of great prosperity. The promise was never realized. The facts of this reign are these:

1. Richard had as his companion De Vere, whom he made duke of Ireland. In the company of this favourite he neglected his kingdom, and gave himself up to pleasure and amusement. John of Gaunt was absent in Castile. He claimed it in right of his wife. The duke of Gloucester possessed himself of the reins of government by forcing his nephew to appoint a commission to manage the national business. Gloucester was the author of the executions of persons whom he disliked. Richard, in his twentysecond year, resumed the royal power by the authority and with the consent of a full council. The duke of Gloucester was soon afterwards arrested and sent to Calais. The uncle is believed to have been murdered by the nephew's order.

2. The conduct of Richard was, after the victory over his uncle, in complete opposition to and in disregard of law. The nobles who had agreed with Gloucester felt anxious for their own safety. The duke of Norfolk, and Henry Bolingbroke, duke of Hereford, son of John of Gaunt, were amongst these dissatisfied nobles. Norfolk sounded Bolingbroke who betrayed him to Richard, accusing Norfolk of high treason. Richard decided that they must try their cause by wager of battle. They entered the lists. Richard prevented the fight by banishing both Norfolk and Bolingbroke from England-Norfolk for life: Hereford for ten years.

3. John of Gaunt died during the exile of his son. When Bolingbroke learned that his father was dead, he claimed his father's lands. Richard refused to grant the lands, as if he thought himself above all law.

4. There was a town near the mouth of the Humber called Ravensburgh. This town has been washed away by the encroachments of the sea upon the land. Bolingbroke landed at this town in Yorkshire. He had sixty followers. The earl of Northumberland and his son, surnamed Hotspur, with many others, joined Bolingbroke. The duke of Bretagne assisted him. Afterwards he married his widow. On leaving their court he is said to have given its name to the blue flower, "Forget me Not." His manifesto at Ravensburgh, when he landed, was, "I have come only to claim mine own." His intentions were concealed under this fair appearance of justice. Who can doubt that from the first he intended to seize the crown of England?

5. Where was the unfortunate Richard II.? In Ireland. He delayed. He resolved to return to England to crush the rebellion. He landed at Milford, in Wales. His subjects deserted him. He surrendered himself to Bolingbroke, who brought him to London, and persuaded him to resign the crown. Henry declared himself king in full parliament, A.D. 1399. He took the title of Henry IV. He grounded his claim to the crown upon a report that Edmund, called Crookback, was the eldest son of Henry III., and set aside because he was deformed; that his mother was descended from this Edmund,

and that he (Bolingbroke) was the lawful heir to the crown. Bolingbroke would have made a very able village attorney. His title was false. Henry III. had two sons, Edward I. and Edmund Crookback, who must have been the great-great grandfather of Henry IV., if Henry's account be received in evidence of his claim. No objection to the sons of Edward I. was ever heard of; no objection to the son, Edward II.; to the grandson, Edward III.; to his son, the Black Prince, or to his talented and brave, but unfortunate son, Richard II. was ever heard of till this villain Bolingbroke, like the fox or the wolf, invaded the dominions, and seized the possessions of a man, after all, more righteous than he. This false title of the mean and cowardly Bolingbroke houses of Lancaster and York, which desolated the led to "the Wars of the Roses," a war between the kingdom.

In this reign, Richard II., Wickliffe translated the Bible into English. Adhelm, a Saxon monk, had translated the Psalms into Saxon, A.D. 706. Bede had translated the whole Bible into Saxon, the language spoken by the people. None but Latin versions of the Scriptures had been in use. Such was the arrangement of persons in power. Wickliffe's followers were called Lollards, from lollen or lullen-to sing or to chaunt. Chaucer thinks that it comes from lolium, tares, as if the Lollards were tares in the gospel field. The duke of Lancaster protected Wickliffe. Wickliffe died at his own rectory at Lutterworth, in Leicestershire, A.D. 1384. Thirty years after his death his bones were dug up and burned by a decree of the Council of Constance.

William Wykeham, bishop of Winchester, lived during this reign. Great part of the cathedral of Winchester was built by him. He founded a college at Winchester and a college at Oxford.

