_Richard, second Son of the Conqueror_, is said by Hume, and by some
minor writers after him, to have been killed by a stag in the New
Forest; but William of Malmesbury and Roger of Wendover both say that he
died of fever, consequent on malaria, which struck him while hunting
there. This is well known to be of frequent occurrence in the
neighbourhood of desolated human dwellings; and thus seems to involve
even a more striking instance of retributive justice than the fate which
Hume assigns to him. The fatality attending most of this name in our
history is singular. Of nine princes (three of them kings) who have
borne the name of Richard, seven, or, if Hume is right, eight, have died
violent deaths, including four successive generations of the House of
York.