History of the Life and Reign of Richard the Third (English Edition)

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This is a seminal history of one of England’s most famous monarchs, Richard III, whose notorious reign ended with his death at the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last monarch of the House of York and his death all but brought an end to the Wars of the Roses
From the intro:
“Richard III was one of the first of those dark characters in history whom it has been the effort of some modern writers to present under an aspect not altogether to repulsive as that in which his name and deeds have been handed down to us. The apparent insufficiency of the testimony to most of his imputed crimes was first pointed out by Walpole in his Historic Doubts and since that day there have not been wanting inquirers who have inclined to a more favorable view of his character. Nevertheless, the general opinion is unshaken. The scantiness of contemporary evidences and the prejudices of original authorities may be admitted as reasons for doubting isolated facts, but can hardly be expected to weaken the conviction derived from Shakespeare and tradition as much as from anything else that Richard was indeed cruel and unnatural beyond the ordinary measure even of those violent and ferocious times. There is, besides, much in the undisputed facts of the case which, in the eye of common sense, favors greatly this impression. A reign of violence is naturally short-lived and the reigns of Edward V and Richard III are the shortest in English history. Taken together, their duration was less than two years and a half; and it is in vain to deny that Richard had long before lost the hearts of his subjects except upon the common supposition that they were never his to lose.
Yet, historically considered, Richard III is not a monster. He is the natural outgrowth of monstrous and horrible times. He is the fitting termination of the rule of the House of York the exemplification of an old, divinely attested saying that they who take the sword shall perish by it. It is true Richard's father, the Duke of York, who first urged the claims of that House, was anything but an extreme man. On the contrary, he protested by every loyal means against misgovernment, and exhausted every form of peaceable remonstrance, before he finally advanced his title to the crown. But his moderation in which, unfortunately, he did not himself persevere to the end was not imitated by his sons. It was, indeed, very ill requited by his enemies when he fell into their hands at Wakefield and the lesson of vindictiveness set by the friends of Margaret of Anjou was not forgotten when the next turn of the wheel gave the victory to Edward IV. How could it be expected that the conqueror should treat his opponents with greater leniency than they had shown to his father? Civil war had already blunted all sense of delicacy, and violence now became a part almost of the established order of things. The House of York abused their triumph, became intolerant of rivals, and imbrued their hands in the blood of princes. Hardened by degrees in acts of cruelty and perfidy, they grew faithless even to each other. Clarence rebelled against his brother Edward, and, though forgiven, was finally put to death by Edward's order. The court was split up into factions. The old nobility were jealous of the Queen and of her relations. It was a world which, as Edward foresaw before his death, was not likely to hold together very long after him. Such a world, in fact, almost invites a bold and unscrupulous man to take the rule and subdue it.”