In Horace Walpole's "Historic Doubts on the Life and Reign of King Richard the Third," the author argues for a reassessment of historical figures often vilified by their contemporaries or by history itself. He questions why figures like Henry VIII or Charles II deserve vindication from misconceptions while Richard III, similarly accused, does not receive the same consideration.

This plea for fairness in historical judgment emphasizes the need to approach all historical characters with a sense of justice. Walpole invites readers to challenge the prevailing narratives and suggests that every figure, regardless of their reputation, merits a chance for rehabilitation in the eyes of history.