Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 04.djvu/584

LEFT HENRY 502 HENRY De Montfort was defeated and killed by Prince Edward, at the battle of Evesham, and the king regained his liberty. But the war lasted two years longer. In 1270 Prince Edward set out on the crusade, and before his return Henry died at Westminster, Nov. 16, 1272. Henry IV. (called Bolingbroke), Duke of Hereford, and eldest son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster; born in Bo- lingbroke in Lincolnshire, 1366. Having deposed his cousin, Richard II., in 1399, ascended the throne as Henry IV. This usurpation gave rise to the civil war be- tween the houses of York and Lancaster, which broke out under the sway of Henry VI. His reign was disturbed by a rebellion headed by the Duke of Northumberland and his son Percy, surnamed "Hotspur." After subduing all opposition, Henry IV. died overwhelmed with remorse for many of his unscrupulous deeds, in 1413. Henry V. (surnamed Monmouth), one of the most illustrious of the line of English sovereigns, and whose early life of riot and dissipation gave but little promise of his after virtues; born in 1388, ascended the throne on the death of his father, Henry IV. In obedience to the dying advice of his parent, to give the public mind employment, he de- clared war against France, laying claim to that throne in right of his ancestors, and at once led a powerful army to the invasion of that kingdom; and after tak- ing Harfleur and devastating the north- ern provinces, fought and won the glo- rious battle of Agincourt. To check Henry's further progress and avert the total ruin of his country, the French mon- arch concluded a truce with Henry, who, to ratify the arrangement, espoused Charles' daughter, the Princess Cath- arine. No king ever sat on the English throne who was more beloved and hon- ored than the gallant Harry "Mon- mouth." He died in 1422. Henry VI., the only son of the above; born 1421, was but ten months old at the death of his father, and was pro- claimed king on the day after that event. His grandfather, Charles VI., King of France, died soon after, and the Duke of Orleans assumed the title of king by the name of Charles VII. This renewed the war between England and France, and the English, for a while, were success- ful. Henry was crowned at Paris, and the great Duke of Bedford, his guardian, obtained several important victories. But the raising of the siege of Orleans by Joan of Arc gave a new turn to affairs, and the English power declined, and was, in the end, quite subverted. The death of the Duke of Bedford was a fatal blow to the cause of Henry; and^ to add to his misfortunes, the York party in England grew strong, and involved the country in a civil war. They adopted the white rose as their badge of distinction, and the Lancastrians the red. Hence the title given to the struggle — "the War of the Roses." After various contests, the king was defeated, and taken prisoner. However, his wife, Margaret of Anjou, carried on the war with spirit, and for some time with considerable success. Richard, Duke of York, was slain at Wakefield, and Henry recovered his lib- erty; but Edward, Earl of March, son of Richard, laid claim to the crown, and routed the queen's forces at Ludlow, but was himself afterward defeated at St. Alban's. At length the York party pre- vailed, and Henry was sent to the Tower, where it is believed, he was slain by Richard, Duke of Gloucester. He was found dead in the Tower in 1471. Henry VII. (Tudor), son of Edmund, Earl of Richmond, and of Margaret, of the house of Lancaster, born in 1456. By the assistance of the Duke of Brittany, he landed in Wales with some troops, and laid claim to the crown in 1485. The people, disgusted at the cruelties of Rich- ard III., joined him in such numbers that he was enabled to give the usurper battle at Bosworth Field, where Richard was slain, and Henry crowned on the spot. He united the houses of York and Lan- caster by marrying Elizabeth, daughter of Edward IV. His reign met with little disturbance, except from two impostors, set up by Lady Margaret, sister to Ed- ' ward IV. One was a joiner's son, called Lambert Simnel, who personated Rich- ard, Duke of York, who had been mur- dered by the Duke of Gloucester in the tower. On being taken prisoner, Henry made him a scullion in his kitchen. The other was Perkin Warbeck, who said he was the Duke of York; but he was soon taken, and hanged at Tyburn. Henry reigned 24 years, and greatly increased trade and commerce; but his avarice w^s excessive. He died in 1509. Henry VIII., born in 1491; succeeded his father, Henry VII., at the age of 19. The first years of his reign were auspi- cious owing to his generosity; but at length his conduct grew capricious and arbitrary. The Emperor Maximilian and Pope Julius II., having leagued against France, persuaded Henry to join them, and he, in consequence, invaded that kingdom, where he made some conquests. About the same time, James IV., King of Scotland, invaded England, but was defeated and slain at Flodden Field. Car- dinal Wolsey succeeded in bringing Henry over from the imperial interests to those of the French king. When Lu-