3S-17 THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD ENDOWMENT FUND 1 1 V HA K i:> F L AN TA ii'ENE T a {i/r//ar//'// a/r Now fh-rt riii)iinu'(i, i ( )|!3p r ]L L'. . ) ""-•^"'^ S/ ff/f/rs f///ff//7 J^t ////as ////(^//o f///{l r/t ///7,(''> ///r// J'//-/////' ///r ///7'fj/yuJ,/>//iAf////r/, J/*/-////// ////// .s7/// /J/^>/f r///t'/ //I //( //l>/V ^r//V// . DEDICATION. 1 HE following Legend having been read to a fmall Circle of feled; Friends, one Lady, with great Eaoer- nefs of Manner, allced the Editor, to whom he intended to dedicate it ? Fie replied, with Truth, that he liad not yet determined. " To whom," added fhe, *' can " you fo properly addrefs it, as to Hi7n^ whofe Image *' cleaves to us during the Recital ; Him^ to whom we " owe a livelier Idea of Richard the Thirds than either " Hiftorian or Painter ever gave ; Him^ whofe Judge *' ment and Powers of Execution keep Pace v/ith the " fine Imagination of that Poet^ whom He delighteth to ** Honour P" Thefe were nearly her exad; Words, and the Editor pleads them in Excufe for the Liberty he now takes of dedicating- this Poem. With great Refpedl and Efteem, o DAVID GAPvRIGK, Efq, '>^ [ iii 1 PREFJTORT ADDRESS, 1 HE folJowIng Poem fell into the Editor's Hands by a peculiar Means, which he is not at prefent permitted to reveal. He hopes the Singularity of the Story, and the moral Ten- dency, which fo obvioufly and ftrongly in- culcates THE Duty of a patient Submis- sion TO THE Destinations of Providence, IN all Vicissitudes and Afflictions of Life, will jullify his giving it to the. World. He judged it too curious to be ut- terly loft j and his Delire to preferve it, induced t i^ ] induced him to colle6l, and Tcatter in Notes throup^hout the Work, fuch curious Particulars as (in his Judgment) prove the a6lual Exiftence of fuch a Perfon as Richard Plantagenet, and the chief Event of his Life to have been inconteftibly certain. [ I ] RICHARD PLJNTJGENET', LEGENDARY TALE. L « rip HE Work is done, the Strudure is complete — *"■ •* Long may this Produce of my humble Toil *' Un-injur'd fland, and Echo long repeat, ** Round the dear Walls, Benevo/ence and Moyle !"* IL So Richard fpake, as he furvey'd The Dwelling he had rais'd ; And, in the FuUnefs of his Heart, His gen'rous Patron prais'd. * Sir Thomas Moyle, TofCcffov of Eajlwell-Place, \n the County of Kent, in the Year i ^46, gave Richard Plantagenet (who for many Years had been his chief Bricklayer) a Piece of Ground, and Penniffion to build himfelf a Houfe thereon. The Poem opens, juft when Richard is fuppofed to have finifhed this Tafk. EafiW ell- Place hath fince been in the Polfeffion of the Earls of IVinchelfea. B Him RICHARD PLANTAGENET, III. HimMoYLE o'erheard, whofe wand'ring Step> Chance guided had that Way ; The Workman's Mien he ey'd intent,. Then earneft thus did fay : IV. " My Mind, I fee, mifgave me not,,. ** My Doubtings now are clear, " Thou oughteft not, in poor Attire,. " Have dwelt a Menial here, V. *' To Drudgery, and fervile Toil, ** Thou couldfl not be decreed " By Birth and Blood, but thereto wrought *< By hard o'er-ruling Need, VI. " Is it not fo ? That crimfon Glow, " That iluflies o'er thy Cheeic, *' And dowa-caft Eye, true Anfwer give, And thy Tongue need not fpeak, <( (( Oft RICHARD PLANTAG ENET, 3 VII. '' Oft have I mark'd thee, when unfeen <' Thou thought'ft thyfelf by all, *' What Time the Workman from his Tafk. « The Ev'ning Bell did call ;, VIII. ^^ Haft thou not fhunn'd thy untaught Mates> ** And to fome fecret Nook, " With drooping Gait, and mufing Eye, ** Thy lonely Step betook? ix: "* There hath not thy Attention dwelt ** Upon the letter'd Page, ^^ Loft, as it feem'd