Part 11

In the interim, Rice ap Thomas stood all upon thorns, as conceiving there might be some private compact and underhand working between the usurper and the French King, whereby the just pretences of Richmond should be for ever confounded.... Hereupon Rice musters up all his forces, calls all his friends about him, and where he found any want among them either of arms or other necessaries for the war, he supplied with his own store, whereof he had sufficient as well for ornament as for use; so that in few days he had gathered together to the number of two thousand horse and upward, of his own followers and retainers, bearing his name and livery. His kinsmen and friends who came besides with brave companies to do him honour were Sir Thomas Perrott, Sir John Wogan, and John Savage.[54] ... Arnold Butler, Richard Griffith, John Morgan and two of his own brothers, David the younger and John, all of them worthy soldiers and very expert commanders, with divers others.... There came likewise out of North Wales to this service many worthy gentlemen both of name and note, especially of the Salisburies, under the conduct of Robert Salisbury, a fast friend of Rice ap Thomas in the French wars.... He [Rice] then set forth in most martial manner towards the Dale, as his prophet whilom had advised him, a place not far from his castle of Carew, from whence at that time he led his army, and there meeting with the Earl of Richmond ready to take land, he received him ashore, to whom he made humble tender of his service, both in his own and in all their names who were there present, and laying him down on the ground, suffered the Earl to pass over him, so to make good his promise to King Richard that none should enter in at Milford unless he came first over his belly.... Rice ap Thomas having made an end of what he would say, the Frenchmen, lying aboard all this while, were sent for to land; who upon their coming were marvellously well received by the Welshmen, and entreated with all courtesy, (for that sole virtue of courtesy towards strangers I think the Welsh go beyond all nations of the world); every man, I say, striving to give them all contentment, and cheering them up with fresh victuals.... The Earl of Richmond then entreated the Earls of Oxford and Pembroke to muster the French, and to take a view of their defects, who, upon inquiry, found they wanted both necessary furniture of arms and other munition, besides that they were very raw and ignorant in shooting, and handling of their weapons; men, as it seemed, raised out of the refuse of the people and clapped upon the Earl to avoid his further importunities. Rice ap Thomas ... in his heart wished them back again in France, there being not one man of quality among them.... This being done they (Richmond and Rice) with the Earls of Oxford and Pembroke drew aside to consider of their present state and condition, and what course was best to be taken for their putting forward. In fine they concluded the Earl should shape his course by Cardigan, and Rice ap Thomas by Carmarthen, that so going several ways, the Welsh and the French might be kept asunder, to prevent such jars and quarrels as commonly arise between strangers; appointing Shrewsbury for their place of meeting.

[54] Sir Gilbert Talbot's ten thousand dogs In one hour's warning for to be, And Sir John Savage's fifteen hundred white hoods, Which would fight and never flee.

* * * * *

Sir Rees ap Thomas, a knight of Wales certain, Eight thousand spears brought he. Sir John Savage he hath no peer, He will be wing to thee, Sir Rees ap Thomas shall break the array, For he will fight and never flee.

_The Song of the Lady Bessy._

HENRY SUMMONS THE WELSH CHIEFTAINS (1485).

=Source.=--Wynne's _History of the Gwydir Family_, pp. 55, 56. (London: 1770.)

[+Note.+--On his landing in Wales, the Earl of Richmond, relying on the promises of support he had received, wrote letters to his Welsh friends and kinsmen. The following summons was sent to his relative, John ap Meredith, a powerful chieftain of South Carnarvonshire.]

