New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-13

MEMOIRS OF KING RICHARD THE THl ~
And Some OF His Contemporarles Win an his Ms
John Heneage Jesse a new Edition. In two
volumes. PIP. viii. 1885, 367 Francis +. Harper
Few dramatic authors have thought 1t necessary
to write such preface to play as that
which Introduces John Hencage Jesse's THE Last
War Of the Roses" In the present edition the
drama takes up 1855 pages while the preface as 1t may
we'll be called runs to zoo pages BY far the largest
part OF the prosc-namely, the elaborate essay on
Richard III-relates to a parsonage VINO hsures IN
the play only by hearsay. or course TINS ~ 'hh-
ing an extreme view Of curious ana attractive
essay which may well be viewed alone But IL
was in preparing for the play that the author
gathered the materials for the memoirs not only
OF Richard. but OF Margaret, Countess or Rich-
mond and Derby OF Henry VII. Princess EhzaDc'h
OF York. Henry's Queen Thomas. LORD STANLEY
and Henry. Lord Clifford. The relation OF the Vari-
Gus parts Of the work 20 each other indicates that
at the outset the dramatist meant TO make hich-
ard a prominent character As the work STANDS
his memoirs make as much all the rest OF the
work They are also by far the most interesting
part In the play the estimate OF Richard IL the
one which became conventional In Tudor times
that OF a cruel and irrational yet cunning despot.
But the memoirs present n capable ana pIucch'
monarch. whose lnfamy. FAR from being due TO
long course OF tyrannlcai mIsgovernment was
earned by single crime. The murder OF the
princes In the Tower was. Indeed, an atroclo"r
act but In times which had witnessed scenes OF
incredible barbar;y this secret assassination nght
well have passed unnotlced. 1t Is possible 20 10
constitute history a. TO make Richards evil repuie
the product OF an awakened public conscience.
The neopc weary OF the long and frIgntfui con-
test between the houses OF YORK and Lancaster
must have looked on the last King who had shared
that rivalry with bitterness The times OF the
Reformation and OF the reawakenlng In letters
were approaching. and It is certain that II com
- their shndOW before THIS WAS
done by these great changes in the life OF Europe
The rise OF n new dynasty fixed starting poih'
for the memory. Men said among Themselves tha'
things were much better since the Tufors nan
come into power. Yet In any judicial aspect. Rich
ards reign was less bloody than that % Henry
VIII. The latter seems to US 70 belong almost 70
modern times But he merely n. ;rne more
formal than his predecessors in his methods OF
doing away with people who were troublesome 70
him.
In tho case Of Henry VII. who as Earl 81 Rich
nond figures In Jesse's drama a subordinate char
acter there Is likewise curious contrast between
the authors play and his history. As historian he
does not think overmuch Of the Tudors. They are
upstairs The career OF Henry VII as King was not
particularly romantic. lie was too avarcious 10 be
hero But in the drama Jesse has taken the young
conqueror at his best the flush OF battle and vic
tory and has given him a knighty character wnlcn
his businesslike later career hardly sustalns. But
these are not the only contrasts between the two
parts OF Jesse's study In Yorkst times. His histor
cal work is compact. consecutive. shapey. lie fan
~ deserves the Of the English Parknan'
though ne can hardly claim ,he skill In style OF the
great American historian. But his drama lacks
Intensity The Battle Of Bosworth Is q mere episode
In the lovomaklng and plotting OF certain north
country people. No character In the story Is OF
absorbing interest. The play Ia not the thing In
these volumes. 1t is this surely which made the
earlier editions Of the work rarity and led to the
present reproduction. In general the new edition s
well and correctly printed. but the line. Then flea
those sacred batalions 10 their homes. looks oddly
after the transposjtlon of a letter has turned
scared into sacred"