Polyd. Virg. p. 530.

*** Comines. Hall, fol. 228. Grafton, p. 703.

It is certain, however, that Henry's death was sudden; and though he
labored under an ill state of health, this circumstance, joined to the
general manners of the age, gave a natural ground, of suspicion; which
was rather increased than diminished by the exposing of his body
to public view. That precaution served only to recall many similar
instances in the English history, and to suggest the comparison.

All the hopes of the house of Lancaster seemed now to be utterly
extinguished. Every legitimate prince of that family was dead: almost
every great leader of the party had perished in battle or on the
scaffold: the earl of Pembroke, who was levying forces in Wales,
disbanded his army when he received intelligence of the battle of
Tewkesbury; and he fled into Brittany with his nephew, the young earl of
Richmond.[*] The bastard of Falconberg, who had levied some forces, and
had advanced to London during Edward's absence, was repulsed; his men
deserted him; he was taken prisoner and immediately executed:[**] and
peace being now fully restored to the nation, a parliament was summoned,
which ratified as usual, all the acts of the victor, and recognized his
legal authority.

* Habington, p. 454. Polyd. Virg. p. 531.

** Holingshed, p. 689, 690, 693. Hist. Croyl. Cont. p. 554.

But this prince, who had been so firm, and active, and intrepid during
the course of adversity, was still unable to resist the allurements of
a prosperous fortune; and he wholly devoted himself, as before, to
pleasure and amusement, after he became entirely master of his kingdom,
and had no longer any enemy who could give him anxiety or alarm. He
recovered, however, by this gay and inoffensive course of life, and
by his easy, familiar manners, that popularity which, it is natural
to imagine, he had lost by the repeated cruelties exercised upon his
enemies; and the example also of his jovial festivity served to abate
the former acrimony of faction among his subjects, and to restore
the social disposition which had been so long interrupted between the
opposite parties. All men seemed to be fully satisfied with the present
government; and the memory of past calamities served only to impress
the people more strongly with a sense of their allegiance, and with
the resolution of never incurring any more the hazard of renewing such
direful scenes.

{1474.} But while the