A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Anne of Warwick
ANNE OF WARWICK,
Was born at Warwick Castle, in 1454. She was almost entirely educated at Calais, though she was often brought to England with her sister, Isabel, and seems to have been a favourite companion, from her childhood, of the duke of Gloucester, afterwards Richard the Third, who was two years older than herself. In August, 1471 Anne was married, at Angers, France, to Edward of Lancaster, son of Henry the Sixth and Margaret of Anjou, and rightful heir to the English throne. She was very much attached to him, and when he was barbarously murdered after the fatal battle of Tewksbury, in 1471, she mourned him bitterly. She disguised herself as a cook-maid, in a mean house in London, to elude the search of Gloucester, who was much attached to her. She was, however, discovered by him, and, after a resolute resistance, forced to marry him in 1473. There are strong proofs that Anne never consented to this marriage. Her son Edward was born at Middleham Castle, 1474. By a series of crimes, Richard obtained the throne of England, and was crowned, with his consort, July 5th., 1483. In 1484, Anne's only son died, and from this time her health declined. There were rumours that the king intended to divorce her, but her death, in 1485, spared him that sin. She had suffered all her life from the crimes of others, and yet her sorrows and calamities seem to have been borne with great meekness, and, till the death of her son, with fortitude.