THE Life and Reign OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND.  
By a Person of Quality.  
LONDON: Printed for M. L. and L. C. and Sold by Langly Curtis on Ludgate-hill. 1681.   

TO THE READERS.  
Gentlemen,  
YOU are here presented with the Life and Reign of a Prince whose Misfortunes render his Story perhaps as Remarkable as any in our English Annals. Concerning which I shall only assure you, that the Compiler (for he as little affects, as deserves the Title of an Author) has made it his Business truly to set down naked Matters of Fact as he finds them Related by the best Authors, without obtruding his own Fancies or Dreams under the Notion of History. Which that it may more evidently appear, he thinks fit to give you an Account of Two of the Authors whom he hath principally followed; Because One of them living in that very time, and the other either then, or not long after, they may rationally be supposed to have the most certain knowledge of those Transactions.  
The first is Henricus Knighton, whose Work De Eventibus Angliae, in Latin, is Printed amongst divers other ancient Histories in that large and accurate Collection, Entitled, Historiae Anglicanae Scriptores Decem: First brought into Public Light from Authentic Manuscripts, by those two learned Antiquaries, Sir Roger Twysden Knight and Baronet, and the Famous John Selden Esquire, (who both prefixed their Epistles thereunto.) Nor was that Miraculous Treasury of all solid Learning, the most Reverend Usher Primate of Armaugh, wanting in Advising and Promoting that Edition.  
The Great Selden in his Preface, Fol. 46. tells us, That this Knighton was a Canon of the Abbey of Leicester, and that he flourished in the time of this King Richard the Second, the most part of whose Reign he wrote, deducing his History from William the Conqueror, until within Four years before the Deposition of the said King Richard, viz. To the year 1395. At which time we may suppose that Author was himself snatched away by Death, or disabled by some Disease, for else he would not so abruptly have discontinued his Book. Which Conjecture is confirmed by what Sir Roger Twysden in his Epistle tells us, That in the Manuscript in the Renowned Cotton's Library, (which he conceives to be the very Autographon, or Original Handwriting of the Author, and from which the same was exactly Printed) there is in the first Page an Inscription, Entitled, Lamentum Compilatoris, The Compilers' Complaint, beginning thus; 
Sum Caecus factus subitâ Caligine tactus.  
Blind I am grown, with sudden darkness struck.   
And thus concluding:  
Me Deus allisit, cum vult sanare, valebit.  
In Domino semper stat quod relevabitur Aeger.  
Smitten I am by God, who when he please  
Can help me, and alone cure each Disease.  
— And so much for Knighton.  
The other is Thomas Walsingham, a Benedictine Monk belonging to the Abbey of S. Alban; who for aught appears might likewise live in King Richard's days, for he is said to have flourished, that is, to be grown famous by his Labours, about the year 1440. And Leland gives this Character of him, In Historiis Colligendis studiosus atque diligens, ●hat he was a Person very studious and diligent in Collecting or Compiling of Histories. His History (herein made use of) begins, An. Dom. 1273, and ends Anno 1432.  
To these chiefly is the present work Indebted, and in most material passages, they are Cited, and their very words strictly Translated, yet still not omitting to consult other the most credible Historians that have wrote of those times.  
And as for the Process touching the Deposition of King Richard, the Articles against him, etc. The same are punctually Translated from the words of the Record, as the same (Examined and attested) are Printed in the said Volume called, Hist. Anglicanae Scriptores decem, from Col. 2743. to Col. 2762.   

Some of the Principal Contents.  

KIng Richard so entertained by the City at his coming to the Crown, that he was called the Londoners King. Pag. 3  
Alice Price, her Insolence and Banishment. 5  
A Parliament tell the King his Demeasns were sufficient to maintain his Court and carry on his Wars. 5  
Philpots brave Exploits at Sea. 6  
A rare Example of Fidelity in a Spaniard. 8  
An odd Scotch Charm against the Plague. 12  
A very severe Poll-Bill granted. 14  
The Relation of Wat Tilers Rebellion, which thereupon ensued. 15  
The King's Charter of Freedom to the Bondmen and Pardon. 18  
His Revocation thereof. 27  
Scroop Lord Chancellor, turned out for refusing to Seal an unlawful Grant. 32  
Articles against Wicliff, and a brief account of his Life. 34  
The University of Oxford's Testimonial of his Piety and Learning. 44  
We do not find Christ ever Converted a Priest. 47  
The first pretended Act against the true Professors of Religion.— Complained of as Surreptitious, and Repealed. 47  
Notable Railing Letters between the Cardinals. 51  
The Bishop of Norwich's Croisado against Schismatics, the Indulgences and Cheats thereof, and his ill success at last. 59  
Sharp Messages between King Richard and his Parliament.  
A Copy of the Impeachment of Michael Pole. 81  
Fourteen Lords appointed by Parliament to inspect past management of affairs and redress grievances. 87  
The King Commands Sheriffs to return such as he should Name to serve in Parliament, the Sheriffs Answer, The People would hold their Ancient Customs of free choice. 97  
Questions to the Judges, and their Answers. 99  
The shrewd Repartee of Sir Huge de Lyn a Natural, to King Richard. 105  
The Lords in Arms treat with the King, are promised redress in Parliament. 107  
The Duke of Ireland routed. 110  
The Answer of the Governor of Calais, when Commanded by the King to deliver it up to the French to whom he had sold it. 111  
The Articles against the Duke of Ireland, the Lord Chief Justice, etc. 115  
The Lord Chief Justice Tresilian Hanged at Tyburn, the other Judges Banished. 135  
The King not to Pardon Murder. 141  
The King's severities to the Londoners. 146  
An interview between K. R. and the French K. 154  
The Duke of Gloucester surprised and basely Murdered. 159  
The Earl of Arundel beheaded 161  
All Bay-trees wither, and the Current of a River dried up. 166  
A Combat appointed between the Duke of Hereford and Norfolk, and they both Banished. 167  
The Duke of Lancaster Lands in England. 182  
King Richard surrenders his Person. 190  
The Record of his Resignation and Deposition 192  
The Articles against him. 201  
Touching the manner of his Death. 239    

THE Life and Reign OF KING RICHARD The Second.  
KIng Richard the Second was born at Bordeaux in France, in the Year 1366. His Father was that Renowned Hero Edward, commonly called The Black Prince, eldest Son of the Great and Victorious King, Edward the Third, His Mother Joan Daughter of the Earl of Kent, for her exquisite Beauty, styled, The fair Maid of Kent. And if he were so unhappy, as not altogether to Inherit his Grandfather's Prudence, and his Father's Spirit and Conduct, yet it cannot be denied but he retained something of his Mother's Handsomeness, being celebrated for the goodliest Personage, and most amiable Countenance of any King that had been before him since the Conquest.  
His Father, after he had filled both France and Spain with terrible Trophies of his Valour, (having taken the King of the former Prisoner, and in the latter generously by his Arms restored Peter King of Castille and Leon, when injuriously driven out of those Realms by the Arragonians and French) was in the Forty sixth year of his Age, snatched away by death (some say hastened by Poison) during the Life of his Father King Edward; who having then three other Sons still surviving, viz. John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster; Edmund of Langley afterwards Earl of Cambridge, and Duke of York; and Thomas of Woodstock, afterwards Duke of Gloucester: For preventing any Quarrels after his own decease, and all Pretensions which any of them might make to the Crown, to the prejudice of his Grandchild, (this our Prince Richard, to whom as Son of the eldest Brother it was adjudged to belong:) He resolves to see his Right declared and settled in Parliament; Creating likewise the said Richard first Earl of Chester and Cornwall, and then Prince of Wales; and taking an Oath of all the Lords of the Realm to accept him for their King as his lawful Heir, when ever himself should expire.  
Being thus put into the immediate Prospect of a Crown, the overburdensom Glory came too fast▪ upon his tender head, for King Edward having over-lived his Fortune, and the better part of himself, his Conquests abroad being daily ravished back, and Alice Price his Concubine shamefully ruling both Him and most Affairs at home, oppressed with Grief and Age, (though some say much more debilitated by the Caresses of that petulant Strumpet) resigned his last Breath at Richmond, the One and twentieth of June, Anno Dom. 1377, in the Sixty fourth Year of his Age, having Reigned Fifty Years, four Months, and odd Days.  
Upon the first notice of his Death, the City of London sent Deputies to Prince Richard, (who with the Princess his Mother lay then at Kingston) to acknowledge him their lawful Sovereign, and request that he would please to honour them with his Presence and nearer Residence: Which Message was kindly received, and the young King soon after came to his Palace at Westminster, and on the Sixteenth day of July was solemnly Crowned; the Citizens sparing no Cost to express their Loyalty and zealous Affection to his Person, both in his Passage through the Town, and at his Coronation; As by several Triumphant Arches, Conduits running with Wine, and all other Demonstrations of a transporting Joy; Insomuch that by some of the Nobility he was Ironically called The Londoner's King.  
His tender Age (being at his Grandfather's Death but eleven years old) required some Protector, or chief Managers of Public Affairs, but to whom to commit so weighty a Trust, is the Difficulty: If to One, Ambition joined with Power, may tempt to Usurpation; Nor wanted they a Precedent at home, whilst they remembered how King John justled out his Nephew Prince Arthur. If to several, than it might be feared, that different private Interests, Factions, and By-ends, (from which scarce any of the Grandees were free) might entangle or retard their Proceedings, so as to obstruct their acting unanimously and cheerfully for the Public Weal: At last hoping to please all Pretenders, and considering that from a multitude of Councillors most safety might be expected; They entrusted first the King's Three Uncles; but Lancaster, whether discontented to have any Partners, or that he cared not much to intermeddle, because he had contracted both the Enmity of the Clergy, and the dissatisfaction of the Londoners: Or whether having a pretence to the Crown of Castille, by the Marriage of Constance Daughter of the beforementioned King Peter, that he might better pursue his Claim thereunto, warily withdrawing himself from that Charge; several other Lords both Spiritual and Temporal were added, till at last being found too many, the same was Conferred wholly upon the Earl of Warwick, who discharged the Office with good satisfaction.  
The Scotch and French promising themselves Advantages from the King's Minority, began to make Attempts upon his Territories, almost before he was in possession of the Crown. The first surprised the Castle of Berwick, the second the Isle of Wight, and burnt and pillaged several Towns and Villages on the Coasts, but were both quickly repulsed and beaten out again.  
About two Months after the Coronation, a Parliament is called, which sat from Michaelmas to S. Andrew's Day, and Banished Alice Price, King Edward's Mistress; for that whereas formerly being complained of as a Grievance in Parliament, she had sworn never to come again into the King's Court or Presence, (which the King had likewise confirmed with his Oath) yet after the death of the Black Prince, she had returned and misgoverned the King, presuming to fit in judicial Courts, and by her Presence and Influence to wrest Justice, and in his sickness flattered him with hopes of Life, so that he neglected making Provision for his Soul, till he was quite speechless, whilst she in the mean time purloined away the choicest things in the Palace, and stole even the very Rings off his Fingers, and then (like a Right Harlot) left him gasping for Life, and unable to speak one word, in the Company only of one poor Priest. My Author says, when she came now to be questioned, she had with Money corrupted many of the Lords, and all the Lawyers of England, who did not only secretly but publicly plead and use all their Interest in her behalf; yet she was so vigorously prosecuted by the Knights in Parliament, that being by her own Mouth Convicted, she was Banished the Land, and all her Estate movable and immovable, forfeited to the Exchequer; from whence by the late King's Favour, or rather Dotage, it had unduly been obtained.  
There was also by this Parliament given to the King Two Tenths of the Clergy, and Two Fifteenths of the Temporalty, to be paid the same year; but on this Condition, viz. That the King for the future should not burden them with more Requests of that kind, to draw away his Subjects Money, but would live on his Demeasns, and continue his War; for that (as it was there answered) His proper Royal Revenues were sufficient both to maintain his Court, and carry on his Wars, if the same were but managed by fit and trusty Ministers: And therefore it was agreed, that this Money so given, should as it was raised, be deposited in the hands of two Citizens of London, William Waller, and John Philpot, who were to see it bestowed for the Defence of the Realm.  
[1378.] This John Philpot was an Alderman of London, a Person of no less Courage than Prudence, as appears by the following Exploit: Sometime after the Parliament broke up, and the Money collected; the Duke of Lancaster (to whom nothing almost could be denied) was very Importunate to have the same delivered to his Dispose, promising therewith to free the Nation from all Invasions and Piracies, wherewith it was lamentably infested, and to perform other very advantageous Services for the Public: Whereupon he obtained an Order for the same, notwithstanding the Proviso in the Act, so impossible it is de facto to bind up the Hands of Power: But though some Naval Preparations were made, yet little was effected to repel or prevent those Injuries and Depredations, which the Nation suffered by Sea from the French on the one side, and the Scottish Pickaroons on the other; so that by the common neglect of securing the Coasts, and scouring the Seas, our Merchants durst not Traffic abroad for fear of Pirates, who hovered in every Corner, but especially of one Mercer, a bold and potent Scottish Rover, who having drawn together a considerable Fleet of French, Scots and Spaniards, daily committed insufferable Outrages, spoiling all they met: Hereupon the said Alderman Philpot first complained of these Grievances to the King's Council, humbly Remonstrating the Damages sustained, and imploring Redress; But receiving from them only fair Promises, and no Relief, full of grief and disdain, to see his Countrymen thus devoured by those insolent Water-vermin; He at length Provided, Victualled, and Man'd forth at his own proper Costs and Charges, a competent Fleet of tall Ships, himself in person, putting forth with them to Sea, where he soon encountered the Pirates, took the said Mercer, destroyed his Ships, and recovered most of the Prizes formerly taken, with Fifteen Spanish Bottoms well fraught with Riches, besides many French and Scottish Ships, and so returned with Triumph and the general Acclamations of the People: But Envy is always the Attendant of extraordinary Virtue, instead of Thanks or Reward, several of the Nobles from whom he seemed to have snatched by this his fortunate Attempt, the Glory of that Service, which their Country justly, though in vain expected from them, passed harsh Censures on his forwardness; and particularly the Earl of Stafford called him in question at the Council-Table, for presuming (being but a private man) for to levy Arms, and equip a Fleet without Authority: But Philpot with a prudent Gallantry, composed of an undaunted Innocency, and an humble Merit, gave such a justifiable Account of the Act, as satisfied the Board, or at least silenced his Accusers: For thus in particular to that Lord, he is said to have answered, I would have your Honour undoubtedly know, that I did not adventure my Money, my Person, and my Men to the dangers of the Sea, and hazards of War, with any design to Rob your Lordship, and your Colleagues, of the Glory of Chivalry, or Fame of Military Achievements and gain it to myself. But condoling the losses of my fellow Citizens, and misery of my Country which by your sloth from a most noble Kingdom, giving Laws to all her Neighbours, is sunk into so deplored a state as to lie open to the Insolences and Pillaging of the vilest of Nations and men, whilst yet not one of you lent a hand her defence, I freely exposed myself and mine for her deliverance, and the public safety, to which the Earl had nothing to reply.  
About the same time, viz. in the Second Year of the King, there happened a Fray which (not so much for the importance of the Quarrel, as a rare Example of Fidelity and honesty attending it) I cannot but Relate; Though even the thing itself in those ignorantly zealous times, wanted not its ill Influence on the Public, and the Monkish Historians cry out about it as Tragically, as if Heaven and Earth were engaged, all Christianity at Stake, and the Pillars of Religion in danger. The business thus; Two valiant Squires, Robert Haule, and John Schakel, in the late Wars in Spain under Prince Edward, chanced to take the Count de Dena, a Spanish Don of great Quality and Estate, who was fairly by the Law of Arms adjudged their Prisoner, and brought into England, where he left his Eldest Son with them as a Pledge, whilst he went home to raise his ransom, the Son swearing to continue with them till it came; but the Father being got into Spain, never regarded to send the Money, but in little time dies, whereby the Honour and Estate devolves to the Young Hostage; which being understood by King Edward, (for in his days happened this first part of the Story) both he and Prince Edward's Son, were very importunate with these two Gentlemen, to release the Spanish Cavaleir, which they desired either in favour to the Duke of Lancaster, who thought by the help of this Nobleman to faciliate his pretensions to the Crown of Castille, or else with an intent to Match him to Mathilda Relict of the Lord Courtney, the King's Sister; but no matter what their Design was, the Squires were so far from parting with him, that they would not discover where he was, and so were sent to the Tower, whence making their escape they took Sanctuary in Westminster Abbey, and there continued, till now the Duke of Lancaster resolved to ferret them out, to which purpose Fifty men at Arms were sent thither, who entering the Sanctuary, put a trick upon John Schakel, and soon got him out and hurried him to the Tower; but as for Haule, he was more strongly Ensconced in the Church amongst the Monks, and at Mass, however thither they went, and after a little expostulation why he would so refractorily disobey the King's Command, when even Majesty had condescended to a request? they tell him, he must go with them, which he peremtorily refuses, and draws a short Sword and makes at them; whereupon they resolve to force him away, who still making resistance, was at last knocked on the Head amongst them which our Author calls Crowned with Martyrdom: the Monks would fain have rescued him, but durst not, because they saw the Soldiers too strong for them, however the Archbishop of Canterbury presently thundered out an Excommunication against these Violators of the Sanctuary and all their abettors, the King and his Mother, and his Uncle Lancaster only excepted; And the Bishop of London did the like for several days together, but about a Year after by the mediation of divers grave and venerable Persons, the matter was composed on these terms; that the said Schakel, who was so sent to the Tower, should discover and deliver up the said Count de Dena, and so be set at liberty, upon consideration, that the King should settle upon him Lands, to the value of an Hundred Marks per annum, and pay him down Five hundred Marks ready Money, in lieu of the expected Ransom, and also that his Majesty for satisfaction to the Church, should at his proper Charges erect a Chantry of Five Priests for ever, to pray for the Soul of him whom his Officers had so slain, though one would have thought dying, in their Opinion, a Martyr, he might have had no great need of such everlasting Orisons. But still the more surprising Intrigue of the Tragedy is behind, when Schakel came to produce his Captive, he showed them his man that waited on him; for the brave Spaniard had that regard to his Word which he had passed, that he scorned to discover himself without his leave, but on the contrary had all along both in the Sanctuary, and in the Tower, faithfully and submissively served him in disguise, neglecting both his Quality and Interest, when they stood in competition with his Honour; a piece of Gallantry and generous Honesty, scarce to be paralleled in Story.  
About the Feast of S. Luke, a Parliament was held at Gloucester, with an intent as was thought to have alipped the Wings of the Towering Churchmen, but finding their Interest too strong, nothing of that kind was offered, but for the Kings further supply, it was granted, that he should have of the Merchants for every Sack of Wool Exported, a Mark, and for every Twenty shillings of Wares or Merchandizes whatsoever Imported from beyond the Seas, Six pence, to be paid by the Buyer.  
[1379.] The next year another Parliament was called at London, where the Privileges of the Sanctuary at Westminster were regulated; for whereas before great numbers of Persons when they were got in Debt, would shelter themselves, and waste in Revelling and Debauchery their Revenues, which could not be touched for their just Debts, to the grievous prejudice of their Creditors; it was now Ordained, That if upon Proclamation made, they should not surrender themselves, them their Goods should be sold and their Lands extended, wherever found, till their Debts satisfied. There was also a new Tax granted, but because the Commons were already much impoverished, it was laid only on the Nobility, Gentry, and Clergy, by way of Poll; Viz. Dukes and Archbishops, Ten Marks apiece; every Earl, Bishop, and Mitred Abbot, Six Marks, besides each Abbot to pay Forty Pence per Head for all his Monks; and so Justices, Sheriffs, Knights, Esquires, Rectors, Vicars, and even down to simple Chaplains, every one his Allotment.  
This Summer there was a most dreadful Pestilence in England, especially in the Northern parts, insomuch that whole Families were swept away. Nay Towns and Villages left without Inhabitants: During the Heat of which Calamity, the Scots took their Advantage to enter the Land, and committed great Spoils in small Parties, but durst not stay for fear of the Infection, and yet (as our Author relates) they had got a wonderful Preservative against it: for ask some English, the reason of so great a Mortality amongst them, and being told it came by the Grace of God, they therefore every Morning with great solemnity used this Charm, or (if any body will call it so) Prayer— God and Saint Mango, Saint Roman, and Saint Andrew, shield us this day from God's Grace, and the foul Death that English men die upon.  
[1380.] The next Year in Jan. the Parliament was again Assembled at London, and continued till March, wherein to avoid unnecessary Charge it was agreed, that the Tutelage of the King, should be committed but to one, and by unanimous consent, Thomas Beuchamp, Earl of Warwick, was pitched upon for the Man, an Honourable allowance being assigned to him out of the Royal Exchequer for his pains and care therein to be taken; but the Young King though a Minor as to the Public Affairs, thought himself of Age sufficient at least to conduct himself in his private and personal concerns; for though for want of ripening experience; his Wisdom had not time to Bud, yet his Will was grown to full Strength: being already Plunged in the Gulf of pleasure, and Vanities of Youth, he set himself to Promote such as most pleased him with Flatteries, rather than such as were truly qualified to serve him with solid Council and able conduct; whence arose Three fatal mischiefs: for First, his Affairs were indiscreetly managed, and without success, by reason unfit Ministers were employed about them, Secondly, debauchery was increased, First, in the Court, and next throughout the Kingdom; for many of the Young Nobility, observing the secret favours and distastes of the King, studying in all things to gratify his pleasure, gave up themselves to dissolute and dishonourable courses; which ill precedents descended like an Infection amongst the Gentry and Commonalty; for Vice always finds too many followers, even when it hath no incouragers, but much more doth it increase, when flushed with Great Examples, and made the Scale or perferment. And lastly the King by thus misplaceing his favours impaired the Veneration due to Majesty, became Cheap in the Eyes of his Subjects, and less respected, for it is almost as dangerous to a Prince to have evil and despised Favourites and Adherents, as to be evil or despicable himself. In this Parliament was granted a Tenth from the Clergy and a Fifteenth from the Laiety, but on condition, that from thence, which was March 1380. to Michaelmas 1381. there should be no more Parliaments; that is, no more Money raised.  
This Summer the King and Council sent a strong Army to assist the Duke of Bretaigne, under the Command of his Uncle Thomas of Woodstock, Sir Thomas Peircy, etc. who landing at Calais, forced their passage through the Body of France, leading their Troops to and fro, and laying the Country waste at their pleasure, without any resistance, till they came to the Borders of Bretaign, where they were joyfully received, but the very Terror of their March, had disposed the French to an accommodation, so that they made peace with the Duke of Bretaign, whereupon our Army without any other advantages, but those of Renown and Glory returned home.  
Notwithstanding it was agreed in the last Parliament to the contrary, yet by the too great prevalency of some Counsellors, a Parliament against the will and consent of almost all the Great Men of the Land, was this same Year about the Feast of S. Martin, (which is Novemb. 10th) Convened at Northampton, a place most unfit for such an Assembly, as well for that it was Winter, and scarce any Fuel for Firing there to be procured; as also because it afforded not Lodgings enough to entertain those that should have resorted thither: but perhaps so much the more fit for the design of the small Politicians; for here they got past a very severe Tax, or Poll bill. Whereby every Priest, Secular or Religious, was to pay a Noble, and every Nun as much, and every Man and Woman, Married or unmarried, being of the age of Sixteen years, Twelve Pence, (Beggars only excepted) the paying whereof was esteemed very grievous by the People, especially of the poorer sort. And that which aggravated their misery, was, that when it came into the Exchequer, it was so handled by those employed about it, that it amounted not to so much as some former Taxes, which were given in less proportion: whereupon some of the King's Ministers complained that it had not been duly Collected; and one John Legg, and three of his Associates, obtained a Commission to inspect and review the Levy, bargaining to give the King a great Sum of Money for the same: But indeed on that pretence committing horrible Oppressions, Exactions, and Insolences in divers parts, especially in Kent, Norfolk, and the adjacent Counties.  
Hence immediately after, viz. In the Spring of the Year 1381, arose one of the most formidable and mischievous Insurrections that had been heard of almost in any Age; the old Bellum servile of the Romans was acted in England, but with greater Impudence and mischief; the Slaves are in Arms, and the very Dregs of the people will be Lords and Masters. The true Causes or Occasions of this unexpected Confusion are very differently related, some Monkish Historians (followed, blindfold by some later Authors) out of hatred to Wickliff and his Tenets, (which now began to be much disseminated, and of which we shall by and by give a further account) attributed it chiefly to his Doctrine: for 'tis an ordinary thing to proclaim all Evils, concurring with any Attempts of Reformation in Religion, to be proper fruits thereof; as the Heathens of old imputed all their Calamities to the then new and rising Sect of the Christians: But as we find nothing in that good man's real Positions (for several of his Works are yet extant) to foment such a lewd Rebellion; so neither do the more impartial Authors of that Age lay it at his Door: though 'tis agreed, one Ball a factious Clergyman was an Incendiary of that Combustion, which seems in its Original ascribable to the natural desire of Liberty, and pride of Humane Nature, impatient of Superiority, since the Villains or Bondmen were chief in the Tumult; and partly to the heavy Taxes and Insolences of the Collectors, and especially of these New Farmers of the Subsidy, or Commissioners, which exasperated the common people into a Mutiny. But whatever were the Provocations, dismal were the Effects, and might have proved fatal to the utter ruin of the Kingdom, had not the Providence of God wonderfully prevented it.  
Nor is it less disputable where the Uproar begun, some say in Essex, some in Kent; for the Flame w●s so suddenly spread into divers places, that they could scarce tell where the Fire broke forth, and who first headed them, is also uncertain; some speak of one Thomas a Baker of Fobhyngges; others of Walter Tyler at Deptford in Kent, to be the Ringleader: but the most received Tradition is thus. That one of the said Collectors of Poll-money, coming to the house of the said Tyler (so called from his Trade) and requiring of his Wife to pay for a Daughter of hers, whom she affirmed was not of age to pay, the rude Fellow told her, he would presently see whether she were so or not, and forceably turned up her Coats, whereupon the Mother made such an Outcry, that her Husband being at work hard by, heard her, and came running with his Lathing Staff in his hand, wherewith he beat out the Collectors Brains, and knowing that for the same he must be hanged, endeavoured to secure himself by greater Crimes, drawing together the Rabble, and incensing them, (who of themselves were but too ready) unto a Rebellion: Thus Multitudes flocked together, broke open the Goal at Maidstone, where the beforementioned Ball the Priest was then a Prisoner, who having gained his Liberty, marched along with them; and they growing still more numerous, (some write an Hundred thousand strong) came to Blackheath, where he made a seditious Preachment to them, taking for his Text or Theme the old Proverb; 
When Adam Delved, and Eve Span,  
Who was then a Gentleman?  From thence telling them, That by Descent from Adam, all men were of one Condition; That the Laws of the Realm were injurious to Christian Liberty, and unjust by making such difference of men's Estates, preferring some to be Peers and Potentates, with great Authority and large Possessions, whereby they took advantage of the humble pliable Condition of others, to keep them in slavery, hardly affording them Sustenance; whereas there ought to be an equal sharing of all things, and that in common, etc.  
This Doctrine was extremely pleasing to these Raggamuffin's, who animated thus with Multitudes, and holding Correspondence with others as mad as themselves in other Counties, they Arrested all Strangers that they met with, making them swear to be true to King Richard, and to the Commons, and never to own any King that should be called John: which they did out of spite to the Duke of Lancaster, against whom they had an implacable Malice. They likewise beheaded all Lawyers they could catch, saying, Till they were rooted out, the Land would never enjoy free liberty.  
At Black-heath they sent for the King to hear their Grievances, but the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Treasurer, dissuaded him from venturing his Royal Person amongst them, which being understood by the Commons, they were thereupon more enraged against those two, call them Traitors; and to be revenged immediately march towards London; in Southwark they discharge all Prisoners, and when the Mayor of London would have pulled up the Draw-bridge, and shut the Gates against them, the Rabble of the City would not suffer him, so that all that Night they came in and out at their pleasure, being the more favoured, because hitherto they spoilt no man, but honestly paid for all they had, saying, They came not as Robbers, but to bring Malefactors to justice. The King to prevent Mischief, sent them word to meet Him at Mile-end, where he would hear their Complaints, and part of them accordingly went thither, where the King gave them a Charter under the Great Seal of England, That thenceforth all the Men of England should be free, and discharged from the Tenor of Villeinage, and all Bondage of that kind. The Tenor of which Charter of Manumission, as it was given to them, and within few days sent into several Counties, was as follows.  
RICHARD, By the Grace of God King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland, to all his Bailiffs and faithful Subjects to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting, Know ye, that of our special Grace, we have Manumissed or set free all and singular our Liege Subjects, and other of the County of E. and them and every of them from all Bondage do Release and Acquit by these Presents. And also we pardon to our said Liege-men and Subjects, all manner of Felonies, Treasons, Transgressions, and Extortions, by them or any of them, in any manner whatsoever done or committed; And also all and every Outlawry or Outlawries, if any be or shall be Published against them, or any of them, for or by occasion of the Premises; and do thereof to them and every of them grant Our highest Peace: In witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent:  
Witness Ourselves at London, the Fifteenth of June, in the Fourth Year of Our Reign.  
Upon this Concession, most of the Essex-men that met at Mile-end went home; but while this was doing, others that stayed behind in London, entered the, Tower, and dragged out thence Hen. Earl of Derby the Duke of Lancaster's Son, and but a youth; Simon of Sudbury, Archbishop of Canterbury▪ and Chancellor of England; Robert Hales Prior of the Hospital, and Treasurer of England; he the beforementioned John Legg, and and John a Minorite, being a Crony of Lancaster's and 3 others, all which 7 last they forthwith Beheaded, carrying their Heads on Poles, as in Triumph: And now being heated with both Wine and Blood, they march to the Savoy, and burn the Duke of Lancaster's stately Palace, (the best House in England) with all its rich Furniture to Ashes, breaking in pieces all his Plate and Jewels of inestimable value, and flinging them into the Thames, and when one of their Fellows was spied to thrust a piece of Plate into his Bosom, they presently flung it and him into the fire to be destroyed together▪ saying, They came not like Thiefs to enrich themselves. But of Liquors they were not so scrupulous; for two and thirty of them being got ito the Dukes Wine-Cellar, Tippled so long till the Rafters of the House on fire, fell down, and stopped the passage, that they could not get out, but were heard to cry seven days after, and so perished. From the Savoy they came back to the Temple, and burned the Lawyer's Lodgings, Books, Papers, and all Records they could meet with: The house of S. John's by Smithfield, they set fire to, so that it burned seven days; Nor had they any regard to Churches▪ but forced out such as fled thither for Sanctuary, and Beheaded them, for they used no other manner of Execution to high or low.  
That Night wearied with spoil, and generally Drunk, they lay sleeping like Swine in the open Streets and under the Walls: and the next day being routed together again, the King with a small Guard coming to Smithfield, offered a Pardon to all such as yet after all these Outrages would cease from the like for the future, and go quickly home. Whereupon Wat Tyler declared, That he was for Peace very willingly, provided it were on such Terms as he should approve of: Therefore to understand what he would have, one Sir John Newton is sent to Invite and desire (for so they were glad in that Juncture of Affairs to compliment his Sauciness) Wat to come and Treat thereof with the King; and when the Knight urged him to make haste, he answered with some Indignation; If thou art in such haste, go back to thy Master the King; I'll come when I see mine own time. However he soon followed him on Horse back, but slowly for the greater State, and being come near the King, the same Knight was commanded to go to him, and receive and bring back his Proposals. Tyler offended, because this Messenger came to him mounted, told him it became him to alight from his Horse in his Presence; and therewith drew out his Dagger to strike him: But the King to pacify him, made him alight. The Demands which Tyler made, besides a general Enfranchisement of the Bond men, (which the King had already granted) were, That all Warrens, Parks, and Chases, should be made common and free to all, so that as well the Poor as the Rich, should have liberty to Fish, Fowl, and Hunt in all places throughout the Kingdom, with several other the like extravagant Demands: In which Tyler behaved himself so insolently, that the King's Attendants could not but represent to his Majesty that it was insufferable, and the before celebrated John Philpot, according to his usual Courage, told the King, That if his Majesty would but command his Lieutenant; viz. The Mayor to Arrest the Traitor, he would lose his Life if it were not happily accomplished; Whereupon the King was prevailed with to give such a Command, or rather leave to William Walworth, than Mayor of London, who waiting an Opportunity, and observing Tyler to play with his Dagger, tossing it from hand to hand, as if he meant some mischief, and that at last (to what intent is not known, whether out of rudeness, or design) he laid one of his hands upon the King's Bridle, fearing the Ruffian might attempt his Royal Person, instantly executed his Arrest, by giving him a Blow on his Head with a Dagger; which was seconded with Philpot's Sword and another's in his Body, so that immediately he fell down dead on the ground: When the Rabble saw this, they began furiously to cry out, O our Captain is slain, our Captain is murdered: Let's revenge the Death of our Captain, etc. But the King with a Courage and Ingenuity beyond any thing could be expected from his Years, (for he was not yet above Fifteen) Clapped Spurs to his Horse and rod to the Head of them, crying aloud, What mean you my Men? Or what do you do? Will you shoot your King? You shall have no cause to grieve for the Death of that Traitor and Ribald; I that am the King, will be your Captain and your Leader: Follow me into the Field, and you shall have whatever you will?  
Upon which words, amazed, and not certainly resolved either of one another's minds, nor indeed each man of his own, they followed awhile, till Sir Richard Knolls, with a Thousand armed men raised in the mean time by the Mayor, came upon them out of the City, at whose approach (being now headless, and all in confusion) they were so terrified, that they forthwith flung down what Arms they had, and begged for Mercy; which the King granted, and withal gave them a Charter of Freedom in form as before recited; but proclaimed, that no Citizen should have any Correspondence with any of them, nor suffer them to come within the Liberties: And so this dreadful rout from the height of Insolence was in a moment scattered and reduced to the depth of misery and fear, sneaking back by stealth into the Country: many in their passage slain or perishing for want, and multitudes of them soon after Executed.  
For this good Service, the King upon the place conferred the Honour of Knighthood upon the said John Walworth Mayor, and John Philpot, as likewise on Nichol. Brembre, John Land, and Nicholas Twyford, Citizens of London. And in memory of so Honourable an Exploit, performed by the Mayor, the Dagger hath ('tis said) ever since that time been added in the City-Arms, which before bore only the Cross.  
But though things were thus appeased at London, there was still no less Hurley-burley in several Counties: At St. Alban they committed many Outrages, and Cancelled the Ancient Charter of the Abbot and Monks. In Suffolk there were swarmed together Fifty thousand Villains, under the Conduct of one John Straw, a lewd Priest, who beheaded Sir John Cavendish, Lord Chief Justice of England, and ●et his Head on the Pillory in S. Edmundsbury. The like Commotions also there were at the same time in Norfolk, Cambridge-shire, and the Isle of Ely, at the Instigation of one Littester, a Dyer, who called himself King of the Commons, and forced several Lords, and Persons of Quality to be sworn to them, and ride along with them to countenance their Proceedings; but these were for the most part subdued and dispersed, by the active valour of Hugh Spenser Bishop of Norwich, who gathering an Army together, set upon the Rebels with incredible fury, pursuing them from place to place, and giving no Quarter to any of them.  
It is to be noted, That these Rebels in several Shires held correspondence, and their Leaders sent abroad their Epistles of Advice, and encouragement; some of which (as they were afterwards taken and owned) I shall insert, for the Readers diversion: that he may admire the style of these popular Orators, and observe what strength of persuasion there was in Nonsense.  
A LETTER of John Ball to the COMNONS' in Essex.  
IOhn Sheep sometime S. Marry Priest of York, and now of Colchester, Greeteth well John Nameless, and John the Miller and John Charter, and biddeth them beware of Guilford in Borough, and stand together in God's Name, and biddeth Piers Ploughman go to his work, and Chastise well Hob the Robber, and take with you John Trewman, and all his Fellows, and no more. John the Miller hath yground small, small, small: The King's Son of heaven shall pay for all. Beware, or ye be woe; know your Friend from your Foe, have enough, and say No, and do well and better, and flee sin, and seek peace, and hold you therein: And so biddeth John Trewman, and all his Fellows.  
Another.  
IOhn Ball gretyth you well All, and doth you to understand, he hath rungen the Bell; Now right. and●myght, will and skill, God speed every ye deal. Now is time, Lady help to Ihesu the Sun, and thid Sun to his Fadur, to make a good end, in the name of the Trinity, of that is begun: Amen, Amen, pur Charite, Amen.  
Another.  
IOhn Bell S. Marry Priest gretes well all manner men, and bids them in the Name of the Trinity, Fadur and Son and Holy Ghost, stoned manlyche togedyr in truth, and helps truth, and truth shall help yowe: Now reigneth Pride in prize, and Covetous is hold wise; and Lechery without en shame, and gluttony without en blame. Envy reigneth with treason, and sloth is take in great sesone. God do boat, for now is the time. Amen, in Esex, Southfolc, and Northfolc.  
Jack the Miller's Epistle.  
JAKK Mylner asket help to turn his Mylne aright. He hath Grounden small, small, The King's Son of Heaven he shall pay for all. Look thy Mylne do a right, with the four Sails, and the Post stand in steadfastness. With right and with might, with skill and with will, lat might help right, and skill go before will, and right before might▪ than goeth our Mylne aright. And if might go before right, and will before skill than is our Mylne mysadyght,  
Jack the Carter's  
JAKK Carter pries you all, that ye make a good end of that ye have begunnen, and doth well, and ay bettur and bettur, for at the even men heareth the day: for if the end be well than is all we'll. Lat Peres the Ploughman my Brother duele at home, and dight us Corn, and I will so with you, and help that ye may so dight your meet and your drink, that ye none fail. Lokke that Hobb Robbyoure be well chastised for losing of your Grace, for ye have great need to take God with you in all your deeds, for now is time to beware.  
Jack Trewman's Scroll.  
JAkk Trewman doth you to understand, that falseness and guile havith reigned to long, and truth hath been set under a Lokke, and falsneth and guile reigneth in everylk Flokke. No man may come truth to, both sing Si dedero, Speke, spend, and speed quoth John of Bathon, and therefore sin fareth as wild flood, true love is a way that was so good, and Clerks for wealth worth hem wo. God do boat, for nowze is time.  
The Storm being thus happily overblown, the Rebels suddenly mastered, and a competent Force raised to secure the Peace of the Kingdom, it was quickly thought fit to revenge such an Affront, and bring the Delinquents to justice. In order to which, the King as soon as he could do it with safety to Himself and the Public, revokes his former Charters of Manumission and Pardon, by a Proclamation under His Great Seal, in these Terms.  
RICHARD, by the Grace of God, King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland; To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: Although in the late detestable Disturbance, horribly made by divers of Our Liege People and Subjects rising up against Our Peace, certain Letters Patent of Ours were made at the importunate Instance of the Rebels, containing, That We have freed all Our Liege People, Common Subjects, and others of the several Counties of Our Realm of England, and them, and every of them discharged and acquitted from all Bondage and Service. And also, That we have pardoned them all manner of Insurrections by them against Us made, and all manner of Treasons, Felonies, Transgressions, and Extortions, by them or any of them committed. As also, all Outlawries Published against them, or any of them, on those Occasions; Or that we have granted to them and every of them Our firm Peace: And that Our Will was, That Our said Liege People and Subjects should be free to buy and Sell in all Cities, Burroughs, Towns, Markets, and other Places within the Kingdom of England; and that no Acre of Land which holds in Bondage or Villeinage, should be accounted higher than at Four Pence; And if any were before held for less, that it should not be raised for the future. Yet for that such Our Letters did Issue without Mature Deliberation, and unduly, We well weighing, that the Grant of the said Letters, doth manifestly tend to the very great prejudice of Us and Our Crown, and to the Disinherison as well of us, and the Prelates and Nobility of Our said Realms, as of the Holy Anglicane Church, and also the the Damage and Incommodity of the Commonwealth. Therefore by the Advice of Our Council, We have Revoked, made void, and do utterly annul the said Letters, and whatever hath been done or followed thereupon, willing that none of what state or condition soever he be, shall any way have or reap, or enjoy any liberty or benefit whatsoever, of or by the said Letters. For We will, and 'tis our intention, by the Advice of Our sound Council, for the future, to impart such Grace and Favour to all and singular, although they have grievously forfeited their Allegiance, as shall be wellpleasing and profitable to Our Realm, and with which Our faithful Subjects may reasonably hold themselves contented. And this we do notify to all persons concerned, by these Presents, Commanding the same to be Proclaimed in all Cities and Towns, Villages, etc. And further We strictly require and command, That all and singular as well Free as Bondmen, shall without any contradiction, murmuring, resistance or difficulty, do and perform the Works, Customs, and Services, which to us or any other their Lords they ought to do, and which before the said Disturbance were used to be done, without lessening or delaying the same. And that they do not presume to require, pretend, or claim any other Liberties or Privileges, than what they reasonably had before the said Tumults. And that all such as have any of Our said Letters of Manumission and Pardon in their Custody, shall immediately bring and restore the same to Us and our Council to be Canceled, upon the Faith and Allegiance in which to Us they are bound, and upon pain of forfeiting All that to Us they can forfeit for the future. In testimony whereof▪ We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent.  
Witness Ourselves at Chelmsford, the Second Day of July, in the Fifth Year of Our Reign.  
By this Revocation, all Pretensions of pleading a Pardon being cut off, proceedings were next made against the principal Offenders, several of them being convicted before the Mayor, and beheaded, as John Straw, John Kickby, Alane Tradder, and John Sterling, which last boasted that he was the man that slew the Archbishop. Also Sir Robert Tresilian Chief Justice, was empowered by special Commission, to judge others of the Rebels, before whom in sundry places, above Fifteen hundred were found Guilty, and put to death; and amongst them the before mentioned Incendiary Ball the Priest, who being taken at Coventry, was brought before the King at S. Alban●, and the●e drawn, hanged and quartered.  
During these Uproars, the Duke of Lancaster, (very happily for the preservation of his Person, against whom the Commons had so great a spite) was gone into the North against the Scots, but having Tidings of the Insurrection, thought fit to clap up a Truce for Two years, which he got ratified upon Oath some days before the Scots had any notice of the Troubles in England; but conceiving himself in danger, for the general (though false) report was, that the King to pacify the Rebels had consented to abandon him to their pleasure, when ever they could seize him, and having receiceived some Affronts in that distress from the Earl of Northumberland, he desired of the Scots a safe Conduct, and to reside for a time amongst them, who honourably entertained him, till he was sent for by the King, and then a new cause of grudge happened between him and the Earl of Northumberland, for in his return he was denied passage through the Town of Barwick, by the Captain Sir Matthew Redman, by virtue of a Command from the said Earl Lord Warden of the Marches, not to suffer any from Scotland to enter the same, which indeed the King had specially ordered, forgetting the Duke's being then in that Kingdom. However this bred such an Animosity in the Duke against the Earl, that being come home, he charged him with several things, which the Earl as stoutly answered, and great numbers of armed men followed each of them, but the King taking their Differences into his own ha●ds, worked a Reconciliation.  
About Allhallontide, began a Parliament, but had not accomplished any thing of moment before they were adjourned till after Christmas, by reason of the arrival of the new Queen, Sister of Wyncelaus King of Bohemia, and elected Emperor: an Alliance of some honour, but little profit to the Realm, she being followed with a multitude of insatiate Bohemians; who by the King's facility, drained abundance of Wealth out of the Kingdom. It was observed, that as soon as ever she set foot on shore at Dover, an horrible Storm arose at Sea, which so tossed the Ships in the Harbour, that the same which her Majesty came in, was immediately dashed to pieces; which some then looked upon as Ominous, presaging Tempests of State to follow her.  
[1382.] The Nuptial Solemnities, which were very splendid and costly, being over, the Parliament meets again, to begin the New Year, in which several wholesome Laws were ordained; as to admit Merchant-strangers freely to sell their Merchandizes here, to regulate Excesses in in the Apparel of inferior people, to settle the price of Wines, and many other matters. But, what (saith our Author Thomas Walsingham, condemning such Practices) signify Acts of Parliaments, when after they are made, they take no effect, or are nothing regarded, for the King with his Privy Council, took upon them to alter or wholly se● aside all things, that by general consent had in Parliament been established.  
Of the truth whereof, there were too many unhappy Instances, as amongst the rest, in this very Parliament, upon the request of the Lords and Commons, Sir. R. Scroop was by the King appointed Lord Chancellor as being a Person of known Judgement, Learning, and inflexible Integrity; but within few Months he was turned out of that Office, (which he had laudably and prudently administered) merely because to do the King faithful Service he had displeased some of his unworthy M●nors: the Relation of which, I shall set down in Walsinghams' own Words. Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, and several other Lords, being lately dead, certain greedy and ambitious Knights and Squires, and others of inferior Rank, that were Servants to the King, had begged of him Grants of divers Lands and Lordships, lately belonging to the deceased, that they might have the profits thereof, for so long time as the King by the Custom of the Realm, was to hold them in his Hands; which the King, not minding the value, nor considering any reason they had to desire, or merit to deserve, such Revenues, presently consents to, ordering them to the Chancellor to have their Grants confirmed under the great Seal; but the prudent and honest Chancellor, who zealously desired the prosperity of the Kingdom, and just profit of the King, absolutely refused to do it; telling them, the King was much in debt, and 'twas most necessary he should reserve such Contingencies to himself, therewith in part to satisfy his Creditors; and that since they well knew such the Kings urgent occasions, they could be no good Subjects to his Majesty, that consulting their own advantages more than his service, and preferring private lucre before public necessities, should go about to circumvent, and further impoverish him, by such prejudicial Requests, from which they should do well to desist, and be content with his Majesty's former Largesses, which were sufficient for them.  
Nettled with this repulse, these Courtiers resort back to the King, grievously complaining of the Chancellor's Obstinacy, that he contemned his Majesty's Command, and that it concerned his Majesty suddenly, and with due severity, to Chastise such an affronted disobedience; for otherwise the Royal Authority would become contemptible to all his People, and his Command be accounted of no value, etc. The young King therefore more regarding the false suggestions of these self-designing flatterers, than the faithful allegations and advice of his Chancellor, sends in his fury messengers to demand the Seal of him, but the Chancellor would deliver it to no hands but the Kings. To whom having surrendered it, he was pleased to retain it for many days in his own Custody, Sealing Grants therewith himself, etc. Till at length the keeping of it was conferred on Braibrook Bishop of London.  
To this last mentioned Parliament, John Wickliff exhibited a certain Complaint, or Articles, chiefly against the Abuses of Monks, Friars, etc. An Abstract of the substance whereof is as follows.  
1. Article, That all Persons of what Kind, Order, Sect, or singular Religion soever, made or instituted by men, may freely without any let or punishment, leave the same at their pleasure, and are only bound stably to hold the Rule of Jesus Christ, taken and given by him and his Apostles, and far more profitable than such new Religions founded by sinful men.  
2. Art. That those things which men have unreasonably and wrongfully condemned; As, That the King cannot take away the Goods of Prelates, Monks, etc. misbehaving themselves, or the like; may be vindicated and asserted, and the contrary Error condemning them Exposed: For that nothing ought to be condemned, unless it savour of Error or unrighteousness against Gods Law.  
3. Art. That both Tithes and Offerings be given, paid, and received, with and to the same intent only, as by God's Law they ought; that is, that what is more than sufficient to serve the Priests, etc. with Necessaries, be given to the Poor: And that if they be abused to luxury or covetousness, than they may lawfully be taken away.  
4. Art. That Christ's Doctrine, and the Belief touching the Sacrament plainly delivered by him and his Apostles, be openly taught in Churches, and the contrary Teaching and false Belief, brought up by cursed Hypocrites and worldy Priests, exploded.  
Wickliff's preferring these Articles (which he at large Confirmed both by Authorities and Reason) stirred up fresh hatred against him in the ecclesiastics, and procured him much trouble.  
Wherefore because all Papists so furiously condemn him to this day as a wicked Heretic, and we justly own him as one of the first and most eminent Authors of the Reformation in Doctrine, by his painful Writing and Preaching, his Tenets being generally the same 
* See Doctor James of Oxford, his Apology for Wickliff, showing his Conformity with the new Church of England, Printed An. 1608.  with those professed at this day by the Protestant Churches, bating some few Errors intermixed, which are as less material, so likewise more excusable, considering the Ignorance and Blindness of the Age he lived in. And since his Story, is one of the Remarkables of this King Richard's Reign, it will not be impertinent briefly to relate the same.  
Wickliff is said to be descended of an ancient Family in the North, but the exact year of his Birth we do not find Recorded; he was Educated in Merton College in Oxford, became first Divinity Reader in that Famous University, and afterwards Rector of Lutterworth in Leicester shire: Touching his Parts, his Contemporary Henry de Knyghton, Cannon of Leicester, (and by consequence none of his Friends) does yet give this Honourable Character, That he was the most eminent Doctor of Divinity of those times, second to none in Philosophy, incomparable for School learning, and transcending most both in subtlety of Science, and profoundness of Wit. These great Abilities enabled him quickly to discover the Falsity of the Doctrines, and the Cheat of the Practices then in vogue in the Church: For in his Studies, he had run through the whole Course of the Schoolmen; and amongst them was a professed Follower of Occam, by reading whose Works, and others that lived about the same time, or not long before, such as Bradwardine, Marsilius, Gulielmus de Sancto Amore, Abelardus, Armachanus, and the Learned Grosthead Bishop of Lincoln: God gave him Grace to see the Truth of his Gospel, and by seeing it, to loath Superstition and Popery. By Occam and Marsilius he was informed of the Pope's Intrusions and Usurpations upon Kings, their Crowns and Dignities. Of Gul. de S. Amore and Armachanus, he learned the sundry Abuses of the Monks and Friars in upholding this Usurped Power. By Abelard and others, he got a Prospect of the Right Faith touching the Sacrament of the Lords Supper. By Bradwardine he was instructed in the nature of a true Sole Justifying Faith, against Merit-mongers, and Pardoners, Pelagians, etc. Finally by perusing Grosthead's Works (in which he seemed to be most conversant) he descried the Pope to be Antichrist, by hindering the Preaching of the Gospel, and placing unfit men in the Church, only to support his own Tyranny. And being thus enlightened, his Zeal to Truth would not suffer him to Conceal his Candle under a Bushel: And therefore those that assigned his being deprived of a Benefice in Oxford, to be the occasion of first spreading his Opinions, and would attribute all to Resentment and Revenge, speak either rashly or maliciously, no such provocation being so much as mentioned by Authors of best Credit, to occasion his preaching against the Corruptious of the Times; nor is it likely that he would have so inveighed against Clergy-covetousness and Pride, if they could have retorted on him any such cause of his Discontent; or how can we but imagine, that if he had affected any such small Business as the Headship of Canterbury College, the Duke of Lancaster (who was his Great Patron) could have helped him to it. For indeed the Fame of his Learning, his unwearied diligence in Preaching and Writing, together with his pious exemplary Life, procured him many Disciples amongst the People, and several Favourers of the first Rank: The rather, for that he justly opposed the Ambition and Avarice of the Clergy, a Theme no less grateful than necessary; for the Temporal Statesmen already found it to be an insufferable Grievance, though they wanted Skill or Courage to abate it. King Edward the Third (though a great Doter on ecclesiastics) is supposed not to have been his Enemy; and 'tis certain the pious Duke of Lancaster, (so our Author Knyghton always calls him) and several of the Nobles were much his Friends, and Protectors against the Rage of the Prelates; for Wickliff being in King Edward's days Cited to Answer before the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London, and others in Paul's, the said Duke, and Sir Henry Piercy Lord Marshal, were pleased to attend him thither, and would needs have him sit in presence of the Court, alleging he had much to answer, and therefore needed convenient ease; which favour the Bishop of London refusing to grant, hard words arose between the Temporal and Spiritual Lords; insomuch that the Duke threatened he would pull down the pride of all the Bishops of England: And by reason of their Contest, Wickliff for the present got off, and little was done against him.  
But in the beginning of King Richard's Reign, the Pope sent a Bull to the University of Oxford, upbraiding them with suffering and countenancing Wickliff and his Doctrine, and charging them on pain of being deprived of all their Privileges and Indulgences, that they should no longer tolerate the same. But the Heads of the University were so well satisfied with Wickliffe's Integrity, that they were at a stand whether they should receive the said Bull, or reject it with Contempt: However the Pope plied both the King and the Archbishop, and Bishop of London, with several other Letters and Bulls to the same effect; So that at last, Wickliff was again Convened before them; but on the Day assigned for his Examination, Sir Lewis Clifford came into their Court, and in the Name of the Princess Joan, the King's Mother, peremptorily Commanded them to proceed no further in that Affair; with which being terrified, they desisted their prosecution, and once more he got out of their Clutches.  
But now by reason of the beforementioned Articles offered to the King and Parliament, the Bishops soon after summoned him again before them, but whether he appeared or not, is uncertain: However they proceeded against the Opinions and Conclusions following, as His, which as they are related by the Historians of those Times, I shall recite; some of them being Branded as Heresies, others only as Errors; Viz.  

