Simon of Sudbury Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of England Robert Hales Prior of the Hospital and Treasurer of England he the before-mentioned John Legg and and John a Minorite being a Crony of Lancaster's and 3 others all which 7 last they forthwith Beheaded carrying their Heads on Poles as in Triumph And now being heated with both Wine and Blood they march to the Savoy and burn the Duke of Lancaster's stately Palace the best House in England with all its rich Furniture to Ashes breaking in pieces all his Plate and Jewels of inestimable value and flinging them into the Thames and when one of their Fellows was spy'd to thrust a piece of Plate into his Bosom they presently flung it and him into the fire to be destroy'd together saying They came not like Thieves to enrich themselves But of Liquors they were not so scrupulous for two and thirty of them being got ito the Dukes Wine-Cellar Tippled so long till the Rafters of the House on fire fell down and stopt the passage that they could not get out but were heard to cry seven days after and so perished From the Savoy they came back to the Temple and burnt the Lawyers Lodgings Books Papers and all Records they could meet with The house of S. John's by Smithfield they set fire to so that it burnt seven days Nor had they any regard to Churches but forc'd out such as fled thither for Sanctuary and Beheaded them for they used no other manner of Execution to high or low That Night wearied with spoil and generally Drunk they lay sleeping like Swine in the open Streets and under the Walls and the next day being routed together again the King with a small Guard coming to Smithfield offered a Pardon to all such as yet after all these Outrages would cease from the like for the future and go quickly home Whereupon Wat Tyler declared That he was for Peace very willingly provided it were on such Terms as he should approve of Therefore to understand what he would have one Sir John Newton is sent to Invite and desire for so they were glad in that Juncture of Affairs to compliment his Sawciness Wat to come and Treat thereof with the King and when the Knight urged him to make haste he answered with some Indignation If thou art in such haste go back to thy Master the King I 'le come when I see mine own time However he soon followed him on Horse back but slowly for the greater State and being come near the King the same Knight was commanded to go to him and receive and bring back his Proposals Tyler offended because this Messenger came to him mounted told him it became him to alight from his Horse in his Presence and therewith drew out his Dagger to strike him But the King to pacifie him made him alight The Demands which Tyler made besides a general Enfranchisement of the Bond men which the King had already granted were That all Warrens Parks and Chases should be made common and free to all so that as well the Poor as the Rich should have liberty to Fish Fowl and Hunt in all places throughout the Kingdom with several other the like extravagant Demands In which Tyler behaved himself so insolently that the Kings Attendants could not but represent to his Majesty that it was insufferable and the before celebrated John Philpot according to his usual Courage told the King That if his Majesty would but command his Lieutenant viz. The Mayor to Arrest the Traytor he would lose his Life if it were not happily accomplisht Whereupon the King was prevailed with to give such a Command or rather leave to William Walworth then Mayor of London who waiting an Opportunity and observing Tyler to play with his Dagger tossing it from hand to hand as if he meant some mischief and that at last to what intent is not known whether out of rudeness or design he laid one of his hands upon the Kings Bridle fearing the Ruffian might attempt his Royal Person instantly executed his Arrest by giving him a Blow on his Head with a Dagger which was seconded with Philpot's Sword and anothers in his Body so that immediately he fell down dead on the ground When the Rabble saw this they began furiously to cry out O our Captain is slain our Captain is murdered Let 's revenge the Death of our Captain c. But the King with a Courage and Ingenuity beyond any thing could be expected from his Years for he was not yet above Fifteen Clapt Spurs to his Horse and rod to the Head of them crying aloud What mean you my Men Or what do you do Will you shoot your King You shall have no cause to grieve for the Death of that Traytor and Ribauld I that am the King will be your Captain and your Leader Follow me into the Field and you shall have whatever you will Upon which words amaz'd and not certainly resolv'd either of one anothers minds nor indeed each man of his own they followed awhile till Sir Richard Knolls with a Thousand armed men raised in the mean time by the Mayor came upon them out of the City at whose approach being now headless and all in confusion they were so terrifi'd