names of the rest On the other side the King thinking separate dealing the onely way to weaken a confederacy endeavoured to prevent the Lords in joyning of their forces and to that end hee sent a strength of men with charge either to set upon the Earle of Arundel where hee did lie or to intercept him in his passage towards the Duke But the Earle had travelled all the night before their comming and so happily escaped to Haringey parke where hee found the Duke and the other Earles with a sufficient company as well to make attempt as to stand upon resistance When the King heard hereof hee was disturbed and distracted in mind being now in choise either to relent or to resist whereof hee much disdained the one and distrusted the other His followers also was divided in Counsell some fretting at the disgrace and some fainting at the danger The Archbishop of Yorke perswaded the King that occasion was now offered to shew himselfe a King indeed if hee would muster a Royall army and by maine might beate downe the boldnesse of this presumption Nâ—hil dictu facilius said another This is more readily devised then done the army against us is mighty and the Commanders are great men both for courage and skill and greatly favoured of the Common people whereby that which is accompted so ready pay may chance to prove a desperate debt Therefore it were better with some yeelding to enter into conditions of quiet then by standing upon high points of honour to hazard the issue of a battaile wherein the King cannot winne without his weakning nor loose without danger of his undoing There was then in presence a certaine old Knight called Sir Hugh Linne a good souldier but a very mad-cap and one that lived chiefely upon the liberality of Noblemen by vaine jestes affecting the grace of a pleasant conceit of him the King demanded in mirth what hee thought best to bee done Sir Hugh swore swownes and snailes let us set upon them and kill every man and mothers child and so wee shall make riddance of the best friends you have in the Realme this giddy answer more weighed with the King then if it had beene spoken in grave and sober sort and thus it often happeneth that wisedome is the more sweetly swallowed when it is tempered with folly and earnest is the lesse offensive if it bee delivered in jest In the end the devise of raising armes was laid aside not as displeasing being so agreeable to former proceedings but as despairing to prevaile thereby and the Archbishop of Canterbury with the Bishop of Ely being Lord Chancellour were sent unto the Lords to understand the cause of their assembly answer was made that it was for the safety of themselves the honour of the King and the overthrow of them which sought the overthrow of both At the last it was concluded by mediation of the Bishops that the Lords should come before the King at Westminster upon promise of his protection and there have audience concerning their griefes the Bishop of Ely also making private saith that hee would discover any danger that hee could discrie a little before the time they should come the Bishop of Ely sent word of an await that was purposed to bee laid for them at a place called the Mewes neere London advising them either to make stay or to come prepared but rather to make stay least further provocation might make reconcilement more hard hereupon they came not at the time appointed and the King marvailing at their sailance enquired the cause of the Bishop of Ely who answered that the Lords found want of true meaning and that they neither did nor durst repose assurance to the Kings word which they saw to bee used as a meanes to entrap them the King made the matter very strange unto him affirming with an oath that hee was free from deceit both in consent and knowledge and in a great rage hee commanded the Sheriffes of London to goe to the place and slay all those whom they found there in wait Whether this was but a countenance of his or whether hee was not privy to the practice it is not assuredly knowne and indeed the matter was not false but the place mistaken for Sir Thomas Trivet and Sir Nicholas Brambre had assembled many armed men at Westminster with direction to assault the Lords at their best advantage but perceiving their deceit to bee discovered they dissolved the company and sent them secretly away to London Then the Lords upon new faith for their security came to the King at Westminster and yet in faith they brought security with them such troupes of men as in a place where they were so intirely favoured was able to defend them in any suddaine tumult or danger the King upon their comming entred into Westminster-Hall apparelled in his Royall robes and when hee was placed in his seat and had composed himselfe to Majesty and State the Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellour made a long Oration to the Lords in the Kings name Wherein hee declared the heinousnesse of their offence the greatnesse of their perill how easie a matter it had beene for the King to have levied a power sufficient to destroy them and yet for the generall spare of his Subjects bloud and in particular favour to the Duke and other Lords hee made choyce to encounter and overcome them rather by friendship then by force and therefore was willing not onely to pardon their riot but also to heare their griefes and in a peaceable and quiet manner to redresse them The Lords alleadged for causes of their taking armes first the necessity of their owne defence secondly the love both of the King and of the Realme whose fame and fortune did dayly decline by meanes of certaine Traytours who lived onely by the dishonours of the one and decayes of the other those whom thâ—y challenged for Traytours were Robert Veere Duke of Ireland Alexander Nevill Archbishop of Yorke Michael De-la-poole Earle of Suffolke Robert Trisilian Lord chiefe Iustice Sir Nicholas Brambre and certaine others somewhat secreter but nothing better and to justifie this appeale they threw downe their gloves and offered themselves to the triall by combat The King replied that oftentimes the causes of actions being good yet if the meanes want moderation and judgement the events prove pernitious and therefore though these complaints were true yet were these courses not tollerable which did beare an open face of rebellion and by licentiousnesse of the multitude might soone have sorted to such an end for it is more easie to raise the people then to rule them whose fury once stirred will commonly bee discharged some wayes But said hee since wee have broken this broile wee will not by combating give occasion of a new but at the next Parliament which hee appointed should beginne the third day of February then next ensuing as well you as they shall bee present and justice indifferently done unto all
