and Lord Treasurer but the City to shew their good will to the Queen among the many Testimonies she received gave a bloody one of their Devotion to her increasing Success and struck off the Bishop's Head and seiz'd the Tower of London killing many in their Fury and acting those Lawless Cruelties that they before Condem'd These strange Revolutions evidently shew'd the various Powers of Adversity and Prosperity how it depresses some below themselves and lifts up others beyond their Reason and Consciences The Queen that had been before the repairer of her Husband's Errors now makes use of them to her Husband's ruin She that us'd to bring Peace to heal those Wounds Ill Councels had made brought War now to make them wider and whilst she Condemn'd those Diseases that made the Nation sick she made Rebellion the Cure. But success as it was us'd to do made her not only act worse than her self but worse than those she had so Condemn'd At first she only declared against the Favourites and perhaps then only design'd their ruins but she ought not with the loss of her own Vertue to try to Cure what the want of it in others had caused But had not the rapidness of her Good Fortune hurried her so fast from her self she might have discern'd she was expos'd upon so violent a Stream as wou'd carry her by its own Force and not by her Direction and others at last wou'd use that Power which in such Cases as these are is seldom retain'd long by the Raisers of it Mighty Causes that bring Disorders like Temples raise up things first and toss up unthought of Ruines upon them and a Succession of mischief lasts till the Storm ceases No Age but this afforded these Examples and yet we see it not powerful enough to teach those who would be safe in Vertue not to hazard being Corrupted by Power violently obtain'd The Queen now with still encreasing Forces pursues her flying King and Husband and from Oxford marches to Glocester and from thence to Bristol where the King had put the Earl of Arundel and Spencer the Father to defend the Place which was fortified as well as the time wou'd give them leave But this Place quickly yielded to that success which seem'd to deny all hopes to the King 's declining Condition Spencer was there taken and executed with all the Rigour that Revenge and Conquest cou'd invent and with as much Contempt of Law as he and his Son had formerly shewed They Condemn'd him without any Tryal and prevented his natural Determination which cou'd not have been long being then Fourscore years old Proclamation was about this time made That if the King wou'd come in and conform himself to the Laws and Government he should be restor'd by the General Consent of the People But the King either durst not or his Favourite Spencer durst not let him trust this Declaration Such Ministers made desperate hold their King the safer the more sinking their Condition is and rather chose that the Hazard of their Prince may save them than their Ruin save their Prince Though perhaps in his Prosperous Condition they flatter'd him that their Lives and Fortunes shou'd be always Sacrifices for him But 't is equally strange that Princes in great Power and Prosperity shou'd with pleasure believe Flatterers and that those Interested Flatterers should hope to be believed it shews a fatal Weakness in the one and loose Designs in the other Those also that put forth this Proclamation to call the King to his own Government did perhaps as little desire he shou'd embrace it For this was but once done and seem'd a thing rather us'd to covâ—â— what was intended than a clear intention in it self For the eager pursuit of the King was still continued who as some say seeking to Land in Lundy was driven by Tempest into Wales and in the Abby of Nethe in Glamorganshire lay some time conceal'd From Hereford the Queen divided part of her Army under the Command of Henry Earl of Lancaster into Wales in pursuit of the King who by the means of one Ryce ap Powel who was well acquainted in the Country took the King in a Monastery This Earl of Lancaster was Brother to him that was beheaded at Pomfret and seem'd to shew a Powerful pursuit of Blood to bring the King into the Mercy of a Family where he had shew'd so little Others say that the King and and the younger Spencer were in the Castle of Bristol when it was besieged from whence fearing the Event he with the younger Spencer stole away by night and endeavouring to escape by Sea his Boat was beaten back and trying to put out again it was discover'd by the Lord Beaumont who chas'd them with a small Vessel and took the King and Spencer in it However they all agree that Spencer was taken with him as if the King must always appear inseparably from the Cause of his Misfortunes The Earl of Arundel that was taken at Bristol with others were beheaded at the Instance of Mortimer who now Govern'd the Queen's Affections and Affairs This Earl of Arundell was generally allowed a brave Character and seem'd to be Guilty of no Fault but Loyalty to an unfortunate King unless his Relation to the younger Spencer who marryed his Daughter The same thing that