the Tower to him, of his lodging therein, by the commandement of my
said lord of Winchester; he answereth, that in the presence of my said
lord of Glocester before his comming out of his countrie of Heinault,
for causes such as were thought resonable, it séemeth lawfull that
the Tower should haue béene notablie stored and kept with vittels:
howbeit it was not foorthwith executed, and that in likewise after
that my said lord of Glocester, was gone into his said countrie of
Heinault, for seditious and odious billes and languages, cast and vsed
in the citie of London, sounding of insurrection and rebellion against
the kings peace, and destruction aswell of diuerse estates of this
land, as strangers being vnder the defense, in so much that in doubt
thereof, strangers in great number fled the land. And for the more sure
kéeping of the said Tower, Richard Wooduile esquier so trusted with
our souereigne lord the king that dead is (as well ye know) & also
chamberlaine and councellor vnto my lord of Bedford, with a certeine
number of defensible persons assigned vnto him, was made deputie there
by the assent of the kings councell, being that time at London, for
to abide therein, for the safegard thereof; and streictlie charged by
the said councell, that during that time of his said charge, he should
not suffer any man to be in the Tower stronger than himselfe, without
speciall charge or commandement of the king by the aduise of his
councell.
2 Item, that soone after (vpon the comming of my said lord of Glocester
into this land from his countrie of Heinault) the said lords of the
kings councell were informed, that my said lord of Glocester grudged
with the said maner of inforcing the Tower, and let saie to them of
London, that he had well vnderstand that they had béene heauilie
threatened for the time of his absence, and other wise than they should
haue béene, if he had béene in this land. Wherefore he was right euill
contented, and especiallie of the said forcing of the Tower, set vpon
them in manner of a chased villain, considering the good equitie and
truth that they had alwaies kept vnto the king, offering them there
vpon remedie if they would.
[Sidenote: Frier Randolph.]
3 Item, that after this, Richard Scot lieutenant of the Tower, by the
commandement of my said lord of Glocester, brought vnto him frier
Randolph, the which had long before confessed treason doone by him
against the kings person that dead is, for the which knowlege he was
put to be kept in the said Tower, & streictlie commanded vnder great
paine giuen vnto the said Scot, to kéepe him streictlie & suerlie, &
not to let him out of the said Tower without c[=o]mandment of the king
by aduise of his councell. The which frier Randolph, my said lord of
Glocester kept then with himselfe (not witting to the said Scot) as he
declared to my said lord of Winchester, soone after that he had brought
the said frier Randolph to my lord of Glocester; saieng to my lord of
Winchester, that he was vndoone but he helped him, & expressed, as for
cause of the withholding of frier Randolph: and saieng moreouer, that
when he desired of my said lord of Glocester, the deliuerance of the
said frier Randolph, to lead him againe vnto the Tower, or sufficient
warrant for his discharge: my said lord of Glocester answered him, that
his commandement was sufficient warrant and discharge for him. In the
which thing abouesaid, it was thought to my lord of Winchester, that
my said lord of Glocester tooke vpon him further than his authoritie
stretched vnto, and caused him to doubt and dread, least that he would
haue procéeded further. And at such time as the said Wooduile came
vnto him, to aske his aduice and counsell, of lodging my said lord of
Glocester in the Tower; he aduised and charged him, that before he
suffered my said lord of Glocester, or any person to lodge therein
stronger than himselfe, he should purueie him a sufficient warrant
therof, of the king, by the aduise of his councell.
4 Item, as to the said article of the foresaid causes of heauinesse,
my said lord chancellor answereth, that he neuer purposed to set hand
on the kings person, nor to remoue him, or that he should be remoued,
or put in any manner of gouernance, but by the aduice of the kings
councell. For he could not perceiue any manner of goodnesse or of
aduantage that might haue growne to him thereof, but rather great
perill and charge; and hereof my said lord of Winchester is readie to
make proofe, in time and place conuenient.
5 Item, as to the third article of the foresaid causes and heauines, my
lord chancellor answereth, that he was oft and diuerse times warned,
by diuerse credible persons, aswell at the time of the kings last
parlement, holden at Westminster, as before and since, that my said
lord of Glocester purposed him bodilie harme, & was warned therof and
counselled by the said persons, and that diuerse times, to absteine him
from comming to Westminster as my said lord of Winchester declared vnto
my said lord of Glocester.
