be suitable to his Nature and their Ambitious Designs The three chief Favourites and Ministers were Robert Vere Earl of Oxford afterwards Marquiss of Dublin and Duke of Ireland Michael Delapool Earl of Suffolk and Robert Tresilian Lord Chief Justice The Duke of Ireland seem'd the best as hardly he cou'd do otherwise being set with two such Foils but he wanted Vertue and Courage without the excess of Vices of the other two Michael Delapoole was a model of complicated Vices in Peace the most odiously Insolent in War the most dejectedly Contemptible He despised all methods of Quietness and yet was frighted with the least Disturbance Tresilian the Chief Justice was one that never shew'd his Place or Title by any practice but ready to prostrate all Law to Occasion and Justice to Designs His Knowledg was Lewdness and his Vertue Violence what others design'd he was ready to execute and being kept up in this Darkness he grew fierce on all things that were cast to him This King was called Richard of Burdeaux because born there the only Son of the Black Prince By his Grandfather Edward the Third he was in his Life time declared his Successor And after his Death was Crowned at Westminster in the year 1377 by Simon Sudbury Archbishop of Canterbury with great Solemnity The King being then eleven years old The Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge the King's Uncles with other Lords and Bishops were joyned in Commission to manage the State. The Minority of the King gave foreign Princes an Opinion that it was a proper time to attempt upon England the French first laid hold on the Occasion and landed Forces and did some mischief and burnt some places near the Sea As about Rye Portsmouth Dartmouth and Plimouth as also Hastings and Winchelsea The Scots also assaulted the Castle of Berwick and won it but it was taken again by the Earls of Northumberland and Nottingham and all put to the Sword but Ramsey who took it by a bold and desperate attempt with a few Men. These troubles occasion'd a Parliament to be called at Westminster where Alice Pearce the Concubine to the late King Edward the Third was banish'd and all her Goods confiscated A Tax was then given of two Tenths of the Clergy and two Fifteenths of the Temporalty Others write the Tax was a Poll of four Pence upon every Head but which way soever it was either the Levying it or the Tax it self caused a sudden and strange Insurrection begun by the infusion of one Wiat a Factious Priest using these Common Notions against great Men who had power to oppress others and ruine the meaner sort to support their Greatness and Luxuries This spread to the City who gave intelligence that they were ready to join with the Rabble that appeared gather'd from many adjacent Countries This confused Body chose one Wat Tyler for their Captain whose Assistants or Privy-Councellers were John Ball Jack Straw and Jack Shepherd Blackheath as they marched to London was their Rendezvous where they appeared to be above Threescore Thousand From thence they marched to London declaring themselves for the King and People When they came to London they were received either for Fear or Love with all freedom and treated as if they strove who shou'd express themselves best to the flatter'd Rebels who like such a Mass of Giddiness got together committed nothing but Murther and Violence They burnt the Savoy the Duke of Lancaster's House they rifled the Temple and destroyed the Law-Books expressing a Spleen against any thing of that Nature Nor were Churches or Religious Houses spared the good they punished the ill they cherished setting all Prisoners at Liberty their Chief Leader Tyler remembring some Punishment that his old Master Richard Lyon had inflicted on him for some Crime he had committed without any more Tryal or Judgment than what his Revenge allowed caused his Head to be stricken off and carried before him on a Spear Their Numbers were now so great that the King durst not resist their Entrance into the Tower where they abused his Mother and took the Archbishop of Canterbury the Chancellor and Lord Treasurer and dragging them to Tower-Hill there beheaded them In the midst of all these Outrages the King proclaim'd a Pardon to all that wouâ—d go quietly home which the Essex men and some others accepted but the Kentish and others stayed with their Captain Tyler So that it seem'd as if part of this Rabble were not in the secret intention to subvert the Government and throw down all above themselves from Oppression About 20000. continued with their Captain The King looking upon this as a good beginning presented himself in Person before the Rebels and spoke to them with all sweetness promising them Pardon and Favour but had so rude a return from Tyler that instead of Submission he demanded the King's Sword at which the Mayor of London drew his and struck him to the ground where he was presently killed The Rabble seem'd to threaten Revenge But the City hearing this and thinking it high time to free their King and themselves from Ruine and Destruction came to his Relief with a body of men at which sight the affrighted Rebels yielded and some fled and deliver'd up their Ringleader a Sacrifice that seldom fails to be made by such Tumults Jack Straw at his Execution confessed their Design of destroying all that were above them in Name or Fortune The King 's chief Favourites now appeared to be Michael Delapoole made Chancellor of England and after Earl and Duke of Suffolk Robert de Vere Marquess of Dublin and after Earl of Ireland Alexander Archbishop of York and Tresilian the Chief Justice The first Testimony that these shewed of their Animosities against the Methods of a just Minister was the displacing Sir Richard Scroope Lord Chancellor who in all things used an impartial uprightness which was an Offence to their loose and partial Designs But they did not only sharpen the King's Nature against men in point of Offices and Employments but against their Lives The first appearance of this was by the Duke of Lancaster whose Offences were likewise from his Vertues and his Ruine therefore contrived by them and resolv'd by Tresilian to be done by Form of Law the worst sort of destroying when violated but when truly observ'd the best defence against destruction There are seldom any extream Proceedings in a Government but there are depraved persons enough in all Conditions ready to swim with the stream and take the benefit of any Tide of Fortune For when Mischief is to be practised Corruption is the Consequence and there are always those ready whom no Consideration ballances in their Natures with Honour and Benefit Tresilian was one of those thus prepared and cou'd hardly want as well-condition'd Informers and Juries Occasions preserved from men is the surest Cause of their Vertue but offered from those that should depress it is the Cause and Temptation of Villany
Receipt which were to be seen in the Chamber of Paris Hastings the Lord great Chamberlain was the only great Person that was hardly perswaded to become a Pensioner of France and that refus'd to give any Acquittance for what he receiv'd The same Historian says That he was the only man that perswaded him to it and had first perswaded him to be so to Charles Duke of Burgundy and when Cleret was sent by King Lewis with a Present of 2000 Crowns and desired his Acquittance for his Discharge as he had receiv'd it from the Chancellor and the Admiral He answer'd the Gift proceeded from his Master's Liberality not his Request If he desired he shou'd receive it he might put it in his Sleeve other Testimonial he shou'd get none of him for he wou'd not that any shou'd say That the Lord Chamberlain was Pensioner to the French King nor that his Acquittance shou'd be found in the Chamber of Accounts The King of France was angry with Cleret for bringing no Acquittance but ever after preferr'd the Lord Chamberlain in his Esteem before all the King of England's other Servants I cannot discern much Reason for it There seems little Difference to me between one that is carelesly and another that is cautiously dishonest And those Ministers equally forgot the Interest of England for their own to let them share in our Affairs and Councils The People judgâ—â— right in this and Parliaments as Cemines observes were never corrupted in themselves and Judgments and alwayâ— perceiv'd the Dissimulation of the French and in another place says they were always willing to grant Aids against France for they cou'd