Editing Edward IV (section)

==Political==
{{Main|Great Bullion Famine|Great Slump (15th century)}}
[[File:Rivers & Caxton Presenting book to Edward IV.JPG|thumb|right|upright=1.5|Presentation miniature from ''[[Dictes and Sayings of the Philosophers]]'', printed in England by [[William Caxton]] in 1477. Edward is shown receiving a manuscript copy from Woodville, accompanied by his wife Elizabeth, his eldest son [[Edward V|Edward]], and his brother [[Richard III|Richard]]]]

Commentators observe a marked difference between Edward's first period as king, and the second. The failure of attempts to reconcile former enemies like Somerset meant he was noticeably more ruthless after 1471, including the execution of his brother Clarence.{{Sfn|Whittle|2017|pp=22–24}} In his youth, Edward was a capable and charismatic military commander, who led from the front, but as he grew older, the energy noted by contemporaries became less apparent.{{Sfn|Penn|2019|p=370}}

One effect of this was that Parliament became increasingly reluctant to approve taxes for wars which Edward failed to prosecute, then used the funds instead to finance his household expenditures. Under his rule, ownership of the [[Duchy of Lancaster]] was transferred to the Crown, where it remains today. In 1478, his staff prepared the so-called 'Black Book', a comprehensive review of government finances, still in use a century later.{{Sfn|Chibnall|1960|pp=340–341}} He invested heavily in business ventures with the [[City of London]], which he used as an additional source of funding.{{Sfn|Ross|1974|p=351}}

Although the economy recovered from the [[Great Slump (15th century)|depression of 1450 to 1470]], Edward's spending habitually exceeded income; on his death in 1483, the Crown had less than £1,200 in cash. His close relationship with the London branch of the [[Medici Bank]] ended in its bankruptcy; in 1517, the Medicis were still seeking repayment of Edward's debts.{{Sfn|Rorke|2006|p=270}}

Economics was closely linked to foreign policy; Edward's reign was dominated by the three-sided diplomatic contest between England, France, and Burgundy, with two of the three seeking to ally against the third.{{Efn|This resurfaced in the 17th century contest between England, the [[Dutch Republic]], and France under [[Louis XIV]].}} As Flemish merchants were the largest buyers of English wool, Edward was generally pro-Burgundian, although Duke Charles' reluctance to support him in 1471 cooled their relationship. The [[Battle of Nancy|death of Charles]] in 1477 led to the 1482 [[Treaty of Arras (1482)|Treaty of Arras]]; Flanders, along with the lands known as the [[Burgundian Netherlands]], became part of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] and France acquired the rest. Edward and his successors lost much of their influence.{{Sfn|Kerling|1954|pp=51–57}}

===Cultural===
[[File:Eltham Palace, April 2018 (4).jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|Edward's Great Hall at [[Eltham Palace]] in southeast London, 2018]]

Edward's court was described by a visitor from Europe as "the most splendid ... in all [[Christendom]]".{{Sfn|Ross|1974|pp=270–277}} He spent large amounts on expensive status symbols to show off his power and wealth as king of England, while his collecting habits show an eye for style and an interest in scholarship, particularly history. He acquired fine clothes, jewels, and furnishings, as well as a collection of beautifully illuminated historical and literary manuscripts, many made specially for him by craftsmen in Bruges.{{Sfn|Backhouse|1987|pp=26, 28, 39}}{{Sfn|McKendrick|2011|pp=42–65}} His book purchases included books for entertainment and instruction, whose contents reveal his interests. They focus on the lives of great rulers, including [[Julius Caesar]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=La Grande histoire César |series=Digitised Manuscripts |publisher=British Library |date=1479 |url=http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Royal_MS_17_f_ii&index=8 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419170753/http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Royal_MS_17_f_ii&index=8 |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 April 2013 }}</ref> historical chronicles,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jean de Wavrin, Recueil des croniques d'Engleterre |volume=1 |series=Digitised Manuscripts |publisher=British Library |date=1471 |url=http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Royal_MS_15_e_iv&index=5 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419145343/http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Royal_MS_15_e_iv&index=5 |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 April 2013 }}</ref> and instructional and religious works.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guyart des Moulins, La Bible historiale |series=Digitised Manuscripts |publisher=British Library |date=1470 |url=http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Royal_MS_15_d_i&index=4 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419143552/http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Royal_MS_15_d_i&index=4 |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 April 2013 }}</ref> In 1476, [[William Caxton]] established the first English printing press in the outbuildings of [[Westminster Abbey]]; on 18 November 1477, he produced ''[[Dictes and Sayings of the Philosophers|Sayengis of the Philosophres]]'', translated into English for Edward by his brother-in-law [[Anthony Woodville]].{{Sfn|Timbs|1855|p=4}}

It is not known where or how Edward's library was stored, but it is recorded that he transferred volumes from the [[Great Wardrobe]] to Eltham Palace and that he had a yeoman "to kepe the king's bookes".{{Sfn|Thurley|1993|p=141}}{{Sfn|Harris|1830|p=125}} More than forty of his books survive intact from the 15th century, which suggests they were carefully stored, and are in the [[Royal manuscripts, British Library|Royal Collection of manuscripts]], held by the British Library.{{Sfn|Doyle|2011|p=69}} Edward spent large sums on [[Eltham Palace]], including the extant Great Hall, the site of a feast for 2,000 people in December 1482, shortly before his death in April.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eltham Palace and Gardens |url=https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/eltham-palace-and-gardens/history |website=English Heritage |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref> He also began great improvements to [[St George's Chapel, Windsor]], where he was buried in 1483; later completed by Henry VII, it was badly damaged during the [[First English Civil War]], and little of the original work remains.{{Sfn|Panton|2011|pp=431–432}}