It was on this awful night (the night preceding the battle of Bosworth
Field), according to a letter which I have read from Dr. Thomas Brett to
Dr. William Warren, president of Trinity-hall, that the king took his
last farewell in his tent of Richard Plantagenet, his natural son, who
himself thus describes that interview:--"I was boarded with a Latin
schoolmaster, without knowing who my parents were, till I was fifteen or
sixteen years old; only a gentleman, who acquainted me he was no
relative of mine, came once a quarter and paid for my board, and took
care to see that I wanted for nothing. One day this gentleman took me
and carried me to a great fine house, where I passed through several
stately rooms, in one of which he left me, bidding me stay there. Then a
man richly dressed, with a star and garter, came to me, asked me some
questions, talked kindly to me, and gave me some money. Then the
fore-mentioned gentleman returned, and conducted me back to my school.
"Some time after, the same gentleman came to me again with a horse and
proper accoutrements, and told me I must take a journey with him into
the country. We went into Leicestershire, and came to Bosworth Field,
and I was carried to king Richard's tent. The king embraced me, and told
me I was his son. 'But, child,' said he, 'to-morrow I must fight for my
crown. And assure yourself if I lose that, I will lose my life too; but
I hope to preserve both. Do you stand on yonder hill, where you may see
the battle out of danger, and when I have gained the victory, come to
me; I will then own you to be mine, and take care of you. But if I
should be so unfortunate as to lose the battle, then shift as well as
you can, and take care to let no one know that I am your father; for no
mercy will be shown to any one so nearly related to me.' The king then
presented me with a purse of gold, and giving me a farewell embrace,
dismissed me from his tent. I followed the king's directions; and when I
saw the battle lost and the king killed, I hastened back to London, sold
my horse and fine clothes, and the better to conceal myself from all
suspicion of being son to a king, and that I might have the means to
live by my honest labour, I put myself apprentice to a bricklayer. But
having a competent skill in the Latin tongue, I was unwilling to lose
it; and having an inclination also to reading, and no delight in the
conversation of those I am obliged to work with, I generally spend all
the time I have to spare in reading by myself."
The letter says, "When Sir Thomas Moyle built Eastwell House, near
London, about the year, 1544, he observed his chief bricklayer, whenever
he left off work, retired with a book. Sir Thomas had curiosity to know
what book the man read, but was some time before he could discover it;
he still putting the book up if any one came toward him. However, at
last Sir Thomas surprised him, and snatched the book from him, and
looking into it found it to be Latin. He then examined him, and finding
he pretty well understood that language, he inquired how he came by his
learning. Hereupon the man told him, as he had beer, a good master to
him, he would venture to trust him with a secret he had never before
revealed to any one. He then related the above story. Sir Thomas said,
'You are now old, and almost past your labour; I will give you the
running of my kitchen as long as you live.' He answered, 'Sir, you have
a numerous family; I have been used to live retired, give me leave to
build a house of one room for myself in such a field, and there, with
your good leave, I will live and die.' Sir Thomas granted his request,
he built his house, and there continued to his death. Richard
Plantagenet was buried the 22nd day of December, anno ut supra ex
registro de Eastwell sub 1550. This is all the register mentions of him,
so that we cannot say whether he was buried in the church or
church-yard; nor is there now any other memorial of him except the
tradition in the family, and some little marks where his house stood.
This story my late Lord Heneage, earl of Winchelsea, told me in the year
1720." Thus lived and died, in low and poor obscurity, the only
remaining son of Richard III!
_Tale of a Modern Genius._
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