that they forthwith flung down what Arms they had and begg'd for Mercy which the King granted and withal gave them a Charter of Freedom in form as before recited but proclaim'd that no Citizen should have any Correspondence with any of them nor suffer them to come within the Liberties And so this dreadful rout from the height of Insolence was in a moment scattered and reduced to the depth of misery and fear sneaking back by stealth into the Country many in their passage slain or perishing for want and multitudes of them soon after Executed For this good Service the King upon the place conferr'd the Honour of Knighthood upon the said John Walworth Mayor and John Philpot as likewise on Nichol. Brembre John Land and Nicholas Twyford Citizens of London And in memory of so Honourable an Exploit perform'd by the Mayor the Dagger hath 't is said ever since that time been added in the City-Arms which before bore only the Cross. But though things were thus appeas'd at London there was still no less Hurley-burley in several Counties At St. Albans they committed many Out-rages and Cancell'd the Ancient Charter of the Abbot and Monks In Suffolk there were swarm'd together Fifty thousand Villains under the Conduct of one John Straw a lewd Priest who beheaded Sir John Cavendish Lord Chief Justice of England and â—et his Head on the Pillory in S. Edmundsbury The like Commotions also there were at the same time in Norfolk Cambridge-shire and the Isle of Ely at the Instigation of one Littester a Dyer who called himself King of the Commons and forc'd several Lords and Persons of Quality to be sworn to them and ride along with them to countenance their Proceedings but these were for
themselves appear more like those Savages which they were to represent had got on strait Garments close to their Bodies cover'd over with Tâ—we which was fixt on with Rosin and Pitch to make it stick the faster Now when they were busie in the midst of their Dance by Torch-light a Villain suborn'd by the Duke clapt a Flambeau amongst them as if done by Accident whereby in an instant the Tow and other Combustibles took fire but a Lady seeing the danger snatcht away the King before the flames seiz'd him whilst Four of the other Maskers notwithstanding all the help imaginable was used were immediately burnt to Death In England the Lord Tho. Pierey is made the King's Steward and Sir William Scroop Chamberlain a Person saith our Author than whom in all Mankind there could not be found one more wicked or cruel The year following 1394 was chiefly remarkable for Funerals First the Dutchess of Lancaster Daughter to the King of Castile was snatcht away then the Countess of Derby her Daughter-in-Law next Queen Anne her self whose Obsequies were magnificently and at vast Expences Celebrated by the King and soon after died Isabella Dutchess of York Nor was Death onely content to Triumph over the Ladies but also mowed down the Noble Sir John Hawkwood a Knight whose Valour had rendred him Famous in many foreign Nations and no less dear to his own About August issâ—ed a Proclamation throughout England That all the Irish should forthwith return home and wait the Kings coming thither at Lady-day next following on pain of death And indeed it was but time to send them packing for such multitudes were come over in hopes of gain that they had left the English Pale in Ireland almost quite desolate So that the natural wilde Irish not yet Conquer'd taking thereby an advantage destroy'd or pillaged the few Subjects the King of England had remaining there at their pleasure And whereas King Edward the Third when he settled his Courts of Justice c. in that Country received from thence to his Exchequer Thirty thousand pounds per annum the same by reason of the want of Inhabitants was not only lost but on the contrary the King forc'd to be out of Pocket Thirty thousand Marks every year in the necessary defence of his Territories there Effectually to redress which the King in Person about Michaelmas sail'd into Ireland attended with the Duke of Glocester the Earls of March Nottingham Rutland c. The Irish unable to Cope with so great a Force endeavoured onely to weary him with Alarms Ambuscades and Skirmishes but at last divers of their petty Princes were glad to submit to King Richard of whom some he kept as Hostages for security others he dismist upon Parole And for the better settlement of Affairs Assembled a Parliament for Ireland at Dublin and continued in that Kingdom till after Easter In the mean time Anno 1395 the Duke of York Guardian of England during the Kings absence called a Parliament at London eight days after Twelfth-tide unto which was sent from Ireland the Duke of Gloucester who so zealously represented the Kings Necessities by reason of the vast Expence he had been at in this necessary and no less advantageous than honourable Expedition into Ireland that the Clergy were content to present his Majesty with a Tenth and the Commonalty