet. He was much favoured by Edward IV., who made him treasurer of the household, employed him on embassies, and appointed him cap tain-general at sea in 1478. He became deputy of Calais, constable of the Tower, and afterwards was admiral of the fleet which accompanied the duke of Gloucester's invasion of Scotland in 1482. Richard III. he was made earl-marshal, and admiral for life, beside receiving most liberal grants

By

Norfolk is, on the same day, appointed earl-marshal'.

The duke of Buckingham receives the appointment of constable of Eng-| land, and a confirmation and extension of his former grants", July 15. Edward, prince of Wales, appointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland for three years, July 19.

The treason of the duke of Albany being discovered, he flees into England, having first surrendered his castle of Dunbar to the English".

Richard makes a progress through the country, visiting Oxford, Gloucester, Coventry, and arriving at York, knights his son there with great pomp, Sept. 8.

Plots are formed against him, in which his former partisan, the duke of Buckingham, joins".

The malcontents take arms in various quarters', on the same day, Oct. 18. Richard returns southward, issues a proclamation from Leicester, Oct. 23, offering a free pardon to the common people, and large sums for the apprehension of the leaders.

Buckingham, being prevented by a flood in the Severn from joining his confederates, seeks shelter with one of his dependants, but is betrayed by him, carried to Salisbury, and there

in lands and money; he steadily adhered to him, and was killed in his quarrel at Bosworth-field, Ang, 22, 1485. His son, Thomas, who had been a squire of Edward IV., was created earl of Surrey on the same day that the father was made a duke; and he also fought at Bosworth. He suffered a long imprisonment in the Tower, but at length had the title of earl of Surrey, and a portion of his estates, restored to him by Henry VII. He was repeatedly employed against the Scots, and gained the victory of Flodden, by which he obtained an honourable augmentation to his arms; his sons also distinguished themselves both by sea and land. In consequence he had his dukedom and the earl-marshalship restored in 1514, was made lord treasurer and knight of the Garter. He died in 1524.

His fee was to be £20 annually from the feefarm of Ipswich. He had a grant of a great number of manors and lordships, including Farley Castle, July 25, on which day he was appointed admiral of England, Ireland, and Aquitaine.

See p. 257.

▾ See p. 255. It was recovered by the Scots in the summer of 1485

The ceremony is sometimes spoken of as a second coronation, but this is an error.

Buckingham considered that he had a claim to the crown as the descendant of Thomas, duke of Gloucester; but his crafty prisoner, the bishop of Ely, is believed to have fured him to his ruin, by inciting him to demand the lands of the earldom of Hereford, which had belonged to his great grandfather, but had been annexed to the crown ever since the accession of Henry IV. Richard refused this, and Buckingham took up arms, but being

beheaded, Nov. 2. The other malcontents disperse, some finding refuge in sanctuaries, others repairing to Britanny".

The earl of Richmond attempts a landing near Poole, in Dorsetshire, in October; but his fleet being dispersed by a storm, he is obliged to retire to Normandy, where he gains the protection of the Lady of Beaujeu, the regent of France.

Richard proceeds through the west of England, punishing some of the insurgents", but pardoning the greater number, and returning to London at Christmas, is received with great rejoicings.

A.D. 1484.

A parliament held at Westminster, Jan. 23, when several valuable statutes are enacted. 1. An act forbidding secret feoffments [1 Rich. III. c. 1]; 2. forbidding benevolences, (c. 2); 3. allowing bail in accusations of felony, and forbidding the seizure of persons' goods before conviction, (c. 4); 4. remedying the abuse of insufficient jurors, (c. 6); 5. regulating the conduct of aliens, (c. 9). Another act annulled all letters patent granted to "Elizabeth, late wife of Sir John Gray," (c. 15); and by another the

a man possessed of neither courage nor conduct, utterly failed in his enterprise.

Buckingham raised forces in Wales; the marquis of Dorset, the bishop of Exeter (Peter Courteney), and others, in Devonshire; Sir Richard Woodville, and his brother the bishop of Salisbury, in Wiltshire; Sir John Fogge and Sir George Browne, in Kent; and Sir William Norris in Berkshire.