creates a prosperous Interest in one Condition brings Ruine in another or else it seem'd improbable that so brave a Gentleman shou'd dye like a Traytor only for being Loyal The younger Spencer was carryed along only to Grace the Queen's marching Triumph and as the chief Cause of her taking Arms he was render'd as Contemptible a Spectacle as was possible and expos'd in a fitting Posture to increase the Storms and Reproaches that use to attend such miserable Objects And perhaps some were mingled in the Crowd that had formerly in his prosperous Greatness saluted him with fawning Acclamations At last he was eased of all his Sufferings though by a Death as full of Torments as cou'd be imagin'd which yet he endur'd with much seeming calmness perhaps wearied with so much shame and misery he might be willing any way to find an undisturbed Quietness A Parliament was presently called where it was agreed the King shou'd be Depos'd and his Son placed in his Throne who hearing of it refus'd such an untimely Succession without the Consent and Resignation of his Father Commissioners were immediately Deputed consisting of Lords and Bishops to go to the King But before they came the ready Bishops of Hereford and Lincoln had pressed the King to yield to the powerful Decrees of the Nation and added â—no question specious Petences how well he shou'd be provided for and live more happily than the various Cares of a Crown wou'd ever permit him Yet mingled Threatnings That if he refus'd quietly to resign to his Son the Fury of the Incens'd Nation wou'd not only Destroy Him but perhaps his Posterity The King seem'd quietly to submit and
Whisperers of their own Inclinations and because they see nothing at the present spring up they forget that the Roots grow undiscern'd And no Questioâ—â— the King in that Conjuncture of Time thought every Cloud dispers'd and pursued all those fatal ways that mistaken Flattery cou'd guide him in But a particular Accident made way for a general and fatal Revolution The Duke of Hereford one day discoursing with the Duke of Norfolk complain'd how much the King was misguided by mean and base Counsellors such as fought their own private Interest and not the publick Good and fear'd that the King following such Councels would so lose the Hearts of his People that it might prove dangerous to him Assuring him that no private displeasure urg'd him to say this but meerly his love to his King and Country and therefore desir'd the Duke being one of the King's Cabinet-Council to lay these things before him which might prove of ill Consequence if continued The Duke of Norfolk seemed not to dislike what had been said but so represented it to the King that he turn'd it rather to an Accusation than a Counsel The King that could not endure to hear unpleasant Truths and at that Instant looking upon himself as above the mean Consideration of publick Notions so resented the boldness of the Duke of Hereford that he summon'd him to answer this that now became his Charge before the Council where the Duke confirmed his Information which was deny'd by the Duke of Hereford owning all that he had said but the Duke of Norfolk maintaining the Accusation the Combat was demanded and assented to and the day appointed by the King At which time both the Dukes appear'd arm'd and being just ready to be engag'd they were stopt by the King and Banishment pronounced against both the Dukes The Duke of Norfolk dyed suddenly after at Venice having enjoy'd no great Benefit by those Violences he so precipitately engaged in A little after dyed John of of Gaunt Father to the Duke of Hereford and fourth Son of Edward the Third after whose death the Dutchy of Lancaster fell to this Dukes being his eldest Son. But the King in his deceiv'd opinion of Power and Security acted the most probale means to shake both seizing all the Duke's New-descended Estate into his own hands and endeavour'd to make his Banishment perpetual Revoking all his Letters Patents to prevent the suing out the Livery for those Lands during his Banishment If this be well consider'd 't is impossible a King should do it purely from his own advice First he enrag'd a Person that could only be a considerable Enemy his Popularity gave him an Interest in Power and his Descent from a King the Pretence to use it This could be no Motive from right Reason to urge the King to do such an imprudent Injustice he was above the Temptation of a private Estate but his Ministers were tempted by it following the usual Methods of their Counsels by no Considerations but Revenge and Interest as if their Safeties were grounded upon nothing so much as their Princes Hazard and their Advantages upon his Prejudice As the Testimony of the prevalency of these Counsellors the King left all the Business to them and gave himself up wholly to Sloth and Pleasure The imitation spread into Luxury and Effeminacy and the King thought it was the Testimony of Arbitrary Power to live uncontrolled to such a loose Condition all Power but this shadow of it was exercis'd by his Ministers who now depress'd all Persons of either Courage or