to all befide, " Like fome fequefter'd Sage ? X. "■ And wouldft thou not, with eager Hafte,, *' The precious Volume hide, *' If fudden fome Intruder's Eye *• Thy Mufmgs hath defcried ? <' Oft RICHARD PLANTAGENET. XI. ** Oft have I deem'd thou couldft explore " The Greek and Roman Page, *' And oft have yearn'd to view the Theme, " That did thy Hours engage. Xll. *' But Sorrow, greedy, grudging, coy, *' Efteems of mighty Price ** It's treafur'd Cares, and to the World ** The fcantieft Share denies j XIII. *■' All as the Mifer's heaped Hoards, *' To him alone confin'd, *' They ferve, at once, to foothe and pain *' The wretched Owner's Mind. XIV. " Me had capricious Fortune doom'd " Thine equal in Degree, ** Long, long e're now, I had defir'd " To know thine Hiflory j But RICHARD PLANTAGENET, 5 XV. " But who their worldly Honors wear " With Meeknefs chafle and due, *' DecHne to afk, left the Requeft ** Should bear Commandment's Hue. XVI. " Yet now thy Tongue hath fpoke aloud *' Thy grateful Piety, " No longer be thy Story kept " In painful Secrecy. XVII. *' Give me to know thy Dawn of Life ; *' Unfold, with limple Truth, *' Not to thy Mafter, but thy Friend, " The Promife of thy Youth. XVIII. <' Now, late in Life, 'tis Time, I ween, " To give thy Labours o'er ; " Thy well-worn Implements lay by, *' And drudg-e and toil no more. G " Here 6 RICHARD PLANTAGENET, XIX. *' Here flialt thou find a quiet Reft, " For all thy Days to come, *' And every Comfort, that may ferve '' T'endear thy humble Home. XX. ** Haft thou a Wifti, a Hope to frame, *' Beyond this neat Abode? ** Is there a Good, a higher Blifs, *' By me may be beftow'd ? XXI. *' Is there within thine aged Breaft « *' The fmalleft aching Void ? Give me to know thy Longings all, ** And fee them all fupply'd. XXII. " All I entreaty in Lieu, is this, " Unfold, with fimple Truth, ** Not to thy Mafter, but thy Friend, ** The Promife of thy Youth/* So RICHARD PLANTAGENET. 7 XXIII. So gen*rous Moyle intent befpake The long-enduring Man, J Who rais'd, at length, his drooping Head, And, lighing, thus began. X The Time of Richard's Service, at Eaftzvell-Place, was near Sixty Years. Richard 8 RICHARD PLANTAGENET. / Richard Plantagenet reclteth his Tale, I. T TARD Tafk to any, but thyfelf, to tell •^ -*- The Story of my Birth and treach'rous Fate, Or paint the Tumults in my Breaft that fwell. At Recolledion of my infant State! IL Oft have I labour'd to forget my Birth, And check'd Remembrance, when, in cruel Wife, From Time's Abyfs fhe would the Tale draw forth. And place my former fclf before my Eyes. III. Yet I complain not, tlio' I feci anew, All as I fpcak, fell Fortune's bitter Spite, Who once fet Affluence, Grandeur, in my View, Then churlifli fnatch'd them from my cheated Sight, And RICHARD RLANTAGENET. 9 IV. And yet it may be-— is— nay, muft be bed, Whatever Heav'n's righteous Laws for Man ordain j Weak Man ! wlio lets one Sigh invade his Bread, For earthly Grandeur, fugitive as vain ! V. Perchance Contentment had not been my Mate, If in exalted Life my Feet had trod, Or my Hands borne, in tranlitory State, The Vidor's Truncheon, or the Ruler's Rod. VL My Courfe, perchance, had been one dazzling Glare Of fplendid Pride, and I in vain had fought The quiet Comforts of this humble Sphere, Reft undifturb'd, and Reafon's tranquil Thought. vn. But whither roam I ? O ! forgive, my kind. My honour'd Lord, this undefign'd Delay, Forgive, while in my new-awaken'd Mind A Thoufand vague Ideas fondly play. D Enough 1 lo RICHARD PLANTAGENEl. VIII. Enouo-h !