of his Pillow was nothing so fierce next Morning but resolv'd to lay aside the thoughts of going himself and to send some body else To which purpose the Duke of Lancaster was nominated but so tedious in making Preparations that the Bishop in the mean time was glad to leave Graveling having first dismantled and destroyed it and so return'd home to England after a vast Treasure dissipated and many thousand Lives lost and more Souls cheated with as little Glory as he set forth with mighty Expectation the Success of his Armes being suitable to the ridiculous occasion of them And what was yet worse for the haughty Prelate soon after his coming home in a Parliament held at London about Alhallontide all his Temporalities were seized into the Kings hands for his Contempt in disobeying the Kings Writ when His Majesty sent to him to come back just as he was putting to Sea on this piece of Ecclesiastical Knight-Errantry and he refused to come as aforesaid In this Parliament also was granted to the King half a Fifteenth by the Laity and half a Tenth by the Clergy In the Year 1384 a Truce was made with France and the Duke of Lancaster and his Brother Thomas of Woodstock entred Scotland with a mighty Army but the Scots wholly declining to fight and many of the English being destroyed with Want and cold Weather they return'd making very small Advantages by that expensive Expedition Soon after which an Irish Carmelite Fryer made a discovery in Writing to the King of a Design the Duke of Lancaster had to destroy His Majesty and usurp the Crown but the King advising about the same only with certain young Favourites the Duke obtained notice of the Charge and cleared or seemed to clear himself so much to the Kings satisfaction that the poor Fryer was committed to Custody and 't is said on the Evening before the Hearing should have been was most cruely murdered Whose Information if real shews what aâ— Opportunity the King slipt of preventing his after misfortune and that some times it proves even more dangerous to discover Treasons than to act them which yet should discourage no good Subject from the discharge of his Duty But possibly this whole Accusation or the Relation of such a thing might be a Contrivance of the Duke's Enemies to render him suspected to the King and odious to the People for it 't is certain they entred not many Months after into a formal-Design against his Life the occasion whereof I do not find mentioned by Authors but only that the King by the Instigation of his young Cabal-Council had conceiv'd displeasure against him and that they had conspired to take away the said Duke's Life In order whereunto certain Crimes were suggested Appellors prepared and t was agreed that he should be suddenly Arrested and brought before the Lord Chief Justice Trysilian who had boldly untertaken to pronounce Sentence upon him according to the quality of the matters to be objected though by Law he could not be tryed but by his Peers and so Execution should immediately have followed But the Duke being fore warn'd of these Contrivances hastned to his Castle of Pomfret and there stood upon his Guard And the King's Mother considering the Dangers that would ensue such a Rupture took great pains by riding notwithstanding her Age and corpulency to and fro between the King and him to pacifie each side and at last brought them to such a Reconcilement that all appearance of Displeasure on the one part and Distrust on the other was for that time removed About the Feast of S. Martin was held a Parliament at London wherein the Earl of Nothumberland was Condemn'd for the loss of the Castle of Barwick Surprised by the Scots through the Treachery of one that he had put in there as his Deputy But the King after Judgment was pleased to Pardon him who went forthwith down and retook the said Castle In the Year 1385 the French made great Preparations for the Invading of England and to facilitate the Attempt by a Diversion â—end the Admiral of France with a considerable Force into Scotland the Common Back-door at which they were wont to Infest us Of which King Richard having notice raises a mighty Army and by speedy Marches pierces into the Heart of Scotland and reduc'd their chief City Edenburgh into Ashes as a Bonfire to give the whole Kingdom notice of his Arrival and Challenge them to Battel But they declined it and Victuals growing very scarce the King thought fit to return homewards the rather for that the Scots in the mean time had entred Nothumberland and besieg'd Carlile but hearing of the Kings approach fled back into Scotland During this Expedition the Lord John Holland the Kings Brother by the Mother side near York Killed the eldest Son of the Earl of Stafford for which he fled and the King was so highly incensed that he caused all his goods to be Confiscated the King's Mother interceded for him but could not be heard and resented the denial so heavily that soon after she died At a Parliament the latter end of this Year the Laity granted the King one Fifteenth and an half upon condition that the Clergy would give a Tenth and an half who took this Articulating of the Commons in grievous dudgeon protesting that the Laity should not Charge them and the Archbishop of Canterbury was so hot as to declare he would rather venture his Head in this Cause than that the Holy Church of England should thus Truckle whereupon the Commons and many of the Temporal Lords began to bid Battel to the Clergies Temporalities saying they were grown to that excess of Pride that it would be a Work of Piety and Charity to clip their Wings and reduce them to an Humility suitable to their Profession The Clergy at this were not a little Alarm'd and to prevent the worst make a voluntary offer of a Tenth to the King and so the Dispute is rock'd to sleep Also during this Parliament the King Conferred several Honours Creating his Uncle Thomas of Woodstock who before was Earl of Buckingham Duke of Gloucester and his other Uncle Edmund of Langley before the Earl of Cambridge Duke of York With whom too he prefer'd his pernicious Favorites as Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford to be Marquess of Dublin in Ireland the first man within the Realm that was Enobled with that Title and Sir Michael de la Pole the Son of a Merchant in London was made Earl of Suffolk and Lord Chancelor of England But these last grew in Hatred faster then they did in Honour the Ancient Nobility disdainfully resenting their undeserved as they deemed Advancement Nor were the People better satisfied but grumbled heavily for they durst not speak out against these Court Ear-wigs as Seducers of the King and occasion of all misadministrations of Affairs In this Parliament likewise the Duke of Lancaster desired Leave of the King Lords and Commons to go into Spain
