Historie Of The Arrivall Of Edward IV In England And The Finall Recouerye Of His Kingdomes From Henry VI A.D. M.CCCC.LXXI

HISTORIE OF THE ARRIVALL OF EDWARD IV. IN ENGLAND AND THE FINALL RECOVERYE OF HIS KINGDOMES FROM HENRY VI - INTRODUCTION - THE principal original historical authorities for the period to which the following narrative relates are, I. The Second Continuation of the History of Croyland 11. Fabyans Chronicle-f 111. An English Chronicle from which there are large extracts in Lelands Collectanea IV. The Anglica Historia of Polyr dore Vergil and V. The . Memoires of Philip de Comines 11 to these is now added, in the following narrative, a sixth authority, of greater value than any of them. The Continuator of the History of Croyland is one of the best of our English Historians of the class to which he belongs. His name is unknown, but it appears in his work that he was a Doctor of Canon Law, was one of Edward the Four - t hs Councillors, and was employed by that monarch upon a foreign mission. . Published in Gales Rerum Anglicarum Script. Vet. I. 549. t I have used Sir Henry Elliss edition, to. Lond. 1811. 1 Vol. 11. of the edition of 1774, p. 409. 5 I have used the Edition of Basil, fol. 1557. I My references are to the edition printed at Erussels In 1706, 4 vols. 8vo. Thus connected with the house of York, but not writing until after the battle of Bosworth, he holds the balance pretty evenly between the rival parties. He does not dwell much upon minute facts but the general current of events is-clearly, and, in all probability, accurately, detailed by him Fabyans narrative is such an one as might be expected from a citizen and an alderman of the reign of Henry VII. full, and no doubt correct, upon all points connected with the popular feeling and with transactions mhiih took place in thecity of London, but brief and inaccurate respecting events which passed elsewhere. Fabyans bias was towards the Lancastrian party. Of the Cl1ro11icEefrr om whom Leland extrclcted me know abso-. lutely nothing. The extracts contain many anecdotes and minute particulars, and the spirit and feeling of a contemporary are evident throughout, but I have not obser ed anything which has enabled me to identify the author. He writes with a very palpable inclination tow ardsth e party of the innocent Henry. From what sources Polydore Yergil derived his account of these . events is unknown but he has given an excellent narrative, superior in style, more abundant in facts, and more copious in description than any of those before mentioned. It of course strongly favours the house of Lancaster and may indeed be considered as the accaunt which that party was desirous should be believed. Gale, I, 76. I have added Philip de Comines to the catalogue of authorities principally with a view to his account of Edward the Fourths proceedings on the Continent preparatory to his return into England, and his narrative of the battle of Tewkesbury which last he seems to have received from some of those. mho fled from thence to the Continent. His relation of the intermediate events. is extremely inaccurate. . Upon these authorities, which in many points are most singularly contradictory, all our subsequent Chroniclers, with one exception which will be noticed hereafter, have based their statements Rasta11 abridges. Fabyan Hall translates Polydore Vergil and philip de Comines Stowe transcribes the Chronicle quoted by Leland and the rest follow some one author and some aliother The present narrative has higher claims to authority than any of those I have noticed. It was mitten upon the spot imme, diately after the events to which it relates by some person possessed of full means of knowledge and it will be seen that it was adopted by Edward IV...