— they're flown— and now my Tongue prepares, Thou Source of every Good by me poffeft, To pour a Tale into thy wond'ring Ears, Full '* three- fcore Years clofe-lock'd within my Bread* IX. Of thofe Care-woven, long-protraded Years, Some {ixteen Summers pafs'd obfcurely on, A Stranger to the World, its Hopes, and Fears, My Name, Birth, Fortunes, to myfelf unknown* X. Plac'd in a rural, foft, ferene Retreat, With a deep-learn'd Divdne I held Abode^ Who fought, by piou? Laws and Conduct meet> The Way to Immortality and God. * At the Time of this Relation, Richard is fuppofed to be nigh Fourfcore Years of Age ; but he did not become acquainted with his own Story, till he was near Twenty : probably, in his fixteenth or feventeenth Year. By RICHARD PLANTAG ENET, ii XI. By him infl:ru6led, I attain'd the fweet, The precious BlefUngs that from Learning flow, He fann'd in my young Breaft the genial Heat, That bids th' expanding Mind with Ardor glow. XII. He taught me with delighted Eye to trace The comely Beauties of the Mantuan Page, Enraptur'd mix with Tully\ polifli'd Grace, Or catch the Flame of Homer\ martial Rage. XIII. Nor ftopt he there. Preceptor excellent, Nor deem'd that Wifdom lay in Books alone, But would explain what moral Virtue meant, And bid us make our Neighbour's Woes our own. XIV. Heaven's genuine Pity glift'ning in his Eyes, The Sweets of Charity he would inflill. And teach what BlefTednefs of Comfort lies In univerfal Mercy and Good-will. So 12 RICHARD PLANTAGENE7, XV. So taught this pious Man, fo thought, fo did, Squaring his Adions to his Tenets true ; His Counfel or ReUef to none deny'd, A general Good, hke Heav'n's all-chearing Dew ! XVI. Thus guided, thus inform'd, thus Pradiice- drawn. In guilelefs Peace my Spring of Life was fpent, My Leifure-hoLirs I fportcd o'er the Lawn, Nor knew what reftlefs Care or Sorrow meant. XVII. A courteous Stranger, ever and anon. My kind Inftrudor's due Reward fupply'd ; But ftill my Name, my Birth, alike unknown. Wrapt in the Gloom of Secrecy lay hid. XVIIL One Autumn-Morn (the Time I well recall) That Stranger drew me from my foft Retreat, And led my Footfteps to a lofty Hall, Where State and Splendor feem'd to hold their Seat. Thro' RICHARD RLANTAGENET, 13 XIX. Thro' a long Range of fpacious gilded Rooms Dubious I pafs'd, admiring as I went. On the rich-woven Labours of the Looms, The fculptur'd Arch, or painted Roof intent. XX. My Guide, at length, withdrew ; wrapt in Sufpenfe And Fear I ftood, yet knew not what I fear'd ; When ftraight to my appall'd, aftounded Senfe A Man of noble Port and Mien appear' d» XXI. His Form commanded, and his Vifage aw'd, My Spirit funk as he advanced nigh, With ftately Step along the Floor he trod, Fix'd on my Face his penetrating Eye. XX I r. The dancing Plumage o'er his Front wav'd high, Thick-ftudded Ribs of Gold adorn'd his Veft. In fplendid Folds his purple Robe did ply. And royal Emblems glitter'd on his Breaft. E I fought 14 RICHARD PLANTAGENET. XXIII. I fought to bend me, but my Limbs refus'd Their wonted Office, motionlcfs and chill ; Yet fomewhat, as the Figure I pcrus'd, A dubious Joy did in my Mind inftill. XXIV. While thus I cow'r'd beneath his piercing Eye, He faw, and ftrove to mitigate my Fear, Soft'ning the Frown of harfh Aufterity ' In his bold Brov/, which Nature grafted there. XXV. With Speeches kind he cheer'd my linking Heart, Queftion'd me much, and ftroak'd my drooping Head ; Yet his whole Mind he feem'd not to impart, His Looks implied more than his Speeches faid. XXVL A broider'd Purfe, which weighty feem'd with Gold, He gave me then, and kindly prefs'd my Hand -, And thus awhile did flay me in his Hold, And on my Face did meditating ftand. His RICHARD PLANTAGENEr, 15 xxvir. His Soul vvork'd hugely, and his Bofom fwell'd, As