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 â—â—â—nyng spake to Monsire Richard late King of England at the Tower of London in his Chamber on Wednesday next after the Feast of S. Michaâ—l the Archangel were as follow SIre It is wele know to Èow that ther was a parlement somon'd 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. Miâ—hâ—el the Archangel that was Èesterday 〈…〉 of the which Summons all 〈…〉 of this Lond were there 〈◊〉 the which States 〈◊〉 made 〈…〉 persones that ben conten 〈…〉 now her 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 Autorite and Power and charged hem for to say the words that we shall say to Èow in her Name and on their behalve that is to wytten the Bishop of Saint Assa for Ersbishoppes and Bishoppes the Abbot of Glastenbury for Abbots and Priours and all other men of Holy Chirche Seculers and Rewelers the Eearle of 〈◊〉 for Dukes and Erls the Lord of Berkley for Barons and Laueâ—ettes 〈◊〉 Thomas 〈◊〉 Chamberleyn for 〈◊〉 Bachilers and Commons of this Lond be South Sir Thomas Grey for all the Bachilers and Commons by North and my fâ—lawe Johan Markham and me for to come with hem for all thes States And so Svre these words and the doing that we shall say to Èowe is not onlych our wordes but the wordes and the dâ—yngs of all the States of this Lond and our Charge and in her Name And he answered and said That he myste wele that we wold noght say but as we were charged Sire Èe remember Èowe wele that on Moneday in the 〈◊〉 of Seinâ— Mâ—châ—â— the Archanâ—gel 〈◊〉 in this Chamber and in 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 and of Lordship 〈…〉 and Wyrship that longed thereto and assoiled all Èour Leiges of her Ligeance and Obeisance that longed to Èowe uppe the fourme that is contened in the same Renunciation and Cession whiche Èe redde Èour self by Èour mouth and affermed it by Èour Othe and by Èour own writing Upon whiche Èe made Ordeined Èour Procurators the Ersbishop of York and the Bishop of Hereford for to notifie and declare in Èour Name thes Renunciation and Cession at Westmynstre to all the States and all the People that was there gadyr'd betause of the summons aforesaid the which thus don yesterday by thes Lords Èour Procurators we le herde and understouden thes Renunciation and Cession ware 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 ther ware certain Articles of Defautes in Èour Governance redde there and tho we le herd pleineâ—ich understoâ—den to all the States foresaid hem thoght hem so trewe and so notorie and knowen That by tho Causes and by mo other as thei sayd and 〈◊〉 Consideration to Èour own 〈…〉 Èour own Renunciation and Cession that Èe were not worthy no sufficient ne able for to Governe for Èour owne demerites as it is more pleinerlich contened therein hem thoght that wos resonable and cause for to depose Èowe and her Commissaries that they made and ordein'd as it is of Record that declared and decreed and adjudged Èowe for to be deposed and pryved and indede deposed Èowe and pryved Èowe of the Astate of King and of the Lordship conteined in the Renunciation and Cession forsayd and of all the dignite and wyrshipp and of all the Administration that longed thereto And we procurators to all thes States and People forsayd os we be charged by hem and by her Auctorite gyffen us and in her name Èelde Èow uppe for all the States and People forsayd Homage Leige and feaute and all Leigeance and all other Bondes Charges and Services that long therto and that non of all thes States and People fro thys tyme forward ne bere Èowe Feyth ne de Èowe Obeisance os to that King And he answered and seyd that he loked not ther after but he sayde that after all this he hoped that is Cosyn wolde be goode Lord to hym Thus far the Record word for word Translated out of the Latine and French and the English reâ—â—ted in the Old Words and obsolete spelling as it â—ands in the Rolls remaining in the Tower the some being attested to have been Examined and soâ—nd to â—gree theâ—â—with Thus 〈◊〉 the series of 〈◊〉 we have 〈…〉 this 〈◊〉 happy Prince through all the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and sâ—eâ— hoâ— by over-straining at too absolute a power he fatally came to be depriâ—ed of his 〈◊〉 unquestioned Dominâ—on 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 sâ—ffered him to 〈◊〉 his Honour and remain only a Monument of his own Ignominy and the Iriâ—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 vaiâ— 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 â—â—eds Castle in Kenâ— and there kept under 〈…〉 as a Prisoner but not in any very close Conâ—inement nos yet without Prince◠〈◊〉 in some proportion to his 〈…〉 On Monday the 20th of September 1â—9â— 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 Exmitâ—es the Dukes of 〈◊〉 and Exeâ—er the Earl of Saliâ—bury and the Lord Morley all Privâ—â—â—â— to the late King Richard he freely pardon'd yeâ— could not this unexpected favour at which the common people not a little 〈◊〉 as being they thought undeserv'd 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 enter'd into a Confederacy first hatcht 't is said by the Abbâ—t of Westminster to destroy him by surprising him at a Tâ—urnament or Martial Exercise that they appointed to be held at Oxford and to which they had solemnly inâ—ited him and then to re-establish Richard A Plet which whether it were more justly or imprudently design'd more wonderfully discovered at
