BRIEF

Biographical Sketches

OF THE

PRESIDENTS OF WALES.

DOE

ANTHONY Widvile, or Widewylle, Earl of Ryvers, was "President of the Prince of Wales' Council" in the year 1473. He was brother to Elizabeth, Queen of Edward IV. and the most accomplished nobleman in the court of that monarch. To him was intrusted the education of his nephews, the two young Princes. He married the daughter and heiress of Thomas Lord Scales, (who was Seneschal of Normandy, and a valiant and active soldier in the French wars) on whose death in 1460 he was in his wife's right summoned to Parliament as Lord Scales. That he was complete master of those high feats of chivalry so much in repute in those days, we may learn from the old chronicles.

-And in the moneth of Juny followynge, were certayne actes and featys of warre doone in Smythfelde, atwene sir Antony

Wydeuyll, called Lord Scalys, vpon that one partye, and the Bastarde of Burgoyne, chalengour on that one partye: of which the Lorde Scalys wanne the honour: for the sayde Bastarde was at the firste course rennynge, with sharpe sperys overthrown horse and man, whiche was by the rage of the horse of the sayde Bastarde, and not by vyolence of the stroke of his enemy, and by a pyke of iron standynge vpon the fore parte of the sadyll of the Lorde Scalys, wherewith the horse beynge blynde of the Bastarde, was strykon into the nose thrylles, and payne therof mounted so hyghe vpon the hinder feet, that he fyl bakwarde. Vpon the seconde day they met there agayne vpon fote, and fawght with theyre axes a fewe strokes. But whan the Kyng sawe that the Lorde Scalys hadde auantage of the Bastarde, as the poynte of his axe in the vysoure of his enemyes helmet, and by force therof was lykely to have born hym over, the Kyng in hast cryed to suche as hadde the rule of the felde, that they shulde departe theym: and for more spede of the same, caste downe a warderer which he then helde in his hande: and so were they departed to the honour of the Lorde Scalys for both dayes." Fab. Chron. A. D. M,IV,LXVII.

He was a most valiant soldier, and constantly employed either in suppressing the tumults of those turbulent times, or in discharging the duties

of some of the principal offices of state. Yet he found leisure to cultivate letters, and to be the author of works, which, though of little value now, made some noise at the time. These consisted chiefly of translations from the French. He was the great patron and restorer of learning, and his lordship, with his printer Caxton, were the first English authors who had the pleasure to see their works printed. There is a curious old engraving, belonging to a manuscript in the Archbishop's library at Lambeth, representing this nobleman, attended by Caxton, presenting his book "The Dictes and Sayinges of Philosophers" to Edward IV. If the "Game of Chess" was the first book printed by Caxton, this by Lord Scales was the third, see Ames' History of Printing, vol. 1. p. 30. His other works are "The Cordial, or a Booke de IV. Novissimis, that is to wit, Deth, Jugement, Helle, Heven. Imprinted by Caxton at Westmynstre, 1478." This work is called the Cordial, as the author informs us, "that it may be cordially emprented in us." An epilogue is written to it by Caxton. "The Morale Proverbes of Cristyne (of Pyse). Lond. Printed by Caxton, 1478." The original author of the work from which this is translated, was an ingenious Lady, who removed with her father into France about the year 1400, where these Proverbs were first written in the language of that country.

He was born in the year 1442, treacherously imprisoned by Richard III. in Pontefract Castle, and by that tyrant's order, beheaded on the 23rd. of June, 1483, in the forty-first year of his age. He wrote a poem during his imprisonment, which is preserved.

In 1478, John Alcock, L.L.D. and Bishop of Ely, was President of the Council.

He was

born at Beverley in Yorkshire, and educated at Cambridge. Was first made Dean of Westminster, and in 1471 consecrated Bishop of Rochester; in 1476 was translated to the See of Worcester, and in 1477 to that of Ely. He was a man of great learning and piety, and so highly esteemed by King Henry VII. that he appointed him Lord President of the Council of Wales, and afterwards Lord Chancellor of England. Alcock founded a school at Kingston upon Hull, and built the spacious hall belonging to the episcopal palace of Ely. He was also the founder of Jesus College, Cambridge. He died in 1500.

William Smyth, Bishop of Lincoln, was made Justice of the Peace for the counties of Salop, Hereford, Gloucester, and the Marches, on the 20th. of March, 1492; he was President of the Council during the residence of Prince Arthur in the Castle, and afterwards till his death.

Geoffry Blythe was Lord President in 1513, succeeding Bishop Smyth; he presided thirteen years.

In 1525, Henry VIII. despairing of male issue, and not yet having conceived the project of divorcing his Queen for conscience sake, conferred on his only child Mary, an infant of nine years old, the title of Prince of Wales, with the distinction of nominally directing its commission in the Marches. The style assumed for the Council was, "The King's Commissioners of Council, with my Ladie Prince's Grace, in the Marches of Wales." John Voysey, L.L.D. (who afterwards assumed the name of Harman) presided at this time, and continued in office till the year 1534. This very learned and courtly prelate was highly esteemed by the King who employed him in many embassies, appointed him tutor to the Princess Mary, and gave him the Bishopric of Exeter, and the Presidency of the Marches. Himself learned, he was a great patron of learned men, especially divines, whom he preferred in his own church above all others. He was very bounteous and liberal to all men, and though born to great possessions, independent of his official and episcopal income, yet he died poor. Men are best understood in their unpremeditated actions, and one of the letters of the celebrated Sir Thomas More to his daughters, carries us back in imagination to the age in which this good bishop lived, and exhibits a striking, and undoubtedly true, picture of his character.