though fome mighty Thing he yearn'd to fay, But (with indignant Pride the Thought repell'd) He flarted, frovvnM, and fnatch'd himfelf away. xxviir. My Guide return'd, and re-conduded me Tow'rd the Abode of my Preceptor kind ; A Man he feem'd of Carriage mild and free, To whom I thought I might unload my Mind. XXIX. Without Referve I told him all that pafs'd, Striving, by mine, his Confidence to gain ; Then my Enquiries frank before him cafl, Hoping fome Knowledge of myfelf t'attain. XXX. I afk'd what wond'rous Caufe, yet undifcry'd, Urg'd him his lime and Zeal for me femploy ; And why that Man of Dignity and Pride Had deign'd his Notice to a Stranger-Boy, Confus'd ,6 RICHARD P LANT/lGENEr, xxxr. Confus'd, yctundifpleas'd, my Guide appear'd, Nought he divulg'd (tho' much he feem'd to know) Save this, which he with earneft Look aver'd, *' No ObHgation, Youth, to me you owe ; XXXII. cM do but what my Place and Duty bid, " With me no Kindred-Drops of Blood you fliare, " Yet (hard to tell !) your Birth muft flill be hid ; " Enquire no farther— -Honour bids, forbear," XXXIII. Thus he reprov'd, yet did it with a Look, As tho' he pitied my Senfations keen ; Patient Ibow'd me to his mild Rebuke,, And pledg'd Obedience, vvith fubmiffive Mien. XXXIV. He left me at my Tutor's foft Abode, And parting blefs'd me by the holy Crofs ; My Heart wax'd fad, as he re-trac'd the Road, And feem'd to have fuHain'd fome mighty Lofs. But RICHARD P LANTAG ENET. 17 XXXV. But foon tumultuous Thoughts began give Way, Luird by the Voice of my Preceptor fage ; Unquiet Bofoms he could well allay, His Looks could foften, and his Words afluagc. XXXVI. Unruly Care from him was far remov'd, Grief's wildeft Murmurs at his Breath would ceafe ; O ! in his blamelefs.Life how well he prov'd The Houfe of Goodnefs is the Houfe of Peace ! XXXVII. Here I again enjoy'd my fweet Repofe, And taught my Heart, with pious Wifdom iill'd, No more with anxious Throb to feek difclofe What flubborn Fate had doom'd to lie conceal'd. XXXVIII. But long thefe fond Delufions did not laft, Some fterner Pow'r my rifing Life controul'd, My vilionary Hopes too fwiftly paft, And left my Profpsds dreary, dark, and cold. F When i8 RICHARD PLANTAGENET. XXXIX. when rugged March o'er- rules the growing Year, Have we not feen the Morn, with treach'rous Ray Shine out awhile, then inftant difappear. And leave to Damp and Gloom the future Day ? XL. So dawn'd my Fate, and fo deceiv'd my Heart, Nor wean'd me from my Hopes, but cruel tore ;, In one unlook'd-for Moment, bade me part From all my Comforts, to return no more. XLI. My Guide once more arriv'd^ tho', as of late,. Of foft Deportment he appear'd not now. But wild Impatience flutter'd in his Gait, And Care and Thought feem'd bufy on his Brow.. XLII. " Rife, Youth," he faid, <' and mount this rapid Steed"— I argued not ; his Bidding ftrait was done ; Proud-crefted was the Beaft, of warlike Breed, Arm'd, atall Points, with rich Caparifon. We RICHARD PLANTAGENET. 19 XLIII. We commun'd not— fuch Heat was incur Speed, Scantly would it allow me Povv'r of Thought, Till Eve, deep-painted with a burning Red, To * Bofworth Field out paating.Gourfers brought. XLIV. Who hath not heard of BofwortFs, fatal Plain, Where bafe Advent'rers did in Compa6t join 'Gainft Chiefs of Prowefs high, and noble Strain, And lowVd the Creft of York's imperial Line? XLV. Now verging on that memorable Ground, Our Gourfe we ftay'd— yet we alighted not ; Fill'd with Aftonifhment I gaz'd around, While in my glowing Breaft my Heart grew hot. XLVI. Thick-ftation'd Tents, extended wide and far. To tlV utmofl Stretch of Sight could I behold, And Banners flutt'ring in the