without lessening or delaying the same And that they do not presume to require pretend or claim any other Liberties or Priviledges than what they reasonably had before the said Tumults And that all such as have any of Our said Letters of Manumission and Pardon in their Custody shall immediately bring and restore the same to Us and our Council to be Cancelled upon the Faith and Allegiance in which to Us they are bound and upon pain of forfeiting All that to Us they can forfeit for the future In testimony whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent Witness Our Self at Chelmsford the Second Day of July in the Fifth Year of Our Reign By this Revocation all Pretensions of pleading a Pardon being cut off procedings were next made against the principal Offenders several of them being convicted before the Mayor and beheaded as John Straw John Kickby Alane Tradder and John Sterling which last boasted that he was the man that slew the Archbishop Also Sir Robert Tresilian Chief Justice was impowr'd by special Commission to judge others of the Rebels before whom in sundry places above Fifteen hundred were found Guilty and put to death and amongst them the before mentioned Incendiary Ball the Priest who being taken at Coventry was brought before the King at S. Albanâ— and theâ—e drawn hang'd and quartered During these Uproars the Duke of Lancaster very happily for the preservation of his Person against whom the Commons had so great a spite was gone into the North against the Scots but having Tidings of the Insurrection thought fit to clap up a Truce for Two years which he got ratified upon Oath some days before the Scots had any notice of the Troubles in England but conceiving himself in danger for the general though false report was that the King to pacifie the Rebels had consented to abandon him to their pleasure when ever they could seize him and having receiceived some Affronts in that distress from the Earl of Northumberland he desired of the Scots a safe Conduct and to reside for a time amongst them who honourably entertain'd him till he was sent for by the King and then a new cause of grudge hapned between him and the Earl of Northumberland for in his return he was denied passage through the Town of Barwick by the Captain Sir Matthew Redman by vertue of a Command from the said Earl Lord Warden of the Marches not to suffer any from Scotland to enter the same which indeed the King had specially ordered forgetting the Dukes being then in that Kingdom However this bred such an Animosity in the Duke against the Earl that being come home he charged him with several things which the Earl as stoutly answered and great numbers of armed men followed each of them but the King taking their Differences into his own haâ—ds workt a Reconciliation About All-hallontide began a Parliament but had not accomplisht any thing of moment before they were adjourn'd till after Christmas by reason of the arrival of the new Queen Sister of Wyncelaus King of Bohemia and elected Emperor an Alliance of some honour but little profit to the Realm she being followed with a multitude of insatiate Bohemians who by the Kings facility drain'd abundance of Wealth out of the Kingdom It was observed that as soon as ever she set foot on shore at Dover an horrible Storm arose at Sea which so tossed the Ships in the Harbour that the same which her Majesty came in was immediately dasht to pieces which some then lookt upon as Ominous presaging Tempests of State to follow her 1382. The Nuptial Solemnities which were very splendid and costly being over the Parliament meets again to begin the New Year in which several wholsom Laws were ordain'd as to admit Merchant-strangers freely to sell their Merchandizes here to regulate Excesses in in the Apparel of inferiour people to settle the price of Wines and many other matters But what saith our Author Thomas Walsingham condemning such Practices signifie Acts of Parliaments when after they are made they take no effect or are nothing regarded for the King with his Privy Council took upon them to alter or wholly seâ— aside all things that by general consent had in Parliament been established Of the truth whereof there were too many unhappy Instances as amongst the rest in this very Parliament upon the request of the Lords and Commons Sir R. Scroop was by the King appointed Lord Chancellor as being a Person of known Judgment Learning and inflexible Integrity but within few Months he was turn'd out of that Office which he had laudably and prudently administred meerly because to do the King faithful Service he had displeased some of his unworthy Mâ—nors the Relation of which I shall set down in Walsinghams own Words Edmund Mortimer Earl of March and several other Lords being lately dead certain greedy and ambitious Knights and Squires and others of inferior Rank that were Servants to the King had begged of him Grants of divers Lands and Lordships lately belonging to the deceased that they might have the profits thereof for so long time as the King by the Custom of the Realm was to hold them in his Hands which