ond's army, consisting of archers, was commanded by the
earl of Oxford: Sir Gilbert Talbot led the right wing; Sir John Savage
the left: the earl himself, accompanied by his uncle the earl of
Pembroke, placed himself in the main body. Richard also took post in his
main body, and intrusted the command of his van to the duke of Norfolk:
as his wings were never engaged, we have not learned the names of the
several commanders. Soon after the battle began, Lord Stanley, whose
conduct in this whole affair discovers great precaution and abilities,
appeared in the field, and declared for the earl of Richmond. This
measure, which was unexpected to the men, though not to their leaders,
had a proportional effect on both armies: it inspired unusual courage
into Henry's soldiers; it threw Richard's into dismay and confusion.
The intrepid tyrant, sensible of his desperate situation, cast his eye
around the field, and descrying his rival at no great distance, he drove
against him with fury, in hopes that either Henry's death or his own
would decide the victory between them. He killed with his own hands Sir
William Brandon, standard-bearer to the earl: he dismounted Sir John
Cheyney: he was now within reach of Richmond himself, who declined
not the combat, when Sir William Stanley, breaking in with his troops,
surrounded Richard, who, fighting bravely to the last moment, was
overwhelmed by numbers, and perished by a fate too mild and honorable
for his multiplied and detestable enormities. His men every where sought
for safety by flight.

There fell in this battle about four thousand of the vanquished; and
among these the duke of Norfolk, Lord Ferrars of Chartley, Sir Richard
Ratcliffe, Sir Robert Piercy, and Sir Robert Brackenbury. The loss was
inconsiderable on the side of the victors. Sir William Catesby, a great
instrument of Richard's crimes, was taken, and soon after beheaded, with
some others, at Leicester. The body of Richard was found in the field,
covered with dead enemies, and all besmeared with blood: it was thrown
carelessly across a horse; was carried to Leicester amidst the shouts of
the insulting spectators; and was interred in the Gray Friars' church of
that place.

The historians who favor Richard (for even this tyrant has met with
partisans among the later writers) maintain, that he was well qualified
for government, had he legally obtained it; and that he committed no
crimes but such as were necessary to procure him