24 MTR OD UCTOR Y. 



There are few things in English history more tragic than 

 the ruin of Edward the Fourth's house, except it be the ruin 

 of the nation which trusted in the permanent success of his 

 genius. For there is no English sovereign who had and who 

 marred so great an opportunity. At nineteen years of age 

 he was by instinct, it seems, the greatest tactician which the 

 military history of England has ever shown. On the last day 

 of December 1460, his father, his brother, and Lord Salisbury, 

 the mainstay of the Yorkist party, had been slain at or after 

 the affair of Sandal. A few days afterwards, the next most 

 important supporter of his cause was defeated at St. Alban's. 

 On the fourth of March Edward was King of England. He 

 never lost a battle, and never avoided one, though he had to 

 fight against men, many of whom were experienced in the 

 long wars with France. The march by which he arrested the 

 progress of Margaret's army to the north, brought her forces 

 to bay at Tewkesbury and utterly routed them, was conceived 

 and carried out with consummate skill. Mr. Hallam has com- 

 mented on the absence of remedial -statutes during his reign. 

 It does not appear that they were, according to the temper 

 of the times, required. Personally Edward was frank and 

 forgiving. The Rolls of Parliament during his reign are full 

 of petitions from men who had been in arms against him," 

 who begged to be forgiven, and whose prayer was invariably 

 granted. He was treated with signal ingratitude by the 

 Neviles whom he had trusted, and by his brother Clarence, 

 who was as rapacious as he was perfidious. If Clarence was 

 put to death, as was alleged, for we must remember that the 

 history of Edward was written by the enemies of his house, it 

 is certain that the commons petitioned that judgment should 

 be executed on him as a person who was more than dangerous. 

 The first part of Edward's reign was full of perils, for the 

 Lancastrian party was active, bitter, and still strong. After 

 the final battle of Tewkesbury Edward had nothing to fear from 

 his English enemies, beyond those of his own household. 



The occasional activity of Edward was counterpoised by 



