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time; it is, that in the month of February 1466 he was knighted by his brother Edward, who shortly afterwards gave him a new proof of his esteem, and brotherly affection by entrusting him with the removal of the bones of his father, and of his brother Rutland from Pomfret to the burial place of their family at Fotheringay. That Richard was chosen for this honorable commission by his brother Edward, in preference to his elder brother Clarence, is, at any rate, a distinction for him. This was Richard's first entrance into public life, reported by history.

The first time Shakespeare introduces Richard in his plays is in Henry VI. 2ud P. V. 1. when, although but a stripling of about 16 or 17 years, he shows at once the fierceness of his disposition, the sharpness of his tongue, and his undaunted courage by declaring himself ready to bail his father with his sword if words will not,“ and by defying, and provoking King Henry's bravest knight, the celebrated Clifford, by throwing into his teeth the accusation of vain boasting:

Oft have I seen a hot o'rweening cur

Turn back and bite, because he was withheld; Who, beeing suffer'd with the bear's fell paw, Hath clapp'd his tail between his legs, and cried: And such a piece of service will you do,

If you oppose yourselves to match Lord Warwick.

The whole scene is not historical, but a free invention of the poet, for it is represented to pass at the end of the revolt of John Cade, when this leader is killed by Iden. Now this occurred in 1450, when Richard was not born yet, for his birth took place about two years after that event.

When shortly after the meeting with Clifford the two hostile armies of the Duke of Vork. Richard's father, and that of King Henry VI. meet at St. Albans, Richard shows that he has not only a sharp tongue, but also a sharp sword, and, in spite of his youth, an uncommonly strong arm. He takes a prominent part in the battle, and not only kills the valiant Duke of Somerset. but also saves three times the life of old Salisbury, who thankfully acknowledges it:

Now, by my sword, well hast thou fought to-day;

By the mass, so did we all.— I thank you, Richard:

God knows how long it is I have to live;

And it hath pleas'd him, that three times to-day

You have defended me from imminent death.(Henry VI. 2nd P. V. 2.)

It is hardly necessary to say that this scene, too, cannot have occurred. The battle cer- tainly took place in 1454, four years after John Cade's revolt, but then Richard was a baby of two years. But Shakespeare, who wants only to show Richard as a courageous, strong, and brave war- rior, does not mind this.

The opening scene of Henry VI., Zrd part, is perhaps the most important of all, for in it Richard reveals the innermost thoughts of his heart, tells us what the object is he appreciates most, and shows with what ease he knows to remove all difficulties that may oppose his aim. Here we have the key to all his after deeds. The Duke of Vork, and his two sons, Edward and Richard, have gone to Sendal castle, after the duke made an agreement with King Henry, according to which he is to succeed to the throne after Henry's death. His sons, however, do not approve of this arrangement; they are of opinion that, in spite of the oath by which their father bound himself, he ought to seize upon the crown at once, since circumstances seem favorable. Edward