By an anonymous artist of the Anglo-Flemish school (?1520), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain. Source
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Edward IV (r. 1461-1470, 1471-1483), painted by an anonymous artist of the Anglo-Flemish school in about 1520, but based on an earlier original dating from 1470-1475. Edward’s sudden elevation to the throne at the age of eighteen was the result not of dynastic rivalry alone, but of a profound dissatisfaction with Henry VI’s government. Henry V had all but won the crown of France for his heirs, but his son had squandered nearly all his father’s gains while racking up a huge debt and imposing high taxes to pay for a war that everyone could see he was destined to lose. See Jack Cade’s Revolt and One Hand on the Throne.
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By an anonymous artist of the Anglo-Flemish school (?1520), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
Edward IV (r. 1461-1470, 1471-1483), painted by an anonymous artist of the Anglo-Flemish school in about 1520, but based on an earlier original dating from 1470-1475. Edward’s sudden elevation to the throne at the age of eighteen was the result not of dynastic rivalry alone, but of a profound dissatisfaction with Henry VI’s government. Henry V had all but won the crown of France for his heirs, but his son had squandered nearly all his father’s gains while racking up a huge debt and imposing high taxes to pay for a war that everyone could see he was destined to lose. See Jack Cade’s Revolt and One Hand on the Throne.
King Edward returned to London again the 11th day of April, six months after that he had sailed into Flanders: and first calling before him a great assembly of people, highly commended the fidelity of the citizens, which they constantly bare unto him, rendering to the Aldermen most hearty thanks for that, that they had kept, and caused the people to continue, and be permanent in their good minds and loyalty toward him, blaming farther and rebuking as well merchant strangers, as Englishmen, whom he knew to have prested,* and lent money to king Henry for the arraying and setting forth of a new army against him.
But when he had grievously with terrible words declared to them their seditious crime and traitorous offence, he bade them be of good comfort, and to expel all fear, for he released to them both the punishment of their bodies, and loss of goods, and granted to them Pardon for their faults and offences, by which gentle mean and easy indulgence, he reconciled to him the hearts of the whole multitude, obtaining that, by fair and loving words, which he could not have achieved with sharp strokes, and bloody wounds.
ByEdward Hall?-1547
Spelling modernised
From ‘Hall’s Chronicle’ (1809) by Edward Hall (?-1547), edited by Richard Grafton (?-1572) and Henry Ellis (1777-1869). Spelling modernised.
* ‘Prest’ is a now obsolete word meaning ‘ready’, from Latin praestus. ‘Prested’ means ‘readied’, especially in regards to readying an army. The merchants had readied and lent money for Henry’s army.
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author
aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that
strike you. How do they help the author communicate his
ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you?
How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939)
by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at
Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn,
Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University,
USA.
Précis
With Henry now out of the way, Edward thanked the city’s alderman for their own loyalty and the loyalty of London’s citizens, but denounced the City’s merchants, foreign and domestic, for bankrolling Henry. To their surprise and relief, he then announced there would be no recriminations, a gesture that secured their goodwill more effectively than any punishment. (57 / 60 words)
With Henry now out of the way, Edward thanked the city’s alderman for their own loyalty and the loyalty of London’s citizens, but denounced the City’s merchants, foreign and domestic, for bankrolling Henry. To their surprise and relief, he then announced there would be no recriminations, a gesture that secured their goodwill more effectively than any punishment.
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Variations:
1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words.2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words.3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, or, otherwise, unless, whereas, whether, who.
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1Army.Blue.Reconcile.
2Assembly.Church.Clear.
3Array.Paint.Release.
Variations:1.include direct and indirect speech2.include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who3.use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Variations:1.use a minimum of seven words for each sentence2.include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never3.use the words ‘must’ to make commands4.compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Variations:
1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible.2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to).3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
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