not be deceiv'd by Demonstration which shew'd the Difference in our Methods and Constitution from theirs Our Laws are suitable to our Interest and our Interest secur'd by our Laws Our Fashions and manner of Expences shou'd be applicable to the Consumption of our own Productions The French differ from the first and their Fancies are the only Measures of the last They are not capable to live after the Methods of our Interest but we may quit ours to assist theirs France can be but of little use to us but we may be of too much to them They may receive but can bring no advantage They have reason then to be always active to keep an Interest here by private means since 't were vain to hope it by publick ones and Gardinal Richelieu well understood these Truths when he call'd England their Indies About this time Guido Earl of St. Paul was sent by Charles the French King to visit and complement King Richard and his Queen The Earl according to the ready Confidence of the French became Counsellor For one day the King discoursing with him he complain'd of the Duke of Glocester and in particular that he did passionately endeavour to disturb the Peace between England and France The Earl presently gave Seutence against the Duke and told the King plainly he was not fit to live For when a Subject was grown so great a Prince was no longer safe and if he meant to secure himself against Danger the surest way was to destroy those from whence it might so easily come This Advice blew the King's Anger into a Flame and he began to express to some of his great men his Displeasure against the Duke of Glocester but he found in them all an high Opinion of the Duke's Honour and Vertue So that the King began to calm again and shew'd as if Cruelty had not its full spring from his own Nature but swell'd as it was nourish'd by the Streams of other Councils For after this he was again rais'd by the Advices of the Earls of Holland and Nottingham to contrive the Destruction of the Duke of Glocester And commonly as the Advice of ill men tends to the worst things so generally they suggest the worst way of doing them The Duke of Glocester was then at his House in Plashy in Essex whither the King was invited or rather invited himself and with all Testimonies of Respect and Kindness most splendidly feasted This was judg'd a proper time for the Design and as the Duke waited upon the King to bring him going he was seiz'd by a Company of arm'd men laid secretly for him and so hurried blindfold to the Thames and in a Vessel ready prepar'd carried to Calice and there shortly after strangled Either thought too Guilty and Popular or not Guilty enough to be brought to a publick Tryal And as the wicked Advisers perswaded his taking by the breach of Hospitality the basest way of Treachery so they continued in the peculiar Methods of Mischief to contrive his Death by the most hated way of private Murther Within a Day or two after the King invited the Earl of Warwick to Dinner and in the midst of all shews of Kindness sent him to Prison and also the Earl of Arundel and his Son. The Dukes of Lancaster and York being thus alarm'd gather'd Forces together but upon the Promise of a Parliament and Legal Proceedings with many Excuses for what had been done they dismiss'd their Forces and came up to attend at Parliament where Sir John Bushy Sir William Bagott and Sir Henry Green appear'd busie Ministers for the King Sir Bushy was made Speaker and by his and their assiduous Endeavours corrupting some by Fears and others by Benefits the Charters of Pardon formerly granted by the King were annull'd and made void The Prelates perceiving what way was made for taking away of Lives constituted Sir Henry Percy their Procurator and absented themselves that they might not be present at any Sentence of Blood a President ever to be remembred for the Honour of their Calling Then follow'd as was expected the Death of the Earl of Arundel the perpetual Imprisonment of the Earl of Warwick in the Isle of Man the Death of the Duke of Glocester above-mention'd the Archbishop of Canterbury arraign'd for Executing the Commission against Michael Delapoole the Lord Cobham banished into the Isle of Wight Sir Reginald Cobham condemn'd to Death for being formerly appointed by the Lords in the King's Minority to be one of his Governours These Cruel Successes furnished Arguments to those new Upstart Ministers Bushy Bagott and Green to infuse into the King how much more safe he was by Cruelty than gentle means and how much more secure by Fear than Love. Nor are other Counsels to be expected from such Men equally low and mean in their Minds as in their Extractions made greedy from their Poverty and ambitious from their Meanness neither endued with their Minds and Fortunes to think of Principles Power was their Justice Violence their Prudence and Opportunity the Providence The King was now possess'd with the Opinion That he was in a Condition to dispose as he pleas'd of those that durst dislike his Actions and that his Will might now become the Law. But the present Prospect of Things commonly deceives those that are willing onely to believe the
ill Intention and this unlimited Confidence confirm'd the Opinion of it both betray'd what he design'd both shou'd conceal and by the Extreams taught the fatal Lesson of Jealousie and those perhaps that advis'd the ill Designs wanting power to bring them forth from their own Fears gave Councils contrary to their former Advices in a better Condition For men without Principles are guided by those Opinions that unequal Fears or unsteddy Ambition gives them and receive no Council from even Principles or unshaken Vertue These Mistakes provok'd the Banishment of Gaveston and the King became liable to Perjury whenever they pleased But after he had committed this Error he pursues it with a greater and though he banish'd Gaveston to keep his Oath he violates again by re-calling him and gives him his Neece in Marriage and so much Rules that it justly merited the Censure of wasting the publicâ— Treasure The Barrons enrag'd at this Breach of Faith in the King and to see the Fortune of the Nation thrown into a Stranger 's Hands threaten Force against their Perjur'd Prince and by this means obtain again the Banishment of Gaveston with a Clause of Death if ever he returned Gaveston having not been long in Banishment and finding or at least believing he was not safe abroad thought it less hazardous to trust to the former extravagant Affection of the King than Enemies and Strangers in another Countrey and upon this consideration comes back into England and immediately repairs to him The King according to his expectation receiv'd him with such an Excess of inconsiderate Joy and Kindness that it seem'd as if Gaveston brought always Charms more powerful than any Divine or Hamane Obligation Upon this the Lords again took Arms and petition in the Name of the whole Commonalty That Gaveston may be banish'd The King more fond of Gaveston than sensible of what he had done or of their Force or Petition takes as it were a Flight with him and puts him with Forces into Scarborough-Castle and as Gaveston seem'd to aim at security by weaving the King's Fortunes with his so the King seem'd to make his Fortunes as desperate as Gaveston's by sharing his Condition The Lords eagerly pursu'd him to Scarborough which they besieg'd and took together with Gaveston whom they immediately beheaded Thus this unhappy Prince neglecting his own Faith gave others the Opinion that theirs was discharg'd and the fondness of a Favourite above the People lessen'd their Duty as he lessen'd his Consideration of them and 't is too visible a truth that a Prince who so much resigns himself to Favourites must also resign his Fortune to theirs The Lords swell'd with this Success the usual Effects of Ravish't Power march with an Army towards London where the King then was where Necessity and not Choice seem'd to be the means that a Parliament was call'd where the King complain'd of the Barons who justified their unlawful Actions by the Errors of their Prince and plead Merit for having purchas'd the Banishment of Strangers to quiet the People Thus unsteddy Actions beget wild Arguments and false Pretensions are too much supported by Power However a Composure for the present was made by the Queen the Bishops and the Earl of Glocester who calm'd the Barons into a Temper of asking the King's Pardon and several Articles were agreed on for present satisfaction which