Treasurer The Lord Michael de Pole Earl of Suffolk was with much disgrace turn'd out of the Office of Chancelor 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 Misdemeâ—â—ors 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 Judgment 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 deceiv'd 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 intirely 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 happen'd 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 Kingstone 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 Premisses 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 Mannor of Flaxâ—â—ete and Ten Marks of Rent which were exchang'd c. with the Issues c. 5. Whereas the high Master of S. Antony is a Schismatick 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 ought 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 Ransom'd at the pleasure of the King 6. Item That in the time of the latâ— Chancellor there were granted and madâ— divers Charters and Patents of Pardoâ— for Murders Treasons Felonies c. 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 Vpon all which Articles the Commons demand the Judgment of Parliament WAlsingham tells us That all these Articles were so fully proved that de 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 Majesties yielding to have him turn'd 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 Merchandize Foreign or Domestick brought in or carried out one shilling Wool Hides and Pelts onely 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
where finding but cold Entertainment he went to Vtrecht and after two or three years rambling up and down as a Fugitive died at Lovâ—â—n in Brabant Though his War-horse and Armour being found on the Brink of the River raised a general Report that he was Drown'd which probably might facilitate his escape Amongst his Baggage was taken a very considerable sum of Gold and what was of greater value the Kings Letters ordering his present Repair to London and promising to live and die with him against all Opposers But this Disaster Thunder-struck the whole Cabal The Earl of Suffolk in disguise flies to Calice where his own Brother being Governour of the Castle refused to harbour him without the consent of the Lord William Beauchamp Governour of the Town who return'd him back as a Prisoner into England to the King But the King not onely let him go at large but sent for over and for some time Committed the said Beauchamp for such his honest diligence The rather 't is supposed because he had formerly for the Kings Interest thwarted his pleasure for on the late Bargains and private Intrigues with France King Richard having as aforesaid sold Calice to the French King 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 Councel 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 publickly and he would not surrender it in Hugger-mugger 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 reveng'd and had proceeded 't is thought more severely but that the said Beauchamp was a person extreamly beloved and the King was not at present in a condition to use rigours and so by the Mediation of Friends he was quickly discharg'd 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 Designes being frustrated first by Rashness in taking Arms and afterwards by Cowardise in using them And to adde to his Confusion about the same time an Envoy from the French King was taken with Letters whereby the French King Licens'd 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 Calice 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 hasten'd their March first to S. Albans 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 proâ—â—sting not to depart without personal Conference with the King which at last he granted permitting them first to search the Tower to prevent any Surprize The Duke and Earls then waited upon him and after a few cold Complements 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 Calice to the French King c. 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 justifie what they complain'd of and certainly the Stomachs of the Lords must needs more Relent to those luke-warm 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 Abridgment of his Authority Whereupon the Kings Mind turned and began to Retract his promise This heated the Lords so much that being flusht with opportunity and power they sent him peremptory word That if he did thus faulter 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 work'd 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 banisht the Court as Nevil Archbishop of York the Bishop of Durham Friar Rushok the Kings Confessor and Bishop of Chichester but both he and York had already shewed them a fair pair of Heels The Lords Souch Harmyworth Burnel and Beamont and several Knights as Sir Alberick Vere Sir Balwyne Bereford Sir John Worth Sir Thomas Clifford Sir John Lovel c. 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 Mowen the Lady de Molyng 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 Kings Steward or Privy-Purse Nicholas Lake Dean of the Chappel 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 Rebelliâ—n or Tumult that might happen and continâ—â—d 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 Out-law'd and their Lands and Goods forfeited and seized into the Kings hands with a provision by common consent in Parliament that they should never be pardon'd or permitted to appear
