EDWARD THE FIFTH. "What's this "That rises like the issue of a King, "And bears upon his baby brow the round "And top of Sov'reignty ?" Fading or e'er he blossom'd." "Tell thou the lamentable fall of me, "And send thy hearers weeping to their beds." SHAKESPEARE. "TWAS at the silent midnight hour," When deeds of murder vainly try To shun all-seeing Heaven's eye, And awful darkness wrapt the Tower Where innocence was doom'd to die; That crook-soul'd RICHARD's ruffian crew, Starting at every hollow gust that blew, Through vaulted passage stole, and arch-way low, Where shadows mock'd the flickering taper's. glow, And, e'en the noise their felon steps impart, Struck nameless terror to each coward heart! Ah, Ah, sweetly then two royal infants slept, His conscience to commission of such deeds, E're yet the measure of his guilt be full ! moan. Then with averted look and panting breath, Approach the sleeping pair; unconscious they, They changed their mortal for immortal rest. The * Historians have many doubts as to the commission of this alledged murder ;-one proof offered to the contrary is from a curious The fiends below with exultation fell, And glee infernal shout the royal knell; Celestial sounds that direful yell replace; While loud Hosannas rend the sky, And welcome virtue to the throne of grace! How on that night did RICHARD sleep? Ah! well for him might angels weep! curious document, said to be the Coronation Roll of Richard III. from which it would appear that Prince Edward walked at his Uncle's coronation. The entry is as follows: "To Edward, Son of the late King Edward the Fourth, for his apparel and arraye, that is to say,-a shorte gowne, made of two yards and three-fourths crymsyn clothe, of golde, lyned with two yards three-fourths of blac velvet; a long gowne, made of six yards of crymsyn clothe, of golde, lyned with six yards of green damask; a doublet and a stomacher, made of two yards of blac sattin, &c. &c.; besides two foot clothes, a bonnet of purple velvet, and nine saddle housings of blue velvet,gilt spurs, with many other rich articles and magnificent apparel, for his henchmen or pages."-The above is copied, with similar variations of orthography, (occurring in the same words) from the original, by Mr. Walpole, who was gratified with the perusal of it by Mr. Chamberlain, of the Great Wardrobe. Vide BERTRAND DE MOLEVILLE'S Hist. of Gt. Britain. "It has, however, been suggested by Mr. Walpole himself, that these garments might probably have been intended for Edward the Fifth's Coronation, before Richard disclosed his designs." HISTORIC DOUBTS, AND ANSWER. SUMMARY SUMMARY OF THE REIGN OF RICHARD THE THIRD, SURNAMED CROOKBACK. Born A. D. 1450. Proclaimed King in June, 1483. Married Ann, Daughter of Nevil, the great Earl of Warwick, and Widow of Edward, Son to Henry VI. He had issue, Edward, who died young. Reigned little better than two years. killed at the battle of Bosworth Field, and buried at Leicester, in 1485. Was PRINCIPAL EVENTS. Duke of Buckingham beheaded. Earl of Richmond lays claim to the crown, and wins it by arms. EMINENT PERSONS. Thomas Bourlier, Archbishop of Canterbury. Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond. Stafford, Duke of Buckingham. Vere, Earl of Oxford. Thomas Lord Stanley. Howard, Duke of Norfolk. Francis Viscount Lovel. Sir Richard Ratcliffe. Sir William Catesby. COTEMPORARY SOVEREIGNS. Popes. Sextus IV. 1471, Innocent VIII. 1484. Emperors. Of Germany.-Frederic II. 1440. Kings. |