Item When a Parliament is assembled and the affaires of the Realme and the cause of assembling the Parliament by the Kings commandement declared and common Articles limited by the King upon which the Lords and Commons in the said Parliament should proceed if the Lords and Commons will proceed upon other Articles and not upon the Articles limited by the King untill the King hath first given answere to the Articles propounded by them notwithstanding that the contrary were enjoyned by the King whether in this case the King ought to have the rule of the Parliament and so to order the fact that the Lords and Commons should first proceed upon the Articles limited by the King or that they should first have answer of the King upon the Articles propounded by them before they proceed any further 7 Item Whether may the King when hee please dissolve the Parliament and command the Lords and Commons to depart or no 8 Item Since the King may at his pleasure remove any of his Officers and Iustices and punish them for their offences whether may the Lords and Commons without the Kings will accuse his Officers and Iustices in Parliament for their offences yea or no 9 Item What punishment have they deserved who moved in Parliament that the statute whereby King Edward Carnarvan was deposed should bee brought forth by view whereof the new statute ordinance and commission aforesaid were framed 10 Item Whether the judgement given in the last Parliament holden at Westminster against Michael De-la-poole Duke of Suffolke was erronious and revocable yea or no These questions or rather quarrels were drawne by Iohn Blake a Councellour at the Law by direction of Iustice Trisilian whilest the King made his stay in Wales to the which the Iustices afore-named some in discharge of their owne malice and some to satisfie the minds of other made answer as followeth To the first that they did derogate from the Prerogative of the King because they were against his will To the second and third that they are to bee punished by death except it pleaseth the King to pardon them To the fourth and fifth that they are worthy to bee punished as Traytours To the sixth that whosoever resisteth the Kings rule in that point deserveth to bee punished as a Traytour To the seventh that the King may at his pleasure dissolve the Parliament and whosoever shall afterwards proceed against the Kings mind as in a Parliament hee is worthy to bee punished as a Traytour To the eighth that they cannot and whosoever doth the contrary hee deserveth to be punished as a Traytour To the ninth that as well the Motioner as also the Bringer of the said statute to the Parliament are worthy to be punished as Traytours To the tenth they answered that the said judgement seemed to them erronious and revocable in every part In witnesse whereof the Iustices aforesaid with Iohn Locktone the Kings sergeant at Law have subscribed and set their seals to these presents c. When these bloudy sentences of death treason were under generall and large Tearmes thus fastened upon the Lords the King supposed his attempts against them whether by violence or by colour of law sufficiently warranted but his power both wayes as it was terrible against weak resistance so against such mighty defendants it was of smal force to effect that which he so much affected Yet he did not omit his first indeavour and first accounting the Lords as condemned persons hee made division of their Lands and goods among those that hee favoured Then hee waged Souldiers to bee in a readinesse for his assistance and sent the Earle of Northumberland to arrest the Earle of Arundel at his Castle in Reygate where hee then lay But the Earle of Arundel either upon advertisement or suspition of the Kings mind banded himselfe so strong that when the Earle of Northumberland came unto him hee dissembled his intent and left his purpose unperformed Thus were these proceedings of the King as now in Councell so afterwards in event not much unlike that which the Fable telleth of a certaine hunter who first sold the skinne of the beare and then went about to take her but when hee came within the forrest either by unskilfulnesse or misadventure hee not onely missed his pray but fell himselfe into danger of the beast The Duke of Glocester having secret intelligence of the Kings displeasure and of his drift sent the Bishop of London to perswade the King to entertaine a more favourable opinion of him making faith to the Bishop with a solemne oath that hee never intended any thing to the prejudice of the King either in person or state The Bishop not unskilfull to joyne profitable perswasion with honest declared to the King that his displeasure against the Lords was not grounded upon just desert but either upon false suggestions of their enemies or erroniâ—us mistaking of some of their actions how desirous they were of his grace and favour how faithfull and forward they promised to persist in all dutifull service how honourable this agreement would bee to the King how profitable to the Realme and how dangerous to both if these troubles might encrease The King seemed to give good â—are and credit to the