names of the rest On the other side the King thinking separate dealing the onely way to weaken a confederacy endeavoured to prevent the Lords in joyning of their forces and to that end hee sent a strength of men with charge either to set upon the Earle of Arundel where hee did lie or to intercept him in his passage towards the Duke But the Earle had travelled all the night before their comming and so happily escaped to Haringey parke where hee found the Duke and the other Earles with a sufficient company as well to make attempt as to stand upon resistance When the King heard hereof hee was disturbed and distracted in mind being now in choise either to relent or to resist whereof hee much disdained the one and distrusted the other His followers also was divided in Counsell some fretting at the disgrace and some fainting at the danger The Archbishop of Yorke perswaded the King that occasion was now offered to shew himselfe a King indeed if hee would muster a Royall army and by maine might beate downe the boldnesse of this presumption Nâ—hil dictu facilius said another This is more readily devised then done the army against us is mighty and the Commanders are great men both for courage and skill and greatly favoured of the Common people whereby that which is accompted so ready pay may chance to prove a desperate debt Therefore it were better with some yeelding to enter into conditions of quiet then by standing upon high points of honour to hazard the issue of a battaile wherein the King cannot winne without his weakning nor loose without danger of his undoing There was then in presence a certaine old Knight called Sir Hugh Linne a good souldier but a very mad-cap and one that lived chiefely upon the liberality of Noblemen by vaine jestes affecting the grace of a pleasant conceit of him the King demanded in mirth what hee thought best to bee done Sir Hugh swore swownes and snailes let us set upon them and kill every man and mothers child and so wee shall make riddance of the best friends you have in the Realme this giddy answer more weighed with the King then if it had beene spoken in grave and sober sort and thus it often happeneth that wisedome is the more sweetly swallowed when it is tempered with folly and earnest is the lesse offensive if it bee delivered in jest In the end the devise of raising armes was laid aside not as displeasing being so agreeable to former proceedings but as despairing to prevaile thereby and the Archbishop of Canterbury with the Bishop of Ely being Lord Chancellour were sent unto the Lords to understand the cause of their assembly answer was made that it was for the safety of themselves the honour of the King and the overthrow of them which sought the overthrow of both At the last it was concluded by mediation of the Bishops that the Lords should come before the King at Westminster upon promise of his protection and there have audience concerning their griefes the Bishop of Ely also making private saith that hee would discover any danger that hee could discrie a little before the time they should come the Bishop of Ely sent word of an await that was purposed to bee laid for them at a place called the Mewes neere London advising them either to make stay or to come prepared but rather to make stay least further provocation might make reconcilement more hard hereupon they came not at the time appointed and the King marvailing at their sailance enquired the cause of the Bishop of Ely who answered that the Lords found want of true meaning and that they neither did nor durst repose assurance to the Kings word which they saw to bee used as a meanes to entrap them the King made the matter very strange unto him affirming with an oath that hee was free from deceit both in consent and knowledge and in a great rage hee commanded the Sheriffes of London to goe to the place and slay all those whom they found there in wait Whether this was but a countenance of his or whether hee was not privy to the practice it is not assuredly knowne and indeed the matter was not false but the place mistaken for Sir Thomas Trivet and Sir Nicholas Brambre had assembled many armed men at Westminster with direction to assault the Lords at their best advantage but perceiving their deceit to bee discovered they dissolved the company and sent them secretly away to London Then the Lords upon new faith for their security came to the King at Westminster and yet in faith they brought security with them such troupes of men as in a place where they were so intirely favoured was able to defend them in any suddaine tumult or danger the King upon their comming entred into Westminster-Hall apparelled in his Royall robes and when hee was placed in his seat and had composed himselfe to Majesty and State the Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellour made a long Oration to the Lords in the Kings name Wherein hee declared the heinousnesse of their offence the greatnesse of their perill how easie a matter it had beene for the King to have levied a power sufficient to destroy them and yet for the generall spare of his Subjects bloud and in particular favour to the Duke and other Lords hee made choyce to encounter and overcome them rather by friendship then by force and therefore was willing not onely to pardon their riot but also to heare their griefes and in a peaceable and quiet manner to redresse them The Lords alleadged for causes of their taking armes first the necessity of their owne defence secondly the love both of the King and of the Realme whose fame and fortune did dayly decline by meanes of certaine Traytours who lived onely by the dishonours of the one and decayes of the other those whom thâ—y challenged for Traytours were Robert Veere Duke of Ireland Alexander Nevill Archbishop of Yorke Michael De-la-poole Earle of Suffolke Robert Trisilian Lord chiefe Iustice Sir Nicholas Brambre and certaine others somewhat secreter but nothing better and to justifie this appeale they threw downe their gloves and offered themselves to the triall by combat The King replied that oftentimes the causes of actions being good yet if the meanes want moderation and judgement the events prove pernitious and therefore though these complaints were true yet were these courses not tollerable which did beare an open face of rebellion and by licentiousnesse of the multitude might soone have sorted to such an end for it is more easie to raise the people then to rule them whose fury once stirred will commonly bee discharged some wayes But said hee since wee have broken this broile wee will not by combating give occasion of a new but at the next Parliament which hee appointed should beginne the third day of February then next ensuing as well you as they shall bee present and justice indifferently done unto all
In the meane time hee tooke all parties into his protection that none should endanger or endammage another desiring the Lords to beare in mind that as Princes must not rule without limitation so Subjects must use a meane in their liberty Then hee caused the Duke and the Earles which all this time kneeled before him to arise and went with them into his private Chamber where they talked a while and drunke familiarly together and afterwards with a most friendly farewell hee licensed them to depart They of the contrary faction were not present at this meeting and if they had it was thought that the presence of the King should little have protected them This act of the King was divers wayes taken some judged him fearefull others moderate rather in sparing the bloud of his Subjects The Lords were very joyfull of his good will and favour which as by base or bad meanes they would not seeke so being well gotten they did highly esteeme Yet they thought it the safest course not to separate themselves suspecting the mutability of the King and the malice of their enemies of whom they knew neither where they were nor what they did intend and being men of great wealth and great power and greatly bent to hurtfull practices they were feared not without a cause for the Duke of Ireland either by setting on or sufferance of the King was all this time mustering of Souldiers out of Châ—shire and Wales where hee gathered an army both for number and goodnesse of men sufficient if another had beene generall to have maintained the side When the Lords were advertised hereof they devided themselves and beset all the wayes by which the Duke should passe to London determining to encounter him before hee did increase his power and countenance his actions with the puissance or name of the King At the last hee was met by the Earle of Derby at a place called Babbelake neere to Burford and there the Earle put his men in array resolving with great boldnesse to hazard the battailâ— his Souldiers also were full of courage and heart disliking nothing more then delay as a loosing of time and a hinderance to the victory but the Duke being a man not fit for action yet mutinous and more apt to stirre strife then able to stint it upon newes of an enemy would presently have fled There was then in the army a principall Commander one Sir Thomas Molineux Constable of Châ—shire a man of great wealth and of good proofe in service upon whose leading all that Countrey did depend hee perswaded the Duke that this was but a part of the forces that were against them and led onely by the Earle of Derby a man of no speciall name at that time among the Lords and if they could not beare through that resistance it was but in vaine to attempt any great atchevement by armes Hereupon the Duke stayed his steps but his faint Spirits were moved by this speech rather to desire victory then to hope it his souldiers also were dull silent and sad and such as were readier to interpret then to execute the Captaines commandement So they joyned battell but scarce tenne ounces of bloud was lost on both sides before the Duke of Ireland set spurres to his horse and forsooke the field His souldiers seeing this threw away their unfortunate weaponâ— more for indignation then for feare ruffling their ranks and yeelding to the Earle the honour of the field Sir Thomas Molineux in flying away was forced to take a River which was neere and as hee was comming foorth againe a certaine Knight whose name was Sir Thomas Mortimer pulled off his helmet and stabbed him into the braines with his dagger The rest submitted themselves to the discretion of the Victorers making them Lords over their life and death but their yeelding was no sooner offered then it was accepted the Earle presently commanding that none should bee harmed but those that did make resistance or beare armour The souldiers also being willing to shew favour towards their Countrey-men as led into this action partly upon simplicity partly to accompany these which came upon feare Then the Gentlemen were still retained in the Earles company the common Souldiours were dispoiled of their armour onely and so returned againe to their peaceable businesse at home And this was the first act whereby reputation did rise to the side and the greatnesse beganne whereunto the Earle afterwards attained The Duke of Ireland at the beginning of his flight was desirous to have passed the River which ranne by and comming to a bridge hee found the same broken from thence hee posted to another bridge which hee found guarded with Archers At the last his fearefulnesse being feared away as nothing maketh men more desperate upon a doubtfull danger then feare of that which is certaine hee adventured to take the streame in the midst whereof hee forsooke his horse and swam to the other side and so by benefit of the night esâ—aped and flied into Scotland and shortly after passed the Seas into Flanders and from thence travelled into France where the continuall gall of his griefe soone brought his loathed life to an end His horse was taken with his brest-plate his helmet and his gauntlets whereupon it was generally supposed that hee was drowned and as in great uncertainties it often happeneth some affirmed that they saw his death which men either glad to heare or not curious to search did easily beleeve whether this were thus contrived of purpose or fell so out by chance it was a great meanes of his escape by staying the pursute after him which otherwise had beene made His coach also was taken and certaine of the Kings letters found wherein hee desired the Duke to come to London with all the speed and power hee could make and hee would bee ready to dy in his defence so unskilfull was hee in matter of government that to pleasure a few hee regarded not the discontentment of all the rest The Earle of Suffolke upon this accident shaved his beard and in base and disguised artire fled to Calis and either for feare or for shame never after returned into England he was a cruell spoiler and a carelesse spender in Warre contemptible in peace in-supportable an enemy to all Counsaile of others and in his owne conceit obstinately contentious of a good wit and ready speech both which hee abused to the cunning commending of himselfe and crafty depraving of others hee was lesse loved but better heard of the King then the Duke of Ireland the more hurtfull man and the more hatefull the Duke being charged with no great fault but onely the Kings excessive favour in their course of good and bad fortune both of them were famous alike Also the Archbishop of Yorke Iustice Trisilian and others of that faction ranne every man like connies to their covert Yea the King betooke himselfe to the Tower of London and there made provision for his Winter aboad having
