Biographical Outlines Part 3

Mar. 1327.-Died 1369.-Edward III.

Philippa of Hainault, the queen of Edward III., was the sister of the Count of Hainault in Flanders (Belgium). She was a most religious, wise, and able woman, who ruled the country while the king was at war in France as well as he did himself. She went with the army against the Scots, and defeated them at Nevil's Cross, close to Durham, 1346. After the siege of Calais Queen Philippa begged the lives of Eustace de St. Pierre and five other French gentlemen, whom the king had condemned to death. When Queen Philippa died, Edward fell under the power of a wretched woman, and lost the confidence of his n.o.bles and people.

THE BLACK PRINCE.

Born 1330.-Died 1376.-Edward III.

The Prince of Wales, son of King Edward III., called the Black Prince from the colour of his armour, was knighted on the sands at La Hogue, in the midst of the war between England and France about the succession to Bretagne (Brittany). He distinguished himself with extraordinary valour at the battles of Cressy and Poitiers, and the siege of Calais. He married Joan of Kent, and held his court chiefly at Bordeaux, and having ruined his health by an excessive love of fighting, his last years were spent in a sick room.

GEOFFREY CHAUCER,

Born 1321.-Died 1400.-Edward II.-Edward III.-Richard III.

Born in London, and called the first English poet, wrote the twenty-four _Canterbury Tales_. The scene is laid in the Tabard inn, Southwark, and the characters of n.o.ble, knight, yeoman, prioress, pardoner, parson, clerk of Oxford, reeve or steward, and Robin the miller, etc., give the best pictures of the Plantagenet times that exist.

JOHN GOWER.

Born 1325.-Died 1402.-Edward II.-Edward III.-Richard II.-Henry IV.-Henry V.

An early English poet, born in Yorks.h.i.+re, who flourished about the same time as Chaucer. His poems are chiefly on moral subjects, the first edition of them being printed by Caxton. He was a liberal benefactor to the church of St. Saviour, Southwark, and died in London.

HENRY V.

Reigned 14131422.

Son of Henry IV. When Prince of Wales called "Madcap Hal." Invaded France and fought the battle of Agincourt. Was acknowledged Regent of France and successor to the crown. Lived chiefly in Paris, and died at Vincennes, when in the full glory of his reign.

RICHARD NEVILLE,

Born about 1420.-Died 1471.-Harry V.-Henry VI.-Edward IV.

Earl of Warwick (the king maker). This famous n.o.bleman, also known as the last of the Barons, was the son of the Earl of Salisbury, and first cousin of Edward IV., son of the Duke of York. After the first great battle of the Rose wars (St. Albans) Warwick joined the Yorkists. After the battles of Bloreheath, Northampton, Wakefield, and Mortimer's Cross, Warwick was defeated in the second battle of St. Albans. He again won the bloodiest struggle of the Rose wars, Towton, but was slain at Barnet, fighting against Edward IV. With him English feudalism died.

WILLIAM CAXTON.

Born 1410.-Died 1491.-Henry IV.-Henry V.-Henry VI.-Edward IV.-Edward V.-Richard III.-Henry VII.

William Caxton was born in Kent. He seems to have begun authors.h.i.+p long before printing. He went to Bruges in 1468 with the English bride of Duke Charles of Burgundy, and translated for her the _Recueil des Histoires de Troye_, by the duke's chaplain. Having learnt in Germany (Cologne) to print, he brought out this translation in 1471. He removed in 1474 to Westminster, where he lived in the Reed Pale, near the Almonry, and set up his printing-press there. The first book printed there was _The Game and Playe of the Chesse_, _translated out of the French_. When he died in 1491, Wynkyn de Worde and Richard Pynson worked the press.

CARDINAL WOLSEY.

Born 1471.-Died 1530.-Edward IV.-Edward V.-Richard III.-Henry VII.-Henry VIII.

Thomas Wolsey, the son of a butcher at Ipswich, became a fellow of Magdalen College in Oxford. He was a friend of the famous Erasmus, and helped him in pus.h.i.+ng the study of Greek. While Bursar of Magdalen College he built the college chapel tower. He was sent as envoy to Bruges on a negociation of marriage between Margaret of Savoy, daughter of the Emperor Maximilian, and Henry VII., and was rewarded for the speed of his journey by the deanery of Lincoln. Under Henry VIII. Wolsey was successively made king's almoner, chancellor of the garter, archbishop of York, cardinal legate, and lord chancellor of England. His splendour and state surpa.s.sed that of any minister ever seen in England. York Place (now Whitehall), Esher, and Hampton Court were his residences in and near London. He built Christ Church College in Oxford, and a grammar school at Ipswich. When Wolsey failed to induce Cardinal Campeggio to annul Henry's marriage with Katherine of Arragon, the king refused to see him again. The great seal was taken from him, and he was ordered to retire to York. He was arrested for high treason, and on his way to London, died in Leicester Abbey, wis.h.i.+ng he had served G.o.d as faithfully as he had the king.

SIR THOMAS MORE.

Born 1480.-Died 1535.-Edward IV.-Edward V.-Richard III.-Henry VII.-Henry VIII.

Was born in Milk Street, London, brought up in the household of Cardinal Morton under Henry VII. He was early distinguished by great attainments, wit, and dauntless love of truth. When Speaker of the House of Commons, he came into collision with Wolsey upon a loan of 800,000 demanded by the king. As not a member would open his lips, Wolsey appealed to More, who said that unless all the statues around him could put their wits into his head, he could not answer His Grace. More refused to take the oath of supremacy to Henry VIII. as head of the English Church, and he was executed on Tower Hill. His daughter, Margaret Roper, rescued his head.

He was a man of deep and various learning, and his _Utopia_, or romance of a model republic, is well known.

WILLIAM TYNDALE.

Born 1447.-Died 1536.-Henry VI.-Edward IV.-Edward V.-Richard III.-Henry VII.-Henry VIII.

Was born in Wales, educated at Cambridge, and with Miles Coverdale made a new translation of the New Testament, the Pentateuch, and the book of Jonah. He was strangled and burnt at the stake at Vilvoord, in consequence of the success of his translations of the Bible.

THOMAS CRANMER,