The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part C.: From Henry VII. to Mary — David Hume — John Shaqi
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part C.: From Henry VII. to Mary
David Hume · en
Produced by David Widger and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND
FROM THE INVASION OF JULIUS CÆSAR
TO THE END OF THE REIGN OF JAMES THE SECOND,
BY DAVID HUME, ESQ.
1688
London: James S. Virtue, City Road and Ivy Lane
New York: 26 John Street
1860
And
Philadelphia:
J. B. Lippincott & Co.
March 17, 1901
In Three Volumes:
VOLUME ONE: The History Of England From The Invasion Of Julius Cæsar To
The End Of The Reign Of James The Second............ By David Hume, Esq.
VOLUME TWO: Continued from the Reign of William and Mary to the Death of
George II........................................... by Tobias Smollett.
VOLUME THREE: From the Accession of George III. to the Twenty-Third Year
of the Reign of Queen Victoria............... by E. Farr and E.H. Nolan.
VOLUME ONE
Part C.
HENRY VII. TO MARY
CHAPTER XXIV.
[Illustration: 1-309-henry7.jpg HENRY VII.]
HENRY VII.
{1485.} THE victory which the earl of Richmond gained at Bosworth was
entirely decisive; being attended, as well with the total rout and
dispersion of the royal army, as with the death of the king himself. Joy
for this great success suddenly prompted the soldiers, in the field of
battle, to bestow on their victorious general the appellation of king,
which he had not hitherto assumed; and the acclamations of “Long live
Henry VII.,” by a natural and unpremeditated movement, resounded from
all quarters. To bestow some appearance of formality on this species
of military election, Sir William Stanley brought a crown of ornament,
which Richard wore in battle, and which had been found among the spoils;
and he put it on the head of the victor. Henry himself remained not
in suspense; but immediately, without hesitation, accepted of the
magnificent present which was tendered him. He was come to the crisis
of his fortune; and being obliged suddenly to determine himself, amidst
great difficulties which he must have frequently revolved in his mind,
he chose that part which his ambition suggested to him, and to which he
seemed to be invited by his present success.
There were many titles on which Henry could found his right to the
crown; but no one of them free from great objections, if considered with
respect either to justice or to policy.