By the King

Right trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. And whereas it is so that, through the help of Almighty God, the assistance of our loving and true subjects, and the great confidence that we have to the nobles and commons of this our principality of Wales, we be entered into the same, purposing by the help above rehearsed, in all haste possible, to descend into our realm of England, not only for the adoption of the crown, unto us of right appertaining, but also for the oppression of the odious tyrant, Richard late Duke of Gloucester, usurper of our said right; and moreover to reduce as well our said realm of England into its ancient estate, honour and property, and prosperity, as this our said principality of Wales, and the people of the same to their erst liberties, delivering them of such miserable servitude as they have piteously long stood in: We desire and pray you, and upon your allegiance strictly charge and command you, that immediately upon sight hereof, with all such power as ye may make, defensibly arrayed for the war, ye address you towards us, without any tarrying upon the way, until such time as ye be with us, wheresoever we shall be, to our aid, for the effect above rehearsed, wherein ye shall cause us in time to come to be your singular good lord; and that ye fail not hereof as ye will avoid our grievous displeasure, and answer it unto your peril. Given under our signet at our [_place and date omitted in the MS._].

To our trusty and well-beloved John ap Meredith ap Jevan ap Meredith.

THE JOURNEY TO BOSWORTH (+August, 1485+).

=Source.=--_Life of Rice ap Thomas._ (Cambrian Register, 1795).

The Earl having taken Livery and Seisin of part of his kingdom, and now in the way of possessing himself with the whole, Rice ap Thomas forthwith commanded the beacons to be set on fire, thereby to give notice to all the countries adjacent of his landing, and withal to summon his friends and kinsmen from all parts where his power was extended, to come in with their forces, some in one place and some in another, in his way to Shrewsbury.... Being in this glorious equipage and so strongly provided on all hands, Rice ap Thomas made with all speed for Shrewsbury, and, as he went, met with the Earl of Richmond in his way, to whom he made humble obeisaunce, vowing to follow him through all dangers, to the utter subversion both of the tyrant and his wicked accomplices.... When the Earl was, as I said, in his way to Shrewsbury, met and saluted by Rice ap Thomas with so goodly a band of Welshmen, it was no small joy to him.... For you must know the Earl all this while was much appalled and troubled in his mind, not knowing well what to think of Rice ap Thomas, there being divers rumours dispersed up and down through his army that the said Rice meant to side with Richard, and for that purpose was ready to give him battle; which rumour indeed, Rice himself, out of policy, had caused to be blown abroad, to hoodwink the tyrant until he were in his full strength.[55] And this his device he acquainted the Earl withal, at their first meeting, and so together they marched on to Shrewsbury, where the Earl was received with an _Ave_ cheer and "_God speed thee well_," the street being strewed with herbs and flowers, and the doors adorned with green boughs in testimony of a true hearty reception.... From Shrewsbury they went to a small village called Newport, and there Sir George Talbot came unto the Earl with two thousand tall men.... After this for Stafford they go; thence to Lichfield and so to Atherstone, where he and his father-in-law, the Lord Stanley, met and consulted touching the ordering of their affairs, and how to give battle to King Richard, which done they departed each to his charge.

[55] The English chroniclers represent Rice as joining Henry for the first time at Shrewsbury.

THE EVE OF BOSWORTH (+August, 1485+).

=Source.=--_Paston Letters_, vol. iii., No. 884.

_The Duke of Norfolk to John Paston._

_To my well beloved friend, John Paston, be this bill delivered in haste._

Well beloved friend, I commend me unto you, letting you to understand that the King's enemies be a-land, and that the King would have set for the assumption Monday but only for Our Lady Day;[56] but for certain he goeth forward assumption Tuesday, for a servant of mine brought to me the certainty. Wherefore I pray you that ye meet with me at Bury ... and that ye bring with you such company of tall men as ye may goodly make, at my cost and charge, beside that ye have promised to the King; and I pray you ordain them jackets of my livery, and I shall content you at your meeting with me.

Your lover +J. Norfolk+.

[56] The Assumption of Our Lady, August 15.

THE BATTLE OF BOSWORTH FIELD (+August 22, 1485+).

=Source.=--Ingulph's _Chronicles_, pp. 503-504. (Bohn Edition.)

