MISCELLANY 44
THE
P1TIFULL LIFE
OF
KYNG EDWARD THE. V.
Postlude: Uncle Richard gets his Reward
Two years later, 22 August 1485...
Bosworth Field, Leicestershire
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. set on so
sharpely at the first Brunt yt he ouerthrew therles standarde, and slew Sir
William Brandon his standarde bearer (which was father to sir Charles Brandon
by kynge Henry viii. created duke of Suffolke) and matched hand to hand w sir
Ihon Chenye, a man of great force & strength which would haue resisted him,
& the saied Ihon was by him manfully ouerthrowen, and so he making open
passage by dent of swerde as he went forward, therle of Richmond with stode his
violence and kept him at the swerdes poincte without auantage longer then his
compaignions other thought or iudged, which beyng almost in dispaire of
victorie, were sodainly recomforted by Sir William Stanley, whiche came to
succours with. iii. thousand tall men, at whiche very instant kynge Richardes
men were dryuen backe and fledde, and he him selfe manfully fyghtynge in the
mydell of his enemies was slayne and brought to his death as he worthely had
deserued. In the meane season therle of Oxforde with the aide of the Lord
Stanley, after no long fight discounted the forward of king Rychard, whereof a
greate nomber were slayne in the chace and flight, but the greatest nomber
whiche (compelled by feare of the kyng and not of there mere voluntarie mocion)
came to the feld, gaue neuer a stroke, and hauyng no harme nor domage sauely
departed, whiche came not thyther in hope to se the kynge prosper and preuaile,
but to here that he shoulde be shamefully confounded and brought to ruyne. In
this battaill died fewe aboue the nomber of a thousande persones: And of the
nobilitie were slayne Ihon Duke of Norfolke, whiche was warned by dyuers to
refrayne from the felde, in so much that the nyghte before he shoulde set
forwarde towarde the kynge, one wrote on his gate. Jack of Norffolke be not to
bolde For Dykon thy maister is bought and solde. Yet all this notwithstandynge
he regarded more his othe his honour and promyse made to king Richard, lyke a
gentleman and a faythefull subiecte to his prince absented not him selfe from
hys mayster, but as he faythefully lyued vnder hym, so he manfully dyed with
hym to hys greate fame and lawde. There were slayne besyde him Walter lorde
Ferrers of Chartley, Sir Rychard Ratclyffc, and Robert Brakenburie Leutenaunt
of the Tower and not many gentlemen mo. Sir Willyam Catesbey learned in the
lawes of the realme, and one of the cheffe counsailers to the late king, with
diuers other were. ii. daies after behedded at Leycester. Amongest them that
ran away were Sir Fraunces Vicount louell and Humfrey Stafford and Thomas
Stafford his brother which toke sanctuary in saynct Ihones at Gloucester. Of
captiues and prysoners there was a greate nomber, for after the death of kynge
Rycharde was knowen and publyshed, euery man in manner vnarmynge hym selfe and
castynge a waye his abilimentes of warre, mekcly submitted them selves to the
obeyssaunce and rule of therle of Richemond: of the whiche the more parte had
gladly so done in the beginnynge yf they myght haue conuenicntly escaped from
kyng Ricliardes espialles, whiche hauynge as clere eyes as lynx and as open
cares as Mydas serched in euery quarter. Amongest these was Henry the. iiii.
erle of Northumberlande, whiche whither it was by the commaundemcnt of kyng
Rycharde puttynge diffidence in him, or he dyd it for the loue & fauor that
he bare vnto the Earle, stode still with a greate compaignie & intermitted
not in the battaill, whiche was incontinently receyued in to fauour and made of
the counsail. But Thomas Haward erle of Surrey whiche submitted hym selfe ther,
was not taken to grace by cause his father was cheffe consailer & he
greatly familiar with kyng Richard, but comittcd to the Tower of London, where
he long remained & in conclusion deliuered, & for his treuth and
fidelity after promoted to high honors offices & dignites. On therle of
Richmods part were slaine scarce one hundred persones, amongest whome the
pryncipall was Sir William Brandon his standard bearer. This battaill was
fought at Bosworth in Leycester shire the. xxii. daye of August in the yere of
our redempciou a. M. CCCC. lxxxvi. the hole conflicte endured lyttell aboue two
howres.
... and that was the end of
Richard III.
The Earl of Richmond became King
Henry VII, the first Tudor.
