Edward PLANTAGENET, IV KING

                   "Edward IV was able to restore order, despite the temporary return to thethrone of Henry VI (reigned 1470-71, during which time Edward fled to theContinent in exile) supported by the Earl of Warwick, 'the Kingmaker',who had previously supported Edward and who was killed at the Battle ofBarnet in 1471. Edward also made peace with France; by a shrewd displayof force to exert pressure, Edward reached a profitable agreement withLouis XI at Picquigny in 1475.

At home, Edward relied heavily on his own personal control in government,reviving the ancient custom of sitting in person 'on the bench' (i.e. injudgement) to enforce justice. He sacked Lancastrian office-holders andused his financial acumen to introduce tight management of royal revenuesto reduce the Crown's debt.

Building closer relations with the merchant community, he encouragedcommercial treaties; successfully traded wool on his own account torestore his family's fortunes and enabling the king to 'live of his own';and paid the costs of the country's administration from the Crown Estatesprofits, thus freeing him from dependence on subsidies from Parliament.

Edward rebuilt St George's Chapel at Windsor (possibly seeing it as amausoleum for the Yorkists, as he was buried there) and a new great hallat Eltham Palace.

Edward collected illuminated manuscripts - his is the only intactmedieval royal collection to survive (in the British Library) - andpatronised the new invention of printing.

Edward died in 1483, leaving by his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville a12-year-old son, Edward, to succeed him."

-- Royal Household

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