The Moral and Civil Works of Francis Bacon

History of the Reign

...what had humanly befallen his brother) he had killed him. Finally, he labored under the heavy infamy of having done away with his Wife by poison, so that he might pave the way for an Incestuous Marriage with his Niece. Richard III was accused of poisoning Anne Neville to marry Elizabeth of York, his niece, though modern historians often dispute this. Although he had been a Prince of proven Military Virtue, a stout defender of English Honor, and likewise a good Legislator for the relief and comfort of the Common People; yet in the opinion of all, his parricides and crimes far outweighed his virtues and merits. Indeed, in the opinion of the wise, those very virtues were considered to be feigned and artificial—designed to spread his sails for ambition original: "velificaret," a nautical metaphor for pursuing a goal—rather than being innate qualities of his nature or judgment. Therefore, it was noted by more perceptive men (who traced his earlier deeds to his later ones) that even during the reign of his brother Edward the Fourth, he had industriously and secretly applied himself to stirring up envy and hatred against his brother’s government. He expected, and as it were divined, that the King, on account of his luxury and intemperance, would not live long, but would leave behind sons of a tender age. He then knew well enough how easy the ascent was from the height of Protector and first Prince of the royal blood to the Crown itself. From this fountain of deep ambition flowed his actions regarding that Treaty of Peace and Alliance struck between Edward and Louis the Eleventh, King of France, and confirmed by a meeting of both Kings at Picquigny. The Treaty of Picquigny (1475) ended an English invasion of France in exchange for a pension paid to Edward IV. At that time, Richard, then Duke of Gloucester, had opposed the Peace with all his might and stood on the side of "Honor," raising his own reputation to the disparagement of his brother. He desired to turn the eyes of all (especially the Nobles and soldiers) from his brother toward himself, as if the King, through his luxurious life and less-than-noble marriage, A reference to Edward IV's controversial marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, a commoner. had become effeminate and was less touched by a sense of Honor or care for the Commonwealth than became a King. Furthermore, as to those wholesome and political Laws introduced and enacted in his time, men interpreted them as nothing more than the baits and allurements of a Tyrant, by which he might show himself to the People and capture their goodwill. For he was conscious in himself that he entirely lacked the true bond of the subjects' obedience: namely, a legitimate Right to the Kingdom.

But for Henry, at his entrance into his Kingdom and at the very moment the Crown was brought to him, there occurred a truly perplexed and knotty matter, not easily resolved, which might disturb even the wisest King (especially in the novelty of his reign) and pull him in different directions. This was all the more so because it was a matter that did not allow for delay or deliberation, but it was necessary to deliberate and decide upon it at once. It happened that in his Person, three different Titles by which he might claim the Kingdom for himself converged. The First was the Title of his Queen, Elizabeth; to which was added that Covenant by which he had bound himself to the Nobles (by whose help he obtained the Kingdom) to contract a Marriage with her. This clearly implied that he would reign in her right. The Second was that ancient Title, disputed both by Law and by Arms, between the Families of Lancaster and York; of which one—Lancaster—he conducted himself as the heir. The last was the Title of the Sword and Arms, because he had made his entry by victory, and because the King who was in possession of the Kingdom had been killed in battle. Of these Titles, the First was the most favorable, and the one that most [reconciled] the minds of the subjects to him...