636 



ENGLAND. 



Argumeo 

 ' 



structed to discuss his claim in all companies, and to 

 maintain his right by succession, and by the established 

 Uws and constitution of the kingdom. The question be- 

 ing thus brought before the public, every one embraced 

 the one side or the other, according to his convictions, 

 his feelings, or his interest; and the minds of men were 

 thus insensibly led to clun-h all those antipathies and 

 prejudices, which afterwards burst forth with such a 

 dreadful explosion, and which continued to fill the king- 

 dom with slaughter and desolation. 



The pretensions of both parties may be shortly stated. 

 . The tVinily of Lancaster derived their descent from John 

 of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, the I bird son of Edward III.; 

 while the Duke of York was descended by the female line 

 from Lionel. Duke of Clarence, second son of that mo- 

 narch. The a .herents of the former, while they allowed 

 the advancement of Henry IV. to IK; irregular, maintained 

 that it was founded upon general consent. It received the 

 sanction of a free people, who were driven from their al- 

 legiance by the tyranny of their rulers, and gratefully be- 

 stowed the sceptre upon their deliverer ; that, though the 

 deposition of Richard II. was perhaps rash and imprudent, 

 yet it was justified by the state of the nation, and it was 

 now too kite to remedy the evil; that the crown was entail- 

 ed upon the family of Henry by reiterated acts of parlia- 

 ment, and were these acts to be now invalidated, the 

 English must be considered not as a free people, who could 

 dispose of their own government, but a nation of slaves, 

 who were implicitly transmitted from one master to ano- 

 ther; that the order of succession was established only 

 for die general good, and could never be pleaded for the 

 overthrow of public tranquillity ; that the nation was 

 bound to the house of Lancaster by their oaths of fealty 

 and allegiance, and were these oaths to be wantonly in- 

 fringed, it would throw them loose from all principles, 

 and expose them to continued revolutions. 



aadof York. It was replied in favour of the house of York, that it 

 was never too late to correct any pernicious precedent; for, 

 if it were allowed that present possession of power, and 

 continuance in it for a few years, were sufficient to con- 

 vert usurpers into legal princes, it would throw the t'i'one 

 open to every turbulent innovator ; that the deposition 

 of Richard II. and the advancement of Henry IV. were 

 not deliberate acts of the legislature, but proceeded from 

 the levity ofthe people, or were procured by violence and 

 usurpation ; that the maintenance of order in the succes- 

 sion, served to prevent those numberless confusions 

 which must ensue, if no rule were followed but present 

 advantage and convenience; that the restoration of the 

 true order of succession could not be considered as a 

 change which familiarised the people to revolutions, but 

 only the correction of a former abuse, which had itself 

 ncnuraged the giddy spirit of innovation, rebellion, and 

 disobedience; that as the original title of Lancaster was 

 founded entirely on present convenience, even that prin- 

 ciple, unjustifiable as it was, had now gone over to the 

 house ol York. A weak king governed by corrupt mi- 

 nis'ers, or an imperious queen engaged in foreign con- 

 nections, could never stand in comparison with a prince 

 of approve I wis lorn and ex|>crience, and the lineal heir 

 of the crown, who, by his restoration, would remedy 

 tlii'-r iibu-cs. of which the nation so justly complained. 



These arguments we: e keenly contested on both sides, 

 and the people were completely divided in thcii senti- 

 ments and affections. Kach party was distinguished by 

 a particular symbol. The ensign of the huiwc of Lun- 



caster was a red rose, that of York a white ne ; and the 

 civil wars which soon after followed, were known through- 

 out Kuropc miilcr the name of the quarrel between the 

 two rose-.. This fatal quarrel, which lasted neiiily tinny 

 i/t-d by twelve pi'ched (tattles; and eighty 

 princes ol the blood are computed to have fallen on the 

 field or on the scaffold. 



In a parliament assembled soon after the return of the 

 Duke of York from Ireland, his a.'.hcrcnts, eiicouiagcd 

 by the genrial discontent against the administration, ob- 

 tained a petition from the lower House, which prayei 1 the 

 kin;; to dismiss the Duke o! v . the Bishop of 



C'l.c>ter, and several others, from his pie-cure and coun- 

 sels. This leqnest the kins; hesitated to grant. Hut it 

 was soon after seconded by the up. t" the Duke 



himself, who had come to London at the head of 1 0,000 

 men, and demanded a reformation in the government, 

 and the removal of the Duke of Somerset from all power 

 and authority. The gales of the city, however, were shut 

 against him ; and on his retreating into Kent, he wa* 

 followed by the king with a superior army. A confe- 

 rence ensued, in which Richard insisted on Sonu 

 being dismissed, and submitting to trial in parliament. 

 This demand was seemingly complied with, and Somer- 

 set was put under arrest ; but when Richard came to 

 pay his respects to the king in his tent, and to repeat 

 his accusation against the minister, he Was surprised to 

 see that nobleman step from behind the curtain, and of- 

 fer to maintain his innocence. Richard now found him- 

 self in the hands of his enemies ; but they judged it 

 prudent to refrain from offering violence to one who was 

 so popular and powerful, and dismissed him upon a pro- 

 mise of obedience. He then retired to his seat of Wig- 

 more, on the borders of Wale-. 



But new discontents drew Richard from his retreat. 

 An attempt was made to recover the province of Gas- 

 cony from the French, which completely failed. The 

 blame was laid upon the ministry ; and Henry having 

 at the same time fallen into a distemper, which rendered 

 him incapable of exercising the royal power, the quc.cn 

 found herself unable to resist the op|H>site parly ; and 

 the Duke of York was invited to take upon him the ad- 

 ministration of the goverment. The Duke of Somerset 

 was sent to the Tower, and Richard was appointed lieu- 

 tenant of the kingdom. The parliament soon after cre- 

 ated him protector during pleasure, and the way to the 

 throne thus lay ojien before him. But Richard had not 

 yet advanced any pretensions to the crown ; and was 

 even now irresolute about receiving the power that was 

 offered to him. He dc-ired that it might be recorded in 

 parliament, that this high office was conferred on him 

 without any npplration on his part ; and that all his 

 power-- should be s|ienfied and defined. This exr 

 and amiable moderation, however, served only to en- 

 courage hi-, enemies ; and as soon as Henry had re- 

 covered so far as t i have the appearance of directing the 

 government, he was ili-misseii from the protectorship, 

 and Sonurset was again raised to the head of affairs. 



Richard was sensible of the dangers which threatened 

 him, iindliadrecou.se to arms. He still compl 

 however, only of the king's ministers; but his complaints 

 were answered by the appearance of an army, command- 

 ed by Somerset and the king in person. In the battle 

 of St Alban's, Somerset was s' nn with 5000 of his 

 party. Henry was wounded ana taken prisoner, but 

 was treated by his enemies with gicat icsnect and ten- 



Hi stun. 



A. n. 



The Duke 



.if V. .k 



Uk. up 



amis 



A.O. 



Rc'.iros to 

 his country 



Is created 

 protector lA 



the king- 

 dom. 



I-, 

 lioui hit. 



And has rtm 



course tii 

 arms. 



I-'irst battle 

 in M \I- 

 bans. 



A.I). U-ii 

 And <!ith 



l)f .-(IU1U- 



sct. 