whiftling Air, And Archers trimly dight, and Prancers bold. The * Bofivorth, in Leicefterjhire, 20 RICHARD PLANTAGENET. XLVir. The finking Sun, with richly-burnifh'd Glow, Now to his wcftern Chamber made Retire, While pointed Spears, quick-fhifting to and fro, Seem'd all as fpiral Flames of hotteft Fire, XLVIII. Promifcuous Voices fill'd the floating Gale, The Welkin echoed with the Steed's proud Neigh The Bands oft turn'd, and ey'd the Weftern Vale, Watching the Clofure of departing Day, XLIX. Light vanifh'd now apace, and Twilight grey With Speed unulual mantled all the Ground, The Chieftains to their Tents had ta'en their Way, And Centinels thick-pofted watch*d around, L. As fable Night advanced more and more. The mingled Voices leflen'd by Degrees, Sounding at lengthy as, round fome craggy Shore, Decreafing Murmiits of the ebbing Seas. Now RICHARD PL ANTAGENET, 21 LI. Now tow'rd the Tents awhile wc journey'd on With wary Pace, then lighted on the Ground, Be-friended by the Stars, that fhitnm'ring fhone, And Fires, that caft a trembling Gleam around. LII. With hafty Foot we prefs'd the dewy Sod, Fit Anfwer making to each ftation'd Guard ; When full before us, as we onward trod, A martial Form our further Progrefs barr'd, LIII. He feem'd as tho' he there did lift'ning ftand, His Face deep-muffled in his folded Cloak ; Now threw it wide, fnatch'd quick my dubious Hand, And to a neighb'ring Tent his Speed betook. LIV. With glowing Crimfon the Pavilion ftione, Refleded by the lofty Taper's Ray, The poliHi'd Armour, bright and deft to don, Befide the royal Couch in order ky. G The 22 RICHARD PLANTAGENET, LV. The Crown imperial glittcr'd in mine Eye, With various Gems magnificently grac'd, Nigh which, as meant to guard its dignity, A weighty Curtelax unfheath'd was plac'd. LVI. The Chief unbonnetted, and drew me nigli. Wrapt in a deepen'd Gloom his Face appear'd, Like the dark Low'rings of the clouded Sky, Ere the big-burfting lempeft's Voice is heard. LVII. Revenge, Impatience, all that mads the Soul, All thatDefpair and Frenzy's Flame infpires,. Shewn by the Tapers, in his Eyes did roll. Hot Meteors they amid the leffer Fires. LVIII. Tho' each dark Line I could not truly fcan, Yet thro' the Veil of his diftemper'd Mien BroRc forth a Likenefs of that lofty Man, Whom, whilom, at the Palace I had feen. To RICHARD PLANTAGENET. 23 LIX. To quell his Feelings huge he fternly try'd, Strong Combat holding v. Ith his fighting Soul, Crefting himfelf with more than earthly Pride, As tho' from Povv'r fupreme he fcorn'd Controul. LX. At length (in Part fubdu'd his troubled Breaft) On my impatient Ear thcfe Accents broke, (I pale and trembling as th' attentive Priefl, Who waits th' Infpirings of his myftic Oak !) LXI. *' Wonder no more why thou art hither brought, *' The Secret of thy Birth fLall now be fhewn ; " With glorious Ardour, be thy Bofom fraught, " For know, thou art imperial Richard's f Son. LXIf. " Thy Father I, who fold thee in my Arms, " Thou royal Iffue of Plant AGENET !* " Soon •f- JliCHARo the Third. * It may not, perhaps, be unacceptable to feme of our Readers, if we fubjoin the Etymology of this Name, which has been borne by fevcral of our 24 RICHARD PLANTAGENET. ■ *' Soon as my Pow'rhath quell'd thefe loud Alarms, *' Thou flialt be known, be honouv'd, and be great. LXIH. ■^' Rife from the Ground, and dry thy flowing Tears, '" To Nature's Dues be other Hours afllgn'd ! ^^ Befet vvilh Foes, Solicitude, and Cares, ** Far other Thoughts muft now poflefs the Mind. LXIV. '* To-morrow,* Boy, I combat for my Crown, *■' To fhield from Soil my Dignity and Fame : " Prefumptuous Richmond | feeks to win Renown, " And on my Ruin