Bishops speech but Michael Delapoole a turbulent man and against quiet counsell obstinately contentious standing then by the King soone stiffened his mind against all impression of friendship Hereupon contention did arise betweene the Bishop and the Earle and brake forth violently into heat of words The Earle applied to the Lords those objections wherewith great men are usually charged sparing no spight of speech and using all art to aggravate matters against them The Bishop replied that the Earle was thus fiercely bent not upon his owne necessity nor love to the King but onely to satisfie his bloudy and ambitious humour wherein hee was so immoderate that rather then the Lords should not bee destroyed hee would overwhelme them with the ruines of the State for tumults might indeed bee raised by men of little courage but must bee maintained with the hazard and ended with the losse of the most valiant that neither his Counsell in this matter was to bee followed being the principall firebrand of the disturbance nor his complants against any man to bee any thing regarded being himselfe a condemned person and one that held both his life and honour at the pleasure of the King At these words the King was exceedingly wroth and charged the Bishop with menacing and threats to avoid his presence When the Duke of Gloucester had knowledge hereof hee signified the danger to the Earles of Arundel Warwick and Derby advising them to take armes and unite themselves for their common defence for in so doubtfull and suspected peace open warre was the onely way of safety These three Earles were the chiefest strength to the side but the Duke bare the most stroke because hee was most bold and his greatnesse almost obscured the
In the meane time hee tooke all parties into his protection that none should endanger or endammage another desiring the Lords to beare in mind that as Princes must not rule without limitation so Subjects must use a meane in their liberty Then hee caused the Duke and the Earles which all this time kneeled before him to arise and went with them into his private Chamber where they talked a while and drunke familiarly together and afterwards with a most friendly farewell hee licensed them to depart They of the contrary faction were not present at this meeting and if they had it was thought that the presence of the King should little have protected them This act of the King was divers wayes taken some judged him fearefull others moderate rather in sparing the bloud of his Subjects The Lords were very joyfull of his good will and favour which as by base or bad meanes they would not seeke so being well gotten they did highly esteeme Yet they thought it the safest course not to separate themselves suspecting the mutability of the King and the malice of their enemies of whom they knew neither where they were nor what they did intend and being men of great wealth and great power and greatly bent to hurtfull practices they were feared not without a cause for the Duke of Ireland either by setting on or sufferance of the King was all this time mustering of Souldiers out of Châ—shire and Wales where hee gathered an army both for number and goodnesse of men sufficient if another had beene generall to have maintained the side When the Lords were advertised hereof they devided themselves and beset all the wayes by which the Duke should passe to London determining to encounter him before hee did increase his power and countenance his actions with the puissance or name of the King At the last hee was met by the Earle of Derby at a place called Babbelake neere to Burford and there the Earle put his men in array resolving with great boldnesse to hazard the battailâ— his Souldiers also were full of courage and heart disliking nothing more then delay as a loosing of time and a hinderance to the victory but the Duke being a man not fit for action yet mutinous and more apt to stirre strife then able to stint it upon newes of an enemy would presently have fled There was then in the army a principall Commander one Sir Thomas Molineux Constable of Châ—shire a man of great wealth and of good proofe in service upon whose leading all that Countrey did depend hee perswaded the Duke that this was but a part of the forces that were against them and led onely by the Earle of Derby a man of no speciall name at that time among the Lords and if they could not beare through that resistance it was but in vaine to attempt any great atchevement by armes Hereupon the Duke stayed his steps but his faint Spirits were moved by this speech rather to desire victory then to hope it his souldiers also were dull silent and sad and such as were readier to interpret then to execute the Captaines commandement So they joyned battell but scarce tenne ounces of bloud was lost on both sides before the Duke of Ireland set spurres to his horse and forsooke the field His souldiers seeing this threw away their unfortunate weaponâ— more for indignation then for feare ruffling their ranks and yeelding to the Earle the honour of the field Sir Thomas Molineux in flying away was forced to take a River which was neere and as hee was comming foorth againe a certaine Knight whose name was Sir Thomas Mortimer pulled off his helmet and stabbed him into the braines with his dagger The rest submitted themselves to the discretion of the Victorers making them Lords over their life and death but their yeelding was no sooner offered then it was accepted the Earle presently commanding that none should bee harmed but those that did make resistance or beare armour The souldiers also being willing to shew favour towards their Countrey-men as led into this action partly upon simplicity partly to accompany these which came upon feare Then the Gentlemen were still retained in the Earles company the common Souldiours were dispoiled of their armour onely and so returned againe to their peaceable businesse at home And this was the first act whereby reputation