a peace to exclude the King thereby from his possessions but whensoever occasion should change for their advantage they would bee then as ready to start from the friendship as at that present they were to strike it that the French Kings Daughter being but a child was very unmeet for the marriage of King Richard as well for disparity of age as for that the King had no issue by his first wife and was not like to have any by this except perhaps in his old and whithered yeares When the Duke saw that with these motives hee did nothing prevaile hee subordned the Londoners to make petition to the King that seeing there was peace with France hee would release them of the Subsidy which they had granted to him in regard of those warres This suite was instantly followed and much perplexed the King untill the Duke of Lancaster declared to the people that the King had beene at the charge and dispence of three hundred thousand pounds in his voyage into France for the procuring of this peace whereupon they were pacified and desisted from their demand The yeare following Guido Earle of Saint Pauls was sent into Englan by Charles King of France to visite and salute in his name King Richard and Queene Isabel his wife the French Kings Daughter To this Earle the King did relate with what fervency the Duke of Glocester contended to make disturbance of the peace betweene England and France how because his mind was not therein followed hee moved the people to seditious attempts bending himselfe wholly to maintaine discord and disquiet rather in his owne Countrey then not at all Hee further reported what stiffe strifes in former times the Duke had stirred which howsoever they were done yet as they were declared they sounded very odious and hard When the Earle heard this hee presently answered that the Duke was to dangerous a subject to bee permitted to live that greatnesse was never safe if it grow excessive and bold that the King must not affect the vaine commendation of clemency with his owne perill and that it touched him both in honour to revenge the disgraces which hee had received and in policy to prevent the dangers which hee had cause to feare These words so sharpened the Kings displeasure that from thenceforth hee busied his braines in no one thing more then how to bring the Duke to his end Now hee beganne to pry more narrowly into his demeanour to watch his words to observe actions and alwayes to interpret them to the worst framing himselfe to many vaine and needlesse feares Oftentimes hee would complaine of him to the Duke of Lancaster and the Duke of Yorke how fierce and violent hee was in his speeches and crosse to him in all matters The Dukes would make answer that the Duke of Glocester their brother was indeed more hot and vehement then they did commend yet his fiercenesse was joyned with faithfulnesse and his crossenesse proceeded from a care least the Common-wealth should decrease either in honour or in possessions and therefore the King had neither need to feare nor cause to dislike About that time the Dukes of Lancaster and of Yorke withdrew themselves from the Court to their private Houses the Duke of Glocester also went to ly at Plashey neere Chelmsford in Essex upon advantage of which seperation the King stood distracted in mind betweene feare to defer and shame to avow the destruction of the Duke least hee might happily bee disappointed by the one or dishonoured by the other Hereupon hee entred into counsaile with Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington his halfe brother and Thomas Mowbray Earle of Nottingham how the Duke of Glocester might be suppressed or oppressed rather the cruelty which was but wavering in the King yea wanting by nature was soone confirmed by evill advise and being once inclined to bloud hee did not faile either of examples of lewd action to follow or direction of cruell Counsaile what to doe so the plot was contrived and according thereto the King and the Earle of Nottingham rode together into Essex as though it were to disport themselves in hunting when they were in the midst of the Forrest the Earle made stay and the King passed forth with a small and unsuspitious company to the Duke lying at Plashey there hee stayed dinner and then pretending occasion of present returne hee desired the Duke to accompany him to London the faire intreaty of a Prince is a most forcible command therefore the Duke supposing that onely to bee inteâ—ded indeed which was pretended in shew went to horse-back with the King taking such small attendance as upon the sudden could bee in a readinesse and appointing the rest to come after him to London So they rode together using much familiar talke by the way untill they came neere the place of await then the King put his horse forward and the Duke comming behind was suddenly intercepted and stayed crying aloud and calling to the King for his helpe the King continued his journey as though hee had not heard and the Duke was violently carried to the Thamâ—s and tâ—ere shipped in a vessell layed for the purpose and from thence conveyed over to Calis When the King came to London hee caused the Earle of Warwick also to bee arrested and sent to prison the same day that hee had invited him to dinner and shewed good countenance and promised to bee a gracious Lord unto him Vpon the like dissembled shew the Earle of Arundel and his Sonne and certaine others were arrested also and committed to prison in the I le of Wight The common people upon the apprehending of these three Noblemen whom they chiefely and almost onely favoured were in a great confusion and tumult and there wanted but a head to draw them to sedition every man sorrowed murmured and threatned and daring no further stood waiting for one to lead them the way all being ready to follow that which any one was loath to beginne The Duke of Lancaster and of Yorke gathered a strong army and came therewith to London where they were readily received by the Citizens although the King had commanded the contrary but this seemed to bee done rather for guard to themselves then regard to any others The King all this time kept at a Village called Helhame within foure miles of London having about him a great power of armed men which hee had gathered out of Cheshire and Wales and to pacifie the common people hee caused to bee proclaimed that the Lords were not apprehended upon old displeasures but for offences lately committed for which they should bee appealed by order of Law and receive open triall in the Parliament next following the like message was sent to the Duke of Lancaster and the Duke of Yorke lying at London to whom the King made faith for the safety of their persons and indemnity of their goods and that nothing should bee attempted without their privity and advice all this was as
rashly believed as it was craftily given out whereupon the Dukes dissembled their feares and dissolved their forces and remained in expectancy what would ensue A little before the feast of Saint Michael the Parliament beganne at London wherein Sir Iohn Bushie Sir William Bagot and Sir Henry Greene were principall agents for the Kings purpose These were then in all the credites and authority with the King and his chiefest Schoole-masters both of cruelty and deceit they were proud arrogant and ambitious and upon confidence of the Kings favour professed enemies to men of ancient Nobility to the end that being lately start up they might become more famous by maintaining contention with great persons And first by their importuned travaile all the Charters of pardon granted by the King were in this Parliament annulled and revoked Then the Prelates did constitute Sir Henry Percie their Procuratour and departed the house because they might not bee present in judgement of bloud Lastly the Earle of Arundel and the Earle of Warwick were arraigned and for the same offences for which they had beene pardoned namely for encroaching to themselves Royall power in judging to death Simon Burly Iohn Berneis and others without the Kings consent were condemned to bee hanged drawne and quartered but the King so moderated the severity of this sentence that the Earle of Arundel was onely beheaded and the Earle of Warwick committed to perpetuall imprisonment in the I le of Man The Duke of Glocester was so greatly favoured that it was thought a point both of policy and peace not to bring him to his open answer but to put him to death secretly so hee was strangled under a feather bed at Calis by the Earle of Nottingham being then Earle Marshall which death howsoever he deserved yet dying as hee did not called nor heard he died as guiltlesse In this same Parliament Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury was also accused for executing the commission against Michael De-la-poole Earle of Suffolke for which cause his temporalties were seazed his lands and goods forfeited as well in use as in possessionâ— and hee himselfe was adjudged to exile and charged to depart the Realme within six weekes then next ensuing So hee went into France where afterwards hee became a principall meane of the revolt which followed Also the Lord Cobham was exiled into the I le of Gernsey and Sir Reinold Cobham was condemned to death not for entring into any attempt against the King but because he was appointed by the Lords to bee one of his Governours and of his Counsaile in the 11. yeare of his raigne Now the King falsely supposing that hee was free from all dangers and that the humour against him was cleane purged and spent conceived more secret contentment then hee would openly bewray as more able to dissemble his joy then conceale his feare being so blinded and bewitched with continuall custome of flatteries that hee perceived not that the state of a Prince is never stablished by cruelty and craft On the other side the Common people were much dismayed having now lost those whom they accompted their onely helpes and their onely hopes both for their private affaires and for supporting the state and because these mishaps happened unto them for maintaining a cause of common dislike the peoples stomack was stirred thereby to much hate and heart-burning against the King And to make their deaths the more odious the Earle of Arundel was reputed a Martyr and Pilgrimages were dayly made to the place of his buriall the rumour also was current but without either authour or ground that his head was miraculously fastened againe to his body this whilest all men affirmed and no man knew the King caused the corps to bee taken up and viewed tenne dayes after it was interred and finding the same to bee fabulous hee caused the ground to bee paved where the Earle was laid and all mention of his buriall to bee taken away forbidding publikely any such speeches of him afterwards to bee used But this restraint raised the more and they who if it had bin lawfull would have said nothing being once forbidden could not forbeare to talke It was also constantly reported that the King was much disquieted in his dreames with the Earle who did often seeme to appeare unto him in so terrible and truculent manner that breaking his fearefull sleepe hee would curse the time that ever hee knew him In the one and twenty yeare of the raigne of King Richard Henry Earle of Darby was created Duke of Hereford at which time the King created foure other Dukes to wit Duke of Aumerle who was before Earle of Rutland Duke of Southrey who was before Earle of Kent Duke of Excester who was before Earle of Huntington and Duke of Norfolke who was before Earle of Nottingham This degree of honour long time after the conquest of the Normans whose chiefest Rulers had no higher title was accompted too great for a subject to beare the fourme of the Common-wealth being framed by the Victours farre from equality of all and yet the King excepted without eminency of any At the length King Edward the third created his eldest Sonne Edward Duke of Cornâ—wall and made this honour hereditary conferring it unto many since which time divers Princes of his land have beene either put or kept or hazarded from their estate by men of that quality and degree The King likewise created the Countesse of Norfolke Dutchesse of Norfolke the Earle of Sommerset Marquesse of Sommerset the Lord Spencer Earle of Glocester the Lord Nevill Earle of Westmerland the Lord Scroupe Earle of Wiltshire and the Lord Thomas Darcy his Steward Earle of Worcester Among these hee made division of a great part of the lands of the Duke of Glocester and of the Earles of Arundel and Warwick supposing by this double liberality of honour and possessions to have purchased to himselfe most firme friendships but bought friends for the most part are seldome either satisfied or sure and like certaine Ravens in Arabia so long as they are full doe yeeld a pleasant voice but being empty doe make a horrible cry Now the Duke of Hereford raised his desires together with his dignities and either upon disdaine at the undeserved favour and advancement of some persons about the King or upon dislike that the King was so dishonourably both abused and abased by them or else perhaps upon desire to manifest his owne sufficiencie in matters of controulement and direction being in familiar discourse with Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke hee brake into complaint how the King regarded not the Noble Princes of his bloud and Peeres of the Realme and by extremities used to some discouraged the rest from intermedling in any publique affaires how instead of these hee was wholly governed by certaine new-found and new-fangled favorites vulgar in birth corrupt in qualities â—aving no sufficiency either of councell for peace or of courage for warre who being of all men the most unhonest
in his stead these are not all and yet enough to cleare this action of rarenesse in other Countries and novelty in our The difficulty indeed is somewhat because the excellency is great but they that are afraid of every bush shall never take the bird and your selfe had once some triall hereof when without battaile without bloud or blowes you had the King at such a lift as hee held his Crowne at your courtesie even at that time when his grievances were neither for greatnesse nor continuance so intollerable as now they are growne and by reason of his tender yeares not out of all compasse both of excuse for the fault and of hope for amendment And as concerning the lawfulnesse Nay said the Duke where necessity doth inforce it is superfluous to use speech either of easinesse or of lawfulnesse necessity will beate thorow brasen walles and can bee limited by no lawes I have felt very deeply my part in these calamities and I would you knew with what griefe I have beheld yours for what other reward have I received of all my travailes and services but the death of my Vncle dearest friends my owne banishment the imprisonment of my Children and losse of my inheritance and what have beene returned to you for your bloud so often shed in his unfortunate warres but continuall tributes scourges gallowes and slavery I have made sufficient proofe both of patience in my owne miseries and of pitty in yours remedy them hitherto I could not If now I can I will not refuse to sustaine that part which your importunity doth impose upon mee if wee prevaile we shall recover againe our liberty if we loose our State shall bee worse then now it is and since we must needs perish either deservingly or without cause it is more honourable to put our selves upon the adventure either to winne our lives or to dye for desert and although our lives were safe which indeed are not yet to abandon the State and sleepe still in this slavery were a point of negligence and sloath It remaineth then that wee use both secrecy and celerity laying hold upon the oportunity which the Kings absence hath now presented unto us for in all enterprises which never are commended before they bee atchieved delayes are dangerous and more safe it is to bee found in action then in counsaile for they that deliberate onely to rebell have rebelled already So the Messengers departed into England to declare the Dukes acceptance and to make preparation against his arrivall both of armour and of subjection and desire to obey Presently after their departure the Duke signified to Chaâ—les King of France that hee had a desire to goe into Britaine to visite Iohn Duke of Britaine his friend and kinsman The King suspecting no further fetch sent letters of commendation in his favour to the Duke of Britaine but if hee had surmised any dangerous drift against King Richard who not long before had taken his Daughter to wife in stead of letters of safe conduct hee would have found letts to have kept him safe from disturbing his Sonne in lawes estate As soone as the Duke was come into Britaine hee waged certaine souldiers and presently departed to Calis and so committed to Sea for England giving forth that the onely cause of his voyage was to recover the Dutchy of Lancaster and the rest of his lawfull inheritance which the King wrongfully detained from him In this company was Thomas Arundel the Archbishop of Canterbury and Thomas the Sonne and Heire of Richard