![]() Both Richard and Richmond address their troops before the battle begins. In contrast, Richmond has "fairboding dreams" and is assured that "God and good angels" stand ready to assist him. That night, the ghosts of Richard's victims appear, indicting him and prophesying his defeat. The two armies meet at Bosworth Field, and the two leaders are encamped on either side. Joined by many nobles, he marches inland to claim the throne. Richmond lands at Milford at the head of a mighty army. Anne dies, and Richard offers himself as husband for his niece, Elizabeth of York. Buckingham, now treated disdainfully and denied the promised earldom of Hereford, resolves to join Richmond. He has rumors spread that his wife is mortally ill he arranges a lowly match for Margaret, Clarence's daughter he imprisons Clarence's son he engages Sir James Tyrrel to undertake the murder of the little princes. This turn of events does not deter King Richard. Dorset, it is learned, has fled to Britanny to join Henry, Earl of Richmond. But the duke falters at the thought of such a monstrous deed. To secure his position, the new king suggests to Buckingham that the young princes be put to death. The despairing queen-mother fails in an attempt to visit her sons in the Tower just before Richard is crowned. Arrangements are made for his coronation. When citizens of London, headed by the lord mayor, offer him the crown, Richard accepts it with pretended reluctance. He has Buckingham slander the dead Edward, implying that the late king's children are illegitimate and that Edward himself was basely born. Next, Richard convinces the Lord Mayor of London that he has acted only for the security of the realm. Soon thereafter, Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan meet like fates. Finding that Hastings remains loyal to the prince, the villain-hero denounces him as a traitor and orders his execution. With a great display of courtesy and devotion, Richard has Prince Edward and his brother lodged in the Tower. The frightened queen seeks sanctuary for her son. Lord Rivers, Lord Grey, and Sir Thomas Vaughan are imprisoned by Richard and are executed. Buckingham, now Richard's "second self," promises to separate the prince from the queen's kindred. When the young Prince Edward is sent for from Ludlow to be crowned, Richard moves quickly to meet this turn of events. The remorseful king learns that Clarence has been put to death before he himself dies. Richard joins the other members of the hostile factions in solemnly vowing in the presence of the dying Edward to hold the peace. Hired murderers carry out his instructions to put Clarence to death. As part of his plan, Richard succeeds in convincing Hastings and Buckingham that the queen and her faction are to blame for Clarence's imprisonment. Next, he wins the hand of Lady Anne, even as she follows the hearse bearing the body of the murdered Henry VI. He first manages to turn Edward against the Duke of Clarence, who is imprisoned in the Tower on the charge of treason. The Wars of the Roses (1455-1485) being over, Richard of Gloucester determines to gain the throne occupied by his brother, Edward IV.
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