6 Item, that in the time of the said parlement, diuerse persons of low
estate of the citie of London, in great number assembled on a day vpon
the wharfe, at the crane of the vinetrée, and wished and desired that
they had there the person of my lord of Winchester, saieng that they
would haue throwen him into the Thames, to haue taught him to swim
with wings. Whereof billes and language of slander and threatnings
were cast and spoken in the said citie by my said lord the chancellor,
which caused him to suppose that they that so said and did, willed and
desired his destruction, although they had no cause.
7 Item, that after the comming to London of sir Rafe Botiller, and
maister Lewes, sent from my lord of Bedford, to the rest of the lords
of the councell, they being informed, that my said lord of Glocester
did beare displeasure to my said lord of Winchester, they came to the
said lord of Glocester to his In, the second sundaie next before All
hallowdaie, and there opened vnto him, that they had knowledge and
vnderstanding of the said displeasure, praieng him to let them know if
he bare such displeasure against my said lord of Winchester, and also
the causes thereof. At the which time (as my said lord of Winchester
was afterwards informed) my said lord of Glocester affirmed that he was
heauie toward him, and not without causes that peraduenture he would
put in writing.
8 Item, that after the mondaie next before Allhallondaie last past in
the night, the people of the said citie of London, by the commandement
of my said lord of Glocester, as it was said (for what cause my lord
the chancellor wist not) assembled in the citie, armed and arraied,
and so continued all the night. Amongst diuerse of the which (the
same night by what excitation, my said lord the chancellor wist not)
seditious and heauie language was vsed, and in especiall against the
person of my lord the chancellor. And so the same mondaie at night, my
said lord of Glocester sent vnto the Ins of court at London, charging
them of the court dwelling in the same, to be with him vpon the morrow
at eight of the clocke in their best arraie.
9 Item, that on the morrow being tuesdaie next following, my said lord
of Glocester sent earlie vnto the maior and aldermen of the said citie
of London, to ordeine him to the number of thrée hundred persons on
horsse backe, to accompanie him vnto such a place as he disposed him to
ride, which (as it was said) was vnto the king, to the intent to haue
his person, and to remoue him from the place that he was in, without
assent or aduise of the kings councell. The which thing was thought
vnto my said lord the chancellor, that he ought in no wise to haue
doone, nor had not béene séene so before.
10 Item, that my said lord the chancellor, considering the things aboue
said, and doubting therefore of perils that might haue insued thereof,
intending to purueie there against, and namelie for his owne suertie
and defense, according to the law of nature, ordeined to let, that no
force of people should come on the bridge of London towards him, by the
which he or his might haue béene indangered or noied, not intending in
any wise bodilie harme vnto my said lord of Glocester, nor to any other
person, but onelie his owne defense, in eschewing the perill abouesaid.
11 Item, as toward the fourth and fift of the said articles, my lord
the chancellor answereth, that he was euer true to all those that were
his souereigne lords and reigned vpon him, and that he neuer purposed
treason or vntruth against any of their persons, and in especiall
against the person of our said souereigne lord Henrie the fift. The
which considering the great wisdome, truth, and manhood that all men
knew in him, he would not for the time that he was king, haue set on
my said lord the chancellor so great trust as he did, if he had found
or thought in him such vntruth. The which thing my said lord the
chancellor offered to declare and shew, as it belongeth to a man of his
estate to doo, requiring therevpon my lord of Bedford and all the lords
spirituall and temporall in this parlement, that it might be séene that
there were iudges conuenient in this case, that they would doo him
right, or else that he might haue leaue of the king by their aduise to
go sue his right, before him that ought to be his iudge.
12 And as toward the letter sent by my lord of Winchester vnto my lord
of Bedford, of the which the tenor is before rehearsed, of the which my
lord of Glocester complained him of the malicious and vntrue purpose
of my said lord of Winchester, as toward the assembling of the people,
and gathering of a field in the kings land, in troubling thereof, and
against the kings peace: my said lord of Winchester answereth, that if
his said letters duelie vnderstand, and in such wise as he vnderstood
and meant in the writing of them, it maie not reasonable be gathered
and taken, that my said lord of Winchester intended to gather any
field, or assemble people in troubling of the kings land, and against
the kings peace, but rather purposed to acquite him to the king in
his truth, and to kéepe the rest and peace in the kings land, and to
eschew rebellion, disobedience and all trouble. For by that that in the
beginning of the said letter, he calleth my said lord of Bedford his
lieuest lord after one, that is the king, whome he ought to accept of
dutie of his truth, the which he hath euer kept, and will kéepe.