late Earle of Arundel who was very young and had a little before escaped out of prison and fled into France to the Duke The residue of his attendants were very few not exceeding the number of fifteene lances so that it is hard to esteeme whether it was greater marvaile either that he durst attempt or that he did prevaile with so small a company but his chiefest confidence was in the favour and assistance of the people within the Realme So he did beare with England yet not in a streight course but sloated along the shoare making head sometimes to one coast and sometime to another to discover what forces were in a readines either to resist or receive him As he was in this sort hovering on the Seas Lord Edmund Duke of Yorke the Kings Vnâ—le to whom the King had committed the custody of the Realme during the time of his absence called unto him Edmund Stafford Bishop of Chichester Lord Chancellour and William Soroupe Earle of Wiltshire Lord Treasurour of of the Realme also Sir Iohn Bushy Sir Henry Greene Sir William Bagot Sir Iohn Russell and certaine others of the Kings Privy Councell and entred into deliberation what was best to be done At the last it was concluded deceitfully by some unskilfully by others and by all perniciously for the King to leave the Sea coasts and to leave London the very Walles and Castle of the Realme and goe to S. Albons there to gather strength sufficient to encounter with the Duke It is most certain that the Dukes side was not any wayes â—oore furthered then by this dissembling and deceiveable dealing for open hostility and armes may openly and by armes be resisted but privy practises as they are hardly espied so are they seldome avoided And thus by this meanes the Duke landed about the feast of S. Martin without let or resistance at Ravenspur in Houldernesse as most Writers affirme Presently after his arrivall there resorted to him Lord Henry Pearcy Earle of Northumberland and Lord Henry his Sonne Earle of Westmerland Lord Radulph Nevil Lord Rose Lord Willoughby and many other personages of honour whose company encreased reputation to the cause and was a great countenance and strength to the Dukes further purposes And first they tooke of him an oath that he should neither procure nor permit any bodily harme to bee done unto King Richard whereupon they bound themselves upon their honours to prosecute all extremities against his mischievous Counsailors And this was one step further then that which the Duke pretended at the first when hee tooke shipping at Calis which was onely the recovery of his inheritance but that was as yet not determined nor treated and of some perhaps not thought upon which afterwards it did ensue and so was that place easily insinuated into by degrees which with maine and direct violence would hardlier have beene obtained Then the common people desperate upon new desires and without head head-long to matters of innovation flocked very fast to these Noble men the better sort for love to the Common-wealth some upon a wanton levity and vaine desire of change others in regard of their owne distressed and decayed estate who setting their chloâ—e hopes and devices upon a generall disturbance were then most safe when the common state was most unsure So betweene the one and the other the multitude did in short time increase to the number of threescore thousand able souldiers The Duke finding
this favour not onely to exceed his expectation but even above his wish hee thought it best to follow the current whilst the streame was most strong knowing right well that if fortune be followed as the first doe fall out the rest will commonly succeed Therefore cutting off unnecessary delayes with all possible celerity hee hastned towards London to the end that possessing himselfe thereof as the chiefe place within the Realme both for strength and store hee might there make the seat of the warre In this journey no signe nor shew of hostility appeared but all the way as hee passed the men of chiefest quality and power adjoyned themselves unto him some upon heat of affection some for feare others upon hope of reward after victory every one upon causes dislike with like ardent desire contending least any should seeme more forward then they In every place also where hee made stay rich gifts and pleasant devises were presented unto him with large supply both of force and provision farre above his need and the Common people which for their greatnesse take no care of publique affaires and are in least danger by reason of their basenesse with shouts and acclamations gave their applause extolling the Duke as the onely man of courage and saluting him King but spending many contumelious termes upon King Richard and depraving him as a simple and sluggish man a dastard a mâ—ycock and one altogether unworthy to beare rule shewing themselves as much without reason in railing upon the one as they were in flattering the other Againe the Duke for his part was not negligent to uncover the head to bow the body to stretch forth the hand to every meane person and to use all other complements of popular behaviour wherewith the minds of the common multitude are much delighted and drawen taking that to be courtesie which the severer sort account abasement When he came to the Citie hee was there likewise very richly and royally entertained with processions and pageants and vers other triumphant devises and shewes the standing in all the streets where hee passed were taken up to behold him and the unable multitude who otherwise could not yet by their good words wishes and wils did testifie unto him their loving affections neither did there appeare in any man at that time any memory of faith and allegiance towards King Richard but as in seditions it alwayes hapneth as the most swayed all did goe On the contrary side the Duke of Yorke with the rest of his counsaile fell to mustering of men at S. Albones for the King but as the people out of divers quarters were called thither many of them protested that they would doe nothing to the harme and prejudice of the Duke of Lancaster who they said was unjustly expelled first from his countrey and afterwards from his inheritance Then W. Scroupe Earle of Wiltshire Lord Treasurer S. I. Bush Sir W. Bagot and Sir Henry Greene perceiving the stiffe resolution of the people forsooke the Duke of Yorke and the Lord Chancellor and fled towards Bristow intending to passe the seas into Ireland to the King These foure were they upon whom the common fame went that they had taken of the King his Realme to farme who were so odious unto the people that their presence turned away the hearts of many subjects yea it was thought that more for displeasure against them then against the King the revolt was made For being the only men of credit and authority with the King under false colour of obedience they wholly governed both the Realme and him to many mischiefes corrupting his mind and in many abusing his name either against his will or without his knowledge insomuch as hee was innocent of much harme which passed under his commandement but the patience of the people could not endure that two or three should rule all not by reason they were sufficient but because they were in favour and the King in that he permitted them whom hee might have bridled or was ignorant of that which he should have knowne by tollerating and wincking at their faults made them his owne and opened thereby the way to his destruction So often times it falleth out to be as dangerous to a Prince to have hurtfull and hatefull officers in place and services of weight as to be hurtfull and hatefull himselfe The Duke of Yorke either amazed at this sudden change or fearing his adventure if hee should proceed in resistance gave over the cause and preferred present security before duty with danger giving most men occasion to misdeeme by his dealing that hee secretly favoured the Dukes Enterprise likewise all the other Counsellors of that side either openly declared for the Duke or secretly wished him well and abandoning all private direction advise adjoyned themselves to the common course presuming thereby of greater safety Duke Henry in the meane time being at London entred into deliberation with his friends what way were best to be followed At the last having considered the forwardnesse of the people the greatnesse of the perill whereinto they had already plunged and the Kings irreconcilable nature whereof hee made proofe against the Duke of Glocester and the Earles of Arundell and Warwicke they finally resolved to expell him from his dignity and to constitute Duke Henry King in his stead and to that end open warre was denounced against the King against all his partakers as enemies to the quiet prosperity of the Realme and pardon also promised to all those that would submit themselves to follow the present course otherwise to looke for no favour but all extremities None of the Nobility durst openly oppose himselfe to these designes some unwilling to play all their state at a cast kept themselves at liberty to be directed by successe of further event others consented coldly and in tearms of doubtfull construction with intent to interpret them afterwards as occasion should change but the most part did directly and resolutely enter into the cause and made their fortunes common with the Duke in danger of the attempt but not in honour among whom the Duke standing up used speech to this purpose I am returned here as you see at your procurement by your agreement have entred into armes for the common liberty wee have hitherto prosperously proceeded but in what tearmes wee now stand I am altogether uncertaine A private man I am loath to be accounted being designed to be King by you and a Prince I cannot be esteemed whilst another is in possession of the Kingdome Also your name is in suspence whether to be termed rebels or subjects untill you have made manifest that your alleageance was bound rather to the state of the Realme then the person of the Prince Now you are the men who have both caused this doubtfulnesse and must cleare the same your parts still remaineth to be performed your vertue and valour must adde strength to the goodnesse of this action Wee have already attempted so
deserved this dejection if it be just or if it be wrongfull that I could notavoid it Indeed I do confes that many times I have shewed my selfe both lesse provident lesse painful for the benefit of the Common-wealth then I should or might or intended to doe hereafter and have in many actions more respected the satisfying of my owne particular humour then either justice to some private persons or the common good of all yet I did not at any time either omit duty or commit grievance upon naturall dulnes or set malice but partly by abuse of corrupt Counsellors partly by errour of my youthfull judgement And now the remembrance of these oversights is so unpleasant to no man as to my selfe and the rather because I have no meanes left either to recompence the injuries which I have done or to testifie to the World my reformed affections which experience and stayednesse of yeares had already corrected and would dayly have framed to more perfection But whether all the imputations wherewith I am charged be true either in substance or in such quality as they are laid or whether being true they be so heinous as to inforce these extremities or whether any other Prince especially in the heate of youth and in the space of two and twenty yeares the time of my unfortunate raigne doth not sometimes either for advantage or upon displeasure in as deepe manner grieve some particular subject I will not now examine it helpeth not to use defence neither booteth it to make complaint there is left no place for the one nor pitty for the other and therefore I referre it to the judgement of God and your lesse distempered considerations I accuse no man I blame no fortune I complaine of nothing I have no pleasure in such vaine and needlesse comforts and if I listed to have stood upon termes I know I have great favourers abroad and some friends I hope at home who would have beene ready yea forward on my behalfe to set up a bloudy and doubtfull warre but I esteeme not my dignity at so high a prize at the hazard of so great value the spilling of so much English bloud and the spoile wast of so flourishing a Realme as thereby might have beene occasioned Therefore that the Common-wealth may rather rise by my fall then I stand by the ruine thereof I willingly yeeld to your desires and am heere come to dispossesse my selfe to all publike authority and title and to make it free and lawfull for you to create for your King Henry Duke of Lancaster my Cousin Germaine whom I know to be as worthy to take that place as I see you willing to give it to him Then he read openly and distinctly the forme of his cession wherein he did declare that he had discharged his subjects from their oaths of fealty and homage all other oaths whatsoever and of his owne will and free motion did abdicate the title dignity and authority of a King and rendred up the possession of the Realm with the use and title thereof and all the rights thereunto appertaining To this the King subscribed and was sworne and then he delivered with his owne hands the Crowne the Scepter and the Robe to the Duke of Lancaster wishing unto him more happinesse therewith then had ever happened unto himselfe Then he did constitute the Archbishop of Yorke and the Bishop of Hereford his Procuratours to intimate and declare this his resignation to all the States of the Realme which should be assembled together in Parliament Lastly hee gave all his riches and goods to the summe of three hundred thousand pounds in coine besides his Iewels and plate for satisfaction of the injuries that hee had done desiring the Duke and all the rest that were present severally by their names not altogether to forget that he had beene their King nor yet too much to thinke upon the same but to retaine of him a moderate remembrance and in recompence of the case that he had done them by his voluntary yeelding to permit him to live safely in a private and obscure life with the swetnesse whereof he was so possessed that from thenceforth he would preferre it before any preferment in the World All this was delivered and done by the King with voyce and countenance so agreeable to his present heavinesse that there was no man too unmindefull of humane instability which was not in some measure moved thereat in so much as a few secret teares melted from the eyes of many that were present in whose minds a confused and obscure alteration gan to begin So prone and inclinable are men to pitty misery although they have procured it and to envy prospery even that which they have raised Vpon Munday next following the Parliament beganne at Wâ—stminster and the Archbishop of Yorke and the Bishop of Hereford the Kings Atturneies for this purpose declared openly to the States there assembled the Kings voluntary resignation and demanded whether they would assent and agree thereunto the Barons of the Realme by severall and particular consent the Commons with one generall voice did expresly accept and admit the same Then it was thought meet that certaine defects and misdemeanures concerning matters of government should bee objected against the King for which he should be adjudged as unworthy as hee seemed unwilling to retaine the Kingdome To this purpose certaine articles were engrossed and openly read in which was contained how unprofitable the King had beene to the Realme how unjust and grievous to the Subjects contrary both to his honour and to his oath The chiefest of which Articles are these that follow 1 FIrst that King Richard did wastfully spend the Tresure of the Realme and had given the possession of the Crowne to men unworthy by reason whereof new charges were dayly laid on the necks of the poore Comminalty 2 Item Where divers Lords as well Spirituall as Temporall were appointed by the High Court of Parliament to commune and treat of matters concerning the State of the Realme and the Common-wealth of the same they being busied about the same commission he with with others of his affinity went about to impeach them of treason 3 Item that by force and menace hee compelled the Justices of the Realme at Shrewsbury to condiscend to his opinion for the destruction of the said Lords Insomuch as he beganne to raise warre against Iohn Duke of Lancaster Thomas Earle of Arundel Richard Earle of Warwick and other Lords contrary to his honour and promise 4 Item that he caused his Vncle the Duke of Glocester to be arrested without law and sent him to Calis and there without judgement murthered him and although the Earle of Arundel upon his arraignement pleaded his charter of pardon he could not bee heard but was in most vile and shamefull manner sodainly put to death 5 Item he assembled certaine Lancashire and Cheshire men to the intent to make warre on the aforesaid Lords and suffered them