In reference to the execution of the decree of the Council of Constance, Thomas Fuller adds, in his own style, "This river took them into the Avon [Fuller points to the river or stream which passes by the church at Lutterworth, into which the ashes of Wickliffe had been cast], the Avon took them into the Severn, the Severn took them into the narrow seas, the narrow seas took them into the ocean main or main ocean, and thus the ashes of Wickliffe are the emblems of his doctrine, which is now dispersed all the world over."

IX. (1.) Lancaster Line.-Henry IV. (Bolingbroke) was born at Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire, was buried at Canterbury, and reigned 14 years, from A.D. 1399 to A.D. 1413. Thomas Arundel was archbishop of Canterbury, from A.D. 1396 to A.D. 1413.

The less fortunate Richard II. was murdered in Pontefract Castle, Yorkshire, 23 miles S.S.W. York, near to the confluence of the Aire and Calder. Sir Piers, of Exton, was sent with seven attendants to murder him. Richard seized a battleaxe and killed some of his assailants. He was overpowered by numbers. He was buried at Langley, in Hertfordshire. Henry, his murderer, followed him to the grave as chief mourner. The murderer and hypo

visited by a plague, one of the most destructive plagues ever known.

VIII. Richard II. (of Bordeaux) was born at Bordeaux, was buried at Longley in Herts, and was afterwards removed to Westminster. He reigned twenty-two years, from A.D. 1377 to A.D. 1399. He was the only son of the Black Prince. He was the grandson of Elward III. He made a very melancholy termination of that line of our kings called "The Saxon line restored." Henry II. was the first of that line. Richard II. was the last. The Saxon line, restored, ruled the country from A.D. 1154 to A.D. 1399, a period of two hundred and forty-five years. Men of very great administrative abilities may be found amongst this royal line of kings, and, without doubt, men of very weak minds have their names on the list of the "Saxon line restored." This royal line of kings, to some of whom the country is much indebted, divided itself into two branches, called 1. The House of Lancaster; and 2. The House of York. When these houses ceased to exist, the House of Lancaster had a semi-existence in what is called "The House of Tudor." The House of Tudor, when expiring, found a relative in North Britain, James, the First of England and the Sixth of Scotland. He was the first of the House of Stuart in the list of our sovereigns. When that house ended its inglorious career, the House of Brunswick succeeded to the throne of England. This succession was the result of intermarriage. The fortunes of England have risen with the sovereigns of the House of Brunswick. The eventful life of George III. laid the foundation of England's greatness.

The results of that reign may be traced in the strength and prosperity of England. The secular and the religious interests of England have been, under Providence, so united that prosperity in commerce has had an existence dependent upon and commensurate with the efforts made by religion to spread through all the world "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord." The secret of our greatness is our practical adoption of the words of Holy Writ: "The knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea."

A calm examination of even an outline of the history of the houses of (1) Lancaster, (2) York, (3) Stuart, and (4) Brunswick, may serve to lead to the final inference, which cannot fail to support the faith of the believer in revealed religion, "There is a God who ruleth in the affairs of men."

The outline of the life of the brave but unfortunate Richard II. may be given in a narrow space. He came to the throne when only eleven years of age. His grandmother Philippa was no more. His mother had disappeared from the scene.

1. Lionel, duke of Clarence, son of the late king, had children and grandchildren descending from him. 2. John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, was the next surviving son of Edward III.

3. Edmund, earl of Cambridge, was the next surviving son of Edward III. Edmund was afterwards made duke of York.

4. Thomas of Woodstock was the last surviving son of Edward III. Thomas of Woodstock was afterwards made duke of Gloucester.

These uncles of Richard II. had seats in a council of regency which was appointed. Certain bishops and nobles had seats in this council.

