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A.C. 1483. pretended to be terrified at fuch a concourse of people, as if he had thought they came with fome finifter defign upon his perfon; and when at length Buckingham prevailed upon him to give them. audience, he came forth with all the marks of terror and distrust. He affected great furprize at their propofal, which he declined, obferving that he loved his brother's children above all the crowns in the world though he confidered their address as a proof of their affection, which he should never forget. He exhorted them to live quietly under the fovereign to whom they owed their obedience; and he promised for himself that he would, to the best of his power, advife his nephew to govern in such a manner as to render his people flourishing and happy. The duke of Buckingham, appearing very much diffatisfied with this answer, declared, that the people were unanimously resolved that none of Edward's children fhould fit upon the throne; and that, if he would not receive the crown, they should be obliged to offer it to fome other perfon. This declaration foftened the protector into compliance. He told them, that fince they were determined to reject the children of Edward, he was contented to accept the crown, which was undoubtedly his lawful inheritance, though he received it with more pleasure, as the free gift of a free people. This condefcenfion in Richard was applauded with loud acclamations. Next day he repaired to Westminster-Hall, where, placing himfelf in the royal feat, he made a fpeech to the audience, and gave the judges a strict charge for the due administration of justice.

RICHARD

RICHARD II.

Dixon sculp.

RICHARD III.

Sirnamed CROOK-BACK.

proclaimed.

HIS farce being acted with all imaginable A. C. 1483. fuccefs, the duke of Gloucefter was pro- RichardIII. claimed king of England and France, by the name of Richard III. on the twenty fecond day of June, and the fixth day of July fixed for the ceremony of his coronation, which he deferred till that time, in expectation of being reinforced by five thousand men from the North, as he did not much confide in the attachment of the Londoners. During this interval, he conferred the office of chancellor upon the bishop of Lincoln, who was one of his favourites. He beftowed the office of marefchal on lord John Howard, together with the title of duke of Norfolk; and the next day appointed him high-. conftable for the coronation. His fon Thomas Howard was created earl of Surrey; William Berkeley was promoted to the title of earl of Nottingham; and lord Lovel, one of Richard's chief confidents, was raifed to the title of viscount. Thomas Rotherham archbishop of York was discharged from confinement; and the lord Stanley was not only released, but even appointed steward of the houfhold: not that Richard had any real regard for this nobleman, but this indulgence was the effect of his apprehenfion; for Stanley's fon the lord Strange had begun to levy troops in Lincolnshire, and Richard thought this was the most likely expedient for preventing the confequences of a rebellion. The university of Oxford prefented a petition in favour of Morton bishop of Ely; and though the new king mortally hated that prelate, he would not, in the beginning of his reign, disoblige such a ve

nerable

A. C. 1483. nerable body by a flat refufal: nor would he fet the bishop altogether at liberty; but he chose a me

and crowned

ger.

dium, and committed him to the care of the duke of Buckingham, who fent him to his caftle of. Sir T. More. Brecknock in Wales. On the fixth day of July, he at Westmin- and Anne his queen, daughter of Richard earl of Warwick, were crowned with great pomp at Weftminster. All the noblemen in the kingdom affifted at this ceremony, that they might not, by their absence, incur the fufpicion of the new king, whofe character was fo formidable; and the queen's train was borne up by Margaret countefs of Richmond, wife of lord Stanley, and mother to the earl of Richmond then an exile in Brittany.

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Richard now feemed fecure from all oppofition. balladors to There was not a nobleman in the kingdom who had intereft enough to raise the leaft difturbance, except those who were intirely devoted to his intereft. The queen dowager, with her five daughters, and her brother the marquis of Dorset, still remained in the fanctuary. Sir Richard Wideville lived in concealment; while Edward V. and his brother the duke of York continued close prisoners in the Tower, the government of which was conferred on Sir Richard Brackenbury, on whose fidelity Richard placed the greatest dependence. Nevertheless, that he might ftrengthen his power with foreign alliances, and prevent his enemies from receiving any affiftance abroad, he fent Bernard de la Force as his ambaffador into Caftile, to renew the antient alliance with Ferdinand and Isabella. He appointed commiffioners to treat with France about certain infractions of the truce, that it might be renewed and confirmed; he vested Thomas Hutton with full power to prolong the truce with Francis II. duke of Brittany; and this ambaffador received inftructions about a new treaty with that

prince,

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