did rise to the side and the greatnesse beganne whereunto the Earle afterwards attained The Duke of Ireland at the beginning of his flight was desirous to have passed the River which ranne by and comming to a bridge hee found the same broken from thence hee posted to another bridge which hee found guarded with Archers At the last his fearefulnesse being feared away as nothing maketh men more desperate upon a doubtfull danger then feare of that which is certaine hee adventured to take the streame in the midst whereof hee forsooke his horse and swam to the other side and so by benefit of the night esâ—aped and flied into Scotland and shortly after passed the Seas into Flanders and from thence travelled into France where the continuall gall of his griefe soone brought his loathed life to an end His horse was taken with his brest-plate his helmet and his gauntlets whereupon it was generally supposed that hee was drowned and as in great uncertainties it often happeneth some affirmed that they saw his death which men either glad to heare or not curious to search did easily beleeve whether this were thus contrived of purpose or fell so out by chance it was a great meanes of his escape by staying the pursute after him which otherwise had beene made His coach also was taken and certaine of the Kings letters found wherein hee desired the Duke to come to London with all the speed and power hee could make and hee would bee ready to dy in his defence so unskilfull was hee in matter of government that to pleasure a few hee regarded not the discontentment of all the rest The Earle of Suffolke upon this accident shaved his beard and in base and disguised artire fled to Calis and either for feare or for shame never after returned into England he was a cruell spoiler and a carelesse spender in Warre contemptible in peace in-supportable an enemy to all Counsaile of others and in his owne conceit obstinately contentious of a good wit and ready speech both which hee abused to the cunning commending of himselfe and crafty depraving of others hee was lesse loved but better heard of the King then the Duke of Ireland the more hurtfull man and the more hatefull the Duke being charged with no great fault but onely the Kings excessive favour in their course of good and bad fortune both of them were famous alike Also the Archbishop of Yorke Iustice Trisilian and others of that faction ranne every man like connies to their covert Yea the King betooke himselfe to the Tower of London and there made provision for his Winter aboad having
either safe quiet or dangerous disturbance both to our particular consciences and also to the common state Therefore before you resolve upon it I pray you call to your considerations these two things Frist whether King Richard be sufficiently deposed or no Secondly whether King Henry bee with good judgement or justice chosen in his place For the first point we are first to examine whether a King being lawfully and fully instituted by any just title may upon impution either of negligence or of tyrannie be deposed by his subjects Secondly what King Richard hath omitted in the one or committed in the other for which hee should deserve so heavy judgement I will not speake what may be done in a popular state or in a Consular in which although one beareth the name and honour of a Prince yet hee hath not supreme power of Majestie but in the one the people have the highest Empire in the other the Nobility and chiefe men of estate in neither the Prince Of the first sort was the common-wealth of the Lacedaemoans who after the form of government which Licurgus framed oftentimes fined oftentimes fettered their kings and sometimes condemned them to death such were also in Caesars time the petty Kings of every Citie in France who were many times arraigned upon life and death and as Ambiorix Prince of the Leodienses confessed had no greater power over the people then the people had over them Of the second condition were the Roman Emperours at the first of whom some namely Nero and Maximinus were openly condemned others were suddenly surprized by judgement and authority of the Senate and such are now the Emperors of Germany whom the other Princes by their Aristocraticall power doe not only restraine but sometimes also remove from their Imperiall state such are also the Kings of Denmarke and Sweveland who are many times by the Nobility dejected either into prison or into exile such likewise are the Dukes of Venice and of some other free states in Italy and the chiefest cause for which Lewes Earle of Flaunders was lately expelled from his place was for drawing to himselfe cognisance in matters of life and death which high power never pertained to his dignity In these and such like governments the Prince hath not regall rights but is himselfe subject to that power which is greater then his whether it bee in the Nobility or in the common people But if the Soveraigne Majesty be in the Prince as it was in the three first Empires and in the Kingdome of Iudea and Israel and is now in the kingdomes of England France Spaine Scotland Muscovia Turky Tartaria Persia Ethiopia and almost all the kingdomes of Asia and Africke although for his vices he be unprofitable to the subjects yea hurtfull yea intollerable yet can they lawfully neither harme his person nor hazard his power whether by judgement or else by force for neither one nor all Magistrates have any authority over the Prince from whom all authority is derived and whose only presence doth silence and suspend all inferiour jurisdiction and power As for force what subject can attempt or assist or counsaile or conceale violence against his Prince and not incurre the high and hainous crime of treason It is a common saying thought is free free indeed from punishment of secular lawes except by word or deed it breake forth into action Yet the secret thoughts against the sacred Majesty of a Prince without attempt without endeavour have beene adjudged