File:Ridpath's history of the world - being an account of the principal events in the career of the human race from the beginnings of civilization to the present time - comprising the development of social (14594331247).jpg

Identifier: ridpathshist03ridp (find matches)
Title: Ridpath's history of the world : being an account of the principal events in the career of the human race from the beginnings of civilization to the present time : comprising the development of social institutions and the story of all nations
Year: 1800 (1800s)
Authors: Ridpath, John Clark, 1840-1900
Subjects: World history
Publisher: Cincinnatti : The Jones brothers New York : Merrill & Baker
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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dbegun in usurpation, culminated in the briefglory of Henry V., and gone down the in-clined plane of his sons prolonged imbecility.In one respect the epoch was fruitful: thePeople grew. The general weakness of theLancastrian claim to the crown, combiningwith the personal feebleness of Henry VI.,made it necessary, or at least desirable, thatthe House of Lancaster should pay a respect,hitherto unthought of, to the popular will.In like manner the Yorkists sought to supplythe defect in their title by deference to thepeople. It thus happened that the dissensionsof the widely divided family of Edward HI.conduced greatly to the growth of parliamen-tary liberty ; insomuch that before the Wars 134 UNIVERSAL HISTORY.—THE MODERN WORLD. of the Roses had come to au eud the remarkof the French historian, Comiues, that in hisjudgment, of all the countries he had seen. England was best governed, the people leastoppressed, was justified by the facts. It mustbe remembered, however, that such a state-
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MURDER OF YOUNG RUTLAND BY LORD CLIFFORD.Drawn by L. P. Leyendeckar. PEOPLE AND KINGS.—ENGLAND IN 14TH AND 15TH CENTURIES. 135 ment was warranted only by the standard ofthe Middle Ages, and would be ridiculous ifviewed by the liberal standard of moderntimes. On his accession to the throne, in the year1461, Edward IV. was but nineteen years ofage. He possessed in a high degree the qualitieswhich were reckoned essential in an Englishking. His voluptuousness in peace and cru-elty in war were likely to be overlooked inthe brilliancy of his faculties, the valor of hisconduct, and the beauty of his person. Hewas destined to find full opportunity for thedisplay of all the force and vigor with whichnature had endowed him. Scarcely was heseated on the throne until he was obliged tolead forth an army and confront the infuriatedLancastrians, who had gathered a desperatehost at Towton. Here was fought a bloodyand hotly contested battle. For hours to-gether, in the midst of a storm of snow which

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