At daybreak on the Monday following there were no chaplains present to perform Divine service on behalf of King Richard, nor any breakfast prepared to refresh the flagging spirits of the King; besides which, as it is generally stated, in the morning he declared that during the night he had seen dreadful visions, and had imagined himself surrounded by a multitude of demons. He consequently presented a countenance, which, always attenuated, was on this occasion more livid and ghastly than usual, and asserted that the issue of this day's battle, to whichever side the victory might be granted, would prove the utter destruction of the kingdom of England. He also declared that it was his intention, if he should prove the conqueror, to crush all the supporters of the opposite faction; while, at the same time, he predicted that his adversary would do the same towards the well-wishers to his own party, in case the victory should fall to his lot.

At length, the prince and knights on the opposite side now advancing at a moderate pace against the royal army, the King gave orders that the Lord Strange[57] should be instantly beheaded. The persons, however, to whom this duty was entrusted, seeing that the issue was doubtful in the extreme, and that matters of more importance than the destruction of one individual were about to be decided, delayed the performance of this cruel order of the King, and, leaving the man to his own disposal, returned to the thickest of the fight.

[57] Stanley's eldest son, who was a hostage with Richard.

A battle of the greatest severity now ensuing between the two sides, the earl of Richmond, together with his knights, made straight for King Richard, while the earl of Oxford, who was next in rank to him in the whole army and a most valiant soldier, drew up his forces, consisting of a large body of French and English troops, opposite the wing in which the duke of Norfolk had taken up his position. In the part where the earl of Northumberland was posted, with a large and well-provided body of troops, there was no opposition made, as not a blow was given or received during the battle. At length a glorious victory was granted by heaven to the said earl of Richmond, now sole King, together with the crown, of exceeding value, which King Richard had previously worn on his head. For while fighting and not in the act of flight, the said King Richard was pierced with numerous deadly wounds, and fell in the field like a brave and most valiant prince; upon which, the duke of Norfolk before mentioned, Sir Richard Ratclyffe, Sir Robert Brackenbury, keeper of the Tower of London, John Kendall, secretary, Sir Robert Percy, controller of the King's household, and Walter Devereux, lord Ferrers, as well as many others, chiefly from the north, in whom King Richard put the greatest confidence, took to flight without engaging; and there was left no part of the opposing army of sufficient importance or ability for the glorious conqueror Henry the Seventh to engage, and so add to his experience in battle.

Through this battle peace was obtained for the entire kingdom, the body of the said King Richard being found among the dead. Many insults were also heaped upon it, and, not exactly in accordance with the laws of humanity, a halter being thrown round the neck, it was carried to Leicester; while the new King also proceeded to that place, graced with the crown which he had so gloriously won.

While these events were taking place, many nobles and others were taken prisoners; and in especial, Henry, Earl of Northumberland, and Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey.... There was also taken prisoner William Catesby, who occupied a distinguished place among all the advisers of the late King, and whose head was cut off at Leicester as a last reward for his excellent offices. Two gentlemen, also, of the western parts of the kingdom, father and son, known by the name of Brecher ... were hanged. As it was never heard, nor yet stated in writing or by word of mouth, that any other persons, after the termination of the warfare, were visited with similar punishments, but that, on the contrary, the new prince had shown clemency to all, he began to receive the praises of all, as though he had been an angel sent down from heaven, through whom God had deigned to visit His people, and to deliver it from the evils with which it had hitherto, beyond measure, been afflicted.

THE LAST OF THE PLANTAGENETS (1485).

=Source.=--_Bosworth Field_, in Percy Folio MS., iii. 256, 257. (1868.)

Then to King Richard there came a knight, And said, "I hold it time for to flee; For yonder Stanley's dints they be so might, Against them no man may dree. Here is horse at thy hand ready; Another day thou may thy worship win, And for to reign with royalty, To wear the crown and be our king." "Nay! give me my battle-axe in my hand, Set the crown of England on my head so high, For by him that made both sea and land, King of England this day will I die. One foot will I never flee Whilst the breath is my breast within." As he said, so did it be; If he lost his life, he died a King.

BILLING AND SONS, LTD., PRINTERS, GUILDFORD

End of Project Gutenberg's York and Lancaster, by William Garmon Jones