with a Fifteenth But not without a Protestation first made That they were not bound to grant the same De stricto jure but did it purely out of their Affection to their King The Lollards so call'd as Tritemius says from Walter Lollard a German who flourisht about the year 1315. Or as others think from Lolium signifying Darnel or Tares for being Followers and Disciples of Wickeliff the Clergy and especially the Monks and Fryars were not wanting to brand them with ill Names and reputed them as the Tares sown by the evil One in the Field of Gods Church did about this time publickly affix on the Doors of S. Paul's Church Accusations of the Clergy charging them with sundry Abominations and also divers Conclusions touching Ecclesiastical Persons and the Sacraments of the Church At which the Bishops were much disturb'd and according to their usual Method instead of clearing themselves and confuting their Adversaries by Scripture or Reason endeavoured to silence them by Club-law dispatching away the Archbishop of York and Bishop of London into Ireland to the King intreating him to hasten his return to succour Faith and Holy Church that were both like to be undone by the Hereticks who were contriving how to take away the Possessions of the whole Church and overthrow all the Canonical Sanctions Upon this News back comes the King from Ireland and takes several of the Chief Favourites of the Lollards to task threatning most terribly if they shew'd them any Countenance for the future But the Hereticks were not the onely Afflicters of the Clergy at this time but Birds of their own Nests began to pluck their feathers too for William Archbishop of Canterbury got a Bull from the Pope Impowering him to levy throughout all the Diocesses of his Province Four pence in the pound of all Ecclesiastical Goods and Revenues as well of those Exempt as not Exempt and this without so much as pretending any true or lawful Cause for the same However the Execution of this Bull being committed unto the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of London though many of the inferiour Clergy grumbled not a little and complained thereof as unreasonable yet they were generally forced to submit unto it Anno Domini 1396 the Duke of Lancaster to whom the King had given the Dutchy of Aquitain and who had been at inestimable Charges in those Parts to Conciliate to himself the Affections of the Inhabitants no sooner had obtained the same but he was suddenly recall'd from thence by the Kings Command To which though it seemed no less hard than unexpected the Duke paid a punctual Obedience and was received if not with love yet at least with a shew of honour by the King from whom having obtain'd License to depart the Court he hastened to Lincoln and there to the admiration of all the World by reason of the disparity of their Qualities was married to Katherine Swinford who for divers years before had been his Mistress This year also the Pope wrote to the King intreating him to assist the Prelates of the Church in the Cause of God and of him the said King and his Kingdom against the Lollards whom he declared to be Traytors not onely to the Church but likewise to the King and therefore did most earnestly press him That whomsoever the Bishops should declare to be Hereticks he would forthwith Condemn by his Royal Authority But it seems the King was too busie otherwise to attend his Holiness's Commands and to do his Prelates drudgery in butchering of Hereticks for he was making mighty Preparations for a Voyage not of War but of Galiantry into France where
should submit to the disproportionate force of the Invader But these Triumphs cost King Richard dear in the sequel for whilst he is thus engaged and absent from his discontented Kingdom of England the Duke of Lancaster thinks it the only proper time to put in execution what he and others his Confederates had been consulting of Wherefore dispatching some of his trusty Emissaries over to acquaint his Friends and provide Arms and all necessaries for his Arrival He addresses himself to the French King with a Complement That he intended to pay a Visit to his Kinsman John Duke of Britain and therefore desired his Majesties Royal Letters of safe Conduct which being granted he there very privately levied a few Souldiers with whom hiring three Ships of the Duke of Britain he put to Sea for England accompanied with the forementioned Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury Tho. Heir to Richard late Earl of Arundel the Lord Cobham Sir Thomas Erpington and Sir Thomas Ramstone Knights John Norbury Robert Waterton and Francis Coynt Esquires having not in all above twenty Lances and his whole Retinue besides consisting not of above sixty persons so that 't is hard to judge which was the greatest wonder that he durst attempt or that he did succeed in the Conquest of a Kingdom with so inconsiderable a Company But his Confidence was not so much in the People he brought