CHAP. suivant, it was requisite that he should be approved by the king's heralds, and confirmed by the king in person, when the annual stipend was established by the nobleman so appointing. A principal function of these heralds was that of assigning to knights and esquires holding lands under any great baron their proper escutcheon, which universally bore a manifest allusion either to the bearing or cognizance of their feodal lord. Whenever a herald brought agreeable intelligence, the communication was sure to be rewarded by some splendid present. In the pages of Froissart we are frequently informed of the rich donations given by sovereigns and nobles to the officers at arms who proclaimed an intended tournament, or were the bearers of respectful greetings from foreign courts. Philip de Comines also records the gifts bestowed upon heralds in his time, and though history relates instances of the savage violations of the law of arms, which ensured safety to thesẹ ambassadors however offensive or insulting their missions might be, it was very seldom that even when giving the insolent message or haughty defiance of their lords that they were dismissed without some token of the princely liberality, which next to valour constituted the most esteemed virtue of the age. The fees which the heralds claimed at tournaments have been already stated, and to avoid the necessity of recurring to the subject again, those usually received at Christmas, at a future period, according to the record of a herald in the service of Henry VII., are inserted in this place. "On the newe yeres day the king being in a rich gowne dynede in his chamber and gave to his officers at arms six pounds of his

largesse when he was cried in his style accustumede.
Also the queene gave to the same officers forty
shillings, and she was cried in her style. At the
same time my lady the king's moder gave twenty
shillings, and she was cried largesse three times, de
hault puissant et excellente Princess la mer du Roy
notre Souveraigne Comtesse de Richemonde et de
Derbye largesse.
largesse. Item-The Duke of Bedford
(Jasper Tudor) gave forty shillings, and he was cried
largesse de hault et puissant Prince frère et oncle
des Roys Duc de Bedforde et Count de Pembroke
largesse. Item-The Earl of Derby gave twenty
shillings, and he was cried largesse de noble et puis-
sant Seigneur le Beaupèr de Roy notre Souveraigne
Counte de Derbye Seigneur de Stanlay et de Man,
Counstable d' Engleter largesse. Item The Trea-
surer gave six and four-pence, and the Coumtroller
gave a crown, wherefore they were cried largesse
des nobles officiers le Trezouror et le Countroller de
tres noble l'ostell de Roy notre Souveraigne lar-
gesse. Item-The Secretary gave six and four-
pence, but he was not cried, for it is not the cus-
tume to crye any man of the chirche, nor of any
lower degree than a viscount, without it be the
steward or the chamberleyn: all other barons, ban-
nerets, knights, and esquires, with their wives, were
wont to be cried in general. This Cristmase," adds
the chronicler, "were many lords now in the court,
some coming, some going, which gave no rewards to
the officers at arms.

Leland's Collection.

XIII.

CHAP.
XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.

Henry's sojourn at Leicester-Proclamation of Richard's Death— Seizure of Warwick's Person-Disappointment in Henry's Character-Elizabeth repairs to London-Henry's Popularity-Reception in the Metropolis-Departure from ancient CustomOffering of the Standards-Suppositions concerning them-Pestilence in London-Henry's Coronation-Exaltation of Henry's FriendsAppointment of the Yeomen of the Guard-Henry's DifficultiesSubservience of the Parliament-Disfavour of the Yorkists—Henry's Pretensions to the Throne-Anxiety about the King's Marriage Union of the Rival Roses-Joy of the People-Act of AttainderProceedings of Parliament A general Pardon-Peers created— Henry's Progress to the North-Rumours of an insurrection-Attempt of Lord Lovel-its defeat-Henry's reception at York-his return to London-Loyalty of the People of Bristol-Gifts to the King-Arrival at Westminster-Discontent of the Yorkists-Birth of Prince Arthur-Baptism of the Young Prince-Strange schemes of the Yorkists-Rise and Progress of an Impostor-A second Pardon proclaimed-Speech of the Earl of Surrey-Enmity of the Duchess of Burgundy-Defection of Lincoln-Coronation of Lambert Simnel-Henry's Conduct to the Dowager Queen-Landing of the Expedition from Ireland-Discipline of the King's Army-Battle of Stoke-Defeat of the Rebels-Henry's Clemency-Liberation of Dorset-Henry's entrance into London-Coronation of the Queen.

HENRY VII., after the victory of Bosworth Field, remained two days at Leicester; the fatigue and anxiety to which both body and mind had been subjected demanded rest: and starting at once from

XIV.

an indigent exile to the sovereignty of a powerful CHAP. kingdom, he also required time for the discussion and arrangement of his future plans.

Assuming the title of king, which had been granted by popular acclamation, the new monarch caused the tidings of Richard's death to be proclaimed at York. The succeeding step, dictated by a cruel necessity, has stigmatized the first hours of Henry's reign with a brand of tyranny but too well merited. Apprehensive that the friends of the young Earl of Warwick would establish a rival claim, he dispatched Sir Robert Willoughby to Sheriff Hutton Castle (where the unhappy youth had been closely confined by Richard's jealousy) with an order to conduct the prisoner to a more gloomy fortress, the fatal Tower of London. This arbitrary and ungenerous act can be justified only on the plea of self-defence; it was the barbarous policy adopted for the security of a disputed succession. Henry's own unwarrantable ambition in advancing his inexplicable title to the crown of England, taught him to suspect similar designs in princes whose pretensions were so far superior; the danger of permitting a single branch of the opposing party to be at liberty was manifested by the fall of Richard, whose destruction had been accomplished by an agency almost too weak to excite alarm. Henry had himself escaped the persecution of the House of York only to plunge it into ruin, and now prepared to pursue the same illiberal measures which had covered his predecessors with disgrace. We look in vain for a true hero in these factious times; the romance of Henry's life ended at Bosworth, Field: a fugitive or a prisoner from the age of five

t

XIV.

CHAP. years, his unmerited oppression and marvellous adventures are calculated to excite the tenderest sympathy in the early part of his career; but when he burst upon England as its king, the chivalric adventurer vanishes, and we behold only a gloomy, selfish, and ungracious tyrant; and disgusted and disappointed, perhaps do not make sufficient allowance for the difficult circumstances in which he was placed.

The Princess Elizabeth, who had shared her cousin Warwick's captivity at Sheriff Hutton, accompanied an honourable escort of noblemen and gentlemen appointed by Henry to conduct her to the house of her mother in London, which she reached in time to welcome the king's arrival, who proceeded leisurely to the capital, receiving as he passed along enthusiastic assurances of affectionate regard from multitudes crowding to the road side to offer their congratulations. Hall tells us that, "the rusticall people on every syde of the wayes assembled in great nombres, and with great joye clapped their hands and showted, criyng King Henry, King Henry."

When Henry approached London the civic authorities, arrayed in their violet robes, advanced to Hornsey to meet and salute him, accompanying a mark of respect which a triumphant monarch never failed to experience, with a less usual and more flattering demonstration of attachment; each individual pressed forwards to kiss his hand.* At Shoreditch Henry was also greeted by a deputation of peers, who with the principal citizens joined his train. Immense crowds had assembled to witness

* Hall.