perils and mischiefs aforesaid and that the King was departed from the Council of the Realm and wholly abandon'd himself to the Counsels of the said Malefactors and Traytors 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 manag'd by the aforesaid Traytors 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 Traytors 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 Traytors to defeat this wholsom 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 Villany the said great Malefactors and Traytors 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 Traytors 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 saids Lords and Commons They then by such their trayterous Encroachment falsly Advised the King and so far prevailed that our Lord the King did absent himself from his Parliament for many days and did certifie 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 began 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 Arch-Bishop and other Traytors to be such that he would not suffer any thing to be commenced prosecuted or done against the said Malefactors and Traytors 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 apter 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 then 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 Safâ—â—y of the King his Royalty and Realm And yet after the end of the said Parliament the aforesaid Trâ—yâ—â—rs and Malefactor by such their evil 〈◊〉 falsly and trayterously 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 Traytors to the King 17. Item That after this the said Traytors the Archbishop c. 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 Traytors the Archbishop c. 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 Traytors drawn in thereunto by their false Contrivances Flatteries and Deceits Which Securities and Oaths were made against the good Laws and Vsages 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 inforced the whole Realm was Embroil'd in great Murmurs and trouble by the said Traytors and in danger to have suffered divers important Mischiefs 19. Item To inforce their purposes the said Traytors 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
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 c. There was also granted to the King 40s of every Sack of Wool of which 10s to go to the Kings present occasions and the other 30s to be reserv'd in the hands of Commissioners appointed by Parliament Not to be expended unless necessity of War required About St. Jamesâ—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 signalized themselves by several brave and valorous Actions and return'd 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 neer Calice To which King Richard seem'd 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. Albans 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 gratifie 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 joyned with the Antipape Benedict the 13th much troubled Pope Boniface the 9th For now and for neer 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 own'd for their Ghostly Father forthwith sent a Nuncio to King Richard with great Complements 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 Anti-Pope c. 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 seem'd willing to gratifie 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 Kings License 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 entertain'd 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 onely Daughter had instructed her to Celeâ—rate 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 onely 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 call'd 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 usurp'd by the other Sex call'd her before him and made her shew her Crown shaven 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 Complements 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 Launces 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 subtilty of the French 'T is 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 conferr'd 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 Bowes have so far advanced the Fame of your Magnanimous Nation above any of
and had some private discourse with the Archbishop After a small space the Duke of Lancaster himself all Arm'd approached the Castle and being within the first Gate he there reposed himself till the King attended with the Bishop of Carlile the Earl of Salisbury and Sir Stephen Scroop who bore the Sword before him came forth and sate 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 Soveraign 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 replyed 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 Sute and that but an ordinary one whereas he was wont to be extraordinary profuse in his Cloaths 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 Dukes Arrival in England so that he might well assume Caesars 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 Kings 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 lodg'd in the Tower the Duke of Lancaster but in King Richards 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 Governour of the Realm for the King but now his the said Lancasters 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 