with him as in the strength he should find here relying altogether on the favour and assistance of the people of the Realm whom he knew to be generally male-contented and eager to change their present Governours for any that would but promise them a Melioration of their Condition for the future Yet being wary not to push things on beyound Possibility of a Retreat As he did not presently Land but lay cruising up and down sometimes appearing on one Coast and sometimes on another that he might the better discover how the Inclinations of the people stood and what Forces were ready either to receive or resist him till at last being satisfied therein he put on shore without any opposition about the biginning of June at Ravenspurre in Yorkshire So did he not then make any pretensions to the Crown but gave out very solemnly that he came only to regain possession of the Dutchy of Lancaster and the rest of his lawful Inheritance which all the Nation knew was wrongfully detained from him and so were the more ready to pity and favour him in a Cause notoriously just and against which there was no objection His Arrival was no sooner known but there repaired to him the Lords Willoughby Ross Darcy and Beaumout and shorly after at Doncaster the Earl of Northumberland and his Son Sir Henry Piercy with the Earl of Westmorland and great numbers of the Gentry and common people Intelligence hereof being soon conveied to the Duke of York the Kings eldest Uncle and with whom during his absence he had intrusted the Governance of the Realm He calls together the Bishop of Chichester Lord Chancellor Scroop Earl of Wiltshire Lord Treasurer Sir John Bushy Sir Henry Green Sir William Bagot and Sir John Russel chief Favourites of the Kings Privy Council to consult what was to be done in this Exigency of Affairs Amongst whom whether designedly by some or ignorantly by others I cannot say but I am sure by all perniciously for King Richards Interest It was concluded to abandon London and appoint the Rendezvous for levying Forces against the Duke at S. Albans But when the people out of sundry Counties were drawn thither to be mustered they declared They would not act any thing to the prejudice of the said Duke who they affirmed was unjustly expelled his Country and unlawfully kept from his Inheritance This Refusal of the Commons to serve being looked upon as a very ill Omen to the Kings Cause The Earl of Wiltshire Sir John Bushy Sir William Bagot and Sir Henry Green forsook the Duke of York and fled to Bristol intending to pass the Seas into Ireland to the King And time it was especially for them to take their Heels for these Four were those that were said to have taken of the King his Kingdom to Farm and on that account and other Greivances and Oppressions which they had occasioned were become so odious to the People that their very presence turned away many of the Subjects hearts from their Soveraign it being the displeasure against them rather than any disatisfaction to the Kings Person that caused this general Revolt The Duke of York seeing their flight and the Humour of the Generality favouring Lancaster and loath to run the adventure of an improbable Resistance gave over the Cause and thereupou the rest of the Counsellors either openly declared for the said Duke or secretly held Correspondence with hm resolving to swim with the general Torrent in hopes of greater safety thereby than by stemming that impetuous Tide which bore down all before it For never did Snow-ball encrease so fast by rolling as the Duke of Lancaster's Forces were augmented by his March so that they were quickly grown sixty thousand strong and he resolving to â—ollow the Channel whilst the Current was fierce hastned with his Troops to London that possessing himself thereof being the chief place within the Kingdom for Strength and Store he might best there make the Seat of War and be easiest accommodated both with Provision and Ammunition In his whole March no Opposition was seen no Hostility shewn but all along Gentlemen of the best quality out of Affection or Fear or hope of Reward resorted to his Tents and where ever he stayed rich Presents were mad him and his Army supplyed with necessaries even to superfluity and particularly at London he was received with Triumphant Pageants and Shews solemn Processions of the Clergy and loud Acclamations of the People But he was more regardful of his Affairs than to stay long there and therefore having fix'd the Citizens firm to his Interest and knowing all the danger that could threaten him must be from King Richard's return out of Ireland To obviate that and overtake the fugitive Favourites who were fled to Bristol he with speedy Marches pursued them thither where finding the Castle fortified against him he assaults it so briskly that in Four daies time he forc'd it to a surrender and taking therein the Earl of Wiltshire Lord Treasurer Sir John Bushy and Sir Henry Green he the very next day Sacrificed them to the importunate rage of the incensed People causing them all Three to be beheaded But as for Sir William Bagot he was got to Chester and from thence shifting over into Ireland alone escaped the present vengeance This Execution if it had not been just must yet be accounted Politick for partly because it was so grateful to the People and partly because it excluded all hope of the Kings Pardon It became a great ingagement to all the Dukes followers to adhere more firmly to him for the future The Duke had