worthy of death and some who in auriculer confession have discovered their treacherous devises against the person of their Prince have afterwards been executed for the same All Lawes doe exempt a mad man from punishment because their actions are not governed by their will and purpose and the will of man being set aside all his doings are indifferent neither can the body offend without a corrupt or erronious mind yet if a mad man draw his sword upon his King it hath beene adjudged to deserve death And lest any man should surmise that Princes for the maintenance of their owne safety and soveraignety are the onely Authors of these judgements let us a little consider the Patternes and Preceprs of Holy Scripture Nebuchadnezzar King of Assyria wasted all Palestine with fire and sword oppugned Hierusalem a long time and at the last expugned it slâ—e the King burnt the Temple tooke away the Holy Vessels and Treasure the rest hee permitted to the cruelty and spoyle of his unmercifull souldiers who defiled all places with rape and slaughter and ruinated to the ground that flourishing Citie after the glut of this bloody butchery the people which remayned he led captive into Chaldaea and there erected his golden Image and commanded that they which refused to worship it should bee cast into a fiery Furnace What cruelty what injustice what impiety is comparable to this and yet God calleth Nebuchadnezzar his servant and promiseth hyre and wages for his service and the Prophets Ieremiah and Baruch did write unto the Iewes to pray for the life of him and of Baltazar his sonne that their dayes might bee upon earth as the dayes of Heaven and Ezechiel with bitter termes abhorteth the disloyalty of Zedechia because he revolted from Nebuchadnezzar whose homager and tributary he was What shall we say of Saul did hee not put all the Priests to execution because one of them did relieve holy and harmelesse David did hee not violently persecute that his most faithfull servant and dutifull sonne in law during which pursuit he fell twice into the power of David who did not only spare but also protect the King and reproved the Pretorian souldiers for their negligent watch and was touched in heart for cutting away the lap of his garment and afterwards caused the Messenger to bee slaine who upon request and for pitty had lent his hand as hee said to help forward the voluntary death of that sacred King As for the contrary examples as that of Iehu who slew Iehoram and Ahazia Kings of Israel and Iuda they were done by expresse oracle and revelation from God and are no more set downe for our imitation then the robbing of the Aegyptians or any other particular and priviledged Commandement but in the generall Precept which all men must ordinarily follow not onely our actions but our speeches also and our very thoughts are strictly charged with duty and obedience unto Princes whether they bee good or evill the law of God ordaineth That hee which doth presumptuously against the Ruler of the people shall dye and the Prophet David forbiddeth to touch the Lords annointed Thou shalt not saith the Lord raile upon the Iudges neither speake evill against the Ruler of the people And the Apostles doe demand further that even our thoughts and soules be obedient to higher powers And least any should imagine that they meant of good Princes onely they speake generally of all and further to take away
this favour not onely to exceed his expectation but even above his wish hee thought it best to follow the current whilst the streame was most strong knowing right well that if fortune be followed as the first doe fall out the rest will commonly succeed Therefore cutting off unnecessary delayes with all possible celerity hee hastned towards London to the end that possessing himselfe thereof as the chiefe place within the Realme both for strength and store hee might there make the seat of the warre In this journey no signe nor shew of hostility appeared but all the way as hee passed the men of chiefest quality and power adjoyned themselves unto him some upon heat of affection some for feare others upon hope of reward after victory every one upon causes dislike with like ardent desire contending least any should seeme more forward then they In every place also where hee made stay rich gifts and pleasant devises were presented unto him with large supply both of force and provision farre above his need and the Common people which for their greatnesse take no care of publique affaires and are in least danger by reason of their basenesse with shouts and acclamations gave their applause extolling the Duke as the onely man of courage and saluting him King but spending many contumelious termes upon King Richard and depraving him as a simple and sluggish man a dastard a mâ—ycock and one altogether unworthy to beare rule shewing themselves as much without reason in railing upon the one as they were in flattering the other Againe the Duke for his part was not negligent to uncover the head to bow the body to stretch forth the hand to every meane person and to use all other complements of popular behaviour wherewith the minds of the common multitude are much delighted and drawen taking that to be courtesie which the severer sort account abasement When he came to the Citie hee was there likewise very richly and royally entertained with processions and pageants and vers other triumphant devises and shewes the standing in all the streets where hee passed were taken up to behold him and the unable multitude who otherwise could not yet by their good words wishes and wils did testifie unto him their loving affections neither did there appeare in any man at that time any memory of faith and allegiance towards King Richard but as in seditions it alwayes hapneth as the most swayed all did goe On the contrary side the Duke of Yorke with the rest of his counsaile fell to mustering of men at S. Albones for the King but as the people out of divers quarters