The three bishops of Ely, Exeter, and Salisbury were among the latter number. The bishop of Salisbury (Lionel Woodville, brother of Edward's queen,) died about a year after in exile, but the others survived Richard, and then returned to their sees.

bOne of the parties executed was Sir Thomas St. Leger, Richard's brother-in-law; he had married the duchess of Exeter, but she was now dead.

The statute states that the king, remembering how his subjects have, by new and unlawful inventions and inordinate covetousness, been obliged to pay great sums of money, to their almost utter destruction, ordains, with the consent of parliament, that the exactions called benevolences shall be annulled for ever.

d Importers of books or printers, of any nation or country, are specially excepted from the restraints of this act [1 Rich. III. c. 9], which is an important testimony to the value already attached to the then newly invented art of printing. The king was a man of literary tastes, and in his reign the Statutes were first printed.

The use of this term for the widow of the late king, seems to indicate that Richard's parliament

earl of Richmond was attainted, Jan. 26.

The manufacture of cloth regulated by statute', [1 Rich. III. c. 8].

The members of the two houses of parliament take an oath to support the succession of Richard's son Edward to the throne, Feb.

Both houses of convocation petition the king to relieve them from the jurisdiction of the secular courts. He complies by a charter dated Feb. 238. The queen-dowager is deprived of her estates by the parliament. Richard induces her to leave the Sanctuary at Westminster, taking an oath to provide for her and her daughters, March I.

The heralds and pursuivants of arms incorporated by charter", March 2.

Richard's son dies, April 9. Richard declares his nephew, John de la Pole, earl of Lincoln, his heir.

The earl of Richmond, apprehensive of being delivered up by the duke of Britanny, seeks shelter in France, where he is allowed to raise forces.

A three years' truce concluded with Scotland, Sept. 21, and a marriage arranged between Prince James and Anne de la Pole, Richard's niece.

The duke of Albany invades Scotland with a body of English borderers. He is defeated at Lochmaben, June 22, and flees to France.

The earl of Oxford corrupts the garrison of Hammes, and gains temporary possession of the castle'.

A.D. 1485.

Richard raises money by way of "benevolence," which greatly impairs his popularity.

Richard's queen dies, March 16. He proposes to marry the princess Elizabeth, which is agreed to by her mother.

The earl of Richmond, alarmed at this news ", hastens his preparations.

A fleet fitted out in April, under Sir George Neville", to intercept the Lancastrians.

Richmond sails from Harfleur, Aug. I; evades Richard's fleet, and lands at Milford Haven, Aug. 7.

Richard repairs to Nottingham, as a central station, where he orders his friends to join him.

Richmond advances through Wales into Staffordshire; is joined by Sir George Talbot and others, and comes to an understanding with Lord Stanley".

The castle of Dunbar recovered by the Scots.

Richard, on the news of Richmond's approach, repairs to Leicester. He leaves it, Aug. 21, and encamps near Bosworth.

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

were satisfied that their marriage was null and void, | in which case Richard would not be a usurper.

f Some of the enactments appearing injudicious, the penalties were remitted by the king's proclamation, Oct. 25, 1484.

This was in imitation of what his brother Edward had done in the early part of his reign.

The grant is made to Garter (John Writhe), Clarence, Norroy, and Gloucester, kings of arms. It confers on the college the house called Cold Arber, in the parish of Allhallows the Less, London, and permits the purchase of lands to the value of £20 yearly for the support of a chaplain to say mass in the house daily.

iHe also received the appointment of lordlieutenant of Ireland, which the deceased prince had held, Aug. 21.

He was shortly after killed there at a tourna

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small]

Ferdinand of Aragon makes war successfully on them

rison accompanying him. Thomas Brandon and seventy-three other soldiers, and Elizabeth, wife of James Blount, supposed to have connived at this, received a pardon, Jan. 27, 1485.

