Edward IV. (1461—1483).

Edward IV. of York, who succeeded eventually in conquering Lancastrian Henry VI. and having him secretly murdered in the approved kingly fashion, had a better hereditary title than his victim, and perhaps he was not a worse king. But Philip de Comines, an excellent observer, remarks of him:—"He indulged himself in a larger share of ease and pleasure than any prince in his time." He surrounded himself with courtesans, epicures, parasites, and buffoons. Sir Thomas More observes:—"He" (Edward) "used to say that he had three concubines who excelled in three distinct properties. One was the merriest, another the wiliest, the third the holiest harlot in his kingdom." The merriest was the unfortunate Jane Shore.