seem'd as if the Lords had more Inclinations to Obedience than Rebellion and wanted but the prudent Justice of a Prince to be applied to cure these Wounds that Jealous Discontents had made But the Mischief of former ill Humours and Councils remain'd and began to shew themselves by the dealy of performing what was agreed on which was the Cause that the Earls of Arundel Warwick and Warren refus'd to go with the King against the Scots It seems strange that Vnsteddiness and Injustice Two of the weakest Errors of Mankind shou'd become Rules for Princes to act by which could hardly be possible were they not resign'd to the Councils of others and consequently to their Interests such who cannot by National Methods pursue their Ambitious Designs and protect what they obtain the pursuit of Honour and Riches are seldom limited and putting a Distance between King and People is the only means to keep them remote from Examination and Justice and at least involve their Interest so with his that to question them is to attack his Dignity To foment Differences between the King and others was now acted by little Artifices one Instance of which was the taking away the Earl of Lancaster's Wife by one Richard St. Martin claiming her as his and that he had formerly lain with her and claim'd by her the Two Earldoms of Lincoln and Salisbury This was an Action that seem'd to shew the Encouragement and Assistance of great Power nor did they that contriv'd it omit their chief aim of having the King thought a Party at once to engage him in their Designs and Animosities and to revenge himself and them by particular Injuries For 't is not to be presum'd that such a man as the Duke of Lancaster could have such a violence committed in his House by an inconsiderable Fellow without great assistance of Force and Power and the Two Earldoms that seems rested in her were Arguments that the Design was to affront the Duke of Lancaster in the Diminution of his Honour and to make an irreconcilable Difference between the King and him who being related to the King and a man of great Quality and Interest might perhaps be an Obstacle to those Designs which were contriving by the new Favourites and it was an improper consideration for such to consider whether the King's Interest and Honour were best served by this but only whether their own Designs were not best pursu'd And now the same Fatal Humour began to shew it self and Hugh Spencer the Younger who Mezeray says had been bred up with him in an unbecoming Familiarity and had absolute Empire over him succeeded Caveston in an almost unlimited Favour and Power The first Difference that this caused appeared at the Siege of Berwick which being near taken by the Scots the King declared to make his Design to make the Younger Spencer Governour of it upon which the Earl of Lancaster withdrew his Forces with whom the Lords presently took Arms and declared the Cause to be for the removing the Spencers the Father being now got into joynt Commission of Favour with his Son who govern'd with as much Insolence and Absoluteness as ever Gaveston had done With these Forces they advance towards the King and boldly demand the Banishment of the Spencers The King not being strong enough at present to oppose them gives a Temperate Answer only seeming averse to punish any but by Form of Law and therefore wou'd not banish them unheard but promises them they shou'd answer to any Charge and swore he wou'd never pardon Offences prov'd This Answer did not yet satisfie the Lords who
continued their March to London where the King grants all things denied before The King that had yeilded to what was demanded by Force out of the apprehension of that Power retain'd yet his former Inclinations and was so used to act by indirectness that he rather proceeded by a familiar Method than any new Necessity and praetis'd as much from Nature as Occasion The Spencers by an Edict published in Westminster-Hall by the Earl of Hereford were banished the Realm but in a very little time when the Lords were returned home the Edict was revoked in a Council held in London where the Archbishop of Canterbury declared the Banishment of the Spencers to have been Erroneous As soon as the Lords were retired to their promised Quiet having obtained what they desired the King began to design to revenge on them the Displeasure for what he himself had granted as if all his Favours were his Errours and his Severity his prudent Justice Thus while they thought themselves restored to Peace the King prepares for War and suddenly raising Forces pursues the Barons many of whom revolt to him the rest make such preparations as was possible in so short a time and stayed with their Forces at Burton upon Tnent When the King's Army advanc'd to them they perceiv'd they were much exceeded in Numbers so that the Earl of Lancaster thought it wiser to retreat especially considering that he had sent Sir Robert Holland to raise more Forces among his Tenants which Supplies he thought it prudent to wait for But the Endeavour to retreat gave the King's Forces an Addition of Courage from that Testimony of their Fear which was made use of by Valence Earl of Pembrook who then Commanded the King's Army who after some resistance put them to flight after which the Earl of Lancaster and many Noblemen and Gentlemen were taken Prisoners The News of this Defeat or his own Falseness brought Sir Robert Holland with his new raised Forces to joyn with the King. As soon as these mighty Enemies were in the King's Power the Spencers full of Revenge urged on for the Execution of all 'T is said That Valence the Earl of Pembrook who obtained the Victory interceded for Mercy but this rather hastens their Fate for Spencer was so apprehensive that the King's Mercy to any wou'd be a Cruelty to him that he successfully urg'd a quick Execution The King with other Lords among whom was Hugh Spencer now Earl of Winchester sat and gave Judgment upon the Earl of Lancaster who was presently beheaded and many other Lords in their several Countries to disperse Terror in every place Above Twenty Men of Quality were put to death at this time the first Blood of this nature that was ever shed since the Conquest Besides the Earl of Lancaster there died Fourteen Lords and Barons their Estates and Inheritances were likewise seiz'd and were us'd to advance a new sort of men who must needs applaud and flatter such Councils and Successes that had been so favourable to them and questionless the Streams of Flatteries flow'd to the King for his Choice of such a Favourite as Spencer who had now enthron'd him once again and by so much Blood procured him the surest Coronation Nor was Spencer less blind in the Judgment of his own Condition who was now Master of his King and of all those Spoils that this bloody Success had thrown into his ambitious Arms But his Condition was too prosperous temperately to consider the Vncertainty of a Violent Prosperity watched by the unwearied searches of Envy and Revenge Councils and Actions now appeared as commonly after such Success Law lay contemn'd under Power and the Interest of the Nation under Conquest all Temperate and Composing Actions formerly used were now reflected on as a Prince's Shame and any thing less than Arbitrary Power his Dishonour an ill chosen Ground of Safety in its own Nature but most improper to engage a Prince in who by the weakness of unsteddy Judgment and the ill use of Power had sufficiently by mistrust prepar'd mens minds not to be couzen'd into Flattery It must be the Concurrence of many strange Accidents and the close Reserve of a Prince's Nature that must steal him into Absolute Power otherwise we had heard of many more successful Tyrants in the World For I doubt not but generally the Natures of Men have been more ready to embrace more Power than their Abilities or Accidents have complied to assist them in And we seldom read of such as become Slaves but of such as have been well couzen'd Subjects The King's Power now seemingly grown to a great height by the Numbers that his Success encreas'd flatter'd him as well as their Tongues that nothing was able to resist him and perhaps to find uses for those Forces that now must be kept together resolves to march from York into Scotland rather with a mighty Number than a powerful Army never considering that such Numbers without suitable Discipline and Provisions were a weakness to themselves The Scots it seem'd consider'd this and kept close and hindred them of all