Richard III

By Sir Clements R. Markham

Subjects: Medieval

Description: ***From the Preface:*** "There are periods of history when the greatest caution is called for in accepting statements put forward by a dominant faction. There is something about Richard's character, ability, and reign which, I think, attracts every real student of history, and gives one a feeling that he has been unfairly dealt with. Very early in my life I came to the conclusion that the period which witnessed the change of dynasties from Plantagenet to Tudor was one of these. The caricature of the last Plantagenet King was too grotesque, and too grossly opposed to his character derived from official records. The stories were an outrage on common-sense. I studied the subject at intervals for many years, and in the course of my researches, my own conclusions are that Richard III must be acquitted on all the counts of the indictment. Either Richard or Henry might have put the boys to death, but it would be interesting for many reasons to know which it was. A most interesting fact: according to the story put forward by Henry VII, the bodies of the little princes were taken up from the place of hasty interment and placed in consecrated ground. Yet they remained under the staircase, where they were found in Charles II's reign! Likewise, Henry's conduct to Tyrrell is exceedingly suspicious. I also went very carefully over the ground of the battlefields of Wakefield, Towton, Barnet, Tewkesbury, and Bosworth; for it is only by sticking to dates and verifiable authorities that you get at truth in criminal cases; and the same method must be followed at the bar of history. The present work is divided into two parts, the first narrating the events of his life and times, and the second examining the various accusations against him. The numerous points now raised and submitted for the judgment of students are at all events worth discussing. The present work is about as complete as very frequent revision can make it. ***About the Author:*** Sir Clements Robert Markham KCB FRS was a British geographer, explorer and writer. He was secretary of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) between 1863 and 1888, and later served as the Society's president for a further 12 years. In the latter capacity he was mainly responsible for organising the National Antarctic Expedition of 1901–04, and for launching the polar career of Robert Falcon Scott.