then it will appear that he is neither expelled his Kingdom by meer Constraint nor leave it without just Cause This Advice was generally approved and accordingly pursued a Solemn Renunciation being tendred 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 Authentick and Attested Copies wherefore are Printed in the Book Intituled 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 remembred that on Munday 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 Gray Knights William de Feryby and Dionisius Lapham Publick 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 joyned with him How the said King heretofore at Coneway in North-VVales 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 Councel 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 Arch-bishop 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 de 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
Item At the same time that the King in his Parliament caused the Duke of Glocester 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 Kings Pallace 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 thereuponâ— 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 Glocester and the Earls of Arundel and Warwick to be taken and Arrested not for any Assemblings or Troopings 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 Assemblings and Troopings 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 Traytors or Rebels to the great destruction of a great Number of his People And so he did subtily 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 subtily 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 dammage of the whole Kingdom and pernitious 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 Judgments 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 it self have in all time past been so free that our Lord the Pope nor any other without the Kingdom ought 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 Apostolick 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 Kings Command had preferred his Bill touching the State and Honour of the King against the Duke of Norfolk and the same had duely prosecuted so that according to the Kings Order he had exhibited himself in all Points prepared for the Combate 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 publickly Proclaimed before all the people Assembled at the said Combate Yet the said King without any Legal Reason whatsoever did cause and command the said Duke to be Banisht 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 banisht 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 Kings 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 Capricio's 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 fulfill such his Promise nor are they yet satisfied the said Moneys whereby such Creditors are much agrieved and not only they but many others of the Kingdom repute the King unfaithfull 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 burthen'd 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 Monies granted as it were every year of his Reign that thereby he hath extreamly 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 Vain-glory Whilst great Sums of Money are owing in his Kingdom for the Victuals of his Houshould 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 expresly 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 Leige 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 revok'd 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 subtily 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 expresly 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 publick and generally ill spoken of XIX Item Although by the Statuteâ— and Custom of his Realm in the calling together of every Parliament his People in several Countries of the Kingdom ought 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 head-strong 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 burthensom to the People And especially to grant to the said King a Subsidy on Wooll 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 publickly 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 subtily 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 Subtily extorted from them their Goods XXII Item Although the said King in his Corâ—nation 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 Waggons and Carriages for his said Voyage
that pretence committing horrible Oppressions Exactions and Insolencies 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 Wickliffe 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 't is 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 mans 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 't is agreed one Ball a factious Clergyâ—man 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 Insolencies 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 prov'd fatal to the utter ruine of the Kingdom had not the Providence of God wonderfully prevented it Nor is it less disputable where the Uproar began some say in Essex some in Kent for the Flame wâ—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 turn'd up her Coats whereupon the Mother made such an Out-cry 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 hang'd 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 flockt together broke open the Goal at Maidstone where the before-mentioned Ball the Priest