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208 THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. with the courage of that barbarous age in which she lived." Yet, when we consider the uncertainty, which to an extent greater than at any other time envelopes this portion of Eng- lish history, how vague and contradictory, above all, how par- tial, are the records of the Wars of the Roses ! — an obscurity more remarkable in that it "falls upon us just on the eve of the restoration of letters, and when the art of printing was already known in Europe," surely we may allow admiration for some of the events of her life, and pity for them all, to preponderate over the censure which her characteristics would probably seem less to merit, if more accurate sources of information as to motives were available.