the King not minding the value nor considering any reason they had to desire or merit to deserve such Revenues presently consents to ordering them to the Chancellor to have their Grants confirm'd under the great Seal but the prudent and honest Chancellor who zealously desired the prosperity of the Kingdom and just profit of the King absolutely refused to do it telling them the King was much in debt and 't was most necessary he should reserve such Contingencies to himself therewith in part to satisfy his Creditors and that since they well knew such the Kings urgent occasions they could be no good Subjects to his Majesty that consulting their own advantages more than his service and preferring private lucre before publick necessities should go about to circumvent and further impoverish him by such prejudicial Requests from which they should do well to desist and be content with his Majesties former Largesses which were sufficient for them Nettled with this repulse these Courtiers resort back to the King grievously complaining of the Chancellors Obstinacy that he contemned his Majesties Command and that it concerned his Majesty suddenly and with due severity to Chastise such an affronted disobedience for otherwise the Royal Authority would become contemptible to all his People and his Command be accounted of no value c. The young King therefore more regarding the false suggestions of these self-designing flatterers than the faithful allegations and advice of his Chancellor sends in his fury messengers to demand the Seal of him but the Chancellor would deliver it to no hands but the Kings To whom having surrendered it he was pleased to retain it for many days in his own Custody Sealing Grants therewith himself c. Till at length the keeping of it was conferr'd
pretence of seeing him take Shipping but in truth that being there remote they might more securely consult how to circumvent and destroy the Duke of Gloucester the Earls of Arundel Warwick Derby Nottingham and other faithful Subjects of the Kingdom For there were with the King Michael de la Pole Tresylian the Chief Justice and many others that were conscious of their own Deserts and feared to be brought to Justice as well as the said Duke of Ireland and therefore readily conspired with him against the Lords Having thus laid their Plot and agreed the manner of putting it in execution back comes the King to Nottingham and as if Ireland's Voyage had been quite forgot brings him and the rest of the Cabal with him Thither they summon divers Citizens of London the Sheriffs of the several Counties and all the Judges of England The Londoners because several of them having lately confessed themselves guilty of Treason had been pardoned by the King were call'd that in return of that Favour they might accuse the Lords of such Crimes as the King with his Counsellors in Wales and contrived against them The Sheriffs were advised with what Forces they could raise for the Kings Service against the Barons and also commanded that they should not permit any to be returned as Knights of the Shire or Burgesses for the next Parliament but such as the King and his Council should direct or nominate To which the Sheriffs reply'd That the Commons generally favoured the said Lords so that it was not in their power to raise an Army in this Case and as for Parliament-men the People would hold their ancient Customs which require that they be freely chosen by the Commons Nor could the same be hindered These Answers were not very agreeable to the Court-designes But the Judges were more compliant for not onely Tresylian the Chief Justice had about the same time indicted two thousand persons at Coventry and he and John Blake an Apprentice of the Law perused and approved under their Seals the Indictment against the Lords but also the better to colour Proceedings with a Form of Law several Questions were propounded to them touching the late Act of Parliament giving the fourteen Lords power to inspect and punish miscarriages of the Kings Ministers as aforesaid To the end as modern Author observes That what the Duke of Ireland and the rest thought fit might pass for Law out of the Judges mouths the Questions being so fram'd and propos'd as it was easier to understand what the King would have to be Law than what in truth was so For it seems they proceeded against their Consciences in that several of them and particularly Belknapp Chief Justice of the Common Pleas did as Knyghton Col. 2694. assures us very earnestly refuse to signe the Resolutions till Ireland and de Pole forced him to it by threatning him to kill him if he refused Whereupon having put to his Seal he burst forth into these words before them Now want I nothing but a Ship or a nimble Horse or an Halter to bring me to that death I deserve If I had not done this I should have been kill'd by your hands and now I have gratified the Kings pleasure and yours in doing it I have well deserv'd to die for Treason against the Nobles of the Land Which last words were like to have prov'd fatally Prophetick for not long after in the next Parliament he was indeed condemned to die though not executed for the same Some Authors say That all the Judges of England except William Skipwith absent by reason of sickness joyn'd in answering these Questions which seems probable because they were afterwards all question'd and punish'd for the same yet in the Record there are but five named possibly the others might consent though only these set their Seals to it The Questions so proposed to the Judges and their Answers were as follow BE it remembered That on the 25th day of August in the 11th year of the Reign of King Richard the Second at the Castle of Nottingham before our said Lord the King Robert Tresylian Chief Justice of England and Robert Belknappe Chief Justice of the Common Bench of our said Lord the King John Holt Roger Fulthorp and William de Burgh Knights Justices and Associates of