was then a Prisoner who having gain'd 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 Delv'd 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 mens Estates preferring some to be Peers and Potentates with great Authority and large Possessions whereby they took advantage of the humble plyable 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 c. This Doctrine was extreamly pleasing to these Raggamuffins 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 spight 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 disswaded him from venturing his Royal Person amongst them which being understood by the Commons they were thereupon more enraged against those two calling them Traytors and to be revenged immediately march towards London in Southwark they discharge all Prisoners and when the Mayor of London would have pull'd 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 spoiled 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 Câ—arter under the Great Seal of England That thenceforth all the Men of England should be free and discharged from the Tenour of Villenage and all Bondage of that kind The Tenour 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 faithfull Subjects to whom these Presents shall come Greeting Know yee that of our special Grace we have Manumiss'd 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 Premisses 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 Our self 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 staid behind in London enter'd the Tower and dragg'd out thence Hen. Earl of Derby the Duke of Lancaster's Son and but a youth
the most part subdu'd and dispers'd 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 own'd I shall insert for the Readers diversion that he may admire the style of these popular Orators and observe what strength of perswasion there was in Non-sense A LETTER of John Ball to the COMNONS in Essex IOhn Sheep sometime S. Mary Priest of York and now of Colchester Greeteth well John Nameless and John the Miller and John Charter and biddeth them beware of Guil in Borough and stand together in Gods Name and biddeth Piers Plowman go to his werk and Chastise well Hob the Robber and take with you John Trewman and all his Fellows and no mo John the Miller hath yground small small small The Kings Son of heven shall pay for all Beware or ye be wo know your Frende fro your Foe have ynough and say No and do well and better and flee sinne and seek peace and hold you therein And so biddeth John Trewman and all his Fellows Another IOhn Ball gretyth you wele All and doth you to understand he hath rungen the Bell Now ryght andâ—myght wyll and skyll God spede every yee dele Now is time Lady help to Ihesu the Sone and thid Sone to his Fadur to make a gode end in the name of the Trinity of that is begun Amen Amen pur Charite Amen Another IOhn Bell S. Mary Prist gretes wele all manner men and byddes them in the Name of the Trinity Fadur and Son and Holy Ghost stond manlyche togedyr in trewthe and helps trewthe and trewthe shall helpe yowe Now regneth Pride in prise and Covetous is hold wise and Lechery without en shame and Glotony without en blame Envie regneth with treason and slouthe is take in grete sesone God do bote for now is the time Amen in Esex Southfolc aud Northfolc Jack the Millers Epistle JAKK Mylner asket help to turn his Mylne aright He hath Grounden small small The Kings Son of Heven he shall pay for all Look thy Mylne do a right with the four Sailes and the Post stand in stedfastnesse 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 pryes yow all that yee make a gode end of that yee have begunnen and doth wele and ay bettur and bettur for at the even men heryth the day for if the end be wele than is all we le Lat Peres the Plowman my Brother duele at home and dyght us Corn and I will so with yow and help that yee may so dyght your mete and your drynk that yee none fayle Lokke that Hobb Robbyoure be wele chastised for lesing of your Grace for yee have grete nede to take God with yow in all yowr dedes for now is time to beware Jack Trewman's Scroll JAkk Trewman doth yow to understand that falseness and gile havith regned to long and trewth hath been sett under a Lokke and falsneth and gile regneth in everylk Flokke No man may come trewth to both syng Si dedero Speke spend and speed quoth John of Bathon and therefore sinn fareth as wilde flode trew love is a way that was so gode and Clerks for welth worth hem wo. God do bote for nowze is time The Storm being thus happily over-blown the Rebels suddenly master'd 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 Publick 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 Leige 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 Publisht 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 Villenage 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 follow'd 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 't is 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 well-pleasing and profitable to Our Realm and with which Our faithful Subjects may reasonably hold themselves contented And this we do notifie to all persons concern'd by these Presents Commanding the same to be Proclaimed in all Cities and Towns Villages c. And further We strictly require and command That all and singular as well Free as Bond-men 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