Provisions leaving them to overcome themselves for Want increasing they were beaten without Blows and return'd pursued by Want and Dishonour as well as by the Scots who enter'd far into England and return'd with great Spoils into Scotland This unhappy King not made for Councils was as well not born for Triumph and was now perhaps at a calmer leisure to consider what he had done It seem'd something like regretting Thoughts when being earnestly sollicited to pardon one of the Duke of Lancaster's Followers a Man of a mean Condition he exclaim'd with Passion against such Councellors that prest him to spare the Life of such a Fellow and spoke not one word to spare the Life of the Duke though his near Kinsman whose Blood had so near Relation to his own making this true Reflection that his Life might have been useful to him the other 's could not Misfortune seem'd at this Instant to give the King a more temperate Consideration which in the streams of Success he would hardly have leisure to entertain but this was rather an unsteddy than a firm return to better and more prudent Thoughts and Councils his Nature was still the same which made his Favours or Displeasure equally dangerous Sir Andrew Hackley who took the Earl of Lancaster shew'd the Truth of this for growing enough to give apprehension to the Spencers he lost his new enjoy'd Honours together with his Life being first degraded of them and then executed So that the King seem'd at one time ready to destroy and to revenge Destruction just as the Displeasure and Spleen of his Ambitious Favourites guided him It was no wonder if so easie a Conquest over a King shou'd swell the Conquerour enough to burst him nor that so much Wealth and Glory shou'd so much dazzle the Eyes of Spencer as to make him loose his way but all seem'd calm nor any little speck
equal Credit and Principles with the Earl of Suffolk to whom also joined the Archbishop of York to strengthen their Power and weaken their King's for they who had influence enough to make a Prince believe their Cause to be his might easily carry him on to revenge these Affronts he now assumed to be his own To this belongs the same Fate that attends indirect unsteddy Counsels they must be maintained by the Ruine or Oppression of those that suffer'd by them and no method taken for the Preservation of any but they that merited the Punishment The Argument that was and must be used to deceive Princes was then enforced by these Favourite-Ministers That the Arrows shot at them were intended against the Prince and 't was but a method of Rebellion to confine a King on whom to confer his Favour and therefore to avoid the Dishonour of a Limited Monarchy he must now use Power and declare his Trust in that only With this flattery they raise their King to a fatal Confidence in that which must in time deceive misguided Princes For perhaps for some time Apprehension and Conscience may preserve a shew of Peace yet at last Errour and Oppression will disturb such a weak-setled Calm The King thus rais'd by Flattery above his Power and sharpned by false Arguments beyond his Nature they proceed seemingly to act his Cause but really to revenge themselves and like the other Favourites in King Edward's Time wrap their Prince's Fall and Hazard and their own together while they are only the King 's Loyal Subjects and the Kingdom his and their own guilty Enemies The Memory of Suffolk's Tryal and Condemnation was the first Cause that incited them against those that were his Judges the Duke of Glocester and others on whose Destruction they first resolved as being the most considerable nor feared his near Relation to the King for they knew their Power was gotten above his Nature or Consideration The first Design was to invite Glocester and others to a Supper in London and there murther them which some write was discover'd by the Duke to Exton the then Mayor of London and so the Mischief was prevented for that time About this time the Earls of Arundel and Nottingham who were engaged with the Duke of Glocester in the Tryal and Censure of the Chancellour Suffolk Commanded the Navy and did so many brave Actions that all mouths were fill'd with just Praises the King 's only excepted to whom Satisfaction did most belong For at their Return they found such a cold Reception from the King that it seem'd they were rather forgiven for Misdemeanours than receiv'd for Merits The strangeness of his Words told too plainly That publick Merit lost its Nature when the Desert was in the Enemies of his Favourites How much more limited is a King by such as inflame him against the Dishonour of it He must neither reward Vertue nor punish Vice his best and bravest Subjects must not be esteem'd nor his worst question'd nor punish'd The Duke of Ireland with as much Arbitrary Power as he perswaded the King to assume put away his Wife the Duke of Glocester's Daughter and marryed a Vintners some say a Joyners Daughter The injur'd Lady often petition'd the King but without success her Injury was done by a Favourite where his Nature was more tyed than to his own Blood Upon no less nourishment can growing Favourites prosper than by their Princes loss of Interest and Honour The Duke of Glocester bore it not so calmy but told the Duke of Ireland plainly he wou'd revenge it who from that time grew more assiduous to contrive the Destruction of the Duke of Glcester but at the present his pretended Journey to Ireland kept all silent which after many delays he seemingly began and was accompanied in great State by the King himself the Earl of Suffolk and the ready Chief Justice Tresilian But this proved only a Journey through Wales and so about to Nottingham where they enter'd in private and black Consultations The first was to destroy the Lords and for that end summon'd the Sheriffs of every County and plainly asked them what they cou'd promise against the Lords if the King should require it Their Answers were for the most part That the People were very much satisfied in their Opinions That the Lords were lovers of their King and Country and therefore durst promise nothing in that matter The Tryal was then made to pack a Parliament by contriving Elections as the King should appoint But this received as cold a return To what a lose Hazard they had now reduced their King to attempt unsuccessfully to break by force or in a Legal way to make the Nation destroy it self The last was without question the most dangerous design force may enslave for little time but slavery by Law is like to endure longer but the People were not then couzen'd enough and indeed it must be the Concurrence of strange Accidents the fairness of an undiscover'd Dissimulation and the Opportunity embraced in the same Moment that must so infatuate the People as to make their Ruin their Choice The last attempt was design'd by surer means the Judges who kept and seem'd to deserve their Places for the Compliance of these were summoned the two Chief Justices Tresilian and Belknap with others and to them were put Queries which might comprehend the safety of the Ministers and the danger of all they pleased beside The Questions were to comprehend so large a Treason that it could not miss to find Traitors for by them resolved the very Constitution of the Nation was Treason The first four Queries concern'd the Duke of Suffolk most particularly and with him all Favourites For the Case was put Whether the Law it self and the Commission for his Tryal did not derogate from the Kings Authority and then how they were to be proceeded with that procured such a Law and how they were to be dealt with that provoked the King to assent to it The Fifth Question What they merited that oppos'd the Kings remitting or releasing Penalties or Debts due to him The sixth seventh eighth and ninth consisted of Questions Whether Parliaments could proceed upon any business but such as the King should propose and limit by Articles And whether the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament might accuse any of the King's Officers without his Leave The Tenth was singly for the Duke of Suffolk Whether the Judgment given in the last Parliament against him were Erroneous and Revocable 'T is improbable that such questions as these shou'd be propos'd to any Persons that had the Names of Justices unless there had been before a received assurance of the Answers they wou'd give Accordingly it appear'd for they returned not any answer doubtingly or modestly but determined all to be Treason and the Offenders worthy the death of Traytors The last Article they resolved with as much clearness viz. That the Proceedings and Judgment against the Duke of Suffolk
