41 



Happening to be in Leicester oii the 5th of June, 1856, I did not 

 omit to inquire for the Grey Friars' Church, but although I disco- 

 vered the street where it had stood, I found that every vestige of 

 the church had disappeared. 



There is a very absurd but very common mistake, arising from the 

 ignorance of authors, in stating that Eichard wore his royal crown 

 upon his helmet, during the battle. Nothing can be more erroneous 

 than such a statement. Eichard was too old and experienced a soldier 

 to put such a head-gear upon his helmet, nor could a real crown 

 screwed to or fastened upon a helmet, be worn for any rational purpose 

 during a battle. He, however, wore, as a distinguishing mark, and as 

 an emblem of command, a comparatively small ornament, resembling 

 a crown, upon his helmet, which was not at all strange or unprece- 

 dented, on the contrary it was formerly a common practice. King 

 Henry V. wore a similar ornament upon his helmet at the battle of Agin- 

 court, in 141 5, which was of some use in sustaining the stroke of a battle- 

 axe from the Duke of Alencon, which cleft it ; and Thomas, Duke of 

 Clarence, second son of Henry IV., wore a coronet or circlet upon his 

 helmet when he was fighting valiantly and slain at the battle of Baugy, 

 in France, in 1121 ; besides which there are many monuments, which 

 I have seen in English cathedrals and churches, where the figures of 

 waniors and men of rank are represented, with ornaments resembling 

 small crowns or coronets upon their helmets. 



The account of the battle and the description of the field having 

 been so fully given in the interesting work already mentioned,' it would 

 be superfluous for me to attempt to go into further particulars; I may, 

 however, add that the battle terminated in the defeat and death of 

 Richard, rather in consequence of the defection of Lord Stanley and 

 his brother. Sir William Stanley, and the indifference or disaffection of 

 others whom Richard relied upon, than of any valour or skill in Henry 

 or his army. 



Henry was immediately saluted as King of England by his forces, 

 and without waitiug for the ratification of his claim by parliament, 

 or any other recognised authority, assumed the title of Henry 

 VII., and scorning to be less tyrannical, or less wicked than his prede- 

 cessor, commenced his reign by putting to death, without any trial, and 

 in cold blood, two days after the battle, William Catesby^ and two gen- 



' Button's " Bosworth Field." 



* William Catesby was a lawyer of eminence in the reign of Richard III., was one 

 of his chief counsellors, .and was the Speaker of the House of Commons in the ouly par- 

 liameot held in the reign of llichard III. lie was a descendant from an ancient family at 

 Lap worth, near Birmingham. He is usually called Sir William Catesby by historians, 

 but is certainly only treated as an esquire, not as a knight, in the act of attainder, 1st 