It had been for some time understood that he was to marry the princess himself; which he afterwards did.

Neville received large grants "for services against the rebels," June 30 and July 1, 1484. On the triumph of the Lancastrians he went abroad, but he received a pardon July 18, 1501. He afterwards joined the De la Poles, and is believed to have died in exile.

• Stanley was Richmond's step-father. He held the office of constable, and with his son, Lord Strange, had obtained valuable grants for "services against the rebels," though he was really in league with them.

P He, like Stanley, had received a share of the forfeited estates of Buckingham.

NOTE.

CHARACTER OF RICHARD III.

THE character ascribed to this prince differing materially from that usually given, it is deemed necessary to furnish references to some of the very numerous documents on the Patent Roll from which the conclusions have been drawn. The assertions and the authorities for them are numbered to correspond.

1 The Patent Rolls contain pardons for 170 individuals; among them appear those of Sir John Saintlo, April 24, 1484 [1 Rich. III. pt. iv. no. 65): John Morton, bishop of Ely, Dec. 11, 1484 [a Rich. III. pt. iii. no. 109]; Sir Roger Tocotes, Jan. 27, 1485 [pt. ii. no. 105]; Sir Richard Woodville, Mar. 30, 1485 [pt. iii. no. 81]; pardon and restoration of Kentish manors to Sir John Fogge, of Ashford, Feb. 24, 1485 [pt. ii. no. 135], and pardon to Thomas Brandon and 73 other soldiers of Hammes, and Elizabeth, wife of James Blount, Jan. 27, 1485 [pt. iii. no. 33]; they had connived at the escape of the earl of Oxford.

* Grants appear of £100 a-year to Catherine, wife of Sir Thomas Arundell, out of his forfeited lands, Feb. 23, 1484 [1 Rich. III. pt. iii. no. 147]; of a like amount to Margaret, countess of Oxford, March 10, 1484 [pt. v. no. 132]; of 200 marks to Katherine, duchess of Buckingham, June 20, 1484 [pt. iv. no. 77]; lands were also assigned to pay her husband's debts, [pt. ii. no. 20]. Katherine, the widow of Lord Hastings, had a grant of the custody of his possessions and the marriage of his son and heir, Feb. 9, 1485 [2 Rich. III. pt. ii. no. 10]. Several manors which had been forfeited by Margaret, countess of Richmond, were granted for life to her husband, Lord Stanley [1 Rich. III. pt. ii. no. 148: pt. iii. no. 185; pt. iv. no. 13].

3 Richard's own grants are too numerous to be specified in full. Many were doubtless for political purposes, as those to the duke of Buckingham (1 Rich. III. pt. i. no. 29, &c.], the earl of Northumberland (pt. i. no. 82, &c.], Lord Howard, (afterwards duke of Norfolk,) [pt. i. no. 6, &c.], Sir Richard Ratcliff [2 Rich. III. pt. i. no. 147, &c.], as well as those to James Metcalf, Feb. 15, and to Sir John Conyers, March 4, 1484 [1 Rich. III. pt. v, nos. 88 and 130], "for services in England and Scotland, and very recently, touching the king's acceptance of the crown;" or for "services against the rebels," under which name many manors were granted to Lord Stanley, and his son Lord Strange, Sept. 17, 1484 [2 Rich. III. pt. i. no. 113]. State reasons may also have induced the grant of £200 a-year to James, earl of Douglas, Feb. 12, 1484 (1 Rich. III. pt. v. no. 55], but such motives could

not have caused

The fresh grant of a pension bestowed by Edward IV. on William Staveley, who had been severely wounded in a sea-fight when in the company of the earl of Warwick, some five-and-twenty years before, Aug. 21, 1484 [2 Rich. III. pt. i. no. 165]; or the continuation of an annuity of 20 marks to Margaret, wife of John Barnard, which had been granted to her in 1463 by the same earl, Feb. 26, 1484 [1 Rich. III. pt. ii. no. 73]; or of another of like amount to a yeoman of the crown under Edward IV., and his wife, Feb. 23, 1484 [pt. iii. no. 49].