their names were Iohn Holland Duke of Exeter of whom mention hath beene made before Thomas Holland his brothers Sonne Duke of Surrey Edward Duke of Aumerle Iohn Montacute Earle of Salisbury Hugh Spencer Earle of Glocester Iohn Bishop of Caerliele Sir Thomas Blunt and Magdalen one of King Richards Chappell who in all points both of feature and favour so neerly resembled King Richard that the Lords dissembled afterwards that hee was King Richard indeed These and some others were highly feasted by the Abbot and after dinner they withdrew themselves into a secret Chamber to counsaile here the Duke of Exceter who was most hotly bent either to restore or to revenge the cause of his deposed brother declared unto the rest the allegeance that they had sworne unto King Richard the honours and preferments whereunto they were by him advanced that therefore they were bound both in conscience by the one and in kindnesse by the other to take his part against all men that King Henry contrary to both had dispoyled him of his royall dignity and unjustly possessed himselfe thereof whilest they stood looking on and shewed neither the obedience of subjects nor love of friends as though they were men who knew to doe any thing better then to defend and if need were to dye for their lawfull Prince and loving Patron that King Henry by violent invading or fraudulent insinuating himselfe into the kingdom of his naturall liege Prince was but a tyrant usurper such aone as it was lawful for any man by any means to throw down without respect whether hee were a good man or evill for it is lawfull for no man upon pretence shew of goodnes to draw soveraignty unto himself that the laws examples of best governed common-wealths did not only permit this action but highly honored it with statues garlands title of Nobility also rewarded it with al the wealth of the suppressed tyrant that this enterprize would be very profitable almost necessary to the Common-wealth by extinguishing those wars which the Scots menaced the French-men prepared the Welshmen had already begun upon this occasion and quarrell that he did not distrust but it might be accomplished by open armes but he thought it more sure for them and for the Common-wealth more safe to put first in proofe some secret policy and to that purpose hee devisâ— that a solemne Iusts should bee challenged to be keept at Oxford in Christmasse holy-dayes betweene him and twenty on his part and the Earle of Salisbury and twenty on his part to which King Henry should be invited and when hee was most intentive in regarding their military disport hee should suddenly be surprised by men which without suspition might at that time bee assembled both for number and preparation sufficient for the exployt and thereby King Richard presently be restored both to his liberty and to his estate This devise was no sooner uttered then allowed and applauded of the rest of the confederates and so resolving upon the Enterprize they tooke an oath upon the Evangelists the one to bee true and secret to the other even to the houre and point of death the Lords also made an Indenture sextipartiâ—e wherein they bound themselves to doe their best assay for the death of the one King and deliverance of the other this they sealed and subscribed and delivered to every Lord a counter-pane of the same and further they concluded what forces should be gathered by whom how they should bee ordered placed and to whose trust the execution should be committed When all things were thus contrived and their hungry ambitious minds were well filled with the vain winds of hope and desire the Duke of Exeter came to the King at Windsore desired him for the love that he bare to the noble feats of Chevalry that hee would vouchsafe to honour with his presence the martiall exercise that was appointed betweene him and the Earle of Salisbury and to be the Iudge of their performances if any controversie should arise The King supposing that to be intended indeed which was pretended in show easily yeelded to his request The Duke supposing his purpose now halfe performed departed to his house and so did the other consederates where they busily bestirred themselves in raysing men and preparing horse and armour for the accomplishment of this act When the Dutchesse of Exceter K. Henries sister perceived the drift of the devise and saw that the Duke was upon his journey alas good Lady how was shee distracted in mind with a sharpe conflict of her conceipts one way she was moved wiâ—h nature towards her brother another way she was more strongly stirred with love towards her Lord and husband and both wayes she was divided in duty And what â—aid shee is this love then against nature or above it shall I bee undutifull to my Prince or is no duty comparable to the duty of a wife heigh ho in what perplexities wretched woman am I plunged to see my two dearest friends in this case of extremity that it is doubtfull which but certainely one must bee ruined by the other Herewith such a shower of teares streamed downe her cheekes that it drowned her speech and stopped the passage of further complaint which when the Duke espyed hee stepped unto her and seazing softly upon her hand used these words What Besse is it kindnesse to me or kindred to your brother that thus hath set your eyes on sloate Content your selfe woman for whatsoever the event shall bee it cannot bee evill to you nor worse to mee then now it is For if my purpose prevaile and my brother be restored againe to his Crowne both of us shall bee sure never to decline if it be prevented and your brother continue still in his estate no harme shall bee done unto you and I shall bee sure then of that destruction which I doe now continually dread the feare whereof in expecting is a greater torment then the paine in suffering When he had thus said hee kissed her and so leaving her to the torture of a thousand thorny thoughts hee tooke his journey towards Oxford with a great company both of Archers and Horsemen There hee found all the reâ—â— of his complices well armed and banded except only the Duke of Aumerle The King also hearing that both the Challengers and Defendants were in a readinesse determined the day following to ride to Oxford according to his promise and appointment Now the confederates much marvelled at the stay of the Duke of Aumerle some onely blamed his slacknesse others began to suspect it every man conjectured as he was diversly affected betweene confidence and feare and in this confusion of opinions they sent unto him in poste to know the certaine truth Before the Messenger came to the Duke he was departed from Westminster towards Oxford not the direct way but went first to see his Father the Duke of Yorke and carried with him the counterpane
fearefully shrinking backe and when they once began to relent they decreased every day more and more both in power and in hope King Henry the next morning after he was come to the Tower sent to the Major of the Citie to put Souldiers in armes for his assistance who presently presented unto him three thousand Archers and three thousand bill-men besides those that were appointed for defence of the Citie The King spent upon him many good speeches and liberally loaded him with promises and thankes and soone after hee issued out of London with twenty thousand tall men and came to Hounslow Heath abiding there and as it were daring his enemies to joyne issue in the field contemning their disorderly multitude as a vaine terrour of names without forces But the confederates either for feare of the Kings power or for distrust of their owne or else lingring perhaps after some succour out of France refused the encounter and doubtfull it is whether they shewed greater courage in setting up the danger or cowardise in declining it when it was presented unto them So they departed from Colebrooke to Sunnings a place neere Redding where Queene Isabell King Richards wife did then abide to whom upon the plain truth before declared fame had falsly descanted that K. Richard was escaped out of prison and did lye at Pomfret with a hundred thousand armed men and that King Henry for feare of him was fled with his children and friends to the Tower of London All which was as lightly beleeved as it was vainely told whereupon she defaced King Henries armes and plucked away his cognisance from those his servants that attended upon her and having in some sort satisfied her womannish anger with this harmelesse spight shee and the Lords departed together first to Wallingford and from thence to Abington stirring the people by the way to take armour and to rise in ayde of King Richard who was said they and is and should be their Prince At the last they came to Chichester and there the Lords tooke their lodgings the Duke of Surrey and the Earle of Salisbury in one Inne the Duke of Exeter and the Earle of Gloucester in another and all the hoast encamped in the fields But the Bayliffe of the Towne suspecting all this countenance to bee but the vaine flash of a false fire did in the night with about fourescore Archers beset and set upon the house where the Duke of Surrey and the Earle of Salisbury lay who were men but of weake resistance by nature but being put upon necessity shewed great man-hood and resistance in defending themselves against the Townsmen The Duke of Exeter and the Earle of Gloucester being in another Inne were not able by force to rescue their associates whereupon a certaine Priest of their company set divers houses in the Towne on fire supposing thereby to divert the townsmen from their assault to the saving of their houses and of their goods but this fire greatly inflamed their fury and made them more obstinate in their attempt crying out that they would never labour to rescue their losses but to revenge them and that with the blood of the Lords vvhose flames should be quenched Then there arose confused clamours and noyses all the towne being in an uproare and in armes shooting fiercely and running upon the Lords with a rash and desperate rage not caring to loose many whereof they had many to spare When the Earle of Exeter and they that were with him perceived the force of the assaylants dangerously to encrease and that it was impossible for a few to sustaine the fury of so many so obstinately bent they fled out of the back-side towards the Camp intending to bring the whole Armie to the rescue but the souldiers having heard a tumult and seeing fire within the towne supposed that the King was entred with all his puissance whereupon being strooke with a sodain and false feare and wanting a Commander of courage to confirme them they ran away and dispearsed themselves without measure and so whilst every man endeavoured to save himselfe all were brought to their confusion Thus the Duke of Surrey and the Earle of Salisbury and the Lords and Gentlemen which were in their company were left to defend themselves against the townesmen as they could who manfully maintained the fight with great bloodshed of their enemies from midnight untill three of the clocke the next day in the afternoone at the last being inferiour both in number and fortune the Duke and the Earle were wonded to death and taken and the same Evening their heads were striken off and sent to London there were also taken Sir Bennet Shelley Sir Barnard Brokas Sir Thomas Blunt and twenty eight other Lords Knights and Gentlemen who were sent to Oxford where the King then lay and there were put to execution The Duke of Exeter when he found the Army dispersed and fled fled likewise with Sir Iohn Shelley into Essex lamenting the certaine destruction which his rashnesse had procured to himselfe and to his friends but most especially to King Richard if not as a party yet as a cause of this unhappy tumult many times hee did attempt to have escaped by Sea into France but hee was alwayes driven backe by distresse of weather and so wandring and lurking in secret places hee was at the last attached as hee saâ—e at supper in a certain friendâ— house and led to Plashy and there shortly after beheaded so that a man might probably conjecture that the death of the Duke of Gloucester was then brought in reckoning who by his counsell and contryvance chiefly in the same place had beene apprehended An excellent example for all those which measure their Actions either by their pleasure or by their power that revenge of injurious dealing although it be prolonged yet doth never fayle but commeth surely although perhaps slowly This Duke was a man of high parentage of a franke mind and wealth answerable thereunto openly praise worthy but his secret actions were hardly spoken of hee was of consent to all his brothers vices and of counsaile to many yet somewhat the more close and vigilant man and not so much partaker of his prosperity as violently carried with the current of his misery The Earle of Gloucester fled towards Wales but was forelayed and taken and beheaded at Bristow Magdalen the counterfeit of King Richard flying into Scotland was apprehended and brought to the Tower and afterward hanged and quartered with W. Ferby another of King Richards Chaplaines Divers other Lords and Knights and Gentlemen and a great number of meane and base persons were in other places put to death insomuch as the King though otherwise of a very temperate and intreatable nature seemed to shew too hard and haughty dealing in revenging his owne injury or rather maintaining the injury that hee had done the heads of the chiefe conspirators were pitched upon poles and set over London Bridge in all other parts of the Realme