Heresy I. 
That the Substance of Bread or Wine remains after Consecration in the Sacrament of the Altar.  Heresy II. 
That Accidents do not remain without a Subject after Consecration in the same Sacrament.  Heresy III. 
That Christ is not in the Sacrament of the Altar Identically, truly and really in his proper Corporal Person.  Heresy IU. 

That if a Bishop or Priest whilst he is in mortal sin, should Ordain, Consecrate, or Baptism, it would be nothing available.  
[Note, this is falsely charged, Wickliffe's words whence this is wrested, are in his book. De Veritate Scriptu●arum, p. 138. Nisi ●hristianu, etc. Unless the Christian Priest be united unto Christ by Grace, Christ cannot be his Saviour, neither can he speak the Sacramental words without lying; Licet pro●●●t c●pacibu, though yet they are profitable to fit Receivers. Which last Clause they spitefully omit.]   Heresy V. 
That if a Man be duly Contrite, all outward Confession is superfluous and to him unprofitable.  Heresy VI. 
That he hath Obstinately asserted, that it is not founded in the Gospel, that Christ ordained the Mass.  Heresy VII. 

That God ought to obey the Devil.  
[This Position the Devil himself would scarce dare to utter, much less this godly man▪ who on the quite contrary in his Comment on the Psalms p. 112 saith, the Devil is cleped God's Angel: for he may do nothing but at God's suffering, and serveth God in tormenting sinful men, 'tis true in his Book against the Friars, Cap. 28 he complains of their Blasphemy, in accusing the Holy Scriptures of Falsehood, which, says he, is to put falseness upon God himself, who is the Author thereof, and yet they would have in believe what they themselves say is true. Alas (saith he) who may suffer this Blasphemy, that Christ in whom is all Treasure of Wit, Wisdom, and Truth, could not, or would not say true words, and sentence, but yet sinful fools have true manner of speaking, contrary to the speech of our Lord Jesus Christ, for if this be sinful fools, yea Devils of Hell, been wiser & t●uer than Jesus Christ. From these words, or some such Argument ab Ab●urdo, against them, that which he proves to be their wicked consequence they make his Doctrine, just as if one should charge David with asserting, there is no God, leaving out, The Fool hath said in his Heart.   Heresy VIII. 
That if the Pope be a wicked Man, and consequently a member of the Devil, than he has no power given him over faithful Christians by any, unless perhaps by Caesar.  Heresy IX. 
That after urban the Sixth, [Pope at that time] none aught to be chosen Pope, but we ought to live after the manner of the Greeks, under our own Laws.    


Errors.  

* [That is only for offences against Gods Law.]  1. That no Prelate ought to Excommunicate any, unless first he know such person to be Excommunicated of God.  
2. That if any shall otherwise Excommunicate, he thereby becomes an Heretic, or Excommunicated person himself.  
3. That a Prelate Excommunicating a Clerk that has appealed to the King and Council of the Kingdom, is thereby a Traitor to God, the King, and Kingdom.  
4. That those who forbear to Preach, or hear the Word of God, or the Gospel, for the Excommunication of men, are Excommunicated, and at the day of Judgement shall be accounted Traitors to God.  

* [This is wrested to a worse sense than Wickliff intended.]  5. That 'tis contrary to the Scriptures, that persons Ecclesiastical should have Temporal possessions.  
6. That 'tis lawful to any Deacon, or Presbyter, to Preach the Word of God, without Authority from the Pope, or any Catholic Bishop.  

* [This is the same Calumny with the Fourth Heresy.]  7. That none, whilst in mortal sin, is to be accounted a Bishop or Prelate.  
8. That Temporal Lords may at their pleasure take away Temporal Goods from the Church habitually offending.  
9 That Tithes are pure Alms, and Parishioners may for the sins of their Curates detain the same, and confer them at their pleasure upon others.  
10. That special prayers applied by Prelates or Religious persons to one particular person, do not more profit him, than general prayers, all things else being equal.  
11. That any one entering into any Private Religion, is thereby rendered more unapt, and incapable of observing the Commandments of God.  
12. That Holy Men, that instituted Private Orders of Religion, whether of Mendicants, or such as are endowed with possessions, did sin in so doing.  
13. That those called Religious, living in private Orders of Religion, are not of the Christian Religion.  
14. That Friar's Mendicant, are bound to live by the Labour of their Hands and not to get their living by Begging.  
15. That Friars Begging after their Sermons, do thereby incur the Crime of Simony, and all that bestow Alms on them are Excommunicate, as well the giver as receiver.    
About these Positions the Bishop's first met at Oxford (where they had taken such impression, that Riggs the Vicechancellor, and many others had embraced them) and after that at the Gray-Fryars London, on the Seventeenth of May, 1382. on which day after Dinner, about Two a Clock, just as they were going to proceed in this Business, happened a Wonderful and Terrible Earthquake throughout all England; whereupon divers of the Suffragans being affrighted, would have desisted, but the Archbishop otherwise interpreting the Omen, they went on, and at last solemnly Condemned all the said Propositions, there being present Eight Bishops, Nineteen Monks and Friars, Fourteen Doctors of Law, and Six Bachelors of Divinity.  
However Mr. Wickliff himself (whether because they could not find him: or that they were afraid to meddle with him) or rather because they were much distracted by reason of the Feuds between two Popes then in being at once, escaped their malice; and in the Year 1385. died peaceably in his Bed, having been Doctor of Divinity above Thirty Years, and of such industry and learning, that he Translated the whole Bible into Engglish; one Copy whereof written with his own Hand, lately was, and I suppose still is extant in Saint John's College in Oxford: He lived in a time, when the Friar's Orders by their manifold disorders were become exceeding odious, and the Pope's jurisdiction by provisions, Reservations, and Collations very intolerable, which made way for those excellent statute Laws about this time enacted, of Premunice, against Provisors, and the abuses of Begging Friars; which so bridled and restrained the Pope's Rampant Usurpations, that he could but little prevail here in England, during the Reign of King Edward the Third, and King Richard the Second: Towards making of which Laws, Wickliffe's Doctrine struck a great stroke, he maintaining very learnedly and stoutly, the King's jurisdiction, Crown, and Dignity, against Papal and all kind of Encroachments, by the Laws, Civil, Cannon, and Common, of which last especially he made great use, and was well skilled therein. But for full satisfaction concerning this famous Man, I shall here add, the Testimonial of the University given in his behalf, after his Death, as follows, viz.  
TO all & singular the Children of our holy Mother the Church, to whom these presents shall come, the Vicechancellor of the University of Oxford, with the whole Congregation of the Masters, wish perpetual health in the Lord: Forasmuch as it is not commonly seen, ●hat the Acts and Monuments of Valiant men, nor the praise and merits of good men, should be passed over and hidden with perpetual silence, but that true report and fame should continually spread abroad the same in strange and far distant places; both in Testimony thereof, and for the example of others. Forasmuch also as the provident discretion of Man's nature hath devised this defence against slander, that when ever Witnesses by Word of Mouth cannot be present, the Pen by Writing may supply the same.  
Therefore the special good will and care which we bore unto John Wickliff, sometime Child of this our University, and Professor of Divinity, moving and exciting our minds (as his manners and conditions required no less) with one Mind, Voice, and Testimony, we do witness all his conditions and doings throughout his whole life, to have been most sincere and commendable; whose honest manners, good disposition, profoundness of learning, and most redolent fame, we desire the more earnestly to be notified to, and celebrated by all the faithful, for that we understand, the maturity and ripeness of his Conversation, his diligent Labours and Travels tend much to the Praise of God, the help and safeguard of others, and the profit of truth.  
Wherefore we signify unto you by these presents, that his Conversation (even from his youth upwards, unto the time of his death) was so praiseworthy and honest, that never at any time was there any note or spot of suspicion noised of him, but in his answering, reading, preaching, and determining, he behaved himself laudably, and as a stout Champion of the Faith, vanquishing by the force of the Scriptures, all such who by their wilful Beggary, Blasphemed and slandered Christ's Religion: Neither was this said Doctor Convict of any Heresy, or burned by our Prelates [Note his Bones were not yet, but long after ordered to be taken up and burnt by the Council of Constance] after his Burial: For God forbid tha● our Prelates should have condemned a man of such honesty 〈◊〉 an Heretic, who amongst all the rest of the University had Written in Logic, Philosophy, Divinity, Morality, and the Speculative Art beyond comparison, the knowledge of all which things we desire to testify, that the fame and renown of this said Doctor may be more evident, and had in repute amongst those into whose hands these present Letters Testimonial shall come.  
In Witness whereof we have caused these our Letters Testimonial, to be Sealed with our Common Seal, dated at Oxford, in our Congregation House, the 15. of October, in the Year of our Lord, 1406.  
About the same time, several of Wickliffs' followers, as Nicholas of Hartford, John Aston, John Purney, and other Priests, were much troubled for the same and the like Opinions; among the rest our Author Henry de Knyghton, tells us; that on Palm Sunday, he heard one at Leicester Preaching these horrible Heresies and Errors (in his Opinion) following, viz.  
That to Blabber with the Lips, and multiply Words in Prayer signified nothing.  
That to give Money for Celebrating of Masses would not avail any body, unless he led a good Life.  
That Christ never commanded any Body to Beg.  
That no Man is bound to give Alms to any that has better Cl●athes and outward accommodation: than himself.  
That none is truly a Prelate, nor capable of a Bishopric, unless he be a Teacher and Preacher.  
That Money got by Confessions is accursed, and as well the giver as receiver Excommunicate.  
That Preachers carrying about Bags and Scripps, are false Teachers, since Christ in his Gospel Commands the contrary, and the true Disciples of Christ never practised it.  
That for those to Beg, who are able to work is Condemned by the Law Civil, and no where approved by the Law Evangelical.  
That Christ Converted many of divers States and Conditions to the Faith; but we do not find in the Holy Scripture that ever he converted a Priest.  
These Opinions spreading so fast, and the Bishops perceiving that yet they had not sufficient Authority by any Law, or Statute of this Realm, to proceed unto Death or Imprisonment, against any for matters of Religion, they therefore solicited the King for the power of the Temporal Sword, who overcome with their importunity, or perhaps incited by hopes of some Subsidy to be given him by the Clergy was content to give his Assent to an Ordinance, bearing the name of an Act, made in the Parliament holden at Westminster, Anno Quint. R. 2. Ca 5. in these Words.  
ITem, forasmuch as it is openly known, that there be divers evil Persons within the Realm, going from Country to Country, and from Town to Town, in certain Habits under dissimulation of great Holiness; and without the Licence of the Ordinaries of the places, or other sufficient Authority, Preaching daily, not only in Churches and Churchyards, but also in Markets, Fairs, and open Places, where a great Congregation of People is, divers Sermons containing Heresies, and notorious Errors, to the great emblemishing of Christian Faith, and Destruction of thr Laws, and of the Estate of Holy Church, to the great Peril of the Souls of the People, and of all the Realm of England, as more plainly is found, and sufficiently proved before the Reverend Father in God the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishops, and other Prelates, Masters of Divinity, and Doctors of the Canon, and of Civil Law, and a great part of the Clergy of the said Realm, specially assembled for this great cause; which Persons do also Preach divers matters of slander, to engender, discord, and dissension betwixt divers Estates of the said Realm, as well Spiritual as Temporal, in exciting of the People to the great Peril of all the Realm, which Preachers cited or summoned before the Ordinaries of the places, there to answer to that whereof they be impeached, they will not obey their Summons and Commands, nor care not for their Monitions, nor Censures of the Holy Church, but expressly despise them. And moreover by their subtle and ingenious words do draw the People to hear their Sermons, and do maintain them in their errors by strong hand, and by great routs. It is ordained and assented in this present Parliament, That the King's Commissions be made, and directed to the Sheriffs, and other Ministers of our Sovereign Lord the King, or other sufficient persons learned, and according to the Certifications of the Prelates thereof, to be made in the Chancery from time to time, to arrest all such Preachers, and also their Fauters, Maintainers, and Abetters, and to hold them in Arrest and strong Prison, till they will justify to them according to the law and reason of Holy Church. And the King willeth and commandeth, that the Chancellor make such Commissions at all times, that he by the Prelates, or any of them shall be certified, and thereof required as is aforesaid.  
This was the first pretence of Statute against the true Professors of Religion, and indeed was no Act of Parliament duly made, but only by the King and the Clergy, for at Michaelm. following, in the sixth year of the King, a Parliament being assembled complained thereof, and having recited the same— Add— The which was never agreed nor granted by the Commons; but whatsoever was moved therein, was without their Assent; and therefore prayen the Commons, that the said Statute be disannulled, for it is not in any wise their meaning, that either themselves or such as shall succeed them, shall be further justified, or bound by the Prelates, than were their Ancestors in former times. Whereunto it is answered, Il playst au Roy, The King is pleased.  
Yet though the supposed Law of the Fifth were hereby so repealed, and the fraud thereof discovered, the Prelates ordered matters so, that this Act of Repeal was never published, nor since printed in the Statute Book with the rest of the Acts of that Parliament, as Mr. Fox in his Acts and Monuments well observes.  
The Year 1383 was famous for a Warlike Expedition undertaken by the English Clergy, called a Croisado, or going forth to fight the Lords Battles (as they pretended) under the Banner of the Cross. The occasion thus:  
After the death of Pope Gregory the Eleventh, which happened in the Year of our Lord 1378, one Bartholomew Bishop of Barri in Apulia, by the undue acts hereafter mentioned got into the Chair, by the name of urban the Sixth; who as he entered by force, so he proceeded with so much pride and insolence, that most of the Cardinals forsook him, and retiring to Avignion in France, chose one Robert Bishop of Cibbo in his stead, who took upon him the style of Pope Clement. Now to destroy him, and all that owned and took part with him, was the meritorious design. And that the Reader may the better perceive the nature of the Quarrel, and what mighty reason people had to venture their Lives, and murder their Neighbours, for this Urbans Interest, I shall insert a Copy of the Cardinal's Letter to him, as Walsingham recites it.  
THe Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons, by Divine Merit Cardinals, during the vacancy of the Apostolical See, to Bartholomew late Archbishop of Barri, wish the Spirit of founder counsel. The sanctity and purity of the Catholic Faith, and the wholesome devotion of Christian People, the clear profession of the whole Ecclesiastic State, and Salvation of all the faithful, do require, That those things which may occasion a scandal unto our faith, the subversion of the Worshippers of Christ, the weakening of the State of the Church, and the evident danger of souls, should be openly notified to all, declared amongst the people, and according to the Doctrine of the Gospel preached upon the housetops, lest by indiscreet silence those be left in error who might be reclaimed, and they to whose office it belongs should lie under the reprehension of the Prophet, saying, Thy Prophets and Preachers shall prophesy unto thee things false and foolish, and shall not lay open thine iniquity, that they might provoke thee to penance. Whereas therefore the Apostolic Seat being empty by the death of Pope Gregory XI, of pious memory, who in March last departed this life; we for the Election of another Pope, according to Law and Custom, had assembled ourselves in the Conclave, for that purpose assigned, in the Apostolical Palace, the People of Rome gathered together by the sound of a Bell and in hostile manner, surrounding the place, almost filling the Palace both without and within, did with vehement Terror threaten, that unless without any delay, we choose a Roman, or Italian, they would presently cut us into bits: And so there being no due space afforded, wherein we might deliberate of a fit Person; they against our will and intention, suddenly and abruptly by violence and bodily fear, compelling us to choose an Italian, We thereupon merely to avoid the otherwise inevitable Peril of Death, as at the same time we openly declared amongst ourselves, did think fit to nominate Thee for Pope, not doubting but thou to whom as well as to all the Clergy, and People, that accursed violence was well known) hadst had so much Conscience, as in no sort to accept of the same. But thou forgetful of thine own Salvation, laying aside all pure Conscience, and being otherwise ambitious, wast so far inflamed with the Ardour of Worldly Honour, upon the presentation of that Election (though extorted also by Fear, and against the Canonical Sanctions, from those who carried it from us into the ●ity) that thou to the greatest Scandal of the Christian Clergy and People and to the pernicious Example of others in such cases, didst consent to the said Election, though the same in Law were absolutely null and void, and also out of fear (as we well hope) didst suffer thyself to be enthroned in the City, and Crowned de facto, and so hast taken upon thee the name of Pope, who by the holy and wise Fathers, and by Right and Law, are rather and deservedly to be called, An accursed Apostate, Antichrist, and the Invader, and Destroyer of all Christianity. Since therefore such thy wicked Intrusion into the Papacy is now divulged throughout the World, grown notorious, and cannot any longer be hid, as being done just before Easter, when from all parts of Christendom there were multitudes of People at Rome; and whereas many Errors have already began to creep abroad, and the Consciences of the Faithful to be entangled; and that thou being long expected, & charitably admonished in secret, regardest not to amend thy folly, but rather dost desire to draw the whole Clergy and People into a Precipice, and preferring the empty transitory Glory of the World, before the Salvation of thine own, and other Christians Souls, obstinately endeavourest to hold the Popedom by Tyranny, into which thou didst not enter by the Door; We therefore not being able with safe Consciences any longer to dissemble the Premises, laying forth the same, and giving notice thereof to thee and all faithful Christians, though the same be already notorious to thyself, and almost all the Clergy and People, do publish and denounce thee accursed and (as having intruded into the Papacy without any Canonical Election) an Invader of all Christianity, since thou dreadest not to invade the very Head of Christianity itself, and such a Destroyer, as seekest by thy tyrannical Usurpation, to cause almost all the Sacraments to fail, and the universal People of Christ to run astray on Precipices, as wanting a true Shepherd; Exhorting nevertheless, and entreating by the Bowels of Mercy, of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose Spouse the Church, thou hast not blushed to commit a Rape upon; that thou wouldst think of the end, to which fullness of days is hastening thee▪ that thou wouldst direct the Eyes of thy mind to God and a pure Conscience; and that thou wouldst quit, and leave empty and free, that most Holy Seat of S. Peter, which without title thou dost occupy; and that thou wouldst lay aside the Papal Ensigns and Ornaments, and without delay abstain from the Administration of any the Spirituals or Temporals of the Papacy and Roman Church, and study to satisfy God and the Church to thy utmost power, by the fruits of true repentance; which if thou shalt perform, thou mayst deserve to obtain the grace of God, and the applauses of the World, and the praises of the Clergy and People, and a remission of those sharp penalties by the Canon Laws inflicted, and to be with all diligence inflicted upon thee; but otherwise art sure deservedly to incur the indignation of Almighty God, and of S. Peter and Paul, and all other Saints; and we will invoke Divine and Human counsel with the Spouse of Christ, and of all Christians, whose Mother without doubt is in this behalf violated; and shall use all other remedies granted by the Canonical Sanctions hitherto, that before thou hast so resigned, thou mayst have no hope of mercy.  
But Vrbanus (whom some that were fond of a Quibble were wont to call Turbanus, because he was the Disturber of Christendom) would neither be wheedled nor hectored out of the Popedom, and therefore he gets together the Bishops that still took his part, and makes divers of them Cardinals, who soon returned a thundering answer to this Epistle of the Schismatical Cardinals and Bishops, (for so they called them that disowned urban;) which (to show the meek spirits of the men, and how notably they argue) I shall presume so far on the Readers patience, as here likewise to insert.  
WE the Universal Faithful of Christ, honoured with this sacred Character, founded so upon the firm rock of Truth, that the Lord upholding and watering the root of our Holy Faith, by no whirlwinds of Heretical or Schismatical persuasion, we can be extirpated or overthrown; to John Bishop of Praenest, William with the title of S. Stephen in the Celian Mount, etc. not (as you call yourselves) Cardinals by Divine Mercy of the Holy Roman Church, but accursed and most ravenous Wolves, Invaders of the whole Flock of Christ, and most subtle Foxes, desiring to lay waste the Vineyard of the Lord of Hosts, send not Greeting but Grief, not Joy but Sorrow, and that you may be clothed with Confusion as with a Garment. The insipid tenor of your Letters, which by the Devil's instigation you rashly have sent throughout all the Provinces of Christendom, hath wounded our hearts, and all that is within us, not by startling our Faith, but with a godly compassion for so horrid a scandal as lately is raised in the Holy Church of God; but Woe unto you by whom these scandals come, for the Face of our Mother the Church is made pale, pale with unspeakable trouble, for the error of your wickedness (the like not heard of for many ages) who would be esteemed zealous of the Laws, when in truth you are sacrilegious, though scon she is rendered ruddy again with modest blushes, seeing by your ill deeds all the Borders of Christianity to be inflamed. O detestable and unhappy Ambition of yours, which endeavours to rend our Lords seamless Coat, and part that which suffers no division, but rather rejoiceth in unity. Wicked Servants, Out of your own mouths you shall be judged, by your Letters, you have declared the manner of the Election of the Pope by you lately celebrated, alleging that an unruly multitude of armed people beset the Conclave, terribly and mortally threatening you, unless you should choose an Italian or Roman, but not limiting any certain person whom they would force you to elect.  
'Tis therefore manifest, as to the person, that you do grant he was freely, and not by compulsion, chosen; and so we firmly do and will hold, that the Election by you then made was rightfully and canonically celebrated; and to him so elected, enthroned, and crowned, as Head of the Holy Church, Peter's Successor, and Vicar of Christ on earth, we do faithfully adhere, and promise humbly to obey his Admonitions, Words, and Acts, as becomes true and faithful Catholics; not taking a damnable example from your pernicious rebellion, and sacrilegious and heretical stubber●ness.  
And furthermore, we detest your folly, and baseness of your pretence; for how should sear invade you, who are placed in the ●ore front of the Church's Troops▪ as Champions and Defenders of the Orthodox Faith, and we●●ing ●n your head● the Red Caps, Ensigns of Ecclesiastical Liberty, for a token that you 〈…〉 to strive for Righteousness and Justice even to death? Now I say, could the dread of death make you depart from Righteousness? Or how were you that call yourselves Pillars of the Church become so weak and feeble, as not to be able to uphold the building from tumbling on your heads? Was there any Samson there? No alas, he died long since. But to excuse yourselves in your sins, you will perhaps say, That Peter the Rock of Faith, and after Christ the prime foundation of the Church, was so affrighted at the words of a poor Servant-maid, as to deny Christ himself, and that too with an Oath, of whose infirmity you are Partakers and Followers. Oye Generation of Vipers, ye crafty Serpents nourished with poison, if ye taste the bitter herb, taste also that which is sweet and wholesome; and after this damnable denial of the Head, return with Peter to confession. We truly build upon the Rock, whilst your abominable obstinacy makes you Consorts of a Traitor, whose iniquity relies on Lead, Sands, and Rubbish. Nor let your foolish blindness and blind foolishness imagine, that those words in your Letters, which seem to carry a show of piety and zeal for the House of God, shall move us and persuade us in any thing to consent with you; for we most evidently perceive, that those words are fall of the Leaven of the Pharisees, of which Christ in the Gospel admonisheth his Disciples to beware. And by your leaving Rome, and naming another place for perpetrating your wicked designs, you clearly show us that you have left the true Head of the Church, and are become Members of the Devil, and gone out into the Desert with Judas the Traitor, where fitly with an Halter you may be ready to hang yourselves; that that of the Prophet may be verified of you,— Let their habitation be desolate, and let none be left to dwell in their tents. As also it is written further of each of you,— Let his days be few, and his Bishopric let another take. Furthermore, you do but blacken the clear f●●me of the Count of Fundi, (a Town in Italy, whose ●arl harboured the Cardinals) when you so load him with your Commendations throughout Christendom; since as the Poet saith, Idem est laudari à turpibus & ob turpia, To be praised by bad men is all one as to be praised for bad things. Consider therefore, O Count! that whereas heretofore thou wast unknown in divers Christian Countries, which thou thoughtest an unhappiness; now thou hast gained not a Name but Shame throughout the World, for inviting to thyself the Enemies of Christ, the Breakers of the Church's Unity, and the Disturbers of the peace and tranquillity of all Christendom, and cherishing their detestable perfidiousness; so that thou seemest to have built an Asylum against Christ and all Catholic people. Arise therefore, O Count! throw these Mice out of thy Budget, chase these Serpents from thy Tabernacle, and shake these coals of Brimstone out of thy Bosom, lest they bring thee to everlasting burnings; so shalt thou obtain the grace of God, the blessings of all Christians, and the commendation of all the World, and shalt merit to escape the Divine Vengeance.  
Dated at Rome, etc.  
Both Parties being thus hot, and Christendom divided between two Popes at once, each damning the other for a Schismatic and Villain; France, Flanders, Scotland, and several other Countries joined with Pope Clement; insomuch that the French King proclaimed throughout all his Realm, that none should own or obey urban on pain of being Beheaded, and all his Goods forfeited to the King's use. But by means of Vrban's Complimental Letters to King Richard and the Parliament, and his honouring our Bishop of London with a Cardinal's Cap, England was altogether at his devotion; for in the second year of King Richard an Act was made, declaring him to be lawful Pope, and that the Livings of all Cardinals and others that were Rebels to him, should be seized into the King's hands, and the King to be answered of the profits thereof; and that whosoever within this Realm should procure or obtain any Provision or other Instrument from any other Pope than the same urban, should be out of the King's Protection.  
And this year 1382, the said urban sent over his Bull to Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich (a young bold Prelate) to raise a Croisado, that is, to levy Forces who should be all marked with the Cross, as engaged in an Holy War, to fight with and subdue his Enemy the said Clement, the Antipope, and all his Followers and Favourers, whom thereby he did excommunicate and depose from all Honours, and forbid any Conversation with them living, and burial of their bodies when dead, etc. In which Bull were (amongst other things) granted the Powers and Privileges following.  
1. That the said Bishop of Norwich may use the Sword against the Antipope and all his Adherents, Favourers, and Counsellors, and with violence put them to death.  
2. That he hath full power to inquire of all and singular such Schismatics, and put them in prison, and to confiscate all their Goods movable and immovable.  
3. That he hath Power and Authority to deprive all Laymen that are such Schismatics, of all manner of Secular Offices whatsoever, and to give their Offices to other fit and convenient Persons.  
4. To deprive all such Schismatic Clerks, and bestow their Benefices either with or without Cure, their Dignities, Parsonages, or Offices to other Persons more meet for the same, having power over Lay-people that are exempt, Clerks both Secular and Regular, yea though they be Friars Mendicants.  
5. That he may dispense with any Dignified or Beneficed Clerks, so that they may be absent from their Cures or Benefices, under the standard of the Cross, without leave of any of their Prelates, and yet take and receive the entire Profits, as though personally resident.  
6. There is granted to all that pass the Seas in this Cause, either at their own Expenses, or at the Expenses of any others, Full Remission of all their Sins, and besides as large Privileges as to any that pay their Money, or go to Fight for the Holy Land.  
7. That all such as shall with their proper Goods and Substance give sufficient Stipend to able Soldiers at the discretion of the aforesaid Bishop mustered, or by any other his Deputy, although themselves be not personally engaged, yet shall they have the like Remission and Indulgence, as they which in person go to the Expedition.  
8. That all they shall be Partakers of this Remission, who shall give any part of their Goods to the said Bishop, to Fight against the said Schismatics.  
9 That if any shall chance to die in the Journey, or be killed, that are Soldiers under the said Standard of the Cross, they shall fully and wholly receive the said Grace, and shall be Partakers of the aforesaid Forgiveness and Indulgence.  
10. The said Bishop hath Power to Excommunicate, Suspend, and Interdict all persons whatsoever that shall be Rebellious, or Disturbers of him in the Execution of the Powers and Authority hereby committed unto him, of whatsoever Dignity or Condition they be, whether Kings, Queens, Emperors, or of any other Quality Ecclesiastical or Temporal.  
Lastly, That he may compel and enforce any Religious Persons whatsoever, to go in this Expedition, and send them over Sea, if he think good so to do, and this although they be Professors of the Friar's Mendicants.  
Being thus furnished the Bishop to spread his Authority, and the more effectually carry on the Work, published the Ordinances following.  
1. IT is Ordained for the Honour, the Establishment of Holy Church, and the Salvation of the Realm, that sufficient Preachers be sent into all the Country, to Declare and Publish the Croisado, and the Right Estate of Holy Church, and of our most Holy Father Pope Urban, whom God (of his benign Grace) pity and redress, according to his good pleasure.  
2. That to every such Preacher or Confessor throughout England, there shall be joined a Clerk, who shall receive and register the Names of all such as shall offer their persons to this Holy War; and also all money that shall be given, over whom the said Confessors shall be Controllers.  
3. That no Woman shall presume to go this voyage without special Licence from the Bishop of Norwich under his Seal.  
4. That no man by the way shall rob, or by any kind of Extortion take the goods of any till they come upon the Enemies, where they may do it by right of War, on pain of losing all share in the said Pardon.  
5. That the said Preachers shall press the people to say Prayers and make Processions for the safety of the Church, and the prosperity of this Vorage.  
6. That all Curates on pain of Excommunication shall encourage, and by all means they can (especially in Confession) press and engage their parishioners, as well poor as rich, to come into and contribute to this pious Expedition, so much for the good of the Church, and advantage of their own Souls.  
7. That every one that will go in person for the Absolution, shall before such Absolution be given him, swear to come to the said Bishop or his Deputy, and make his Indentures touching the time that he purposes to serve in the Croisado.  
8. That if any will find a man, that is, hire another to go in his name, and upon his costs and charges, that he must either provide and able sufficient Soldier that shall nor refuse the Service, or else allow so much for his Pay to the Bishop, and let him provide one himself.  
9 That every one that sends such a Soldier in his own stead, shall enrol in the Bishop's Registry both his own and his Soldier's name before he takes Absolution, otherwise to lose all benefit of the Pardon.  

