Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (3 of 6): England (4 of 9): Edward the Fourth, Earle of March, Sonne and Heire to Richard Duke of YorkeHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (3 of 6): England (4 of 9): Edward the Fourth, Earle of March, Sonne and Heire to Richard Duke of Yorke
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- Edward IV, 1461-1483; Great Britain -- History -- To 1485; Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603
Howbeit, some writers of that time, fauoring altogither the house of
Yorke, haue recorded, that after he vnderstood what losses had chanced
vnto his fréends, and how not onelie his sonne, but also all other his
chéefe partakers were dead and dispatched, he tooke it so to hart, that
of pure displeasure, indignation, and melancholie, he died the three
and twentith of Maie. The dead corps on the Ascension euen was conueied
with billes and glaucs pompouslie (if you will call that a funerall
pompe) from the Tower to the church of saint Paule, and there laid on a
beire or coffen bare faced, the same in presence of the beholders did
bléed; where it rested the space of one whole daie. From thense he was
caried to the Blackfriers, and bled there likewise: and on the next
daie after, it was conueied in a boat, without priest or clerke, torch
or taper, singing or saieng, vnto the monasterie of Chertseie, distant
from London fiftéene miles, and there was it first buried: but after,
it was remooued to Windesor, and there in a new vawt, newlie intoomed.
He reigned eight and thirtie yeares, six moneths and od daies, and
after his readeption of the crowne six moneths. He liued two and fiftie
yeares, hauing by wife one onelie sonne, called Edward, prince of Wales.
He was of a séemelie stature, of bodie slender, to which proportion
all other members were answerable; his face beautifull, wherein
continuallie was resident the bountie of mind with the which he was
inwardlie indued. Of his owne naturall inclination he abhorred all
the vices as well of the bodie as of the soule. His patience was such
that of all the iniuries to him doone (which were innumerable) he
neuer asked vengeance, thinking that for such aduersitie as chanced to
him, his sinnes should be forgotten and forgiuen. What losses soeuer
happened vnto him, he neuer esteemed, nor made anie account therof; but
if anie thing were doone, that might sound as an offense towards God,
he sore lamented, and with great repentance sorowed for it.
So then verie vnlike it is, that he died of anie wrath, indignation,
and displeasure bicause his businesse about the kéeping of the crowne
on his head tooke no better successe: except peraduenture ye will
saie, that it gréeued him, for that such slaughters and mischéeues
as had chanced within this land, came to passe onelie through his
follie and default in gouernment: or (that more is) for his fathers,
his grandfathers, and his owne vniust vsurping and deteining of the
crowne. But howsoeuer it was, for these before remembred, and other the
like properties of reputed holinesse, which was said to rest in him,
it pleased God to worke miracles for him in his life time as men haue
listed to report.
[Sidenote: Canonizing of kings, déere.]
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex I. S. pag. 730, 731, &c._]
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