ralfe his upftart Name : our Englifli Kings. George Buck, Efq. Compiler of the Life of Richard the Tbi/-d, in Kennet's Hiftory of England, fays, it rather fhould be called, Plantagenest, being derived from the two Words, Flanta Genejla or Cinifta, that is, the Plant, Broom. It was firfl: given to FuLKE, Earl oi Anjou, who lived an hundred Years before the Norman Conquell;. He, having been guilty of feme enormous Crimes, was en- joined, by Way of Penance, to go to the Holy Land, and fubmit to a fevere Ci^ftigation. He readily acquiefced, drefftd Jiimfelf in lowly Attire, and, as a Mark of Humility, wore a Piece o^ Broom in hh Cap, of which Virtue this Plant is a Symbol, in the Hyeroglypick Lanti;uaae ; and Virgil fcems to confirm it, by calling it hum'iUs Genijla, the humble Broom. This Expiation finilbed, Fui.kf, in Pvemcmbrawce of it, adopted the Title of PlantagcneJ}, and lived many Years in Honour and Happinefs. His Defcendants accordingly inherited the Name, and many fucceffive Nobles of the Line of yhijou not only did the fame, but even diflinguifhed themfelves by wearing a Sprig of Broom in their Bonnets. * This decifive Battle, which terminated the Contentisns between the Houfes of Lanciifier and York, was fought on Monday, Augu[l 2 Id, 1485. This Interview, confequentlv, was on the preceding Sabbath- Night. + Henry, Earl of Richmond, afterwards King Henry VlL « He • RICHARD PLANTAG ENET. 25 LXV. " He leads yon fliallow renegado Band, " Strangers to War and hazardous Emprize, *' And 'gainft the mighty Chieftains of the Land, " Vain and unikill'd, a defp'rate Conflid tries. LXVI. *' Yet fince AfTurance is not giv'n to Man, " Nor can ev'n Kings command th' Event of War, " Since peevifh Chance can foil the fubtleft Plan " Of human Skill, and hurl our Schemes in Air, LXVII. *' To-morrow's Sun beholds me Conqueror, " Or fees me low among the Slaughter'd lie ; '" Richard fhall never grace a Vidlor's Car, " But glorious win the Field, or glorious die. Lxviir. ** But thou, my Son, heed and obey my Word ; ** Seek not to mingle in the wild AiFray : " Far from the winged Shaft and gleaming Sword, " Patient await the IlTue of the Day. H " North 26 RICHARD P LANTAGENET, LXIX. ** North * of our Camp there ftands a rifing Mound, " (Thy Guide awaits to lead thee on the Way,) " Thence fhalt thou rule the Profpedl wide around, " And view each Chance, each Movement of the Fray. LXX. " If righteous Fate to me the Conqueft yield, " Then fhall thy noble Birth to all be known ', " Then boldly feek the Centre of the Field, *' And 'midft my laurell'd Bands my Son I'll own : LXXI. *' But if blind Chance, that feld' determines right, " Rob me at once of Empire and Renown, ** Be fure thy Father's Eyes are clos'd in Night, " Life wereDifgrace when Chance had reft my Crown. "* The Encampment and Aftion were three Miles diftant from the Town of Bofworth, and the Place obtained the Name of Bofwortk Field, from that memorable Battle. Camden, in his Account o{ Leicejierjlnre, fays, " The exaft Place is frequently more and more difcovered by Pieces of " Armour, Weapons, and other warlike Accoutrements, digged up ; and *' efpecially a great many Arrow-Heads were found there, of a long, ** large, and big Proportion, far greater than any now in Ufe." RICHARD PLANTAGENEr. 