The ingenuity of treason against the indolence of possession is the secret of this most unfortunate reign. The war in France was still carried on with a spiritless inactivity. A poll-tax was raised in England. The terms were four groats per head, for every person, rich or poor, from fifteen years and upwards. In various parts of Europe at this time, men declaimed upon the rights of man. John Ball, a priest, had been spreading these notions in England. The people were pleased by notions which agreed with their own views of government, which were purely Saxon. The tax was demanded from a young girl at Dartford. The demand was refused, because the girl was under age. The inspector or tax-collector would have ocular demonstration. The girl's father struck him dead by a hammer. The father's name was Wat Tyler. The people supported him. A vast multitude, chiefly from the eastern counties, supported him. He led them to London. The mob struck off the heads of all gentlemen and foreigners whom they met. The temple and the Savoy Palace were plundered. Tyler broke into the tower, and murdered the archbishop and other persons who were hateful to him. Simon of Sudbury was archbishop of Canterbury, A.D. 1377 to A.D. 1381. He foresaw what would happen. He had spent the night in prayer. He was officiating in the chapel of the Tower when the rebels entered. He said to the multitude, as they were about to murder him, that "when a man could not live either with conscience or honour, death was an advantage to him; and that he thanked God he had never been in a better preparation to leave the world." He then suffered a cruel death. Acts of cruelty were being perpetrated. The king, then only fifteen years of age, behaved with judgment and with presence of mind far beyond his years.

He addressed the mob and mildly promised redress of their grievances. In Smithfield, Wat Tyler, at the head of twenty thousand men, met the king. There was a conference. Wat Tyler played with his dagger, and laid his hand upon the king's bridle. The lord mayor, William Wallworth, was indignant at this insolence of the villain, and by a mace struck the rebel from his horse. The king's attendants despatched him. The people bent their bows intending to avenge the death of their leader. The king rode boldly up to them, crying "what mean ye my lieges? Tyler was a traitor. Come with me, and I will be your leader." They followed him to Islington. He renewed his promise. They returned to their homes in peace.

Richard was married to Anne of Bohemia. She was long remembered as "the good Queen Anne." His conduct in Wat Tyler's rebellion and his marriage with one so good gave promise of a reign

before the marriage of John of Gaunt with Catherine Swynford.

King John gave the honour of Lancaster to his favourite Gilbert Fitz-Reinpede. A.D. 1266, the first earl of Lancaster was created. A.D. 1351, Henry, earl of Derby, was made duke of Lancaster, and the privileges of a separate sovereignty were granted. Blanche, heiress of this duke, married John of Gaunt, the fourth son of Edward III. Their son Henry became king of England, A.D. 1399. Henry IV. and the duchy of Lancaster has been ever since connected with the crown of England.

In France, the Dauphin became Charles VII. after his father's death. The English laid siege to Orleans. Joan of Arc, whose proper name was Jeanne D'Arc, and whose birthplace was Domremi, a village, on the borders of Lorraine, a maiden of humble birth and an enthusiast, led the French to victory.

The English burned her alive on May 31, 1431, in the twenty-first year of her age. She prophesied at her death that the English should be expelled from France. Her prophecy was fulfilled. Jeanne D'Arc never shed blood. She led her troops to battle. They followed with unbounded confidence in her supernatural powers. The English burnt her at Rouen. Shame to England! Who can put confidence in the creed of Rome, which was the creed of England at this period? O! Shame for ever on the Romish religion of England.

The English were finally driven out of France, A.D. 1450, notwithstanding the skill of Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury.

Henry VI. was mild and devout. He grew up in evident weakness of mind. Gloucester and Beaufort had their quarrels. The king was grieved. Beaufort determined to strengthen his party. He therefore arranged a marriage between Henry and Margaret of Anjou, daughter of Regnier, the Titular king of Sicily. She was beautiful in person and powerful in mind. She gained a perfect sway over Henry.

Gloucester was arrested two years after the marriage, and within a few days after his arrest was found dead in his bed. Beaufort outlived his nephew only six weeks. Beaufort was no doubt the murderer.

Richard, duke of York, heir of the earl of March, by his mother, felt that his claim to the throne of England was better than that of Henry.

Disasters in France and misgovernment at home created popular discontent in England. The result was an insurrection. The leader was obscure. His name was Jack Cade. He proclaimed himself to be John Mortimer, son of Sir John Mortimer, uncle of the last earl of March, who had been sentenced by parliament and executed for high treason at the beginning of this reign.