> Commissions were issued to Sir John Audeley and others to act for the defence of the coast

against foreign invasion, March 1, 5, 23, 1484 Rich. III. pt. ii. no. 3, d, &c.]. A fleet was raised and placed under the command of Sir George Neville [2 Rich. III. pt. ii. no. 15, d]: among the royal ships appear the names of the Little Anne of Fowey, the Antony, the Elizade Dieu, the Lucas, the Margaret of Sandwich, beth, the Garcya of Spain, le Governore, le Grace the Mary of Greenwich, and the Mary of Yarmouth. Dartmouth, Dover, Newcastle, Plymouth, Sandwich, Yarmouth, Youghal, had grants for fortifying their ports or improving their havens [1 Rich. III. pt. v. no. 67; pt. v. no. 29; pt. iii. no. 128, &c.].

6 Letters of marque and reprisal against pirates were granted July 21, 28, 1484 [1 Rich. III. pt. i. no. 3, d, 69]; reparation was enforced from the Flemings for a ship seized Sept. 27, 1470, Aug. 7, 1483 [pt. i. no. 40]; commissioners of inquiry appointed, May 16, 1484 [pt. iv. no. 1, d]; security against piracy exacted, and rules as to prizes established, Aug. 11, 1484 [2 Rich. III. pt. i. no. 18, d];

and

7 Thomas Lye, Thomas Grayson, and other commissioners, were sent into Devon and Cornwall, to inquire into the piratical seizure of woad from three Spanish ships, and to enforce restitution, Jan. 11, 1484 [1 Rich. III. pt. iii. no. 4, d]. Commissioners of inquiry and restitution were again appointed, Feb. 24, 1485 [2 Rich. III. pt. ii. no. 1o, d]. An order occurs for the restitution of a Hansetown ship, illegally seized, Jan. 31, 1484 [1 Rich. III. pt. iii. no. 3, d]; a Spanish ship piratically seized had been before restored, Nov. 22, 1483 [p. 1, no. 21, d]; and a grant was made of 400 marks to plundered Spanish merchants, March 16, 1485 [2 Rich. III. pt. iii. no. 72]. Ralph Bukland and John Langley had a grant of £40 towards a ransom of £130 piratically imposed on them in Britanny, March 8, 1484 [1 Rich. III. pt. iii. no. 43], and Peter Hoke, of Calais, who had been seized at sea, carried to Boulogne, and obliged to pay 250 gold crowns, was allowed to export, duty free, 100 oxen to Calais or Flanders, from Dover or Sandwich, Jan. 24, 1485 [2 Rich. III. pt. iii. no. 57].

8 The German merchants were incorporated, Richard Gardener, alderman, being appointed their justice in pleas of debt, Feb. 28, 1484 [1 Rich. III. pt. iii. no. 7, d]. The denizations amount to twenty-two, in less than as many months, (Dec. 12, 1483-July 27, 1485).

John Petite, merchant, and John Bolle, woolman, were appointed inspectors to search into frauds in wool, and levy the statutory penalties, July 3, 1484 [2 Rich. III. pt. i. no. 20, d].

16 Writs exist, dated Feb. 14, 1485, directing the justices of each county to publish a proclamation against unlawful dealings in wool or woollen cloth, and commanding wages to be paid to the workmen in ready lawful money [2 Rich. III. pt. ii. no. 4, d].

11 Richard's grants for services to his House are numerous. Among them are one to Hull, of £60 of the customs for twenty years, on account of services and expenses incurred by them on the king's voyage to Scotland, Feb. 21, 1484 [1 Rich. III. pt. v. no. 97]; a confirmation of the charters of Waterford, on account of their immense expenses for Richard, duke of York, March 25, 1484 [pt. ii. no. 161]; grants to Thomas Sandland, of Shrewsbury, for services to the king's father in England and Ireland, £8 a-year, April 2, 1484

They were directed to search for fleeces sold with sand, stones, dung and other rubbish therein to increase the weight.

« PreviousContinue »