116 



In October, 1483, a scheme was set on foot to effect a hostile landing 

 in England by the Earl of Pdchmond with some forces, which were 

 intended to hare been supported by Henry Staflford, Duke of Buckingham, 

 and others. That expedition was an utter and disastrous failure ; Rich- 

 mond's fleet was dispersed by a storm, and, although the ship in which 

 he sailed appeared off Poole, in Dorsetshire, he found it dangerous as 

 well as useless to attempt to laud, and was compelled to return to 

 Brittany. The insurrection was suppressed, the duke was executed, 

 and Jasper Tudor, with the bitterness of disappointed hopes, was again 

 doomed for some time longer to remain in banishment. The old 

 historians do not expressly mention his having been with Richmond in 

 that expedition, but it seems quite impossible to doubt the fact of his 

 having accompanied him. 



Once more the scene changed in this most strange and eventful 

 drama. In 1485 the Eail of Richmond and Jasper Tudor, with some 

 few troops from France, landed at Milford, in South Wales, and having 

 been joined by then- fiiends and supporters, the battle of Bosworth (at 

 which the latter had a principal command) placed Richmond on the 

 throne of England, by the title of Henry VII. 



By that event Jasper Tudor found himself, for the third time. Earl 

 of Pembroke. He was restored to his honours and possessions, created 

 Duke of Bedford, made one of the privy council, and one of the com- 

 missioners for executing the office of High Steward of England, on 

 the occasion of the ceremony of the coronation of Henry ; also Justice 

 of South "Wales, and Lord Lieutenant of Ii-eland ; and had besides 

 considerable and valuable possessions, lands, and offices conferred 

 upon him. 



In 1487 he was joint General with John De Vere, Earl of Oxford, 

 at the battle of Stoke, when the Earl of Lincoln was defeated. He 

 was afterwards again appointed joint General, with the Earl of Oxford, 

 of the army sent into Flanders, in aid of the Emperor Maximilian, 

 against the French. He married Katherine, sixth daughter of Richard 

 WidevUe or Wodevile, Earl of Rivers, sister of Elizabeth, Queen of 

 Edward IV., and widow of Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, who 

 was executed as before mentioned in 1483. He continued to enjoy his 

 titles, rank, and great possessions until his death, which took place on 

 the 21st of December, 1493. He did not leave any issue, and was 

 interred in the abbey of Keynsham. 



Is it possible to find in the whole histoiy of the English peerage a 

 nobleman who had experienced more strange and astonishing vicissi- 

 tudes of fortune ? Well may it be said that truth is stranger than 

 fiction. 



