At daybreak on the Monday following there were no chaplains present to perform Divine service on behalf of King Richard, nor any breakfast prepared to refresh the flagging spirits of the King; besides which, as it is generally stated, in the morning he declared that during the night he had seen dreadful visions, and had imagined himself surrounded by a multitude of demons. He consequently presented a countenance, which, always attenuated, was on this occasion more livid and ghastly than usual, and asserted that the issue of this day's battle, to whichever side the victory might be granted, would prove the utter destruction of the kingdom of England. He also declared that it was his intention, if he should prove the conqueror, to crush all the supporters of the opposite faction; while, at the same time, he predicted that his adversary would do the same towards the well-wishers to his own party, in case the victory should fall to his lot.
At length, the prince and knights on the opposite side now advancing at a moderate pace against the royal army, the King gave orders that the Lord Strange[57] should be instantly beheaded. The persons, however, to whom this duty was entrusted, seeing that the issue was doubtful in the extreme, and that matters of more importance than the destruction of one individual were about to be decided, delayed the performance of this cruel order of the King, and, leaving the man to his own disposal, returned to the thickest of the fight.
[57] Stanley's eldest son, who was a hostage with Richard.
A battle of the greatest severity now ensuing between the two sides, the earl of Richmond, together with his knights, made straight for King Richard, while the earl of Oxford, who was next in rank to him in the whole army and a most valiant soldier, drew up his forces, consisting of a large body of French and English troops, opposite the wing in which the duke of Norfolk had taken up his position. In the part where the earl of Northumberland was posted, with a large and well-provided body of troops, there was no opposition made, as not a blow was given or received during the battle. At length a glorious victory was granted by heaven to the said earl of Richmond, now sole King, together with the crown, of exceeding value, which King Richard had previously worn on his head. For while fighting and not in the act of flight, the said King Richard was pierced with numerous deadly wounds, and fell in the field like a brave and most valiant prince; upon which, the duke of Norfolk before mentioned, Sir Richard Ratclyffe, Sir Robert Brackenbury, keeper of the Tower of London, John Kendall, secretary, Sir Robert Percy, controller of the King's household, and Walter Devereux, lord Ferrers, as well as many others, chiefly from the north, in whom King Richard put the greatest confidence, took to flight without engaging; and there was left no part of the opposing army of sufficient importance or ability for the glorious conqueror Henry the Seventh to engage, and so add to his experience in battle.
Through this battle peace was obtained for the entire kingdom, the body of the said King Richard being found among the dead. Many insults were also heaped upon it, and, not exactly in accordance with the laws of humanity, a halter being thrown round the neck, it was carried to Leicester; while the new King also proceeded to that place, graced with the crown which he had so gloriously won.
While these events were taking place, many nobles and others were taken prisoners; and in especial, Henry, Earl of Northumberland, and Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey.... There was also taken prisoner William Catesby, who occupied a distinguished place among all the advisers of the late King, and whose head was cut off at Leicester as a last reward for his excellent offices. Two gentlemen, also, of the western parts of the kingdom, father and son, known by the name of Brecher ... were hanged. As it was never heard, nor yet stated in writing or by word of mouth, that any other persons, after the termination of the warfare, were visited with similar punishments, but that, on the contrary, the new prince had shown clemency to all, he began to receive the praises of all, as though he had been an angel sent down from heaven, through whom God had deigned to visit His people, and to deliver it from the evils with which it had hitherto, beyond measure, been afflicted.
THE LAST OF THE PLANTAGENETS (1485).
Source.—Bosworth Field, in Percy Folio MS., iii. 256, 257. (1868.)
Then to King Richard there came a knight,
And said, "I hold it time for to flee;
For yonder Stanley's dints they be so might,
Against them no man may dree.
Here is horse at thy hand ready;
Another day thou may thy worship win,
And for to reign with royalty,
To wear the crown and be our king."
"Nay! give me my battle-axe in my hand,
Set the crown of England on my head so high,
For by him that made both sea and land,
King of England this day will I die.
One foot will I never flee
Whilst the breath is my breast within."
As he said, so did it be;
If he lost his life, he died a King.