HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 319 



&quot; in the end, to give us means at the length to show 

 &quot; ourselves armed unto our lieges and people of 

 &quot; England. But far be it from us to intend their 

 &quot; hurt or damage, or to make war upon them, other- 

 &quot; wise than to deliver ourself and them from tyranny 

 &quot; and oppression. For our mortal enemy Henry 

 &quot; Tudor, a false usurper of the crown of England 

 &quot; which to us by natural and lineal right appertain- 

 &quot; eth, knowing in his own heart our undoubted right, 

 &quot; we being the very Richard, Duke of York, younger 

 &quot; son, and now surviving heir male of the noble and 

 &quot; victorious Edward the Fourth, late King of Eng- 

 &quot; land, hath not only deprived us of our kingdom, 

 &quot; but likewise, by all foul and wicked means, sought 

 &quot; to betray us, and bereave us of our life. Yet if 

 &quot; his tyranny only extended itself to our person, 

 &quot; although our royal blood teacheth us to be sensi- 

 &quot; ble of injuries, it should be less to our grief. But 

 &quot; this Tudor, who boasteth himself to have over- 

 &quot; thrown a tyrant, hath, ever since his first entrance 

 &quot; into his usurped reign, put little in practice, but 

 &quot; tyranny and the feats thereof. 



&quot; For King Richard, our unnatural uncle, although 

 &quot; desire of rule did blind him, yet in his other actions, 

 &quot; like a true Plantagenet, was noble, and loved the 

 &quot; honour of the realm, and the contentment and 

 &quot; comfort of his nobles and people. But this our 

 &quot; mortal enemy, agreeable to the meanness of his 

 &quot; birth, hath trodden under foot the honour of 

 &quot; this nation : selling our best confederates for 

 &quot; money, and making merchandize of the blood, 

 &quot; estates, and fortunes of our peers and subjects, 



