Edward now becomes heir to the crown.--His energy and decision.--He marches to intercept Margaret.--Warwick.--Battle with the queen.--Warwick defeated.--Margaret regains possession of her husband.--Excesses committed by the queen's troops.--Edward advances.--He enters London.--His welcome.--Excitement in London.--Measures taken by Edward.--Voice of the people.--They declare in favor of Edward.--Edward is formally enthroned.--Various ceremonies.--Edward marches to the northward.--A battle.--Edward enters York in triumph.--He inters his father's body.--He returns to London.--Grief of his mother.--Situation of George and Richard.--Richard's person.--Description of the armor worn in those days.--Necessity of being trained to use this armor.--The armor costly.--Substitutes for it.--Exercises.--Feats to be performed.--Account of the quintaine.--Other exercises and sports.--Playing ball.--Jumping through a hoop.--The two brothers companions.--Richard's intellectual education. Richard's brother Edward, as has already been remarked, was at Gloucester when he heard the news of his father's death. This news, of course, made a great change in his condition. To his mother, the event was purely and simply a calamity, and it could awaken no feelings in her heart but those of sorrow and chagrin. In Edward's mind, on the other hand, the first emotions of astonishment and grief were followed immediately by a burst of exultation and pride. He, of course, as now the oldest surviving son, succeeded at once to all the rights and titles which his father had enjoyed, and among these, according to the ideas which his mother had instilled into his mind, was the right to the crown. His heart, therefore, when the first feeling of grief for the loss of his father had subsided, bounded with joy as he exclaimed, "So now _I_ am the King of England." The enthusiasm which he felt extended itself at once to all around him. He immediately made preparations to put himself at the head of his troops, and march to the eastward, so as to intercept Queen Margaret on her way to London, for he knew that she would, of course, now press forward toward the capital as fast as possible. He accordingly set out at once upon his march, and, as he went on, he found that the number of his followers increased very rapidly. The truth was, that the queen's party, by their murder of Richard, and of young Edmund his son, had gone altogether too far for the good of their own cause. The people, when they heard the tidings, were indignant at such cruelty. Those who belonged to the party of the house of York, instead of being intimidated by the severity of the measure, were exasperated at the brutality of it, and they were all eager to join the young duke, Edward, and help him to avenge his father's and his brother's death. Those who had been before on the side of the house of Lancaster were discouraged and repelled, while those who had been doubtful were now ready to declare against the queen.