This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 Excerpt: ...the representative of the House of Lancaster, on condition of his marrying Elizabeth, sister of Edward V., and rightful heir to the throne. To defeat this project, Richard proposed to marry the princess to his own son, --and, on the death of the latter, to wed her himself; that he might make room for his niece, he is ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 Excerpt: ...the representative of the House of Lancaster, on condition of his marrying Elizabeth, sister of Edward V., and rightful heir to the throne. To defeat this project, Richard proposed to marry the princess to his own son, --and, on the death of the latter, to wed her himself; that he might make room for his niece, he is suspected of having poisoned his wife. But Richard, now an object of general detestation, was deserted even by his most faithful adherents. The Earl of Richmond, encouraged by these defections, left Brittany, landed in England, and, being joined by many powerful nobles, met the army of Richard on Bosworth Field (1485). At early dawn the conflict began. Richard fought like a lion. When he saw the day was going against him, he dashed into the thickest of the fray, killed the Lancastrian standard-bearer, and aimed a blow at Richmond himself. But, overpowered by numbers, he fell, and his blood tinged the water of a spring, from which some, even at the present day, refuse to drink. Lord Stanley picked up the crown, stained with gore, and placed it on Richmond's head, while the soldiers shouted " Long live King Henry!" That night the body of the usurper, naked and disfigured, was thrown across a horse and brought to Leicester for burial. Close of the Valois Line in France.--Louis XI., the Nero of France, was a contemporary of Edward IV. As he had aided the Lancastrian party, Edward determined to punish him, and accordingly invaded his dominions and formally demanded the French crown. The English forces, however, were withdrawn on the payment of a large sum and the promise of 50,000 crowns a year. Louis XI. was one of the most detestable and sanguinary monarchs that ever disgraced a throne. His maxim was, "He who knows not how to dissemb...
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