Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-29
MODERN BoswoRTH FIELD.

The site of the battle at Boswortf has
OF course, undergone considerable transfer.
nation in later times. A canal and rail.
way now intersect its area the swampy
ground has been drained, and wood occu.
pies what was once morass, the nature oil
which had something to do with the dispo.
sitions, and perhaps also the result of the
conflict. Within living memory, many
relics of the fight have been discovered
during draining operations. In the church.
yard at Darlington large numbers of the
slain were inferred; and few years since,
in digging new graves, piles OF skeletons
were unearthed, lying five or six deep.
The Inflated Kings remains were disturbed
much earlier for when the monasteries
were aeoularized, his tomb was DESTROYED,
and it is said that his body was thrown
into the river Soar, and his stone coffin
afterward used as horse trough. 1912,
however, Wren states in his " Parenta-
liza, that he saw, in Alderman Robert
Heyrick's garden at Leicester, handsome
stone pillar, three feet high, inscribed :
Here lies the body of Richard I'LL,
some time King OF England - and at the
present day there is a tablet in King Rich
ards Road, Leicester, stating that Near
this spot lie the remains of Richard III j.,
the last of the Plautagenets." But no
gave or mausoleum now exists by which
his last resting place can be verified, and
hence those royal remains, unhonored In
death, have long since been scattered
how and where, none now can tell.
AT Bosworth Hall, the seat of Sir Beau.
mont Dixie, are preserved several alleged
relics Of the fght-such as the suit of
armor worn by the King, cannon balls dug
up from the field, and various weapons /;
although some antiquaries are of opinion
that the last-named belonged to subse.
quent period.
Close to the well where the King is said
to have drank on the eventful morning was
erected in 1912 cairn of stones about
twelve feet high, with an inscription in
Latin to the following effect "With
water from this spring Richard Ill, King
of England, quenched his thirst whilst
very vigorously and with bitterest incense
ment fighting in battle against Henry, Earl
of Richmond, about to lose his life as we'll
as scepter before nightfall, August %, A.
d., 1855" This well, situated at the
northern edge of the wood now existing,
Is an interesting memorial of the mem
orable battle of Bosworth Field.
In 1862, the British Archaeological
Association, then in session at Lei
cester, visited the spot; and on the site
a paper was read, and fac-simile of the
Kings crown and various delineations of
that monarch and mis- insignia exhibited /;
but although the proceedings of that day
aroused deep interest in the historical
events of 1855, they resulted in no prac-
tical steps being taken to commemorate the
battle.
Since, 1862, however, considerable re-
vival has taken place in antiquarian re.
searches. Theimpulse which higher edu-
cation has imparted to such Subjects has
awakened an interest in the renowned
events of history, and visitors in ever
increasing numbers repair to the spots
made classic in their country's annalsnp
many other English - d Selds ~
have been erected to point 81. to
generations the scenes of ancient .s.ruggles
for freedom and power; and yet on Bos.
worth Field nothing worthy OF the name
exists. Among our wealthy citizens, proud
OF their country and its long and eventful
history, there must be those who would re-
gard it as some honor to take part in per.
petuating by q suitable monument the spot
where one of the decisive battles in
English history took place. chambers
Journal