in any kind lose his Archbishoprick And this he faithfully promised swearing upon the Cross of the late Martyr S. Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury by him the said King corporally touched all which promises notwithstanding the said King forced the said Archbishop to depart the Realm And forthwith transmitted special Letters to the Apostolical See to have him Translated And so and by other Frauds and deceitful Tricks of the said King the said Archbishop being a well-meaning believing man was subtily circumvented AND because it seemed to all the Estates of the Realm being asked their Judgments thereupon as well severally as jointly That these causes of Crimes and Defaults were sufficient and notorious to depose the said King Considering also his own Confession of his insufficiency and other things contained in his said Renunciation and Cession openly delivered all the said States did unanimously consent that ex abundanti that they should proceed unto a Deposition of the said King for the great security and tranquillity of the People and benefit of the Kingdom Whereupon the said States and Commons unanimously constituted and publickly deputed certain Commissioners viz. The Bishop of S Asaph the Abbot of Glassenbury the Earl of Glocester the Lord Berkley Sir Thomas Erpyngham and Sir Shomas Grey Knights and William Thirnyng one of the Justices to pass such sentence of Deposition And to depose the said King Richard from all Kingly dignity Majesty and Honour on the behalf and in the name and by the Authority of all the said States as in like Cases from the Antient Custom of the said Kingdom had been observed And forthwith the said Commissioners taking upon themselves the burthen of the said Commission and sitting on a Tribunal before the said Royal Chair of State having first had some debate of the matter did on the behalf and in the name and by the authority aforesaid pass the said Sentence of Deposition being reduced into writing and caused such their Sentence to be read and recited by the said Bishop ef S. Asaph their Collegue by the Will and Command of the rest of the said Commissioners In these words IN the Name of God Amen We John Bishop of Asaph John Abbot of Glassenbury Thomas Earl of Glocester Thomas Lord Berkley Thomas de Erpingham and Thomas Gray Knights and William Thirnyng Justice Commissioners specially deputed to the matters under written by the Peers and Lords Spiritual and Temporal of the Kingdom of England and the Commons of the said Kingdom Representing all Estates or Conditions of the said Realm sitting in Tribunal and having considered the multiplyed Perjuries Cruelty and very many other Crimes of the said Richard touching his government conmitted and perpetrated in his Kingdomes and Dominions aforesaid during the time of his Governance and before the said States openly and publickly propounded exhibited and recited Which have been and are so publick notorious manifest and scandalous that they could not nor can be concealed with denial or excuse And considering likewise the confession of the said Richard acknowledging and reputing and truly and of his own certain knowledge judging himself to have been and to be utterly insufficient and unmeet for the rule and Government of the said Kingdoms and Dominions and their Appurtenances and for such his notorious demerits worthy to be deposed as by him the said Richard was before declared and by his Will and Command published before the said States and made known and exposed to them in the vulgar Tongue having already had diligent deliberation upon these things and all others transacted in this Affair before the said States and us We do on the behalf and in the name and by the Authority to us in this matter committed ex abundanti and for Caution Pronounce decree and declare him the said Richard to have been and to be unfit unable and utterly in sufficient for and unworthy of the Rule and Government of the said Kingdoms and the Dominion and Rights and Appurtenances of the same and for any by reason of the Premisses to be deservedly deposed of and from all Royal Dignity and Honour if any thing of such Dignity and Honour were yet remaining in him And with the same Caution we do Depose him by this our deffinitive sentence in writing Expresly forbiding all and singular the Lords Archbishops Bishops and Prelates Dukes Marquesses Earls Barons Knights Vassals and Valvassors and other Subjects and