the said Rob. Belknappe and John de Lokton the Kings Serjeant at Law in the presence of the Lords and other Witnesses under written were personally required by our said Lord the King on the Faith and Allegiance wherein to him the said King they are bound to answer faithfully unto certain Questions here-under specified and to them then and there truly recited and upon the same to declare the Law according to their discretion Viz. 1. Imprimis It was demanded of them Whether that new Statute and Ordination and Commission made and published in the last Parliament held at Westminster be not derogatory to the Royalty and Prerogative of our said Lord the King To which they unanimously answered That the same are derogatory thereunto especially because they were against his will 2. Quaery of them How those are to be punished who procured that Statute and Commission To which they unanimously answered That they were to be punished with Death except the King would pardon them 3. Quaery of them How those are to be punished who moved the King to consent to the making of the said Statute Whereunto they answered with one accord That they ought to lose their Lives unless his Majesty would pardon them 4. It was askt them What punishment they deserved who compell'd streightned or necessitated the King to consent to the making of the said Statute and Commission To which they all answered That they ought to suffer as Traytors 5. Quaery of them How those are to be punished who hindered the King from exercising those things which appertain to his Royalty and Prerogative To which Question they unanimously answered That they are to be punished as Traytors 6. Quaery of them Whether after in a Parliament assembled the Affairs of the Kingdom and the cause of calling that Parliament are by the Kings Command declared and certain Articles limited by the King upon which the Lords and Commons in that Parliament ought to proceed if yet the said Lords and Commons will proceed altogether upon other Articles and Affairs and not at all upon those limited and proposed to them by the King until the King shall have first answered them upon the Articles and Matters so by them started and express'd although the Kings Command be to the contrary whether in such case the King ought not to have the Governance of the Parliament and effectually over-rule them so as that they ought to proceed first on the Matters proposed by the King or whether on the contrary the Lords and Commons ought first to have the Kings Answer upon their Proposals before they proceeded further To which Question they answered unanimously that the King in that behalf his
Statute and Commission and great prejudice of the King and Realm 20. Item The said Malefactors and Traytors after they had Estranged both the Person and good will of the King from the said Lords so Commissioned and that he esteem'd them Traytors and Enemies and that they had obtain'd the Opinions of the Judges suited to their wicked purposes did agree and design That several of the said Lords and also divers Loyal Commons should be first Arrested and then Indicted in London and in Middlesex and by false Inquests Attainted of certain Treasons falsly imagined against them and so put to shameful Death To which purpose they had procured an evil and false person of their Conspiracy called Thomas Vsk to be Vnder-Sheriff by whose means the said false Inquests were to be taken and the wicked Design accomplished by colour of Law And for the more compleat effecting thereof they caused the King to send his Letters of Credence by John Rypon a false Clerk and one of their Crâ—w directed to the Mayor of London That he should seize the said Duke of Gloucester and others therein named to be Indicted for certain Treasons in such manner as the said Nicholas Brember the false Knight and John Blake who were thereof fully informed should direct By vertue of which Letters of Credence Brember and Blake carried to the Mayor the said false Indictment commanding him on behalf of the King that to his power he should promote the same And also they ordered that a strong Watch should be set to seize my Lord Duke of Lancaster upon his first Arrival 21. Item The said Traytors having trayterously informed the King that he should believe that the said Ordination Statute and Commission were made in derogation of his Royalty and Prerogative did further perswade him that the same was made with an intention to degrade and finally to depose our Lord the King And perceiving that thereby he lookt upon his Loyal Lords as Traytors and Enemies They yet further advised Him that by all means possible as well by the power of his own Liege People as by the force of his Enemies the French and others he should destroy and put to death the said Lords and others that assented to the making of the said Ordinance and that the same might be done so privily that none should know of it till it was done 22. Item In order to these Treasons by their Counsels they caused the King to send Letters to his Enemy the French King some by Nicholas Southwell Groom of his Chamber and others by other persons of base condition as well Aliens as Denizons requiring and praying the said French King that he would with all his Power and Counsel Aid and assist our Lord the King to destroy and put to Death the said Lords and others whom they had so falsly represented as Traytors to the great Disturbance of the whole Realm 23. Item That usurping to themselves Royal Power they caused the King to promise the French King by his Letters Patents and Messages for such his Assistance to accomplish the said Treason and Murder to give and surrender to the said French King the Town and Castle of Calice and divers other Forts and Places as Brest Chirburgh and others c. to the great dishonour trouble and prejudice of the Realm 24. Item That after this trayterous Contrivance it was agreed between our Lord the King and the French King by the