were called thither many of them protested that they would doe nothing to the harme and prejudice of the Duke of Lancaster who they said was unjustly expelled first from his countrey and afterwards from his inheritance Then W. Scroupe Earle of Wiltshire Lord Treasurer S. I. Bush Sir W. Bagot and Sir Henry Greene perceiving the stiffe resolution of the people forsooke the Duke of Yorke and the Lord Chancellor and fled towards Bristow intending to passe the seas into Ireland to the King These foure were they upon whom the common fame went that they had taken of the King his Realme to farme who were so odious unto the people that their presence turned away the hearts of many subjects yea it was thought that more for displeasure against them then against the King the revolt was made For being the only men of credit and authority with the King under false colour of obedience they wholly governed both the Realme and him to many mischiefes corrupting his mind and in many abusing his name either against his will or without his knowledge insomuch as hee was innocent of much harme which passed under his commandement but the patience of the people could not endure that two or three should rule all not by reason they were sufficient but because they were in favour and the King in that he permitted them whom hee might have bridled or was ignorant of that which he should have knowne by tollerating and wincking at their faults made them his owne and opened thereby the way to his destruction So often times it falleth out to be as dangerous to a Prince to have hurtfull and hatefull officers in place and services of weight as to be hurtfull and hatefull himselfe The Duke of Yorke either amazed at this sudden change or fearing his adventure if hee should proceed in resistance gave over the cause and preferred present security before duty with danger giving most men occasion to misdeeme by his dealing that hee secretly favoured the Dukes Enterprise likewise all the other Counsellors of that side either openly declared for the Duke or secretly wished him well and abandoning all private direction advise adjoyned themselves to the common course presuming thereby of greater safety Duke Henry in the meane time being at London entred into deliberation with his friends what way were best to be followed At the last having considered the forwardnesse of the people the greatnesse of the perill whereinto they had already plunged and the Kings irreconcilable nature whereof hee made proofe against the Duke of Glocester and the Earles of Arundell and Warwicke they finally resolved to expell him from his dignity and to constitute Duke Henry King in his stead and to that end open warre was denounced against the King against all his partakers as enemies to the quiet prosperity of the Realme and pardon also promised to all those that would submit themselves to follow the present course otherwise to looke for no favour but all extremities None of the Nobility durst openly oppose himselfe to these designes some unwilling to play all their state at a cast kept themselves at liberty to be directed by successe of further event others consented coldly and in tearms of doubtfull construction with intent to interpret them afterwards as occasion should change but the most part did directly and resolutely enter into the cause and made their fortunes common with the Duke in danger of the attempt but not in honour among whom the Duke standing up used speech to this purpose I am returned here as you see at your procurement by your agreement have entred into armes for the common liberty wee have hitherto prosperously proceeded but in what tearmes wee now stand I am altogether uncertaine A private man I am loath to be accounted being designed to be King by you and a Prince I cannot be esteemed whilst another is in possession of the Kingdome Also your name is in suspence whether to be termed rebels or subjects untill you have made manifest that your alleageance was bound rather to the state of the Realme then the person of the Prince Now you are the men who have both caused this doubtfulnesse and must cleare the same your parts still remaineth to be performed your vertue and valour must adde strength to the goodnesse of this action Wee have already attempted so
a spectacle both lamentable and ugly was presented to the view and terrour of others bodies hewen in peices heads and quarters of unfortunate dismembred wretches putrifying above ground not all for desert but many to satisfie either the malice or want of King Henries friends insomuch as many grave men openly gave forth that in short time there would be cause to wish King Richard againe as being more tollerable to endure the cruelty of one then of many and to live where nothing then where any thing might bee permitted The Abbot of Westminster in whose house and in whose head the confederacy began hearing of these adventures as hee was going betwene his Monastery and his Mansion fell sodainely into a palsie and shortly after without speech ended his life and although in this enterprise fortune gave policie the check and by a strange accident which wisdome could not foresee overturned the devise yet is it certainely affirmed that this Abbot first stirred the stone which rowling along was like to have turned King Henry out of his seate The Bishop of Caerliel was condemned upon this treason but the extremity of his feare and griefe closed up his dayes and prevented the violence and shame of publike execution And now King Richard after he had abdicated his dignity did but short time enjoy that sweet security which hee did vainely expect and first all his goods which he did give in satisfaction of the injuries that he had done were brought to division share amongst his enemies shortly after he was removed froÌ„ the tower to the castle of leeds in Kent and from thence to Pomfret to the end that by often changing he might either more secretly be dispatched or more