Cultural depictions of Richard III of England of Tudor England, Ben Jonson wrote a play about Richard entitled "Richard Crookback". His portrayal of the king is unknown, as it was never published. However, it is unlikely to have departed from the negative portrayal of Richard, and probably followed the same pattern as Jonson's only other tragedies, written at the same period, "Catiline His Conspiracy" and "Sejanus His Fall", both of which are about ruthless usurpers who finally receive just retribution. Several ballads about the battle of Bosworth also survive from this period, some of which may date back to the immediate aftermath of the battle. Perhaps the
Richard II of England Earl of Gloucester. With the forfeited lands of the convicted appellants, the king could reward these men with lands suited to their new ranks. A threat to Richard's authority still existed, however, in the form of the House of Lancaster, represented by John of Gaunt and his son Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford. The House of Lancaster not only possessed greater wealth than any other family in England, they were of royal descent and, as such, likely candidates to succeed the childless Richard. Discord broke out in the inner circles of court in December 1397, when Bolingbroke and Mowbray became