should submit to the disproportionate force of the Invader But these Triumphs cost King Richard dear in the sequel for whilst he is thus engaged and absent from his discontented Kingdom of England the Duke of Lancaster thinks it the only proper time to put in execution what he and others his Confederates had been consulting of Wherefore dispatching some of his trusty Emissaries over to acquaint his Friends and provide Arms and all necessaries for his Arrival He addresses himself to the French King with a Complement That he intended to pay a Visit to his Kinsman John Duke of Britain and therefore desired his Majesties Royal Letters of safe Conduct which being granted he there very privately levied a few Souldiers with whom hiring three Ships of the Duke of Britain he put to Sea for England accompanied with the forementioned Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury Tho. Heir to Richard late Earl of Arundel the Lord Cobham Sir Thomas Erpington and Sir Thomas Ramstone Knights John Norbury Robert Waterton and Francis Coynt Esquires having not in all above twenty Lances and his whole Retinue besides consisting not of above sixty persons so that 't is hard to judge which was the greatest wonder that he durst attempt or that he did succeed in the Conquest of a Kingdom with so inconsiderable a Company But his Confidence was not so much in the People he brought with him as in the strength he should find here relying altogether on the favour and assistance of the people of the Realm whom he knew to be generally male-contented and eager to change their present Governours for any that would but promise them a Melioration of their Condition for the future Yet being wary not to push things on beyound Possibility of a Retreat As he did not presently Land but lay cruising up and down sometimes appearing on one Coast and sometimes on another that he might the better discover how the Inclinations of the people stood and what Forces were ready either to receive or resist him till at last being satisfied therein he put on shore without any opposition about the biginning of June at Ravenspurre in Yorkshire So did he not then make any pretensions to the Crown but gave out very solemnly that he came only to regain possession of the Dutchy of Lancaster and the rest of his lawful Inheritance which all the Nation knew was wrongfully detained from him and so were the more ready to pity and favour him in a Cause notoriously just and against which there was no objection His Arrival was no sooner known but there repaired to him the Lords Willoughby Ross Darcy and Beaumout and shorly after at Doncaster the Earl of Northumberland and his Son Sir Henry Piercy with the Earl of Westmorland and great numbers of the Gentry and common people Intelligence hereof being soon conveied to the Duke of York the Kings eldest Uncle and with whom during his absence he had intrusted the Governance of the Realm He calls together the Bishop of Chichester Lord Chancellor Scroop Earl of Wiltshire Lord Treasurer Sir John Bushy Sir Henry Green Sir William Bagot and Sir John Russel chief Favourites of the Kings Privy Council to consult what was to be done in this Exigency of Affairs Amongst whom whether designedly by some or ignorantly by others I cannot say but I am sure by all perniciously for King Richards Interest It was concluded to abandon London and appoint the Rendezvous for levying Forces against the Duke at S. Albans But when the people out of sundry Counties were drawn thither to be mustered they declared They would not act any thing to the prejudice of the said Duke who they affirmed was unjustly expelled his Country and unlawfully kept from his Inheritance This Refusal of the Commons to serve being looked upon as a very ill Omen to the Kings Cause The Earl of Wiltshire Sir John Bushy Sir William Bagot and Sir Henry Green forsook the Duke of York and fled to Bristol intending to pass the Seas into Ireland to the King And time it was especially for them to take their Heels for these Four were those that were said to have taken of the King his Kingdom to Farm and on that account and other Greivances and Oppressions which they had occasioned were become so odious to the People that their very presence turned away many of the Subjects hearts from their Soveraign it being the displeasure against them rather than any disatisfaction to the Kings Person that caused this general Revolt The Duke of York seeing their flight and the Humour of the Generality favouring Lancaster and loath to run the adventure of an improbable Resistance gave over the Cause and thereupou the rest of the Counsellors either openly declared for the said Duke or secretly held Correspondence with hm resolving to swim with the general Torrent in hopes of greater safety thereby than by stemming that impetuous Tide which bore down all before it For never did Snow-ball encrease so fast by rolling as the Duke of Lancaster's Forces were augmented by his March so that they were quickly grown sixty thousand strong and he resolving to â—ollow the Channel whilst the Current was fierce hastned with his Troops to London that possessing himself thereof being the chief place within the Kingdom for Strength and Store he might best there make the Seat of War and be easiest accommodated both with Provision and Ammunition In his whole March no Opposition was seen no