EDWARD IV. 1e.1444 S31. King of England from 1461 to 1483. Ile Nvas the son of Richard, Duke of York, and was horn 11t Rouen in 1441 or 144•. llis original title was that of Earl of Starch. After the death of his father, in the battle of Waketichl, December 31. 146o, Edward became the head of the Vorkist party. and as such speedily the fortunes of his house. After routing the Royal or Lancastrian forms, under the earls of Pembroke and Ormond. at Mortimer•s Cross, near Hereford, February 2, 1461, Edward marched toward London. which he entered on February 26th. lle immediately laid It is claim to the erOW11 Parliament, which admitted its validity, and on March 14th he ascended the throne as Ethvard IV., amid the acclamations of the citizens of London, with whom lie was a great favorite. Ills first victory as King over the Lancastrians was obtained at Towton, in Yorkshire, on March 29, 1461. This was followed by minor successes, till finally, in May. 1461, by the victories of Lord Montague, the Lancastrians were completely crushed. On Nay 1, 1164, Edward married Elizabeth Wood ville, widow of Sir John Grey. This gave great offense to the Earl of Warwick, by far the most powerful of Edward's adherents, who was at that time engaged in negotiating a marriage between Edward and the sister-in-law of Louis XI. of France. The favors showered upon the Queen's relatives caused great discon tent. In 1469 Warwick openly declared against Edward, joined Queen Margaret, the wife of the helpless henry VI. and the intrepid leader of the Lancastrians, and finally compelled Edward to flee the country. henry VI. was released from the Tower, where lie had been a prisoner fur six years, and was once more invested with the royal authority. But in the spring of 1471
Edward landed at the Uninber, proceeded to seized the person of Henry, and was again hailed King by the inhabitants. Warwick now gathered an army and hurried to encounter him. The two met at Baret, where Warwick -was defeated and slain, April 14, 1471. On May 4th Edward routed the Lancastrians at Tewkes bury, capturing Queen Margaret. Her son. Prince Edward, was either slain in battle or murdered the day after the fight. Henry VT. died Slay 21, 1471, not without suspicion of murder. Though the later years. of Edward's reign were peaceful and marked by few political incidents of any ino ment, the period was One of great importance in the development of the English Constitntion. Easy going as he was, and fond of pleasure, the King steadily pursued his aim of aggrandizing the crown at the expense of Parliament, and by a policy of silent hut aggressive assertion lie succeeded in laying the foundations for the absolute monarchy of the Tudors. Edward was brave aml debonair, as his immense popularity shows. but he was dis solute in the extreme. It was during his reign that printing and silk manufactures were intro duced into England. In law few notable (dianges oceurred, hut the praetice of indirect pleading dates from this period, which is also illustrious for the names of distinguished legists. such as Littleton and Fortescue. Consult Green, History of the English People (London and New York. 1S7S), SeC 11PNRY V1.; llosEs. WAR OF' TUE ; WARWICK , 11ii nARO NI:VILLE, EARL OF.