The new King had hardly seated himself on the throne when a conspiracy
was discovered, having for its object he release and restoration of
Richard, still a prisoner in Pontefract Castle. The plot was easily
crushed. A month later Richard was found dead (S257).
Henry had his body brought up to London and exposed to public view in
St. Paul's Cathedral, in order that not only the people, but all
would-be conspirators might now see that Richard's hands could never
again wield the scepter.
There was, however, one man at least who refused to be convinced.
Owen Glendower, a Welshman, whom the late King had befriended,
declared that Richard was still living, and that the corpse exhibited
was not his body. Glendower prepared to maintain his belief by arms.
King Henry mustered a force with the intention of invading Wales and
crushing the rebel on his own ground; but a succession of terrible
tempests ensued.
The English soldiers got the idea that Glendower raised these storms,
for as an old chronicle declares: "Through art magike he [Glendower]
caused such foule weather of winds, tempest, raine, snow, and haile to
be raised for the annoiance of the King's armie, that the like had not
beene heard of."[2] For this reason the troops became disheartened,
and the King was obliged to postpone the expedition.
[2] Holinshed's "Chronicle."