13 Moreouer, in the said letter he desireth the comming home of my lord
of Bedford, for the welfare of the king and of his realmes of England
and of France, which stand principallie in kéeping of his rest and
peace, and praieth my said lord of Bedford to spéed his c[=o]ming into
England, in eschewing of ieopardie of the land, and of a field, which
he dread him might haue followed if he had long taried. As toward those
words; "If ye tarie, we shall put this land in aduenture with a field,
such a brother ye haue here, &c." My said lord of Winchester saith,
the sooth is: before or he wrote the said letter, by the occasion of
certeine ordinances made by the maior and aldermen of London against
the excessiue taking of masons, carpentars, tilers, plasterers, and
other labourers for their dailie iournies, and approued by the kings
deuise and councell, there were cast manie heauinesses and seditious
billes vnder the names of such labourers, threatning rising with manie
thousands, and menacing of estates of the land, and likewise seditious
and euill language sowen and so continued and likelie to haue insued,
of purpose and intent of disobedience and rebellion. To the redressing
of which, it séemed to my lord the chancellor, that my said lord of
Glocester did not his indeuour diligence that he might haue shewed. For
lacke of which diligence, they that were disposed to doo disobeisance
were incouraged & imboldned, so that it was like, that they should haue
made a gathering, and that the king and his true subiects should haue
béene compelled to haue made a field to haue withstand them; the which
field making, had béene aduenturing of this land, and in tokening that
it was neuer my said lord chancellors intent, to gather no field, but
as truth most stirred him against such as riotouslie would make such
assemblie against our souereigne lord, and the weale of this land, he
desired so hastilie the comming of my said lord of Bedford: the which
he would in no wise haue so greatlie desired, if he would haue purposed
him vnto any vnlawful making of a field; for he wist well, that my said
lord of Bedford would most sharplie haue chastised and punished all
those, that so would make any riotous assemblie.
When this answer was made, the duke caused this writing following
openlie to be proclamed.
Be it knowne to all folkes, that it is the intent of my lord of
Bedford, and all the lords spirituall & temporall, assembled in this
present parlement, to acquite him and them, and to procéed truelie,
iustlie, and indifferentlie, without any parcialitie in any maner or
matter or quarels, moued or to be moued betwéene my lord of Glocester
on that one partie, & my lord of Winchester chancellor of England
on that other partie. And for suer kéeping of the kings peace it is
accorded by my said lord of Bedford, & by my said lords spirituall and
temporall, an oth to be made in forme as followeth, that is to saie.
The oth of the lords.
That my said lord of Bedford, and my said lords, spirituall and
temporall, and ech of them shall (as far forth as their cunnings and
discretions suffice) trulie, iustlie, and indifferentlie counsell and
aduise the king, and also procéed and acquit themselues in all the said
matters, and quarels, without that they or any of them shall priuilie
and apertlie make or shew himselfe to be partie or parciall therein,
not leauing or eschewing so to doo for affection, loue, méed, doubt, or
dread of any person or persons. And that they shall in all wise kéepe
secret all that shall be commoned by waie of councell, in the matters
and quarrels abouesaid, in the said parlement, without that they or
any of them shall by word, writing of the king, or in any wise open or
discouer it to any of the said parties, or to any other person that is
not of the said councell: but if he haue a speciall commandement or
leaue therevnto of the king or my said lord of Bedford. And that ech of
them shall with all his might and power, assist by waie of counsell,
or else shew it vnto the king, my lord of Bedford, and to the rest of
my said lords to put the said parties to reason; and not to suffer
that any of the said parties by them, or by their assistance, procéed
or attempt by way of fight against the kings peace; nor helpe, assist,
or comfort any of them thereto: but let them with all their might and
power withstand them, and assist vnto the king, and my said lord of
Bedford, in kéeping of the kings peace, and redressing all such manner
of procéeding by waie of fight or force.
Dukes: the duke of Bedford, the duke of Norffolke, the duke of
Excester. Bishops: the archbishop of Ca[=n]turburie, the bishop of
Carleill, the bishop of Bath, the bishop of Landaffe, the bishop of
Rochester, the bishop of Chichester, the bishop of Worcester, the
bishop of saint Dauids, the bishop of London, the bishop of Duresme.