The form of the Absolution to be given to all that should serve in or contribute to this Croisado.  
BY Apostolical Authority to me in this behalf committed, We do Absolve thee from all thy sins confessed with thy mouth, and for which thou art contrite in heart, and of which thou wouldst be confessed, it they did occur to thy memory; and do grant unto thee full forgiveness of all thy sins, and the Retribution of the Just, and we do promise thee an increase of Eternal Life. And we do also grant to thee as many Privileges as are granted to those that go to the Aid of the Holy Land. And furthermore we do impart to thee the Suffrages and Advantages of the Prayers and Good works of the whole Catholic Church.   
The business being thus published with all the zeal and art of the Clergy, the Bishop thereupon collected an innumerable and incredible Sum of Money, besides abundance of Plate both Gold and Silver, Jewels, Rings, Dishes, Spoons, Bracelets, (they are all our Authors own words, who lived at that time) Necklaces, and other ornaments, especially of Ladies and others of the Female Sex; for 'twas said, one Lady gave an hundred pounds, and so others some more some less, and many even beyond their ability as was believed, so fond were they to obtain the imaginary benefit of Absolution for themselves or their Friends; (for by this they might not only save their own Souls, but free whom they pleased that were dead from pains of Purgatory, or ensure the Salvation of any Child or Relation living.) And so all the secret Treasure of the Kingdom, that was in the custody of these foolish weaker Vessels was endangered, for otherwise they were not to be absolved, if they did not contribute to their power and ability. Many men went in person at their own charge, others that were old, or weak, or timorous, sent Soldiers and bore their expenses. For the Bishop had got most admirable Indulgences both for the quick and dead, and could absolve & à poena & à culpa, as well from the guilt or offence, as from all punishment due for sin. And 'twas said, that some of his Commissioners did assert That at their commands Angels would descend from Heaven, and snatch Souls from out of the pains of Purgatory, and without delay carry them to rights into heaven.  
Whilst the warlike Bishop was making these Preparations comes a Parliament, where it was Debated, whether it where safe to hazard so considerable a strength of the Kingdom, in such an impertinent Quarrel, and under the Conduct of a rash unexperienced Priest; Those that were for it, besides the Interest of Religion urged Reason of State That now was the time for the King to recover his Right in France, and weaken the French King, when he lay under Pope Urban's Curse, for siding with Pope Clement, during which he could expect no Success on his Arms. Thus for some time very doubtful it was which way the Parliament would incline; but at last upon hearing that Antiphone sung,— Ecce Crucem Domini, fugite partes adversae,— Behold the Cross of our Lord, fly ye Adversaries, they where as with a Charm brought over to Decree in favour of the Expedition, assigning the Fifteenth given in the last Parliament, to be employed herein. And now the Project went on more vigorously than ever, insomuch saith Walsingham, That in all this spacious Kingdom there was scarce one person to be found, that did not either ●ffer his person, or bestow part of his goods for promoting the same. About the middle o● May, the Bishop was ready to put to Sea with his Army lying in Kent waiting for a Wind, the King (whether designing quite to forbid the Voyage, or thinking the Bishop had got too much Money, and willing to there with him or what other reason I know not) sent him a Writ to come back and speak with his Majesty and know his pleasure; but the proud Prelate mistrusting the worse, was so intent upon the Affair of his Lord and Master the Pope, that he had no leisure to obey his King and therefore to avoid any stops, presently hastened over to Calais, leaving his Army to follow him, which being arrived, he set up the Standard of the Cross, and besiges Gravelling, and takes it and several other places, using great Cruelties, and destroying all they could Master: For as the Episcopal General was a person rash and daring, and inflamed with mad Zeal, so his Shoulders confiding in their Absolutions, adventured upon the greatest dangers without fear, esteeming, says Walsingham, it Glory to overcome, but Gain to die in this Cause▪ where they thought themselves sure to go directly to Heaven, and to enjoy so much the greater Bliss the more they butchered of the Schismatics: But these first Fervours were quckly cooled by hard Service, and having in vain laid Siege to Ypres, they are at last forced to quit it, being all in Confusion amongst themselves, and in great want of Provisions; whence they come back to Gravelling, and therein are besieged by the French King with a powerful Army; In which Distress our Bishop wrote to King Richard, That if ever he intended to try his Fortune against the French King, now was the time, or at least that he should send some Forces to give him Battle, and force him to abandon the Siege: King Richard was then at Daintry in Northamptonsheire, and on the receipt of this News being at Supper, instantly arose from Table, and in mighty rage and fury took Horse, riding Post with such speed, that he came to Saint Albans at Midnight, where having borrowed the Abbot's Gelding (which Walsingham a Monk of that Abbey complains he never restored) he hastened to Westminster, making show as if he would never rest till he had Routed the French King and all his Host, but being somewhat weary with Riding, at Westminster, he went to Bed, and having taken council of his Pillow, was nothing so fierce next Morning, but resolved to lay aside the thoughts of going himself, and to send some body else: To which purpose, the Duke of Lancaster was nominated, but so tedious in making Preparations, that the Bishop in the mean time was glad to leave Gravelling, having first dismantled and destroyed it, and so returned home to England, after a vast Treasure dissipated, and many thousand Lives lost, and more Souls cheated, with as little Glory, as he set forth with mighty Expectation, the Success of his Arms being suitable to the ridiculous occasion of them. And what was yet worse for the haughty Prelate, soon after his coming home in a Parliament, held at London, about Alhallontide, all his Temporalities were seized into the King's hands, for his Contempt in disobeying the King's Writ, when His Majesty sent to him to come back just as he was putting to Sea on this piece of Ecclesiastical Knight-Errantry, and he refused to come as aforesaid.  
In this Parliament also was granted to the King half a Fifteenth by the Laity, and half a Tenth by the Clergy.  
In the Year 1384, a Truce was made with France, and the Duke of Lancaster and his Brother Thomas of Woodstock entered Scotland with a mighty Army, but the Scots wholly declining to fight, and many of the English being destroyed with Want and cold Wether, they returned, making very small Advantages by that expensive Expedition.  
Soon after which, an Irish Carmelite Friar made a discovery in Writing to the King of a Design the Duke of Lancaster had to destroy His Majesty and usurp the Crown; but the King advising about the same only with certain young Favourites, the Duke obtained notice of the Charge, and cleared, or seemed to clear himself so much to the King's satisfaction, that the poor Friar was committed to Custody; and 'tis said, on the Evening before the Hearing should have been, was most cruelly murdered. Whose Information, if real, shows what a● Opportunity the King slipped of preventing his after misfortune, and that some times it proves even more dangerous to discover Treasons, than to act them, which yet should discourage no good Subject from the discharge of his Duty. But possibly this whole Accusation, or the Relation of such a thing might be a Contrivance of the Duke's Enemies, to render him suspected to the King and odious to the People; for it 'tis certain they entered not many Months after into a formal-Design against his Life: the occasion whereof I do not find mentioned by Authors, but only that the King by the Instigation of his young Cabal-Council had conceived displeasure against him; and that they had conspired to take away the said Duke's Life. In order whereunto certain Crimes were suggested, Appellors prepared, and 'twas agreed that he should be suddenly Arrested, and brought before the Lord Chief Justice Trysilian, who had boldly untertaken to pronounce Sentence upon him according to the quality of the matters to be objected (though by Law he could not be tried but by his (Peers) and so Execution should immediately have followed. But the Duke being fore warned of these Contrivances, hastened to his Castle of Pomfret, and there stood upon his Guard: And the King's Mother considering the Dangers that would ensue such a Rupture, took great pains by riding (notwithstanding her Age and corpulency) to and fro between the King and him, to pacify each side, and at last brought them to such a Reconcilement, that all appearance of Displeasure on the one part, and Distrust on the other, was for that time removed.  
About the Feast of S. Martin was held a Parliament at London, wherein the Earl of Nothumberland was Condemned for the loss of the Castle of Barwick Surprised by the Scots, through the Treachery of one that he had put in there as his Deputy: But the King after Judgement was pleased to Pardon him, who went forthwith down and retook the said Castle.  
In the Year 1385 the French made great Preparations for the Invading of England, and to facilitate the Attempt by a Diversion, ●end the Admiral of France with a considerable Force into Scotland, the Common Backdoor at which they were wont to Infest us: Of which King Richard having notice, raises a mighty Army, and by speedy Marches pierces into the Heart of Scotland, and reduced their chief City Edinburgh into Ashes as a Bonfire, to give the whole Kingdom notice of his Arrival, and Challenge them to Battle: But they declined it, and Victuals growing very scarce, the King thought fit to return homewards, the rather for that the Scots in the mean time had entered Nothumberland, and besieged Carlisle; but hearing of the King's approach, fled back into Scotland.  
During this Expedition, the Lord John Holland the King's Brother by the Mother side, near York, Killed the eldest Son of the Earl of Stafford, for which he fled, and the King was so highly incensed, that he caused all his goods to be Confiscated; the King's Mother interceded for him, but could not be heard, and resented the denial so heavily, that soon after she died.  
At a Parliament the latter end of this Year the Laity granted the King one Fifteenth and an half upon condition that the Clergy would give a Tenth and an half, who took this Articulating of the Commons in grievous dudgeon, protesting, that the Laity should not Charge them; and the Archbishop of Canterbury was so hot, as to declare, he would rather venture his Head in this Cause, than that the Holy Church of England should thus Truckle: whereupon the Commons and many of the Temporal Lords began to bid Battle to the Clergies Temporalities, saying, they were grown to that excess of Pride, that it would be a Work of Piety and Charity, to clip their Wings, and reduce them to an Humility suitable to their Profession. The Clergy at this were not a little Alarmed, and to prevent the worst, make a voluntary offer of a Tenth to the King, and so the Dispute is rocked to sleep.  
Also during this Parliament, the King Conferred several Honours, Creating his Uncle Thomas of Woodstock (who before was Earl of Buckingham) Duke of Gloucester, and his other Uncle Edmund of Langley (before the Earl of Cambridge) Duke of York: With whom too he preferred his pernicious Favourites, as Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford, to be Marquis of Dublin in Ireland, (the first man within the Realm that was Ennobled with that Title; and Sir Michael de la Pole (the Son of a Merchant in London) was made Earl of Suffolk, and Lord Chancellor of England. But these last grew in Hatred faster than they did in Honour; the Ancient Nobility disdainfully resenting their undeserved (as they deemed) Advancement. Nor were the People better satisfied, but grumbled heavily, for they durst not speak out against these Court Ear-wigs, as Seducers of the King, and occasion of all misadministrations of Affairs.  
In this Parliament likewise, the Duke of Lancaster desired Leave of the King Lords and Commons, to go into Spain to recover that Kingdom belonging to him in the Right of his Wife; which was granted, and Forty thousand Marks promised him for his aid therein; and accordingly on Easter-Day he came to take his Leave of their Majesties: The King commanding that he should be styled King of Spain, presented him with a Crown of Gold, as the Quen did another to her Sister: A great number of the Youthful Nobility and Gentry attended the Duke in this Voyage, who having Matched one of his Daughters to the King of Portugal, with joint Forces Invaded Castille, and took many strong Towns; but at last on a Treaty it was agreed, that the King of Spain's Eldest Son should marry Katherine another of the Duke's Daughters, and the Duke receive Two hund●red thousand Nobles in hand, and the S●m of Ten thousand Marks yearly, during the Lives of him and his Duchess, and in consideration thereof all Claims should cease. Walsingham tells us the Duke had such Favour from the Pope, as to be Armed for the Recovery of this Kingdom, with a Grant of Remission of Sins, to all that should adventure with him, or aid him with money towards the Voyage: and had got as as large Indulgences as the Bishop of Norwich lately had as aforesaid; but he well observes, That the frequency of granting such Pardons and Relaxations, had now rendered them vile and contemptible to the People, so that there was scarce any body regarded them, or would give Two pence to this last Croisad●, though they were so extravagantly fond of the former; whence is taught this Lesson, That a Cheat though never so religious is not to be played over twice in one Age.  
The Year 1386 ●illed England with great Consternations and frequent Alarms, by means of an Invasion threatened by the French, who had prepared above Twelve hundred Sail of Ships, and a mighty Army on that Design, which lay ●overing on the Coasts, daily waiting an opportunity to pass the Channel; and the better to secure their men at their first Landing in England, they had framed a wonderful Wall of Wood, three Miles in length, of great thickness and twenty Foot high, with which they would have enclosed their Camp, But it happened, that the Lord Beauchamp Captain of Calais, took three of their Ships laden with part of the said Enclosure, which King Richard caused to be set up about Whinchelsea, for securing that Town; and also he took another Ship full of Guns, Gunpowder, and other Instruments of War: With which Losses, and especially by the adversness of the Winds, which from the beginning of August to Alhallontide, stood full in their Teeth, so that their Ships could not come out, and their Victuals and provisions, by lying all that time, being spent, they were discouraged from prosecuting the Enterprise, and nothing was effected.  
And now King Richard every day more and more entering upon the Confines of his Destiny, as if he had not done enough in making his Minion Marquis of Dublin, Creates him Duke of Ireland, and would (says Walsingham) had Fortune favoured his Wishes, have gone on to make him a King; so strangely was he bewitched to him, and so excessively he doted on him; Non sina nota (utfertur) fami iaritatis obscoenae, which I forbear to english out of Respect to Royal Majesty, as being willing to think it a fulsome Imagination of that Monk that writes it, rather than charge an English Prince with such a detestable suspicion: But this undeserved Honour, together with the Exorbitancies of Michael de Pole, and other Public Miscarriages had made no small Impressions on the Minds of many of the Peers of the Land, as well as the Commons.  
On Monday the morrow after the Feast of S Jerom, the King held a Parliament at Westminister, which ended on the Feast of S. Andrew; the Proceedings whereof Henry Knyghton (who lived at that very time) Relates as follows:  
[P. 2680.] The King (saith he) for the most part stayed linger at Eltham whilst the Parliament sat; the nobles therefore of the Realm, and the Commons with joint Assent, sent this Message to the King; That the Chancellor and Treasurer ought to be removed from their Offices, because they were not for the good of the King and Kingdom, and because also they had such matters to treat of with Michael de Pole, as could not be treated of whilst he remained in the Office of Chancellor. The King hereat incensed, returned his Command, That they should mention no more those things, but that they should proceed to the Business of Parliament, and hasten to a conclusion; adding, That he would not for them, or at their instance, remove the meanest Scullion boy in his Kitchen out of his place. For the Chancellor in the Name of the King, had desired of the Commons Four Fifteenths to be paid in one year, and as many Tenths from the Clergy; alleging that the King was so much in debt, that he could not otherwise be freed from his Debts and other Burdens lying upon him, as well upon the account of war, as of his Household and other Charges; But they by joint Assent of Lords and Commons, returned this Answer to the King; That they neiher could, nor by any means would proceed in any Business of Parliament nor dispatch somuch as the least Article, till the King should come and show himself in his own Person amongst them, and remove the said Michael de Pole from his office. Upon which the King sent back this Command to them, That they should order Forty Knights of the most substantial and wisest of the Commons to come unto him, and declare the Votes of all the rest. But than were they more afraid, every man for his own safety: For a secret Rumour had privately come to their Ears, That the death of these Forty was designed by Treachery. For it was said, as appeared afterwards unto them, That as these should be going to speak with the King, a multitude of Armed Men should set upon and murder them: Or that being invited to a Feast by the King, some Armed Ruffians should rush in upon them and kill them, or that they should be murdered in an instant in their Lodgings in London. But Nieolas de Exon Mayor of that City refusing, and by no means consenting to so great a wickedness the Villainy was deferred, and the cursed Contrivance by degrees brought to light. Making use therefore of wholesome Advice, they by common consent of the whole Parliament, sent the Lord Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, and Thomas de Arundel Bishop of Ely, to the King at Eltham, That they should on the behalf of the Lords and Commons of his Parliament, Salute him, and deliver their Votes or desires to him, under such a Form or Sense of words.  
Sir King! The Prelate's Lords, and whole People of the Commons in Parliament, with most humble submission recommend themselves to the most Excellent [the word is wanting in our Author] of your Royal Dignity, wishing you a successful Course of Honour, and invincible against the power of your Enemies, and the most firm Band of Peace and hearty Love towards your Subjects, as well for the increase of your owu good and advantage, in respect of God and the Salvation of your Soul, as for the unspeakable comfort of all the People which you govern. On whose behalf we intimate these things anto you.  
That we have it [Settled, Granted, or Confirmed] by ancient Constitution, by a Custom laudable and approved, and which none can gainsay or contradict, That the King can Assemble the Lords, Nobles and Commons of the Kingdom once a year unto his Parliament, as the highest Court of the Realm, in which all Equity ought to shine bright without any scruple or spot, clear as the Sun when ascending to the Meridian; where as well Poor as Rich may find a never failing Shelter for their Refreshment, by restoring Tranquillity and Peace, and removing all Kind of injuries, where public Grievances or Errors are to be redressed; where, with the most prudent Council, the state and Government of the Kingdom is to be treated of: That the King and Nations Foes within, and their Enemies abroad, may be discovered, and repulsed by such means as most conveniently and honourably it may be done; and also with wholesome deliberation therein to fore see and order how the necessary Burdens of the King and Kingdom may with most ease (the public Want considered) be supplied: And they conceive also that since they are to support public Charges incumbent, they should have the Supervisal too how and by whom their Goods and Fortunes are expended. They say moreover, that this is their Privilege by ancient Constitusion, that if the King wilfully estrange himself fram his Parliament, no Infirmisy or necessary Cause disabling him but obstinately by his ungovernable Will, shall withdrow himself, and be absent from them the time of Forty days▪ as not regarding the vexation of his People 〈◊〉 nor their grievous Expenses; That then from that time it shall be or is lawful for all and every of them, without any damage from the King, to go home, and every one return into his own Country. And Now, You for a longer time have absented Yourself, and for what Cause they know not, have refused to come amongst them.  
To this, the King.  
Now do We plainly discover, that our People and the Commons intent to resist, and are endeavouring to make Insurrections against us; and in such case nothing seems better to us, than to [call in] our Kinsman the King of France, and from him to ask Advice and Aid; nay even to submit Ourselves to him, rather than to Truckle to our own Subjects.  
To which they answered thus.  
THis Council is not sase for You, but rather tends to inevitable destruction; For the King of France is your Capital Enemy, and the much greatest Adversary to your Kingdom, and if be should once get footing on your Land, would sooner endeavour to dispoil you of it, to invade your Kingdom, and to drive you from your Throne, than in the jest to lend you his assisting hand, if at any time (which God forbid) you should stand in need thereof: Rather therefore recall to your Memory how your Grandfather King Edward the Third, and in like manner your Father, a Prince of the same Name and Renown, with Sweat and Hazards during their whole Lives, through innumerable Labours indefatigably contended for the conquest of the Kingdom of France, which by hereditary Right appertained to them, and after them to you by Succession. Remember, how many of the Nobles, what innumerable Troops of the Commons of England, as well as those of France lost their Lives, and underwent the peril of Death in that Quarrel: Remember the inestimable Treasures the People of England freely parted with for the maintanance of that War.  
And yet what is more to be lamented, they have in your time sustained so many Taxes for the support of your Wars, as that now they are reduced to such incredible Poverty, that they can neither pay their Rents for their Livings, nor assist their King, nor afford themselves even the Necessaries of Life. Thus The Royal Power is impoverished, and an unhappy condition brought upon all Great Men and Nobles of the Kingdom, as well as the Commons weakened and undone; For a King cannot be poor that has a rich People nor that King be rich whose Subjects are Poor. Nor do these Ills redound alone to the King, but to all the Nobility and Great Men, every one in his Rank and degree. And all this is brought to pass by the evil Ministers of the King, who have ill-Governed both King and Kingdom to this day; and unless we do quickly set our helping hands to the Work and raise the healing Prop, the Kingdom of England, will in less time than we think of, be miserably subverted.  
But there is yet one part more of our Message remaining on the behalf of your People to be imparted to you, That we have an ancient Constitution, and it was not many Ages since experimented; it grieves us that we must mention it, That if the King through any evil Council whatever, or through a weak Obstinacy or Contempt of his People, a perverse froward Will or irregular Course, shall alienate himself from his People, and refuse to Govern by the Laws and Statutes of the Realm, by the laudable Ordinances and and faithful Advice, If he shall throw himself headlong into wild Designs, and stubbornly exercise his own singular Arbitrary Will; That from that time it shall be lawful for his People by their full and free Assent and Consent, to Depose that King from his Throne, and to establish some other of the Royal Stock upon the same in his stead. Which grievous and unhappy Dissension, That it may never spring up amongst your People; That your People by no such lamentable Divisions (pleasing only to your Enemies) may ever through your evil Counsellors be subvered. That this Kingdom so honourable, and above all the Nations in the World, from your Father's days hitherto, most famious in War, may not now in your time (through the Distractions of ill Government) he miserably laid waste: That the Title and Inscription of these Miseries may never be placed as a scandalous Mark upon your Reign and this unhappy Age. Recall we beseech you, your Royal Mind from such foolish and pernicious Councils; and whatsoever they are that suggest such matters to you, do not only not hearken to them, but totaly remove them from you: for in a time of danger it will be found, that they can no ways effectual serve you etc.  
By these and such kind of Speeches, the King laying aside his Anger, was reduced to a better Temper, and being pacified, promised, That after Three days he would come to the Parliament, and with Mature Advice willingly Acquiesce to their Petitions. The King then came as he had promised, and John de Fortham Bishop of Durham was removed from the Office of Treasurer, and the Bishop of Hereford made Treasurer: The Lord Michael de Pole Earl of Suffolk was with much disgrace turned out of the Office of Chancellor, and Thomas de Arundel Bishop of Ely by Consent of Parliament put in his stead.  
And sometime afterward the said Michael de Pole was Impeached of several High Crimes and Misdemeanours by the Commons, as follows.  

