Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-07-31
POPULAR ERRORS RESPECT
ING RICHARD III.

probabilities that place Richards reign ]
m a level with the story of "Jack the J
Giant Killer" Ii
No record of Richards time or reign /
affords any foundation for the mistakes,
and falsifications related of
him, except John Rous, the recluse of
whose history, in Latin, of the
kings of England, was dedicated to Hen
ry VII. Now, Rous was an avowed
Lancastrian, and bitter enemy of the
line of York (; and he simply alleges that
Gloucester was "small of stature, having
a short face and uneven shouIders."-
which have been exaggerated into a
crooked back.
Stowe declared shat he could find no
such deformity in King Richard III, as
historians commonly relate y and Stow,
who was born forty years after Rich
ards death, had been told by some an
cient men who had seen the king, that
he was 'of bodily shape comely enough,
lonly of low stature"
"For the hump-backed and crooked
firm there is no adequate authority" says
Sharon Turner.
Sir Thomas Moore is the acknowledged
origin of the preparatory tales refuted by
Stove, but revived and exaggerated by
the Tudor chroniclers, and copied by
Shakespeare, who has merely versifed
the language of those early historians,
who based their authority on Moore, who
resided with Bishop Morton, the inveter-
ate enem? of Gloucester.
Sakspeare follows Hollinshed; so also
does Hume and Holinshed copies Hall,
and Hall follows Polydore Vergil, who
was not only staunch Lancastrian, but
was employed by Henry VII to compile
the history of his period.
Surtees has observed, that ''the magic
powers of Shakespeare have struck more
terror to the soul of Richard than fifty
Moores or Bacnns armed in proof .s.JIg
Classes t ssH'FR %eFe a &tsGllaFy fam dcdGGslhted witt
Shakspeare's plays, and referred to then
for English history" ," says Coleridge, ant
the great Duke of Marlborough, Lort
Chatham, and Southy, the poet laureat
acknowledged their principal acquain
tance with English history to have beer
derived from Shakspeare's historical
, dramas.
Thus has the last monarch of the chival
ric Plantagenets been depicted unfaith
I fully to historical records; and the "Lan
castrian partialities of Shakespeare, and
certain knack of embodying them, hav
IS turned history upside down, or rathe
inside out"
% Sir George Buck was the first historic
who attempted to defend Richard an
"a he has been followed by Horace Walpol
n. Lord Oxford, in his ''Historic Doubts"
" Granger says "Mr. Walpole h;
brought various presumptiye proofs, III
", known to Buck, that Richard was neith
II. that deformed person, nor that monster
= cruelty and impiety, which be has be-
represented by our historians"
90 Sir George Buck agrees with Phil
ed de Confines, and with the rolls Of parli
ment and researches of late years in
our ancient records, state-papers, a
If parliamentary history. places Bucksh
tory in a more credible light than COT
on have been allowed to it some years sin
,oa and fixes both him and Lord Oxford
at higher authorities than those who VII
all professedly to please the Tudor dynast
RS Yet the prejudieed pen of Lord BaC
The describes Richard as "a prince in m
led tary virtue approved, jealous ofthe hoI
ds. of the English nation, and likewise
the good law-maker for the ease and sol
gill of the common people" His just I
Ter; equitable laws, his wise and useful
fly tutes, bis provident edicts, and bold
lied aetments, have indeed been eulogised
,er the soundest lawyers, and called forth
7 admiration of the most profound poll
hat ans. @In no kings reign" said Sir X
,;m ard Baker, "were better laws made I
red in the reign Of this man." And SO
owe sioie appears Lofu DAooi W nave
he of the injustice done to Richard, tha
WAS says: "Even his virtues themselves '
and conceived to be feigned."
was The Chronicles of Fleetwood, Yor
"a and Warkworth a Laneastrian,
such within about the same period, excul
.ican Gloucester from the charge Of the
, the der Of Edward Of Lancaster. sAll
boy, other narritives," says Mr. Bruce, j
re- introduction to Fleetsoood's CtrO'
his aeither emanated from partisans OF
had adverse faction, or were written a'e
as lac Subsequent triumph Of The House d
z