Jack Cade defeated the royal forces at Sevenoaks, in Kent, 21 miles S.S.E. London. He entered London, and put to death Lord Say and other noblemen.

Discontent arose amongst his men. Jack Cade fled. Alexander Iden, a gentleman in Kent, found Jack Cade in his garden, and slew him, because he believed him to be a robber.

The duke of York now commenced the civil war, called the "War of the Roses." The house of York had the white rose for its badge. The house of Lancaster had the red rose as its badge. The War of the Roses continued for a period of thirty years, from A.D. 1455 to A.D. 1485. This war brought misery into every family. It cut off successive generations of many noble families in the field or on the scaffold. The Nevilles were a powerful family. The marquis of Salisbury was at their head. His son was earl of Warwick. He defeated the forces of Henry at Northampton, A.D. 1460.

A parliament was held in London. The parliament arranged that Henry should be king for his life, and that the duke of York should be his suc

cessor.

The queen raised an army in the north, and completely defeated the Yorkists at Wakefield, A.D. 1460. The duke of York was crowned, but grass formed his crown. His head was struck off, and set upon the gates of York.

The earl of Rutland, the duke's second son, seventeen years of age, was murdered by Lord Clifford, in revenge for the death of his own father, at St. Albans.

Edward, the

The duke of York left several sons. eldest, succeeded to his claims. The duke of York had been successful at St. Albans, A.D. 1455. The duke of Somerset opposed him. Somerset, Clifford, and other noblemen fell.

Edward, who succeeded to his father's claims, was a prince whose character may be stated in few words. He was beautiful in person, but licentious, cruel, and lustful in disposition. He possessed great ability and great courage. The former part of his character finally spoiled the latter. He was able to give the queen's forces a total defeat at Mortimer's Cross, near Hereford, A.D. 1461. Margaret worsted the earl of Warwick in a second battle at St. Albans in the same year, and recovered possession of her husband's person. Edward joined his forces to those of Warwick. Margaret retired. Edward marched to London. The citizens received him. He was proclaimed king, A.D. 1461. His brothers, George and Richard, were created dukes of Clarence and Gloucester.

XII. (1.) Edward IV. was born in Normandy, was buried at Windsor, and reigned twenty-two years, from A.D. 1461 to A.D. 1483.

Towton, in Yorkshire, was the scene of the success of the house of York. Edward ordered that no quarter should he given. Nearly one-half of the Lancastrians perished.

Margaret found refuge on the continent. Louis XI. assisted her. She landed in the north of England in the following winter. Hexham, Northumberland, was the scene of her defeat. In this campaign she endeavoured to conceal herself in a forest. A robber met her. Her presence of mind saved her. She addressed the robber thus, "Friend, I commit to thy care the son of the good king Henry." The robber became her conductor to her friends. Margaret withdrew to the continent. Henry was con

cealed in Lancashire for one year. He was discovered. Barbarity was let loose upon him. He was finally sent to the tower.

The earl of Warwick became dissatisfied with Edward. He felt, "I have seated him upon the throne." Warwick had been sent to France to make a wedding bargain between Edward and the sister-in-law of Louis. Meantime Elizabeth Woodville, Lady Grey, overcame by her beauty the lustful spirit of the miserable slave of this appetite, Edward IV.

Edward IV. married Elizabeth Woodville. Her relations obtained his favours. Edward was offended by the marriage of Clarence with one of the daughters of the earl of Warwick. Clarence and Warwick were forced to fly the kingdom. They and Margaret became reconciled. Prince Edward, her son, was married to Warwick's youngest daughter.

King Louis assisted Warwick on his return to England. Edward was forced to retire. He chose Flanders as his place of refuge. Henry VI. was brought from the Tower. He was paraded, with the crown upon his head, from the Tower to St. Paul's. Warwick obtained from the people, henceforth, the title of King-maker.

The affairs of Edward seemed desperate. The character of these wars was sudden and unexpected change. Edward with a few followers landed at Ravensburgh. Bolingbroke, afterwards Henry IV., had landed in the same place, seventy years before, under the pretence that he came merely to claim his own. York received Edward IV. The fickle Clarence joined him. London received him. He seized Henry. He became king.

