Page:Archaeologia Volume 13.djvu/36

16 Many and great were the changes this princess saw; she lived in the reigns of five sovereigns. She saw the crown of France wrested from the infant brow of king Henry VI. and she saw him deprived of that of England, restored, again dethroned, and his innocent blood cruelly spilt, She saw her son king Edward IV. crowned, dethroned, restored, and cut off by his intemperance at an early age. She saw her grandson king Edward V. upon the throne, but deprived of his sceptre, imprisoned, and murdered, by whom, and when, perhaps, she never knew. She saw her youngest son, king Richard III, usurp the regal honours, and lose them soon after, with his life, when not more than thirty-two, or at the most thirty-five years of age; and finally, she saw the enemy of her family, who had vanquished him, proclaimed by the name of king Henry VII.

In her life-time there were these queens: Joan, relict of king Henry IV. Catherine, the dowager of king Henry V. Margaret, Elizabeth, Ann, and Elizabeth, the consorts of king Henry VI, king Edward IV, king Richard III, and king Henry VII. It is difficult to say which of these illustrious females was most unfortunate. Cecily was deprived of the title of queen only by the premature death of her husband, owing to his own intemperate anger.

She saw these princes of Wales: Edward, the amiable son of the unhappy king Henry VI. Richard, duke of York, her husband, for so was he created. Edward, her grandson, the son of king Edward IV. and who afterwards was stiled king Edward V. Edward, son of king Richard III. also her Rh