them off their minds are suspicious their power dangerous and therefore the oportunity must bee prevented The Kings owne weakenesse made him apprehensive and framed his mind to a vaine and needlesse feare but chiefly hee was moved at the removing of his Chancellour and Treasurer out of their offices and of the Duke of Ireland out of the Realme supposing it a restraint to his Princely power that hee might not absolutely and in things give or forgive as his pleasure served When these privy incensers perceived the Kings humour once sharpned they so plied him with plausible perswasions that although hee was naturally of no cruell disposition as wanting courage yet they drew him to many violent and indirect courses partly upon negligence to search out the truth partly upon delight to bee flattered and smoothly used neither did they long deferre their devises and first it was appointed that the Duke of Glocester and certaine others of that part should bee invited to a supper within London and there suddainly surprised and made away Sir Nicholas Brambre who the yeare before had beene Major of London and in whom aboundance of wealth supplied the want of honest qualities was a busie agent in this butcherly businesse but Richard Extone the Major of the City that yeare discovered the practise by whom the Duke was warned both to avoid the present perill and afterwards to bee wary of the like The yeare next following Richard Earle of Arundel and Thomas Mowbray Earle of Nottingham had the conduct of a Navy committed to their charge in this voyage they tooke above a hundred saile of the enemies ships fraughted with wines and well appointed for fight they also relieved and fortified Brest and tooke two forces which the French-men had raised against it The Earles so behaved themselves in this service that they grew to a very great estimation both for courtesie among their Souldiers and for courage against their enemies and their actions were the more famous by reason of the infortunate sufficiency of other Commanders by whose either rashnesse or cowardise many good Souldiers were dayly defeated and every yeare made notorious by one losse or other Yet notwithstanding all their good labour and luck they were at their returne entertained by the King with great strangenes both of countenance and speech Who was so unable to dissemble his dispight that hee could hardly deferre it untill the heat of the honour and love which they had wonne were somewhat abated So much are men more inclinable to revenge displeasure then reward desert for it is troublesome to bee gratefull and many times chargeable but revenge is pleasant and preferred before gaine About the same time Robert Duke of Ireland forsooke the company of his lawfull wife whose Mother Lady Isabel was Daughter to King Edward the third and insteed of her hee tooke unto him a base Bohemian a Taverners Daughter The King little regarded this indignity done unto his Cosin and in so great confusion of the state let it passe unreproved as overshadowed with greater vices but the Duke of Glocester her Vncle tooke it in high disdaine as injurious to the Royall bloud and did attend upon occasion to worke revenge this was not secret from the Duke of Ireland who likewise bent all his devises to bring the Duke of Glocester to his overthrow The Duke of Glocester did prosecute his enmity openly and manlike the Duke of Ireland closely and therefore the more dangerously The Duke of Glocester was greater in bloud the Duke of Ireland in favour hee being Vncle to the King this bearing himselfe as the Kings fellow The Duke of Glocester pretended for the State the Duke of Ireland for the King and much private malice did passe under these publike shewes but in opposition of such equall powers there is many times small difference in harme And now was Easter past the Tearme assigned to Duke Robert Vicere for his departure into Ireland and least his stay might breed some stirre within the Realme hee still busied himselfe in preparation for his journey and at last although it were long made a solemne shew of setting forth The King went in great state to accompany him to his shipping and the Earle of Suffolke with Iustice Trisilian and the residue of that faction either for favour followed for or feare durst not stay behind So they passed together into Wales and whether upon levity the Kings mind changed or whether it was so contrived at the first to draw themselves more separate from the Lords there the Dukes journey was at an end Then they entred into Counsell which way the Lords might best bee suppressed many devises were deeply debated all pleased without respect either of danger or disgrace but few stood with likelihood of event to their desires and therefore none was finally concluded After long time thus frivolously spent they left Wales and came to the Castle of Nottingham where the King caused the high Sheriffes of all the Shires in the Realme to bee called before him and demanded of them what strength they could make on his part against the Lords if need should require their answer was that the Common people did so favour the Lords and were so well resolved of their love and loyalty towards the King that it was not in their power to raise any great power against them Then they were commanded that no Knights nor Burgesses should afterwards bee chosen to any Parliament but those whom it pleased the King to appoint whereto they said that it was a hard matter in those times of jealousie and suspition to bereave the people of their ancient liberty in chosing Knights and Burgesses for the Parliament some few other matters being either unreasonably required or obtained to small end the Sheriffes were licensed to depart Then were assembled Robert Trisilian chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bench Robert Belknape chiefe Iustice of the Common Pleas Iohn Holte Roger Stilthrope William Burgh Knights and Iustices also of the Common Pleas men learned in one rule chiefly without difference of truth or falsehood to please those in highest places intituling that wisedome which indeed was but basenesse and feeblenesse of mind these were charged by the King upon their faith and legeance to make true and full answers to those questions following 1 First Whether the Statute Ordinances and Commission made and set forth the last Parliament whereby was meant the commission against Michael De-la-poole Duke of Suffolke did derogate from the Royall prerogative of the King 2 Item They who procured the said Statute c. to bee made and set forth how are they to bee punished 3 Item How are they to bee punished who provoked the King to consent to the premises 4 Item What punishment have they deserved who compelled the King to consent to the said statute c. 5 Item How are they to be punished who resisted or letted the King in exercising his Royall power by remitting any penalties or debts whatsoever 6
Item When a Parliament is assembled and the affaires of the Realme and the cause of assembling the Parliament by the Kings commandement declared and common Articles limited by the King upon which the Lords and Commons in the said Parliament should proceed if the Lords and Commons will proceed upon other Articles and not upon the Articles limited by the King untill the King hath first given answere to the Articles propounded by them notwithstanding that the contrary were enjoyned by the King whether in this case the King ought to have the rule of the Parliament and so to order the fact that the Lords and Commons should first proceed upon the Articles limited by the King or that they should first have answer of the King upon the Articles propounded by them before they proceed any further 7 Item Whether may the King when hee please dissolve the Parliament and command the Lords and Commons to depart or no 8 Item Since the King may at his pleasure remove any of his Officers and Iustices and punish them for their offences whether may the Lords and Commons without the Kings will accuse his Officers and Iustices in Parliament for their offences yea or no 9 Item What punishment have they deserved who moved in Parliament that the statute whereby King Edward Carnarvan was deposed should bee brought forth by view whereof the new statute ordinance and commission aforesaid were framed 10 Item Whether the judgement given in the last Parliament holden at Westminster against Michael De-la-poole Duke of Suffolke was erronious and revocable yea or no These questions or rather quarrels were drawne by Iohn Blake a Councellour at the Law by direction of Iustice Trisilian whilest the King made his stay in Wales to the which the Iustices afore-named some in discharge of their owne malice and some to satisfie the minds of other made answer as followeth To the first that they did derogate from the Prerogative of the King because they were against his will To the second and third that they are to bee punished by death except it pleaseth the King to pardon them To the fourth and fifth that they are worthy to bee punished as Traytours To the sixth that whosoever resisteth the Kings rule in that point deserveth to bee punished as a Traytour To the seventh that the King may at his pleasure dissolve the Parliament and whosoever shall afterwards proceed against the Kings mind as in a Parliament hee is worthy to bee punished as a Traytour To the eighth that they cannot and whosoever doth the contrary hee deserveth to be punished as a Traytour To the ninth that as well the Motioner as also the Bringer of the said statute to the Parliament are worthy to be punished as Traytours To the tenth they answered that the said judgement seemed to them erronious and revocable in every part In witnesse whereof the Iustices aforesaid with Iohn Locktone the Kings sergeant at Law have subscribed and set their seals to these presents c. When these bloudy sentences of death treason were under generall and large Tearmes thus fastened upon the Lords the King supposed his attempts against them whether by violence or by colour of law sufficiently warranted but his power both wayes as it was terrible against weak resistance so against such mighty defendants it was of smal force to effect that which he so much affected Yet he did not omit his first indeavour and first accounting the Lords as condemned persons hee made division of their Lands and goods among those that hee favoured Then hee waged Souldiers to bee in a readinesse for his assistance and sent the Earle of Northumberland to arrest the Earle of Arundel at his Castle in Reygate where hee then lay But the Earle of Arundel either upon advertisement or suspition of the Kings mind banded himselfe so strong that when the Earle of Northumberland came unto him hee dissembled his intent and left his purpose unperformed Thus were these proceedings of the King as now in Councell so afterwards in event not much unlike that which the Fable telleth of a certaine hunter who first sold the skinne of the beare and then went about to take her but when hee came within the forrest either by unskilfulnesse or misadventure hee not onely missed his pray but fell himselfe into danger of the beast The Duke of Glocester having secret intelligence of the Kings displeasure and of his drift sent the Bishop of London to perswade the King to entertaine a more favourable opinion of him making faith to the Bishop with a solemne oath that hee never intended any thing to the prejudice of the King either in person or state The Bishop not unskilfull to joyne profitable perswasion with honest declared to the King that his displeasure against the Lords was not grounded upon just desert but either upon false suggestions of their enemies or erroniâ—us mistaking of some of their actions how desirous they were of his grace and favour how faithfull and forward they promised to persist in all dutifull service how honourable this agreement would bee to the King how profitable to the Realme and how dangerous to both if these troubles might encrease The King seemed to give good â—are and credit to the Bishops speech but Michael Delapoole a turbulent man and against quiet counsell obstinately contentious standing then by the King soone stiffened his mind against all impression of friendship Hereupon contention did arise betweene the Bishop and the Earle and brake forth violently into heat of words The Earle applied to the Lords those objections wherewith great men are usually charged sparing no spight of speech and using all art to aggravate matters against them The Bishop replied that the Earle was thus fiercely bent not upon his owne necessity nor love to the King but onely to satisfie his bloudy and ambitious humour wherein hee was so immoderate that rather then the Lords should not bee destroyed hee would overwhelme them with the ruines of the State for tumults might indeed bee raised by men of little courage but must bee maintained with the hazard and ended with the losse of the most valiant that neither his Counsell in this matter was to bee followed being the principall firebrand of the disturbance nor his complants against any man to bee any thing regarded being himselfe a condemned person and one that held both his life and honour at the pleasure of the King At these words the King was exceedingly wroth and charged the Bishop with menacing and threats to avoid his presence When the Duke of Gloucester had knowledge hereof hee signified the danger to the Earles of Arundel Warwick and Derby advising them to take armes and unite themselves for their common defence for in so doubtfull and suspected peace open warre was the onely way of safety These three Earles were the chiefest strength to the side but the Duke bare the most stroke because hee was most bold and his greatnesse almost obscured the