instigation and influence of these Traytors that a Parley or Interview should be had in the Marches of Calice and a Truce of five years between the Realms of England and France At which Interview by Treachery the said Lords and others whom the King took for Traytors attending him thither should there by Treachery be slain In order to which they procured several Letters of safe Conduct from the said French King for the said Duke of Ireland's going into France to accomplish this ill purpose and Treason which Letters are ready to be shewn 25. Item That the said Brember by the Assent and Counsel of the said other Traytors did come into London and without the Assent or knowledge of the King did cause all the Companies of the City to be sworn to hold and perform divers Matters as they are contained in the said Oath which is of Record in Chancery And amongst other things That they should hold with and maintain the Will and purpose of the King to their power against all that are or shall be Rebels or contrary to his Person or Royal pleasure And that they should be ready to destroy all those which do or shall purpose Treason against our said Lord the King in any manner and be ready with their Mayor to resist during life all such Traytors c. At which time the King by the Mis-information of the said Evil-doers and Traytors and by the false Answers of the Justices did firmly hold the said Lords and others who assented to the making of the said Ordinances Statute and Commission to be Rebels Traytors and Enemies unto him By all which the said Traytors endeavoured to stir up the said People of London to destroy the said Lords and other Loyal Subjects 26. Item The said Brember and other Traytors to the King and Realm usurping to themselves Royal Power Did of their own Authority without any Warrant from the King or his great Council cause Proclamation to be made through the City of London That none of the Liege Subjects of our Lord the King should Sustain Comfort or Aid Richard Earl of Arundel and Surrey one of the Lords of the Kings Great Council during the said Commission nor sell him any Armour Victuals or other Necessaries on pain of being preceeded against as Rebels carrying about and shewing a Patent of the Kings but of another Tenor the better to compass such their false Proclamation 27. Item They also caused it to be Cryed and Proclaimed in the said City of London That no person should be so hardy as to presume to speak any ill or utter any word or expression against them the said Malefactors and Traytors or any of them on pain of forfeiting all they had Which was an Encroachment on the Royal Power 8. Item The said Archbishop Chief Justice and other Traytors caused the King to command his Council to make certain persons throughout England Sheriffs who were named or recommended to him by them the said Traytors with an intent to get such persons as they should name returned for Knights of the Shire to serve in Parliament And to keep out from thence Gentlemen good and loyal against the good Laws and Customs of the Land 29. Item The said Traytors during the time that the King had so taken both Parties into His Protection as aforesaid did falsly counsel and prevail with the King to command by His Letters divers Knights and Squires Sheriffs and other Ministers of several Counties to Levy Men and assemble all their Power to joyn with the said Duke
Captive he shew'd them his man that waited on him for the brave Spaniard had that regard to his Word which he had passed that he scorn'd to discover himself without his leave but on the contrary had all along both in the Sanctuary and in the Tower faithfully and submissively serv'd him in disguise neglecting both his Quality and Interest when they stood in competition with his Honour a piece of Gallantry and generous Honesty scarce to be parallel'd in Story About the Feast of S. Luke a Parliament was held at Glocester with an intent as was thought to have alipp'd the Wings of the Towering Church-men but finding their Interest too strong nothing of that kind was offered but for the Kings further supply it was granted that he should have of the Merchants for every Sack of Wool Exported a Mark and for every Twenty shillings of Wares or Merchandizes whatsoever Imported from beyound the Seas Six pence to be paid by the Buyer 1379. The next year another Parliament was called at London where the Priviledges of the Sanctuary at Westminster were regulated for whereas before great numbers of Persons when they were got in Debt would shelter themselves and waste in Revelling and Debauchery their Revenues which could not be touched for their just Debts to the grievous prejudice of their Creditors it was now Ordained That if upon Proclamation made they should not surrender themselves them their Goods should be sold and their Lands extended where-ever found till their Debts satisfied There was also a new Tax granted but because the Commons were already much impoverisht it was laid only on the Nobility Gentry and Clergy by way of Poll Viz. Dukes and Archbishops Ten Marks apiece every Earl Bishop and Mitred Abbot Six Marks besides each Abbot to pay Forty Pence per Head for all his Monks and so Justices Sheriffs Knights Esquires Rectors Vicars and even down to simple Chaplains every one his Allotment This Summer there was a most dreadful Pestilence in England especially in the Northern parts insomuch that whole Families were swept away Nay Towns and Villages left without Inhabitants During the Heat of which Calamity the Scots took their Advantage to enter the Land and committed great Spoils in small Parties but durst not stay for fear of the Infection and yet as our Author relates they had got a wonderful Preservative against it for asking some English the reason of so great a Mortality amongst them and being told it came by the Grace of God they therefore every Morning with great solemnity used this Charm or if any body will call it so Prayer