Leige people of tbe said Kingdoms and Dominion and other places to the said Kingdoms and Dominion belonging that henceforth none of them shall any way obey or Regard the said Richard as King or Lord of the said Kingdom and Dominion Furthermore the said States willing that nothing should be wanting which might be of value or ought to be required touching the Premisses being severally interrogated thereupon did constitute the same Persons that were before nominated Commissioners to be their Procurators joyntly and severally to resign and give back to the said King Richard the Homage and Fealty to him before made and to intimate to him if it should be requisite all the Premises touching such his Deposition and Renunciation And then presently as soon as it appeared by the Premises and the occasion of them That the Crown of England with its Appurtenances was vacant the aforesaid Henry Duke of Lancaster rising up from his place and standing so erected as he might conveniently be seen by the People and humbly fortifying himself with the Sign of the Cross on his Forehead and on his Breast having also first called upon the name of Christ did claim the said Kingdom so vacant as aforesaid with its Crown and all its Members and Appurtenances In this form of words in his Mother Tongue IN the name of Fader Son and Holy Gost I Henry of Lancaster chalenge this Rewine of Yndlonde and the Croun with all the Members and the Appurtenances al 's I that am descendit be Right Line of the Blode comyng fro the Gude Lord King Henry Therde and thorghe that right that God of eis Grace hath sent mee with helpe of my Kyn and of my Frendes to recover it The which Rewme was in poynt to be ondone for defaut of Governance and undoyng of the Gude Lawes After which Claim and Challenge as well the Lords Spiritual as Temporal and all the States 〈◊〉 present being severally and joyntly interrogated what they thought of that Claim The said 〈◊〉 with the whole People without any difficulty or delay did unanimoâ—sly consent that the said Duke should Reign over them And forthwith as the said King shewed to the States of the Kingdom the Signet of King Richard delivered to him as a token of his will that he should succeed him as aforesaid the said Archbishop taking the said King Henry by the Right Hand led him to the Royal Chair of State And after the said King kneeling down before it had prayed a little while the said Archbishop of Canterbury assisted by the Archbishop of York did
to free the Nation from all Invasions and Pyracies wherewith it was lamentably infested and to perform other very advantageous Services for the Publick Whereupon he obtained an Order for the same notwithstanding the Proviso in the Act so impossible it is de facto to bind up the Hands of Power But though some Naval Preparations were made yet little was effected to repel or prevent those Injuries and Depredations which the Nation suffered by Sea from the French on the one side and the Scottish Pickaroons on the other so that by the common neglect of securing the Coasts and scowring the Seas our Merchants durst not Traffick abroad for fear of Pyrates who hovered in every Corner but especially of one Mercer a bold and potent Scottish Rover who having drawn together a considerable Fleet of French Scots and Spaniards daily committed insufferable Outrages spoiling all they met Hereupon the said Alderman Philpot first complained of these Grievances to the Kings Council humbly Remonstrating the Damages sustained and imploring Redress But receiving from them only fair Promises and no Relief full of grief and disdain to see his Country-men thus devoured by those insolent Water-vermin He at length Provided Victualled and Man'd forth at his own proper Costs and Charges a competent Fleet of tall Ships himself in person putting forth with them to Sea where he soon encountred the Pyrates took the said Mercer destroyed his Ships and recovered most of the Prizes formerly taken with Fifteen Spanish Bottoms well fraught with Riches besides many French and Scottish Ships and so return'd with Triumph and the general Acclamations of the People But Envy is always the Attendant of extraordinary Vertue instead of Thanks or Reward several of the Nobles from whom he seemed to have snatcht by this his fortunate Attempt the Glory of that Service which their Country justly though in vain expected from them passed harsh Censures on his forwardness and particularly the Earl of Stafford called him in question at the Council-Table for presuming being but a private man for to levy Arms and equip a Fleet without Authority But Philpot with a prudent Gallantry composed of an undaunted Innocency and an humble Merit gave such a justifiable Account of the Act as satisfied the Board or at least silenc'd his Accusers For thus in particular to that Lord he is said to have answered I would have your Honour undoubtedly know that I did not adventure my Money my Person and my Men to the dangers