The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-21
TODAY IN HISTORY
Battle OF Bosworth Field-Death OF RIen-
ard IT,
SUNDAY, AUGUST 21. 1910.

ard III.
On the death of Edward ", in lisS'
his crafty and unscrupulouS prothel
Richard Duke OF Gloucester gathered
quickly into his hands the rcins OF power,
proceeding with consumnatc audaclly anu
ruthlessness 10 sweep every strong riyal
out OF his path Contentipg himself for
Il few weeks only with the title OF pro.
tector. he soon disputed the validity oi
his brother Edwards marriage. caused
an obsequious parliament 10 set ASIDE tie
young sons whom the latter had lcIt;
declaring them TO be illegitimate. ana
placed the crown on his own head. -
The little princes (king EDWARD '.
and Richard Duke OF York;. lmmured in
tn tower. were murdered at their uncle IS
command, and Richard III. appeared, Tor
the time. to have Tiumphed IN MS am
bilious villalny. But. popular as ne
made himself in many cunning ways MS
deeds excited horror which united Ian
castrans with the party OF YORK IN
common detestation.
Friends of Henry. Earl of Richmond,
then in exile. were not slow to take
advantage OF this feeling. Henry coula
Gaunt. son oil Edward Ill. TO whom the
house Of Lancaster traced it's lineage; but
his family-the Beautorts-sprang from
the mistress, not the wife OF the great
legltmatized by act Of parliament, Inc
Laucastrians. however, were satlsned
with the royalty of his blood, and the
forkists were made content by his prom
Use TO. marry a daughter OF Edward ".
On this understanding being arranged
Henry came over from Brittany to Eng
land. landing at Milford Haven on the
Sth OF August, 1855, and advancing
through Wales, he was Joined by great
mum bers as he moved.
Richard, who had no lack OF courage,
two forces Joined battle on Bosworth
field on Sunday. August 81, At the OUT
set of the fighting Richard was deserted
by large division Of his army and he
tlnut !. .Ie fof. lnd
with GespalvIns rage, into the thlckest
Of the struggle and was slain, HIS
crowned helmet which be had worn, was
found by Sir Reginald Bray, battered ana
broken, under a hawthorn bush, and
placed on the head of his rival. who soon
attained a more solemn coronation as
Henry VII,
Both the character and personal ap-.
pearance OF Richard Ill. have furnished
matter of controversy. He was regarded
as tyrant by his subjects, but at the
good qualities. AS king he seems really
TO have studied his country's welfare,
passed good laws, endeavored TO put an
end TO eXtortlon. declined the free gifts
offered to him by several towns. and de-
clared he would rather have the hearts
Of his subjects than their money,
Tradition is divided as to Richard S
personal appearance. and the story OF
Lancastrlan malignity and from 81 mis-
understanding OF his name, Crouch
back. The face in all the portraits eX-
tant of Richard is a remarkable one, full
OF energy and decision, yet gentle and
sad-looking. suggesting the ioea not so
much OF a tyrant as OF mind accus-
toned TO unpleasant thoughts. Nowhere
do find depleted the warlike, hard-fa-
vored vlsese attributed TO him by Sir
Thomas Moore, With such one did
the long reign OF the Plantagenets ter
inmate. The fierce spirit and the valpr
of the race never showed more strongly
than at the close. The middle ages, too.
as far as England was concerned. may be
said to have passed away with Rich
ard III.