Great Englishwomen: An Historical Reading Book for SchoolsSynge, M. B. (Margaret Bertha)
History
Great Englishwomen: An Historical Reading Book for Schools
Synge, M. B. (Margaret Bertha)
Women -- Great Britain -- Biography
Margaret taught her son Henry a good deal herself; the boy was growing up
sad and serious and thoughtful, fond of his books, fond of rugged Wales,
and as was but natural devoted to his young mother.
The battle of Tewkesbury and accession of Edward IV. made it unsafe for
him to remain in England; so with his uncle he went to France, where he
stayed for some time.
Separation from her son was a great trial to the Lady Margaret, and her
thoughts were constantly with her exiled child.
It was her habit to get up at five in the morning, and pass five hours in
prayer. Ten o'clock was the dinner hour in those days, and the rest of the
day she devoted to helping the poor around her and to translating French
into English, so that those who did not know French might be able to read
the English translation. Printing was hardly known in England, so she had
to copy out all her writings herself.
In 1482 her second husband died, and not long after she married Lord
Stanley, a great friend of the king, Edward V., by which means she hoped
to forward her son's cause in England. At the coronation of Richard, the
Lady Margaret and her husband were present; for we hear that the Lady
Margaret was sent "ten yards of scarlet for her livery, a long gown made
of crimson velvet with cloth of gold and another of blue velvet;" she
walked just behind the queen and held up her train, a fact which showed
she was in royal favour then. But not for long. Besides being a usurper
and murderer, Richard III. was a bad king, and the people wanted to depose
him, and set on the throne Margaret Beaufort's son, Henry Tudor.
It was proposed that he should marry Elizabeth, daughter of the late king;
then all the friends of the Red Rose and the White Rose would join
together, and overthrow Richard. Richard heard of the plot, the Lady
Margaret was accused of high treason, and it was only by reason of her
husband's favour with the king that her life was spared. At last, in 1485,
Henry came over from France, went to Wales, collected an army, defeated
and slew Richard at Bosworth. Now Lord Stanley had come to the battle with
Richard, but just as the battle was going to begin, he took all his men,
and went over to Henry's side.
The battle began. Richard fought like a lion, determined to conquer; he
knew that Richmond was but a youth, who had never fought before, not even
"trained up in arms." To kill the young Henry was his own aim and object.
"I think there be six Richmonds in the field;
Five have I slain to-day instead of him!"
are the words which Shakspere puts into his mouth, as the king is again
unhorsed. But his enemies were too strong for him. When the battle was
over, Richard III. was found dead upon the field of Bosworth, and Lord
Stanley, taking the crown which the king had worn in battle, placed it
upon the head of Henry, now King of England.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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