Hostility shewn but all along Gentlemen of the best quality out of Affection or Fear or hope of Reward resorted to his Tents and where ever he stayed rich Presents were mad him and his Army supplyed with necessaries even to superfluity and particularly at London he was received with Triumphant Pageants and Shews solemn Processions of the Clergy and loud Acclamations of the People But he was more regardful of his Affairs than to stay long there and therefore having fix'd the Citizens firm to his Interest and knowing all the danger that could threaten him must be from King Richard's return out of Ireland To obviate that and overtake the fugitive Favourites who were fled to Bristol he with speedy Marches pursued them thither where finding the Castle fortified against him he assaults it so briskly that in Four daies time he forc'd it to a surrender and taking therein the Earl of Wiltshire Lord Treasurer Sir John Bushy and Sir Henry Green he the very next day Sacrificed them to the importunate rage of the incensed People causing them all Three to be beheaded But as for Sir William Bagot he was got to Chester and from thence shifting over into Ireland alone escaped the present vengeance This Execution if it had not been just must yet be accounted Politick for partly because it was so grateful to the People and partly because it excluded all hope of the Kings Pardon It became a great ingagement to all the Dukes followers to adhere more firmly to him for the future The Duke had
in any kind lose his Archbishoprick And this he faithfully promised swearing upon the Cross of the late Martyr S. Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury by him the said King corporally touched all which promises notwithstanding the said King forced the said Archbishop to depart the Realm And forthwith transmitted special Letters to the Apostolical See to have him Translated And so and by other Frauds and deceitful Tricks of the said King the said Archbishop being a well-meaning believing man was subtily circumvented AND because it seemed to all the Estates of the Realm being asked their Judgments thereupon as well severally as jointly That these causes of Crimes and Defaults were sufficient and notorious to depose the said King Considering also his own Confession of his insufficiency and other things contained in his said Renunciation and Cession openly delivered all the said States did unanimously consent that ex abundanti that they should proceed unto a Deposition of the said King for the great security and tranquillity of the People and benefit of the Kingdom Whereupon the said States and Commons unanimously constituted and publickly deputed certain Commissioners viz. The Bishop of S Asaph the Abbot of Glassenbury the Earl of Glocester the Lord Berkley Sir Thomas Erpyngham and Sir Shomas Grey Knights and William Thirnyng one of the Justices to pass such sentence of Deposition And to depose the said King Richard from all Kingly dignity Majesty and Honour on the behalf and in the name and by the Authority of all the said States as in like Cases from the Antient Custom of the said Kingdom had been observed And forthwith the said Commissioners taking upon themselves the burthen of the said Commission and sitting on a Tribunal before the said Royal Chair of State having first had some debate of the matter did on the behalf and in the name and by the authority aforesaid pass the said Sentence of Deposition being reduced into writing and caused such their Sentence to be read and recited by the said Bishop ef S. Asaph their Collegue by the Will and Command of the rest of the said Commissioners In these words IN the Name of God Amen We John Bishop of Asaph John Abbot of Glassenbury Thomas Earl of Glocester Thomas Lord Berkley Thomas de Erpingham and Thomas Gray Knights and William Thirnyng Justice Commissioners specially deputed to the matters under written by the Peers and Lords Spiritual and Temporal of the Kingdom of England and the Commons of the said Kingdom Representing all Estates or Conditions of the said Realm sitting in Tribunal and having considered the multiplyed Perjuries Cruelty and very many other Crimes of the said Richard touching his government conmitted and perpetrated in his Kingdomes and Dominions aforesaid during the time of his Governance and before the said States openly and publickly propounded exhibited and recited Which have been and are so publick notorious manifest and scandalous that they could not nor can be concealed with denial or excuse And considering likewise the confession of the said Richard acknowledging and reputing and truly and of his own certain knowledge judging himself to have been and to be utterly insufficient and unmeet for the rule and Government of the said Kingdoms and Dominions and their Appurtenances and for such his notorious demerits worthy to be deposed as by him the said Richard was before declared and by his Will and Command published before the said States and made known and exposed to them in the vulgar Tongue having already had diligent deliberation upon these things and all others transacted in this Affair before the said States and us We do on the behalf and in the name and by the Authority to us in this matter committed ex abundanti and for Caution Pronounce decree and declare him the said Richard to have been and to be unfit unable and utterly in sufficient for