Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 2.djvu/15

CASSELL’S

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF ENGLAND

VOLUME II.

 

Louis XI. and the Herald.(See page 10)

 

CHAPTER I.

REIGN OF EDWARD IV.—(Continued).

Edward returns to England—Assisted by Burgundy—Edward's Pretended Renunciation of the Crown—His March to London—Again proclaims himself King—Joined by Clarence—Battle of Barnet—Margaret and the Prince of "Wales land in England—Battle of Twekesbury—Death of Henry VI.—Political Calm—Rivalry of Clarence and Gloucester—Edward contemplates an Invasion of France—Deserted by his Allies—Interview with Louis of France—He and his Courtiers become Pensioners of France—Discontent of his Subjects—The King's Dissipated Life—Deaths of the Dukes of Burgundy and St. Pol—Murder of Clarence—War with Scotland-Death of Edward IV.

THE mock restoration of Henry VI. was not destined to be of of long continuance. The ups and downs of royalty at this period were as rapid and strange as the shifting scenes of a theatre. There is no part of our history where we are left so much in the dark as to the real moving causes. It is difficult to see how Warwick, with his vast popularity, should, in the course of a single winter, become so unpopular as to render his fail and the success of Edward so easy. We can well conceive that Edward—cruel and licentious at home, not even respected by his own brother-in-law of Burgundy, and sincerely hated by Louis of France, whom he had so deeply insulted by the rejection of his queen's sister in marriage—should sit on