Honour A Valiant Man was counted dangerous and a Wise Man Mutinous and every one was made perceive that 't was easier to prosper by following their Princes Humour than to pursue his Interest and Honour The Ministers being grown into Absolute power thought of nothing but how to satisfie their greedy Ambitions They pretended to get all for the King the sure way to convey it to themselves And indeed his Gifts were so large to them that they brought him into more wants than ever the Wars of his brave Ancestors could reduce them to and us'd more unjust Inventions to supply his private use than they needed publick Assistances to support the Interest and Honour of it But Edward the First and Edward the Third had a less Burthen and Charge to support They had a Kingdom and no Favourites the first was not capable to satisfie the latter For at this time without any publick occasion strange ways were us'd to levy Money sometimes Pole-money was exacted of every Religious Person and Secular Priest sometimes sums were drawn from the People under the name of Benevolence sometimes Money borrow'd by Privy Seals Then Commissioners sent to all Sheriffs and Corporations declaring the King 's High Displeasure for the kindness they testified to the Duke of Glocester the Earls of Arundel and Warwick and for this affection shew'd to the King's Enemies his Pardon was to be obtain'd by heavy Fines or rather Taxes laid upon them The Commons were bound by new-invented Oaths to perform what they engag'd to and black Charters Sealed and Deliver'd to the King's use whereby their Liberty might be as well taken away as their Properties had been By such Counsels as these the Subjects were turn'd to Slaves and made waiters upon any Opportunities to shake off their Fetters The King made believe he govern'd most when he had none to Govern For Slaves are not in the Business of Mankind their Thoughts are fix'd upon Revenge and Freedom and like distemper'd Men seldom return to their former Composures The first occasion that prov'd this true was a Rebellion that broke out in Ireland the opportunity of which Diversion favour'd the Earl of Northumberland to gather Forces in the North. And others of the Nobility and People weary of their Oppressions resolv'd in the King's absence to attempt some relief and fixt upon the Duke of Hereford as the proper Instrument to act by His Banishment that the King design'd to make perpetual was the Cause of that mischief which he believ'd he should prevent by it He now became the Center to which all other Discontents tended to whom now resorted many of his former Friends and others whom Oppression now made so Among these the Archbishop of Canterbury was the Chief who in Speech to the Duke of Hereford laid open their Grievances and Desires summing up all the Mischiefs and Misfortunes of an unsteady Government the Contempt it spread abroad and Oppression at home not Slaves to their Prince but to his Favourites and that Peace under their Extortions was more chargeable than War The Expence of their Riots and Ambitions needed more Projects and Taxes to maintain them than the Defence and Support of the Government it self requir'd By their Cruelties most of the Nobility were destroyed and the Commonalty wasted concluding with imploring the Duke to pity the Oppression of his Countrey and to animate those that were ready to redeem themselves from Slavery by
his Valour and Conduct The Duke of Lancaster needed not the force of Eloquence to perswade him the loss of his Uncles his Banishment the Imprisonment of his Children and the loss of his Estate were powerful Exciters enough to lay hold on any Opportunity to revenge all his Wrongs To all which was added the perswasive Temptation of a Crown and sure there could be no more powerful Motives than by one way at once to satisfie both his Ambition and Revenge These Considerations and the depending on the Peoples Affections to a Change being wearied with Oppression made him venture to land with a very small Force in Yorkshire At first he gave out That he came only to recover his Inheritance and quickly found his utmost Expectation answer'd for his small Troop presently encreas'd to an Army Many of the Nobility that came in to him took an Oath of him That no bodily harm should be done to King Richard as if a Conquest and a Crown wou'd preserve that Sincerity that was inconsistent with it or that the Modesty profess'd when something was to be obtain'd should continue after the Acquisition The Duke finding every thing more successful than almost he could hope pursued that Fortune which so prosperously invited him and hasted with his still-encreasing Forces to London where he found a Reception suitable to usual Joy that discontented People shew in Alterations He was receiv'd in Triumph without Victory and with all the Testimonies of Zeal and Duty which flattering Crowds cou'd pay their lawful Prince and Soveraign Pageants and rich Presents entertain'd him and all the fulsome Praises that could be invented and as many contumelious Reproaches on their King All Testimonies of Allegiance seem'd lost the