The sun., 1894-05-13

eredulous," says LinRard, "t was reported
that he died Of RrieL But though the con.
aueror might silence the tongues. ha could
not eontrel the beliefs. nor the mems OF his sub.
iscts; and the writer's who lived under the
next dynasty not only proclaimed the mur.
der. but attributed the black deed to the ad-
vice. n not to the dagger OF the youngest Of
the three brothers. Richard Duke OF Glouces-
ter" According to Shakespeare who follows
the accounts Of Hall and Sir Thomas More.
Richard killed the unhappy King with his own
hand. In Mt. Jesse's opinion. there 10 only
too much reason fer conjecturing that King
Henry met his death By foul means. SO long
as he lived. IL was certain that he would be q
rallyinR point for the Lancnstrians Edward
w.. then, had strong motives for getting rid
Of HE rival. Not only had he the motive, but
there is evidence that he projected Hsnry's
death. II was resolved" says IlahinRton.
I'm King Edwards Cabinet Council that, to
take away all title from future insurrec-
tions King Henry should he sacrificed"
The assertion, II true. imparts sig
nincspcs to the Instructions given By
Edward to the Archbishop Of York. TO keep
King Henry out OF sanctuary" still more in
dicatite Of Edwards anxiety to rid himself Of
the deposed m monArch Is the fact OF his having
placed him In the front Of his army at the re-
cent battle OF Tewkesbury. Admitting. how
ever. the grounds for suspocting Edward Of
instiRatinR the murder. what evidence do we
find for charging Richard with the commits
sion OF the crime3 lie killed by Others"
says the chronicler Rous. or. as many be-
lieve. with his own hand. that most sacred
man, Henry VI" Thilip de Commiues also
writesi Immediately after this battle the
Duke OF Gloucester either killed with his own
hand. or caused to be murdered In his pres
ence. in some spot apart. this good man. King
Henry" When We turn. nevertheless. to less
prejudiced contemporary authorities. We
either meet with no mention OF Gloucester's
name In conn cotton with the foul transaction.
or else his supposed participation ls merely
referred to No one OF the rumors OF the time.
"Of the death Of this Prince" says FsUyan.
diverse tales were told; but the most COM
mon fame went that he was stykked with .
knife BY tho hands OF the Duke OF Glouces-
ter" Even Polydore Virgil confines him
self TO the remark that common re-
port attributed the crime to Gloucester
lie slew" writes Sir Thomas More. with
his own hand. as men constantly say. King
Henry VI. being prisoner in the Tower" On
the other hand, the Trustworthy continuator
OF the Croyland chronicle. though he enter
tains no doubt OF King Henry having been
murdered. omits all mention OF the name OF
In connection with the event The
and Warkworth chronicles are
equally silent on the point. At least one con-
tenn porAry writer ascribed Henry's death to
mere natural eauses According to his state
m snt. such was tho effect produced on the
mind Of the imbecile King by his personal
and the utter ruin OF his friends
that of pure displessure and melan eholy he
died." After all. suggests Mr.. Jcsse. consid-
srinR the maze Of confusion ana prejudice
lhro., ,rh ,h ha oata ftarf fhnf rnth
grops his way to the light may not this be
the true version Of . story which for centuries
has been Invested By the poet and the histo-
rian with mystery and horror7
III.
It would be interesting to trace. were II DOS
,ible. the period and circumstances whom
Richard OF Gloucester first met the Lady
Anne. younger daughter OF the Earl OF War
wick and widow Of Edward. the Lancastrian
Prince OF Wales. It suited Shakespeare to
.spresent their meeting as having taken place
It night In the streets OF London some
wenty days after the battle OF Tewkesbury.
L was. according to the :dramatist on the oc-
,asion when the corpse OF King Henry VI. was
,arrisd from st. Paurs to Blackfriars for the
purpose OF being conveyed from the latter
place By water to Chertsey. Anne. as chlsf
is described as ordering the bearers |
o set down their honorable load" and then |
Is uttering the most terrible imprecations |
Igainst the assumed murderer OF her hus-
,and and her father-in law. Thereupon Rich |
Ird 10 represented as appearing on the stage.
10 II By accident. and the striking scene |
ollows In which he Hatters. woos. and ulti- |
nately wins the Lady Anne. Setting aside the |
m mprobability OF such scene in such q spot |
md under such circumstances. there 10 evil !
encs that By no possibility could the alleged |
have taken place At the time when |
he corpse OF Henry vi. was on It's way to |
,hertsey. Richard was marching with his |
'rother. King Edward. against the Bastard |
while Anne. who had fallen into |
EDWARDS hands after the battle OF Tswkes-
Jury. was In all likelihood. IN close custody |
nth her mother-in-law. Queen Margaret In |
he Tower. Thence Anne Neville seems to
ave been transferred to the charge and keep
nc Of her sister. the Duchess OF Clarence. II
night ct FIRST sight be presumed that from
his period Gloucester would have favorable |
pportunities Of oonversing with aud paying
ourt to the Lady Anne. y There is proof. how
yer. that this was far from being the case
larsnce had good reasons for wishing to keep
lie brother and his sister-ln-Iaw apart. In
light Of his wife. the elder daughter OF the
.arl OF Warwick. he claimed to be the sole
osssssor OF the princely domains OF the king
,aksr. whereas. In the event OF Gloucester
carrying the younger sister. there could be
tile doubt but that he would succeed In OBJ
Mining . share OF the Inheritance. Gloucester
ound him SELF accordingly. debarred from any
pportunity OF preierring his suit. and
ventually as We learn from tho continuer of
ns Croyland chronicle. Clarence. aDprehend-
,g that King Edward would adopt stringent
ieasures to secure for Gloucester the hand
q 4 y a..