God and Saint Mango Saint Roman and Saint Andrew shield us this day from God's Grace and the foul Death that English men die upon 1380. The next Year in Jan. the Parliament was again Assembled at London and continued till March wherein to avoid unnecessary Charge it was agreed that the Tutelage of the King should be committed but to one and by unanimous consent Thomas Beuchamp Earl of Warwick was pitch'd upon for the Man an Honourable allowance being assign'd to him out of the Royal Exchequer for his pains and care therein to be taken but the Young King though a Minor as to the Publick Affairs thought himself of Age sufficient at least to conduct himself in his private and personal concerns for though for want of ripening experience his Wisdom had not time to Bud yet his Will was grown to full Strength being already Plunged in the Gulf of pleasure and Vanities of Youth he set himself to Promote such as most pleased him with Flatteries rather than such as were truly qualified to serve him with solid Council and able conduct whence arose Three fatal mischiefs for First his Affairs were indiscreetly managed and without success by reason unfit Ministers were imploy'd about them Secondly debauchery was increased First in the Court and next throughout the Kingdom for many of the Young Nobility observing the secret favours and distastes of the King studying in all things to gratifie his pleasure gave up themselves to dissolute and dishonourable courses which ill precedents descended like an Infection amongst the Gentry and Commonalty for Vice always finds too many followers even when it hath no incouragers but much more doth it increase when flusht with Great Examples and made the Scale or perferment And lastly the King by thus misplaceing his favours impaired the Veneration due to Majesty became Cheap in the Eyes of his Subjects and less respected for it is almost as dangerous to a Prince to have evil and despised Favourites and Adherents as to be evil or despicable himself In this Parliament was granted a Tenth from the Clergy and a Fifteenth from the Laiety but on condition that from thence which was March 1380. to Michaelmas 1381. there should be no more Parliaments that is no more Money rais'd This Summer the King and Council sent a strong Army to assist the Duke of Bretaigne under the Command of his Unckle Thomas of Woodstock Sir Thomas Peircy c. who landing at Calice forced their passage through the Body of France leading their Troops to and fro and laying the Countrey waste at their pleasure without any resistance till they came to the Borders of Bretaign where they were joyfully received but the very Terror of their March had disposed the French to an accomodation so that they made peace with the Duke of Bretaign whereupon our Army without any other advantages but those of Renown and Glory returned home Notwithstanding it was agreed in the last Parliament to the contrary yet by the too great prevalency of some Counsellors a Parliament against the will and consent of almost all the Great Men of the Land was this same Year about the Feast of S. Martin which is Novemb. 10th Conven'd at Northampton a place most unfit for such an Assembly as well for that it was Winter and scarce any Fewel for Firing there to be procured as also because it afforded not Lodgings enow to entertain those that should have resorted thither but perhaps so much the more fit for the design of the small Politicians for here they got past a very severe Tax or Poll bill Whereby every Priest Secular or Religious was to pay a Noble and every Nun as much and every Man and Woman Married or unmarried being of the age of Sixteen years Twelve Pence Beggars onely excepted the paying whereof was esteem'd very grievous by the People especially of the poorer sort And that which aggravated their misery was that when it came into the Exchequer it was so handled by those imploied about it that it amounted not to so much as some former Taxes which were given in less proportion whereupon some of the Kings Ministers complained that it had not been duly Collected and one John Legg and three of his Associates obtained a Commission to inspect and review the Levy bargaining to give the King a great Sum of Money for the same But indeed on
where finding but cold Entertainment he went to Vtrecht and after two or three years rambling up and down as a Fugitive died at Lovâ—â—n in Brabant Though his War-horse and Armour being found on the Brink of the River raised a general Report that he was Drown'd which probably might facilitate his escape Amongst his Baggage was taken a very considerable sum of Gold and what was of greater value the Kings Letters ordering his present Repair to London and promising to live and die with him against all Opposers But this Disaster Thunder-struck the whole Cabal The Earl of Suffolk in disguise flies to Calice where his own Brother being Governour of the Castle refused to harbour him without the consent of the Lord William Beauchamp Governour of the Town who return'd him back as a Prisoner into England to the King But the King not onely let him go at large but sent for over and for some time Committed the said Beauchamp for such his honest diligence The rather 't is supposed because he had formerly for the Kings Interest thwarted his pleasure for on the late Bargains and private Intrigues with France King Richard having as aforesaid sold Calice to the French King sent a Knight with Letters under his Privy-Signet commanding Beauchamp to deliver up the Town to him and one Sir John Golofre with other Letters to the French King but he knowing the vast Importance of the place and believing the King imposed upon by wicked Councel resolutely answered That the Custody and Government of the Town was committed to him in the Presence and by the Authority of the King and the Nobles of the Realm openly and publickly and he would not surrender it in Hugger-mugger nor part with his