282 



The Correct Amis of the State of Neiu York, 



an inquiry, as to the probable reason for introducing a sun into the 

 shield of the Arms. I think that its introduction was first suggested 

 by the luct that a full sun was the badge or cognizance of Edward, 

 Duke of York, who was afterward Edward IV, and was regarded by 

 him as an omen of prosperity and success. 



If you do not, after listening to the reasons which I have to offer 

 for the suggestion, find them satisfactory, I shall have to take the re- 

 sponsibility of this application of the alleged facts ; I am not aware 

 that they have previously been thus applied. The history of the 

 adoption of the sun as the badge of Edward IV is related in five or 

 six of the early chronicles of England, the fullest accounts being in 

 those of Hall and Holinshed. The event took place toward the close 

 of the wars between the white and red roses, between the houses of 

 York and Lancaster, and resulted in establishing the dynasty in the 

 line of the family of York. A very successful and decisive battle was 

 fought by Edward in the edge of Wales, February 2, 1461, called the 



"battle of Mortimer's Cross." I will only quote Holinshed's account 

 of 'the battle, and of the prodigy which accompanied it: 



" But when he was setting forward, news was brought to him, that 

 Jasper, Earl of Pembroke, half brother to King Henrie, and James 

 Butler, Earl of Ormonde and Wiltshire, had assembled a great num- 

 ber of Welsh and Irish people to take him ; he herewith quickened, 

 retired back, and met with his enemies on a fair plain near to Morti- 

 mer's Cross, not far from Hereford East, on Candlemas Daie in the 

 morning. At which time thesunne (as some write) appeared to the 

 Earl of March like three suns, and suddenly joined altogether in one. 

 Upon which sight he took such courage, that he, fiercely setting on 

 his enemies, put them to flight; and for this cause men imagined 

 that he gave the sun in his fulle brightnesse, for his badge or 

 cognizance, "t 



Wm. Habing^on published the life of Edward IV in 1640, 180 

 years after the battle of 1461, at the express desire of Charles I, who 

 had been Duke of York ; only two Dukes of York had intervened 

 between his possession of the title and Edward IV, 140 years pre- 

 viously. He discusses this phenomenon of the sun in the following 

 language : ^' Before the fight, the sun (as by many authors it is asser- 

 ted,) appeared to the earl in the resemblance of three suns, and sud- 

 denly united in one. The truth of which I will not dispute Yet 



how this omen could be expounded happy to his designs I understand 

 not, unless we seek the interpretation from the event; for that indeed 

 gave him the victory, and brought the glory of the two adverse gen- 

 erals (Pembroke and Ormonde) to his side ; so that the three suns 



* I, 660. Lond. 1587, 