Earles: the earle of Northumberland, the earle of Stafford, the earle
of Oxford. Lords: the lord Hungerford, the lord Tiptost, the lord
Poinings, the lord Cromwell, the lord Borough, the lord Louell, the
lord Botreux, the lord Clinton, the lord Zouch, the lord Audeleie,
the lord Ferreis of Groubie, the lord Talbot, the lord Roos, the
lord Greie, the lord Greie of Ruthen, the lord Fitz Walter, the lord
Barkeleie. Abbats: the abbat of Waltham, the abbat of Glastenburie, the
abbat of S. Augustines in Canturburie, the abbat of Westminster, the
abbat of S. Maries in Yorke, the abbat of S. Albons not sworne bicause
he was not present. ¶ Which oth in manner and forme aboue rehearsed,
all the lords aswell spirituall as temporall, being in this parlement
at Leicester assembled, the fourth day of March, promised vpon their
faith, dutie, and allegiance, which they owe to the king their
souereigne lord, truelie to obserue and kéepe, according to the true
meaning and purport of the same.
The Arbitrement.
In the name of God Amen. We Henrie archbishop of Canturburie, Thomas
duke of Excester, Iohn duke of Norffolke, Thomas bishop of Duresme,
Philip bishop of Worcester, Iohn bishop of Bath, Humfrie earle of
Stafford, William Alnwicke kéeper of the kings priuie seale, Rafe lord
Cromwell, arbitrators in all maner of causes, matters and quarrels
of heauinesses & gréeuances, with all incidents, circumstances,
dependents, or connexes being and hanging betwéene the high & worthie
prince Humfrie duke of Glocester on the one partie, and the worshipful
father in God Henrie bishop of Winchester and chancellor of England
on the other partie, by either of them, for the pleasing of the said
quarrels and debates taken and chosen in maner and forme as it is
conteined more plainelie in a compromise made therevpon, of the which
the tenor insueth in this forme.
[Sidenote: 1424]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 4.]
Memorandum, the seauenth daie of March in the fourth yeare of our
souereigne lord the king, Henrie the sixt, the high and mightie
prince Humfrie duke of Glocester at the reuerence of God, and for the
good of the king our souereigne lord in this land, & namelie at the
reuerence, and especiallie at the request and praier of the mightie
and high prince my lord of Bedford his brother, agréed him to put, and
putteth all maner matters and quarels indéed, with all their incidents,
circumstances, dependents and connexes that touchen him and his person,
that he hath in anie wise doo, or féeleth himselfe gréeued or heauie
against my lord his vncle, my lord of Winchester: or else that my lord
of Winchester findeth him agréeued against him, in as much as they
touch him or his person from the beginning of the world vnto this daie,
in the aduise, ordinance and arbitrement of the worthie father in God,
Henrie archbishop of Canturburie, the high and noble prince Thomas duke
of Excester, and Iohn duke of Norffolke, the worshipful father in God
Thomas bishop of Duresme, Philip bishop of Worcester, Iohn bishop of
Bath, the noble lord Humfrie earle of Stafford, the worshipfull persons
maister William Alnewicke kéeper of the kings priuie seale, and Rafe
lord Cromwell, promising and behighting by the faith of his bodie, &
word of his princehood and kings sonne, to doo, kéepe, obserue, and
fulfill for him and his behalfe, all that shall be declared, ordeined,
and arbitrated, by the foresaid archbishop, dukes, bishops, earle,
kéeper of the priuie seale, and lord Cromwell in all matters and
quarels abouesaid.
Granting also and promising ouer that, to be comprehended in the
foresaid arbitrement, as toward putting awaie all heauinesses and
displeasures, in anie wise conteined, by my lord of Glocester against
all those that haue in anie wise assisted, counselled, or fauoured
vnto his said vncle of Winchester, and as toward anie matters that
be touching my lord of Glocester, remitteth it, and the gouernance
thereof vnto the king & his councell, they to déeme it by the aduise
of his councell, as him thinketh it to be doone. In witnesse of the
which thing to this present compromise my said lord of Glocester hath
subscribed his name with his owne hand: Humfreie Glocester. And in like
forme my lord of Winchester in another compromise hath subscribed with
his owne hand vnder the word of his priesthood, to stand at the aduise,
ordinance, & arbitrement of the persons abouesaid, Mutatis mutandis.
* * * * *
A decrée or order taken by the kings councell for the pacifieng
of the quarels and variances that were betwéene the duke of
Glocester, and the bishop of Winchester.
