Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 26.djvu/76

Henry VII belonging to the house of York who could dispute his pretensions, so that he became the natural leader of any movement to relieve England from Richard's tyranny. This was admitted by Henry Stafford, duke of Buckingham, who would otherwise have aspired to the crown himself, in conversation with his prisoner, John Morton, bishop of Ely: the duke also declared himself willing to assist the Earl of Richmond's claim if he would engage to marry Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Edward IV, and so unite the titles of York and Lancaster. Morton at once entered eagerly into the project, and helped the duke to organise in secret a rebellion against Richard, which was to be aided by the landing of Richmond with troops from Brittany. A simultaneous rising actually took place, as agreed, on 18 Oct. 1483 all over the south of England. Buckingham raised his standard at Brecknock; but a great flood in the Severn prevented him from joining his allies, and Henry's expedition, though aided by the Duke of Brittany with fifteen ships and a force of five thousand Bretons, was dispersed by a storm at sea. Henry's own vessel did indeed approach Poole, but the coast was lined with armed men, who vainly endeavoured to lure him ashore by pretending to be friends of Buckingham. He recrossed the Channel to Normandy, and after three days returned by land to Brittany.

We are told by Polydore Vergil and the chroniclers that he sent to Charles VIII for a safe-conduct, in expectation of which he sent home his ships and began his journey, and that his messengers soon returned, bringing both the safe-conduct and money for his expenses. He had already arrived in Brittany by 30 Oct., on which day he gave the Duke of Brittany a receipt for a loan of ten thousand crowns of gold, dated at Paimpol, near Brehat (Addit. MS. 19398, f. 33, Brit. Mus.). He could hardly have known at that time of the complete failure of the rebellion in England. Presently, however, he heard that Thomas Grey, marquis of Dorset [q. v.], and other friends had escaped like himself to Brittany, and were at Vannes. He summoned them to a council at Rennes, where it was decided to make another attempt on a favourable opportunity, and on Christmas day they all bound themselves to each other and to Henry at Rennes Cathedral, he making solemn oath to marry the Princess Elizabeth after obtaining the crown. He also took counsel with the duke, who promised him future aid.

Brittany, however, was professedly on friendly terms with England, and Richard III sent to the duke to demand Henry's delivery. The duke, who suffered occasionally from mental derangement, could transact no business, and his unpopular minister, Pierre Landois, would have given up the refugee. But Bishop Morton despatched Christopher Urswick into Brittany to give Henry warning. Henry at once directed his uncle Jasper, earl of Pembroke, to collect a few of his friends and secretly make his way with them into France. He himself, after journeying by zigzag routes to avoid pursuit, joined them in Anjou. His flight was not discovered for some time, as there were about three hundred Englishmen still in Vannes who were not privy to his purpose; but it is said he had only passed the frontier in disguise one hour before the arrival of the horsemen sent in pursuit of him. The Duke of Brittany afterwards assisted Henry's other friends to join him in France.

Henry meanwhile repaired to Charles VIII at Langeais, and being encouraged by the French council (for Charles was then a minor) to look for further support, followed the court to Montargis, and afterwards to Paris. In England, however, Richard III succeeded in persuading the queen-dowager Elizabeth Widville or Woodville to come out of sanctuary with her daughters. Richard's queen died on 16 March 1485, and it was rumoured that Richard intended to marry Elizabeth, his eldest niece. Henry began seriously to think of another match for himself, but Richard was compelled by public clamour to disown the design imputed to him. Meanwhile Henry was joined by many English refugees in France and by the Earl of Oxford, who had been a prisoner in Hammes Castle. The captain of Hammes not only released him, but declared for the Earl of Richmond. The castle, however, was besieged in consequence by the whole garrison of Calais, and compelled to surrender.

With the aid of the English refugees and a body of troops given him by the French king, Henry at length embarked at Harfleur, 1 Aug. 1485, and within a week landed at Milford Haven. His company only numbered two thousand men, but he relied greatly on his Welsh countrymen, very many of whom joined him on his way to Shrewsbury. He also summoned to his aid Lord Stanley and his brother Sir William, who were powerful in Cheshire and Lancashire. Lord Stanley was his stepfather, having recently married his mother, the Lady Margaret. The latter, though deprived of her lands by Richard for conspiring in her son's favour, was allowed to live in seclusion, her husband being security for her good behaviour. Lord Stanley was afraid to join Henry, as he had received a similar summons from Richard, and had been