all his courses now crossed first rashnes in taking armes and afterwards by cowardise in maintaining them The Earle of Darby signified this successe to his associates by letters yet without any vanting or enlarging Tearmes his speeches also were moderate rather extenuating his fact then extolling it but by stopping his fame it much encreased when men esteemed his high thoughts by his lowly words and his conceit in great exploits by his contempt of this Then the Lords met and marched together towards London whither they came upon Saint Stephens day having almost forty thousand men in their army and first they shewed themselves in battaile array in the fields neare unto the Tower within the view of the King afterwards they tooke up their lodgings in the Suburbs the Major and Aldermen of the City came forth and gave liberall allowance of victuall to the souldiers offering unto the Lords entertainement within the City but they did not accept it Now this discord seemed to draw to a dangerous distrâ—ction of the Common-wealth the vanquished part being full of malice and the Conquerours of presumption the one wanting power the other right to command and rule The Archbishop of Canterbury and certaine others of the neutrality fearing the sequele perswaded the King to come to a treaty with the Lords but hee made shew of very light regard of all these dealings let them stay said hee untill they have wearied themselves with maintaining this multitude and then I will talke further with them When the Lords understood the drift of his devise they beset the Thames and all other passages and protested that they would not depart untill they had talked with him to his face The King having neither strength to resist nor scope to scape consented to a treaty and to that end desired the Lords to come to him into the Tower but they refused that place of meeting upon feare of false measure untill the King permitted them to search as diligently and come as strongly as they thought it meet So they came unto the King well guarded and after a few could kindnâ—sses and strange salutations they laid before him his proceedings against them at Nottingam his letters which he sent to the Duke of Ireland contrary to his word for the raising of armes against them his agreement with the French King for the yeelding up of Calis and other strong holds which he possessed in those parts with divers other points of dishonourable dâ—aling and negligent government What should the King then have said or done all these matters were so evident and so evill that there was no place left either for deniall or defence Therefore ingenuously first with silence and patience afterwards with teares hee confessed his errours And certainely the stiffe stomack of the Lords relented more to these luke warme drops then they would have done to his Cannon shot Then it was agreed that the next day the King should meet with them at Westminster and there treat further both of these and other necessary affaires of the Realme So the Duke and the rest of the Lords departed except the Earle of Darby who stayed supper with the King and all that time stayed him in his promised purpose but when hee was also gone some of the secret Counsailours or Corrupters rather and Abusers of the King whistled him in the eare that his going to Westminster was neither seemely nor safe and would cause not onely to his person present danger and contempt but also both abasement and abridgement to his authority afterwards Thâ— Kings mind was soone changed but the Lords being now stirred and feeling the Kings hand weake to governe the bridle became the more vehement and sent him word that if hee did jeofaile with them and not come according to appointment they would chuse another King who should have his Nobility in better regard This peremptory message so terrified the King that hee not onely went to Westminster but suffered the Lords to doe there even what they would So they caused him much against his liking to remove out of the Court Alexander Nevill Archbishop of Yorke Iohn Foord Bishop of Durisme Frier Thâ—mas Rushoke Bishop of Chichester the Kings Confessour Likewise they removed the Lord Souâ—â— the Lord Haringworth Lord Burnel Lord Beaumount Sir Albred Veere Sir Baldâ—wine Bereford Sir Richard Alderbury Sir Iohn Worth Sir Thomas Clifford and Sir Iohn Lovell taking sureties for their appearance at the next Parliament Also certaine Ladies were expelled the Court and put under sureties to wit the Lady Mowen the Lady Moling and the Lady Ponings which was the wife of Sir Iohn Woorth Furthermore they arrested Simon Burly William Elinghame Iohn Salisbury Thomas Trivet Iames Berneis Nicholas Dagworth and Nicholas Bâ—â—mbre Knights Richard Clifford Iohn Lincolne and Richard Motford Clearkes Iohn Beauchampe the Kings Steward Nicholas Lake Deane of the Kings Chappell and Iohn Blake Counceller at the Law all these were committed to divers Prisons where they were forth-comming but not comming forth untill the Parliament next following After the feast of the Purification the Parliament beganne at London and yet the King used many means either to dash or deferre the same to which the Lords came attended with the number and strength of a full army upon colour to represse any riotâ— that might happen to arise but in truth that by this terrour they might draw the whole mannage of affaires unto themselves This assembly continued untill Whitsuntide next following with very great fear of some men and hope of others and expectation of all Herein was Iustice Trisilian by counsaile of the Lords against the Kings mind condemned to bee drawne and hanged which judgement was presently executed upon him the like sentence and execution passed upon Sir Nicholas Brambre Sir Iohn Salisbury Sir Iames Barneis Iohn Beauchampe the Kings Steward and Iohn Blake Esquire who had framed the Articles which were exhibited against the Lords at Nottingham Also the Iustices who gave their judgement concerning those Articles Robert Belknape Iohn Holt Roger Fâ—lthrope and William Burghe were condemned to perpetuall exile and yet they did not enterpose themselves but intermeddle by constraint Sir Simon Burly was also beheaded who was Keeper of Dover Castle and had conspired to deliver the same unto the Frenchmen hee was infinitely â—aughty and proud equall to the meanest in vertue and wisedome but in bravery and traine inferiour to no Duke Divers other were either put to death or banished and some as it happened when the reine of fury is at large without any great cause The Earle of Derby furthered no mans death but laboured very instantly for the life and liberty of many in so much as hot speeches did arise betwene the Duke of Glocester and him whereby hee purchased a favourable opinion among those of the contrary part having caused the death of no man but onely in the field Then was an oath exacted of the King to stand to the Government of the Lords
and the most unable with hatefulnesse of the one and contempt of the other were generally despised in all the Realme that hereby First the honour of the Kings person was much blemished for ungrate and ungratious adherents are alway the way to hatred and contempt Secondly the safety of his state might bee endangered for extraordinary favour to men apparently of weake or bad desert doth breed insolency in them and discontentment in others two dangerous humours in a Common-wealth Thirdly the dignity of the Realme was much empaired whose fortune and valour being guided by the ill chance of such unlucky leaders stood never in the like Tearmes of doubt and distresse so that matters of peace were tumultuous and uncertaine and atchievements of warre were never brought to honourable conclusion that Alexander Severus would have smoaked such sellers of smoake that Xerxes would have pulled their skinne over their eares and high time it was that the King should looke unto them for the Nobility grew out of heart the Commons out of hope and all the people fell to a discontented murmuring And this hee said as hee said not for any grudge but for griefe and good will and therefore desired the Duke who was one of the privy Councell and well heard with the King to discover unto him these deformities and dangers that by repairing the one hee might happily repell the other These words procured to the Duke of Hereford both great offence and great glory at the delivery whereof the Duke of Norfolke made shew of good liking and promise of sincere dealing And indeed if they had beene as faithfully reported by him and by the King as friendly taken as they were faithfully and friendly meant many mischiefes might have beene avoided but both of these did faile for the Duke of Norfolke although in former times he had taken part with the Lords yet afterwards being desirous to bee accounted rather among the great men then the good hee made sale of his honour to maintaine his pleasure and continue himselfe in grace with the King to which hee was altogether inthralled insomuch that the murthering of the Duke of Glocester and the execution of the Earle of Arundel was to his charge especially committed and supposing upon this occasion to make a free hold of his Princes favour hee grievously aggravated these speeches in reporting them and yet cunningly too with many lies intermixing some truths or making the truth much more then it was Againe the King not enduring the search of his soares did bend his mind rather to punish the boldnesse then examine the truth of these reproofes his eares being so distempered with continuance of flattery that hee accompted all sharp that was sound and liked onely that which was presently pleasant and afterwards hurtfull Thus wee may dayly observe that no strange accident doth at any time happen but it is by some meanes foreshewed or foretould but because these warnings are oftentimes either not marked or misconstrued or else contemned the events are accompted inevitable and the admonitions vaine The King being in this sort touched by the one Duke and tickled by the other was not resolved upon the suddaine what to doe therefore hee assembled his Councell and called the two Dukes before him and demanded of the Duke of Norfolke if he would openly avouch that which hee had suggested in secret The Duke seeing it was now no time for him either to shrinke or shuffle in his tale with a bold and confident courage repeated all that before hee had reported But the Duke of Hereford could not bee borne downe by countenance where his cause was good and therefore after a short silence whereby hee seemed rather amazed at the strangenesse of this matter then abashed at the guilt hee made low obeysance to the King and greatly both thanked and commended him that hee had not given hasty credite to matters of such tender touch as his griefe might have borne out the blame of rashnesse in revenge desiring him to continue yet a while the respite of his displeasure and to reserve his judgement free for indifferent audience Then he declared in order what speech had passed from him upon what occasion and to what end all the rest hee stoutly denied affirming that it was falsely surmised by his Adversary either upon malice to pick a quarrell or upon sycophancy to pick a thanke and that thereupon hee was untrue unjust a forger of slanderous and seditious lies whereby hee treacherously indevoured to seduce the King to destroy the Nobility and to raise disturbance within the Realme and this hee offered to prove upon him if the King would permit by the stroake of a speare and by dint of sword The Duke of Norfolkes stomack not used to beare scorne could not disgest these Tearmes of disgrace whereupon hee stiffely stood to his first imputation for maintenance thereof he accepted and also desired the combate The King would some other wayes have quieted this contention but the Dukes would agree to no other kind of agreement and thereupon threw downe their gloves one against the other for gages The King seeing their obstinacy granted them the battaile and assigned the place at the City of Coventry in the Moneth of August then next insuing where in the meane time hee caused a sumptuous Theater and Lists royall to bee prepared At the day of combate the two Dukes came well handed with Noblemen and Gentlemen of their linage The Duke of Aumerle for that day high Constable and the Duke of Surrey for the same time and action high Marshall of England entred into the Lists with a great troupe of men apparelled in silke sondale embroidered with silver every man having a tipped staff to keep the field in order About the time of prime the Duke of Hereford came to the Barriers of the Lists mounted upon a white courser barbed with blew and greene velvet embroidered gorgeously with Swans and Antilops of Goldsmiths worke armed at all points and his sword drawne in his hand The Constable and Marshall came to the barriers and demanded of him who hee was Hee answered I am Henry Duke of Hereford and am come to doe my devoire against Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke as a Traytour to God the King the Realme and mee Then hee sware upon the Evangelists that his quarrell was right and upon that point desired to enter the lists then hee put up his sword pulled downe his beavier made a crosse on his fore-head and with speare in hand entred into the Lists and there lighted from his horse and sate downe in a chaire of greene velvet which was set in a traverse of greene and blew velvet at the one end of the listes and so expected the comming of his enemy soone after King Richard entred the field with great pompe both in bravery and traine hee had in his company the Earle of Saint Paul who came purposely out of France to see this combate tried he was attended
with all the Noble Peeres of the Realme and guarded with tenne thousand men in armes for feare of any suddaine or intended tumult When hee was placed on his stage which was very curiously and richly set forth a King at armes made proclamation in the name of the King and of the high Constable and of the Marshall that no man except such as were appointed to order and marshall the field should touch any part of the listes upon paine of death This proclamation being ended another Herald cried Behold here Henry of Lancaster Duke of Hereford appellant who is entred into the listes Royall to doe his devoire against Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke defendant upon paine to bee accompted false and recreant The Duke of Norfolke was hovering on horseback at the entry of the listes his horse being barbed with crimson velvet embroadered richly with lions of silver and mulbery trees and when hee had made his oath before the Constable and Marshall that his quarrell was just and true hee entred the field boldly crying aloud God aid him that hath the right then hee lighted from his horse and sat downe in a Chaire of crimson velvet curtained about with red and white Damaske and placed at the other end of the Lists The Lord Marshall viewed both their speares to see that they were of equall length the one speare hee carried himselfe to the Duke of Hereford and sent the other to the Duke of Norfolke by a Knight This done a Herrald proclaimed that the traverses and chaires of the combattants should bee removed commanding them in the Kings name to mount on horseback and addresse themselves to the encounter the Dukes were quickly horsed and closed their beavieres and cast their speares into the rests Then the trumpets sounded and the Duke of Hereford set forth towards his enemy about six or seaven paces but before the Duke of Norfolke beganne to put forward the King cast downe his Warder and the Herralds cried ho then the King caused the Dukes speares to bee taken from them and commanded them to forsake their horses and returne againe to their chaires where they remained above two long houres whilst the King deliberated with his Councell what was fittest to bee done At last the Herralds cried silence and Sir Iohn Borcy a Secretary of State with a loud voice read the sentence and determination of the King and his Councell out of a long roule wherein was contained that Henry of Lancaster Duke of Hereford appellant and Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke defendant had honourably appeared that day within the Lists Royall and declared themselves valiant and hardy Champions being not only ready but forward and desirous to dare in the battell but because this was a matter of great consequence and import the King with the advice of his Councell thought it meet to take the same into his owne hands and thereupon had decreed that Henry Duke of Hereford because hee had displeased the King and for divers other considerations should within 15. dayes next following depart out of the Realme and not to returne during the Tearme of tenne yeares without the Kings especiall licence upon paine of death When this judgement was heard a confused noise was raised among the people some lamenting either the desert or the injury of the Duke of Hereford whom they exceedingly favoured others laughing at the conceit of the King first in causing and afterwards