The causes aforesaid and quarels by vs séene, heard, and diligentlie
examined and decréed, by the assent of the said parties, ordeine and
award, that my lords of Glocester and of Winchester, for any thing
doone or spoken, by that one partie against that other, or by anie of
theirs, or anie other person or persons, afore the seuenth daie of
this present moneth of March, neuer hereafter take causes, quarels,
displeasures, or heauinesses, that one against the other, ne neither
against the counsellers, adherents, or fauourers of that other for
anie thing or things that are past. And that my said lord of Glocester
be good lord to my said lord of Winchester, & haue him in loue and
affection as his kinsman & vncle. And that my said lord of Winchester
haue to my said lord of Glocester true and sad loue and affection, doo
and be readie to doo him such seruice as apperteineth of honestie to my
said lord of Winchester and his estate to doo. And that each of them be
good lord vnto all those adherents, counsellers, and fauourers of that
other, and shew them at all times fauourable loue and affection, as for
anie thing by them doone or said, before the seauenth daie of March.
And we decrée, ordeine, and award, that my said lord of Winchester,
in the presence of the king our souereigne lord, my lord of Bedford,
and my lord of Glocester, and the residue of the lords spirituall and
temporall, and commons being in this this present parlement, saie and
declare in maner and forme that followeth: My souereigne lord, I haue
well vnderstand, that I am noised among the states of your land, how
that the king our souereigne lord that was, at that time being prince,
and lodged in the great chamber at Westminster, by the baieng of a
spaniell, there was on a night taken behind a [5]tapet in the same
chamber, a man, that should haue confessed, that he was there by mine
excitation and procuring, to haue slaine the foresaid prince there in
his bed; wherevpon he was sacked, and foorthwith also drowned in the
Thames.
[5] Or hanging.
Furthermore, I am accused, how that I should haue stirred the king
that last died, the time also that he was prince, to haue taken the
gouernance of this realme, and the crowne vpon him, his father liuing
the same time, being king. Through which language and noising, I
féele my name and fame greatlie enblemished in diuerse mens opinions.
Wherevpon, I take first God to my witnes, and after all the world, that
I haue béene at all times, and am true louer, and true man, to you my
souereigne lord, and shall be all my life. And also, I haue béene to my
souereigne lord that was your father, all the time of his reigne, true
man, and for such he tooke me, trusted me and cherished me to his liues
end; and as I trust, no man will affirme the contrarie, nor neuer in my
life procuring nor imagining death nor destruction of his person, ne
assenting to any such thing, or like thereto, the time that he was king
or prince, or else in other state.
I was likewise true man to king Henrie the fourth; all the time that he
was my souereigne lord, and reigned vpon me. In which matters, in all
maner of wise that it liketh to you my souereigne lord for to command
me, I am readie for to declare me: and furthermore, where, how, and
when it shall like you, by the aduise of your councell, to assigne
me. Wherefore I beséech you my souereigne lord, as humblie as I can,
considering that there is no grounded processe, by the which I might
lawfullie in these matters abouesaid, be conuict (blessed be God) to
hold me, and declare me, by the aduise of all the lords, spirituall
and temporall, being in this present parlement, true man to you my
souereigne lord, and so to haue béene vnto my souereigne lords that
were your father and grandfather, and true man also to haue béene at
all times to your said father whilest he was prince, or else in anie
other estate, the said slander and noise notwithstanding, and this same
declaration to be inacted in this your said present parlement.
The which words declared in maner as it is abouesaid, it séemeth to
my said lords the arbitrators, that it is méet, that my said lord of
Winchester draw him apart, and in the meane time, the lords being
present, be singularlie examined therevpon, and saie their aduise.
And if it be assented by them, in maner as my said lord of Winchester
desireth, let him be called againe, and that then my lord of Bedford
haue these words in effect that follow: Faire vncle, the king my lord
by the aduise of his councell, hath commanded me to saie to you, that
he hath well vnderstand and considered all the matters which yée haue
héere openlie declared in his presence, and therevpon yée desire a
petition, that he will declare you, and by the aduise and assent of
the lords spirituall and temporall, being in this present parlement,
he declareth you a true man to him, and that yée haue so béene to my
lord his father, and grandfather, also true man to my lord his father
while he was prince, or else in anie other estate, the said dislander
and noising notwithstanding, and will that the said declaration be so
inacted in this present parlement.