Editing Titulus Regius (section)

== Contents ==
[[File:Richard III portrait.jpg|thumb|[[Richard III]] promulgated the ''{{lang|la|Titulus Regius}}'' to legitimise his seizure of the throne. [[Society of Antiquaries of London]].]]
Edward's marriage was invalidated because Bishop [[Robert Stillington]] testified that the king had precontracted a marriage to [[Lady Eleanor Talbot|Lady Eleanor Butler]].

<blockquote>And how also, that at the time of contract of the same pretensed Marriage, and before and long time after, the said King Edward was and stood married and troth-plight to one Dame Eleanor Butler, Daughter of the old Earl of Shrewsbury, with whom the same King Edward had made a precontract of Matrimony, long time before he made the said pretensed Marriage with the said Elizabeth [Woodville] Grey, in manner and form above-said.</blockquote>

The document also claimed that Elizabeth Woodville and her mother had used witchcraft to get the king to marry her. Since Richard's brother [[George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence|George, Duke of Clarence]], had been executed and [[attainder|attainted]], his descendants forfeited all rights to the throne, leaving Richard the true heir. For good measure, the document also hinted that George and Edward (born in Ireland and Normandy, respectively) were themselves illegitimate and stated Richard, "born within this land" was the "undoubted son and heir of Richard, late Duke of York".<ref name="act">John A. Wagner, "Titulus Regius", ''Encyclopedia of the Wars of the Roses'', ABC-CLIO, 2001, pp.268–70.</ref>

Edward's reign was also criticised, he was said to have led by "sensuality and concupiscence" and delighted in "adulation and flattery" and to have been easily influenced by "persons insolent, vicious and of inordinate avarice", a reference to the Woodville family. In contrast, Richard was said to have been a man distinguished by "great wit, prudence, justice, princely courage, and memorable and laudable acts in diverse battles."<ref name="act"/>