The Impeachment or Articles made by the Commons in full Parliament against Michael de Pole Earl of Suffolk, late Chancellor of England, in the Term of S. Michael, in the Tenth Year of the King; and the Judgement upon them following, from Point to Point.  
IMprimis, That the said Earl being Chancellor, and Sworn to Act for the just Profit of the King, hath Purchased of Our Lord the King, Lands, Tenements, and Rents to a great Value, as appears by the Record-Rolls of the Chancery: And against his Oath, not regarding the great Necessity of the King and Realm, being Chancellor at the time of such Purchase made, did cause the said Lands and Tenements to be Extended at a much smaller value than really they were worth by the year, and thereby deceived the King.  
And for that he purchased the said Lands when he was Chancellor, against his Oath, the King shall have the said Lands again entirely, and the said Earl shall make Fine and Ransom to the King, with all Profits received since the Purchase.  
2. Item, Whereas Nine Lords were Assigned by the last Parliament, to View and Examine the Estate of the King and Realm, and to deliver their Advice how the same might be Improved, Amended, and put into better Order & Governance, and thereupon such Examination to be delivered to the King as well by Word of Mouth, as in Writing: The said late Chancellor did say in full Parliament, That the said Advice and Ordinance should be put in due Execution; which yet was not done, and that by the default of him who was the principal Officer.  
To this Article and the Third, and the Seventh, the said Earl shall answer, if he have any thing to say against the same in special.  
3. Item, Whereas a Tax was granted by the Commons in the last Parliament, to be laid out in a certain Form demanded by the Commons, and assented to by the King and Lords, and not otherwise; yet the Moneys thence arising, were expended in another manner: so that the Sea was not Guarded as it was ordered to have been; whence many Mischiefs already have happened, and more are like to ensue to the Realm; and all this by the default of the said late Chancellor.  
4. Item, Whereas the Tydeman of Limbergh having to him and his Heirs of the Gift of the King's Grandfather Fifty pounds per annum, out of the Customs of Kingston upon Hull, which the said Tydeman forfeited to the King; and also the payment of the said Fifty pounds per annum was discontinued for Five and thirty years and upwards: The said Chancellor knowing the Premises, purchased to him and his Heirs of the said Tydeman the said Fifty pounds per annum, and prevailed with the King to confirm the said Purchase, whereas the King ought to have had the whole Profit.  
For this Purchase the said Earl was adjudged to Fine and Ranson, and the said Fifty pounds to go to the King and his Heirs, with the Manor of Flax●●ete, and Ten Marks of Rent which were exchanged, etc. with the Issues, etc.  
5. Whereas the high Master of S. Antony is a Schismatic, and for that Cause the King ought to have the Profits which appertain to him in England; the said late Chancellor, who ought to advance and procure the Profit of the King, took to Farm the said Profits of the King at Twenty Marks per annum, and so got to his own use above a Thousand Marks. And afterwards when the said Master in England which now is, aught to have had the Possession and Livery of the said Profits, he could not obtain the same, till he and two persons with him became bound by Recognizance in Chancery, of Three thousand pounds, to pay yearly to the said Chancellor, and his Son John One hundred pounds for the term of their two Lives.  
For which it is adjudged, That the King shall have all the Profits belonging to the said S. Anthony's at the time of the Purchase; and that for the Recognizance so made, the said Earl shall be Awarded to Prison, and Fined and Ransomed at the pleasure of the King.  
6. Item, That in the time of the lat● Chancellor there were granted and mad● divers Charters and Patents of Pardo● for Murders, Treasons, Felonies, etc. against the Laws: and before the Commencement of this present Parliament, there was made and sealed a Charter of certain Franchises granted to the Castle of Dover, in Disinherison of the Crown, and to the subversion of the Pleas and Courts of the King, and of his Laws.  
The King Awards that those Charters be Repealed.  
7. Whereas by an Ordinance made in the last Parliament, that Ten thousand Marks should be raised for the Relief of the City of Gaunt; by the default of the said late Chancellor, the said City of Gaunt was lost, and also a Thousand Marks of the said Money.  
Upon all which Articles the Commons demand the Judgement of Parliament.   
WAlsingham tells us, That all these Articles were so fully proved, that the Pole could not deny them; insomuch that when he stood upon his Answer, and had nothing to say for himself, the King Blushing for him, shook his Head, and said, Alas! alas, Michael, see what thou hast done! And when the King desired a Supply, the Commons answered, That he did not need the Tallage of his Subjects, who might so easily furnish himself of so great a sum of Money, from him who was his just Debtor. But at last, upon his Majesty's yielding to have him turned out of the Chancellorship, and admitting the Articles, (which he was very unwilling to suffer) they freely gave him half a Tenth, and half a Fifteenth; only providing, that it might be necessarily Expended: To which purpose it was to be deposited in the hands of the Earl of Arundel, who was then going to Sea with a Fleet, to secure the Coasts.  
They likewise gave the King on every Pipe of Wine Imported or Exported, Three shillings; and on every Twenty shillings worth of all sorts of Merchandise Foreign or Domestic, brought in or carried out, one shilling; Wool, Hides, and Pelts, only excepted. And also at the King's Instance granted, that the Heirs of Charles de Bloys should for Thirty thousand Marks be permitted to sell Bretaigne in France to the French, and that Robert de Vere the new Duke of Ireland, the Kings most dangerous Favourite, should have the said Thirty thousand Marks, (a prodigious sum of Money in those days) wholly to his own use; provided he would be gone before next Easter into Ireland, and there make use of it to recover the Dominions that the King hath given him in that Kingdom: so passionately did both Lords and Commons desire his Absence, that they would rather want so much Treasure, than have him here to Seduce and Infatuate the King. As for Michael Pole, he was committed to Windsor-castle.  
Furthermore, the Parliament observing that by the Covetousness of the King's Ministers, the public Revenue was vainly consumed, the King insufferably defrauded and abused, the Common People of the Realm by continual and grievous Burdens miserably impoverished, the Rents and Profits of the Nobles and Great Men much impaired, and their poor Tenants in many places forced to abandon their Husbandry, and leave their Farms empty and desolate: And yet still by all these things the King's Officers only becoming unmeasurably Rich; They therefore chose Fourteen Lords of the Realm, and gave them leave and power to Inquire into, Treat of, and Determine all Affairs, Causes, and Complaints arising from the Death of King Edward the Third, to that present time: As also of the King's Expenses and his Ministers, and all other matters whatsoever happening within the time to them Assigned; and caused the said Lords so chosen to be sworn on the Holy Evangelists, well and truly to regulate all Burdens and other Affairs incumbent on the King and Kingdom, and to do Justice to every one requiring the same, according to the Grace and Understanding given them by God. And also the King took an Oath to stand to their Ordination, and to encourage them in their Actings, and not to revoke any Article of their Power, but to confirm and hold good and stable whatsoever the said Counsellors should do or order during such time; of whom Six, with the Three Officers of the King appointed by consent of Parliament, viz. The Chancellor, the Treasurer, and the Lord Privy Seal, should at any time make a Quorum. And it was also Ordained by Act of Parliament, That if any one should Advise the King to make any Revocation of their Power, though the King should not Revoke it, yet the Person probably Convicted only of such ill Counsel, should for the same forfeit all his Lands and Goods; and if he attempt it a second time, be drawn and hanged as a Traitor.  
Whereupon the King issued forth his Commission under the Great Seal of England, Confirming the said Lords in such power, in the words following; Translated from the Original French.  
RIchard, King, etc. To all those to whom these Letters shall come to be seen or heard, Greeting. We being duly Conscious of the grievous Complaints of the Lords and Commons of our Realm in this present Parliament Assembled, That our Profits and Rents, and the Revenues of our Realm, by private and insufficient Council, and the Ill-governance as well of certain our late Great Officers, as of divers other persons being near Our Person, are so much consumed, wasted, embeziled, given away, granted, and aliened, destroyed, and evilly disposed of and expended; That We are so much impoverished and stripped of Treasure and Means, and the Substance of Our Crown so diminished and destroyed, that We are neither able to Sustain Honourably as We ought the State of Our Household, nor maintain and manage those Wars wherewith Our Realm is Environed, without great and outrageous Oppressions and Charges on Our People greater than they can bear: And also that the good Laws, Statutes, and Customs of Our said Realm, to which we are bound by Oath, and obliged to maintain, are not, nor have been duly observed nor executed, nor full Justice or Right done to Our said People; but many Disinherisons and other most great Mischiefs and and Damages have happened, as well to Us, as to our People and whole Realm.  
Now We, for the Honour of God, and for the good of Us and our Realm, and for the quiet and relief of Our People, willing against the said Mischiefs to establish a good and meet Remedy, as We have already of Our free Will, at the Request of the Lords and Commons Ordained and Assigned such Persons for Our great Officers, that is to say, Our Chancellor, Treasurer, and Keeper of Our Privy Seal, as We esteem good, faithful, and sufficient for the Honour and Profit of Us and Our said Realm; so also of Our real Authority, certain knowledge, good pleasure, and free will, and by the Advice and Assent of the Prelates, Lords, and Commons in full Parliament, in Aid of the good Governance of Our Realm, and the well and due execution of Our Laws, & for the Relief in time of that miserable Condition under which both We and Our Subjects have long laboured▪ having full confidence in the good Advice, Sense, and Discretion of the most Honourable Fathers in God, William Archbishop of Canterbury, Alexander Archbishop of York: Our most dear Uncles, Edmund Duke of York, and Thomas Duke of Gloucester; the Honourable Fathers in God, William Bishop of Winchester, Thomas Bishop of Exeter, and Nicholas Abbot of Waltham; Our beloved and faithful Richard Earl of Arundel, John Lord Cobham, Richard le Scroop, and John Devereux, Have Ordained, Assigned, and Deputed, and do Ordain, Assign, and Depute them to be of Our Great and Continual Council, for One whole Year next after the Date hereof, to Survey and Examine together with our said Great Officers, as well the Estate, Condition, and Government of Our whole Realm, and of all Our Officers and Ministers of whatever Estate, Degree, or Condition they be, within Our Household or without; and to Inquire and take Information by all such ways as they shall think meet, of all Rents, Revenues, and Profits belonging to us, or which are du● and aught to appertain to us either within the Realm or without: And of all Gifts, Grants, Alienations, and Confirmations by Us made, of any Lands, Tenements, Rents, Annuities, Profits, Revenues, Wards, Marriages, Escheats, Forfeitures, Franchises, Liberties, Voidances of Archbishoprics, Bishoprics, Abbeys, Priories, Farms of Houses, Possessions of Aliens, etc. And also of all Revenues and Profits, as well of Our said Realm, as of Our Lands, Lordships, Cities, Villages, and other Possessions beyond the Sea; and of the Benefices and Possessions, and other Revenues of all that are in Rebellion against the Pope: And of the carrying Moneys out of the Realm by the Collectors of the Pope, or the Procurators of Cardinals, Lumbards', or other persons; And likewise of the Profits of Our Customs, and all Subsidies granted to Us by the Clergy and Laity, since the day of Our Coronation, to that time: And of all Fees, Wages, and Rewards of Our Officers and Ministers great and small, and of Annuities and other Rewards granted, and Gifts made to any persons in Fee or term of Life, or in any other manner: And of Lands, Tenements, Rents, Revenues, and Forfeitures, bargained or sold to the prejudice and damage of Our Crown: And also touching the Jewels and Goods which were Our Grandfathers at the time of his Death, and of Charters and General Pardon; and how General Payments have been levied and expended; how Garrisons and Forts have been maintained: And of all Defaults and Misprisions as well in Our Household, as in our Courts, and all other places of Our Realm: And by what persons Our Revenues and the substance of Our Crown have been withdrawn or diminished, or the Common Law interrupted or delayed, or any other Damage that hath happened to Vs. Giving, and by these Presents Granting, of Our Authority, and by the Advice and Assent of Our said Subjects, unto Our said Counsellors, or any Six of them, and to Our Great Officers aforesaid, full Power and Authority, General and Special, to enter Our Palace and Household, and to call before them all Our Officers, and to command all Rolls, Records, and other Minuments and Evidences; and all Defaults, Wastes, and Excesses found in Our said Household, and in other Courts and Places; and all Deceits, Extortions, Oppressions, Damages, and Grievances whatsoever, that are to the prejudice, damage, and distress of Us and Our Crown, and the Estate of Our said Realm in general, (though not herein particularly expressed or specified) To Amend, Correct, Repair, Redress, Reform, and put into good and due Order and Establishment: And also to hear and receive the Complaints of all Our Liege People, as well for Us and themselves, against our said Officers and Counsellors: And all Oppressions, Wrongs, and Injuries, which cannot so well be amended and determined in the Courts of the Common Law: And to discuss and finally determine all the Matters aforesaid, and full Execution thereof to Award, as to them shall seem most meet, for the Honour and Profits of Us & Our Estate, and the Redintegration of the Rights and Profits of Our Crown, and the better Governance of the Peace and Laws of Our Kingdom, and the Relief of Our said People. In which Proceedings, if difference of Opinion happen amongst Our said Counsellors, the same shall be concluded by Majority of Votes. And We Command and Charge all Prelates, Dukes, Earls, Barons, Sheriffs, the Treasurer, and Controller, and all other Officers of Our Household, Justices de Banco, and other Officers, Ministers, and Liege Subjects whatsoever, That to Our said Counsellors and Officers in manner aforesaid, they be Obedient, Aiding. and Assisting.  
In Witness whereof, etc. Given under Our Great Seal the 19th day of November.  
BUT notwithstanding all these Provisions, no sooner was the Parliament Dissolved, but the King looked upon all they had done to be Dissolved likewise; or at least De facto he esteemed as nothing all their Complaints against de Pole, the Duke of Ireland, the Archbishop of York, and the rest; for he soon received them into greater Favour and Confidence (if it might be) than ever before: Who being full of Revenge themselves, were not wanting to blow their Poison into his Royal Breast; for thus their fatal Whispers and Suggestions are expressed by Trussel, in his Continuation of Daniel's History of England, Fol. 9— These Triumvirs (saith he) incensed the King against the Nobles that were best deserving, partly upon Disgraces desertfully done unto them; partly upon malicious Emulation to see others so generally Beloved, (except of the King) and themselves so Contemptible. And that their private Spleen might carry some show of Public Respect, they suggested to the King, he was but half, yea, not half a King: For (said they) If we respect matters of State, you bear the Sword, but they sway it; you have the Show, but they have the Authority of a Prince; using your Name as a colourable Pretext to their Proceedings, and your Person as a cipher to make their Number the greater by the Addition thereof, without which they could be nothing; neither are you any thing more by being so placed. Look to the Duty of your Subjects, and you shall find it is at their Devotion: For you cannot Command nor Demand, but with such Limitations and Exceptions as they please to propose. And for your private Actions, your Bounty (the most to be Celebrated Virtue in a Prince) is restrained, your Expenses measured, and your Affections confined, to Frown or Favour, as they shall please to prescribe you. What Ward is so much under Government of his Guardian? Wherein will, or can they more abridge you, except they should take from you the Place, as they have done the Power of a Prince? etc.  
Thus these Scycophants whispered their venomous Suggestions to exasperate the King against his best Subjects, whose Youth and Weakness rendered him too much disposed for such Impressions, and framed his conscious Mind to a full but needless fear. He was much incensed at the Removal of his Chancellor and Treasurer out of their Offices, and that the Duke of Ireland (rather than part with whom he would hazard All) must go out of the Realm; supposing it a Restraint to his Regal Authority, not to have Absolute Power in all things, to give and forgive at his pleasure.  
Now when these private Incendiaries perceived the King's Humour once sharpened, they so plied him with plausible persuasions, that (though naturally he was not of any cruel Disposition) yet they drew him into many violent and indirect courses, partly through negligence to search out the Truth, partly through delight to be flattered, and a vain resolute humour to support those beyond Reason, whom he had Advanced without Merit.  
In the beginning of March, 1387. the Earls of Arundel and Nottingham (pursuant to the Order of the late Parliament) put to Sea with a Fleet, which they managed with such Courage and Conduct, that before Midsummer-day (besides other famous Exploits) they had taken about One hundred and sixty French Ships richly laden: But the Court-Ear-wigs, the Duke of Ireland, and the rest, enviously misrepresented all their Services unto the King, whispering, That they had only undone a few Merchants, which it would have been more for our Honour and Interest to have let alone; so that at their Return, instead of Respect and Thanks, the King (whose equal unhappiness it was to grace undeserving men, and disgrace the deserving) looked upon them but ill; and the Duke of Ireland would not look upon them at all: Whereupon the Earls in discontent retired from Court to their own Country-houses.  
And still more to exasperate both Nobles and People, the said Duke of Ireland would now needs be divorced from his Wife Philippe (Granddaughter to King Edward the Third, by his Daughter Isabel and the Archduke of Austria) a Lady of sufficient Beauty, and irreproachable Virtue; and in her stead preferred to his Bed one Lancerona, a mean Bohemian that waited on the Queen, Daughter (some say) of a Vintner, or (as others will have it) of a Joiner. The King took no notice of this Affront offered to his Cousin-german, but the Duke of Gloucester her Uncle. resented it highly, and waited for an opportunity to Revenge it; which the other well perceived, and was resolved to strike first. Easter was now come and passed, the time limited by Parliament for the Duke of Ireland's being gone; but he (though so largely hired to it as aforesaid) cared not for that Voyage; Only to wheadle the People, the King went down with him into Wales, on pretence of seeing him take Shipping, but in truth, that being there remote, they might more securely consult how to circumvent and destroy the Duke of Gloucester, the Earls of Arundel, Warwick, Derby, Nottingham, and other faithful Subjects of the Kingdom: For there were with the King, Michael de la Pole, Tresylian the Chief Justice, and many others that were conscious of their own Deserts, and feared to be brought to Justice, as well as the said Duke of Ireland, and therefore readily conspired with him against the Lords. Having thus laid their Plot, and agreed the manner of putting it in execution, back comes the King to Nottingham, and as if Ireland's Voyage had been quite forgot, brings him and the rest of the Cabal with him. Thither they summon divers Citizens of London, the Sheriffs of the several Counties, and all the Judges of England. The Londoners, because several of them having lately confessed themselves guilty of Treason, had been pardoned by the King, were called; that in return of that Favour, they might accuse the Lords of such Crimes as the King with his Counsellors in Wales and contrived against them. The Sheriffs were advised with, what Forces they could raise for the King's Service against the Barons; and also commanded, that they should not permit any to be returned as Knights of the Shire, or Burgesses for the next Parliament, but such as the King and his Council should direct, or nominate: To which the Sheriffs replied, That the Commons generally favoured the said Lords, so that it was not in their power to raise an Army in this Case; and as for Parliament-men, the People would hold their ancient Customs, which require that they be freely chosen by the Commons: Nor could the same be hindered. These Answers were not very agreeable to the Court-designes. But the Judges were more compliant; for not only Tresylian the Chief Justice had about the same time indicted two thousand persons at Coventry, and he and John Blake an Apprentice of the Law, perused and approved under their Seals, the Indictment against the Lords; but also the better to colour Proceedings with a Form of Law, several Questions were propounded to them touching the late Act of Parliament, giving the fourteen Lords power to inspect and punish miscarriages of the King's Ministers as aforesaid: To the end (as 
* Sir W. Ch. p. 247.  modern Author observes) That what the Duke of Ireland and the rest thought fit, might pass for Law out of the Judge's mouths; the Questions being so framed and proposed, as it was easier to understand what the King would have to be Law, than what in truth was so. For it seems they proceeded against their Consciences, in that several of them, and particularly Belknapp Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, did (as Knyghton, Col. 2694. assures us) very earnestly refuse to sign the Resolutions, till Ireland and the Pole forced him to it, by threatening him to kill him if he refused: Whereupon having put to his Seal, he burst forth into these words before them,— Now want I nothing but a Ship, or a nimble Horse, or an Halter to bring me to that death I deserve: If I had not done this, I should have been killed by your hands; and now I have gratified the King's pleasure and yours in doing it, I have well deserved to die for Treason against the Nobles of the Land.— Which last words were like to have proved fatally Prophetic; for not long after in the next Parliament he was indeed condemned to die, though not executed for the same. Some Authors say, That all the Judges of England, (except William Skipwith absent by reason of sickness) joined in answering these Questions; which seems probable, because they were afterwards all questioned and punished for the same: yet in the Record there are but five named; possibly the others might consent, though only these set their Seals to it.  

The Questions so proposed to the Judges, and their Answers, were as follow:  
BE it remembered, That on the 25th day of August, in the 11th year of the Reign of King Richard the Second, at the Castle of Nottingham, before our said Lord the King, Robert Tresylian Chief Justice of England, and Robert Belknappe Chief Justice of the Common Bench of our said Lord the King, John Holt, Roger Fulthorp, and William de Burgh, Knights, Justices, and Associates of the said Rob. Belknappe, and John de Lokton the King's Sergeant at Law, in the presence of the Lords and other Witnesses under written, were personally required by our said Lord the King, on the Faith and Allegiance wherein to him the said King they are bound, to answer faithfully unto certain Questions here-under specified, and to them then and there truly recited, and upon the same to declare the Law according to their discretion; Viz.  
1. Imprimis, It was demanded of them, Whether that new Statute and Ordination, and Commission, made and published in the last Parliament held at Westminster, be not derogatory to the Royalty and Prerogative of our said Lord the King?  
To which they unanimously answered, That the same are derogatory thereunto, especially because they were against his will.  
2. Quaery of them, How those are to be punished who procured that Statute and Commission?  
To which they unanimously answered, That they were to be punished with Death, except the King would pardon them.  
3. Quaery of them, How those are to be punished who moved the King to consent to the making of the said Statute?  
Whereunto they answered with one accord, That they ought to lose their Lives, unless his Majesty would pardon them.  
4. It was asked them, What punishment they deserved who compelled, straightened, or necessitated the King to consent to the making of the said Statute and Commission?  
To which they all answered, That they ought to suffer as Traitors.  
5. Quaery of them, How those are to be punished who hindered the King from exercising those things which appertain to his Royalty and Prerogative?  
To which Question they unanimously answered, That they are to be punished as Traitors.  
6. Quaery of them, Whether after in a Parliament assembled, the Affairs of the Kingdom, and the cause of calling that Parliament, are by the Kings Command declared, and certain Articles limited by the King, upon which the Lords and Commons in that Parliament ought to proceed; if yet the said Lords and Commons will proceed altogether upon other Articles and Affairs, and not at all upon those limited and proposed to them by the King, until the King shall have first answered them upon the Articles and Matters so by them started and expressed, although the Kings Command be to the contrary; whether in such case the King ought not to have the Governance of the Parliament, and effectually overrule them, so as that they ought to proceed first on the Matters proposed by the King: or, whether on the contrary, the Lords and Commons ought first to have the Kings Answer upon their Proposals before they proceeded further?  
To which Question they answered unanimously, that the King in that behalf his the Governance, and may appoint what shall be first handled, and so gradually what next in all Matters to be treated of in Parliament, even to the end of the Parliament: And if any act contrary to the King's pleasure made known therein, they are to be punished as Traitors.  
7. Quaery of them, whether the King when ever he pleases can Dissolve the Parliament, and command the Lords and Commons to depart from thence, or not.  
To which they unanimously answered, That he can; and if any one shall then proceed in Parliament against the Kings will, he is to be punished as a Traitor.  
8. Quaery of them, Since the King can when ever he pleases remove any of his Judges and Officers, and justify or punish them for their Offences; Whether the Lords and Cemmons can without the will of the King Impeach in Parliament any of the said Judges or Officers for any of their Offences.  
To which they unanimously answered, That they cannot; and if any one should do so, he is to be punished as a Traitor.  
9 Quaery of them, How he is to be punished who moved in Parliament, that the Statute should be sent for, whereby Edward the Second (the King's great Grandfather) was proceeded against and deposed in Parliament; by means of sending for and imposing which Statute, the said late Statute, Ordination, and Commission, were devised and brought forth in Parliament.  
To which they answered, That as well he that so moved, as he who by pretence of that Motion carried the said Statute to the Parliament, are Traitors and Criminals to be punished with Death.  
10. It was demanded of them, Whether the Judgement given in the last Parliament held at Westminster, against Michael de Pole Earl of Suffolk, was Erroneous and Revocable, or not.  
To which Question they unanimously answered, That if that Judgement were now to be given, they would not give it; because it seems to them, that the said Judgement is Revocable, as being Erroneous in every part of it.  
In Testimony of all which, the Judges and Sergeant aforesaid, to these Presents have put their Scals, in the presence of the Reverend Lords, Alexander Archbishop of York, Robert Archbishop of Dublin, John Bishop of Durham, Thomas Bishop of Chichester, and John Bishop of Bangor, Robert Duke of Ireland, Michael Earl of Suffolk, John Rypon Clerk, and John Blake Esquire: Given the Place, Day, Month, and Year aforesaid.   
But though they had thus resolved the Law to their Minds, there was a greater Difficulty how to arm themselves with Power enough for Execution. In order to which, they privately sent abroad to Levy Men, but found them come in very slowly, because the Lords were generally beloved, and these Favourites of the King equally hated. Nor could they manage their Designs with such secrecy, but the Lords had notice; whereupon, to take off all ill Impressions made against them in the King's Mind, his Uncle the Duke of Gloucester (chief of the Lords against whom the Courtiers had combined) voluntarily before the Bishop of London, and many Nobles of the Realm, did make Oath, That he had never imagined any thing to the prejudice of the King, but had studied and performed to his power, what tended to the King's Honour and Advantage, and what also was well pleasing to him; except only that he could not kindly regard the Duke of Ireland, whom the King immoderately loved, and who had dishonoured one that was not only a near Relation of him the said Duke of Gloucester, but also of the King's, which it was fit should be revenged, etc.  
With the Contents of which Oath, the Bishop acquainted the King, who seemed inclinable to credit the same; till Michael de Pole began to exasperate him against the Duke: To whom the Bishop smartly replied,— Be silent, Sir, it becomes not you to talk, who stand condemned in Parliament, and are now alive only by the King's Grace and Favour. Which so offended the King, that he commanded the Bishop out of his presence, bidding him be gone home to his Church; who at his return informed the Duke what had passed, and how much the King was swayed by those wicked Councillors: So that it was high time for him to provide for his own safety, and obviate that destruction which was prepared for him.  
Hereupon the Duke of Gloucester, with the Earls of Arundel, Warwick, and Derby, (who were all designed to the same Condemnation, if not prevented) advising together, resolve to stand upon their Guard, and Treat with the King concerning the premises, and that favour which he afforded to them, who were Traitors both to him and the public, and the imminent hazard of the Kingdom thence arising. The King endeavoured to have surprised them singly, before they had united their Retinues, but failed therein; so that with a very considerable force they assembled together at Haryngey-Park. The King was just then preparing (as it was said) for a Journey to Canterbury, to pay, as was pretended, his Devotions at the Shrine of S. Thomas Becket, but indeed from thence to have passed into France, and delivered up to the French King Calais, and several other important Places, which by the fatal Counsel of his pernicious Flatterers, he had sold unto that King. But this News of the Lords being in Arms, diverted that Voyage, and put King Richard into great Confusion, not knowing what measures to take: Some of those about him were for reconciling the Lords with fair promises; others were for raising the Londoners, and what other Forces could be procured, and fight them; of which opinion especially was the Bishop of York: But this the more prudent disapproved, alleging the Dishonour and Damage would accrue to the King if worsted.  
Whilst these wise men could not agree what course to take, there was a Fool stumbled on an Expression, which if duly considered, might have done the King more Service than all their Debates: This was a certain Knight called Hugh de Lynne, who had been bred in the Wars, but by an accident lost his Understanding, and now as a Natural was maintained by the Charity of several of the Nobles and Retainers to the Court: The King meeting him during these Consultations, and being willing to divert himself by hearing his foolish discourse, asked him jocularly, What he should do with the Lords that were Assembled together in the beforementioned Park. To which the said Hugh very melancholy answered,— March forth, Sir! and let us fall upon them, and kill every Mother's Son of them: which being done, by God's Eye you will gallantly have destroyed all the faithful Subjects you have in your Kingdom.  
In the mean time, Mediators for Peace posting to and fro between the King and the Lords; it was at last by their Intercession concluded, that the Lords should come before the King at Westminster, and receive the Kings Answer to their Grievances: The Bishop of Ely and divers other persons of Honour and Credit, giving their Oaths on the King's behalf, That no Treachery or ill practice should be used, but that they might come and go with safety; and if any were designed, that they would admonish them of it. A Caution that in the Event proved not unnecessary: For on the day they should appear, they had Intelligence that there was an Ambuscade laid for them about the Mews; whereupon they delayed their coming; and the King (who had waited an hour or two for them beyond the time appointed) enquiring the reason, was told by the said Bishop of Ely, that it was because he did not keep his word, for there was secretly planted above a thousand Armed Men to cut them off in their passage. The King seemed much offended at this Treachery, and swore that he was not privy to it, and therefore commanded the Sheriffs of London to search the Mews; and if they found any persons assembled there for such a purpose, to kill them. But in truth, the Contrivance was not there, but in a place at Westminster, where Sir Thomas Trivet and Sir Nicholas Bramber had to this intent got together great numbers of their Faction in Arms, whom upon this discovery they dismissed, and retired into London. And now the King promising again safe Conduct to the Lords, they soon after arrived in his Royal presence, whom they found in Westminster-Hall in his Robes of State, and with his Crown on his Head, and Sceptre in his hand; To whom they presented themselves on their Knees; and the Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellor on the King's behalf made a Speech, blaming them for their raising Forces, and demanding the Cause; withal, recommending the King's Goodness, who chose thus graciously to Treat with them, rather than to Chastise them by Arms; which he told them his Majesty wanted not power easily to have done.  
To this the Lords answered, That they had Assembled together for the good of the King and Kingdom, and to remove Traitors from the King: Naming particularly Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland, Alexander Nevil Archbishop of York, Michael de Pole Earl of Suffolk, Robert Tresylian the false Chief Justice, and Nicholas Bramber the false Knight of London; whom they averred to be Traitors, and (flinging down their Gloves) that they were ready to prove them to be such by Battle; [a manner of Trial not unusual in those times.] To which the King himself answered, That it shall not be determined in that manner, but in the next Parliament, which We appoint to be the Morrow after the Purification of the blessed Virgin next; where both Parties coming, should have Justice done according to Law: And in the mean time all of them to be in the King's protection, without injuring one another.— And so after some friendly Discourse, and Drinking with the King, they departed thence. And two days after, the King (the more to appease the Lords, and satisfy the people) caused Proclamation to be made in London, seeming in Excuse of the Duke of Gloucester and his Associates, but indeed to amuse them, and preserve his dear Favourites from threatened Violence; the Tenor whereof was to this effect.  
RIchard, KING, etc. We hereby make known to all our Liege and faithful Subjects throughout our whole Kingdom of England, 
Knyghton, Col. 2701.  That whereas Tho. Duke of Gloucester, Rich. Earl of Arundel, Tho. Earl of Warwick, have been by certain persons who little understood the truth of Affairs, Defamed as Traitors to Us and Our Kingdom; We therefore having as becomes us, with the highest Deliberation and greatest Diligence weighed the cause of such Scandal, and most diligently to our utmost Power, searching to the bottom for the Truth, with the assistance of our Council, do not find any thing done or acted by them worthy of the blot of Suspicion, much less any scruple of Evidence of their being guilty: Whereupon we have Decreed to declare the said Defamation to be false, unjust, wicked, and wholly void of all Truth: And we do testify the said Duke and Earls to be worthy of good Fame, and Innocent, and not so much as suspected of any Crime; and as much as in us lies, and as we are able, we will approve and maintain them so to be, and do take them hence-forwards into our Special Protection. Farthermore, We are willing to make known to all Persons by these Presents, who are their Defamers; Viz. Alexander Archbishop of York, Robert Duke of Ireland, Michael Earl of Suffolk, Robert Tresylyen Our Chief Justice, and Nicholas Brembre of London, Kt. whom also We take into Our Protection, that they may Answer whatever shall be objected against them in Our next Parliament, Commanding that none on any pretence whatsoever, shall either to Them, or the forenamed Lords, openly or secretly, offer any kind of disturbance, grievance, or obedience, till such prefixed time of Our Parliament.  
But for all these fair words, the Popular Lords knowing the Kings Mutability, and as well the Influence those his ill Counsellors had over him, as their malice and perfidiousness, thought it the safest course not to separate themselves, but with a vigilant Eye to observe the Motions of Affairs.  
The Duke of Ireland and the rest accused, did not appear with the King at this Meeting, and 'twas their wisest course to be absent; for 'tis believed the King's Presence would scarce have been able to protect them: Nor had they any mind to hazard themselves on the Justice of the next Parliament; but rather resolved, if they could, to secure themselves by Arms. To which purpose the Duke of Ireland was all this while raising of Men in Cheshire and Wales, either by the King's Commission or Connivance; and that it was more than the latter, may justly be suspected, because when he had made considerable Levies, the King commanded Thomas Molineux, a man of great Courage and Conduct, Constable of the Castle of Chester, to accompany and safe conduct the said Duke with all the Forces he could make, to his Majesty's Presence. The Adverse Lords being Advertised of these Preparations, and that they were upon their March, beset the Ways by which the Duke should pass to London, resolving to encounter him before he should have increased his Power, and countenanced his Actions with the Name and Presence of the King.  
Accordingly Henry Earl of Derby, Son of the Duke of Laneaster, met them at a place called Babbelak● near Burf●rd in Oxfordshire; whom the Duke no sooner saw, but contrary to the Resolution of most of those that were with him, he prepared for flight; however Molineux prevailed with him to join Battle; but scarce ten Ounces of Blood was lost on both sides, before the Duke (who had been so good at raising Quarrels, showed himself as bad at stinting them, and) set Spurs to his H●rse, and forsook the Field; whereby all his Men being disheartened, and Sir Thomas Molineux slain, the Earl of Derby obtained a cheap, but entire Victory, allayed with nothing but the escape of Ireland; who having mounted a fleet Nag, and being to pass a River, cast away both Gauntlet and Sword to be the lighter, and so swum over, and got first into Holland; where finding but cold Entertainment, he went to Vtrecht; and after two or three years rambling up and down as a Fugitive, died at Lov●●n in Brabant. Though his War-horse and Armour being found on the Brink of the River, raised a general Report that he was Drowned; which probably might facilitate his escape. Amongst his Baggage was taken a very considerable sum of Gold, and (what was of greater value) the King's Letters, ordering his present Repair to London, and promising to live and die with him against all Opposers.  
But this Disaster Thunderstruck the whole Cabal; The Earl of Suffolk in disguise flies to Calais, where his own Brother being Governor of the Castle, refused to harbour him without the consent of the Lord William Beauchamp Governor of the Town, who returned him back as a Prisoner into England to the King: But the King not only let him go at large, but sent for over, and for some time Committed the said Beauchamp for such his honest diligence: The rather, 'tis supposed, because he had formerly, for the King's Interest, thwarted his pleasure: for on the late Bargains and private Intrigues with France, King Richard having as aforesaid, sold Calais to the French King, 
Knyghton, Col. 2698.  sent a Knight with Letters under his Privy-Signet, commanding Beauchamp to deliver up the Town to him, and one Sir John Golofre with other Letters to the French King: but he knowing the vast Importance of the place, and believing the King imposed upon by wicked Council, resolutely answered, That the Custody and Government of the Town was committed to him in the Presence and by the Authority of the King and the Nobles of the Realm openly and publicly, and he would not surrender it in Huggermugger, nor part with his Command but in their presence. And also he took Golofre's Letters to the French King from him, and privately transmitted them to the Duke of Gloucester. For which Affronts fronts the King waited an opportunity to be revenged, and had proceeded 'tis thought more severely, but that the said Beauchamp was a person extremely beloved, and the King was not at present in a condition to use rigours; and so by the Mediation of Friends he was quickly discharged.  
The rest of the hated Faction, as the Archbishop of York, Justice Tresylian, and others, ran every man like Coneys to their Covert, and were not to be heard of: Nay the King betook himself to the Tower of London, and there made Provision for his Winter-Quarters; all his Designs being frustrated, first by Rashness in taking Arms, and afterwards by Cowardice in using them. And to add to his Confusion, about the same time an Envoy from the French King was taken with Letters, whereby the French King Licenced King Richard, the Duke of Ireland, and some others, with Attendants to such a number, to come into Boloign, where he would be ready to receive them with great Pomp, and from them receive the Possession of Calais, and other strong Holds; for which he had (says Walsingham, fol. 332.) already paid King Richard.  
The Lords therefore perceiving such considerable Territories ready to be lost abroad, as well as Extravagancies practised at home, hastened their March first to S. Alban, and next to London, where with an Army of Forty thousand men, they Arrived on S. Stephen's day; the Citizens furnishing them with Victuals; and whether more out of Fear or Love. I cannot say, offered to let them into the City; but they chose rather to quarter in the Suburbs▪ protesting not to depart without personal Conference with the King, which at last he granted; permitting them first to search the Tower, to prevent any Surprise. The Duke and Earls then waited upon him, and after a few cold Compliments laid before him, the Confederacy against their Lives at Nottingham, his Letters to the Duke of Ireland, contrary to his Royal Word, together with his dishonourable Treaty to deliver up Calais to the French King, etc. The King heard them at first with silence and patience, and afterwards with a dejected Countenance, and not without some Tears, seemed to acknowledge that he could neither deny or justify what they complained of; and certainly the Stomaches of the Lords must needs more Relent to those lukewarm drops, than they would to his greatest violence. So agreed it was, that he would meet them next day at Westminster, there to treat of these and other necessary Affairs of the Realm. But no sooner were they gone, but some Abusers of the Royal Ear suggested, that his going thither would be neither Honourable nor safe, but bring both his Person into present danger and contempt, and occasion a future Abridgement of his Authority: Whereupon the Kings Mind turned, and began to Retract his promise. This heated the Lords so much, that being flushed with opportunity and power, they sent him peremptory word, That if he did thus falter with them, and would not appear to Consult the good of the Realm, they would take other measures: Intimating no less than the Election of another. This so worked upon the King, that he was pleased to meet them, and to consent (though not without some Reluctancy) that several of his Minions should be banished the Court; as Nevil Archbishop of York, the Bishop of Durham, Friar Rushok the King's Confessor, and Bishop of Chichester; (but both he and York had already showed them a fair pair of Heels:) The Lords Souch, Harmyworth, Burnel, and Beaumont; and several Knights, as Sir Alberick Vere, Sir Balwyne Bereford, Sir John Worth, Sir Thomas Clifford, Sir John Lovel, etc. Together with certain Ladies, Quae non tantum inutiles, sed infames; Who were (saith Walsingham) not only unnecessary, useless, and unprofitable at Court, but likewise scandalous and infamous: And these were the Lady Mown, the Lady the Moling, and the Lady Ponyngs, Wife to the said Sir John Worth; who all were obliged to appear next Parliament. There were likewise actually taken into Custody, Sir Simon Burley, Sir Thomas Trivet, Sir Nicholas Brember, and divers other Knights; Clifford, Lincoln, and Motford, Clerks; John Beauchamp de Holt the King's Steward, or Privy-Purse, Nicholas Lake Dean of the Chapel, and John Blake Barrister at Law, who were all disposed in several Castles.  
After Candlemas, 1388, the Parliament began at London, (though the King used many means to dash or defer the same:) The Lords came attended with sufficient Strength to suppress any Rebellion, or Tumult that might happen; and continued their Sitting till Whitsuntide, to the great Fear of some, Hope of others, and Expectation of all: Part of their first Work was for several days to Summon the Duke of Ireland, the Archbishop of York, Michael de Pole Earl of Suffolk, Tresylian the Chief-Justice, and Sir Nicholas Brember Citizen of London, to answer to the Treasons wherewith they stood charged: but none of them appearing, they were all Outlawed, and their Lands and Goods forfeited and seized into the King's hands, with a provision by common consent in Parliament that they should never be pardoned or permitted to appear again in England.  