were Erroneous and Revocable and accordingly deliver'd these bald Opinions under their Hands and Seals It seem'd as if they durst judge no Crime less than Treason that offended the Ministers though by their bold Opinions the Parliament it self became the Traytors and a Statute Law the Treason This I suppose was highly applauded by the Ministers and the King flatter'd to believe what excellent Servants he had of such Judges by whose briskness not only the Law but the troublesome Constitution it self of the Nation might be rendred as useless as Arbitrary Power cou'd desire For if such Laws that seem'd to limit a King shou'd in themselves become void for that very Cause there could no Law be valid but such as pleas'd the Soveraign who was the Judge of his own Infringment and then all past Laws and Laws to be made would become but prostituted Writings to the Will of Princes Perhaps at that time these Judges had the Character of being the most Loyal for appearing most desperate giving that great Testimony of their Devotion that their Zeal for the Favourites was far warmer than for their Countrey and involved themselves in their Fortunes by Principles as leud as their Designs The King looked upon the Opinion of these Judges as Authentick and of validity enough to throw legally into his power the Estates and Fortunes of those Lords that appeared most Eminent against his Ministers and accordingly he began to dispose of their Estates among those that he favoured presuming them without farther Tryal Convicted Persons and to maintain this absurdity by a worse rais'd Soldiers privately and sent to surprize the Earl of Arundel The Duke of Glocester having Intelligence of all these proceedings got the Bishop of London to perswade the King from such Violences and to assure him that he had never had an undutiful thought against him and intimated how much more safe and Honourable it wou'd be for the King not to be led by false suggestions to such a fatal difference and severity with his best and greatest Subjects The Bishop performed this with his best Skill and Zeal and wrought so upon the King that he seem'd inclin'd to a more happy Temper but the Duke of Suffolk that had all Peace and Justice by which he knew he was to have little Benfit nor cou'd be probably safe longer than while he kept his King in danger quickly nipt the King's budding Gentleness and like an untimely Frost blasted the springing Hopes of Peace falling upon the Bishop with harsh and insolent Reproofs But the Bishop not daunted with his Power and Greatness boldly told him That it was not the Service of his Prince that guided him but his own violent Ambition and that rather than the Lords shou'd not be destroy'd he would involve the Nations in Ruine Adding That it was easie for such abject Spirits as his to raise Tumults which must be ended by the Ruine of the Bravest nor was he fit to give Advice that was the chief Incendiary and made a Party by his Condemnation The King was so angry to see his Favourite so roughly and boldly attacked that he commanded the Bishop out of his sight In this particular as in most of the King 's unhappy Actions he appeared against Himself and his own Reason being guided by the Duke of Suffolk who was of a contrary Interest turn'd from his own Nature and Reason by one that wanted Sense and Bowels and by this Unsteddiness kindled new Mistrusts the fruitful Nourishers of Civil Mischiefs At this the Duke of Glocester the Earls of Arundel Warwick and Derby take Arms the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Ely then Lord Chancellour were sent to the Lords who composed Matters so well that the Lords agreed to appear before the King at Westminster under the Promise of Protection But retaining their usual Jealousies they receiv'd the Bishop of Ely's Assurance That if there were any Danger design'd them he would give them notice Accordingly he kept his Word and a little before the Lords were to come he gave them Intelligence of an Ambush laid for them at the Mews to seize them as they came in Upon this the Lords fail'd of their coming which the King wondring at ask'd the Bishop of Ely What might be the Reason who boldly told him That the Lords durst not trust him and had discover'd the Trap laid for them Of which the King seem'd to be wholly ignorant and commanded the Sheriffs to search the Mews and to kill and carry to Prison all they found conceal'd But the Thing was true though the Place mistaken for the armed Men were secretly assembled at Westminster by Sir Richard Bramber and Sir Thomas Trivett who perceiving or being inform'd of the Discovery secretly convey'd away their Men. It seem'd as if the King were really ignorant of this that was acted by the desperate Ministers who shew'd a full Confidence in the Power they had with the King And tho' perhaps they apprehended the Action too vile to trust the King with it yet they did not doubt to bring him to approve it tho' never so base if successful enough Nor hath this been an unusual Method of Powerful Ministers and Favourites to contrive Mischiefs for their Prince to approve knowing that it is easier from the necessity of a Thing done to gain an Approbation than a Consent to the Attempt of it For a Prince that is wholly led by them and wrapt up in their desperate Counsels and Interests may scruple at a thing to be done that he cannot when 't is effected One is but a difference in Opinion the other is a deserâ—ion of his Party he may be free in the first but too much involved to be at liberty in the latter A Prince in this Condition has not only his own Errours but the weight of theirs to struggle under and 't is impossible he shou'd make any Calculation of his own Fortune unless he were free to examine the mischievous Effects of those ill Planets that he Himself had rais'd to such powerful Influences At last upon new Faith and Security the Lords came to the King at Westminster but so strongly guarded that they did not appear like Men that came to Submit or Petition Accordingly they challenged for Traytors the Duke of Ireland the Duke of Suffolk the Archbishop of York the Chief Justice Tresilian and others The King at that time when Favourites could not speak spoke like himself a King and with equal Temper and Reason shew'd the Lords That if all were true they alledged they had not taken the proper way too seek for Justice by a shew of Rebellion and give that opportunity to the licentious Multitude which perhaps might be difficult to take again from them And after having gently laid before them the more proper way for what they desired he raised them from their knees and retired with them All this while the adverse Party kept out of the way apprehending as justly they might the
and Lord Treasurer but the City to shew their good will to the Queen among the many Testimonies she received gave a bloody one of their Devotion to her increasing Success and struck off the Bishop's Head and seiz'd the Tower of London killing many in their Fury and acting those Lawless Cruelties that they before Condem'd These strange Revolutions evidently shew'd the various Powers of Adversity and Prosperity how it depresses some below themselves and lifts up others beyond their Reason and Consciences The Queen that had been before the repairer of her Husband's Errors now makes use of them to her Husband's ruin She that us'd to bring Peace to heal those Wounds Ill Councels had made brought War now to make them wider and whilst she Condemn'd those Diseases that made the Nation sick she made Rebellion the Cure. But success as it was us'd to do made her not only act worse than her self but worse than those she had so Condemn'd At first she only declared against the Favourites and perhaps then only design'd their ruins but she ought not with the loss of her own Vertue to try to Cure what the want of it in others had caused But had not the rapidness of her Good Fortune hurried her so fast from her self she might have discern'd she was expos'd upon so violent a Stream as wou'd carry her by its own Force and not by her Direction and others at last wou'd use that Power which in such Cases as these are is seldom retain'd long by the Raisers of it Mighty Causes that bring Disorders like Temples raise up things first and toss up unthought of Ruines upon them and a Succession