antly executed, according to the summary method practised
in that age.[*] The other conspirators, who took arms in four different
places, at Exeter, at Salisbury, it Newbury, and at Maidstone, hearing
of the duke of Buckingham's misfortunes, despaired of success, and
immediately dispersed themselves.

The marquis of Dorset and the bishop of Ely made their escape beyond
sea; many others were equally fortunate; several fell into Richard's
hands, of whom he made some examples. His executions seem not to have
been remarkably severe; though we are told of one gentleman, William
Colingbourne, who suffered under color of this rebellion, but in reality
for a distich of quibbling verses which he had composed against Richard
and his ministers.[*]

* Hist. Croyl. Cont. p. 568.
The lines were--

"The Rat, the Cat, and Lovel that Dog,
Rule all England under the Hog;"

The earl of Richmond, in concert with his friends, had set sail from St.
Malo's, carrying on board a body of five thousand men, levied in foreign
parts; but his fleet being at first driven back by a storm, he appeared
not on the coast of England till after the dispersion of all his
friends; and he found himself obliged to return to the court of
Brittany.

{1484.} The king, every where triumphant, and fortified by this
unsuccessful attempt to dethrone him, ventured at last to summon a
parliament; a measure which his crimes and flagrant usurpation had
induced him hitherto to decline. Though it was natural that the
parliament, in a contest of national parties, should always adhere to
the victor, he seems to have apprehended, lest his title, founded on
no principle, and supported by no party, might be rejected by that
assembly. But his enemies being now at his feet, the parliament had no
choice left but to recognize his authority, and acknowledge his right
to the crown. His only son, Edward, then a youth of twelve years of age,
was created prince of Wales: the duties of tonnage and poundage were
granted to the king for life; and Richard, in order to reconcile the
nation to his government, passed some popular laws, particularly one
alluding to the names of Ratcliffe and Catesby; and to Richard's arms,
which were a boar, against the late practice of extorting money on
pretence of benevolence.

All the other measures of the king tended to the same object. Sensible
that the only circumstance which could give him security, was to gain
t