Page:Archaeologia Volume 13.djvu/37

Rh son, and Arthur, her great-grand son, the son of king Henry VII. None of these princes of Wales were fortunate, for they all came to violent deaths, except the two last, and they died at a very early age.

She lived to see all these different modes of succession settled as power or interest prevailed. Edward, prince of Wales, was recognized as successor to his father king Henry VI; but this prince was deprived of all claim to the crown, it being transferred from him, to be vested in the duke of York her husband: she saw him attainted, as has been mentioned; after which, prince Edward was restored to his birth-right, but she saw him again deprived in favour of king Edward IV, and what issue he might have; but prince Edward was again reinstated in the order of succession, with remainder over to George duke of Clarence, and his issue, in exclusion of the exiled king Edward IV. and his progeny. But all these strange projects were overthrown by the restoration of king Edward IV. when the succession was renewed to his children. Upon the death of that luxurious monarch she saw his issue bastardized, and the reversion of the crown given to Edward, prince of Wales, son of king Richard III. and after his death, she saw the usurper, her son, settle the succession upon Edward, earl of Warwick, son of the late duke of Clarence; but upon some new turn of affairs, it was taken from this grandson of hers, to be given to another; it being settled by Richard upon John de la Pole, the son of her daughter Elizabeth, by John de la Pole, duke of Suffolk: but this disposition of things was overturned soon after by the event of the battle of Bosworth, and this unfortunate prince, who became earl of Lincoln, hating the change of affairs, was slain in 1489 at the battle of Stoke, fighting against king Henry VII. in whose issue the succession at length rested. VOL. XIII.