of mischief lasts till the Storm ceases No Age but this afforded these Examples and yet we see it not powerful enough to teach those who would be safe in Vertue not to hazard being Corrupted by Power violently obtain'd The Queen now with still encreasing Forces pursues her flying King and Husband and from Oxford marches to Glocester and from thence to Bristol where the King had put the Earl of Arundel and Spencer the Father to defend the Place which was fortified as well as the time wou'd give them leave But this Place quickly yielded to that success which seem'd to deny all hopes to the King 's declining Condition Spencer was there taken and executed with all the Rigour that Revenge and Conquest cou'd invent and with as much Contempt of Law as he and his Son had formerly shewed They Condemn'd him without any Tryal and prevented his natural Determination which cou'd not have been long being then Fourscore years old Proclamation was about this time made That if the King wou'd come in and conform himself to the Laws and Government he should be restor'd by the General Consent of the People But the King either durst not or his Favourite Spencer durst not let him trust this Declaration Such Ministers made desperate hold their King the safer the more sinking their Condition is and rather chose that the Hazard of their Prince may save them than their Ruin save their Prince Though perhaps in his Prosperous Condition they flatter'd him that their Lives and Fortunes shou'd be always Sacrifices for him But 't is equally strange that Princes in great Power and Prosperity shou'd with pleasure believe Flatterers and that those Interested Flatterers should hope to be believed it shews a fatal Weakness in the one and loose Designs in the other Those also that put forth this Proclamation to call the King to his own Government did perhaps as little desire he shou'd embrace it For this was but once done and seem'd a thing rather us'd to covâ—â— what was intended than a clear intention in it self For the eager pursuit of the King was still continued who as some say seeking to Land in Lundy was driven by Tempest into Wales and in the Abby of Nethe in Glamorganshire lay some time conceal'd From Hereford the Queen divided part of her Army under the Command of Henry Earl of Lancaster into Wales in pursuit of the King who by the means of one Ryce ap Powel who was well acquainted in the Country took the King in a Monastery This Earl of Lancaster was Brother to him that was beheaded at Pomfret and seem'd to shew a Powerful pursuit of Blood to bring the King into the Mercy of a Family where he had shew'd so little Others say that the King and and the younger Spencer were in the Castle of Bristol when it was besieged from whence fearing the Event he with the younger Spencer stole away by night and endeavouring to escape by Sea his Boat was beaten back and trying to put out again it was discover'd by the Lord Beaumont who chas'd them with a small Vessel and took the King and Spencer in it However they all agree that Spencer was taken with him as if the King must always appear inseparably from the Cause of his Misfortunes The Earl of Arundel that was taken at Bristol with others were beheaded at the Instance of Mortimer who now Govern'd the Queen's Affections and Affairs This Earl of Arundell was generally allowed a brave Character and seem'd to be Guilty of no Fault but Loyalty to an unfortunate King unless his Relation to the younger Spencer who marryed his Daughter The same thing that creates a prosperous Interest in one Condition brings Ruine in another or else it seem'd improbable that so brave a Gentleman shou'd dye like a Traytor only for being Loyal The younger Spencer was carryed along only to Grace the Queen's marching Triumph and as the chief Cause of her taking Arms he was render'd as Contemptible a Spectacle as was possible and expos'd in a fitting Posture to increase the Storms and Reproaches that use to attend such miserable Objects And perhaps some were mingled in the Crowd that had formerly in his prosperous Greatness saluted him with fawning Acclamations At last he was eased of all his Sufferings though by a Death as full of Torments as cou'd be imagin'd which yet he endur'd with much seeming calmness perhaps wearied with so much shame and misery he might be willing any way to find an undisturbed Quietness A Parliament was presently called where it was agreed the King shou'd be Depos'd and his Son placed in his Throne who hearing of it refus'd such an untimely Succession without the Consent and Resignation of his Father Commissioners were immediately Deputed consisting of Lords and Bishops to go to the King But before they came the ready Bishops of Hereford and Lincoln had pressed the King to yield to the powerful Decrees of the Nation and added â—no question specious Petences how well he shou'd be provided for and live more happily than the various Cares of a Crown wou'd ever permit him Yet mingled Threatnings That if he refus'd quietly to resign to his Son the Fury of the Incens'd Nation wou'd not only Destroy Him but perhaps his Posterity The King seem'd quietly to submit and
danger of such powerful and enraged Enemies This Action of the King is question'd by some Historians whether done out of Apprehension or a better Temper But yet all this while that things bore this calm face the Duke of Ireland gathered Forces and was met and overthrown by the Earl of Derby near Burford But he that was so bold in Counsel shew'd little of Courage when 't was needful in Action and fled himself before the Fight scarce began Among many things that were taken of the Duke's in one of his Trunks were found Letters from the King to hasten his coming to London with what Power he could make where the King wou'd be ready to share Fortunes with him Upon the news of the Duke of Ireland's Defeat the Duke of Suffolk fled in a Disguise to Calice and never more returned It is a wonder that ever such a Man shou'd get the ascendant over a Prince a Man that was profuse of what he cou'd get and got it as willingly by the Spoils of others as by justifiable Ways He was unfit for Peace by his turbulent Nature and wanted Courage to be troublesome in War. In Peace he was furious in War calm never quiet but when afraid at all other times intemperate When he was not designing Mischief his Courage or Occasion fail'd him He never seem'd good but when necessity hindred him from appearing bad He had no Fits of a Disease but liv'd in a continual Leprosie But we have read of other Presidents how worthless Men have fcru'd themselves into Princes Favours by such Flatteries that generous Tempers cou'd not creep to For ill Men study the Nature of Princes good Men their Interest and that which is most pleasant sooner prevails than that which is most useful The Chief Justice Tresilian with others of that Faction fled from this Storm and the King retir'd to the Tower while the Lords with a great Army march'd towards London and shew'd themselves in a form of Battel to the King who lay with his Forces in the Suburbs The King at first seem'd to slight them but at last yielded a Treaty The Tower was the place appointed but the Lords first made what search they pleas'd and came with such Guards as they thought fit at once shewing the severe effects of Mistrust and Power the first seldom to be cured the last as seldom us'd with Modesty For when they came to the King they plainly charg'd him by way of Accusation of the Contrivances at Nottingham against them his Letters to the Duke of Ireland contrary to his Word to raise Forces the Agreement with the French to deliver up Calice and other Grievances which the ill Conduct of the King's Ministers had plentifully furnish'd them with At these Truths told by those that had Power enough to Revenge the King instead of a Defence sunk into a Confession of his Errours which seem'd at that time to make a great Impression on the Lords and produced the Agreement of a meeting at Westminster the next day But they were no sooner gone but the King's Mind was turn'd by Arguments of the common frame That by the Meeting he wou'd expose his Person to danger and his Authority to diminution Which presently chang'd the King and shew'd as if a fatal Mutability was to pursue him to his end To such dangerous Methods he must probably be led by the Counsels of those whose desperate Ambitions cou'd permit no directness to be us'd towards their Enemies the Publick Such Ministers are the