He met Warwick at Barnet in Hertfordshire, where a battle was fought on Easter Day, A.D. 1471. Warwick lost his life. Edward was victor.

At Tewkesbury, Margaret was defeated. She had, at her landing, been informed of the result of the battle of Barnet. Margaret and her son Edward were taken prisoners. Edward IV. asked the prince Edward what brought him to England. "I came to recover my father's kingdom," was the reply. The king struck him in the face with his gauntlet. The swords of Clarence and of Gloucester, of the Lord Hastings, and of others, were sheathed in the dying body of the youthful heir of Henry VI.

Edward IV. reigned to the disgrace of the nation which, in its madness, made him king. He spent his remaining years in whoring and in cruelty. His brothers, Clarence and Richard, were, in their several dispositions, incapable of ruling and governing even a small and limited nation or power, such as England then was.

Gloucester was an unscrupulous tyrant. He contrived the murder of Henry VI. He failed not to accomplish the murder of his own brother Clarence. This unfortunate prince was commanded to choose his mode of dying. He chose to be drowned in a butt of Malmsey.

The manner in which Edward was provoked to murder his brother Clarence may be variously stated. The real advantage taken by the duke of Gloucester

to provoke Edward to this act of fratricide is plainly recorded.

The king was hunting in the park of Thomas Burdett, who had in his park a favourite white hind. The king, understanding this partiality of the owner of the park, killed this beautiful animal, in a spirit of ill-will to his brother Clarence, a friend of Burdett.

Edward's decision to put Burdett to death on account of his unguarded speech-"I wish the horns of the deer were in the belly of the man who advised the king to this act of insult"-was denounced by Clarence as unjust. Clarence and Burdett met their untimely deaths.

The duke of Gloucester had persuaded Edward that there was a prophecy that the name of his successor should begin with G. This was applied to George, duke of Clarence. The application of the prophecy to Richard, duke of Gloucester, was made very evident by the event.

Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, was at war with Louis XI. of France. Edward led an army into France to support his brother-in-law. Edward was not successful. He concluded a separate peace with Louis. Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy was routed and slain by the Swiss in the battle of Ñanci,

A.D. 1476.

A.D. 1474.-The league against France by the duke of Burgundy and Edward IV. of England.

A.D. 1475.-The English invasion under Edward IV., July 5. Edward was misled by false intelligence from the constable. He had reason to accuse both his allies of treachery. Peace of Peroune ratified at Perguigny. The English were bought off by Louis. Treaty of Solecure with the duke of Burgundy. The constable "De St. Pol" is delivered up to Louis, Sept. 13. The constable is beheaded Dec. 19. University of Valence, Dauphine, founded.

A.D. 1476.-The duke of Burgundy defeated by the Swiss at Granson and Morat, Switzerland.

Edward, in the gratification of his unbridled lust, injured his health. He died in the forty-second year of his age, A.D. 1483. He left two sons-Edward prince of Wales, and Richard duke of York—and five daughters.

The art of printing was introduced into England in this otherwise worthless reign. William Caxton, a citizen and mercer of London, was in Germany in the course of his business. The new invention of printing arrested his attention. He practised till he mastered the art of printing. He introduced it into London, into England. He set up a printing press in the abbot's house in Westminster, A.D. 1471. The first work printed in England was the art of chess.

XIII. (2.) Edward V. was born in the sanctuary of Westminster, was buried perhaps in the Chapel of the Tower, and reigned from April 9, A.D. 1483, to June 26, 1483, a period of two months and seventeen days. The new king was in his thirteenth year when his father died. He was in Ludlow, in Shropshire, under the care of his uncle, Rivers,

Elizabeth Woodville's brother. Gloucester professed much loyalty to his nephew. He sent for his nephew and met him on his way to London. He arrested Lord Rivers and a son of Edward's queen, by her first husband, Lord Grey. The queen took sanctuary at Westminster with the duke of York, her son, and with her five daughters. The king was conducted to the Tower. Gloucester was declared protector. Now commenced the work of murder. Who can decide whether the infamy of the base and bloody Richard, or that of his dastardly subjects who allowed his commission of crimes so disgraceful to human nature, can be considered the greater? A tyrant villain as king! A base and servile people as his subjects! This is the condition in politics and in religion to which popery reduced our country. Yet some wish to bring our country again to this state of moral, of political, of religious degradation.

