32
he got his information, whilst contemporary writers are silent about them. When Shakespeare wrote his plays, wicked Richard was firmly established in Holinshed's and Hall's chronicles as well as in popular tradition, and if he represented Richard as he found him there, he did not mean to do him any wrong. Yet there is no writer who has wronged Richard more than Shakespeare because for centuries the English have got their knowledge of the history of Richard'’s time but from Shakespeare's plays of which Richard III. has always been the favorite one. And there is no doubt that Richard III. will continue to be the most applauded of the historical plays although the truth will be known more and more that it does not give true history, but that it is a most admirable character painting of their great dramatist.
C. Wessel.