modest Mask was now taken off and War proclaim'd against King Richard and his Adherents The Duke of York in the mean time tried to raise Forces but found a general Resolution in all People not to be Enemies to the Duke of Lancaster The Favourites that were active and bold in Prosperity shew'd that neither their Skill nor their Duty was to struggle with Difficulties nor had they either Interest or Reputation if they had attempted it They were always dead Weights upon their Prince and like the nature of it hung heaviest upon weak Conditions Bushy and Greene were pursued to Bristol and there taken fatal place to hasty Favourites They were eagerly pursu'd by the flattering Fury of the People and perhaps there were some among them that before in the Prosperity of these Favourites made as passionate Professions of a contrary Devotion Bagott escap'd into Ireland and sav'd himself from the present Execution The Lord Scroop Lord Treasurer with Bushy and Greene that were taken lost their Heads These sudden Executions were but the usual Consequences of violent Changes All new-gotten Power is commonly endeavour'd to be preserv'd by Destruction and the Execution of the Unfortunate is call'd a Justice King Richard was at this time in Ireland where the news came to him of the Duke's landing in England and his successful Proceedings The news increas'd by coming and every Circumstance grew enlarg'd so that it appear'd the blackest and most portentous Storm that ever gather'd in the full Sun-shine of a Prince which his Favourites assur'd him cou'd be subject to no Eclipse The contrary appear'd to this unfortunate King who was then engag'd in Troubles in Ireland After some time he prepar'd for England having first imprison'd the Sons of the Dukes of Lancaster and Glocester in Trim-Castle and took with him the Dukes of Surrey Aumarl and Exeter and the Bishops of London Lincoln and Carlisle The Earl of Salisbury was sent before to raise an Army which he did in Cornwal but the King failing to come within the time he promis'd they all discourag'd went home This delay was attributed to the Counsel of the Duke of Aumarl who perhaps had more mind to see things determin'd by the Fortune of others than by hazarding his own After this the King Lands in Wales where he found the stream turning from him and every Place of strength submitting to the Duke of Lancaster He knew not what Course to steer but wandred to Conway-Castle where the Earl of Worcester Steward to the King's Houshold as if finding a fitting time to remember the proclaiming his Brother the Duke of Northumberland Traytor broke his Staff of Office openly in the Hall before the King's Servants and with Advice to them to be as base as himself went avowedly to the Duke The rest followed his Example and those that seem'd the most eagerly Loyal became now the most violently Rebellious And 't is improbable that those who with unlimited Flattery for their Interest and Ambition had perswaded their Prince into the dangerous Attempt of Absolute Power should in any turn of Fortune or shock of Danger retain any limited Principles The true Interest of a Prince retains the Interest of others but the Interest of private Men excludes the Prince's We have heard 't is true of some that have been successful in such unjust and dangerous Attempts but the Examples have been very few that have not been fatal at last and there are so many of the contrary that the Comparison would convince any That the just Limits within a Nation 's Constitution are much more safe as well as glorious King Richard had now cause to make such sad Reflections and by the want of Power instructed to lament the attempting of too much He saw himself forsaken by those whom he should have forsook before He now felt severely the want of that Trust and Confidence that he had destroy'd and seem'd not forsaken of his People but to have forsook them before He had forc'd them all to be in the nature of Traytors and compell'd them to purchase as it were the name of Subjects while there were none that seem'd so to him but those that needed Pardon the most such as had counsell'd him to the Ruin that now fell upon him He had been so long accustomed to follow the Counsel of others that he knew not now the way to use his own He had too long followed the mean and easie ways of Indirectness Virtuous and steddy Actions in the undisturbed part of Life give power in Extremity and the memory of what was Great and Good gives boldness to such a Mind to claim Success in the worst condition But the memory of Injuries and Injustice done to others shakes Hopes and Expectations in a dangerous Estate This he shewed by discharging his Army rather than bravely using them as if he believ'd it impossible to recover Power now since he had used it so ill before The next thing that seem'd best was to have retired till a better occasion was offered for nothing is more various or violent than the stream of Mens minds with greediness affecting Change and hurried by Expectations that are seldom answered to be eas'd from all former Grievances and Oppressions and every one that