uncertainely found here being kept in streight prison both innocent and ignorant of this offence hee was notwithstanding made a party in the punishment For King Henry perceiving that the Lords so farre prevailed with their late stratagem that if their stomack had beene answerable to their strength and their bold beginning had not ended in faintnesse and sloath they might have driven him to a hard hazard caused King Richard to bee put to death intending to make sure that no man should cloak open rebellion under the colour of following sides nor countenance his conspiracy either with the persoÌ„ or name of K. Richard whether he did expresly command his death or no it is a question out of question he shewed some liking and desire to the action and gave allowance thereto when it was done The most current report at that time went that he was princely served every day at the Table with abundance of costly meats according to the order prescribed by Parliament but was not suffered to taste or touch any one of them and so perished of famine being tormented with the presence of that whereof hee dyed for want but such horrible and unnaturall cruelty both against a King and a kins-man should not proceed from King Henry mee thinke a man of a moderate and mild disposition nor yet from any other mind which is not altogether both savage in humanity and in religion prophane One writer who would seeme to have the perfect intellgence of these affayres maketh report that King Henry sitting at his Table sad and pensive with a deepe sigh brake forth into these words Have I no faithfull friend that will deliver mee of him whose life will breed destruction to mee and disturbance to the Realme and whose death will bee a safety and quiet to both for how can I be free from feare so long as the cause of my danger doth continue and what security what hope shall we have of peace unlesse the seed of sedition bee utterly rooted out Vpon this speech a certain Knight called Sir Pierce of Extone presently parted from the Court accompanied with eight tall men and came to Pomfret and there commanded that the Esquire who was accustomed to sewe and take the assay before King Richard should no more use that manner of service and let him quoth hee now eat well for he shall not eat long King Richard sate downe to dinner and was served without courtesie or assay wherat hee marvelled and demanded of the Esquire why he did not his duty the Esquire answered that hee was otherwise commanded by Sir Pierce of Extone who was lately come from King Henry The King being somewhat moved at his act and answer tooke the carving knife in his hand struck the Esquire therwith lightly on the head saying the devil take Henry of Lancaster thee together with that Sir Pierce entred the Chamber with eight men in harneys every one having a bill in his hand Whereupon King Richard perceiving their drift and his owne danger put the table from him and stâ—pping stoutly to the formost man wrested the bill â—ut of his hand wherewith although unarmed and alone hee manfully defended himselfe a good space and slew foure of his asâ—aylants Sir Pierce lept to the Chaire where King Richard was wont to sit whilest the rest chased him about the Chamber At the last being forced towards the place where Sir Pierce was hee with a stroake of his Pollax felled him to the ground and forthwith hee was miserably rid out of his miserable life It is sâ—id that at the point of his death he gathered sâ—me spirit and with a faint and feeble voice groaned forth these words My great Grandfather King Edward the second was in this manner deposed imprisoned and murthered by which meanes my Grandfather King Edward the third obtained possession of the Crowne and now is the punishment of that injury powred upon his next successor Well this is right for me to suffer but not for you to doe your King for a time may joy at my death and enjoy his desire but let him qualifie his pleasures with expectation of the like justice for God who measureth all our actions by the malice of our minds will not suffer this violence unrevenged Whether these words proceeded from a distempered desire or from the judgement of his fore sightâ— they were not altogether idle and vaine For Sir Pierce expecting great favour and rewards for his ungracious service was frustrated of both and not onely missed that countenance for which hee hoped but lost that which before he had so odious are vices even where they are profitable Hereupon he grew at the first discontented and afterwards mightily turmoyled and tormented in conscience and raging against himselfe would often exclayme that to pleasure one unthankefull person hee had made both him selfe and his posterity hatefull and infamous to all the world King Henry with great discontentment and disquiet held the Kingdome during his life and so did his sonne King Henry the fifth in whose time by continuall warres against the French-men the malice of the humour was otherwise exercised and spent But his second successour King Henry the sixth was dispossessed thereof and together with his young sonne Henry imprisoned and put
