Duke of Gloster, and is stated to have declared that he was the handsomest man in the room except his brother King Edward IV. Sir Thomas More, however, says "his face was hard-favoured or warly," which latter word Grafton renders "warlike;" and unless these pictures were painted purposely with the view of creating or confirming a popular prejudice, they may be considered as fully warranting the historian's description.+ Richard and the Duke of Buckingham were both remarkable for their love of finery. A list of the king's dresses exists amongst the Harleian MSS. (No. 433, p. 126), which was sent by Richard himself from York to the keeper of his wardrobe in London, August 31st, 1483; and in the 'Antiquarian Repertory' is published a wardrobe account of the first year of his reign, in which there is a detailed description of the magnificent dresses worn by the king, queen, and court, at the coronation. On the day preceding that gorgeous ceremony the Duke of Buckingham, in the royal progress through the city, rode a courser caparisoned with blue velvet, embroidered with axles or wheels in gold (a badge of the Stafford family), the trappings being held out by pages for the better display of them.t In the Warwick Roll is a figure of Richard in armour, and surrounded by the crests of France, England, Ireland, Gascony, and Wales; the latter being a greyhound in a cradle-a curious allusion to the well-known legend of Beth-Gellert.' In the same most interesting document is a drawing of Richard's queen, Anne, which presents us with the peculiar head-dress characterising this period, namely, a cap or caul of gold embroidery, covered by a veil of some very transparent material, stiffened out in the form of wings. Of Henry Earl of Richmond we know no representation previous to his ascending the throne. Two portraits of John, the first Howard Duke of Norfolk, and one of his son the Earl of Surrey, are given in the privately printed work, Memorials of the Howard Family,' a copy of which is in the library of the Society of Antiquaries. Walpole's Hist. Doubts, p. 102. 6 + It is said by Polydore Virgil that Richard had a trick of fidgeting with his dagger, continually half drawing and sheathing it again, while in conversation. One might imagine the painter of the second picture had intended to represent this peculiarity. The opinion of Mr. Sharon Turner also, that this habit was but" the mark of a restless impatience of spirit which would not let even the fingers be quiet," is singularly supported by the first portrait, in which Richard appears to be playing in the same manner with his ring by drawing it off and on his finger. Grafton's Chron. Sir Thos. Vaughan lies buried in Westminster Abbey, and the brass plate on his tomb presents us with a good specimen of the armour of this period, with its large pauldrons, elbow-plates, and genouillères. A portrait of Lord Stanley (as Earl of Derby) is to be found in Lodge's Series of Illustrious Personages.' The livery colours of the Tudor family were white and green. One of the standards of Henry Earl of Richmond at Bosworth field was a red dragon upon white and green sarcenet. Another was a dun cow upon "yellow tarterne." Richard's armorial supporters were white boars. A white boar was also his favourite badge. In his letter from York he orders "four standards of sarcenet and thirteen gonfanons of fustian, with boars." Richard's favourite badge of cognizance was worn by the higher order of his partisans appendant to a collar of roses and suns. Such a collar decorates the monumental figure of Ralph, second Earl of Westmoreland, in the church of Brancepeth, in the county of Durham; and by the favour of Sir Henry Ellis we copy this from an original drawing by the late Mr. Charles Stothard. This is probably the only contemporary representation of Richard's collar and device now remaining. Glo. Now is the winter of our discontent Our bruised arms hung up for monuments; And now, instead of mounting barbed steeds, An allusion to the cognizance of Edward IV., which was adopted after the battle of Mortimer s Cross: "Dazzle mine eyes, or do I see three suns?" b Barbed. Barbed aud barded appear to have been indifferently applied to a caparisoned horse. In Hall we have, "About the time of prinie came to the barriers of the lists the duke of Hertford, mounted on a white courser barbed with blue and green velvet." In Lord Berners' Froissart we read, "It was a great beauty to behold the banners and standards waving in the wind, and horses barded, and knights and squires richly armed." He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber, But I, that am not shap'd for sportive tricks, jesty To strut before a wanton ambling nymph;- See, in the folio; the quartos. spy. b Malone would read, "fair well-spoken dames." In Ben Jonson's Every Man out of his Humour, we have the same epithet of well-spoken applied to days: "ignorant well-spoken days." And hate the idle pleasures of these days. comes. Enter CLARENCE, guarded, and BRAKENBURY. Brother, good day: What means this armed guard That waits upon your grace? Clar. His majesty, Tendering my person's safety, hath appointed This conduct to convey me to the Tower. Glo. Upon what cause? Clar. Because my name is George. Glo. Alack, my lord, that fault is none of He should, for that, commit your godfathers:- But what's the matter, Clarence? may I know? Clar. Yea, Richard, when I know; for I protest As yet I do not: But, as I can learn, women: 'Tis not the king that sends you to the Tower; That made him send lord Hastings to the Tower, secure Should, in the folio; the quartos, shall. Tempers. We print this line as in the quarto of 1597. In the folio we read, "That tempts him to his harsh extremity." But the queen's kindred, and night-walking heralds That trudge betwixt the king and mistress Shore. women, Are mighty gossips in our monarchy. Brak. I beseech your graces both to pardon me; His majesty hath straitly given in charge Glo. Even so; an please your worship, Brakenbury, You may partake of anything we say: And the queen's kindred are made gentlefolks : Brak. With this, my lord, myself have nought to do. Glo. Naught to do with mistress Shore? I tell thee, fellow, He that doth naught with her, excepting one, Were best to do it secretly, alone. Brak. What one, my lord? Glo. Her husband, knave:-Would'st thou betray me? Brak. I do beseech your grace to pardon me; and, withal, Forbear your conference with the noble duke. Clar. We know thy charge, Brakenbury, and will obey. Glo. We are the queen's abjects, and must obey. Brother, farewell: I will unto the king; * This line is the reading of the quartos. The folio has, "Lord Hastings was, for her delivery." Our, in the folio; the quartos, this. |