"
"Surely not if we can help it," replied the earl. "Let us first
ask for reform. If the king heeds our petition, well and good.
If not I am determined, cousin of York, that you shall sit on the
throne of England instead of our insane sovereign."
A petition was soon drawn up and signed and presented to Henry.
It asked that Henry would do something which would make the people
contented.
The king paid no attention to it. Then a war began. It was the
longest and most terrible that ever took place in England. It
lasted for thirty years.
Those who fought on the king's side were called Lancastrians, because
Henry's ancestor, John of Gaunt, was the duke of Lancaster. The
friends of Richard were called Yorkists, because he was duke of York.
The Lancastrians took a red rose for their badge; the Yorkists a
white one. For this reason the long struggle has always been called
the "War of the Roses."
In the first great battle the Red Rose party was defeated and the
king himself was taken prisoner.
The victors now thought that the duke of York ought to be made king
at once. However, a parliament was called to decide the question,
and it was agreed that Henry should be king as long as he lived,
but that at his death the crown should pass to the duke of York.
Pages:
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213