fearefully shrinking backe and when they once began to relent they decreased every day more and more both in power and in hope King Henry the next morning after he was come to the Tower sent to the Major of the Citie to put Souldiers in armes for his assistance who presently presented unto him three thousand Archers and three thousand bill-men besides those that were appointed for defence of the Citie The King spent upon him many good speeches and liberally loaded him with promises and thankes and soone after hee issued out of London with twenty thousand tall men and came to Hounslow Heath abiding there and as it were daring his enemies to joyne issue in the field contemning their disorderly multitude as a vaine terrour of names without forces But the confederates either for feare of the Kings power or for distrust of their owne or else lingring perhaps after some succour out of France refused the encounter and doubtfull it is whether they shewed greater courage in setting up the danger or cowardise in declining it when it was presented unto them So they departed from Colebrooke to Sunnings a place neere Redding where Queene Isabell King Richards wife did then abide to whom upon the plain truth before declared fame had falsly descanted that K. Richard was escaped out of prison and did lye at Pomfret with a hundred thousand armed men and that King Henry for feare of him was fled with his children and friends to the Tower of London All which was as lightly beleeved as it was vainely told whereupon she defaced King Henries armes and plucked away his cognisance from those his servants that attended upon her and having in some sort satisfied her womannish anger with this harmelesse spight shee and the Lords departed together first to Wallingford and from thence to Abington stirring the people by the way to take armour and to rise in ayde of King Richard who was said they and is and should be their Prince At the last they came to Chichester and there the Lords tooke their lodgings the Duke of Surrey and the Earle of Salisbury in one Inne the Duke of Exeter and the Earle of Gloucester in another and all the hoast encamped in the fields But the Bayliffe of the Towne suspecting all this countenance to bee but the vaine flash of a false fire did in the night with about fourescore Archers beset and set upon the house where the Duke of Surrey and the Earle of Salisbury lay who were men but of weake resistance by nature but being put upon necessity shewed great man-hood and resistance in defending themselves against the Townsmen The Duke of Exeter and the Earle of Gloucester being in another Inne were not able by force to rescue their associates whereupon a certaine Priest of their company set divers houses in the Towne on fire supposing thereby to divert the townsmen from their assault to the saving of their houses and of their goods but this fire greatly inflamed their fury and made them more obstinate in their attempt crying out that they would never labour to rescue their losses but to revenge them and that with the blood of the Lords vvhose flames should be quenched Then there arose confused clamours and noyses all the towne being in an uproare and in armes shooting fiercely and running upon the Lords with a rash and desperate rage not caring to loose many whereof they had many to spare When the Earle of Exeter and they that were with him perceived the force of the assaylants dangerously to encrease and that it was impossible for a few to sustaine the fury of so many so obstinately bent they fled out of the back-side towards the Camp intending to bring the whole Armie to the rescue but the souldiers having heard a tumult and seeing fire within the towne supposed that the King was entred with all his puissance whereupon being strooke with a sodain and false feare and wanting a Commander of courage to confirme them they ran away and dispearsed themselves without measure and so whilst every man endeavoured to save himselfe all were brought to their confusion Thus the Duke of Surrey and the Earle of Salisbury and the Lords and Gentlemen which were in their company were left to defend themselves against the townesmen as they could who manfully maintained the fight with great bloodshed of their enemies from midnight untill three of the clocke the next day in the afternoone at the last being inferiour both in number and fortune the Duke and the Earle were wonded to death and taken and the same Evening their heads were striken off and sent to London there were also taken Sir Bennet Shelley Sir Barnard Brokas Sir Thomas Blunt and twenty eight other Lords Knights and Gentlemen who were sent to Oxford where the King then lay and there were put to execution The Duke of Exeter when he found the Army dispersed and fled fled likewise with Sir Iohn Shelley into Essex lamenting the certaine destruction which his rashnesse had procured to himselfe and to his friends but most especially to King Richard if not as a party yet as a cause of this unhappy tumult many times hee did attempt to have escaped by Sea into France but hee was alwayes driven backe by distresse of weather and so wandring and lurking in secret places hee was at the last attached as hee saâ—e at supper in a certain friendâ— house and led to Plashy and there shortly after beheaded so that a man might probably conjecture that the death of the Duke of Gloucester was then brought in reckoning who by his counsell and contryvance chiefly in the same place had beene apprehended An excellent example for all those which measure their Actions either by their pleasure or by their power that revenge of injurious dealing although it be prolonged yet doth never fayle but commeth surely although perhaps slowly This Duke was a man of high parentage of a franke mind and wealth answerable thereunto openly praise worthy but his secret actions were hardly spoken of hee was of consent to all his brothers vices and of counsaile to many yet somewhat the more close and vigilant man and not so much partaker of his prosperity as violently carried with the current of his misery The Earle of Gloucester fled towards Wales but was forelayed and taken and beheaded at Bristow Magdalen the counterfeit of King Richard flying into Scotland was apprehended and brought to the Tower and afterward hanged and quartered with W. Ferby another of King Richards Chaplaines Divers other Lords and Knights and Gentlemen and a great number of meane and base persons were in other places put to death insomuch as the King though otherwise of a very temperate and intreatable nature seemed to shew too hard and haughty dealing in revenging his owne injury or rather maintaining the injury that hee had done the heads of the chiefe conspirators were pitched upon poles and set over London Bridge in all other parts of the Realme