27 LXXII. " No Means are left thee then, but inftant Flight, •* In dark Conceah-nent muft thou veil thy Head ; " On Richard's Friends their felleft Rage and Spite " His Foes will wreak, and fear ev'n Richard dead. LXXIII. ** Begone, my Son ! This one Embrace ! Away \ " Some fhort ReHe6tions claims this awful Night : ** Ere from the Eaft peep forth the glimm'ring Day, " My Knights attend to arm me for the Fight." LXXIV. Once more J. knelt, he clafp'd my lifted Hands, Blefs'd me, and feem'd to check a ftruggling Tear ; Then led me forth to follow his Commands, O'erwhelm'd with tend'reft Grief, Sufpenfe, and Fear. LXXV. What Need of more ? Who knows not the Event Of that dread Day, that * defp'rate foughten Field, * The whole Continuance of this Adion is faid to have been but two Hours, during which, the King^'i perfonal Biaverywas altonilhingly great. Wherp 28 RICHARD PLANTAGENET. Where, with his wond'rous Deeds and Prowefs fpent. By Numbers over-pow'r'd, my Sire was kill'd ? LXXVI. A Son no more, what Courfe was left to tread, To whom apply, or whither fhould I wend ? Back to my Tutor's Roof, by Inftind: led, My Orphan-Footfteps did I penfive bend. Lxxvri. O'er-ruling Fate againft my Wiflies wrought ; That pious Man, fnatch'd from this frail Abode, Had found the Blefling he fo long had fought. The Way to Immortality and God» Lxxvm. With flowing Eyes I left the facred Door, And with relying Heart to Heav'n did bend ; To God my Supplication did I pour, To God, the Mourner'^; bed: and fureft Friend, That RICHARD PLANTAG E NET, 29 LXXIX. Tliat He would guide me to fome fafe Retreat, Where daily Toil my daily Bread might earn, Where pious Peace might loothe Ambition's Heat, And my taught Heart fublimer Ardor learn. LXXX. He heard me — All I aflc'd in thee was lent, Thou lib'ral Proxy of my gracious God I Thou paid'ft: my Induftry with rich Content, And giv'ft my weary Age this foft Abode.* Ths * Richard Plan tag enet died in December, 1550 (the fourth Year of Edward the Sixth's Reign) aged, 81. Confequently he enjoyed his lit- tle comfortable Pietreat barely four Years. The following is ftill to be found in the old Regifter of the Parifh of Eajlzvell. " Richard Plantagenet was burved the 22d Daye of December, This laft Piece of Intelligence was tranfmitted to the Editor by a very fenfible and worthy Clergyman now living, who kindly went from /^r to Eajlwell, tocoliedl as many Circumllances as he could, to confirm the Authenticity of this lingular Story. To the Tranfcript of the Regifter he fubjoined as follows : " It is obfervable that in the old Regifter there is prefixed to the Name of « every Perfon of noble Blood fuch a Mark as this.X,^--'-^. At the Name " of Richard Plantagenet there is the fame Mark, (and it is the " Firft that is fo diftinguilhed) only with this Difference, that there is a *' Line run acrofs it, thus V-..J^. " There is ftill remaining in Eaftzvell-Park the Ruin of a Building, *•' which, they fay, was his Houfe ; and a Well near it, which, to this ** Dav, is called Plantagenet's Well. " There is alfo a Tomb in the Wall of Eajlwell-Church, under which ** he is faid to be buried, but it appears to me of much older Date." 30 RICHARD PLANTAGENET, LXXXI. The Work is done^ the StruBure is conipleat = Lon'y may the Produce of my humble loil Un-i7ijurdjland ! and Echo long repeat^ Round the dear Walls^ Eenevclence and Moyle The Editor of this Poem holds it incumbent on him to return his moft orateful Thanks to thcGendeman who fent him thefe curious Particulars, for the Trouble he took, and the Politenefs of his Letter ; the whole of which he fhould be proud to make publick, together with the Name, could he prefume fuch a Liberty to be warrantable. The Editor conjectures the Line, which is mentioned to run acrofs the Mark of Nobility, to be what is ililed in Heraldry, theBarofBaftardy. FINIS. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFOKNI "from which it was borrowed. LOS A^Gt.LES . y. alif. 3 11 |lll|l|l|lll|ll|llll|l|niplll|ll[iiiiiin 58 01048 0795 D 000 001 049 6