The Appeal or Charge exhibited against them in Parliament tho' long, is yet remarkable; and not being extant in English, I shall so far presume on the Reader's Patience, as to insert it, Translated from the Original, as we find it in Knyghton de Eventibus Angliae, Col. 2713. as follows, viz.  
TO our Most Excellent and redoubted Lord the King, and his Council, in this present Parliament, do show Tho. Duke of Gloucester, Constable of England, Henry Earl of Derby, Richard Earl of Arundel and Surry, Thomas Earl of Warwick, and Tho. Earl Marshal; That whereas they the said Duke and Earls, as Loyal Subjects of our Lord the King, for the profit of the King and Realm, on the Fourteenth day of November last passed, at Waltham-Cross in the County of Hertford, did before the most Reverend Fathers in God William Bishop of Winch●ster, Thomas Bishop of Ely, late Chancellor of England, John Waltham. then Lord Privy Seal, John Lord Cobham, the Lords Richard le Scrope, and John Denross, than Commissioners of our Lord the King, Ordained and made in the last Parliament, Appeal [Accuse or Charge] Alexander Archbishop of York, Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland, Michael de Pole Earl of Suffok, Robert Tresylian the false Justice, and Nicholas Brember the false Knight of London, of several High Treasons by them committed against the King and his Realm, and did offer to prosecute and maintain the same, and sufficient Sureties to find, praying the said Lords to certify the same to their said Sovereign Lord; which the same day the said Commissioners did accordingly certify to the King at Westminster, where most of the said persons so Appealed being present, were fully informed and certified of such Appeal.  
And whereas shortly after, by the Assent of the King and his Council, the said Thomas Duke of Gloucester, etc. coming to Westminster, in presence of the King, and of his Council there, for the profit of the King and his Realm, did again Appeal the said Archbishop of York, and other false Traitors, his Companions, appealed of High Treasons by them committed against the King and his Realm, as Traitors and Enemies to the King and Realm, in affirmance of their former Appeal, offering to pursue and maintain it as aforesaid. Which Appeal our Lord the King did accept, and thereupon assigned a day to the said Parties at his first Parliament which should be holden on the Morrow after Candlemass next ensuing, then to have & receive full Justice upon the said Appeal; and in the mean time took into his safe and most special protection the said Parties, with all their people, Goods and Chattels, and caused the same to be then proclaimed and published.  
And whereas also on Monday next after the day of the Nativity of our Lord Christ next after, the said Duke of Gloucester, etc. in the presence of the King, in the Tower of London, as Loyal Subjects of the King and his Realm, did appeal the said Archbishop of York, etc. as false Traitors, etc. Whereupon the King assigned them a day in the next Parliament to pursue and declare their Appeal, and by the advice of his Council did cause Proclamation to be made in all the Counties of England, by Writs under his great Seal, That all the said persons so Appealed, should be at the said Parliament to answer thereunto. Which Appeal the said Duke of Gloucester, etc. the Appealors, are now ready to pursue, maintain, and declare, and do by these Presents, as loyal Subjects of our Lord the King, for the profit of the King and Realm, Appeal the said Archbishop, etc. of High Treasons by them committed against our Lord the King and his Realm, as Traitors and Enemies of both King and Kingdom; which Treasons are declared, and fully specified in certain Schedules hereunto annexed: and they do pray that the said persons Appealed may be called, and Right and Justice done in this present Parliament.  
Imprimis, Thomas Duke of Gloucester Constable of England, Henry Earl of Derby, etc. do Appeal and say, that Alexander Archbishop of York, Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland, and Michael de la Pole Earl of Suffolk, false Traitors to the King and Realm, seeing the tender Age of our said Lord the King, and the Innocency of his Royal Person, have by many false Contrivances, by them without Loyalty or Good Faith imagined and suggested, endeavoured wholly to Engross his Majesty's Affection, and to make him entirely give Faith and Credence to what they should say, though never so pernicious to himself and his Realm, and to hate his Loyal Lords and People, by whom he would more faithfully have been served; Encroaching and assuming to themselves a power to the endefranchising our Lord the King of his Sovereignty, and imparing his Royal Prerogative and Dignity, making him so far obey them, that he hath been sworn to be governed and counselled only by them; by means of which Oath, and the power they have so traitorously usurped, great inconveniencies, mischiefs, and destructions, have happened, as by the subsequent Articles will appear.  
2. Item, Whereas the King is not bound to make any Oath to any of his Subjects, but on the day of his Coronation, or for the common profit of him and his Realm, the said Bishop. Duke, and Earl, false Traitors to the King and Realm, have made him swear and assent to them, that he will maintain and defend them, and live and die with them. And so whereas the King ought to be of a free condition above any other in his Realm, they have brought him more into Servitude and Bondage, against his Honour, Estate, and Royalty, contrary to their Allegiance, and as Traitors unto him.  
3. Item, The said Traitors, by the Assent and Council of Robert Tresylian the false Justice, and Nicholas Brember the false Knight of London, by their false Covin would not at all suffer the great Persons of the Realm, nor the good Subjects of the King, to speak to, or approach the King, to give him wholesome advice, nor the King to speak to them, unless in the presence and hearing of them the said Duke of Ireland, etc. or two of them, at their will and pleasure, or about such things as they thought fit, to the great disgrace of the Nobles and good Counsellors of the King, and to the preventing of their good will and service towards the King, thereby encroaching to themselves the Royal power, and a Lordship and, Sovereignty over the person of the King, to the great dishonour and peril of the King, his Crown and Realm.  
4. Item, The said Archbishop, etc. by such their false devices and pernicious Counsels, have diverted the King from showing due countenance to his great Lords, and Liege People, so that they could not be answered in their Suits and Rights, without the leave of them the said Archbishop, etc. Thereby putting the King besides his Devoir, contrary to his Oath, contriving to alienate the Heart of our Lord the King from his People, that they might engross amongst themselves only the Government of the Realm; whereby they have caused our Lord the King, without the Assent of the Realm, or any desert in them, to have given away by their Abetment many Lordships, Castles, Towns, and Manors, as well annexed to his Crown, as others: As particularly the Land of Ireland and Okam, with the Forest and Lands which did belong to the Lord Dandelegh, and great quantities of other Lands, to the said Duke of Ireland, and divers others, whereby they unworthily are vastly enriched, but the King rendered, poor, and unable to sustain and defray the Charges of the Government, unless by Impositions, heavy Taxes and Tributes laid upon his People, to the disinherison of his Crown, and the destruction of the Realm.  
5. Item, By such Encroachment of the said Archbishop, etc. and by the Counsel of that false Justicer Tresylian, and Brember the false Knight of London, they have caused our Lord the King to have given away divers Manors, Lands, Tenements, Offices, and Bailywicks, to divers other persons their Creatures, and such as they could confide in, and to others, of whom they have taken great Gifts by way of Brokage for that purpose, and to stand by them in their false Suits and ill purposes, to the great prejudice of the King and Realm, such as Sir Robert Mansel Clerk, John Blake, Thomas Vsk, and divers others.  
6. Item, The said Duke, etc. Encroaching to themselves the Royal Power, have caused the King to give very great Gifts of Gold and Silver, as well of his proper Goods and Jewels, as of the Goods and Treasure of the Realm; as Tenths, Fifteen, and other Taxes granted by divers Parliaments to be expended for the defence and safeguard of the Kingdom, which yet to the value of One hundred thousand Marks have been lavished away upon the said Duke of Ireland, and others. And though many good Ordinances and Laws have been made in Parliament, as well for maintaining and carrying on of Wars, as for the defence of the Realm; yet they have been by them disturbed and defeated, to the great dishonour and damage of the King and Realm.  
7. Item, By such Encroachment, and the great Gifts and Brokages taken by the said Duke of Ireland, etc. it came to pass that divers unfit and insufficient persons were preferred to, and entrusted with the keeping and government of divers Garrisons, Castles, and Countries involved in War, as in Guienne and elsewhere, both beyond and on this side the Sea; whereby the said Strong-holds have been lost, the Countries wasted, and the People, faithful Subjects to the King, destroyed, and great Signories newly rendered into the hands and possessions of Enemies, without the Assent of the Realm, as the Marches of Scotland, etc. to the disinherison of the King's Crown, and the great loss of the Kingdom, as in Harpeden and Craddock, and divers others.  
8. By the same means, the said Archbishop and his Fellow-Traytors have caused divers people to be disturbed and deprived of Right, and the Common Law of England, and put to intolerable delays, losses and costs; and the Statutes and Judgements which rightfully for necessary Causes have been made and given in Parliament, have been reversed and annulled by the procurement of the said Malefactors and Traitors; and all this because of the great Gifts and Brokages by them received of Parties, to the grand mischief of the King and Realm.  
9 Item, The said Archbishop and other Traitors have caused and counselled our Lord the King to grant Charters of Pardon of horrible Felonies and Treasons, as well against the State of the King, as of the Person injured and prosecuting; which thing is against the King, and the Oath of the King.  
10. Item, Whereas the said Seignories of the Land of Ireland are, and time out of mind have been parcel of the Crown of England, and the People of Ireland, Liege Subjects to our Lord the King, and his Royal Progenitors Kings of England, who in all their Charters, Writs, Letters Patents, and in their Seals, have for the Augmentation of their Renown and Royalty, been entitled, Lords of Ireland; yet the said Archbishop, etc. as false Traitors, by their said Encroachment, have caused and counselled our Lord the King as much as in him lies, to have granted and fully assented and accorded, that the said Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland, should be made King of Ireland. And to complete such their ill purpose, have advised and excited our said Lord the King to send his Letters to our Holy Father the Pope, to grant, ratify, and confirm this their traitorous Design, without the privity or assent of His Realm of England, and of the said Land of Ireland, to the dividing the Liegance of the King between his Realm of England, and the said Land of Ireland; in diminution of his Majesty's honourable Style, and open disinherison of the Crown of England, and full destruction of the lawful Liege Subjects of our Lord the King, and of the said Land of Ireland.  
11. Item, Whereas by the Great Charter, and other good Laws and Usages of the Realm of England, No man is to be taken, nor any Prisoner put to death, without the due process of Law; The said Nicholas Brember the false Knight of London, did take by night, certain Prisoners, to the number of 22, out of the Gaol of Newgate, some of them being Indicted and Appealed of Felony, and some Approvers in cases of Felony, and some on suspicion of Felony, and carried them out of London into Kent, to a place called Foulhoke; and there encroaching on the Royal Power, and in Defiance of the said Laws, as a Traitor to the King, did without any Process of Law, cause them all to be Beheaded, except one who was Appealed of Felony by an Approver, whom he set at large the same time.  
12. Item, The aforesaid Archbishop and other Traitors have in small Causes taken great Gifts in the Name of the King, of divers Parties, to maintain and abet them in their Suits and Quarrels, and sometimes have played the Ambodexters, and taken Money of both sides.  
13. Item, Whereas divers of the great Lords, Loyal Subjects to the King, in divers Parliaments, seeing the dangers, and apprehending the destruction threatening the King and Realm, by means of the Mischiefs of these Malefactors, have moved to have good Governance under the King, to avoid the said Perils; The forenamed Archbishop and other Traitors by their Encroachment and fatal Influences have so ordered Matters, that the King has not only been deaf to all such Persuasions, but also has Commanded some of those that moved it, to depart from his Council, and to speak no more of such Matters; Nor touching the good Governance of the King and Kingdom, on pain of Death, to the great prejudice of the King and Kingdom.  
14. Item, Whereas in the last Parliament, all the Lords and other Sages there assembled, seeing the loss and destruction of the King and Realm, and the perils and mischiefs aforesaid: and that the King was departed from the Council of the Realm, and wholly abandoned himself to the Counsels of the said Malefactors and Traitors: By means whereof the French King had Ships, and a Royal Power on the Sea, ready to have arrived in England; and the said Realm, and the very Language of England to destroy: And yet no Provision was made, or good Governance taken for the safety of the King, nor of the Realm. Finding no other Remedy, did Remonstrate to the King very fully, how he was Ill-advised, and Affairs most perniciously managed by the aforesaid Traitors and Malefactors, declaring to him their wicked Conditions; and most humbly beseeching him for the safety of himself, and of all his Realm, & avoiding the said impending dangers, to forsake and turn these Traitors from his Presence and Company, and no longer to conduct himself after their evil Counsel; but to hearken to the sage, loyal, and discreet persons of his Realm. Whereupon the said Archbishop and other Traitors, to defeat this wholesome Advice of the Parliament, by their false Counsel did then cause the King to command the Mayor of London suddenly to levy a great Power of the People of that City, to attaque and put to death all the said Lords and Commons, except such as were of their Cabal: At the Execution of which Villainy, the said great Malefactors and Traitors should be present and Parties, to the scandal and great disservice of the King and his Realm.  
15. Item, When the said Archbishop and other Traitors perceived that the said Mayor and good People of London had openly refused in the presence of the King, to accomplish such their Treachery and lewd purposes, touching the Murder of the said's Lords and Commons: They then by such their traitorous Encroachment falsely Advised the King, and so far prevailed, that our Lord the King did absent himself from his Parliament for many days, and did certify them, That he would never Approach the said Parliament, nor Commune with the said Lords and Commons touching the Affairs of the Realm, for any danger, loss, or mischief that might happen to him or his Realm, unless he were first assured by the said Lords and Commons, that they would not say or act any thing in that Parliament against any of the said Malefactors, save only in the Process which was begun against Michael de la Pole: All which was to the great disservice of the King and of his Realm, and contrary to the Ancient Ordinance and Liberties of Parliament.  
16. Item, The said Lords and Commons of the Realm, after they found the Kings Will by the malignant Counsel and excitement of the said Archbishop and other Traitors to be such, that he would not suffer any thing to be commenced, prosecuted, or done, against the said Malefactors and Traitors; were pleased to acquiesce, and not proceed therein any further against his pleasure. And afterwards in the said Parliament, taking the Advice and Counsel of all the Lords, Judges, and other sage Commons of the said Parliament, how the Estate of the King and his Royalty might best be preserved from the Perils and Mischiefs aforesaid, could not find any apt Expedient, than to ordain, that Twelve of the Loyal and sage Lords of the land should be of Council to the King for one year than next ensuing: And that there should be made during that time, a 〈◊〉 and Commission, whereby they should hav● 〈◊〉 and sufficient Power to order Matters for 〈◊〉 Government of the King, and of the Realm, and what appertained to the King, as well on this side as beyond the Seas; And to repel, repair, and redress what ever should have been ill done against the Estate, Honour, and Profit of the King and Kingdom, and to do divers other things necessary for the King and Realm, as in the Commission thereupon issued, and remaining of Record in Chancery, is contained. And that no person should presume to Counsel the King, or any way move him against the said Ordinance and Statute, on pain of forfeiting for the first Offence, all their Goods and Chattels; and pain of Death for the second: such Expedient and Ordinance to be made, if it would so please the King, and not otherwise. To which Ordinance or Statute, all the Judges of the Land agreed, and gave their consent unto, and Advice for the same, as well in presence of the King, as of the Lords. And also, our Lord the King did fully give his Assent to the same; and thereupon the said Ordinance, Statute, and Commission, were made and accorded unto by the Assent of the King, and of the said Lords and Judges, and other Sages and Commons Assembled in that Parliament, for the Saf●●y of the King, his Royalty and Realm. And yet after the end of the said Parliament, the aforesaid Tr●y●●rs and Malefactor, by such their evil 〈◊〉. falsely and traitorously did inform the King, That 〈…〉 Statute, and Commission were made in Derogation of his Royalty; and that all those who procured or advised the making thereof, or counselled the King to assent thereunto, were worthy of Death as Traitors to the King.  
17. Item, That after this the said Traitors, the Archbishop, etc. caused the King to Assemble a Council of certain of the Lord-Justices and others, without the Assent or Presence of the said Lords of the great Council, to whom they made many Demands, and very much suspicious, touching divers Matters whereby the King, the Lords, and the Common-people have been involved in most grievous trouble, the whole Realm disquieted, and the Hearts of many withdrawn from the King, saving their Allegiance.  
18. Item, To accomplish their said High-Treasons; the said Traitors, the Archbishop, etc. caused the King to go with some of them throughout the midst of his Realm, and to make the Lords, Knights, Esquires, and other good people, as well in Cities and Boroughs, as in other Places, to come before him, and there to become bound, by some Obligations, others by their Oaths, to our said Lord the King, to be with him against all people, and to accomplish the purpose of the King, which at that time was to accomplish the will and purposes of the said Malefactors and Traitors, drawn in thereunto by their false Contrivances, Flatteries, and Deceits: Which Securities and Oaths were made against the good Laws and Usages of the Land, and contrary to the Oath of the King, to the great dishonour of the King and Kingdom: By means of which Oaths so enforced, the whole Realm was Embroiled in great Murmurs and trouble by the said Traitors, and in danger to have suffered divers important Mischiefs.  
19 Item, To enforce their purposes, the said Traitors caused the King to absent himself in the furthest parts of this Realm, to the intent that the Lords appointed by the said Ordination, Statute, and Commission, might not Confer and Advise with Him touching the Affairs of the Realm: to the interruption and hindrance of the purport and effect of the said Statute and Commission, and great prejudice of the King and Realm.  
20. Item, The said Malefactors and Traitors, after they had Estranged both the Person and good will of the King from the said Lords so Commissioned, and that he esteemed them Traitors and Enemies, and that they had obtained the Opinions of the Judges suited to their wicked purposes, did agree and design, That several of the said Lords, and also divers Loyal Commons, should be first Arrested, and then Indicted in London and in Middlesex, and by false Inquests Attainted of certain Treasons falsely imagined against them, and so put to shameful Death: To which purpose they had procured an evil and false person of their Conspiracy, called Thomas Vsk, to be under-sheriff, by whose means the said false Inquests were to be taken, and the wicked Design accomplished by colour of Law. And for the more complete effecting thereof, they caused the King to send his Letters of Credence by John Rypon a false Clerk, and one of their Cr●w, directed to the Mayor of London, That he should seize the said Duke of Gloucester, and others therein named, to be Indicted for certain Treasons, in such manner as the said Nicholas Brember the false Knight, and John Blake, who were thereof fully informed, should direct: By virtue of which Letters of Credence, Brember and Blake carried to the Mayor the said false Indictment, commanding him on behalf of the King, that to his power he should promote the same. And also they ordered, that a strong Watch should be set to seize my Lord Duke of Lancaster upon his first Arrival.  
21. Item, The said Traitors having traitorously informed the King, that he should believe that the said Ordination, Statute, and Commission, were made in derogation of his Royalty and Prerogative; did further persuade him, that the same was made with an intention to degrade, and finally to depose our Lord the King: And perceiving that thereby he looked upon his Loyal Lords as Traitors and Enemies, They yet further advised Him, that by all means possible, as well by the power of his own Liege People, as by the force of his Enemies, the French and others, he should destroy and put to death the said Lords and others that assented to the making of the said Ordinance, and that the same might be done so privily that none should know of it till it was done.  
22. Item, In order to these Treasons, by their Counsels, they caused the King to send Letters to his Enemy the French King, some by Nicholas Southwell Groom of his Chamber, and others by other persons of base condition, as well Aliens as Denizens, requiring and praying the said French King, that he would with all his Power and Counsel Aid and assist our Lord the King, to destroy and put to Death the said Lords and others, whom they had so falsely represented as Traitors, to the great Disturbance of the whole Realm.  
23. Item, That usurping to themselves Royal Power, they caused the King to promise the French King by his Letters Patents and Messages, for such his Assistance to accomplish the said Treason and Murder, to give and surrender to the said French King the Town and Castle of Calais, and divers other Forts and Places; as Breast, Chirburgh, and others, etc. to the great dishonour, trouble, and prejudice of the Realm.  
24. Item, That after this traitorous Contrivance, it was agreed between our Lord the King and the French King, by the instigation and influence of these Traitors, that a Parley or Interview should be had in the Marches of Calais, and a Truce of five years between the Realms of England and France: At which Interview, by Treachery, the said Lords and others whom the King took for Traitors, attending him thither, should there by Treachery be slain. In order to which, they procured several Letters of safe Conduct from the said French King, for the said Duke of Ireland's going into France, to accomplish this ill purpose and Treason; which Letters are ready to be shown.  
25. Item, That the said Brember, by the Assent and Counsel of the said other Traitors, did come into London, and without the Assent or knowledge of the King, did cause all the Companies of the City to be sworn to hold and perform divers Matters, as they are contained in the said Oath, which is of Record in Chancery: And amongst other things, That they should hold with and maintain the Will and purpose of the King to their power, against all that are or shall be Rebels, or contrary to his Person, or Royal pleasure: And that they should be ready to destroy all those which do or shall purpose Treason against our said Lord the King, in any manner; and be ready with their Mayor to resist during life, all such Traitors, etc. At which time the King, by the Misinformation of the said Evil-doers and Traitors, and by the false Answers of the Justices, did firmly hold the said Lords and others, who assented to the making of the said Ordinances, Statute, and Commission, to be Rebels, Traitors, and Enemies unto him: By all which, the said Traitors endeavoured to stir up the said People of London to destroy the said Lords and other Loyal Subjects.  
26. Item, The said Brember and other Traitors to the King and Realm, usurping to themselves Royal Power, Did of their own Authority, without any Warrant from the King or his great Council, cause Proclamation to be made through the City of London, That none of the Liege Subjects of our Lord the King, should Sustain, Comfort, or Aid, Richard Earl of Arundel and Surrey, (one of the Lords of the King's Great Council, during the said Commission;) nor sell him any Armour, Victuals, or other Necessaries, on pain of being preceded against as Rebels; carrying about and showing a Patent of the Kings, but of another Tenor, the better to compass such their false Proclamation.  
27. Item, They also caused it to be Cried and Proclaimed in the said City of London, That no person should be so hardy as to presume to speak any ill, or utter any word or expression against them the said Malefactors and Traitors, or any of them, on pain of forfeiting all they had; Which was an Encroachment on the Royal Power.  
8. Item, The said Archbishop, Chief Justice, and other Traitors, caused the King to command his Council to make certain persons throughout England Sheriffs, who were named [or recommended] to him by them the said Traitors, with an intent to get such persons as they should name returned for Knights of the Shire to serve in Parliament; And to keep out from thence Gentlemen good and loyal, against the good Laws and Customs of the Land.  
29. Item, The said Traitors during the time that the King had so taken both Parties into His Protection as aforesaid, did falsely counsel and prevail with the King to command by His Letters divers Knights and Squires, Sheriffs, and other Ministers of several Counties, to Levy Men and assemble all their Power to join with the said Duke of Ireland, against the said three Lords now Appealing, suddenly to make War upon and destroy them.  
30. Item, During the time of the same Protection, they caused the King by His Royal Letters, to signify to the said Duke of Ireland, Not only that he and others were Appelled of Treason as aforesaid; but also that he should have sufficient Power to guard him, and come with him to the King. And afterwards caused Him to write again to the said Duke of Ireland, That he should take the Field with all the Forces he could assemble; And that the King would meet him with all his Troops, and would expose and venture his Royal Person: And that the King was in great peril for Himself and his Realm, unless succoured and aided by the said Duke: And that the said Duke should show and declare to all the people assembled with him, That the King would bear and pay all Debts and Costs of the said Duke of Ireland, and all that joined with him. By virtue of which Letters, and the evil and traitorous Instigation as well of the said Duke, as of his Adherents and other Traitors, The said Duke of Ireland did actually Levy and Assemble great numbers of Men at Arms, and Archers, as well of the Counties of Lancaster, Cheshire, and Wales, as of other places of the Realm, in Warlike manner, to destroy and put to death the said Lords, who had consented to the making the said Ordinance, Act of Parliament, and Commission, in Defence of the King and Realm.  
31. Item, That having thus Traitorously Levied Forces, the said Duke marched with them through the midst of England, and usurping the Royal Power, did cause the King's Banner to be Displayed before him, contrary to the Estate of the King, and of his Crown. In which March the said Duke and his Accomplices were by the Grace of God disturbed, and prevented from their evil purposes.  
32. Item, That the said Duke of Ireland, by the Counsel and Abetment of the rest of the forenamed Traitors, encroaching to himself the Royal Power, without the usual Commission of the King, or other sufficient Warrant, Did make himself Justice of Chester, by him and his Deputies to hold there all manner of Pleas of the Crown, and thereupon to give Judgement, and Award Execution: And also caused divers Original and Judicial Writs to be Sealed with the Great Seal of the King in that behalf used: And thereby compelled a great part of the people of those Counties to join with him, or otherwise put some of them to grievous and tormenting Death, Imprisoned others, and Seized the Lands of others, etc. And all this to make War, and destroy the said Lords, and other Loyal Subjects of the King, and against the Defence of the Realm.  
33. Item, That the said Traitors have caused the King to grant great Retinues to divers people, and give them Badges and Ensigns otherwise than ever was used in the time of any of his Progenitors; and this with design to gain greater power to accomplish their Treasons.  
34. Item, Fully to complete all such their beforementioned and other Treasons, and to make the King wholly confide in, and rely upon them and their Counsels, they caused the King to call before him divers Justices and People of the Law, that is to say, Robert Tresylian, Robert Belknap, John Care, John Holt, Roger Fulthorp, William Burgh, six Justices, John Lockton Sergeant at Law, and John Blake: Of whom he did by the contrivance of the said Traitors demand, Whether the beforementioned Act of Parliament and Commission were made in derogation of his Royalty and Prerogative, or not? and several other Questions; to which they Answered in manner and form before set forth, etc.   
These were the Articles Exhibited; but the prime Delinquents, as the Duke of Ireland, the Archbishop of York, and the Earl of Suffolk, were fled, and the rest absconded: The Chief Justice Tresylian having disguised himself, lay hid at an Apothecary's House near the Gate going into the Old-Palace at Westminster. But on Wednesday the 11th Calends of March, being discovered by his Servant, he was taken and brought by the Duke of Gloucester to the Parliament, who immediately Awarded Execution against him; so that he was the same day drawn from the Tower through the midst of the City of London to Tyburn, and there hanged: That Judgement having formerly been passed upon him, when ever he could be found, in the same Parliament. The very next day they met with Sir Nicholas Brember, whom the King had often before preferred to be Mayor of London, against the will of the Citizens, and who had been the occasion of many Oppressions and Seditions in that City: It was reported of him, that whilst he was in power, he had caused a common Hatchet to be made, wherewith to cut off the Heads of all that opposed his Exorbitant doings, and caused a List to be made of a vast number of the Citizen's Names whom he designed for destruction, of whom he had procured Eight thousand five hundred and upwards to be already Indicted; But was now before he could bring to pass such his malicious bloody purpose, Himself Beheaded with the very same Instrument; the King interceding for him with the Parliament, that he might not be Hanged. This Gentleman if he had lived was to have been made Duke of Troy, meaning thereby London, which anciently was said to have sometimes been called by that Name.  
Shortly after Vske the under Sheriff of London, and the beforementioned John Blake the Lawyer, were likewise drawn from the Tower to Tyburn, and there Hanged and Beheaded, and the Head of the said uske placed upon Newgate.  
In the beginning of May, Sir Simon de Burlee was Condemned for High-Treason; but the King dispensing with his Drawing and Hanging, he was Beheaded on Tower-hill. This person by his ill Practices had in few years increased his small Patrimony of 20 Marks, to an Estate of above Three thousand Marks per annum; and was grown to that excess of pride, that at a Christmas he would give Liveries to a great number of Knights and Squires of the Court, and others, bestowing therein sometimes an hundred and forty, or an hundred and sixty, nay sometimes two hundred and twenty Broad clothes, and these of great price, as being Embroidered with Gold, and some of Scarlet.  
About the same time Sir John Beavehamp was Condemned to be Drawn, Hanged, and Quartered; but by the King's Mercy, he had only his Head severed from his Body on Tower-hill. The same punishment was inflicted on Sir John Berneys, a Knight belonging to the Court Condemned for Treason and Sedition; but Sir John Salisbury was drawn from the Tower, and Hanged at Tyburn.  
And now the Judges are brought to Judgement, which in the beginning of the Parliament were taken into Custody; viz. Sir Robert Belknappe, Sir John Care, Sir John Holte, Sir Roger de Fulthorp, Sir William de Burgh, and John Locton Sergeant at Law, who were all condemned to be Drawn, Hanged, and Quartered: But by the Mediation of the Queen, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and other Bishops, the King by the consent of the Lords, against whom they had offended, pardoned the Sentence of Death: But they were Outlawed and Banished for ever into Ireland, Two and two to be kept in a place, limited within certain Bounds, which if they should presume to go out of, they were immediately to be Executed on their former Judgement. And for their Maintenance were allowed out of the King's Exchequer, as follows; viz. To Fulthorp 40 l. per annum, to Burgh 40 Marks, to Belknappe 30 l. to Holt 40 Marks, and to Care and Locton 20 l. per annum apiece.  
This being done, a General Pardon is passed for all Treasons and Seditions whatsoever, and an Oath (saith Walsingham) exacted not only of all the Inhabitants of the Land, but of the King too, to stand to the Regulation of the Lords, (meaning, as I conceive, those so Commissioned and Authorized for one years' space by King and Parliament as aforesaid:) And then the Parliament broke up in the Month of July.  
After Whitsuntide the Earl of Arundel again puts to Sea, and burns-sinks, and takes Fourscore French Ships; And likewise Seizes the Isles of Ree and Oleroon (the latter famous for the Laws Marine, there said to be Composed and agreed upon) with the City of Rochel and divers other places. About the same time the Scots entered England as far as Newcastle, in which young Peircy, Son of the Earl of Northumberland, and for his Valour and Fury in Arms, Surnamed Hotspur, being them Engarrisoned, he with a small Party fought with them, and with his own hand slew W. Douglass their Commander in Chief; but being at last overpowered by the coming in of the Earl of Dunbar, was himself taken Prisoner, though at the same time he set free his Country: For he had first so weakened them by the destruction of their Men, that they durst not stay longer, but in haste and disorder retreated into Scotland.  
After Harvest a Parliament was again held at Cambridge, in which many wholesome Laws passed; As against Beggars, Riding Armed, giving Liveries to excessive Retinues: Touching Labourers, and Apparel suitable to people's Ranks: And especially, That none should go out of the Realm to the Pope to procure the Grant of any Benefices in England without the King's leave, on penalty of being put out of the King's protection. Also a Tax was granted to the King, being a Tenth of the Clergy, and a Fifteenth of the Laity.  
In the Year 1389, a grievous Discord happened at Oxford between the Welsh and the Northern Scholars, wherein several were slain, and further mischief threatened; but by the Mediation of the Duke of Gloucester, the Broil was composed, and divers of the Welshmen dismissed the University.  
In May the King held a Great Council at Westminster, and on Holy-Road-day, being led by the Advice of certain Whisperers, entered suddenly into the Council-Chamber, and taking his Seat, Demanded, How old they took him to be? Being answered, Somewhat upwards of One and twenty years: Then (replied He) I am of full Age, and capable to manage my Inheritance myself; for sure 'tis unjust that I should be in a worse condition than any other in my Kingdom; for every Heir after the death of his Ancestor, comes to his Estate, and takes it into his own hand at one and twenty years of age. This the Lords perhaps might be unwilling to Grant, but more unable and afraid to deny: And therefore the King went on with his Speech;— 'Tis well known, that for many years I have lived under your Tutelage and Governance, and for the pains therein We thank you; but now having attained to Our Legal Age, We are resolved to be no longer in Ward, but to take into Our hands the Government of Our Realm, and to appoint such Officers and Ministers as We think fit, and remove others at Our pleasure.  
Accordingly he forthwith commanded the Bishop of York, than Lord Chancellor, to Resign the Seal; which being done, the King put it up in his Bosom and went away, but soon after returned, and gave it to William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester, making him Lord Chancellor: He likewise turned out the Bishop of Hereford from the Office of Treasurer, and put in another in his room; and changed several other chief Ministers of State, partly to show his Authority, partly to satisfy his Displeasure; As particularly he suspended his Uncle the Duke of Gloucester, and the Earl of Warwick and others from his Privy Council, and admitted others in their stead, that Humoured him more, but Honoured him less. The Earl of Arundel likewise was removed from the Admiralty of the Sea, wherewith he had been entrusted by the Parliament, and the same given to the Earl of Huntingdon.  
Soon after this, certain Detractors circumventing the King, had so far prevailed, as to make him believe, That the Duke of Gloucester was contriving some Designs against him: But upon the Duke's Examination, the falsehood and Malice of those Reports did appear; And the King blushed to consider his own Credulity against so near and eminent a Relation; yet though some of the Spreaders thereof were there present when the Duke would have questioned them for the same, the King charged him, as he loved him, not to stir farther in the matter.  
This Summer the King being at his Manor of Sheen, in July, on a sudden there appeared such innumerable Swarms of Gnats, that all the Air was darkened with them, who skirmisht and fought one with another, till the Slain fell down in heaps, and being swept together with Brooms, amounted to the quantity of many Bushels-full, and the rest who seemed to come off, and were reckoned about a third part of the whole, flew away; which was by many esteemed as an illboding Prodigy.  
About the same time the Disciples of Wickliff (in those days called Lollards) being very numerous, their Presbyters took upon them after the manner of Bishops, to confer Holy Orders, Asserting, that every Priest had as much power of Binding and Losing, and Administering other Ecclesiastical Functims, as the Pope himself either had, or could bestow: And though the Prelates had notice hereof, yet out of negligence, or rather fear, they did not much concern themselves to suppress them; save only the stout Bishop of Norwich, who swore, That if any of that Sect should presume to Preach in his Diocese, he would either Burn or Behead them.  
In November, the Duke of Lan●aster after three years' absence returned into England from Spain, having matched his Daughter to the King of Castile's Son. And the King of England having summoned a Council at Reading, the said Duke understanding that his Majesty had conceived Displeasure against divers great Lords, to prevent the Mischiefs that might thereby arise, immediately after his Arrival, posted thither; by whose good Offices the King's Resentments were diverted, and Matters for the present pacified.  
In the Year 1390, (being the 13 year of King Richard's Reign) on Monday after the Feast of St. Hillary, a Parliament was called at London, wherein amongst other things it was Enacted, That the King should not extend his Pardon to any persons convicted of Murder, and a Penalty Awarded against any that should importune the King thereunto; viz. That if it were a Duke or Archbishop, he should forfeit to the King 100 l. If an Earl or Bishop, 100 Marks, etc. There was also granted to the King 40s. of every Sack of Wool, of which 10s. to go to the King's present occasions, and the other 30s. to be reserved in the hands of Commissioners appointed by Parliament, Not to be expended unless necessity of War required. About St. James●yde, Henry Earl of Derby, eldest Son to the Duke of Lancaster, with a choice Company of a thousand Knights and Squires, and their Servants, went into Prussia, where they signalised themselves by several brave and valorous Actions; and returned again with Honour in April following.  
In the Year 1391, the French Courted King Richard very earnestly to a Treaty of Peace; and in order thereunto, desired that there might be an Amicable Interview of the two Kings near Calais: To which King Richard seemed inclinable; and that he might appear more splendid on such an occasion, sent to most of the Abbeys to furnish him with the best Horses they had: Amongst whom the Abbot of S. Alban sent him One, which (Walsingham tells us) was worth Four and twenty Marks, no small price in those days; and yet not content, he demanded 50 Marks besides in Money: Likewise from most of the Cities and Burroughs of England, he got divers considerable Sums to Equip him for this Voyage.  
But about the same time, by order of the King and Council, there was a Proclamation set forth, Requiring all those that had any Benefices in England, and were then beyond the Seas, as in the Roman Court, (it being a thing not infrequent in those days, for the Pope to gratify his Favourites and Followers with the best Preferments, though perhaps never in England in their lives) immediately to repair into England, to live upon such their Benefices, and not suck away the Treasure of the Realm, by expending their Revenues in other Nations, on pain of forfeiting all their said Benefices. This, together with the late Statute of Provisors and Praemunire, and the Overture of a Peace like to advance with the French King, (who at that time joined with the Antipape, Benedict the 13th) much troubled Pope Boniface the 9th: (For now, and for near the space of forty years together, there were two Popes in being at once, each Cursing the other; and part of Christendom acknowledging One, and part his Adversary.) Therefore the said Boniface (whom the English owned for their Ghostly Father) forthwith sent a Nuncio to King Richard, with great Compliments to commend his Devotion, and that of his Predecessors towards Holy Church, but withal to complain of these Invasions (as he was pleased to call them) of the Ecclesiastical Liberties; and to urge him as well to Repeal the said Laws, as by no means to make Peace with the French King, unless he would disown and no longer assist the Antipope, etc.  
The King received the Nuncio kindly, and heard his Tale, but for Answer put him off to the Meeting of the Parliament, which was in November, and then the Business was bandied about; and though the King and Duke of Lancaster seemed willing to gratify the Pope, the Commons would by no means consent that people should go to Rome to acquire any Benefices in England; only that they might not seem too much to slight his Holiness, they yielded that it might be suffered, but not without the King's Licence, and no longer than till the next Parliament. But though they held their Pope to hard Meat, they were not wanting in expressing their kindness to their King, giving him a Half-tenth, and an Half-fifteenth; which they offered to make whole Ones, on condition the King would next Summer make an Expedition against the Scots.  
Anno 1392. The Duke of Lancaster is sent over into France, and most magnificently entertained by the French King: But instead of a Peace, brought back only a Truce for a year; to the intent, saith Walsingham, That during that time, the collected wisdom of England might consider whether it were more expedient to conclude a final Peace, or prosecute the War.  
About this time, a certain Matron in London having one only Daughter, had instructed her to Celebrated the Mass, and built an Altar with all its Furniture in a private Room, and there for many days caused her to Accouter herself in Priestly Habit, and Officiate; only when she came to the words of the Sacrament, she Prostrated herself, and durst not Consecrate; but rising again, would go on with the rest of the Mass to the end, her Mother helping her and encouraging her Devotion. But at last a Neighbouring Gossip whom she had called to this private Mass, discovering her Practice, the Bishop of London heard of it, and being much grieved (as he had reason, to see his Trade usurped by the other Sex) called her before him, and made her show her Crown shaved exactly like a Priest, before all the people, and caused both her and her Mother to do Penance.  
The Duke of Guelderland, a most active Prince, and related to King Richard, sent him a Letter full of great Compliments, (but in one expression too profane) stirring him up to War and Military Actions becoming his Royal Dignity, and particularly dehorting him from the designed dishonourable Amity with France: The Tenor whereof, was as followeth.  
MAgnificent Prince! Both your Innate Generosity, and the prudent Counsels of your Ministers will we conceive effectually provide, that all your Hereditary Rights, which by your Birth render your Royal Majesty Great and Glorious, may by the foresight of your deep Wisdom be preserved Inviolable; And that if any unjust Force does Invade or offer to Diminish them, your Kingly Industry will valiantly defend the same with the Shield of Military Prowess: And since we have the Honour to be Related to your Royal Person by Affinity, God himself cannot hinder, but that we will ever be ready to assist you in defending such your Rights with Two thousand Lances, when and as oft-soever as you shall be disposed to engage in a War: Nor ought you to decline the same to your prejudice, for any Words or Promises that may be made you, from the restless subtlety of the French. 'Tis certain, most Serene Prince, your Fame is spread throughout the World: Nor is it doubted, but for your great plenty of Wool, and innumerable other Commodities (without which neither the East or South can subsist) all Kingdoms daily salute you with their Treasures; so that God himself has conferred upon you Wealth an hundred fold more in comparison, than on other Kings. Besides the tried Valour of your people, and the sharpness of their Victorious Bows, have so far advanced the Fame of your Magnanimous Nation, above any of the West, that Terror and Dread cannot but Invade your Adversaries; for evermore to this day, as oft as the Gallant English have fought the French, so oft have they carried Victory with them from the Field. Let not therefore, most Potent Prince! the Heart of the Lion slumber longer against Nature in Pusillanimity: But vouchsafe to apply that matchless Strength which Nature has conferred upon you, to warlike Actions, in defence of your Commonwealth, the maintenance of your Hereditary Rights, the increase of your Merit, and perpetuating the Renown of so incomparable great and Magnanimous a King.  
Walsingham says, That this Prince came also in person into England, to persuade the King against making Peace either with the French or Scots, and that he was very honourably entertained. But it seems his motion was not much regarded, for the time was spun out in further Truces, and nothing done.  
And now the Citizens of London fall into the King's grievous displeasure, the Causes whereof are said to be Two: The first, Their not only denying to lend the King a thousand pounds (which he desired) themselves; but also affronting a certain Lombard, who was willing to accommodate him: and abusing him (some Authors say, they beat and half killed him) for his forwardness. The other an Accident which happening just in the neck of this, seemed, or perhaps was made a far greater Offence than otherwise it need have been reputed, viz.  
A Baker carrying his Bread along the Street, one of the Bishop of Salisbury's Servants took a loaf out of his Basket; which the Baker demanded to be restored, but the Bishop's man instead thereof broke his head; for which Injury the people would have seized him, but he fled into his Master's house: Thither the Constable came, and peaceably desired he might be surrendered up to Justice. But the Bishop's Servants shut the Gates, and made resistance. This more exasperated the people, (who though sometimes they may be deceived b● Fi●●sses and Craft, are yet generally shrewd Guessers at Right and Wrong in Matters of Fact, and 〈◊〉 of common life) insomuch, that many threatened to fire their way, and began to use violence. Of which the Mayor and chief Officers having notice, they immediately repaired thither, and by their Presence and Authority, suppressed the Multitude, and preserved the King's Peace; so that hitherto the harm was but small: and all this Combustion might easily have been quenched and forgot, had not the Bishop (whose ill-governed Servant was the Beginner and Cause of all the Broil) kindled the Fuel afresh: And 'tis said, he the rather stirred in it, out of an old grudge which he had against the Citizens, because they were generally looked upon to be Favourers of Wickliffs' Doctrine. But whatever the Motive was, a loud Complaint was made by him and other Prelates to the King, affirming, That if upon every paltry pretence the Citizens should be suffered thus to Affront the Bishops without Chastisement, they would endanger not only the Dignity, but the Liberty of the whole Church. The King was so incensed hereat, (being prepared by former Provocations) that he was once resolved to have raised an Army, and utterly destroyed the City, and made spoil thereof. But being persuaded by more moderate Councils, he only sent for the Mayor and two Sheriffs, and Four and twenty Aldermen, and Four and twenty others of the ablest Citizens, to his Court then held at Nottingham, where the said Tumult and divers other Offences were laid to their Charge; As that they had forfeited their Obligations formerly given to the King, etc. They at first resolved to justify their Innocency, and faithfully engaged to stand by one another: But it seems there was falsehood in Fellowship, and as it often happens in such Cases, some timorous persons hoping to curry favour, Impeached the rest, who again recriminated upon them, and so all were liable to be undone, and therefore left themselves wholly to the King's Mercy, who committed the Mayor to Windsor Castle, and the rest to several other places of Confinement, seizes the Liberties of the City into his own hands, and Annuls all their Privileges, commands there should be no more any Major be chosen, but that he would himself appoint one who should be called Keeper of the City; and accordingly did qualify one Sir Edward Dalyngrygge, (other Authors call him Balerygge) with that Title, who being thought too favourable to the Citizens, was quickly removed, and Sir Baldwin Radington, a person of a rougher temper put in his place; And also the Terms and Courts of Justice, were removed to York.  
In the mean time, the Duke of Gloucester and others were not wanting to Intercede with the King on behalf of the Londoners, of whom the Principal, on Sunday next after the Assumption of S. Mary, waited on him at Windsor, and submitted to him, Themselves and their Fortunes: With which he seemed somewhat well pacified, and on the Wednesday following came towards London, being met from the City with four hundred Men on Horseback, clad all in one Livery, an innumerable multitude on foot, a solemn Procession of the Clergy, and Five hundred Boys in Surplices: The Fronts of the Houses adorned with Tapestry and Pictures, the Conduits freely running Wine, etc. Besides, they presented the King with a Crown of Gold of great value, and another of the same Metal to the Queen; together with a Picture of the Trinity worth 800 l. and several other great Gifts: And so they obtained their Privileges restored and confirmed to them, the Election of a Mayor, and all things as before: And having been at all this Charge, doubted not but to be quiet and free from further Fine or Penalty. But herein they were deceived; for notwithstanding all their Presents, the King yet upon such submission before made, demanded and forced them to pay after all this, Ten thousand pounds, or else they must have ventured the Effects of his new Displeasure.  
The Duke of Gloucester having been furnished with Money to raise an Army, for an Expedition into Ireland, (of which the King had lately created him Duke) when his Troops were now just ready to march, and all things prepared, was on a sudden without any cause Recalled, and the Voyage Countermanded, to the great Detriment as well of England as Ireland: For upon the Report of his Coming, almost all the petty Irish Kings had advised one with another, and resolved to submit themselves to the English.  
The Year 1393, a Parliament at Winchester gave the King half a Tenth for the Clergy, and half a Fifteenth for the Laiety, towards the Expenses of the Dukes of Lancaster and Gloucester, who were going into France, to Treat of a Peace between the two Crowns. The French King sometime before had lost his Senses, but was now pretty well recovered, yet at this time narrowly escaped with his life, from the Treachery of the Duke his Brother, who over-greedily Aspired to the Crown. For the King and several other Persons of Quality dancing a Rural Mask, to make themselves appear more like those Savages which they were to represent, had got on straight Garments close to their Bodies, covered over with T●we, which was fixed on with Rosin and Pitch to make it stick the faster: Now when they were busy in the midst of their Dance by Torchlight, a Villain suborned by the Duke, clapped a Flambeau amongst them, as if done by Accident, whereby in an instant the Tow and other Combustibles took fire; but a Lady seeing the danger, snatched away the King before the flames seized him, whilst Four of the other Maskers, notwithstanding all the help imaginable was used, were immediately burnt to Death.  
In England the Lord Tho. Pierey is made the King's Steward, and Sir William Scroop Chamberlain, a Person (saith our Author) than whom, in all Mankind, there could not be found one more wicked or cruel.  
The year following, 1394, was chiefly remarkable for Funerals. First the Duchess of Lancaster Daughter to the King of Castille, was snatched away; then the Countess of Derby her Daughter-in-Law; next Queen Anne herself, whose Obsequies were magnificently and at vast Expenses Celebrated by the King; and soon after died Isabel Duchess of York: Nor was Death only content to Triumph over the Ladies, but also mowed down the Noble Sir John Hawkwood, a Knight whose Valour had rendered him Famous in many foreign Nations, and no less dear to his own.  
About August issued a Proclamation throughout England, That all the Irish should forthwith return home, and wait the Kings coming thither at Lady-day next following, on pain of death. And indeed it was but time to send them packing; for such multitudes were come over in hopes of gain, that they had left the English Pale in Ireland almost quite desolate: So that the natural wild Irish not yet Conquered, taking thereby an advantage, destroyed or pillaged the few Subjects the King of England had remaining there, at their pleasure. And whereas King Edward the Third, when he settled his Courts of Justice, etc. in that Country, received from thence to his Exchequer Thirty thousand pounds per annum; the same by reason of the want of Inhabitants, was not only lost, but on the contrary, the King forced to be out of Pocket Thirty thousand Marks every year in the necessary defence of his Territories there. Effectually to redress which, the King in Person about Michaelmas sailed into Ireland, attended with the Duke of Gloucester, the Earls of March, Nottingham, Rutland, etc. The Irish unable to Cope with so great a Force, endeavoured only to weary him with Alarms, Ambuscades, and Skirmishes; but at last, divers of their petty Princes were glad to submit to King Richard; of whom some he kept as Hostages for security, others he dismissed upon Parole. And for the better settlement of Affairs, Assembled a Parliament for Ireland at Dublin, and continued in that Kingdom till after Easter.  
In the mean time, Anno 1395, the Duke of York, Guardian of England during the King's absence, called a Parliament at London, eight days after Twelfth-tide; unto which was sent from Ireland the Duke of Gloucester, who so zealously represented the King's Necessities, by reason of the vast Expense he had been at in this necessary and no less advantageous than honourable Expedition into Ireland; that the Clergy were content to present his Majesty with a Tenth, and the Commonalty with a Fifteenth: But not without a Protestation first made, That they were not bound to grant the same De stricto jure, but did it purely out of their Affection to their King.  
The Lollards (so called, as Tritemius says, from Walter Lollard a German, who flourished about the year 1315. Or as others think from Lolium, signifying Darnel or Tares; for being Followers and Disciples of Wickeliff, the Clergy, and especially the Monks and Friars, were not wanting to brand them with ill Names, and reputed them as the Tares sown by the evil One in the Field of God's Church;) did about this time publicly affix on the Doors of S. Paul's Church, Accusations of the Clergy, charging them with sundry Abominations, and also divers Conclusions touching Ecclesiastical Persons, and the Sacraments of the Church. At which the Bishops were much disturbed, and according to their usual Method, instead of clearing themselves, and confuting their Adversaries by Scripture or Reason, endeavoured to silence them by Club-law, dispatching away the Archbishop of York, and Bishop of London, into Ireland to the King, entreating him to hasten his return, to succour Faith and Holy Church, that were both like to be undone by the Heretics, who were contriving how to take away the Possessions of the whole Church, and overthrow all the Canonical Sanctions. Upon this News, back comes the King from Ireland, and takes several of the Chief Favourites of the Lollards to task, threatening most terribly if they showed them any Countenance for the future. But the Heretics were not the only Afflicters of the Clergy at this time; but Birds of their own Nests began to pluck their feathers too: for William Archbishop of Canterbury got a Bull from the Pope, Impowering him to levy throughout all the Dioceses of his Province, Four pence in the pound of all Ecclesiastical Goods and Revenues, as well of those Exempt, as not Exempt; and this without so much as pretending any true or lawful Cause for the same. However, the Execution of this Bull being committed unto the Archbishop of York, and the Bishop of London, though many of the inferior Clergy grumbled not a little, and complained thereof as unreasonable, yet they were generally forced to submit unto it.  
Anno Domini 1396, the Duke of Lancaster, to whom the King had given the Duchy of Aquitain, and who had been at inestimable Charges in those Parts, to Conciliate to himself the Affections of the Inhabitants; no sooner had obtained the same, but he was suddenly recalled from thence by the King's Command. To which, though it seemed no less hard than unexpected, the Duke paid a punctual Obedience, and was received if not with love, yet at least with a show of honour by the King; from whom having obtained Licence to depart the Court, he hastened to Lincoln, and there to the admiration of all the World, (by reason of the disparity of their Qualities) was married to Katherine Swinford, who for divers years before had been his Mistress.  
This year also the Pope wrote to the King, entreating him to assist the Prelates of the Church in the Cause of God, and of him the said King and his Kingdom, against the Lollards, whom he declared to be Traitors not only to the Church, but likewise to the King; and therefore did most earnestly press him, That whomsoever the Bishops should declare to be Heretics, he would forthwith Condemn by his Royal Authority. But it seems the King was too busy otherwise to attend his Holiness' Commands, and to do his Prelate's drudgery in butchering of Heretics; for he was making mighty Preparations for a Voyage, not of War, but of Galiantry, into France; where by agreement, the two Kings were to have a Personal Conference.  
In order to which, King Richard passes over to Calais, and the French King came down to Arde; between which two Towns was the place appointed for their Interview, and Magnificent Tents erected for their Entertainment. But first they interchangeably took an Oath, truly and religiously to observe the Sacred Laws of Amity at this Congress, and that neither by themselves or any of their Subjects, Friends, Allies, or any other to their privity, or with their Allowance, there should be contrived or practised any Hostility, Surprise, Damage, or Disturbance by the one Party to the other. And for further security, the Space between the two Royal Tents was Guarded on either side with Knights Armed, and drawn Swords in their hands; Four hundred English on the one hand, and Four hundred French on the other.  
The Twenty seventh of October the two Kings met, Four French Dukes waiting on the King of England, and Five English Noblemen, viz. the Dukes of Lancaster and Gloucester, and the Earls of Derby, Rutland, and Northumberland, attending the French King.  
After an Interchange of Compliments between their Majesties, it was first by mutual consent ordered, That a Chapel at both their equal Charge should in the place of their Interview be Erected, which should be called, The Chapel of our Lady of Peace: And on Saturday the Feast of S. Simon and Judas, on further Treaty, it was accorded, That there should be a Cessation of Arms between the Two Crowns for the term of Thirty years; and that King Richard should Espouse Isabel the French Kings Daughter, than not above Eight years old. On Sunday the two Kings dined together in King Richard's Tent, and on the Monday the French King brought thither the young Lady, who was entrusted to the Tuition of the Duchess' of Lancaster and Gloucester, and other English Ladies, who conveyed her with a Glorious Retinue to Calais. And soon after the two Kings in a most amicable manner took their Leaves of each other.  
Walsingham tells us, That besides the Presents made by King Richard to the French King and his Nobles, amounting to the value of Ten thousand Marks and upwards, he spent in this Amorous Voyage above Three hundred thousand Marks. And Trussel relates, That the Duke of Gloucester was not a little offended both with the Match and the Truce, alleging, That it was more meet to be in Arms than Amity with the French, who being inferior to the English in Courage, did ever overreach them in Craft, and being too weak for War, did ofttimes prevail and get Advantages by Treaties of Peace. That the French Lady (being but a Child) was a very unfit Match for King Richard, as well by reason of the Disparity of their Years, as for that he had no Issue by his first Wife, and was not like to have any by this, unless perhaps in his old Age. But these Arguments not prevailing, the Londoners however took the Confidence to petition the King; That seeing there was Peace with France, he would Release them of the Subsidy, granted in the last Parliament, towards maintaining the Wars against that Crown. This Suit being by them so importunately followed, as much perplexed the King, until at length the Duke of Lancaster assured them, That the procuring this Peace, had spent and lost the King Three hundred thousand pounds, wherewith they were pacified, though 'tis probable not very well pleased.  
The King being returned safe into England with his Baby-Bride, though not without the loss of his Tents, and a great part of his ri●h Furniture cast away by a Tempest in crossing the Channel: The Earl of S. Paul was soon after sent by the French King to Compliment the young Queen, who having understood how earnestly Gloucester had inveighed against this French Alliance, was ('tis said) an eminent Instrument in contriving and occasioning the destruction of that Duke; advising the King, that he was too dangerous a Subject to be suffered, and that it concerned His Majesty both in Honour to revenge the Disgr●ces which he had by him formerly received, and in Policy to prevent the Dangers which he had cause to fear. Hereupon the King grows jealous of the Duke, and as that passion is restless, and apt to be fed with the slightest Imaginations, so he began to pry more narrowly into his Deportment, watch his Words, and interpret both Them and his Actions to the worst, framing to himself many vain Apprehensions and needless Disquiets.  
To which another Accident not a little contributed; viz. the King having been paid the Money lent the Duke of Britain upon Breast, Redelivered the Town, and thereupon the English Soldiers that were there in Garrison, were sent home; who at a Feast which the King kept at Westminster, coming in great numbers into the Hall: As soon as the King had Dined, the Duke of Gloucester asked him, If he observed those men that stood in such Troops in the Hall? Yes, marry (said the King) Who were they? They were (said the Duke) those Soldiers, who by your Surrendering up of Breast, are sent home, and must now either steal or starve. And so went on to tax the King of an unadvised Deed, with words much mere unadvised: Insomuch, that the King in great anger replied,— Why, Uncle! Do you think me either a Merchant, or a Fo●l, to sell my Lands? By S. John Baptist, No; but could I refuse to render the Town, when I was tendered the Money lent upon it? And certainly it shows either great weakness in the Duke, if Breast were but a Mortgage, and he did not know it; or much Injustice if knowing it, he would yet have had the King to detain it against manifest Equity. Upon th●s and the beforementioned Provocations, there was ●●dled in the King such a Displeasure against the 〈◊〉 as could never afterwards be quenched but by ●his Blood. And first he would often complain to the Dukes of Lancaster and York, of the Duke of Glocesters' perverseness in Actions and crossness in Speech; who endeavoured to excuse him, and pacify His Majesty; alleging, That their Brother indeed was more vehement than they could commend, but they durst assure His Majesty, That his Heart was dutiful and faithful; and that such his vehemency proceeded from a zealous regard lest His Majesty and his Kingdom should suffer either in Honour or Revenue, and therefore His Majesty had no cause either to fear, or be offended with him. The King herewith seemed to be satisfied; but however, the said two Dukes not knowing how far they might be involved in that Displeasure which they still perceived he retained against their Brother, thought fit, for avoiding the worst, to retire from Court, thereby giving the Duke of Glocester's Enemies the greater opportunities to incense the King against him. Nor was it long before this black swelling Cloud of Royal Indignant b●rst forth into actual Thunder. But first,  
In the Year 1397, a Parliament being summoned at London, the Duke of Lancaster caused the Issue he had before Marriage begot on Katherine Swynford to be Legitimated; and at the same time was granted to the King half a Tenth by the Clergy. S●●n after which, King Richard, contrary to the Oath he had formerly taken, recalled the Judges from Ireland, whom by his consent, the Nobles in the other Parliament had for their Demerits banished. And certain idle Reports being spread, That he was, or was like to be chosen Emperor: The King thereupon began to take upon him a greater Port and Magnificence than ever before: To maintain which, he fleeced the Common people, and borrowed almost of every body great Sums of Money; So that there was no Prelate, City, or Citizen of Estate in the whole Kingdom, but furnished the King out of their Stock.  
And now the Duke of Gloucester being retired to his House at Plashey in Essex, the King, with the Earl of Nottingham Lord Marshal, and the Earl of Huntingdon, one day on a sudden road thitherwards, but left the Earl Marshal with a selected Troop in Ambuscade in the Forest, whilst the King and his Retinue road directly to the Duke's House, who with all dutiful respect, and heartily welcome, receives and entertains them: Which Treat being over, the King desires the Duke to accompany him towards London, who with a very small Company waited on him accordingly; but being come into the Forest, on a sudden the King clapped Spurs to his Horse, and the Duke was stopped by the Earl Marshal, and by violence hurried to the Thames, there blindfolded, and against his will shipped, and carried to Calais, (than an English Garrison) where he was kept close Prisoner, till afterwards privately put to death.  
The next day the King invites the Earl of Warwick to Dinner, and showed him very good Countenance; but upon his Return caused him ●o be Arrested and sent to prison. At the same time the Ear of Arundel was apprehended, and the Lord Cobham, and Sir John Ch●ney sent to the Tower.  
These strange Proceedings Alarmed the whole Nation, therefore to quiet the people, a Proclamation is issued, setting forth that these Noblemen were seized not for any of their old Offences, but for n●w Crimes which should be discovered, and fairly proceeded against in the next Parliament. Accordingly soon after He caused them to be Indicted, suborning (saith Walsingham) Appealers to accuse them in Parliament at Nottingham, viz. The Earl of Rutland, the Earl Marshal, the Earl of Kent, etc. In the mean time the King draws out a great power of Armed-men, [Multos Malefactores, our Author calls them] from Cheshire and Wales, whom he kept about him as a Guard for his Person.  
About the Octaves of the Feast of the Virgin Maries Nativity, a Parliament began at London, whereof one Sir John Bushy was Speaker, and Sir William Bagot, and Sir Henry Green, chief Sticklers, Persons of whom the Historians give this Character, That they were Proud, Ignorant, Covetous, and withal Ambitious: To which might be added, that they were most notable Flatterers too, if it be true that Bushy in all his Speeches did not attribute to the King, Titles of Honour due and accustomed; but such as were fitter for the Majesty of Almighty God, than for any earthly Prince. By the Importunity of these men and others, all the Charters of Pardon formerly granted by the King, were called into question; the King protesting they were drawn from him against his Consent: The Clergy first gave their Opinion, but somewhat sparingly, That they thought then they might be revocable; and the Temporal Lords showed themselves of the same opinion, but the Judges and Lawyers opposed it, How it was carried according to the King's Inclination, and all the said Pardons vacated and annulled.  
Having thus removed all Obstacles, they next fall roundly to work, only the Prelates pretending a Scrupulosity, that they might not be present at Judgements of Blood, chose Sir Henry Peircy their Procurator, and departed the House. First, Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury was accused for executing the Commission against Michael de Pole, for which his Temporalities were seized, his Lands and Goods forfeited, and he himself adjudged to perpetual Banishment, and to depart the Realm within six Weeks. In whose place the King caused to be preferred his Treasurer Roger de Walden, who, because (saith our Author) he presumed to ascend to the Bed of his living Father; (that is, to take the Archbishopric whilst the said Thomas survived) was two years afterwards turned ou● by the Authority of the Pope. Sir R. Baker tells us, That when this Archbishop was first accused of Treason, he offered to make his Defence, but Sir John Bushy besought the King, That he might not be admitted to Answer, lest by his great Wit and Cunning, he might lead men away to believe him. If all their Proceedings were like this, we may easily guests at the Justice of the rest.  
In the next place, They proceeded to Judgement against the Earl of Arundel, who in vain pleaded the Benefit of his Pardon, for he was notwitstanding sentenced to be Drawn, Hanged and Quartered, which was mitigated by the King into to the favour of Beheading. The Earl when called to Answer, Condemned, and at his Death betrayed not the least symptoms either of Gild or Fear; But observing the Earls of Nottingham and Kent; (of whom the first was his Son-in-Law, the second his Nephew) to be berry busy at his Execution: He calmly said to them,— Truly it might have beseemed you at least rather to have been absent; but the time will come erelong, that as many shall marvel at your Misfortune, as they do now at mine. This Earl was wonderfully beloved by the Commons; and Walsingam affirms, That the King was afterwards haunted with an Imagination of his Ghost, not being able to close his Eyes, but straight he fancied Arundel stood before him: And the more to disturb him, a Miracle was reported, That his Head of itself was grown to his Body: Which was asserted with so much Confidence, that the King caused his Tomb to be opened, to disprove the Fiction; and understanding that still the People went on Pilgrimage thither as to the Shrine of a Saint, or Martyr, caused the Augustin Friars in London, amongst whom he was buried, to take down his Scutcheons, and abscond his Grave, by laying a new Pavement over it.  
The Lord Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick, upon his Arraignment, did not carry himself with so much Courage and Gallantry, but confessed with Tears he had been a Traitor in joining with the Duke of Gloucester, and other Lords formerly acting against the King's pleasure: Therefore though condemned to Die, the King remitted that Punishment, and only ordered him to perpetual Imprisonment in the Isle of Man. The Lord Cobham was also banished, though there was no new Matter against him: But only that he had been appointed by Parliament, to be one of the Commissioners of Inspection before mentioned, in the tenth year of his Reign.  
As for the Duke of Gloucester, having so great an Interest in the Affections of the People, it was not thought safe to bring him to a public Trial, but concluded with more Policy than Justice, to put him to death secretly, without either Conviction or Examination: And therefore being a close Prisoner as aforesaid at Calais, he was by certain Ruffians ordered thereunto by Nottingam Earl Marshal, suddenly one Night strangled or stifled to death between two Feather Beds. Thus fell this Great, and (for aught we find in Writers of those times) Good Prince, the Son of One, and Uncle of another King, and so beloved of the People, that with him (saith Walsingham) the general Hope and Comfort of the Commonalty of the Land expired.  
And now the King caused the Parliament to be Ajourned till after Christmas, and then to sit again at Shrewsbury.  
Where in the beginning of the Year 1398, they met accordingly; and the King by the Interest he had made amongst them, caused not only all the Proceedings of the Parliament in the Tenth Year of his Reign, to be Condemned and Annulled; But also obtained a Concession from them, That after the present Parliament should break up, It's whole Power should yet be Conferred upon and remain in certain Persons by them particularly named, or any Seven or Eight of them. Who by virtue of such Power granted, did afterwards proceed to Act and determine many things concerning the Public State of the Nation, and properly the Work of a Parliament, to the great prejudice of the Realm.  
And to six himself more firm with Friends, or Illustrate his Triumphs over those he thought his Enemies: The King about this time was most liberal in Conferring of Honours, Creating no less than Five new Dukes, of whom one was the Earl of Derby, made Duke of Hereford; and an other the Earl of Nottingham, (probably for his good Service in dispatching the Duke of Gloucester) raised to the Title of Duke of Norfolk; One Duchess, One Marquis, and Four Earls: Amongst whom he made a Distribution of a great part of the Lands of the Duke of Gloucester, and of the Earls of Arundel and Warwick; imagining by this double Bounty of Honour and Estate to support it, to have tied them with a double Obligation of Duty and Affection: Not considering that hired Friends for the most part are seldom either satisfied or sure; but rather like some Ravens that Naturalists tell of in Arabia, which being full-gorged, have very sweet tuneable Notes; but empty, scriech most horribly.  
Furthermore, to gratify the Cheshire-men, who had chiefly assisted him and his late Favourites, he qualified that County with the Name▪ and Dignity of a Principality, and added to the rest of his own Titles, that of Prince of Chester.  
A General Pardon was also granted for all Offences to all the King's Subjects, but clogged with a strange Clause of Exception, exempting Fifty Persons in number, from the Benefit thereof, whose Names were not expressed, but left to the Kings own knowledge and pleasure; to the end, that if any of the Nobility should happen any way to displease, he might nominate him or them to be of the Number excepted, and so still keep them within his danger. By which Reservation the General Pardon became no Pardon at all, since no man in England could assure himself that he was included in it.  
Lastly, To Corroborate and add the greater esteem to the Acts and Proceedings of this Parliament, King Richard purchased the Pope's Bulls containing grievous Censures and Curses on all that should presume to break or oppose them: Which were solemnly published at Paul's Cross, and other places throughout England.  
All things succeeding thus suitable to the King's pleasure; the Heads of the Party that opposed his Will, having lost their Heads: the Nobles afraid, and the Commons unable to express their Resentments, any otherwise than in Sighs, or whispered Murmurs and Complaints: His Officers of State, His Laws, nay His very Parliament, all modelled to His Designs, He could not but sing Requiems to His Soul, and look upon himself in a Condition altogether happy and secure. When yet to show that there is still an overruling Providence that can blast all Projects, though never so subtly laid, if not sounded on Equity, and carried on with Justice: A Monarch Paramount, who confoundeth the Councils of Princes, and is terrible to the Kings of the Earth; when once they become disobedient unto, and forgetful of him: Behold on a sudden, all his Affairs by unexpected Means and unlikely Instruments, are embroiled more than ever, and this great Prince left so destitute of Power, or Friends, as to be forced, without striking one stroke, to surrender his Crown; and (which was yet more grievous to a generous Mind) acknowledge himself both unworthy and unfit to wear it any longer.  
This Wonderful Catastrophe has since been thought to have been fore-shewn by some prodigious Tokens, that happened about this time: As that in this Year 1398, when almost throughout all England, all the Bay-trees withered, and afterwards beyond all expectation, grew green again. And another perhaps more remarkable, on New-Years Day following, When a very deep River running between the Villages of Suelleston and Ha●●wod near Bedford, on a sudden stopped its Course, and divided itself, so as that for three Miles space the Channel remained dry.  
But waving such uncertain Presages, if we consider the several Steps that led to this grand Mutation: The first both in order of time, and Influence, may be reckoned that of the Banishment of the Duke of Hereford, Son of the Duke of Lancaster: This was occasioned by means of a Quarrel between Him and Mowbray Duke of Norfolk, but what the grounds were of that Quarrel, is somewhat differently reported by Authors, for though all agree, 'twas about certain words spoken to the King's dishonour, yet of what nature those words were, is not so certainly related. But the best, that is, most probable account thereof, that I can meet with, is as follows.  
The Duke of Hereford, either disdaining the undeserved Favours and Advancement of some Persons about the King, or disliking that his Sovereign should be abused, and his Country oppressed by such ill Instruments; or perhaps to show his owm skill and sufficiency in the Art of Government, happened one day in familiar Conference with the Duke of Norfolk; to complain, that the King too much undervalved the Princes of the Blood, and much discouraged the rest of the Ancient Nobility from intermeddling in Public Affairs: That instead of using their able Advice and Service, He was engrossed by a few Upstart Favourites of base Birth, and base Qualities; having no sufficiency either for Council in Peace, or Courage in War: And whose dishonest Conditions had deservedly contracted an Odium and Contempt of the whole Realm; whereby the Honour of the King's Person was much obscured, the safety of his Estate endangered, and the Dignity of the English Nation not a little impaired: And that it was high time, that the King should provide some Redress herein. And all this ●e protested he mentioned not out of a Picque to ary particular person, but out of Compassion for so public Grievance, and zealous Duty to his Sovereign. And therefore desired the said Duke, that he being one of the King's Cabinet-Council, would be pleased to discover unto His Majesty, these Enormities and Dangers, that by removing the One, he might happily prevent the Other.  
To these, or some such discourses, the Duke of Norfolk seemed much to adhere, assuring Hereford, that in these Apprehensions he had but Copied his own Thoughts, and seemed not only to approve of what he said, but promised to improve his Interest towards a Regulation of the Matters Complained of. And perhaps had the words been afterwards by him but as faithfully related, and by the King as candidly taken, as they were freely and 〈◊〉 intended, many Mischiefs might have been avoided. But on the contrary, they were maliciously misrecited, and much misconstrued: For the Duke of Norfolk had formerly sided with the Lords, yet it seems Preferment had taken him off, and he was now become wholly addicted to humour the King: And therefore to s●rue himself yet further into favour, acquaints him with these Complaints of the Duke of Hereford, but so exaggreated, and intermixed with reflective Additions, that the King was highly incensed, and calling Hereford before him, charged him therewith, who denying a great part thereof, and N●rfolk as stoutly asserting it, the former challenged the latter to the Combat, who readily accepted thereof, which at last the King allows, assigning Coventry the place, and August following for the time of decision.  
And though it be not much material to our History, yet to gratify the vulgar Readers Curiosity, it will perhaps be no unwelcome digression, to relate the Formality of the intended Duel, between these two Puissant Peers. On the day therefore appointed, each of them attended with a splendid and numerous Retinue, appears: The Duke of Albem●rl● was pro Tempore, made High Constable; and the Duke of Surry, High Marshal: who came to the Lists Honourably attended with Rich Liveries; suitable to their greatness, each of their Servants carrying Tipstaffs for clearing the Field. Where, first the Duke of Hereford as Challenger, mounted on a White Courser, in Caparisons of Green and Blue Velvet, Embroidered thick with Swans and Antilopes, armed Cap-a-pe, with his Sword drawn, approached the Lists: of whom the Marshal demanding who he was! received this Answer,— I am Henry of Lancaster, Duke of Hereford, that am come hither to do my Devoir, against Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk: as a false Traitor to God, the King, the Realm, and me. And then taking his Oath, that his Qurrel was true and just, desired liberty to enter the Lists, which being granted, he put up his Sword, pulled down his Beaver, signed himself on the Forehead with the Cross, took his Spear, and passing the Barriers, dismounted, and sat down in a Chair of Green Velvet, placed in a Travers of Green and Blue Velvet, at one end of the Lists.  
Then King Richard enters the Field with great Pomp, accompanied with the Earl of S. Paul, who came out of France on purpose to be a Spectator of the Combat, and attended with most of the Nobles of England, and a Guard of Ten Thousand men in Arms, to prevent any sudden Tumult, or disorders. His Majesty being seated in a Chair of State: one of the Kings at Arms made Proclamation, That none but such as were appointed to Marshal the Field, should touch any part of the Lists, upon pain of Death. Which ended, another Herald cryeth,— Behold, here Henry of Lancaster, Duke of Hereford Appellant, who is entered into the Royal Lists, to do his devoir against Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk: upon pain of being counted false and Recreant.  
Immediately upon this, appeared the Duke of Norfolk bravely mounted, his Horse barbed with Crimson-velvet, embroidered with Lions of Silver, and Mulberry Trees proper, and having taken a like Oath before the Constable and Marshal, that his Quarrel was Right and Just, entered the Field; crying aloud, God aid the Right; and then lighted from his Horse, placing himself in a Chair of Crimson Velvet opposite to Hereford, at the other end of the Lists, the Marshal viewed their Spears, to see that they were of equal length, and carried the one himself to the Duke of Hereford, and sent the other by a Knight, to the Duke of Norfolk. This done, Proclamation was made, to mount, and address themselves to the Combat. Upon which the Dukes instantly mount their Horses, closed their Beavers, casting their Spears into their Rest, when the Trumpet sounded, and the Duke of Hereford put his Horse forward, but before Norfolk stirred, the King cast down his Warder, and the Heralds cried, stay! stay! Then the King causing the Spears to be taken from them, they returned to their Chairs, whilst he retired to Council, to debate what was fit to be done in so weighty a cause: where after two Hours debate, their doom was agreed upon without fight, and one Sir John Bouray, by the King's Command, after silence proclaimed, read their Sentence, which was thus: That forasmuch as the Duke's Appellant, and Defendant, had honourably appeared in the List Royal, and were not only ready but forward to entertain the Combat, therefore it being an Affair of great consequence, for avoiding the Effusion of Christian Blood, the King by the advice of his Council had decreed: That Henry Duke of Hereford, should within 15 days depart the Realm; not to return within the space of Ten Years, on pain of Death: without the King's special Licence; and after a Second Proclamation, Sentence of Banishment was also read against the Duke of Norfolk, but with these several aggravations. First that the same was for Life; Secondly, that the Cause thereof was expressed to be, for having urtered Seditious words, whereof he could not produce any proof; And Thirdly, it was added as part of his further punishment, That the ●ing should receive the Revenues of his Lands until he were satisfied, all such Sums of Money, as the said Duke had taken out of the King's Coffers, on pretence of paying the Garrison of Calais.  
And further it was proclaimed, That no person from thenceforth should presume to Petition, or Intercede with the King, in the behalf of either of these Dukes, to alter this sentence, on pain of his Majesty's high displeasure: which being so declared, the King called them both before him, and took of them a Solemn Oath, That they should never Converse together beyond the Seas, nor willingly come into each other's Company.  
The Duke of Norfolk soon after, in great grief and trouble of mind, departed into Germany, and from thence to Venice, where in a short time he died with sorrow, leaving this cautionary Lesson to all Courtiers, That greatness abused by whispering untruths, draweth, if discovered, certainty of destruction. And observable it is, that his Banishment was pronounced on the very day Twelve Month, on which the Duke of Gloucester, had by his order been Murdered at Calais, so just is the Divine Nemesis: not only in revenging ill actions, but causing the punishment to be attended with such circumstances as may make the world take notice of it.  
The Duke of Hereford took his leave of the King, at Eltham, behaving himself so respectfully, that his Majesty was there pleased to declare, he would abate 4 Years of his Exilement: yet could not that pacify the Murmurs of the people, who could not be persuaded that there was any cause for his being Banished at all. Exclaiming that it was against the Law of Arms, the custom of the Realm, and all Justice; that he should be Exiled, who had so honourably offered to mantain his Appeal according to the Law of the Field. He directed his course from England to Paris, where he was nobly received by the French King, and found such favour in that Court: That he was offered in Marriage, the only Daughter of the Duke of Berry: the said King's Uncle. But King Richard having notice thereof, used means to stop the prosecution of that Treaty.  
He had not been gone many Months, but his Father, the Duke of Lancaster, pays Nature her Debt; his Death perhaps being hastened by those Impressions of grief, which this disgrace of his Son might occasion on his Spirits. The Character given this Duke by Historians, speaks him a man well advised and wary, an approver of safe Councils with reason, rather than Fortunate Exploits with hazard: One that was neither negligent, nor ambitiously tender of Glory, and therefore deported himself towards the King his Nephew, in terms honourable and respective enough for a moderate Prince, and yet not so plausible as an uncollected greatness, and the depravity of the Court might desire, whereby little happened unto him Extraordinary: either in Prejudice or Preferment.  
By his Death, the Duchy of Lancaster, did lineally descend to his Eldest Son, the said Duke of Hereford. But (as the Nature of Man is very Prone to hate those whom he hath injured) the King forthwith seizes all the Lands and Goods of the deceased Duke, endeavoured to perpetuate the Banishment of the Young Duke, and revoked the Letters Patent he had granted and consented unto, for enabling the said Duke's Attorneys to sue out his Ouster Le Main and Livery of those Lands, which during his Exile, should descend to him, his Homage being formerly concluded upon to be Respited at a reasonable Fine. And all this without any Crime alleged (that we can hear of) against the Father, whereby he should have forfeited his Estate: or new Provocation given by the Son, whereby a Cloud might arise for his being deprived of it.  
This severity could not but enrage the Duke, who was already sufficiently discontented at his Banishment, nor were the People sparing to Exclaim (where they durst) against these proceedings as unjust, and thence to contract, first, a Pity, and afterwards an high esteem for this Exiled Nobleman, who though not the Immediate Heir presumptive to the Crown, (for Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, was therein before him, the Right having by Parliament (the common Arbitrator in that case in those days,) been formerly declared to be in his Father, as being Son of Phillipa, the Daughter of Lionel, the Third Son of King Edward the Third, whereas, the late Duke of Lancaster, was but the Fourth Son of that King.) Yet being so near it, and thus exasperated, they thought he might step over that Obstacle. Si jus violandum Regni causâ violandum est. They knew him to be an active Prince, and of great Courage; and therefore generally fixed their Eyes on him, as the man that must be their deliverer from those grievances and pressures, under which they lay gasping. And indeed their condition could not but be very uneasy, for the King having got rid of two of his Uncles, viz. Gloucester and Lancaster, (one murdered, the other naturally deceased) and the Third, which was York, either in disdain for the Indignity offered to his Nephew Hereford, or in distrust of his own safety, being retired with his Son, the Duke of Albemarle, to his House at Langley, looked upon himself as absolutely Horse de Page, free from any Control, with which their unwelcome gravity was wont sometimes to check his irregular Appetite; and therefore now took a greater Liberty than before, to disoblige and harass his People. For thus we find the condition of those times described.  
That the King abandoned himself to sloth, and lay plunged in the soft, but destructive Charms of pleasure; by whose example the Nobility too much gave themselves up to Ease and Luxury; whereby Cowardice and Effeminacy crept in, and Shipwreck was made both of Manhood and Reputation. The chief Affairs of State had long been Biased by private respects, which made the Nation decline as well in Riches as Honour: and all things being out of due Motion, the Common-weal seemed not so much by degrees, as with a main Course, and at once precipating into inevitable Ruin. The Northern parts by frequent losses, almost consumed by the Scots, who had taken several important Posts, and defaced all the Country with Slaughter, and Devastations Towards the South, the Merchant Ships were daily surprised by the French, who likewise frequently pillaged the Seacoasts: And of the King's Hereditary Dominions in France, many strong holds were lost by negligence, or sold by ill advise and Treachery. Forces sometimes were often pretended to be sent over for their defence, but so scatteringly, at such unseasonable times, so ill accommodated, or under such indiscreet conduct, that they were occasions rather of loss, than help. Affairs were managed by such as neither Nature had designed, nor Education prepared, nor Experience qualified for Politicians; but corrupt or ignorant Ministers by flatteries and base Arts swayed in the King's affections, and disposed of all things at their pleasure, keeping him as it were besieged from any better advise. The profits and revenues of the Crown; nay, the whole Kingdom was let to farm, the King making himself only ● Landlord, and challenging no greater privilege by his Reign, than a dissolute and uncontroled Life. Great Sums of Money, were by newfound and unwonted means every day rather extorted from, than voluntarily granted by the subject, whereof no advantage accrued to the Kingdom, only private pleasures were maintained at an extravagant Rate, and unworthy Favourites advanced. To these, the King was so excessively Liberal, that he was forced to borrow, beg, and extort in many places, to supply this vain lavish humour, undoing many without cause, to Enrich a few without desert. Over and above the Tenths, and Fifteenths, and such usual Taxes, which were many times gathered double in one Year, strange Impositions were devised and put in practice, sometimes exacting 12d. per poll, of every Subject, 6s. 8ds. of every Priest, and Religious Person: great Sums drawn from the People under the favourable Term of Benevolence, and so much borrowed upon Privy-Seals, that no Man of Ability could escape his Loan, though very seldom any repayment was made.  
And to add to all former burdens this present Year, 1399. He charged 17 whole Counties with taking part against him heretofore with the Duke of Gloucester, and the rest of the Lords, and threatened with Armed force, to spoil and destroy them as public Enemies. And having thus affrighted them, sent certain Commissioners, Bishops, and Lords Temporal, to all the said several Shires, to let them know his heavy displeasue: And that without due acknowledgement of the Offence, and Submission to his mercy, he could not receive them into his Grace and Favour: whereby they were prevailed upon, to own themselves Traitors under their Hands and Seals. Which was no sooner obtained, but they were compelled to pay insupportable Sums of Money, for the Redemption of their Lives and Estates, and procuring their Peace, whereby they were all so impoverished, that few were able to subsist, none at present to resist. And yet further to make Conscience itself accessary to slavery: New Oaths were imposed, not warranted by any Law, and the People constrained to Seal Blank Charters, and Obligations, and deliver them to the King's use, wherein whatsoever he pleased might afterwads be inserted.  
The King bearing so heavy an hand over his People, 'tis no wonder if they bear an hard Heart towards him; who being shallow in Judgement, and not able to cover his Vices, but with a Cloak of seeming terrible and powerful, became first hated, and afterwards contemptible, and drove many of his Subjects to an Inclination to Revolt, as resolved rather to run the hazard of a speedy ruin by Rebellion, than to perish by such a lingering Death of slavery.  
In order hereunto, there had been some overtures very privately made by Letters to the Duke of Hereford, importuning his speedy return into England: remonstrating, that as well for the public good of the Realm, as for their own particular safeties they should be forced to use force for their deliverance from these intolerable oppressions, and therefore soliciting him to be pleased, but to make the Head, and they would furnish the Body, with an able Army, and not only help him in bare wishes and advice, but would join Hearts and Hands to adventure their Lives and Fortunes in his Quarrel, which was also their own, so that the danger should be common to all, the Glory only his.  
The Duke entertained these Addresses with great wariness, and such moderation: that he seemed rather worthy of a Kingdom, than desirous of it. But to Whet him to an Edge, and settle his Resolutions for the Enterprise, there wanted not an apt and politic Instrument. This was Thomas Arundel, late Archbishop of Canterbury, who being with the other Bishops in the Parliament, when his Brother the Earl of Arundel, together with the Earl of Warwick, etc. were called into question, because Clergymen by the Canons are commanded, not to be present at any Judgement of Blood: He and the rest of that Order, departed the House. Upon which occasion being absent, not only his Brother was condemned for high Treason, and Executed, as you have heard, but he himself Banished the Realm, his goods seized as forfeit, and his Archbishopric conferred on another. This Prelate after this Disaster, did with divers of his Confederates, by several ways, and in strange disguises, come to Paris, and in the House of one Clomigey, where the Duke had taken Lodgings, had frequent Conferences with his Grace touching the Affairs of England; Their debates you may Imagine, were managed with the strictest secrecy. And I have always been of Opinion, that it better becomes a Romance, than a serious History, for the Author to forge set Speeches on such occasions: wherein, though he may please, he does but deceive the Reader, for how suitable soever he may contrive them, yet 'tis forty to one but the parties themselves, might make use of very different Topics; Without guessing therefore at their word, let it suffice to say, their Consultations terminated in a Result, that the Duke should adventure himself over into England, and try his Fortune, upon the first convenient opportunity; Which soon presented itself the most invitingly that could be imagined.  
The Earl of March, appointed by the King to be his Lieutenant in Ireland, exposing his person too adventurously, was slain by the Wild Irish, which so exasperated King Richard, that he resolved in person to revenge his Death. In order to which he raised a great Army, but not without grievous Charge to his Subjects, and about Whitsuntide, set forwards, accompanied with the Dukes of Albemarle, and Exeter, divers of the Nobles, and many Mitred Prelates, amongst whom, was the Abbot of Westminster, a chief Favourite; and taking with him, not only the Sons of the Duke of Gloucester, and Hereford, (whom he pretended to instruct by that expedition in the Rudiments of War: but indeed secured them as Hostages, to prevent any attempts, that might be made in his Absence by their Relations, of whom he was most apprehensive.) But also all his Treasure, Jewels, Plate, and Royal Robes: as if he had designed, (as in the event it effectually proved) to have taken a final leave of his Kingdom, and Dignity here in Enland.  
Besides these general discontents of the People, occasioned by the former ill-conduct, and oppressions of Corrupt Ministers of state, he just upon his departure, stumbled upon another Error in Politics; for being at Bristol, it was suggested to him; That Henry Piercy, Earl of Northumberland, with others his Partisans, intended some disloyal attempt, and therefore did not tender their service in this Expedition: whereupon by a pursuivant, he commanded the said Earl with all the Forces he could raise forthwith to repair to him: whereunto, the Earl by a Letter returned an excuse, instead of Compliance, entreating his Majesty to consider, how little necessary it would be for the Irish Service, and indeed dangerous to the whole Realm, to draw men from such remote places, in regard those Rebels were neither so many, nor so mighty, but that the King had already sufficient Forces, to reduce them to Obedience; and to disfurnish the Northern parts of their strength, would but give an opportunity to the Scots, to Invade us. And therefore begged his Majesty, that he would be pleased in such a juncture, to Excuse him from attending. This Answer the King interprets as an Affront, to his Authority, and in an unadvised Heat, proclaims the Earl, and all that should take his part, Traitors: and orders all their Lands, and Goods to be seized to his Use. The Earl resenting this disgrace, and forced (as it were by necessity) does then in earnest make good the Original Information, by standing upon his Guard: or rather in a posture of open Hostility.  
In the mean time the King pursues his voyage for Ireland, whose Arrival Fortune courted with some treacherous smiles; for the petty Irish Kings terrified with the Fame of his Power, and not daring to trust each other in a joint Defence, endeavoured rather singly to make each one the best Bargain for himself, by being the first that should submit to the disproportionate force of the Invader. But these Triumphs cost King Richard dear in the sequel; for whilst he is thus engaged, and absent from his discontented Kingdom of England, the Duke of Lancaster thinks it the only proper time to put in execution what he and others his Confederates had been consulting of: Wherefore dispatching some of his trusty Emissaries over to acquaint his Friends, and provide Arms and all necessaries for his Arrival; He addresses himself to the French King with a Compliment, That he intended to pay a Visit to his Kinsman John Duke of Britain, and therefore desired his Majesty's Royal Letters of safe Conduct; which being granted, he there very privately levied a few Soldiers, with whom, hiring three Ships of the Duke of Britain, he put to Sea for England, accompanied with the forementioned Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury, Tho. Heir to Richard late Earl of Arundel, the Lord Cobham, Sir Thomas Erpington, and Sir Thomas Ramstone Knights, John Norbury, Robert Warerton, and Francis Coynt Esquires, having not in all above twenty Lances, and his whole Retinue besides consisting not of above sixty persons; so that 'tis hard to judge which was the greatest wonder, that he durst attempt, or that he did succeed in the Conquest of a Kingdom, with so inconsiderable a Company. But his Confidence was not so much in the People he brought with him, as in the strength he should find here, relying altogether on the favour and assistance of the people of the Realm, whom he knew to be generally male-contented, and eager to change their present Governors for any that would but promise them a Melioration of their Condition for the future.  
Yet being wary not to push things on beyond Possibility of a Retreat; As he did not presently Land, but lay cruising up and down, sometimes appearing on one Coast, and sometimes on another; that he might the better discover how the Inclinations of the people stood, and what Forces were ready either to receive or resist him, till at last being satisfied therein, he put on shore without any opposition about the biginning of June, at Ravenspurre in Yorkshire; So did he not then make any pretensions to the Crown, but gave out very solemnly, that he came only to regain possession of the Duchy of Lancaster, and the rest of his lawful Inheritance, which all the Nation knew was wrongfully detained from him, and so were the more ready to pity and favour him in a Cause notoriously just, and against which there was no objection.  
His Arrival was no sooner known, but there repaired to him the Lords, Willoughby, Ross, Darcy, and Beaumout, and shorly after at Doncaster, the Earl of Northumberland, and his Son Sir Henry Piercy, with the Earl of Westmoreland, and great numbers of the Gentry and common people.  
Intelligence hereof being soon conveied to the Duke of York, the King's eldest Uncle, and with whom during his absence he had entrusted the Governance of the Realm: He calls together the Bishop of Chichester Lord Chancellor, Scroop Earl of Wiltshire Lord Treasurer, Sir John Bushy, Sir Henry Green, Sir William Bagot, and Sir John Russel, chief Favourites of the King's Privy Council, to consult what was to be done in this Exigency of Affairs. Amongst whom, whether designedly by some, or ignorantly by others, I cannot say; but I am sure by all perniciously for King Richard's Interest; It was concluded to abandon London, and appoint the Rendezvous for levying Forces against the Duke at S. Alban. But when the people out of sundry Counties were drawn thither to be mustered, they declared, They would not act any thing to the prejudice of the said Duke, who they affirmed was unjustly expelled his Country, and unlawfully kept from his Inheritance.  
This Refusal of the Commons to serve, being looked upon as a very ill Omen to the King's Cause; The Earl of Wiltshire, Sir John Bushy, Sir William Bagot, and Sir Henry Green, forsook the Duke of York, and fled to Bristol, intending to pass the Seas into Ireland to the King: And time it was, (especially for them) to take their Heels, for these Four were those that were said to have taken of the King his Kingdom to Farm, and on that account and other Greivances and Oppressions, which they had occasioned, were become so odious to the People, that their very presence turned away many of the Subject's hearts from their Sovereign, it being the displeasure against them, rather than any disatisfaction to the King's Person, that caused this general Revolt. The Duke of York seeing their flight, and the Humour of the Generality favouring Lancaster, and loath to run the adventure of an improbable Resistance, gave over the Cause, and thereupou the rest of the Counsellors either openly declared for the said Duke, or secretly held Correspondence with him, resolving to swim with the general Torrent, in hopes of greater safety thereby, than by stemming that impetuous Tide which bore down all before it.  
For never did Snowball increase so fast by rolling, as the Duke of Lancaster's Forces were augmented by his March, so that they were quickly grown sixty thousand strong, and he resolving to ●ollow the Channel whilst the Current was fierce, hastened with his Troops to London, that possessing himself thereof, being the chief place within the Kingdom for Strength and Store, he might best there make the Seat of War, and be easiest accommodated both with Provision and Ammunition In his whole March no Opposition was seen, no Hostility shown, but all along Gentlemen of the best quality out of Affection or Fear, or hope of Reward resorted to his Tents; and where ever he stayed rich Presents were mad him, and his Army supplied with necessaries even to superfluity, and particularly at London he was received with Triumphant Pageants and Shows, solemn Processions of the Clergy, and loud Acclamations of the People.  
But he was more regardful of his Affairs than to stay long there, and therefore having fixed the Citizens firm to his Interest, and knowing all the danger that could threaten him, must be from King Richard's return out of Ireland. To obviate that, and overtake the fugitive Favourites, who were fled to Bristol, he with speedy Marches pursued them thither: where finding the Castle fortified against him, he assaults it so briskly, that in Four day's time he forced it to a surrender, and taking therein the Earl of Wiltshire Lord Treasurer, Sir John Bushy, and Sir Henry Green, he the very next day Sacrificed them to the importunate rage of the incensed People, causing them all Three to be beheaded. But as for Sir William Bagot, he was got to Chester, and from thence shifting over into Ireland, alone, escaped the present vengeance; This Execution, if it had not been just, must yet be accounted Politic; for partly because it was so grateful to the People, and partly because it excluded all hope of the Kings Pardon; It became a great engagement to all the Duke's followers, to adhere more firmly to him for the future.  
The Duke had now been Six Weeks in England, and the whole Land in effect had submitted to him; during all which time, there was no news of King Richard, whether it were that by reason of contrary Winds he had no Intelligence, as some write; or that on the first advice, he slighted it, according to the Humour of some weak Spirits; who contemn dangers remote, but are astonished at them, when they approach too nigh; However, at last upon certain news, in what an hazardous condition his affairs stood, he caused the Sons of the Dukes of Gloucester, and Lancaster, to be imprisoned in Trim Castle, and determined forthwith for England; but the Duke of Aumerle his Principal Counsellor, persuaded him to stay till all his preparations were ready: Which fatal Council it was King Richard's ill Destiny to follow, yet presently sent over the Earl of Salisbury to raise him an Army in Wales and Cheshire against his own coming, which he solemnly promised should be within six days at furthest. The Earl employed his pains so well that he had soon gotten together Forty thousand men; but the six days and more being elapsed, and the King not appearing, made them murmur and suspect he was dead, or come to some disaster: but the Earl persuaded them to have patience some few days longer, which being likewise expired, and no tidings of him, they then in discontent broke up and retired to their respective homes.  
At length, eighteen days after he had sent away the Earl, the King took Shipping attended with Aumerl, Exeter, Surry, the Bishop of London, Exeter, and Carlisle, and others of the Nobility, and landed in Wales, having about him a Competent number of Cheshire men: But when he understood that the other Forces he expected to join with him were balked and disbanded: that most of his Fortresses from Scotland to Bristol, had surrendered to Lancaster; that the Londoners espoused his Interest; that the greatest number of the Nobility and Commons almost in general took part with him; and especially that his principal Councillors had lost their Heads at Bristol, he was so far from retaining the Magnanimity of a King, that he almost left off to be a Man, and totally abandoned himself to despair. Perplexed in uncertainties, either where to stay, or whither to stir, destitute both of Knowledge and Resolution in himself for such amazing Difficulties, and obnoxious to weak, wavering, and unfaithful Counsels from others; some advised him to march further into the Land, before those Forces he had fell from him, alleging that Fortune seconds Valour: That in all places he should find some, who out of duty or affection, or for hire, would follow his Standard, which was illustrated with Majesty, and guarded with Right: Others persuaded him to go back into Ireland, or over to his Father-in-law of France, and thence to return when the Paroxysm was a little over, and himself better strengthened. But the King unacquainted with Marshal Affairs, rejected both Counsels, and taking a middle course (which always in Extremes of that kind is the worst) resolved to stay in Wales to attend to what Head this Humour would rise.  
His Soldiers Endeavourd to encourage him to venture a Battle, vowing they would live and die with him; but this could not at all raise his drooping Spirits, but in the Night he stole away from his Army, and with the Dukes of Exeter and Surry, The Bishop of Carlisle, Sir Stephen Scroop, and half a score more, retired to the Castle of Conway, where the Earl of Worcester Steward of His Majesty's Household, seeing his Master's Affairs in that desperate state, or to revenge the Proclaiming of his Brother the Earl of Northumberland Traitor (as before was mentioned at the Kings going for Ireland) did openly in the Hall before all the King's Servants break his white Staff of Office, and forthwith repaired to the Duke of Lancaster; and the rest of the Royal Retinue by his Example scattered and shifted every one for himself. Such Court-flies and treacherous Attendants being but like Crows to a dead Carcase, who flock to it, not to defend it, but to devour it; for no sooner have they picked off the flesh to the bones, and find no more sustenance, but they are upon the wing to be gone.  
The Duke of Lancaster upon Advice of King Richard's Arrival out of Ireland, left the Duke of York (who was now joined with him) at Bristol, and marched in the Head of his Troops to Gloucester, then to Ross, afterwards to Hereford, (where repaired to him the Bishop of that See, and Sir Edmund Mortimer) on the Sunday following he went to Leymster, and there the Lord Carleton came to him, from thence he went to Ludlow, and the next day to Shrewsbury, and thither came to him Sir Robert and Sir John Leigh, and other persons of quality, being sent from Chester to offer him their Service; as also the Lord Scales and the Lord Bardolph out of Ireland.  
From Shrewsbury he repaired to Chester, where he dispatched an Express into Ireland, to fetch over his Son and Heir, and likewise the Duke of Glocester's Son and Heir; both whom King Richard had left in Custody there: but it seems their Keepers durst no longer detain them after Lancaster commanded them thence, for his Son soon after arrived here, but the other young Gentleman was unfortunately cast away at Sea.  
About this time, the King seeing himself so beset and straitened, that he could neither Resist, nor Escape, desired a Conference with the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Earl of Northumberland, from whose Negotiation he could certainly hope for little good, since the one he had formerly banished, and proclaimed the other a Traitor; however they upon safe Conduct coming to him, declared, That if it might please his Majesty to promise that a Parliament should be Assembled, and in the same Justice done, and the Duke of Lancaster and his followers receive a General Pardon, since what they had done was for the public Weal of the Realm; the Duke would be ready to cast himself at his feet, and as an humble Subject obey him in all dutiful Services. But the King whether perceiving that all this was but Compliment, and thinking more to oblige them by an early Voluntary offer of what he saw he must be forced to part with; or whether confounded in himself he grew weary of wearing a Crown, that he was not able to support; required only that himself and eight more whom he would name, might have an honourable Allowance, with Assurance of a private quiet Life, and then he would Resign the Crown; which was readily condescended unto, and the King also desiring to speak with the Duke, was removed to Flint Castle.  
Soon after the Duke arriving there with his Army, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Duke of Aumerle, and the Earl of Worcester, were sent before to the King, who spying them from the Walls where he stood, went down to meet them, and observing that they did their accustomed Reverence to him upon their knees, courteously took them up, and had some private discourse with the Archbishop.  
After a small space, the Duke of Lancaster himself all Armed, approached the Castle, and being within the first Gate, he there reposed himself, till the King attended with the Bishop of Carlisle, the Earl of Salisbury, and Sir Stephen Scroop, who bore the Sword before him, came forth and sat down in a place prepared for him. As soon as the Duke saw his Majesty, he came toward him bowing his Knee, and advancing forward, did so a second, and a third time, and then the King took him by the hand and lift him up, saying,— Dear Cousin, thou art welcome; the Duke humbly thanking him, answered,— My Sovereign Lord and King, the Cause of my coming at this present is (your Honour saved) to have Restitution of my Person, my Land and Inheritance. To which the King replied,— Dear Cousin, I am ready to accomplish your will, so that you may enjoy all that is yours without exception. After this coming forth of the Castle, the King called for Wine, and having drank, they mounted and rod to Chester, and so by several Stages, he was carried directly and with great Expedition to London, and lodged on pretence of State, but in truth for better security, in the Tower; having not in all that Journey changed his Apparel, but wore only one Suit, and that but an ordinary one, whereas he was wont to be extraordinary profuse in his clothes, having one Coat valued at Thirty thousand Marks.  
The King yielded himself the Thirtieth day of August, being but the Seven and fortieth day after the Duke's Arrival in England, so that he might well assume Caesar's Motto, Veni, Vidi, Vici: For considering his Marches from Holderness in the North up to London, and from thence to Bristol, and so into Wales, and back again to Chester; a man can scarce travel over so much ground in the space that he Conquered it: Nay so indulgent was Fortune to him, that all the King's Jewels and Treasure (amounting as a late Author asserts, to Seven hundred thousand pounds) with his Horses and Baggage fell into his hands.  
The King being thus safely lodged in the Tower, the Duke of Lancaster (but in King Richard's Name) caused Writs to be issued forth for summoning and choosing a Parliament to be held at Westminster on the last day of September following. And in the mean time consults with his nearest Kindred and Friends how to steer his Proceedings, so as to bring his Affairs by prudence to a lucky end, which had hitherto even beyond his hopes been favoured by Fortune. In order to which, the Duke of York, who but a little before had been Governor of the Realm for the King, but now his the said Lancaster's great Director, must be his best Oracle, who after divers Debates proposed it as very expedient, that King Richard should both voluntarily Resign, and also be solemnly Deposed by the Estates of the Realm; For otherwise Resignation would be imputed only to his Fear: and Deprivation only to their Force, whereof the one is always apt to move Pity, and the other stir up Envy: But if both concur, and his desire be combined with his deserts, being willing to forsake that which he is adjudged worthy to forfeit, than it will appear that he is neither expelled his Kingdom by mere Constraint, nor leave it without just Cause.  
This Advice was generally approved, and accordingly pursued; a Solemn Renunciation being tendered unto the King, and by him Signed on Michaelmas Day then next following, being the day before the Parliament was to meet. The Words Order, and Ceremony whereof, and of the Articles exhibited against Him, and his Deposition thereupon following in Parliament, appear in the Records thereof remaining in the Tower, Authentic and Attested Copies wherefore are Printed in the Book, Entitled, Historiae Anglicanae scriptores decem; beginning Col. 2743. From whence the same are word for word Translated, as follow.  

