In 1474 the first book was printed in England, and more attention was then paid to spelling.  William Caxton printed this book,—­a work on chess.  The form of the types came from Germany, and was used till James I. introduced the Roman type.  James I. took a great interest in plain and ornamental job printing, and while trying to pick a calling card out of the jaws of a crude job-press in the early years of his reign, contributed a royal thumb to this restless emblem of progress and civilization. (See next page.)

[Illustration:  JAMES I. CONTRIBUTING HIS MITE TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE.]

The War of the Roses having destroyed the nobility, times greatly improved, and Industry was declared constitutional.

Edward V. at twelve years of age became king, and his uncle Dick, Duke of Gloucester, became Protector.  As such he was a disgrace, for he protected nobody but himself.  The young king and his brother, the Duke of York, were placed in the Tower, and their uncle, Lord Hastings, and several other offensive partisans, on the charge of treason, were executed in 1483.  He then made arrangements that he should be urged to accept the throne, and with a coy and reluctant grace peculiar to this gifted assassin, he caused himself to be proclaimed Richard III.

[Illustration:  DEATH OF BUCKINGHAM.]

Richard then caused the young princes to be smothered in their beds, in what is now called the Bloody Tower.  The Duke of Buckingham was at first loaded with honors in return for his gory assistance; but even he became disgusted with the wicked usurper, and headed a Welsh rebellion.  He was not successful, and, in 1483, he received a slight testimonial from the king, as portrayed by the gifted artist of this work.  The surprise and sorrow shown on the face of the duke, together with his thrift and economy in keeping his cigar from being spattered, and his determination that, although he might be put out, the cigar should not be, prove him to have been a man of great force of character for a duke.

Richard now espoused his niece, daughter of Edward IV., and in order to make the home nest perfectly free from social erosion, he caused his consort, Anne, to be poisoned.  Those who believed the climate around the throne to be bracing and healthful had a chance to change their views in a land where pea-soup fog can never enter.  Anne was the widow of Edward, whom Richard slew at Tewkesbury.

[Illustration:  STONE COFFIN OF RICHARD III.]

Every one felt that Richard was a disgrace to the country, and Henry, Earl of Richmond, succeeded in defeating and slaying the usurper on Bosworth Field, in 1485, when Henry was crowned on the battle-field.

Richard was buried at Leicester; but during the reign of Henry VIII., when the monasteries were destroyed, Richard’s body was exhumed and his stone coffin used for many years in that town as a horse-trough.

Shakespeare and the historians give an unpleasant impression regarding Richard’s personality; but this was done in the interests of the Tudors, perhaps.  He was highly intelligent, and if he had given less attention to usurpation, would have been more popular.