Part III: The Battle of Bosworth Field

The Battle of Bosworth Field: From the Point of View of Richard III

I have finally seized the crown

Through the murder of my nephews

Whom I successfully brought down

My supremacy shall no longer be refused[1]

Two years after I became King

The Battle of Bosworth Field took place

It caused much pain and suffering

This battle with much English blood was laced[2]

Houses of Lancaster and York fight for the crown

This is where all of the disputes would end

But one of these parties must be broken down

One of these royal families would be forced to descend

I was king of the York side

And Henry Tudor was the Lancastrian king

With all our disagreements we were bound to collide

Someone was going to feel defeat’s deadly sting[3]

I will never surrender

England is a part of me

I must do all I can to be the defender

Even if I die King I always will be

I never thought that I could be beat

I thought I had the strongest army in the land

I thought that I could crush any enemy that I meet

Now was the time for me to take a stand[4]

I was killed that day

At the Battle of Bosworth Field

In the body covered field is where I now lay

Now I have nothing more to yield

I was killed by the Lancastrian enemy

That I was trying to defeat

I will be carried on by my legacy

My kingship was less than complete[5]

I will continue to influence people throughout history

And I will forever be known as King Richard III

Whether I would have been a successful King will always be a mystery

But I know that my voice has been heard[6]

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[1] Blomefield, Francis. “The City of Norwich, chapter 22.” An Essay towards a Topographical History of the County of  Norfolk: volume 3: The History of the City and County of Norwich, part I.  1806.  British History Online.  <http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=77992&strquery=Battle%20of%20Bosworth>.

[2] Noorthouck, John.  “Book 1, Chapter 7, Henry VII and Henry VIII.”  A New History of London Including Westminster and Southwark.  1773.  British History Online. <http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=46724&strquery=Battle%20of%20Bosworth#s2>.

[3] Walpole, Horace.  “Walpole’s Historic Doubts- Part 3.” Richard III Society Online Library.  <http://www.r3.org/bookcase/walpole/walpole3.html>.

[4] Richard III Society- Ballad of Bosworth, text.  Bishop Percy's Folio Manuscript. Ballads and Romances, ed. J.W. Hales and F.J. Furnivall, 3 vols. (London, 1868), III, pp. 233-59. Richard III Society- American Branch. <http://www.r3.org/bosworth/ballad2.html>.

[5] More, Sir Thomas.  “The History of King Richard the Third.” 1513.  Richard III Society- American Branch.  <http://www.r3.org/bookcase/more/moretext.html>.

[6] Richard III Society- Ballad of Bosworth, text.  Bishop Percy's Folio Manuscript. Ballads and Romances, ed. J.W. Hales and F.J. Furnivall, 3 vols. (London, 1868), III, pp. 233-59. Richard III Society- American Branch. <http://www.r3.org/bosworth/ballad2.html>.

The Battle of Bosworth Field: From the Point of View of Henry Tudor

I, Henry Tudor, should have the crown

I am the right-wise King

Edward needs to be taken down

Victory is what I shall bring

In the Battle of Bosworth Field

I will always prevail

With my deadly sword I shall wield

King Richard III I will assail[1]

The houses of Lancaster and York will meet

And our differences will finally end

But the Yorkists will be the ones we defeat

For the crown I will fight and defend[2]

I am the leader of the Lancastrian side

And for the Yorkists Richard is king

As the leader only one house can reside

For only one house will the bells of victory ring[3]

I entered England by way of Wales

And I found Richard in the field

I knew he must be killed if all else fails

All I needed was my army with the swords they wield

Richard III was killed that day

My loyal army was victorious

In the field was where he lay

Slain by someone’s sword so glorious[4]

I have finally won the crown

The throne of England is mine

Richard III has been brought down

Now my power can finally shine

Princess Elizabeth I will marry

In order for the two houses to be united

Now the Tudor bloodline shall carry

For the future that is farsighted

A new age for England shall begin

Things will be different from here on out

England will be the best it has ever been

I know this without a doubt[5]

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[1] Richard III Society- Ballad of Bosworth, text.  Bishop Percy's Folio Manuscript. Ballads and Romances, ed. J.W. Hales and F.J. Furnivall, 3 vols. (London, 1868), III, pp. 233-59.Richard III Society- American Branch. <http://www.r3.org/bosworth/ballad2.html>.

[2] Noorthouck, John.  “Book 1, Chapter 7, Henry VII and Henry VIII.”  A New History of London Including Westminster and Southwark.  1773.  British History Online. <http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=46724&strquery=Battle%20of%20Bosworth#s2>.

[3] “The Croyland Chronicle: Part IX.” The Third Continuation of the of the History of Croyland Abbey: July, 1485- April, 1486 with Notes. Richard III Society Online Library of Primary Texts and Secondary Sources. Richard III Society- American Branch. <http://www.r3.org/bookcase/croyland/croy9.html>.

[4] “A Castilian Report.” 1486. Richard III Society- Bosworth Sources, Foreign. Richard III Society- American Branch. <http://www.r3.org/bosworth/chron3.html>.

[5] Noorthouck, John.  “Book 1, Chapter 7, Henry VII and Henry VIII.”  A New History of London Including Westminster and Southwark.  1773.  British History Online. <http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=46724&strquery=Battle%20of%20Bosworth#s2>.