Richard III hosted some amazing accomplishments that his Tudor image just doesn't jive with reality. It is because of Richard III that:
- The law of England was written in English (not Latin) - to be made accessible and understandable to all.
- Weights and Measures were standardized. A yard of cloth was the same length regardless of what merchant you went to.
- System of benevolences abolished -- no longer possible to buy your way into office. Richard wanted the best man for the job, regardless of birth or rank.
- Established a communication system that was the beginnings of the Postal System.
- Richard invented the system of bail. Richard did not want those accused of small crimes to be incarcerated for a lengthy time before their trial.
I think the most telling testimony on the character of Richard III can be made from the Records of the City of York. The Day AFTER the Battle of Bosworth was fought, and Richard is now dead, with Henry VII the new King, the members of the City Council voted to announce their great sorrow that Richard was "piteously slain" -- this was in effect, an act of defiance and treason against the new administration. I'll find the exact quote in a bit ...