The Roll of Parliament Summoned and Holden at Westminster, in the Feast of S. Fide the Virgin, in the first year of the Reign of King Henry the Fourth, after the Conquest, Membrane the 20th.  
The Record and Process of the Renunciation of King Richard the Second, after the Conquest, and likewise the Acceptance of the same Renunciation, with the Deposition of the same King Richard afterwards ensuing.  
BE it remembered, that on Monday the Feast of S. Michael the Archangel, in the Three and twentieth year of the Reign of King Richard the Second, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and other Persons of note; that is to say, the Lord Richard le Scroop Archbishop of York, John bishop of Hereford, Henry Earl of Northumberland, and Ralph Earl of Westmor land; the Lord Hugh le Burnel, Thomas Lord de Berkley Prior of Canterbury and Abbot of Westminster, William Thyrning Knight, and John Markham Justices; Thomas Stow and John Burbache Doctors of Laws, Thomas de Erpingham, and Thomas Grace, Knights, William de Feryby, and Dionysius Lapham, Public Notaries, first deputed to the Act under written, by the Assent and Advice of several of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and of the Judges and others skilful, as well in the Civil and Canon Law, as in the Law of the Realm, Assembled at Westminster in the usual place of Council; did about Nine of the Clock come to the Presence of the said King, being within the Tower of London: And it being Recited before the said King, by the said Earl of Northumberland, in the behalf of all the rest before named, so as aforesaid joined with him; How the said King heretofore at Coneway in North-wales, being at Liberty, did promise unto the Lord Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Earl of Northumberland, that he would yield up and renounce the Crown of England and France and his Regal Majesty, for Causes of his Inability and Insufficiency there by the said King himself confessed, and that in the best manner and form as the same could be done, as Council learned should best order. The said King before the said Lords and others above named, hereunto benignly answering, That he would with Effect accomplish, what before in that behalf he had promised. But desired to have some discourse with his Cousins, Henry Duke of Lancaster, and the said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, before he fulfilled such his promise.  
Afterwards the same day after Dinner, the said King much affecting the coming of the said Duke of Lancaster, and having long waited for him; at last the said Duke of Lancaster, the Lords, and others above named, and also the said Archbishop of Canterbury, did come to the Presence of The said King in the Tower aforesaid; The Lords de Roos, de Willougby, and the Abergeny, and very many others being then there present; and after the said King had had discourse with the said Duke of Lancaster and Archbishop, exhibiting a merry Countenance here and there amongst them to part thereof, as appeared to those that stood round about; at last the said King calling to him all that were there present, did publicly say before them, that he was ready to make the Renunciation; and to renounce and recede, according to the Promise by him made, as aforesaid. And so forthwith, although, as was said unto him, he might have made some Deputy to have served as the Organ of his Voice, for avoiding so tedious a labour as the reading of the said Session and Renunciation, reduced by others into a Schedule of Parchment. Yet the said King, very willingly as appeared, and with a pleasant Countenance, holding the said Schedule in his hand, said, that he himself would read it, and distinctly read the same through: And also did absolve all his Liege People, and renounce, and recede, and swear, and other things did say and pronounce in Reading, and did Subscribe it with his own hand, as is more fully contained in the said Schedule; the Tenor whereof is such.  

