Page:Archaeologia Volume 13.djvu/29

Rh These dreadful enormities were occasioned by the original quarrel between the "white and the red roses," and by the criminal ambition of the princes of the former when they had obtained the crown, by the cruel policy of extirpating all those that were near in affinity to those two sanguinary characters king Henry VII. and king Henry VIII. and by the different settlements in remainder of the crown, as interest, affection, or caprice suggested to the several princes who gained the throne.

The duchess Cecily saw her own family, the Nevils, as great as subjects could be; she lived to see them confined within less than their original bounds under her father, with the misfortune of their being obnoxious to the princes from a just jealousy of their former splendour, and the turbulent ambition that they had displayed, raising and debasing monarchs at their pleasure.

She saw her husband when just ascending the steps of the throne, by his rashness, killed in battle, and his head, separated from his body, in derision crowned with a paper diadem.

Of her sons, five died children. Edward, the oldest surviving one, became king. The second Edmond, a youth of twelve years of age, was cruelly put to death after the battle of Wakefield. George, the third son, who had been sometimes true, at others disloyal to his eldest brother and sovereign, was convicted, and put to death by the procurement of one, and at the order of another of his brothers. Richard, the youngest son, after usurping the regal honours, and disgracing himself by many murderous deeds, fell in the field of battle, fighting against a prince who was descended from an illegitimate branch of the Lancaster line.

She had four daughters: Ursula, the youngest, died young and unmarried; Ann, who had two husbands, was married to Henry VOL. XIII.