of the Sea and hazards of War with any design to Rob your Lordship and your Collegues of the Glory of Chivalry or Fame of Military Atchievements and gain it to my self But condoling the losses of my fellow Citizens and misery of my Country which by your sloth from a most noble Kingdom giving Laws to all her Neighbours is sunk into so deplored a state as to ly open to the Insolencies and Pillagings of the vilest of Nations and men whilst yet not one of you lent a hand her defence I freely exposed my self and mine for her deliverance and the publick safety to which the Earl had nothing to reply About the same time viz. in the Second Year of the King there happened a Fray which not so much for the importance of the Quarrel as a rare Example of Fidelity and honesty attending it I cannot but Relate Though even the thing it self in those ignorantly zealous times wanted not its ill Influence on the Publick and the Monkish Historians cry out about it as Tragically as if Heaven and Earth were ingag'd all Christianity at Stake and the Pillars of Religion in danger The business thus Two valiant Squires Robert Haule and John Schakel in the late Wars in Spain under Prince Edward chanc'd to take the Count de Dena a Spanish Don of great Quality and Estate who was fairly by the Law of Arms adjudg'd their Prisoner and brought into England where he left his Eldest Son with them as a Pledge whilst he went home to raise his ransome the Son swearing to continue with them till it came but the Father being got into Spain never regarded to send the Money but in little time dies whereby the Honour and Estate devolves to the Young Hostage which being understood by King Edward for in his days happened this first part of the Story both he and Prince Edward's Son were very importunate with these two Gentlemen to release the Spanish Cavaleir which they desired either in favour to the Duke of Lancaster who thought by the help of this Nobleman to faciliate his pretentions to the Crown of Castile or else with an intent to Match him to Mathilda Relict of the Lord Courtney the Kings Sister but no matter what their Design was the Squires were so far from parting with him that they would not discover where he was and so were sent to the Tower whence making their escape they took Sanctuary in Westminster Abbey and there continued till now the Duke of Lancaster resolved to ferret them out to which purpose Fifty men at Arms were sent thither who entring the Sanctuary put a trick upon John Schakel and soon got him out and hurried him to the Tower but as for Haule he was more strongly Ensconc'd in the Church amongst the Monks and at Mass however thither they went and after a little expostulation why he would so refractorily disobey the Kings Command when even Majesty had condescended to a request they tell him he must go with them which he peremtorily refuses and draws a short Sword and makes at them whereupon they resolve to force him away who still making resistance was at last knockt on the Head amongst them which our Author calls Crown'd with Martyrdom the Monks would fain have rescued him but drust not because they saw the Souldiers too strong for them however the Archbishop of Canterbury presently thundred out an Excommunication against these Violaters of the Sanctuary and all their abettors the King and his Mother and his Uncle Lancaster only excepted And the Bishop of London did the like for several days together but about a Year after by the mediation of divers grave and venerable Persons the matter was composed on these terms that the said Schakel who was so sent to the Tower should discover and deliver up the said Count de Dena aud so be set at liberty upon consideration that the King should settle upon him Lands to the value of an Hundred Marks per annum and pay him down Five hundred Marks ready Money in lieu of the expected Ransom and also that his Majesty for satisfaction to the Church should at his proper Charges erect a Chauntry of Five Priests for ever to pray for the Soul of him whom his Officers had so slain though one would have thought dying in their Opinion a Martyr he might have had no great need of such everlasting Orisons But still the more surprizing Intrigue of the Tragedy is behind when Schakel came to produce his
