The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-08-16
VOL. V.-NO. 9.

inn; for King Richard and his Secretary.
being both slain. and all his confidential
friends executed, imprisoned, or exiled, it
could not be known that the weight OF the
bulky wooden framework left in his
sleeping apartment arose from its being in
reality the military chest Of the deceased
monarch. 1t was al once his Golfer and
his couch.-Many years, however roll
ed on before this singular fact became
known, ant. then it was only accidentally
discovered, owing to the circumstance of
piece of gold dropping on the floor,
when the wife of the proprietor was ma
king a bed which had been placed upon
it. On closer examination double bot
tom was discovered, the intermediate
space between which was found to be fill
ed with gold coin 10 considerable
amount
The treasure thus marvellously obtain
ed, although carefully concealed, helped
in time to elevate the humble publican.
"a man of low condition. to the proud
station of the chief magistrate of his ma
tive town. But ut his death, the vast
riches that accrued to his widow, excited
the cupldity of a mental connected with
her establishment; and the wiful murder
OF their mistress, in 1913, led TO the ex-
ecution of her female servent, and Of sew
en- men concerned with her in the ruth
less deed, thus adding another tragedy 10
the many of higher import which are in
seperably connected with the recollection
of this unhappy prince.
The inn itself, rendered so remarkable
as the last abiding place of the last mon
arb of the middle ages, "a large, hand
some, half-timber house, with one story
projecting over the other remained for
upwards of three centuries unchanged, an
interesting relic alike Of the architecture
Of its period, as of the remarkable epoch
which it perpetuated. But in the year
1880, although undecayed, uninjured, and
deiying the ravages of time, this venera-
bic fabric was RACED 10 The ground, to the
regret Of all who hold sacred such histor-
ical memorials, and halIow the relics
which link by-gone ages with the present
time. It's site, with the appellaion Of an
adjoining thoroughlare to which il formed
an angle, and which still retains the name
of Blue Boar-lane,' together with the
description and delineaion Of its pictur-
esque appearance, are now all that con-
meets King Richard with this interesting
memorial OF his last days at Leicester.
Not so, however, the bedstead. That
appendage 10 the inn, although three hun
dred and fifty years have elapsed since it
was used by the soverogns, is still in ex-
istence, and in most perfect state of pres
ervation, Richly and curiously carved
in oak, with feurde-lis profusely scatter
ed over it, its panels inlaid with black,
brown, and white woods, the styles con-
sistng of Saraccnlc figures in high relief,
it proves from the singulariy of its con-
siructlon, the true purpose for which it
was designed, every portion of it but the
body being fabricated 10 take 10 pieces
and put up at will; so that for travelling
it speedily became transformed into o
huge chest, although ingeniousiy framed
for the twofold purpose which led to its
preservation. This relic, insignificant in
itself, is the only known memorial con-
nectcd with the personal history Of Rich
ard IlI.-Caroline Halsted'S Richard
III.