Command but in their presence And also he took Golofre's Letters to the French King from him and privately transmitted them to the Duke of Gloucester For which Affronts fronts the King waited an opportunity to be reveng'd and had proceeded 't is thought more severely but that the said Beauchamp was a person extreamly beloved and the King was not at present in a condition to use rigours and so by the Mediation of Friends he was quickly discharg'd The rest of the hated Faction as the Archbishop of York Justice Tresylian and others ran every man like Coneys to their Covert and were not to be heard of Nay the King betook himself to the Tower of London and there made Provision for his Winter-Quarters all his Designes being frustrated first by Rashness in taking Arms and afterwards by Cowardise in using them And to adde to his Confusion about the same time an Envoy from the French King was taken with Letters whereby the French King Licens'd King Richard the Duke of Ireland and some others with Attendants to such a number to come into Boloign where he would be ready to receive them with great Pomp and from them receive the Possession of Calice and other strong Holds for which he had says Walsingham fol. 332. already paid King Richard The Lords therefore perceiving such considerable Territories ready to be lost abroad as well as Extravagancies practised at home hasten'd their March first to S. Albans and next to London where with an Army of Forty thousand men they Arrived on S. Stephen's day the Citizens furnishing them with Victuals and whether more out of Fear or Love I cannot say offered to let them into the City but they chose rather to quarter in the Suburbs proâ—â—sting not to depart without personal Conference with the King which at last he granted permitting them first to search the Tower to prevent any Surprize The Duke and Earls then waited upon him and after a few cold Complements laid before him the Confederacy against their Lives at Nottingham his Letters to the Duke of Ireland contrary to his Royal Word together with his dishonourable Treaty to deliver up Calice to the French King c. The King heard them at first with silence and patience and afterwards with a dejected Countenance and not without some Tears seemed to acknowledge that he could neither deny or justifie what they complain'd of and certainly the Stomachs of the Lords must needs more Relent to those luke-warm drops than they would to his greatest violence So agreed it was that he would meet them next day at Westminster there to treat of these and other necessary Affairs of the Realm But no sooner were they gone but some Abusers of the Royal Ear suggested that his going thither would be neither Honourable nor safe but bring both his Person into present danger and contempt and occasion a future Abridgment of his Authority Whereupon the Kings Mind turned and began to Retract his promise This heated the Lords so much that being flusht with opportunity and power they sent him peremptory word That if he did thus faulter with them and would not appear to Consult the good of the Realm they would take other measures Intimating no less than the Election of another This so work'd upon the King that he was pleased to meet them and to consent though not without some Reluctancy that several of his Minions should be banisht the Court as Nevil Archbishop of York the Bishop of Durham Friar Rushok the Kings Confessor and Bishop of Chichester but both he and York had already shewed them a fair pair of Heels The Lords Souch Harmyworth Burnel and Beamont and several Knights as Sir Alberick Vere Sir Balwyne Bereford Sir John Worth Sir Thomas Clifford Sir John Lovel c. Together with certain Ladies Quae non tantum inutiles sed infames Who were saith Walsingham not only unnecessary useless and unprofitable at Court but likewise scandalous and infamous And these were the Lady Mowen the Lady de Molyng and the Lady Ponyngs Wife to the said Sir John Worth who all were obliged to appear next Parliament There were likewise actually taken into Custody Sir Simon Burley Sir Thomas Trivet Sir Nicholas Brember and divers other Knights Clifford Lincoln and Motford Clerks John Beauchamp de Holt the Kings Steward or Privy-Purse Nicholas Lake Dean of the Chappel and John Blake Barrister at Law who were all disposed in several Castles After Candlemas 1388 the Parliament began at London though the King used many means to dash or defer the same The Lords came attended with sufficient Strength to suppress any Rebelliâ—n or Tumult that might happen and continâ—â—d their Sitting till Whitsuntide to the great Fear of some Hope of others and Expectation of all Part of their first Work was for several days to Summon the Duke of Ireland the Archbishop of York Michael de Pole Earl of Suffolk Tresylian the Chief-Justice and Sir Nicholas Brember Citizen of London to answer to the Treasons wherewith they stood charged but none of them appearing they were all Out-law'd and their Lands and Goods forfeited and seized into the Kings hands with a provision by common consent in Parliament that they should never be pardon'd or permitted to appear