THE RESIGNATION OF RICHARD II.  
IN the Name of God, Amen. I Richard by the Grace of God, King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland, do Absolve the Archbishops, Bishops, and other Prelates of Churches Secular or Regular, of whatsoever Dignity, Degree, State, or Condition they be; The Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Barons, Vassals, and Valvasors, and all and every my Liege People whatsoever, ecclesiastics or Seculars, of all the said Kingdoms and Dominions, by what Name soever they are known; from the Oath of Fealty and Homage, and other Oaths whatsoever to be made, and from all Bond or Tie of Legiance, Royalty, and Dominion, whereby they have been or are obliged or otherwise in any manner bound unto me. And I do Free, Release, and Acquit them and their Heirs and Successors for ever, from the said Oaths and other Obligations whatsoever. And I do dismiss them free, unloosen, quit and in full Immunity, as far as relates to my Person, to every effect of Law which may follow from the Pr●mises, or any of them. And I do purely of my own Accord simply and absolutely in and by the best manner, way and form that may be, in these Writings, Renounce and totally Resign all Kingly Dignity and Majesty, and the Crown and Dominion and Power of the said Kingdoms and Dominions, and all other my Dominions and Possessions, or any way belonging or appertaining unto me, by what Name soever they may be reckoned up within the aforesaid Kingdoms, or elsewhere; And all Right and Colour of Right and Title, Possession and Dominion, which at any time I have had, now have, or by any means shall have in or to the same, or any of them, with their universal Rights and Appurtenances, or any Dependences however, on them or any of them: And also the Rule and Government of the said Kingdoms and Dominions, and their Administration, and all manner of mere and Mixed Empire and Jurisdiction to me in the said Kingdoms belonging, or that may be belonging; and to the Name of King, and the Honour, Regality, and Celsitude Royal, purely, voluntarily, simply, and absolutely by the best manner, way and form that the same can be done in these Writings, I do Renounce, and them do totally Resign, and in Deed and in Word dismiss and quit the same, and from them do recede for ever. Saving to my Successors Kings of England, the Rights to them or any of them belonging, or that shall any way belong, in the said Kingdoms and Dominions, and all other the Premises for ever. And I do confess, acknowledge, repute, and truly and out of certain knowledge, do judge myself to have been and to be utterly insufficient and unuseful for the Rule and Government of the said Kingdoms and Dominions, with all their Appurtenances: And that for my notorious demerits I deserve to be Deposed; And I do swear upon these Holy Gospels of God, by me corporally touched, That I will never Act contrary to the said Resignation, Renunciation, Dismission, and Session; nor any way oppose the same in Deed or in Word, by myself or any other or others: Nor will as much as in melies, permit the same publicly or privately to be contraried or opposed: But the said Renunciation, Resignation, Dismission and Session, will for ever esteem, ratified, and wellpleasing, and firmly hold and observe the same in the whole and in every part; So God me help and these Holy Gospels of God.  
I the before named King Richard do here subscribe myself with my own Hand.    
And presently to the said Renunciation, and Session, the said King added by word of mouth, That if it lay in his power, the said Duke of Lancaster should succeed him in his Kingdom. But Because (as he said,) this did not depend on his pleasure, he did request the said Archbishop of York and Bishop of Hereford, (whom he for that time had constituted his Procurators, to declare, and imitate such his Session and Renunciation to the States of the Kingdom,) That they would be pleased to signify to the People, his will and intention in that behalf. And in token of such his will and intention, did then and there, openly pluck off the Golden Ring of his signet, from his own finger, and put it upon the finger of the said Duke of Lancaster, desiring as he affirmed, that the same might be made known to all the States of the Kingdom. Which being done, taking their leaves on both sides they all went out of the said Tower, to return to their Lodgings.  
But on the Morrow, viz. Tuesday the Feast of S. Jereme, in the great Hall at Westminster, in the place honourably prepared for holding the Parliament, the said Archbishops of Canterbury, and York, and the Duke of Lancaster, and other Dukes, and Lords, as well Spiritual as Temporal, whose names are under written, and the Commons of the said Kingdom, Assembled in a great multitude in Parliament, being present, and the said Duke of Lancaster, being seated in a place, due to his Quality, and the Chair of State [or Royal Throne,] being solemnly adorned with Cloth of Gold, but then empty, without any body presiding therein; the above named Archbishop of York, in the name of himself, and of the said Bishop of Hereford, according to the order of the said King, did publicly declare the Session, and Renunciation, to have been so made by him as aforesaid, with the subscription of his Royal Hand, and delivery of his Signet. And the said Session, and Renunciation, did there cause to be ready by another, first in Latin, and then in English.  
Immediately after which, it was demanded of the Estates and People their present, (to wit, first of the Archbishop of Canterbury, to whom by reason of the dignity, and prerogative of his metropolitan Church of Canterbury, it belongs in this behalf, to have the first voice amongst the rest of the Prelates, and Nobles of the Realm,) whether for their interest and the utility of the Kingdom, they would be pleased to admit such Renunciation, and Session. And the said States, and People, judging from the Causes by the said king himself, in his Renunciation, and Session aforesaid, signified, that the same was very expedient, did each man singly by himself, and in Common with the People, unanimously Admit the said Session, and Renunciation.  
After which Admission, it was then and there publicly declared, that besides such Session, and Renunciation, so as aforesaid admitted, It would be very expedient and profitable to the Kingdom, for the removing of all Scruples, and taking away sinister suspicions, That very many Crimes, and Defects by the said King, (about the ill Governance of his Kingdom) very often committed, reduced into writing by way of Articles, by reason of which (as himself affirmed in the Session, by him made) he was deservedly to be deposed, should be publicly read, and declared to the People. And so the greatest part of the said Articles were then and there read through. The Tenor of all which Articles is such.  
[But yet in the Roll before the Articles, there are first these words,] Here followeth the form of the Oath, used and accustomed to be taken by the Kings of England at their Coronation: which the Archbishop of Canterbury hath used to require and receive from the said Kings, as in the Book of the Pontifical Archbishops, and Bishops, more fully is contained.  
Which Oath, Richard the Second, after the Conquest of England, did take at his Coronation: and the same was administered by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the very same Oath, the King afterwards repeated, as in the Rolls of the Chancery, may more fully be found of Record.  
Thou shall keep to the Church of God, and People, Entire Peace and Concord in God, according to thy power. The King shall answer, I will keep them.  
Thou shalt in all thy Judgements cause to be done, equal and right Justice, and discretion, in mercy, and in Truth, according to thy power.— He shall answer, I will do so.  
Thou dost grant the just Laws and Customs, as shall be held, and dost promise the same shall by thee be protected, and for the Honour of God Corroborated, quas vulgus elegerit, which the People shall choose, to the utmost of thy power.— He shall answer, I do so grant and promise.  
To the aforesaid Questions, such others are added as shall be just, and all things being so pronounced the King by his own Oath on the Altar, before all the Assembly, Confirms and Promises, that he will 〈◊〉 and observe the same.  