and unworthy of the Rule and Government of the said Kingdoms and the Dominion and Rights and Appurtenances of the same and for any by reason of the Premisses to be deservedly deposed of and from all Royal Dignity and Honour if any thing of such Dignity and Honour were yet remaining in him And with the same Caution we do Depose him by this our deffinitive sentence in writing Expresly forbiding all and singular the Lords Archbishops Bishops and Prelates Dukes Marquesses Earls Barons Knights Vassals and Valvassors and other Subjects and Leige people of tbe said Kingdoms and Dominion and other places to the said Kingdoms and Dominion belonging that henceforth none of them shall any way obey or Regard the said Richard as King or Lord of the said Kingdom and Dominion Furthermore the said States willing that nothing should be wanting which might be of value or ought to be required touching the Premisses being severally interrogated thereupon did constitute the same Persons that were before nominated Commissioners to be their Procurators joyntly and severally to resign and give back to the said King Richard the Homage and Fealty to him before made and to intimate to him if it should be requisite all the Premises touching such his Deposition and Renunciation And then presently as soon as it appeared by the Premises and the occasion of them That the Crown of England with its Appurtenances was vacant the aforesaid Henry Duke of Lancaster rising up from his place and standing so erected as he might conveniently be seen by the People and humbly fortifying himself with the Sign of the Cross on his Forehead and on his Breast having also first called upon the name of Christ did claim the said Kingdom so vacant as aforesaid with its Crown and all its Members and Appurtenances In this form of words in his Mother Tongue IN the name of Fader Son and Holy Gost I Henry of Lancaster chalenge this Rewine of Yndlonde and the Croun with all the Members and the Appurtenances al 's I that am descendit be Right Line of the Blode comyng fro the Gude Lord King Henry Therde and thorghe that right that God of eis Grace hath sent mee with helpe of my Kyn and of my Frendes to recover it The which Rewme was in poynt to be ondone for defaut of Governance and undoyng of the Gude Lawes After which Claim and Challenge as well the Lords Spiritual as Temporal and all the States 〈◊〉 present being severally and joyntly interrogated what they thought of that Claim The said 〈◊〉 with the whole People without any difficulty or delay did unanimoâ—sly consent that the said Duke should Reign over them And forthwith as the said King shewed to the States of the Kingdom the Signet of King Richard delivered to him as a token of his will that he should succeed him as aforesaid the said Archbishop taking the said King Henry by the Right Hand led him to the Royal Chair of State And after the said King kneeling down before it had prayed a little while the said Archbishop of Canterbury assisted by the Archbishop of York did
the Statutes Ordinances and Judgments made given and render'd 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 Judgments 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 Judgments 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 Houshould our Chamber and our Wardâ—obe 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 Judgments 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 Judgment By which Article it may evidently enough appear That the said King did obstinately strive to maintain and desend 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 Leige People XXXII Item in the 11th Year of the said King Richard he the said King in the Chappel of his Mannor 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 Glocester 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 endammage trouble or grieve him the said Duke of Glocester 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 Guilt 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 Arch-bishop of Canterbury upon certain defaults committed against the Kings Majesty as was untruely 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 shew 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 cheerfull 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 perswading 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 Kings 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 Subtilty by flattering discourses which he oft-times had with the said Arch-bishop did endeavour to clear himself of such injury done and make as if it were the doings of others insomuch that the Arch-bishop discoursing with the King and with the Duke of Nâ—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 aâ—erred 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 ought to be expell'd his Kingdom by his Leige 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 shewed him a certain great Jewel Mâ—nile a Brooch or Tablet Curiously formed underneath the skirt of his outward â—estment 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 Arch-bishop should be resident And that the said Arch-bishop 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 Chappel unto him the said King For the safe keeping thereof lest by colour of the before mentioned Judgment 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 Archbishops 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