now been Six Weeks in England and the whole Land in effect had submitted to him during all which time there was no news of King Richard whether it were that by reason of contrary Winds he had no Intelligence as some write or that on the first advice he slighted it according to the Humour of some weak Spirits who contemn dangers remote but are astonished at them when they approach too nigh However at last upon certain news in what an hazardous condition his affairs stood he caused the Sons of the Dukes of Glocester and Lancaster to be imprisoned in Trim Castle and determined forthwith for England but the Duke of Aumerle his Principal Counsellor perswaded him to stay till all his preparations were ready Which fatal Council it was King Richard's ill Destiny to follow yet presently sent over the Earl of Salisbury to raise him an Army in Wales and Cheshire against his own coming which he solemnly promised should be withing six days at furthest The Earl imployed his pains so well that he had soon gotten together Forty thousand men but the six days and more being elaps'd and the King not appearing made them murmur and suspect he was dead or come to some disaster but the Earl perswaded them to have patience some few days longer which being likwise expired and no tidings of him they then in discontent broke up and retired to their respective homes At length eighteen days after he had sent away the Earl the King took Shipping attended with Aumerl Exeter Surry the Bishop of London Exeter and Carlile and others of the Nobility and landed in Wales having about him a Competent number of Cheshire men But when he understood that the other Forces he expected to joyn with him were baulk'd and disbanded that most of his Fortresses from Scotland to Bristol had surrendred to Lancaster that the Londoners espoused his Interest that the greatest number of the Nobility and Commons almost in general took part with him and especially that his principal Councellors had lost their Heads at Bristol he was so far from retaining the Magnanimity of a King that he almost left off to be a Man and totally abandoned himself to despair Perplext in uncertainties either where to stay or whither to stir destitute both of Knowledge and Resolution in himself for such amazing Difficulties and obnoxious to weak wavering and unfaithful Counsels from others some advised him to march further into the Land before those Forces he had fell from him alledging that Fortune seconds Valour That in all places he should find some who out of duty or affection or for hire would follow his Standard which was illustrated with Majesty and guarded with Right Others perswaded him to go back into Ireland or over to his Father-in-law of France and thence to return when the Paroxism was a little over and himself better strengthned But the King unacquainted with Marshal Affairs rejected both Counsels and taking a middle course which always in Extreams of that kind is the worst resolved to stay in Wales to attend to what Head this Humour would rise His Souldiers Endeavourd to encourage him to venture a Battel vowing they would live and die with him but this could not at all raise his drooping Spirits but in the Night he stole away from his Army and with the Dukes of Exeter and Surry The Bishop of Carlile Sir Stephen Scroop and half a score more retired to the Castle of Conway where the Earl of Worcester Steward of His Majesties Houshold seeing his Masters Affairs in that desperate state or to revenge the Proclaiming of his Brother the Earl of Northumberland Traytor as before was mentioned at the Kings going for Ireland did openly in the Hall before all the Kings Servants break his white Staff of Office and forthwith repaired to the Duke of Lancaster and the rest of the Royal Retinue by his Example scattered and shifted every one for himself Such Court-flies and treacherous Attendants being but like Crows to a dead Carcass who flock to it not to defend it but to devour it for no sooner have they pickt off the flesh to the bones and find no more sustenance but they are upon the wing to be gone The Duke of Lancaster upon Advice of King Richards Arrival out of Ireland left the Duke of York who was now joyned with him at Bristol and marched in the Head of his Troops to Glocester then to Ross afterwards to Hereford where repaired to him the Bishop of that See and Sir Edmund Mortimer on the Sunday following he went to Leymster and there the Lord Carleton came to him from thence he went to Ludlow and the next day to Shrewsbury and thither came to him Sir Robert and Sir John Leigh and other persons of quality being sent from Chester to offer him their Service as also the Lord Scales and the Lord Bardolph out of Ireland From Shrewsbury he repaired to Chester where he dispatcht an Express into Ireland to fetch over his Son and Heir and likewise the Duke of Glocester's Son and Heir both whom King Richard had left in Custody there but it seems their Keepers durst no longer detain them after Lancaster commanded them thence for his Son soon after arrived here but the other young Gentleman was unfortunately cast away at Sea About this time the King seeing himself so beset and straitned that he could neither Resist nor Escape desired a Conference with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Earl of Northumberland from whose Negotiation he could certainly hope for little good since the one he had formerly banisht and proclaimed the other a Traytor however they upon safe Conduct coming to him declared That if it might please his Majesty to promise that a Parliament should be Assembled and in the same Justice done and the Duke of Lancaster and his followers receive a General Pardon since what they had done was for the publick Weal of the Realm the Duke would be ready to cast himself at his feet and as an humble Subject obey him in all dutiful Services But the King whether perceiving that all this was but Complement and thinking more to oblige them by an early Voluntary offer of what he saw he must be forc'd to part with or whether confounded in himself he grew weary of wearing a Crown that he was not able to support required only that himself and eight more whom he would name might have an honourable Allowance with Assurance of a private quiet Life and then he would Resign the Crown which was readily condescended unto and the King also desiring to speak with the Duke was removed to Flint Castle Soon after the Duke arriving there with his Army the Archbishop of Canterbury the Duke of Aumerle and the Earl of Worcester were sent before to the King who spying them from the Walls where he stood went down to meet them and observing that they did their accustomed Reverence to him upon their knees courteously took them up