A Metrical History of England Or, Recollections, in Rhyme, Of some of the most prominent Features in our National Chronology, from the Landing of Julius Caesar to the Commencement of the Regency, in 1812. In Two Volumes ... By Thomas Dibdin |
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EDWARD THE FIFTH. |
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 | A Metrical History of England |  |
EDWARD THE FIFTH.
“'Twas at the silent midnight hour,”When deeds of murder vainly try
To shun all-seeing Heaven's eye,
And awful darkness wrapt the Tower
Where innocence was doom'd to die;
That crook-soul'd Richard's ruffian crew,
Starting at every hollow gust that blew,
Through vaulted passage stole, and arch-way low,
Where shadows mock'd the flickering taper's glow,
And, e'en the noise their felon steps impart,
Struck nameless terror to each coward heart!
Whose guardian Angels would have wept;
Did Angels weep? not for the fate of those,
They waited soon to waft to God's repose.
But for the poor deluded men who sold
Their everlasting hopes for cursed gold;
And for his deep perdition who could lull
His conscience to commission of such deeds,
For whom some victim daily bleeds,
E're yet the measure of his guilt be full!
Chill silence reign'd, unless some rip'ling wave
Of Thames with placid noise the fortress lave;
Or echo mark the sentry's measured tone,
Or haply of some prison'd wretch the groan,
Pierces the guarded wall with half-distinguish'd moan.
Then with averted look and panting breath,
The wreckless ministers of death
Approach the sleeping pair; unconscious they,
And undisturbed by guilty conscience lay,
'Till by the suffocating pillow prest,
They changed their mortal for immortal rest.
And glee infernal shout the royal knell;
'Till, Heaven corrected, they remain
Cover'd in silence and accustom'd pain.
Then, rising to extatic harmony,
Celestial sounds that direful yell replace;
While loud Hosannas rend the sky,
And welcome virtue to the throne of grace!
How on that night did Richard sleep?
Ah! well for him might angels weep!
Historians have many doubts as to the commission of this alledged murder;—one proof offered to the contrary is from a curious document, said to be the Coronation Roll of Richard III. from which it would appear that Prince Edward walked at his Uncle's coronation. The entry is as follows:
“To Edward, Son of the late King Edward the Fourth, for his apparel and arraye, that is to say,—a shorte gowne, made of two yards and three-fourths crymsyn clothe, of golde, lyned with two yards three-fourths of blac velvet; a long gowne, made of six yards of crymsyn clothe, of golde, lyned with six yards of green damask; a doublet and a stomacher, made of two yards of blac sattin, &c. &c.; besides two foot clothes, a bonnet of purple velvet and nine saddle housings of blue velvet, gilt spurs, with many other rich articles and magnificent apparel, for his henchmen or pages.”—The above is copied, with similar variations of orthography, (occurring in the same words) from the original, by Mr. Walpole, who was gratified with the perusal of it by Mr. Chamberlain, of the Great Wardrobe.
Vide Bertrand de Moleville's Hist. of Gt. Britain.“It has, however, been suggested by Mr. Walpole himself, that these garments might probably have been intended for Edward the Fifth's Coronation, before Richard disclosed his designs.”
Historic Doubts, and Answer. | A Metrical History of England | |