The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-02-16


intent on gaining his own ends he might
have striyen, with some good effect, to
mitigate Margarets dislike for Glouces-
ter, who was heir-presumptive to the
throne The Cardinals influence over
the Young Queen was considerable, and
it is much to he regretted that he did
not use it for her benefit.
Two years passed, aud Margaret gave
no sign Of becoming mother. During
this time Gloucester's political oppo-
nents, Beaufort, Somerset and Suffolk,
| who was ut the head OF the Ministry,
left no stone unturned to effect his over
throw. Through their fundamentally
Duke Humphrey was arrested on
charge of high treason. Seventeen days
after his arrest he was found dead in his
bed. There were no marks Of violence
on his person, but Queen Margaret's
known dislike to him, in conjunction
with the ill-concealed animosity Of his
opponents, led to suspicious Of his hav-
ing been unfairly dealt with, and ri.
NOR soon spread that the beautiful
young Queen had, in part, been the
means OF causing the death Of the popu.
lar favorite. There was nothing in the
Il
against Margaret.
Soon after Gloucester's death. Cardi-
nal Beaufort was called to his last &C.
count, and Margaret naturally trans
ferred her confidence to her early and
trusted English friend, the Duke Of SUI
folk. Among her most powerful and I'M
| scrupulous foes were the Duke of York,
Richard Neville, Earl Of Salisbury, and
his son, Warwick, 1.-The King maker."
These influential mobiles, aided by their
supporters, ultimately effected the down.
fall of Suffolk.
He was sentenced to Punishment,
but met his death on board a vessel, his
head and severed trunk being flung on
Dover sands, where his chaplain found
them and gave them honorable burial"
In the very brief intervals Of peace
which allowed Margaret opportunities
Of benefiting her subjects. we find she
endeavored to encourage the manufact-
nrc Of silk and wooden goods; and
Queens College, Cambridge, owes its
foundation to her. From these tokens
| we are justified in concluding that, had
her reign been less disturbed by "the
fatal evil of war, she would have effect
ed vet more substantial good for her
people.
The Duke Of Somerset succeeded Suf-
folk rs Prime Minister. This noble
mans violent temper fastened the out
break of hostilities between the York
and Lancaster factions, and-as is 50
well-known-the red rose became tho
badge Of the Lancastrians, and the white
hat ct h., c{C
henceforth forsook the pure daisy flower
and adopted the blood red rose rs her
emblem. No sooner had the rival houses
assumed their respective badges than
the Duke Of York revealed his true
character Of armed dictator to tho
throne. The high-spirited Margaret
resented this conduct, and, aided by her
adviser, Somerset, she urged King
Henry to meet York in the field. But
Henry's peace-loving nature shrank
from an appeal to arms, and for time
open warfare was avoided by York be-
ing induced to swear a solemn oath Of
fealty.
Margaret had been married nine years
ere she gave birth to the long wished-for
heir. Gloomy, indeed, were the cir
cumstances which heralded the birth OF
the young Prince Edward. The En-
glish arms had met with Disasters in
foreign fields discomfort, clamorously
expressed, prevailed ut home; and, as If
| to crown her misfortunes, the beautiful
distraught young Queen had just lost
her noble mother, aud the mind of her
husband was overshadowed by malady
which deprived him of reason. Most
touching is it to read the old chronicler's
account of the endeavors that were made
to elicit from tie afflicted monarch some
sign that he really knew the babe pre-
scented to him was the son he had so
fervently desired. First, the Duke Of
Buckingham presented the royal child
to the King, but met with no response.
Then Queen Margaret herself took the
boy, and offered him with impassioned
tenderness to his father, at the same
time entreating the paternal blessing
and embrace. just for an instant Hen
RVS eyes rested on the babe, but not n
single spark Of recognition was III the
distracted glance.
Unhappy Queen and mother With
what understandable grief must she have
borne this affecting moment During
Henrys melancholy illness, Margaret
devoted herself to her beloved child, and
to the amelioration OF her husband's
pitiable condition.
In the meantime her enemy, York,
was actively at work. He contriyed to
depose Somerset from Office, aud took
upon himself the protectorate Of En-
gland, "till such time as the King
| svhk 1,n al a. he ~
government, or the infant Prince should
arrive at years Of discretion.
Margaret's position became more and
more critical. She was surrounded by
enemies who, rs she knew full we'll, were
resolved on the deposition and destruc'
ton Of her royal house. Calumnies,
many of them Of the basest character,
were sown broadcast-calum not
only rejecting on her conduct rs 8
Queen, but on her honor as o woman
Warwick, in particular, never spared
her, and it may be easily imagined that
to 40 spirited aud impetuous . nature a
Margaret's, the shameful doubt cas-
upon the legitimacy Of her beautiful
boy aroused in her the hercest feelings
Of anger and resentment. As Mis-,
Strickland graphically shows, from thi,
time Queen Margaret appears in new
light. The imputations cast upon her
the repeated attempts OF the House d
York to exclude her son from the sue
cession, "roraed her passionate ma
ternal love and pride, aud converted al
the better feelings of her nature int.
fierce and terrific impulses, till at length
the graceful attributes Of mind and man
ners by which the Queen, the beant,
, and the patroness Of learning had beel
distinguished, were forg often in the am
AEON and the ayenger."
With husband wanting in resolution
and firmness, and whose mind was FIRE
quently afflicted, with princely boy, I.
guard whose interests the most constan
and anxious vigilance were requisite, tn
, Queen was imperatiyely called upon +
exercise to the full all the courage
, promptitude and determination she pos
sessed.