[Then follow] THE OBJECTIONS or ARTICLES Against the King, touching his Deposition.  
IMprimis, It is objected against King Richard, that whereas by reason of his ill Government, viz. His giving away the Goods and Possessions belonging to his Crown, and that to Persons unworthy, and his indiscreet squandering the same away otherwise, adn to that end, imposing without cause Collections and other grievous burdens on his People, more than they were able to bear, and also innumerable other Evils by his assent and Command perpetrated, there were by the whole Parliament certain Prelates, and others, Temporal Lords, Elected and Assigned, who might with all their power, and at their own Charges, faithfully labour about the just Government of the Realm. Yet the King causing a Conventicle to be held by him, with his accomplices, the said Lords, as well Spiritual, as Temporal, so occupied about the safety and profit of the Kingdom, did propose to impeach of High Treason; and did violently draw the Judges of the Kingdom, for fear of Death, and Corporal Tortures, to such his wicked purpose, most vigorously striving to destroy the said Lords.  
II. Item, The said King lately at Shr●wsbury, caused several, and the greater part of the Judges, to come before him and his Favourites privately in a Chamber, and by Menaces, and Various Terrors, as such affrightments as might fall even upon men of constant Resolutions, did induce, cause, and compel them, severally to answer certain Questions there propounded, on the behalf of the King; concerning the Laws of his Kingdom, besides, and against their will, and otherwise than they would have answered, had they been at Liberty, and unforced. By colour of which answers, the said King purposed to have proceeded afterwards, to the destruction of Thomas Duke of Gloucester, and the Earls of Arundel, and Warwick, and other Lords, against whose deeds and behaviour the said King was much incensed, chiefly because they desired the said King to be under good Guidance; But Providence withstanding it, by the resistance and power of the said Lords, the King was not able to bring such his design to effect.  
III. Item, When the Lords Temporal defending themselves, had withstood his malice and fraud, and the said King had prefixed a day for holding his Parliament to do them, and other Inhabitants of the Realm, Justice in that behalf, and the said Temporal Lords, were quietly and peaceably gone home, and at Rest in their houses, in hope and confidence of the said Parliament, the King secretly sent the Duke of Ireland with his Letters and Standard towards Chester, and there gathered multitudes in Arms; and caused them to rise against the said Lords, the Nobles of the Kingdom, and Servants of the State, publicly erecting his Standard, against the Peace which he had Sworn to keep. From whence slaughters of men, Captivities, Dissensions, and other infinite mischiefs, did ensue throughout the whole Kingdom, By which Act he became Guilty of Perjury.  
IV. Item, Although the said King had in full Parliament, and by the assent thereof, Pardoned the said Duke of Gloucester, and Earls of Arundel, and Warwick, and all their Assistants, and others, all offences, and had for many years shown Signs of Peace and Love, to the said Duke and Earls, and to the rest appeared with a pleasant and benign Countenance, Yet the said King always, and continually bearing Gall in his Heart, did at last, taking an Opportunity, cause the said Duke of Gloucester, the Uncle of him the said King, and also the Son of Edward late King of England, of happy memory, and Constable of England, then humbly going to meet the said King, in solemn Procession; and the said Earls of Arundel, and W●●●ick, to be taken and Arrested; and him the said Duke out of the Kingdom of England, to the Town of Calais did cause to be led, and there imprisoned; and under the Custody of the Earl of Nottingham, (and of the Appellors of the said Duke,) detained, and without answer, or any lawful process whatsoever, did inhumanely, and cruelly cause to be suffocated, strangled, and murdered. And the Earl of Arundel though he pleaded as well the General Pardon, as a Pardon afterwards to him specially granted, and desired justice to be done him, yet in his Parliament, encompassed with armed men, and innumerable Archers of the People by him gathered to that purpose by Pressing, did damnably cause to be Beheaded. And the Earl of Warwick, and Lord Cobham, did commit to perpetual Imprisonment: wickedly and against Justice, and the Laws of his Kingdom and his express Oath, confiscating their Lands and Tenements, as well Fee-simple, as Fee-tail, from them and their Heirs, and giving the same to their Appellors.  
V. Item, At the same time, that the King in his Parliament, caused the Duke of Gloucester, and Earls of Arundel, and Warwick, to be adjudged; that he might more freely exercise his Cruelty upon them, and accomplish his injurious will in other matters, he gathered to himself a great multitude of Malefactors of the County of Chester, of whom some passing with the King through the Kingdom, as well within the King's Palace, as without, did cruelly kill the Liege Subjects of the Kingdom, and some they beat and wounded, and did plunder the Goods of the People, and refuse to pay for their Victuals, and did Ravish and Violate their Wives, and other Women; and though their were grievous Complaints, of such their excesses brought to the hearing of the said King; Yet the said King did not regard to cause Justice to be done, or any Remedy thereupon●, but did favour the said Troops in such their evil doings, trusting in them and their Guard, against all others of his Kingdom; for which cause, the faithful People of his Kingdom, had great matter of Commotion, and Indignation.  
VI Item, Although the said King by his writs, caused Proclamation to be made throughout the whole Kingdom, that he had caused his Uncle the Duke of Gloucester, and the Earls of Arundel and Warwick, to be taken and Arrested, not for any Assembling or Trooping by them, formerly made within the Kingdom of England, but for very many Extortions, Oppressions, and other things by them afterwards done, and perpetrated, against his Royalty, and Kingly Majesty; And that it was not his Intention, that any of the Family of the said Duke, and Earls, or of their followers at the time of such Assembling, and Trooping, should for that occasion be molested, or aggrieved; Yet the said King at last, in his Parliament, did not Impeach the said Lords for Extortions, Oppressions, or any such matters, but for the Assembling, and Trooping aforesaid, did adjudge them to Death, and very many of the Family of the said Lords, and others, who were following them at the time of such their Assembling, and Trooping, he did, for fear of Death; force to make Fine and Ransom, as Traitors, or Rebels, to the great destruction of a great Number of his People. And so he did subtly, fraudulently, and maliciously, deceive the said Lords, and their familiars, and the People of his Kingdom.  
VII. Item, After very many of those Persons so making Fine and Ransom, had obtained of the King, his Letters Patent of full Pardon in the Premises, they could not reap any Commodity by such Letters of Pardon, till they had made new Fine, and Ransoms, for saving of their Life, whereby very many were Impoverished; which was a great Derogation and dishonour to the Name and State of a King.  
VIII. Item, In the Last Parliament, held at Shrewsbury, the said King purposing to oppress his People, subtly procured and caused it to be granted, that the power of the Parliament by the consent of the States of his Kingdom, shall remain in certain Persons, to determine (after the dissolution of the Parliament,) certain Petitions in the said Parliament exhibited, but then not dispatched. By Colour of which grant, the Persons so deputed, proceeded to other things generally touching that Parliament. And this with the will of the King; in Derogation of the state of Parliament, & the great damage of the whole Kingdom, and pernicious Example. And that they might seem to have some Colour and Authority, for such their doings, the King called the Parliament Rolls to be altered and blotted at his pleasure, against the Effect of the said Grant.  
IX. Item, Notwithstanding the said King in his Coronation had sworn, that in all his Judgements, he would cause to be done equal and right Justice, and discretion, in mercy and truth, according to his power; Yet the said King rigorously without all mercy did (amongst other things) Ordain, under grievous penalties, that none should sue for any favour, or intercede with the said King, for Henry Duke of Lancaster, being Banished, whereby the said King did act against the Bond of Charity, rashly violating his Oath aforesaid.  
X. Item, Although the Crown of the Kingdom of England, and the Rights of the said Crown, and that Kingdom itself, have in all time passed been so free, that our Lord the Pope, nor any other without the Kingdom, aught to concern himself about the same; Yet the aforesaid King, for the Corroboration of such his erroneous statutes, did make supplication to our Lord the Pope, that he would confirm the statutes ordained his last Parliament, whereupon our Lord the King obtained the Apostolic Letters, in which grievous Censures are denounced against any that should presume in any thing to act contrary to the said statutes; all which are well known to tend against the Crown, and Royal dignity, and against the Statutes and Liberties of the said Kingdom.  
XI. Item, Although the Lord Henry now Duke of Lancaster, by the King's Command had preferred his Bill touching the State and Honour of the King, against the Duke of Norfolk, and the same had duly prosecuted; so that according to the King's Order, he had exhibited himself in all Points prepared for the Combat. And the said King had declared, that the said Duke of Lancaster had honourably performed his Devoir, as much as in him lay, and this by a Decree publicly Proclaimed before all the people Assembled at the said Combat: Yet the said King without any Legal Reason whatsoever, did cause and command the said Duke to be Banished for ten Years, against all Justice, and Laws and Customs of his Kingdom, and the Law of War in that behalf, thereby damnably incurring Perjury.  
XII. Item, After the said King had graciously granted by his Letters Patents, to the Lord Henry now Duke of Lancaster, that in his absence whilst he was banished, his General Attorneys might prosecute for Livery to him to be made of all manner of Inheritances or Successions belonging unto him, and that his Homage should be respited, paying a certain reasonable Fine; he injuriously did revoke the said Letters Patent against the Laws of the Land, thereby incurring the Crime of Perjury.  
XIII. Item, Notwithstanding that it was Enacted, that every Year the Officers of the King with his Justices and others of the King's Council, should choose Sheriffs for all the Counties of England, and name them to our Lord the King, according as to their Discretion and Conscience should seem expedient, for the good and utility of the Kingdom; the said King hath caused persons to be made Sheriffs, not so nominated or elected, but other according to the Capriccios of his pleasure, sometimes his Favourites or Creatures, and sometimes such as he knew would not oppose his humour, for his own and others private advantage, to the great grievance of his People, and against the Laws of his Kingdom, thereby notoriously incurring Perjury.  
XIV. Item, At such time as the aforesaid King requested and had of very many Lords and others of his Kingdom, divers Sums of Money by way of Loan, to be paid again at a certain term, notwithstanding the said King faithfully promised by his several Letters Patent to the several persons of whom he borrowed the said Moneys, that at the term limited as aforesaid, he would repay the same, yet he did not fulfil such his Promise, nor are they yet satisfied the said Moneys, whereby such Creditors are much aggrieved, and not only they, but many others of the Kingdom repute the King unfaithful.  
XV. Item, Whereas the King of England by the Revenue of his Kingdom, and the Patrimony belonging to his Crown, is able to live honestly, without the oppression of his People, as long as the Kingdom is not burdened with the Charge of Wars; yet the said King in a manner for his whole time during the Truces between the Kingdom of England and its Adversaries, hath not only given away a great, yea indeed the greatest part of his said Patrimony, and this to unworthy Persons: But also hath further imposed on his Subjects so many Burdens of moneys granted, as it were every year of his Reign, that thereby he hath extremely and too excessively oppressed his People, to the Impoverishment of his Kingdom; Not converting the Goods so levied to the Commodity and profit of the Kingdom of England, but prodigally squandering it away for the Ostentation of his Name, and in Pomp and Vainglory: Whilst great Sums of Money are owing in his Kingdom for the Victuals of his Household, and other things bought, though he hath abounded with Riches and Treasures more than any of his Progenitors.  
XVI. Item, The said King not willing to keep or Protect the just Laws and Customs of his Kingdom, but according to his Arbitrary Will, to do whatsoever should occur to his Desires, sometimes and very often, when the Laws of his Kingdom have been expounded and declared to him by the Judges and others of his Council; and that they have desired that he would do Justice according to those Laws, hath expressly and with an angry and haughty Countenance, said, That his Laws were in his Mouth, and sometimes, That they were in his Breast: And that he himself alone could make and change the Laws of his Kingdom. And being seduced with that Opinion, did not suffer Justice to be done to very many of his Liege People, but by Threats and Terrors hath forced very many to cease from the prosecution of Common Justice.  
XVII. Item, That after certain Statutes had been made in Parliament, which always bind, till they are specially revoked by the Authority of another Parliament. The said King desiring to enjoy such Liberty that no such Statutes should so bind him, but that he might do and execute his pleasure, subtly procured a Petition to be preferred in his Parliament on the behalf of the Commonalty of his Kingdom, and to be granted to him in general, That he might be as free as any of his Progenitors were before him: By colour of which Petition and Concession the said King hath very often commanded very many things to be done against such Statutes unrepealed; acting therein expressly and knowingly against his Oath taken in his Coronation as aforesaid.  
XVIII. Item, Although it was Enacted and Ordained, that no Sheriff should hold his Office above one year together, but that three years should pass, before he should be again admitted to that Office: The said King Richard sometimes for his own single Commodity, and sometimes at the instance of others, for their advantage, hath permitted and caused certain Sheriffs to stand and remain continually in their Offices, sometimes two, sometimes three Years, against the Tenor and effect of the Statute aforesaid, thereby incurring Perjury; and this is notorious, public, and generally ill spoken of.  
XIX. Item, Although by the Statutes and Custom of his Realm in the calling together of every Parliament, his People in several Countries of the Kingdom, aught to be free in choosing and deputing two Knights to be present in such Parliament for each respective County, and to declare their Grievances, and to prosecute such Remedies thereupon, as to them shall seem expedient. Yet the aforesaid King, that in his Parliaments he might be able more freely to accomplish the effects of his headstrong will, did very often direct his Command to his Sheriffs, that they should cause to come to his Parliaments as Knights of the Shire, certain Persons by the said King named; which Knights being his Favourites he might lead, as often as he has done, sometimes by various Menaces and Terrors, and sometimes by Gifts, to consent to those things as were prejudicial to the Kingdom, and exceeding burdensome to the People; And especially to grant to the said King a Subsidy on Wool for the term of his Life, and another Subsidy for certain Years, thereby too grievously oppressed his People.  
XX. Item, the said King that he might more freely fulfil and follow in every thing his own Arbitrary Will, did unlawfully cause and command, That the Sheriffs throughout his whole Realm, besides their ancient accustomed Oath, should swear that they would obey his commands, as often as they should be directed to them, under his Great and Privy Seal, and also his Letters under his Signet. And that in case the said Sheriffs could come to know that any within their Bailiwicks of whatsoever condition they were, had publicly or secretly said or spoken any ill, that might tend to the disgrace or scandal of his Royal Person, they should Arrest and imprison them; there safely to be kept till they should receive Command from the King to the contrary, as may be found in the Record; which Fact may probably tend to the destruction of many of the Liege People to the said Kingdom.  
XXI. Item, The said King striving to trample under foot his People, and subtly to acquire their Goods to himself, that he might abound in superfluous Riches, did cause the People of Seventeen Counties of the Realm to submit themselves to the King as Traitors, by Letters under their Seals: By colour whereof he got mighty Sums of Money to be granted him by the Clergy and People of those Counties, for obtaining his Royal good Will and Favour; And though to please the People, the King had caused those Obligatory Letters to be restored, yet the Procurators of the People having full Power granted them to oblige themselves and their Heirs to the said King; he the said King caused them under their Seals to be bound to him in the Name of the said People, and so deceived his people, and Subtly extorted from them their Goods.  
XXII. Item, Although the said King in his Coronation had sworn to keep the Liberties granted to the Arglicane Church, yet the said King by reason of his Voyage into Ireland, did by his Letters command very many Religious Persons, viz. Abbots and Priors of his Kingdom, strictly requiring, that some of them should send to him certain Horses, and some of them not only Horses, but also Wagons and Carriages for his said Voyage, or in lieu thereof great Sums of Money in the said Letters expressed: By which manner of Writing he forced many of such Religious out of fear to fulfil his Will and Command, whereby they were heavily impoverished and oppressed in manifest derogation of Ecclesiastical Liberty; by which Pretext the said King Richard did incur Perjury.  
XXIII. Item, In most of the great Royal Councils, when the Lords of the Realm, the Judges and others, being charged that they would faithfully Council the King in Matters relating to his State, and that of his Kingdom: The said Lords, Justices, and others, very often in giving Counsel according to their best Discretion, have been by the King suddenly and so fiercely chidden and reproved, that they have not dared to speak the Truth, in giving their Advice for the State of the King and Kingdom.  
XXIV. Item, The Treasures, Crowns, Relics, and other Jewels, viz. The Goods of the Kingdom, which time out of mind have been Reposited in the Treasury of the Kingdom, for the Honour of the King, and preservation of his Kingdom, against any sudden Event or Exigency; the said King Going out of his Kingdom into Ireland, did take away, and caused the same to be carried with him, without the consent of the States of the Kingdom Whereby this Kingdom had been vastly impoverished, if God by the retaking of the said Goods against the said Kings Will, had not otherwise provided. And furthermore the said King did cause the Rolls of Records touching the State and Government of his Kingdom uo be destroyed and razed, to the great prejudice of his People and disinheriting the Crown of the said Kingdom: And all this, as 'tis probably believed, in favour and support of his evil Governance.  
XXV. Item, The said King was wont as it were perpetually to be so variable and dissembling in his Words and Writings, and so contrary to himself and especially in writing to the Pope, and to Kings, and other Lords out of the Kingdom, and within it, and also to others his Subjects, that no man living that knew his Conditions could or would confide in him; nay, he was reputed so unfaithful and unconstant, that it became scandalous not only to his own person, but also to the whole Kingdom, and especially amongst Foreigners of all the World that came to know the same.  
XXVI. Item, Although The Land and Tenements, the Goods and Chattels of every Freeman by the Laws of the Realm used from all time heretofore, ought not to be taken from him unless they be forfeited: Yet the said King purposing and longing to weaken such Laws, in the pretence of very many Lords and others of the commonalty of the Kingdom, hath frequently said and affirmed— That the Life of every one of his Subjects, and his Lands, Tenements, Goods, and Chattels, are his (the said Kings) at his will and pleasure, without any forfeiture; Which is utterly against the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom aforesaid.  
XXVII. Item, Although it was Fnacted and Ordained, and is hitherto Confirmed, That no Freeman shall be taken, etc. nor any way destroyed; and that the King shall not pass, nor send any to pass upon him, but by the Lawful Judgement of his Peers, or by the Law of the Land: Yet by the Will, Command and Order of the said King, very many of his Liege People being maliciously accused for having publicly or secretly said something that might tend to the disyraise, scandal, or disgrace of the person of the said King, have been taken and Imprisoned, and brought before the Constable and Marshal of England in the Court Military, in which Court the said Liege People being accused would not be admitted to make any other Answer, than that they were no way guilty, and would justify the same and defend themselves by their Bodies, and not otherwise; notwithstanding their Appellors were young men, stout and lusty, and those so accused, ancient, and impotent, maimed or infirm; Whereby not only destruction of the Lords and grandees of the Kingdom, but also of all and singular persons of the Commonalty of the same may probably ensue: Since therefore the said King hath wilfully acted contrary to such a Statute of his Kingdom, 'tis not to be doubted but he hath thereby incurred the Crime of Perjury.  
XXVIII. Item, Although the People of the Realm of England, by virtue of their Leigeance are fully enough bound to their King, and the said King by the Laws and Customs of his Kingdom, is enabled to Correct and punish his People if in any kind they Transgress; yet the said King desiring to trample on, and too much oppress his People, that he might the more freely execute and follow the Humour of his foolish and unlawful Will, by his Letters to all the Counties of his Kingdom, did Enjoin and Command, That all his Subjects, as well Spiritual as Temp●ral, should make certain Oaths in general which were too grievous to them, and which might probably cause the final destruction of his People; and that they should confirm such their Oaths under their Letters and Seals. To which Royal Command, the People of his Kingdom did submit and pay Obedience that they might not incur his Indignation or Displeasure, and also for fear of Death.  
XXIX. Item, When Parties contending in the Ecclesiastical Court in Causes merely Ecclesiastical and Spiritual, had endeavoured to obtain from the Chancellor of England, Prohibitions to hinder the lawful Process in the said Courts; and the said Chancellor had justly refused to grant the same, yet the said King by Letters under his Signet, has frequently prohibited the Ecclesiastical judges to proceed in such Causes, thereby evilly infringing the Liberties of the Church in the Grand Charter approved, to the Conservation whereof he was sworn, and damnably incurring Perjury, and the Sentence of Excommunication▪ against such Violators thereof, by the Holy Fathers pronounced.  
XXX. Item, The said King without any reasonable or lawful cause whatsoever, or any other process of Law, did in his Parliament, encompassed in warlike manner by armed men, adjudge Thomas of Arundel, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all England, his Spiritual Father, absenting himself by the Treacherous Counsel of the said King, to Banishment against the Laws of his Kingdom, so by him sworn to, as aforesaid.  
XXXI. Item, By inspection of the Testament of the said King; Sealed with the Great and Privy Seal, and also with his Signet, among other things there is contained this clause or Article.— Item, we will that the residue of our Gold (the true debts of our household, Chamber, and Wardrobe being paid, for payment whereof we bequeath Twenty Thousand Marks, reserving to our Executors, Five or Six Thousand Marks: which we will by them to be expended towards the more plentiful maintenance of the Lepers, and Chaplains, to celebrate before them, by us founded at Westminster, and B●rmondeseye) shall remain to our Successor, provided always that he approve ratify and confirm, and hold, and cause to be holden, and firmly observed, all and singular, the Statutes, Ordinances, and Judgements, made, given, and rendered in our Parliament, begun at Westminster, the 17th day of the Month September, in the one and Twentieth Year of our Reign, and in the same Parliament, continued at Shrewsbury, and there holden, and also, all the Ordinances, Judgements, and Establishments, the 16th day of September, in the 22th Year of our Reign, at Coventry, and afterwards at Westminster, the 18th day of March, in the Year aforesaid, by the Authority of the said Parliament. And likewise all other Ordinances, and Judgements, which shall hereafter happen to be made by Authority of the said Parliament: But otherwise, if our said Successor shall refuse to do the Premises. (which we do not believe) Then we will that Thomas Duke of Surry, Edward Duke d' Auamale, John Duke of Exeter, and William le Scrope, Earl of Wiltshire, (paying first the Debts of our Household, our Chamber, and our Wardrobe, and reserving Five or Six Thousand Marks, as abovesaid,) shall have and hold all the said Residue above mentioned, for to support and defend the said Statutes, Establishments, Ordinances, and Judgements, to their utmost power, even unto Death, if it be necessary; Upon all which, and every part, we do hereby charge and burden their Consciences as they will answer in the day of Judgement. By which Article it may evidently enough appear: That the said King did obstinately strive to maintain and descend those Statutes, and Ordinances, which are erroneous and unjust, and repugnant to all Law and Reason. And this not only during his Life, but after his Death too, neither regarding the Peril of his own Soul, nor yet the utter destruction of his said Kingdom, or Liege People.  
XXXII. Item, in the 11th Year of the said King Richard, he the said King in the Chapel of his Manor of Langley, in the presence of the Dukes of Lancaster, and York, and very many other Lords, desiring (as it hath appeared) that is Uncle the Duke of Gloucester, then there present, should fully confide in the Good will of him the said King, did voluntarily and of his own accord, swear before the venerable Sacrament of the Lords Body, there placed upon the Altar, that thenceforwards he would never endamage, trouble, or grieve him, the said Duke of Gloucester, for any of his deeds which are said to have been committed against the Person of him the said King; But did cheerfully and totally forgive him all his offence if any were. Yet afterwards, notwithstanding such Oath, the said King did horribly and cruelly cause the said Duke to be murdered, for such the before pretended offences, thereby incurring the Gild of damnable Perjury.  
XXXIII, Item, After one of the Knigots of the Shires, of the said Kingdom, having a voice in Parliament, had Impeached the said Lord Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, upon certain defaults, committed against the King's Majesty, as was untruly suggested: And the said Archbishop, presently then and there offered himself ready to answer the matters charged upon him; and desired that he might be thereunto admitted by the King, not doubting as he said, but he shall be able, sufficiently to show his Innocence; Yet the said King, contriving by all the ways and means he could, to oppress the said Bishop of Canterbury, and ruin his Estate, (as the Event of the matter has declared) speaking graciously, and with a cheerful countenance of the said Archbishop, from his Royal Seat, did advise and very earnestly request him, that at that time, he would hold his Peace, and expect a better and more fit time to make his defence; which day being passed, the said King from day to day, for Five days or more, did fraudulently and treacherously deceive the said Archbishop, counselling him, and persuading him, that he would not come to the Parliament, but wait at home without any fear, because, as the said King faithfully did promise him, there should not in his absence any loss or prejudice be done or happen to him. Notwithstanding all which, the said King in his Parliament aforesaid, did in the mean time adjudge the said Archbishop to be banished, during the King's pleasure, though absent, and never any way called to answer, and without any resaonable cause whatsoever; and also voluntarily against the Laws of the Kingdom, and all Justice Confiscated all his Goods, whereby he likewise became Guilty of Perjury. But furthermore, the said King being willing to Palliate his Malice and Subtlety, by flattering discourses which he ofttimes had with the said Archbishop, did endeavour to clear himself of such injury done, and make as if it were the doings of others; insomuch that the Archbishop discoursing with the King, and with the Duke of N●rfolk and other Lords, and great men of the Kingdom, And happening to say by way of Lamenting his own Condition, That he was not the first that had suffered Banishment, nor should he be the last; For he thought in a short time the Duke of Norfolk, and other Lords would follow him, and confidently averred to the King, That all the Rigour of these Proceedings, would finally be returned back on his own Head. To which the said King as astonished incontinently replied, that he verily thought it might so happen, and that he himself might and indeed aught to be expelled his Kingdom by his Liege People. And further the King said, that if the same should happen, He would convey himself to the same place, where the said Archbishop should be. And that the Archbishop might the rather Credit his words, He showed him a certain great Jewel, [M●nile, a Brooch or Tablet,] Curiously form, underneath the skirt of his outward vestment. Intimating for certain to the said Archbishop, that when ever he should send that Jewel for a Token, he would not delay to come thither, where the said Archbishop should be resident: And that the said Archbishop might more confide in him; the said King sent to him, advising him, that he should Privately send all his Jewels, and other things of value, belonging to his Chapel, unto him the said King; For the safe keeping thereof, lest by colour of the before mentioned Judgement, any one should wrongfully seize the same. Which under the greatest confidence in the World being done, the said King caused him to reposite the said Goods in certain Coffers: and the said Coffers to be locked up, and sealed by one of the Archbishop's Clerks, and keeping the said Coffers by him, returned the Keys thereof by the said Clerk to the Archbishop. Yet afterwards unknown to the said Archbishop, caused the said Coffers to be broken open, and disposed of the goods therein, at his will and pleasure. Furthermore the said King faithfully promised the said Archbishop, that if he would but repair to the Port of Hampton, in order to go out of the Realm, he would at least by the Intercession of the Queen, get him Recalled. And if it should happen, that he the said Archbishop should go out of the Realm, he should without fail return into England, before Easter next following nor should in any kind lose his Archbishopric: And this he faithfully promised, swearing upon the Cross of the late Martyr S. Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, by him the said King, corporally touched; all which promises notwithstanding, the said King forced the said Archbishop to depart the Realm: And forthwith transmitted special Letters to the Apostolical See, to have him Translated. And so, and by other Frauds, and deceitful Tricks of the said King, the said Archbishop being a well-meaning believing man, was subtly circumvented.   
AND because it seemed to all the Estates of the Realm, being asked their Judgements thereupon, as well severally as jointly, That these causes of Crimes and Defaults were sufficient and notorious to depose the said King; Considering also his own Confession of his insufficiency and other things contained in his said Renunciation and Session, openly delivered, all the said States did unanimously consent, that ex abundanti, that they should proceed unto a Deposition of the said King; for the great security, and tranquillity of the People, and benefit of the Kingdom. Whereupon the said States and Commons unanimously constituted, and publicly deputed certain Commissioners, viz. The Bishop of S Asaph, the Abbot of Glassenbury, the Earl of Gloucester, the Lord Berkley, Sir Thomas Erpyngham, and Sir Shomas Grey, Knights, and William Thirning, one of the Justices, to pass such sentence of Deposition; And to depose the said King Richard, from all Kingly dignity, Majesty, and Honour, on the behalf and in the name, and by the Authority of all the said States, as in like Cases, from the Ancient Custom of the said Kingdom had been observed. And forthwith the said Commissioners taking upon themselves, the burden of the said Commission, and sitting on a Tribunal before the said Royal Chair of State, having first had some debate of the matter, did on the behalf and in the name, and by the authority aforesaid, pass the said Sentence of Deposition, being reduced into writing, and caused such their Sentence to be read and recited by the said Bishop of S. Asaph, their Colleague, by the Will and Command of the rest of the said Commissioners: In these words.  
IN the Name of God, Amen: We John Bishop of Asaph, John Abbot of Glassenbury, Thomas Earl of Gloucester, Thomas Lord Berkley, Thomas de Erpingham, and Thomas Grace, Knights, and William Thirning Justice, Commissioners specially deputed to the matters under written, by the Peers and Lords Spiritual and Temporal of the Kingdom of England, and the Commons of the said Kingdom; Representing all Estates (or Conditions) of the said Realm, sitting in Tribunal, and having considered the multiplied Perjuries, Cruelty, and very many other Crimes of the said Richard, touching his government conmitted and perpetrated in his Kingdoms and Dominions aforesaid, during the time of his Governance; and before the said States openly and publicly propounded, exhibited, and recited; Which have been and are so public, notorious, manifest, and scandalous, that they could not nor can be concealed with denial or excuse. And considering likewise the confession of the said Richard, acknowledging and reputing, and truly, and of his own certain knowledge, judging himself to have been and to be utterly insufficient and unmeet for the rule and Government of the said Kingdoms and Dominions, and their Appurtenances, and for such his notorious demerits, worthy to be deposed, as by him the said Richard, was before declared, and by his Will and Command, published before the said States, and made known and exposed to them in the vulgar Tongue, having already had diligent deliberation upon these things and all others, transacted in this Affair before the said States and us: We do on the behalf and in the name, and by the Authority to us in this matter committed, ex abundanti, and for Caution Pronounce, decree and declare him the said Richard, to have been, and to be unfit, unable, and utterly in sufficient for, and unworthy of, the Rule and Government of the said Kingdoms, and the Dominion, and Rights, and Appurtenances of the same, and for any by reason of the Premises, to be deservedly deposed of, and from all Royal Dignity and Honour, if any thing of such Dignity and Honour were yet remaining in him. And with the same Caution we do Depose him by this our deffinitive sentence in writing; Expressly forbidding all and singular the Lords, Archbishops, Bishops, and Prelates, Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Barons, Knights, Vassals, and Valvassors, and other Subjects, and Liege people of the said Kingdoms and Dominion, and other places to the said Kingdoms and Dominion belonging, that henceforth none of them shall any way obey or Regard the said Richard, as King or Lord of the said Kingdom and Dominion.  
Furthermore the said States willing that nothing should be wanting which might be of value, or aught to be required touching the Premises, being severally interrogated thereupon, did constitute the same Persons that were before nominated Commissioners, to be their Procurators, jointly and severally to resign and give back to the said King Richard, the Homage and Fealty to him before made, and to intimate to him, if it should be requisite, all the Premises, touching such his Deposition and Renunciation.  
And then presently, as soon as it appeared by the Premises, and the occasion of them, That the Crown of England, with its Appurtenances was vacant, the aforesaid Henry Duke of Lancaster rising up from his place, and standing so erected as he might conveniently be seen by the People, and humbly fortifying himself with the Sign of the Cross on his Forehead, and on his Breast, having also first called upon the name of Christ, did claim the said Kingdom so vacant as aforesaid, with its Crown and all its Members and Appurtenances; In this form of words in his Mother Tongue.  
IN the name of Fader, Son, and Holy Ghost, I Henry of Lancaster, challenge this Rewine of Yndlonde, and the crown with all the Members, and the Appurtenances, als I that am descendit, be Right Line of the Blood, coming fro the Good Lord King Henry third, and thorghe that right that God of eyes Grace hath sent me, with help of my Kin, and of my Friends to recover it; The which Rheum was in point to be ondone for default of Governance, and undoing of the Good Laws.  
After which Claim and Challenge, as well the Lords Spiritual as Temporal, and all the State's 〈◊〉 present, being severally and jointly interrogated, what they thought of that Claim? The said 〈◊〉 with the whole People without any difficulty or delay, did unanimously consent, that the said Duke should Reign over them. And forthwith, as the said King showed to the States of the Kingdom, the Signet of King Richard, delivered to him as a token of his will, that he should succeed him as aforesaid, the said Archbishop taking the said King Henry by the Right Hand, led him to the Royal Chair of State: And after the said King kneeling down before it, had prayed a little while, the said Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by the Archbishop of York, did place the said King, and cause him to sit in the said Royal Seat; All the people wonderfully shouting for joy, and by and by the said Archbishop of Canterbury, having with much ado, procured silence from the over joyed multitude, made a short discourse, or Oration in these words.  
Vir Dominabitur populo, A man shall Reign over my people, 1 Sam. 9 17. These are the words of the King of Kings speaking to Samuel, and teaching him how a person should be qualified to Rule, since the people desired to have a King given. And not unfitly may they be said of our Lord the King whom we behold this day, and if we but intimately consider these words, they afford us matter of great Consolation; for God does not threaten us as he did formerly his people by Isaiah, saying, Isa. 3. I will make Children to rule over them; But according to his Compassion, who in his wrath remembreth mercy, he hath visited his people, and now no more Children (as heretofore) shall Lord it over them. For the Lord saith to them, A man shall Rule: Of the late Rulers of this Kingdom, or any of them, one might have fitly said that of the Apostle, Cor. 13. I spoke as a Child, I understood as a Child, I thought as a Child. The Apostle repeats it thrice, As a Child, I spoke, I understood and thought. As to speech 'tis certain that a Child is unconstant in speaking, he easily speaks true, and as easily false, is 〈◊〉 inwards to promise, but what he promi●●● presently forgets. Now these are things very 〈◊〉 and dangerous in a King; nor is it possible that any Realm shall stand long in happiness where these Conditions bear sway. But from such mischiefs a Kingdom is freed, whese Sceptre is sway'dly a Man; for it belongs to a Man to s●t a watch before his Tongue; and such is our present happiness, over whom not a Child, but a Man is set, and such an one, as I hope we may say of him That in Eccles 9 Blessed is the man that hath not erred with his Tongue, Th●n saith the Apostle, I understood as a Child: Now a Child 〈◊〉 nothing but flatteries and pleasing things, and understands only Baubles and 〈◊〉, and loves not 〈◊〉 that argues according 〈…〉 hates him beyond all 〈…〉 amongst us Truth 〈…〉 under foot, so that none durst 〈◊〉; and therefore 'tis plain and appar●●● enough, that He that th●n Reigned understood as a Child. For a Man is not addi●●● to such things, but understands wisdom, so that by the Grace of God it may be said of him, 〈◊〉 is written Eccles. 9 Blessed is the man that abideth in wisdom. For as a Child is delighted in Vanity, so a man has regard to Truth and Wisdom: Truth therefore shall enter and Vanity depart, which has done so much mischief in our Nation; for now a Man shall Rule, who seeks after Truth, and not Vanity or Flattery. Thirdly, It is said, I thought as a Child, for a Child thinks and studies only how to have his humour, and do things according to his own will, and not according to Reason: Therefore when a Child Reigns, there only Self-will Reigns, and Reason is banished, and Constancy is put to flight, and great danger ensues; from which danger w● are delivered; for a Man shall rule over us, to wit, One that speaks not like a Child, but thus, as one that has the perfection of Reason— I come not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me; to wit, of God: And therefore of such a man we will say not only that he will abide in wisdom, but also that as a Man, not a Child, he will meditate on the Circumspection of God; that is, he will every way diligently observe that Gods will not his own be done, and so in the stead of a Child wantoning in fo●lish stubborn humours, a Man shall R●ign, and such a Man, that it shall be said of him,— A King shall Reign in wisdom, and he sh●ll intent Judgement and do Justice in the Earth.  
Which Harangue being ended the said Lord King Henry to appease the minds of his Subjects, did then and there utter these words.  
Sirs, I thank God and yowe Spiritual and Temporel, and all the Astates of the Lond, and do yowe to wit, it es naught my will that no man think that be way of Conquest I would disherit any man of his Heritage, Franches, or other Rights that him aght to have, no put him out of that that he has, and has had by the good Laws and Customs of the Rheum: Except those persons that has been again the good purpose and the common profit of the Rheum.  
And forthwith considering, that by the former vacancy of the Royal Throne, by the Session and Deposition aforesaid, all power of Justices, Sheriffs, and other Officers, throughout the Kingdom was ceased, therefore to the end, that there might be ●●●failure nor delay in the administration of Justice, to the grievance of the People, he caused principal Officers and Justices to be made and sworn to him with the usual Oaths. And it was immediately proclaimed by the King's Command, that on Monday next, after the said Feast of S. Michael, a Parliament should be held, and celebrated. And that on the Monday following that, that is to say on the Feast of S. Edward, should be the Coronation of the said King at Westminster, and that all those that could claim any service in the said Coronation, should come to the White hall, of the Palace before the Steward, Constable, and Marshal of England, on Saturday next, before the day of the said Parliament, to make their just demands in that behalf, and receive right therein. But as for the shortening the day assigned to the Parliament, there was a Protestation made by the King, That it was not his intent that thereby any prejudice should be brought upon the States of his Kingdom; nor that the same for the future should be drawn into Example: but that such Abbreviation of Time was only made for the benefit and profit of the Kingdom, and especially to save the Labour and Expenses of several of his people, and that the Grievances of the people might be the sooner remedied.  
After which the King arising from his Royal Throne, and beholding the people with a cheerful and benign Countenance, retired himself from thence, all the people rejoicing. And the same day in the Whitehall aforesaid, made a solemn Feast to the Nobles and Gentry there in a vast multitude assembled.  
And afterwards, viz. On Wednesday next following, the before named Procurators so deputed as aforesaid, did according as they were commanded, repair into the Presence of the said la●e King Richard being within the Tower aforesaid, and the said Sir William Thirning the Justice, for himself and his Companions and Fellow-Pro●urators, in the Name of all the States and People aforesaid, did notify and fully declare unto the said Richard, their admission of his said Renunciation, and the Manner, Cause and Form of such sentence of Deposition, and presently did resign and give back to the said late King Richard the Horiage and 〈◊〉 formerly to him made as aforesaid: With these words.  

The Words which William ●●●nyng spoke to Monsire Richard late King of England at the Tower of London in his Chamber, on Wednesday next after the Feast of S. Micha●l the Archangel, were as follow:  
SIre, It is well know to yow, that there was a parliament somoned of all the States of the Reaume for to be at 〈◊〉 and to begin on the Tuesday in the Morn of the Fest of S. Mi●h●el the Archangel, that was yesterday; 〈…〉 of the which Summons all 〈…〉 of this Lond were there 〈◊〉 the which States 〈◊〉 made 〈…〉 people that been conten 〈…〉 now, her 〈◊〉, and 〈…〉 authority and Power, and charged him for to say the words that we shall say to yow in her Name, and on their behalve; that is to wytten, the Bishop of Saint Assa for Ersbishoppes and Bishops, the Abbot of Glastenbury for Abbots and Priours, and all other men of Holy Chirche, Seculers and Rewelers the Eearle of 〈◊〉▪ for Dukes and Earls, the Lord of Berkley, for Barons and Laue●ettes, 〈◊〉 Thomas 〈◊〉 chamberlain for 〈◊〉 Bachelors and Commons of this Lond be South; Sir Thomas Grey for all the Bachelors and Commons by North, and my f●lawe Johan Markham, and me for to come with him for all thes States, And so, Sure, these words and the doing that we shall say to yowe, is not onlych our words, but the words and the doing of all the States of this Lond, and our Charge and in her Name.  
And he answered and said, That he mist well that we would naught say but as we were charged.  
Sire, ye remember yowe well that on Moneday in the 〈◊〉 of Sein● M●ch●● the Archan●gel 〈◊〉 in this Chamber, and in 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 and of Lordship, 〈…〉 and Wyrship that longed thereto, and assoiled all your Liege's of her Ligeance and Obeisance that longed to yowe uppe the form that is contened in the same Renunciation and Session, which ye red your self by your mouth, and affirmed it by your Oath, and by your own writing. Upon which ye made & Ordained your Procurators the Ersbishop of York and the Bishop of Hereford, for to notify and declare in your Name thes Renunciation and Session at Westmynstre to all the States, and all the People that was there gadyred, betause of the summons aforesaid, the which thus done yesterday by thes Lords your Procurators, & we'll herd and understouden thes Renunciation and Session beware plenelich and frelich accepted, and fullish agreed by all the States and People foresaid. And over this, Sire, at the instance of all thes States & People, there ware certain Articles of Defaults in your Governance red there and tho we'll herd & pleine●ich understo●den to all the States foresaid, hem thought him so true, and so notorie and known, That by though Causes, and by more other, as they said, and 〈◊〉 Consideration to your own 〈…〉 your own Renunciation and Session, that ye were not worthy, no sufficient ne able for to Govern, for your own demerits, as it is more pleinerlich contened therein, hem thoght that wos reasonable and cause for to depose yowe, and her Commissaries that they made and ordained, as it is of Record that declared and decreed and adjudged yowe for to be deposed and pryved, and indeed deposed yowe and pryved yowe of the estate of King, and of the Lordship contained in the Renunciation and Session forsayd, and of all the dignity and wyrshipp, and of all the Administration that longed thereto. And we procurators to all thes States and People foresaid os we be charged by him, and by her authority gyffen us, and in her name ȝelde ȝow uppe for all the States and People, forsayd Homage Liege, and feaute, and all Leigeance, and all other Bonds, Charges, and Services that long thereto, and that none of all thes States and People from this time forward ne bear yowe faith, ne de yowe Obeisance os to that King.  
And he answered and said, that he looked not there after, but he said, that after all this he hoped that is Cousin would be good Lord to him.   
Thus far the Record word for word Translated out of the Latin and French, and the English re●●ted in the Old Words, and obsolete spelling as it ●ands in the Rolls remaining in the Tower, the some being attested to have been Examined and so●nd to ●gree therewith.  
Thus 〈◊〉 the series of 〈◊〉 we have 〈…〉 this 〈◊〉 happy Prince through all the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉, and s●e● ho● by over-straining at too absolute a power, he fatally came to be deprived of his 〈◊〉 unquestioned Dominion, so that on a sudden he was abandoned, despised, and reduced to the Condition of a private man, a State so much worse than that of Death, as it suffered him to 〈◊〉 his Honour, and remain only a Monument of his own Ignominy, and the Iri●mphs of his Successor.  
Yet this 〈…〉 not very long, for there 〈…〉 many steps between the Prison▪ and the 〈◊〉 of Princes. Though in truth his Fate 〈◊〉 have been 〈◊〉 by the vai● attempts of pretended Friends to restore him, rather than by any 〈…〉 of these that had dispossessed 〈◊〉. For at first after his Deposition, he was carried to ●●eds Castle in Ken●, and there kept under 〈…〉 as a Prisoner, but not in any very close Confinement, nos yet without Prince's▪ 〈◊〉 in some proportion to his 〈…〉.  
On Monday, the 20th of September, 1●9●. was the said King Richard's Resignation; on the next 〈◊〉 he was Deposed by the Parliament, and Henry 〈◊〉▪ the said claim to the Crown, and actually began his Reign as King. On the 6th of October a Parliament meets, that was Summoned by him in his own Name, and on Monday the 13th of the same October, he was Crowned, being the same day of the Month on which in the very last year he received Sentence of Banishment.  
The better to establish his new assumed Throne, he began with Acts of Clemency, as hoping to purchase new Friends, or at least extinguish old Exmit●es; the Dukes of 〈◊〉 and Exe●er, the Earl of Sali●bury, and the Lord Morley (all Priv●●●● to the late King Richard) he freely pardoned; ye● could not this unexpected favour (at which the common people not a little 〈◊〉, as being they thought undeserved) restrain these very Noblemen from hazarding their own Lives, and His too, for whose sake they pretended to venture them, in attempting fresh 〈◊〉. For before King Henry had reigned two years, they, with several others, entered into a Confederacy (first hatched, 'tis said, by the Abb●t of Westminster) to destroy him, by surprising him at a Tournament, or Martial Exercise, that they appointed to be held at Oxford, and to which they had solemnly in●ited him, and then to re-establish Richard. A Plet, which whether it were more justly or imprudently designed, more wonderfully discovered at first, or more strangely quashed at last, o● proved more fatal to the undertakers, or to the said late deposed King Richard, we must refer to the Reader's censure: For in short so it was, T●at the Duke of Aameric riding towards Oxford 〈◊〉 join the rest of his Associates at their pretend●● 〈◊〉, calling by the way on his Father the Du●● 〈◊〉 York, and having in his bosom an Indenture, containing the Heads of the Conspiracy mutually Signed and Sealed by the principal Agents therein; the old Duke happening to spy it as they sat at Dinner, asked what it was? And the Son in some disorder answering, that it no way concerned him, the Father swore by St. George that he would see it, and plucked it from him; by which perceiving their Plot, he upbraided his Son, and told him, he would presently acquaint King Henry. But Aumerle got out of the House, and road with such speed, that he got to Windsor (where the Court then was) before his Father, and begging the King's Pardon, first of all discovered the whole Intrigue himself.  
The King provides for his own safety, retires to London, and the Conspirators perceiving the business had taken Air, prompted on by despair, betook themselves to Arms; and having with them one Maudlin a Priest, that very much resembled King Richard, they attired him in Royal Robes, and gave out, that he was King Richard, escaped out of Prison. By which Fiction they drew together a considerable Army and such as might have shockt King Henry's scarce-well-setled Crown, had not Fortune (always his Friend) scattered them in a moment by the most unexpected accident in the World. For their Troops being encamped near Cicester, and the Duke of Surrey, and the Earl of Salisbury, taking their Quarters within the Town at one end, and the Duke of Exeter, and the Earl of Gloucester, in another: The Bailiff of the Town (I am sorry his Name is not recorded, for a stout brave fellow no doubt he was, that durst attack such mighty Peers, that had so numerous an Army within a Mile or two of the Town) understanding that they were in Rebellion against the King, gathering a Company of Townsmen in the night, assaulted the Inn where Surrey and Salisbury lay, who after a long defence, being in danger of being taken, a Priest of their Party set divers Houses in the Town on Fire, hoping thereby to divert the Assailants from prosecuting the Lords, to save their Houses. But this inflamed them the more, & so hotly they pursued the Skirmish, that they slew the said two Noblemen, and cut off their Heads. In the mean time from the other Inn, Exeter fled to his Camp, intending to bring the whole Army to rescue his Friends: But the Soldiers having heard a Clamour, and seeing the Town on Fire, imagined King Henry had been come with all his Forces and so in a panic fear fled and dispersed themselves; and the said Duke of Exeter having skulked up and down for some time, was taken and Beheaded at Plashey in Essex; The very place where by his Council and Contrivance the Duke of Gloucester had been apprehended, and sent away to Cal●ce to be murdered.  
Though King Richard being all this while a Prisoner, cannot be supposed to have much hand in this Insurrection, yet being undertaken for his sake, it might possibly hasten his End. He was now removed from Leeds to Pom●ract Castle, and as we know not the certain time of his Death, so likewise is the manner of it variously reported. Some write; That he was every day served in with abundance of costly Dishes, but not suffered to touch or taste one of them, and so perished with Famine; but such barbarous unnatural Cruelty seems wholly fabulous. Others relate, That King Henry having at Table been overheard to say with a sigh— Have I never a Friend that will rid me of him whose Life will br●ed destruction to me, and disquiet to the Realm? One Sir ●ierce Exton taking this for a Warrant, goes down to pontefract, and first commanded his 〈…〉 to take the Essay of his Meat as formerly 〈◊〉 at which Richard being offended, and being told 〈◊〉 was by K. Henry's Order, said to his Squire, The Devil take Henry of Lancaster & thee together; upon which Sir Pierce entered the Chamber with eight Armed Men, which King Richard perceiving, wrung the Bill out of the hands of the for most, and slew four of them, but was at last himself knocked down by Sir Pierce with a Pole-Axe: Which Relation likewise seems a little Romantic. Walsingham tells us, that after the Defeat of his Friends, the Duke of Exeter, etc. finding all hopes of his Restoration destroyed, he fell into such a sullen Melancholy that he would taste no Food, and so voluntarily starved himself.  
But which way soever he came by his End, King Henry it seems was willing to let all the World know he was dead, for his Body, Embalmed and covered with Lead, all save the 〈◊〉, was br●ught to London, where for three days together it was exposed at Paul's to public view, and then buried in the Church of Predicant Friars at Langley in Buckinghamshire; But afterwards by King Henry the Fifth removed to Westminster, and there honourably Entombed. Yet some Scottish Historians affirm; That he escaped out of Prison, and led a 〈◊〉 and virtuous life in that Kingdom for divers years, and lies buried (as they say) in the Black Friars at Sterling. So different i● the 〈◊〉 of Fame touching this unhappy Prince's exit out of the World, who lived therein about 3● years, and Reigned 22 years and 3 months.  
FINIS.