Consulters of Moments shifting only for a present Preservation and dare not look towards the future but refer Things to come to the same Chance that rais'd them They live to no Rules but with an unlimited readiness wait upon Occasion This Alteration in the King rais'd the Lords to such a rage that they sent him word That if he us'd such Indirectness they wou'd choose a New King. At this being again shaken he not only went but submitted to those he had so enrag'd before and delivers up that Power which he was before counsell'd not to diminish So that his ill-tim'd Counsels made that Misfortune sure which they seem'd careful to prevent A Parliament was presently called where Tresilian the famous Chief Justice was condemn'd and presently executed as also the other Chief Justice Belknap and other Judges and some banish'd The Lords grew now so high by their Success that they exacted an Oath from their King to become a Subject to them and submit to their Government Thus when Errours provoke Force 't is hard for those Jealousies that urg'd the Attempt of Power to suffer it to be us'd modestly much less to be laid down when obtain'd And when once a State begins to be tost by such Commotions Parties in that Tempest like Waves in Storms pursue and dash out one another Within little more than a Year after this the King grew to be One and Twenty and upon that took an Occasion when all things seem'd a little compos'd to assume full Power I cannot but here remember the Character the Impartial and Judicious Mezeray gives Lewis the Eleventh upon his Entrance upon the Throne That he was the greatest Enemy to his own and his Kingdoms Quiet one that lov'd his own Irregular Fancies more than the wise Laws and thought the greatest Grandeur consisted in the greatest Oppression pulling down great ones to raise up the meanest from nothing This he says another calls putting their Kings Hors de Paye that is out of their Minority he should have said putting them out of their Sense and Reason No question the Ministers were ready to welcome him to that which they call'd the Exercise of his Power when it was rather to the Execution of theirs The first practice of it was taking the Great Seal from the Bishop of Ely as if remembring his former Carriages and gave it to Wickham Bishop of Winchester and displac'd many others as if by that he seem'd to take Seizin of his new Power suspending also Glocester and Warwick from the Privy-Council The Tide now turn'd to the King who began to return to follow those Advices that had brought him to so much hazard before And that Interest and Opinion which the French had work'd themselves into appear'd in all things to increase The Duke of Glocester and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury had formerly temper'd the King with their calm and sure Reasons when being enrag'd against the Lords he swore he wou'd more willingly submit and rely on the Protection of France than thus to be made servile to those he ought to command 'T is not unworthy of an Observation how frequently the French have been prevalent in England and always in such Princes Times as have given so much Power to Ministers and Favourites as made them considerable enough to be corrupted Philip de Comines says That in his Time all the Kings of England's Ministers and great Persons had Pensions from France and gave their Acquittances upon every
his Valour and Conduct The Duke of Lancaster needed not the force of Eloquence to perswade him the loss of his Uncles his Banishment the Imprisonment of his Children and the loss of his Estate were powerful Exciters enough to lay hold on any Opportunity to revenge all his Wrongs To all which was added the perswasive Temptation of a Crown and sure there could be no more powerful Motives than by one way at once to satisfie both his Ambition and Revenge These Considerations and the depending on the Peoples Affections to a Change being wearied with Oppression made him venture to land with a very small Force in Yorkshire At first he gave out That he came only to recover his Inheritance and quickly found his utmost Expectation answer'd for his small Troop presently encreas'd to an Army Many of the Nobility that came in to him took an Oath of him That no bodily harm should be done to King Richard as if a Conquest and a Crown wou'd preserve that Sincerity that was inconsistent with it or that the Modesty profess'd when something was to be obtain'd should continue after the Acquisition The Duke finding every thing more successful than almost he could hope pursued that Fortune which so prosperously invited him and hasted with his still-encreasing Forces to London where he found a Reception suitable to usual Joy that discontented People shew in Alterations He was receiv'd in Triumph without Victory and with all the Testimonies of Zeal and Duty which flattering Crowds cou'd pay their lawful Prince and Soveraign Pageants and rich Presents entertain'd him and all the fulsome Praises that could be invented and as many contumelious Reproaches on their King All Testimonies of Allegiance seem'd lost the modest Mask was now taken off and War proclaim'd against King Richard and his Adherents The Duke of York in the mean time tried to raise Forces but found a general Resolution in all People not to be Enemies to the Duke of Lancaster The Favourites that were active and bold in Prosperity shew'd that neither their Skill nor their Duty was to struggle with Difficulties nor had they either Interest or Reputation if they had attempted it They were always dead Weights upon their Prince and like the nature of it hung heaviest upon weak Conditions Bushy and Greene were pursued to Bristol and there taken fatal place to hasty Favourites They were eagerly pursu'd by the flattering Fury of the People and perhaps there were some among them that before in the Prosperity of these Favourites made as passionate Professions of a contrary Devotion Bagott escap'd into Ireland and sav'd himself from the present Execution The Lord Scroop Lord Treasurer with Bushy and Greene that were taken lost their Heads These sudden Executions were but the usual Consequences of violent Changes All new-gotten Power is commonly endeavour'd to be preserv'd by Destruction and the Execution of the Unfortunate is call'd a Justice King Richard was at this time in Ireland where the news came to him of the Duke's landing in England and his successful Proceedings The news increas'd by coming and every Circumstance grew enlarg'd so that it appear'd the blackest and most portentous Storm that ever gather'd in the full Sun-shine of a Prince which his Favourites assur'd him cou'd be subject to no Eclipse The contrary appear'd to this unfortunate King who was then engag'd in Troubles in Ireland After some time he prepar'd for England having first imprison'd the Sons of the Dukes of Lancaster and Glocester in Trim-Castle and took with him the Dukes of Surrey Aumarl and Exeter and the Bishops of London Lincoln and Carlisle The Earl of Salisbury was sent before to raise an Army which he did in Cornwal but the King failing to come within the time he promis'd they all discourag'd went home This delay was attributed to the Counsel of the Duke of Aumarl who perhaps had more mind to see things determin'd by the Fortune of others than by hazarding his own After this the King Lands in Wales where he found the stream turning from him and every Place of strength submitting to the Duke of Lancaster He knew not what Course to steer but wandred to Conway-Castle where the Earl of Worcester Steward to the King's Houshold as if finding a fitting time to remember the proclaiming his Brother the Duke of Northumberland Traytor broke his Staff of Office openly in the Hall before the King's Servants and with Advice to them to be as base as himself went avowedly to the Duke The rest followed his Example and those that seem'd the most eagerly Loyal became now the most violently Rebellious And 't is improbable that those who with unlimited Flattery for their Interest and Ambition had perswaded their Prince into the dangerous Attempt of Absolute Power should in any turn of Fortune or shock of Danger retain any limited Principles The true Interest of a Prince retains the Interest of others but the Interest of private Men excludes the Prince's We have heard 't is true of some that have been successful in such unjust and dangerous Attempts but the Examples have been very few that have not been fatal at last and there