Gloucester would seize the crown. Every obstacle must be removed. Richard entered the council chamber and bared his arm. He said, "See how that sorceress, my brother's wife, with Shore's wife and others, have withered my arm." The withered

arm was born with him. It was a natural defect. Lord Hastings said, "If they have done this, they should be punished as traitors." Gloucester replied, "Do you answer me with 'ifs' and 'ands,' as if I charged them falsely? I tell you they have done it, and thou hast joined with them in the villainy." Gloucester ordered the immediate execution of Hastings. Gloucester would not dine till Hastings' head was struck off. He ordered him to make short shrift, to make confession to a priest, and to obtain absolution. Lord Hastings was hurried to the little green in front of the Tower Chapel, and was beheaded on a log of wood.

She was charitable, generous, and of a most pleasing conversation; her wit being said to be as irresistible as her beauty. As she was blameless in other respects, the protector ordered her to be sued for incontinence, as having left her husband to live in adultery with another. It is very probable that the people were not displeased at seeing one again reduced to former meanness who had, for a while, been raised above them, and who had enjoyed the smiles of a court. The charge against her was too notorious to be denied. She pleaded guilty, and was accordingly condemned to walk barefoot through the city, and to do penance in St. Paul's Church in a white sheet, with a wax taper in her hand, before thousands of spectators.

She lived about forty years after this sentence, reduced to extreme wretchedness. Sir Thomas More, in the succeeding reign (Henry VIII. ?), assures us that he saw her gathering herbs in a field near to the city, for her nightly repast, an extraordinary example of the ingratitude of courts, and of the reverses of fortune. Goldsmith's Hist. of Eng.

Richard obtained possession of the duke of York. The queen foresaw the fate of her child. The king was rejoiced to have his brother restored to him.

Gloucester persuaded the people that the sons of Edward IV., by Elizabeth Woodville, were not legitimate, because he was already married to Eleanor Talbot, widow of Lord Butler, before he married Elizabeth Woodville.

The son of George, duke of Clarence, was set aside on account of his father's attainder. Henry, duke of Buckingham, assisted Gloucester. The Lord Mayor was enlisted in this vile scene of iniquity. He publicly requested Gloucester to take possession of the throne. Gloucester appeared to be very unwilling; yet was persuaded to accept the Lord Mayor's offer. Gloucester and his wife were crowned three months after the death of Edward IV. His wife was Anne, of Neville, the widow of Edward, of Lancaster (son of Henry VI. and Margaret of Anjou), whom (Edward) Richard had murdered, or had assisted to murder. They (Richard and Anne) had one son. He was created Prince of Wales.

The protector, having thus dismissed from the world those whom he most feared, was willing to please the populace by punishing Jane Shore, the late king's mistress. This unfortunate woman was an enemy too humble to excite his jealousy; yet, as he had accused her of witchcraft, of which all the world saw she was innocent, he thought proper to make her an example for those faults of which she was really guilty.

Jane Shore had been formerly deluded from her husband, who was a goldsmith in Lombard street, and continued to live with Edward, the most guiltless mistress of bis abandoned court. She was ever known to intercede for the distressed, and was usually applied to as a mediator for mercy.

XIV. Richard III. (Crookback) was born in Fother

Leicester, and reigned two years, from A.D. 1483 to A.D. 1485. This splendid specimen of the education of Rome proceeded in his career of wrong, of robbery, and of murder. He was a clever tyrant. The foulest character which human depravity can acquire. The beautiful children of his brother, the young king Edward, and the duke of York his brother, were committed to the care of Sir James Tyrrel and other three ruffians. They were smothered in their sleep by these nefarious servants of an incarnate fiend. After some ages their bones were discovered, when some alterations were being made in a staircase in the Tower, and were removed to Westminster Abbey. The duke of Buckingham had aided Richard in his efforts to gain the throne. Buckingham was now at the head of a party who had formed a conspiracy