first or more strangely quash'd at last oâ— prov'd more fatal to the undertakers or to the said late deposed King Richard we must refer to the Reader 's censure For in short so it was Tâ—at the Duke of Aameric riding towards Oxford 〈◊〉 joyn the rest of his Associates at their pretendâ—◠〈◊〉 calling by the way on his Father the Duâ—◠〈◊〉 York and having in his bosom an Indenture containing the Heads of the Conspiracy mutually Sign'd and Seal'd by the principal Agents therein the old Duke happening to spy it as they sat at Dinner ask'd what it was And the Son in some disorder answering that it no way concerned him the Father swore by St. George that he would see it and pluck'd it from him by which perceiving their Plot he upbraided his Son and told him he would presently acquaint King Henry But Aumerle got out of the House and rode with such speed that he got to Windsor where the Court then was before his Father and begging the King's Pardon first of all discover'd the whole Intrigue himself The King provides for his own safety retires to London and the Conspirators perceiving the business had taken Air prompted on by despair betook themselves to Arms and having with them one Maudlin a Priest that very much resembled King Richard they attired him in Royal Robes and gave out that he was King Richard escaped out of Prison By which Fiction they drew together a considerable Army and such as might have shockt King Henry's scarce-well-setled Crown had not Fortune always his Friend scattered them in a moment by the most unexpected accident in the World For their Troops being encamped near Cicester and the Duke of Surrey and the Earl of Salisbury taking their Quarters within the Town at one end and the Duke of Exeter and the Earl of Glocester in another The Bayliff of the Town I am sorry his Name is not recorded for a stout brave fellow no doubt he was that durst attack such mighty Peers that had so numerous an Army within a Mile or two of the Town understanding that they were in Rebellion against the King gathering a Company of Townsmen in the night assaulted the Inn where Surrey and Salisbury lay who after a long defence being in danger of being taken a Priest of their Party set divers Houses in the Town on Fire hoping thereby to divert the Assailants from prosecuting the Lords to save their Houses But this enflam'd them the more so hotly they pursued the Skirmish that they slew the said two Noblemen and cut off their Heads In the mean time from the other Inn Exeter fled to his Camp intending to bring the whole Army to rescue his Friends But the Soldiers having heard a Clamour and seeing the Town on Fire imagined King Henry had been come with all his Forces and so in a pannick fear fled and dispersed themselves and the said Duke of Exeter having skulk'd up and down for some time was taken and Beheaded at Plashey in Essex The very place where by his Council and Contrivance the Duke of Glocester had been apprehended and sent away to Calâ—ce to be murdered Though King Richard being all this while a Prisoner cannot be supposed to have much hand in this Insurrection yet being undertaken for his sake it might possibly hasten his End He was now remov'd from Leeds to Pomâ—ract Castle and as we know not the certain time of his Death so likewise is the manner of it variously reported Some write That he was every day serv'd in with abundance of costly Dishes but not suffered to touch or tast one of them and so perished with Famine but such barbarous unnatural Cruelty seems wholly fabulous Others relate That King Henry having at Table been oveâ—heard to say with a sigh Have I never a Friend that will rid me of him whose Life will brâ—ed destruction to me and disquiet to the Realm One Sir â—ierce Exton taking this for a Warrant goes down to â—ontefract and first commanded his 〈…〉 to take the Essay of his Meat as formerly 〈◊〉 at which Richard being offended and being told 〈◊〉 was by K. Henry's Order said to his Squire The Devil take Henry of Lancaster thee together upon which Sir Pierce entered the Chamber with eight Armed Men which King Richard perceiving wrung the Bill out of the hands of the for most and slew four of them but was at last himself knock'd down by Sir Pierce with a Pole-Axe Which Relation likewise seems a little Romantick Walsingham tells us that after the Defeat of his Friends the Duke of Exeter c. finding all hopes of his Restoration destroyed he fell into such a sullen Melanchâ—ly that he would tast no Food and so voluntarily starved himself But which way soever he came by his End King Henry it seems was willing to let all the World know he was dead for his Body Embalm'd and covered with Lead all save the 〈◊〉 was brâ—ught to London where for three days together it was exposed at Paul's to publick view and then buried in the Church of Predicant Friars at Langley in Buckinghamshire But afterwards by King Henry the Fifth removed to Westminster and there honourably Eâ—tombed Yet some Scottish Historians affirm That he escaped out of Prison and led a 〈◊〉 and virtuous life in that Kingdom for divers years and lies buried as they say in the Black Friers at Sterling So different iâ— the 〈◊〉 of Fame touching this unhappy Prince's exit out of the World who lived therein about 3â— years and Reiâ—nâ—d 22 years and 3 months FINIS * See Doctor James of Oxford his Apology for Wickliff shewing his Conformity with the new Church of England Printed An. 1608. * That is only for offences against Gods Law * This is wrested to a worse sense than Wickliff intended * This is the same Calumny with the Fourth Heresie * Sir W. Ch. p. 247. Knyghton Col. 2701. Knyghton Col. 2698.