Buckingham indeed was beheaded, but the bulk of his followers were pardoned, and the overthrow of her hopes reconciled the queen-mother to the king.

She quitted the sanctuary with Elizabeth, and thus broke up the league on which Henry's hopes hung.

But Richard was too wary a statesman to trust for safety to mere force of arms.

He resolved to enlist the nation on his side.

During his brother's reign he had watched the upgrowth of public discontent as the new policy of the monarchy developed itself, and he now appealed to England as the restorer of its ancient liberties.