are so many of the contrary that the Comparison would convince any That the just Limits within a Nation 's Constitution are much more safe as well as glorious King Richard had now cause to make such sad Reflections and by the want of Power instructed to lament the attempting of too much He saw himself forsaken by those whom he should have forsook before He now felt severely the want of that Trust and Confidence that he had destroy'd and seem'd not forsaken of his People but to have forsook them before He had forc'd them all to be in the nature of Traytors and compell'd them to purchase as it were the name of Subjects while there were none that seem'd so to him but those that needed Pardon the most such as had counsell'd him to the Ruin that now fell upon him He had been so long accustomed to follow the Counsel of others that he knew not now the way to use his own He had too long followed the mean and easie ways of Indirectness Virtuous and steddy Actions in the undisturbed part of Life give power in Extremity and the memory of what was Great and Good gives boldness to such a Mind to claim Success in the worst condition But the memory of Injuries and Injustice done to others shakes Hopes and Expectations in a dangerous Estate This he shewed by discharging his Army rather than bravely using them as if he believ'd it impossible to recover Power now since he had used it so ill before The next thing that seem'd best was to have retired till a better occasion was offered for nothing is more various or violent than the stream of Mens minds with greediness affecting Change and hurried by Expectations that are seldom answered to be eas'd from all former Grievances and Oppressions and every one that
from the choice of a retired Condition with this Calmness in all this Storm of Fortune he spoke to the Commissioners beginning with their acknowledging those Errors that his Youth made ill Councellors capable to imprint in him and seem'd only troubled that he had not time allowed to repair those Injuries he had done the Nation knowing now from a clear sight that he was both willing and capable to have performed so happyan Action He now perceiv'd his own Virtues when the Vices of others could no longer hide them And he that could have once been so easily perswaded that he was shot at through his wounded Ministers now saw that 't was from them he receiv'd his Wounds he neither accused any nor complained of any nor valuing a Narrative and Empty Satisfaction but concluded with the choice of losing a Kingdom rather than engage it in Blood and Confusion for his Sake desiring only to enjoy that Peace which he merited for Reserving it for others and was as willing to resign his Title to the Duke of Lancaster as he perceiv'd they were willing to receive it from him After this he read the Instrument that was prepar'd and made two Bishops his Attorneys to declare that his Resignation in Parliament which was done the Monday after and accepted of by the Lords and Commons was Legal but yet this was not thought enough but a heavy Charge in many Articles was exhibited against him The Articles were too far from my purpose and too long to set down but whoever reads them in the Rolls will find them of much weight and as shrewdly compos'd as the Nature of the thing could either bear or require there was not an Injustice or Error omitted the chiefest things contained were those Actions by which his Favourites thought to secure themselves by subjecting all Judges and Sheriffs to his Will thereby to bring within his Power Parliaments and Law and make way to Levy Taxes as he pleased and it was a particular Article That he should say and declare That all Law lay in his Head and Breast These are the Extremities that proceed from the Counsels of such Men who have made themselves incapable to Share or Trust in the Common Good who knowing how little they could expect from the uninterrupted Methods of Law and Justice seek to preserve themselves by the Destruction of that which threatned them And 't were impossible that Princes should involve their own in the desperate Interest of others were they not first blinded from discerning the Ambition of those that hide it under the fierce Zeal for their Absolute Power The Articles which were 29. were owned by the Lords and Commons to be so notorious that they needed no further Examination or Proof And joined with the Consent of the King on whom they were charged It was judged sufficient for Deposing King Richard and Establishing the Duke of Lancaster by the Name of Henry the fourth adding also a far-fetch'd Title from Henry III. to patch up the seeming Justice of such an Action This Title was drawn from Edmund sirnamed Crookback eldest Son of Henry III. and that for his Deformity he was put by the Succession and given to Edward I. and the Duke of Lancaster was next of Blood by the Mothers side to this Edmund But this Edmund was third Son of Henry and not deformed at all but a brave Man in Person and Mind but the next Heir then to the Crown was Edmund Earl of March Son to Roger who was a little before slain in Ireland who seeing the Stream so violent against King Richard wisely retir'd and liv'd with all imaginable Care and Pruduce Thus was a Title invented to support that Power which the Sword had obtain'd And the King who by the Law is said to do no wrong is charg'd with Articles for doing all Thus when Ballances are once hoisted like Childrens play at Weighing the same Weight tosses one another that would of themselves hang equally nor is there any Judicature to compose such violent Disorders in a State for Success will be the Judg and always gives worst Judgment And the Professors of the divine and human Laws have been commonly zealously ready to find wrested Law and Divine Necessity to ratify the Success of the Ambitious On the other side when Princes by false Professions abuse the Good and increase in Power enough to encourage the Bad the eager Hounds they press to run at Head and lead the Cry that 's made by slower paced and more temperate Hunters till at last Fear and Necessity brings most to make up the Noise or by Silence not to interrupt it so that a general Consent seems to contribute to the designed Oppression And the naming a Right to Liberty and Property becomes an Intention of Rebellion The Prince's Will must then be the Law and his Religion the Devotion of all Loyal Subjects then those that have least Principles declare for the greatest Loyalty and by their Zeal and Duty pursue their Interest and Ambition And the search for Absolute Power is made by secret Reserves publick and false Professions Corrupting some and Terrifying others Deceiving many and upon specious Pretences displacing such as appear either suspecting the Designs or not as passionate as the rest in promoting them Yet when the Power is promoted and secur'd as the King was told his was when all Subjects lost their Names and like guilty Slaves signed Blanks as the Testimony of it Then appears what Machiavel describes in those times among the Romans When absolute Power was exercised Riches and Honour especially Virtue grew to be Capital Offences Informers and Calumniators rewarded Servants instigated against their Masters Children against their Parents guilty Men the Accusers and those few that were so unhappy to have no Enemies destroyed by their Friends And all dissembled Cruelties and Oppressions break forth into publick and bare-faced Practice That which before was declared to be the Government must then be call'd the support of it Ill Designs grow by Degrees but when their cherish'd Roots have took a deep and firm hold they are then declared by the mischievous Fruit they put forth Modesty seldom stays with full grown Power and the former Reputation of Men is useless to them In such a Change they must purchase new Characters from new Violences to merit Trust or Safety King Richard having now as far as he could resign'd his Sovereign Power began to find how much he was mistaken with the hopes of enjoying that retir'd Peace which he seem'd willing to change his Crown for Fortune commonly makes haste in the Prosperity or Adversity of Princes and there is a reasonable Cause why neither should be slow for the base Minds of Men hurry them to assist the Successful and help to destroy the Vnfortunate led always more by Fear and Interest than Resolution and Virtue This Truth appear'd in the Condition of this unhappy King whose Title that was left him was first shar'd by his