in frustrating so great an expectation wherein hee seemed to doe not much unlike Caligula who lying in France with a great army neere the Sea shoare gave the signe of battell set his men in array marched forth as if it had beene to some great piece of service and suddenly commanded them all to gather cockles Then the Herralds cried againe ô Yes and the Secretary did read on how the King had likewise ordained that Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke because hee had sowen sedition by words whereof hee could make no proofe should avoid the Realme of England and never returne againe upon paine of death and that the King would take the profits and revenues of his lands untill hee had received such summes of money as the Duke had taken up for wages of the garrison of Calis which was still unpaid and that the King prohibited upon paine of his grievous displeasure that any man should make suit or intreaty to him on the behalfe of either of these two Dukes Those sentences being in this sort pronounced the King called the two exiles before him and tooke of them an oath That they should not converse together in forraine Regions nor one willingly come in place where the other was fearing as it was like least their Common discontentment should draw them first to reconcilement and afterward to revenge But this policy was over weake for this purpose for oaths are commonly spurned aside when they lye in the way either to honour or revenge and if their united forces was so much to bee regarded their seperate powers was not altogether to bee contemned Therefore the latter Princes of this Realme have with more safety wholly abolished the use of abjuration and exile and doe either by death extinguish the power or by pardon alter the will of great Offenders from entring into desperate and dangerous attempts which men in misery and disgrace have more vehemency to beginne and more obstinacy to continue When the Samnites had once so enclosed the Romane Legions within certain streights that they left them neither space to fight nor way to fly but without force enforced them to yeeld they sent to Herennius Pontius an aged Ruler of their state for his advise what were best for them to doe his answer was that the Romans should be permitted to depâ—rt without any hurt losse or scorne This pleased not such as were either covetous for spoyle or cruell for blood and therefore they sent unto him the second time who then returned answer that the Romans should be put to the sword and not one man suffered to escape The contrariety of these two counsels brought the old man into suspition of dotage but he comming in person to the Campe maintained both to be good the first whereof which he thought best would by unexpected favour provoke the Romans to a perpetuall friendship the second would deferre the warres for many yeares wherein the enemies should hardly recover strength third counsaile there was none that safely might be followed Yes said the Samnites to grant them their lives yet with such conditions of spoyle and shame as the lawes of victory doe lay upon them This is the way answered Herennius which neither winneth friends nor weakneth enemies but will much encrease the fury against us and nothing diminish the force And even so in matters of more particularity that course of punishment is out of course which doth neither reclaime the mind of men nor restraine the might from mischievous endeavours But again to our purpose The Duke of Norfolke having
parts joyne their Common strength and study together so whilest one by one did fight all of them were either subdued or slaine But these newes little rejoyced the Common people they lusted not to listen thereto their common talke was to recount their common grievances to lay them together and aggravate them by construction every man more abounding in complaints then hee did in miseries Also the Noble men the principall object of cruelty beganne to discourse both their private dangers and the deformities of the State and upon opportunity of the Kings absence some of them did conspire to cut off that authority which would not bee confined and to cast it upon some other who was most like to repaire that which King Richard had ruined or if said they our power shall come short of so good a purpose yet will wee sell him both our lives and lands with glory in the field which with certainty in peace wee cannot enjoy The onely man upon whom all men resolved was Henry Duke of Hereford whom since the death of his Father they called Duke of Lancaster not at his owne motion or desire but because hee was generally esteemed meet as being of the Royall bloud and next by descent from males to the succession of the Crowne one that had made honourable proofe of his vertues and valour the onely man of note that remained alive of those that before had stood in armes against the King for the behoofe of the Common-wealth for which cause hee was deepely touched at that time both in honour and in state This attempt pleased as possible to prove and of necessity to be followed whereupon they secretly dispatched their letters to the Duke solliciting his speedy returne into England and declaring that as well for the benefit of the Realme as for their owne particular safety they were forced to use force against King Richard that if it would please him to make the head they would furnish him the body of an able army to expell the King from his unfortunate government and to settle the possession of the Crowne in him who was more apt and able to sustaine the same that they would not provide him a base multitude onely and they themselves helpe in bare wishâ—s and advise but would also adjoyne their hands and their lives so that the perill should be common to all the glory only his if fortune favoured the enterprise These letters were conveyed by men crafty and bold yet of sure credit and inward in trust with the Duke who passing into France first associated unto them Thomas Arundel late Archbishop of Canterbury and at that time whether deservedly or without cause an exile in France then they travelled by severall wayes and in counterfeit attire to Paris where all met at the House of one Clugney where the Duke then sojourned After some courtesies of course with welcome on the one side and thanks on the other and joy of both the Archbishop of Canterbury having obtained of the Duke privacy and silence made unto him a solemne oration in these words or to this sense following Wee are sent unto you right high and Noble Prince from the chiefe Lords and States of our land not to seeke revenge against our King upon private injury and displeasure nor upon a desperate discontentment to set the State on fire nor to procure the ambitious advancement of any particular person but to open unto you the deformities and decayes of our broken estate and to desire your aid in staying the ruinous downefall of the same The remembrance of the honourable reputation that our Countrey hath borne and the Noble acts which it hath atchieved doth nothing else but make the basenesse more bitter unto us whereinto it is new fallen Our victorious armes have heretofore beene famous and memorable not onely within the bounds of our Ocean-Sea and in the Ilands adjoyning unto us but also in France in Spaine and in other parts of Europe yea in Asia and in Africk against the Infidels and Barbarians so that all Christian Princes have beene either glad to imbrace our friendship or loath to provoke us to hostility But now the rude Scots whose spirits we have so many times broken brought on their knees do scornefully insult upon us the naked and fugitive Irish have shaked oft our shackles and glutteth themselves upon us with massacres and spoiles with these wee dayly fight not for glory but to live insomuch as we are become a pitty to our friends and a very jeast to our most base and contemptible enemies Indeed the King hath both sent and led great armies into these Countries but in such sort that they have much wasted the Realme with their maintenance but neither revenged nor relieved it with their armes and no mervaile for all our diligent and discreet leaders the very sinewes of the field are either put to death or banished or else ly buried in obscurity and disgrace and the marshalling of all affaires is committed without any respect of sufficiency or desert to the counsaile and conduct of those who can best apply themselves to the Kings youthfull delights Among these ancient Nobility is accompted a vaine jeast wealth and vertue are the ready meanes to bring to destruction It grieves mee to speake but it helpeth not to hide that which every man seeth our Ancestours lived in the highest pitch and perfection of liberty but wee of servility being in the nature not of subjects but of abjects and flat slaves not to one intractable Prince onely but to many proud and disdainefull favorites not alwayes the same but ever new and no sooner have wee satisfied some but fresh hungry Masters are streight wayes set upon us who have more endammaged us by extortion and bribes then the enemy hath done by the sword What unusuall kinds of exactions are dayly put in practise without either measure or end oftentimes without need or if any be it proceedeth rather upon riotous expenses then any necessity of honourable charge and great summes of money are pulled and pilled from good subjects to bee throwne away amongst unprofitable unthrifts And if any man openeth his mouth against these extorted taxations then either by feined imputation of capitall crimes or by small matters aggravated or else by open cruelty and force his life or liberty is forth with hazarded It were too tedious too odious too frivolous to put you in mind of particular examples as though your owne estate and the lamentable losse of your Vncle and other Noble friends could bee forgotten yea I suppose that there is no man of quality within the Realme who either in his owne person or in his neerest friends doth not plainely perceive that no man enjoyeth the safegard of his goods and suerty of his body but rich men in the one and great men in the other are continually endangered This then is our case but what is our remedy we have endured and we have entreated but our patience
farre that all hope of pardon is extinct so that if we should shrinke back and break off the enterprise no mercy is to bee expected but butchery and gibbets and all extremities if we drive off and delay the accomplishment therof wee shall loose the opportunity which now is offered and open to our enemies occasion of advantage For the peoples blood is up now on our side and nothing is wanting but our owne diligence and care let us not therefore trifle out the time of doing in talking and deliberating it is best striking whilst the iron is hot let us set forth roundly and possesse our selves with speed of all the parts of the Realme and so we shall be able either to keepe out our concurrent or else to entertaine him little to his liking So troops of men were sent into every quarter of the Realme to secure them for making strength on the part of King Richard but the people in all places as men broken with many burthens did easily entertaine the first Commer and were not curious to side with the stronger The Duke pursued those of the Kings Privie Councell which fled away from the Duke of Yorke bearing himselfe with great cheare and courage as confident in the cause and secure of the event When he came at Bristow hee found the Castle fortified against him but in short time hee forced it and tooke therein Sir Iohn Bushy Sir Henry Greene and W. Scroupe L. Treasurer a joyfull prey to the common people who fearing that if execution should be deferred Petitions for pardon might happen to prevaile and so their cruelties and injuries should be answered with the vaine title and commendation of clemency did violently require them unto death no respite could be obtained no defence admitted no answer heard yea their humble and submisse intreaty was interpreted to argue a weake and broken courage upon a guilty conscience which more incensed the rage of the people crying out that they were traytors blood-suckers theeves and what other hainous tearmes insulting fury did put into their mouthes at which clamorous and importunant instance the day following they were beheaded Sir VVilliam Bagot came not with them to Bristow but turned to Chester and the pursuit being made after the most hee alone escaped into Ireland This execution partly because it pleased the people and partly because it excluded all hope of the Kings pardon caused them to cleave more closely to the Duke which greatly increased both his glory and his hope having offers of so large aid need of so little In the meane time this newes of the Dukes arrivall and of other occurrences part true part false part enlarged by circumstance as fame groweth in the going was blowne over to the King being then entangled with other broyles in Ireland at the receipt whereof he caused the sonnes of the Duke of Glocester of the Duke of Lancaster to be imprisoned in the strong Castle of Trim which is in Ireland and for dispatch to returne into England leâ—t many matters unfinished most of his provision behind hasting and shuffling up as present necessity did enforce So being both unskilfull and unfortunate himselfe and devoid of good direction with more haste then good hap hee tooke shipping with the Duke of Aumerle Exceter and Surry the Bishops of London Lincolne and Caerliele and many other men of quality and crossing the seas landed at Milford-Haven in Wales in which countrimen he alwayes reposed his chiefest surety and trust but then he saw contrary to his expectation that as well there as in all other places the people by plumps flocked to the Duke fled from him yea they that came with him began for to waver no man encouraging them to be constant but many to revolt This suddaine change not looked for not thought upon disturbed all the Kings devises made him irresolute what he should doe on the one side hee saw his cause and quarrell to be right and his conscience he said cleare from any bad demerite on the other side he saw the great strength of his enemies and the whole power of the Realme bent against him and being more abashed by the one then emboldned by the other hee stood perplexed in uncertaine termes either where to stay or whither to stir having neither skill nor resolution himselfe in cases of difficulty and obnoxious to hurtfull and unfaithfull counsaile Some advised him to martch forward and pierce deeper into the land before his own forces fell from him affirming that valour is seconded by fortune that this courage of his would confirme the constancy of his souldiers and his presence put the people in remembrance of their saith that in all places he should find some who for favour or for hire or else for duty would adhere unto him whereby hee should soone gather strength sufficient to joyne issue with his enemy in the field Others perswaded him to retire againe into Ireland and then if succour failed him in England to wage souldiers out of other countries But the King being no man of action in military affaires rejected both the counsailes as neither venturous enough with the one nor warie enough with the other and taking a middle course which in cases of extremity of all is the worst hee determined to make stay in Wales and there to attend to what head this humour would rise The Duke upon advertisement that the King was landed in VVales removed with a strong Army from Bristow towards Chester using the first opportunity against him and which indeed was the fittest When Lord Thomas Pearcy Earle of Worcester and Steward of the Kings Houshold heard of the Dukes approach he brake forth into shew of that displeasure which before he had conceived aâ—ainst the King for proclaiming his brother the Earle of Northumberland traytor and thereupon openly in the Hall in the presence of the Kings servants he brake his white rod the ensigne of his office and forthwith departed to the Duke willing every man to shift for himselfe in time by which act hee lost reputation both with the Haters and Favourers of King Richard being accounted of the one a Corrupter of the other a Forsaker and betrayer of the King After this example almost all the rest more fearefull then faithfull scattered themselves every one his way and they who in the Kings flourishing time would have contended to be formost now in his declining estate equally draw backe and like swallowes forsooke that house in the winter of fortunes boysterous blasts where they did nothing but feed and foyle in the summer of her sweet sun-shine And thus betweene faint souldiers and false friends the King was abandoned and forsaken and left almost unto himselfe looke on he might but let it hee could not as not of force to punish that which hee never forced to prevent his only remedy was patience a cold comfort his onely revenge was complaint a weake weapon betweene which two his bitternesse
