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HASTINGS. 131
assumed, not, as Mr. Davies says, because his wife was a Dudley, but
because his mother was a Pole, grand-daughter of Margaret, Countess of
Salisbury ; sister of Edward, Earl of Warwick ;
and daughter of George,
Duke of Clarence, and his wife Isabel, daughter of Richard Nevill, Earl of
Warwick. This Earl of Huntingdon married Catherine, sister of Lord
Guildford Dudley ; and her father was created Earl of Warwick by
Edward VI., and eventually Duke of Northumberland.
But Huntingdon was (I think) more likely to carry the badge in
right of his own inheritance than of his wife's.
But why did the Earls of Huntingdon change the colour of their
sleeve, and bear it black instead of red ? It may be simply what is called
in heraldry lf a difference," viz., to distinguish one branch of the family
from another. It may be (and I think it is) to record a tragic (but at the
same time honourable) incident in the family history (narrated in Hume's
History of England, and represented in Richard III., act 2, scene 4).
Sir William de Hastings, created Baron Hastings by Edward IV.,
Knight of the Garter, and Master of the Mint, was one of the most
powerful men of his day. Fuller the historian speaks of him as an
" " illustrious person and ; therefore, when Edward was dead, Richard,
Duke of Gloucester, was anxious to secure his influence to enable him to
obtain the crown for himself and dispose of his
Richard, Duke of York.
He therefore sounded his
nephews, Edward V. and
sentiments through Catesby, a lawyer who
lived in great intimacy with him, but found him impregnable in his
allegiance and fidelity to the children of Edward, who had ever honoured
him with his friendship. He says to the Duke of Buckingham
" Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business,
And finds the testy gentleman so hot
That he will lose his head, ere give consent
His master's child (as worshipfully he terms it)
Shall lose the royalty of England's throne."
And Richard determined, therefore, on his death.
A meeting of the Council was summoned at the Tower, where Richard
for a long time appeared in a most easy and jovial humour. Then suddenly
demanding what they deserve who conspired his " death with devilish plots
" of damned witchcraft," he tore up his sleeve, and shewed a withered arm,
which he accused the Queen and Jane Shore of having caused ; and, on
Hastings commencing
" If they have done this deed, my noble lord,"
he cried
"Talkst thou to me of ifs ? Thou art a traitor.
Off with his head : Now by St. Paul I swear
I will not dine until I see the same."