24. But many people did not like the queen, and began to say that her husband had no right to the throne as his grandfather was a usurper; but that Richard, Duke of York, ought to be king of England; while others said that, as the Parliament had consented to let the family of the Duke of Lancaster reign, it was lawful for them to keep the crown; and that although king Henry was not fit for a ruler, the rights of his son, prince Edward, ought to be protected. 25. The Duke of York was then governor of Ireland, but when he heard of these disputes, he came back, and was placed at the head of the government here, instead of the queen. 26. I think you will now quite understand why there was a civil war in England. Every nobleman in the country took one side or the other, and the friends of the Duke of York wore a white rose or ribbon rosette; while those who supported the king, or House of Lancaster, wore a crimson one; as people now wear different colored ribbons at an election, to show which party they belong to; and this is why these wars are called the Wars of the Roses. QUESTIONS. 1. Who succeeded Edward the Third? 2. Who was Wat Tiler, and how was his rebellion occasioned? 4. How did the rebels proceed? 5. What means were taken to quell the insurrection? 6. What were the demands of the rebels? 7. What was the conduct of Richard on this occasion? 12. Who was the Earl of Hereford? 13. How was Richard dethroned, and what became of him? 16. What battle was fought in this reign, and why? 17. Who was killed in this battle? 18. Who succeeded Henry the Fourth? 20. How did Henry the Fifth distinguish himself? 23. What was the character of Henry the Sixth? 24. What gave rise to the Wars of the Roses? CHAPTER XII. THE WARS OF THE ROSES.--1422 TO 1461. [Illustration: EDWARD IV.] 1. The civil wars may be said to have lasted thirty years, from the first battle at St. Alban’s, in 1455, to the battle of Bosworth, in 1485; for although there were intervals of peace, the quarrel between the house of York and Lancaster was not finally settled till the two families were united by the marriage of Henry the Seventh, who was heir of the House of Lancaster, with Elizabeth, the grand-daughter of Richard, Duke of York, and heiress of that family. 2. During that thirty years, the country was, as you may suppose, in a very unhappy condition. Every Baron wanted to collect as many men around him as he could, to defend his castle in case of siege; so the countrymen left their rural labors and went to enlist in the service of this or that nobleman, because they were sure of getting plenty to eat and drink.