by the Lords spirituall and temporall of the Realme of England and the Commons of the said Realme representing all the States of the said Kingdome specially deputed sitting in seate of judgement and considering the manifold iniuries and cruelties and many other crimes and offences by Richard late King of the said Realm committed and done contrary to good governement in the Realmes and Dominions aforesaid during the time of his Raigne also considering the articles which were openly exhibited and read before the said States which were so publike notorious manifest and famous that they could nor can by no avoydance and shift bee concealed also considering the confession of the said King acknowledging and reputing and truly upon his certaine knowledge judging himselfe to have beene and to be altogether insufficient and unskilfull for the rule and government of the Realmes and Dominions aforesaid and of any parts of them and not unworthy to bee deposed for the notorious demerits by the said Richard first acknowledged and afterward by his will and mandate before the said States published and to them opened and declared in the English tongue Vpon these and other matters which were done concerning the same busines before the said States and us by the diligent place name and authority to us in this part committed in abundance and for a cautele wee pronounce decree and declare the said Richard to have beene and to be unprofitable and unable and altogether unsufficient and unworthy for the rule and government of the said Realmes and of the Dominions Rights and parts of them and in regard and respect of the premises worthily to bee deposed from all kingly dignity and honour if any such dignity and honour remaineth in him and for the like cautele wee doe depose him by our sentence definitive in this writing inhibiting from henceforth expresly all and singular Lords Archbishops Bishops Prelates Dukes Marquesses and Earles Barons Knights Vassalles and all other persons whatsoever of the said Realmes and Dominions and other places to the said Realmes and Dominions appertaining the subjects and liege people of the same and every of them that from henceforth none obey or intend to obey the aforesaid Richard as King or Lord of the Realmes and Dominions aforesaid Then the same Commissioners were by the consent and suffrages of both houses constituted Procurators joyntly and severally for all the States of the Realme to resigne and surrender unto King Richard for them and all other homages of the Realme all the homages and fealties which were both due and done unto him as King and Soveraigne and also to declare unto him all the premises concerning his deposition Now Henry Duke of Lancaster that hee might bee reputed or reported at the least not to attaine the Kingdome by intrusion and wrong was counsailed by his friends to pretend some lawfull challenge and claime thereunto and being in power it was no sooner advised what was to bee done but it was presently devised how to doe it So a title was drawne from Edmund sonne to King Henry the third whom they surnamed Crouch-backe affirming that hee was the eldest sonne of King Henry and that for his deformity hee was put from his right of succession in the Kingdome which was for that cause given to his younger brother King Edward the third to this Edmund the Duke was next of blood by his mother Blanche sole daughter and heyre to Henry the first Duke of Lancaster and sonne to the said Edmund This cunning conceit was perceived of all men but seeming not to perceive it was a point of friendship in some and of obedience in the rest therefore the Kingdome of England being then thought vacant both by the resignation and also by the deposition of King Richard Duke Henry arose from his seat and standing in the view of the Lords crossed himselfe on the fore-head and on the brest and spake as followeth In the name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster claime the realme of England and the Crown with all the appurtenances as I that am descended by right line of the blood royall comming from that good Lord K. Henry the third through the right that God of his grace hath sent me with the helpe of my kindred and of my friends to recover the same Which kingdome was in point to be undone for default of good government and due justice After these words it was demanded in both houses of the Nobility and of the Commons which were assembled whether they did consent that the Duke should raign who all with one voyce acknowledged and accepted him for their King then the Archbishop of Canterbury tooke him by the hand and placed him in the Throne of estate the Archbishop of Yorke assisting him and all the assembly testifying their owne joy and wishing his Then the Archbishop made an Oration and tooke for his theame this place of Scripture See this is the man whom I spake to thee of this same shall raigne over my people 1 Reg. 9.17 After all this hee was proclaymed King of England and of France and Lord of Ireland and the common people which is void of cares not searching into sequels but without difference of right or wrong inclinable to follow those that are mighty with shoutes and clamours gave their applause not all upon judgement or faithfull meaning but mostionly upon a received custome to flatter the Prince whatsoever he be Yet least the heat of this humour should allay by delay it was forthwith proclaimed in the great Hall that upon the 13. day of September next ensuing the Coronation of the King should be celebrated at Westminster These matters being thus dispatched the K. proclaimed arose from his seat and went to White-Hall where hee spent the rest of day in royall feasting and all other complements of joy notwithstanding there appeared in him no token of statelinesse or pride nor any change in so great a change Vpon Wednesday next following the Procurators before mentioned went to the presence of King Richard being within the Tower and declared unto him the admission of his resignation and also the order and forme of his deposition and in the name of all the States of the realm did surrender the homage and fealty which had bin due unto him so that no man from thenceforth would bear to him faith and obedience as to their King The King answered that he nothing regarded these titular circumstances but contented himselfe with hope that his cousen would be a gracious Lord and good friend unto him So upon the 13. day of October which was the day of the translation of Edward the Confessor the Duke was with all accustomed solemnities by the Archbishop of Canterbury sacred annoynted and crowned King at Westminster by the name of King Henry the fourth upon the very same day wherein the yeare before he had bin banished the Realme Hee was annoynted with an oyle which a certain religious man gave unto Henry the first Duke
these Lords or by any Officers under them he should prove his complaint receive recompence It was made a question whether it was not meet that these Noble men should be put to death the importunity of the people and the perswasion of many great men drew that way but policy was against it and especially the opinion of clemency which seemed needfull to the setling of a new risen state In this Parliament also the Lord Fitzwater appealed the said Duke of Aumerle Sonne to the Duke of Yorke upon points of High treason likewise the Lord Monley appealed Iohn Montacuâ—e Earle of Salisbury and more then twenty other appealants waged battaile but the King purposing to lay the foundation of his Realme by favour and not by force gave pardon and restitution alike to all upon sureties and band for their allegeance and in a sweet and moderate oration hee admonisheth and as it were intreated the one part that old griefes and grudges should not bee renewed but buried together with the memory of former times wherein men were forced to doe many things against their minds the other part hee desired to bee more regardfull of their actions afterwards and for the time past rather to forget that ever they were in fault then to remember that they were pardoned No punishment was laid upon any save onely the Earle of Salisbury and the Lord Morley who had beene in especiall grace and favour with King Richardâ— these two were committed to prison but at the sute of their friends they were soone released the rest the King received freely to favour but most especially the Duke of Aumerle and the Duke of Excester Lord Governour of Calis The Duke of Aumerle was cousen germane to both the Kings Iohn Holland Duke of Exeter was halfe brother to King Richard and brother in law to King Henry whose Sister the Lady Elizabeth hee had taken to wife The greatest matter that was enforced against them was their loialty unto King Richard a grievous crime among rebels because they did not onely stomack and storme at his dejection but stirre also more then others and assay to raise forces on his behalfe The Dukes boldly confessed the accusation that they were indeed unfortunately faithfull to King Richard but as those who once are false doe seldome afterwards prove soundly firme so they that have shewed themselves true to one Prince may the better bee trusted by any other The King did rather admit this as a defence then remit it as a fault affirming that such examples were not to bee misliked of Princes so hee entred with them into great termes of friendship and put them in place neerest his person endeavouring by courtesie and liberalty to make them fast and faithfull unto him this fact was diversly interpreted according to mens severall dispositions some admiring the Kings moderation others disliking and disallowing his confidence and indeed although these meanes have to this purpose prevailed with some yet the common course may move us commonly to conjecture that there is little assurance in reconciled enemies whose affections for the most part are like unto Glasse which being once cracked can never bee made otherwise then crazed and unsound Furthermore to qualifie all prejudice and hard opinion which other Princes might chance to conceive King Henry dispatched Embassadours to divers Countries neere unto him to make it knowne by what title and by what favour and desire of all the people hee attained the Kingdome To the Court of Rome hee sent Iohn Trevenant Bishop of Hereford Sir Iohn Cheyney Knight and Iohn Cheyney Esquire into France hee sent Walter Sherlow Bishop of Durham and Lord Thomas Pearcy Earle of Worcester into Spaine hee sent Iohn Trevor Bishop of S. Assaphes and Sir William Parre and into Almaine hee sent the Bishop of Bangor and certaine other Most of these Princes as in a matter which little concerned either their honour or their harme seemed either not to regard what was done or easily to bee perswaded that all was done well But Charles King of France was so distempered at this dishonourable dealing with his Sonne in law King Richard that by violence of his passion hee fell into his old panges of phrensie and at the last by helpe of physick returning to the sobriety of his sences hee purposed to make sharpe warre upon that disloyall people as hee termed them for this injury against their lawfull and harmelesse Prince Many Noble men of France shewed themselves very forward to enter into the service but especially the Earle of Saint Paul who had married King Richards halfe Sister So letters of defiance were sent into England and great preparation was made for the warre Likewise the newes of these novelties much abashed the Aquitanes who were at that time under the English subjection and plunged their thoughts in great perplexities Some were grieved at the infamous blemish of the English nation who had destained their honour with the spot of such disloyall dealing others feared the spoile of their goods and oppression of their liberties by the French-men against whose violence they suspected that the Realme of England being distracted into civill factions either would not attend or should not bee able to beare them out but the Citizens of Burdeaux were chiefely anguished in respect of King Richard partly fretting at his injury and partly lamenting his infortunity because hee was borne and brought up within their City And thus in the violence some of their anger some of their griefe and some of their feare in this sort they did generally complaine O good GOD said they where is the World become Saints are turned to Serpents and Doves into Divels The English nation which hath beene accompted fierce onely against their foes and alwayes faithfull to their friends are now become both fierce and faith lesse against their lawfull and loving Prince and have most barbarously betrayed him Who would ever have thought that Christians that civill people that any men would thus have violated all Religion all Lawes and all honest and orderly demeanure And although the Heavens blush at the view and the Earth sweat at the burthen of so vile a villany and all men proclaime and exclaime upon shame and confusion against them yet they neither feele the horrour nor shrinke at the shame nor feare the revenge but stand upon tearmes some of defence for the lawfulnesse of their dealing and some of excuse for the necessity Well let them bee able to blind the world and to resist mans revenge yet shall they never be able to escape either the sight or vengeance of Almighty God which we daily expect and earnestly desire to bee powred upon them Alas good King Richard thy nature was too gentle and thy government too mild for so stiffe and stubborne a people what King will ever repose any trust in such unnaturall subjects but fetter them with Lawes as theeves are with Irons What carriage hereafter can recover their credit What time will