A Museum for Young Gentlemen and Ladies | Page 8

strong. Hereupon
Queen Katherine prevailed upon her husband Charles VI. then King of
France, to disinherit the Dauphin, and to give Katherine his daughter to
Henry, so that he was declared heir to the crown of France, and regent
during the King's life, which measures were ratified and confirmed by
the states of that kingdom, though he did not live to sit on the throne.
He reigned but ten years, died at Vincennes, a royal palace near Paris,
and was buried at Westminster, in 1422, in the 39th year of his age.
HENRY VI. when only eight years old, succeeded his father, but was
no less unfortunate at home than abroad; and though he was crowned at
Paris King of France, in the year 1423, yet he lost all that his
predecessors had acquired in that kingdom, Calais only excepted. The
crown of England was disputed between him and the house of York;
which occasioned such civil wars in England as made her bleed for 84
years, when all the Princes of York and Lancaster were either killed in
battle or beheaded. The French laying hold of this favourable
opportunity, shook off the English yoke, and recovering their liberty in
five years, placed the young Dauphin upon the throne, who was then
Charles VII. The crown of England was now settled by Parliament
upon the House of York and their heirs, after the death of King Henry,
whose heirs were excluded for ever. This Prince passed through various
changes of life, and was at last stabbed to the heart by Richard Duke of
Gloucester, who had before murdered Edward, the only son of this
unfortunate King.
The House of York, called the WHITE ROSE.
EDWARD IV. who had dispossessed Henry VI. in 1460, was the first
King of the line of York, and nobly maintained his right to the crown
by mere dint of arms; till at last subduing the party which opposed him,
he was crowned at Westminster June 28, 1461. In this King's reign the
ART OF PRINTING was first brought into England. At this time also
the King of Spain was presented with some Cotswold sheep, from
whose breed, 'tis said, came the fine Spanish wool, to the prejudice of

England. Edward reigned 22 years, and was buried at Windsor in 1483.
EDWARD V. eldest son of Edward IV. succeeded his father when only
twelve years old; but his bloody uncle, Richard Duke of Gloucester,
caused both him and his brother to be smothered in their beds in the
Tower of London, in the second month of his reign, and before his
coronation.
RICHARD III. having dispatched his two nephews, succeeded to the
crown, and was the last King of the House of York. He was an usurper,
and his cruelty had incensed the Duke of Buckingham, his favourite, to
such a degree, that he contrived his ruin, and offered the crown to
Henry Earl of Richmond, the only surviving Prince of the House of
Lancaster, then at the court of France, on condition that he would marry
Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Edward IV. in order to unite the
Houses of York and Lancaster -- Richard being informed of the affair,
ordered the Duke to be instantly beheaded without a trial. However,
this did not discourage Henry, who had accepted the offer. He came
over with a small force, and landed in Wales, where he was born, his
army increasing as he advanced. At length having collected a body of
5000 men, he attacked King Richard in Bosworth field, in
Leicestershire, in 1485. Richard fought bravely till he was killed in the
engagement, which made way for Henry to the crown of England.

THE MODERN HISTORY OF ENGLAND. CHAP. IV.
We shall divide this branch of English history into four periods, namely:
1. The Kings of the House of Tudor. 2. The Kings of the Stuart family.
3. King William of the House of Orange, and Queen Anne. 4. The
Kings of the House of Hanover.
The House of TUDOR.
HENRY VII. succeeded Richard III. in 1485: he obtained the crown by
force of arms, tho' he pretended a tight to it by birth; being of the House
of Lancaster. The name of his father was Edmund Tudor, Earl of

Richmond; and he married Elizabeth, the daughter of King Edward IV.
by which marriage the Houses of York and Lancaster were united. This
Prince had great sagacity, but was very cruel and unjust. Edward
Plantagenet, Earl of Warwick, and the last Prince of the House of York,
was beheaded by him for attempting his escape, after being imprisoned
from nine years old; for which cruel act Henry's name will be hated for
ever. As he grew old, he grew covetous, and to increase his treasure, he
caused