Holinshed's Chronicles, vol. 3 of 6, slice 6 of 9: England, 1483-1485, Richard III

This volume opens with a vivid contemporary account of Richard III’s rise to power in 1483, presented as a translation of a Latin chronicle. The narrator details the king’s public proclamation in Westminster Hall, his attempts to win over nobles, merchants, and lawyers, and the theatrical display of clemency toward an old enemy. Readers get a sense of the political tension and the ceremonial pageantry surrounding his coronation.

The text then lists the flurry of appointments Richard makes—new dukes, earls, and knights—showing how he reshaped the noble hierarchy to secure loyalty. Interwoven with these records are reflections on his mistrust, the fear of rebellion, and the charged atmosphere of London’s streets. The language retains its original early‑modern flavor, offering listeners a window into the rhetoric and concerns of the time without revealing how the drama later unfolds.