During his short reign of two years, several revolts broke out, but
came to nothing. The Duke of Buckingham, who had helped Richard III
to the throne, turned against him because he did not get the rewards
he expected. He headed a revolt; but as his men deserted him, he fell
into the King's hands, and the executioner speedily did the rest.
Finally, a more formidable enemy arose. Before he gained the crown
Richard had cajoled or compelled the unfortunate Anne Neville, widow
of that Prince Edward, son of Henry VI, who was slain at Tewkesbury
(S305), into becoming his wife. She might have said with truth,
"Small joy have I in being England's Queen." The King intended that
his son should marry Elizabeth of York, sister to the two Princes he
had murdered in the Tower (S310). By so doing he would strengthen his
position and secure the succession to the throne to his own family.
But Richard's son shortly after died, and the King, having
mysteriously got rid of his wife, now made up his mind to marry
Elizabeth himself.
The Princess, however, was already betrothed to Henry Tudor, Earl of
Richmond, the engagement having been effected during that sad winter
which she and her mother spent in sactuary (S95) at Westminster
Abbey, watched by Richard's soldiers to prevent their escape (S310).
The Earl of Richmond, who was an illegitimate descendant of the House
of Lancaster (see the Genealogical Table, p. 172), had long been
waiting on the Continent for an opportunity to invade England and
claim the crown.
Owing to the enmity of Edward IV and Richard toward him, the Earl had
been, as he himself said, "either a fugitive or a captive since he was
five years old." He now determined to remain so no longer. He landed
(1485) with a force at Milford Haven, in Wales, where he felt sure of
a welcome, since his paternal ancestors were Welsh.[1]
Advancing through Shrewsbury, he met Richard on Bosworth Field, in
Leicestershire.
[1] Descent of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond:
Henry V (House of Lancaster) married Catharine of France, who after
| his death married Owen Tudor, a Welshman of Anglesey
Henry VI |
Edmund Tudor (Earl of Richmond) married Margaret
Beaufort, a descendent of John of Gaunt, Duke
of Lancaster [she was granddaughter of John,
Earl of Somerset; see p. 161]
|
Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond (also called
Henry of Lancaster)