And lest this one mans confession might séeme insufficient, diuerse
other of them confessed the same, or much what the like in effect, when
they saw no remedie but present death before their eies. To declare
the occasion whie such mischeefes happened thus in the realme, we
leaue to the iudgement of those that may coniecture a truth thereof,
by conferring the manners of that age & behauiour of all states then,
sith they that wrote in those daies, may happilie in that behalfe misse
the trueth, in construing things according to their affections. But
truelie it is to be thought, that the faults, as well in one degrée
as an other, speciallie the sinnes of the whole nation, procured such
vengeance to rise, whereby they might be warned of their euill dooings,
and séeke to reforme the same in time conuenient. But as it commeth
still to passe, when the danger is once ouershot, repentance likewise
is put ouer, and is no more regarded, till an other scourge commeth
eftsoones to put men in remembrance of their duetie; so in like manner
(as séemeth) it chanced in this kings daies, as by that which followeth
may more plainelie appeare.
[Sidenote: The capteine of Berwike will not suffer the duke of
Lancaster to enter into the towne.]
It this meane time that these troubles were at the hottest in England,
the duke of Lancaster being in Scotland, so behaued himselfe (in the
treatie which he had in hand with the Scots) dissembling the matter
so, as if he had not vnderstood of any trouble in England at all, that
finallie before the Scots had knowledge thereof, a truce was concluded
to indure for two yeares, or (as other haue) for three yeares. When he
had made an end there, and that all things were agréed vpon and passed,
for the confirmation of that accord, he returned to Berwike, but at his
comming thither, the capteine sir Matthew Redman would not suffer him
to enter the towne, bicause of a commandement giuen to him |752| from
the earle of Northumberland, lord warden of the marches: wherefore the
duke was glad to returne into Scotland againe, obteining licence of the
Scots to remaine amongst them, till the realme of England was reduced
to better quiet. Hervpon, the commons in England that fauored him
not, tooke occasion to report the worst of him that might be deuised,
calling him now in time of their rebellious commotions, a traitor to
the realme, declaring that he had ioined himselfe to the Scots, and
meant to take part with them against his owne natiue countrie.
The king indéed had sent commandement, during the time of the
rebellious troubles, vnto the earle of Northumberland, that he should
haue good regard to the safe keeping of all the townes & castels
vnder his rule, & not to suffer any person to enter the same, hauing
forgotten to except the duke of Lancaster being then in Scotland:
whervpon the duke tooke no small displeasure with the earle of
Northumberland, as after he well shewed at his comming home. But before
he returned foorth of Scotland, he wrote to the king to vnderstand his
plesure, in what sort he should returne, humbling himselfe in such
wise, as he made offer to come with one knight, one esquier, and a
groome, if it should please the king so to appoint him; or if it so
were that by his presence it was thought the realme was like to fall in
any trouble, he was readie to depart into exile, neuer to returne into
his countrie againe, if so be that through his absence the king and
realme might inioy peace and quietnesse.
[Sidenote: The duke of Lancaster chargeth the earle of Northumberland
with sundrie crimes.]
The king hearing such offers, wrote to him, that his pleasure was to
haue him to returne home, with all his whole traine; and if the same
were not thought sufficient to gard him, he should take of euerie towne
by the which he passed, a certeine number of men to attend him vnto the
next towne for his safegard, and so it was doone, the king sending him
commission to that effect, and thus comming to the court, he was of the
king right honorablie receiued. Within few daies after his comming, he
exhibited a grieuous complaint against the earle of Northumberland, for
abusing him in diuerse sorts, in time of the late troubles, so as his
honour was greatlie thereby touched, for which the earle was sent for,
and commanded to come vnto Berkhamstéed, where all the lords in maner
of the land were assembled in councell.
[Sidenote: The duke of Lancaster & the earle of Northumberland come to
the parlement with great troops of armed men.]
[Sidenote: The Londoners, fréends to the earle of Northumberland.]
Here, after the duke had laid diuerse things to the earles charge, for
his disobedience, vnfaithfulnesse, and ingratitude; the earle after
the manner of his countrie, not able to forbeare, breake out into
reprochfull words against the duke, although he was commanded by the
king to cease, where the duke kept silence in humble maner, at the
first word, when the K. commanded him to hold his peace, so that by
reason of the earles disobedience in that behalfe, he was arrested. But
yet the earls of Warwike and Suffolke vndertaking for his appearance
at the next parlement, he was suffered to depart, and so the councell
brake vp. About the feast of All saints the parlement began, to the
which the duke of Lancaster came bringing with him an excéeding number
of armed men, and likewise the earle of Northumberland with no lesse
companie came likewise to London, & was lodged within the citie, hauing
great friendship shewed towards him of the citizens, who promised to
assist him at all times, when necessitie required, so that his part
séemed to be ouerstrong for the duke, if they should haue come to anie
trial of their forces at that time.
[Sidenote: The lords sit in armour in the parlement house.]
[Sidenote: The K. maketh an agréemēt betwéen the duke of Lancaster &
the earle of Northumberland.]
The Duke laie with his people in the suburbs, and euerie daie when they
went to the parlement house at Westminster, both parts went thither
in armour, to the great terror of those that were wise and graue
personages, fearing some mischiefe to fall foorth of that vnaccustomed
manner of their going armed to the parlement house, contrarie to the
ancient vsage of the realme. At length, to quiet the parties and to
auoid such inconueniences, as might haue growen of their dissention,
the king tooke the matter into his hands, and so they were made
fréends, to the end that some good might be doone in that parlement,
for reformation of things touching the state of the realme, for which
cause it was especiallie called: but now after it had continued a long
time, and few things at all |753| concluded, newes came that the ladie
Anne sister to the emperour Wenslaus, & affianced wife to the king
of England, was come to Calis, whervpon the parliament was proroged
till after Christmas, that in the meane time the marriage might be
solemnized, which was appointed after the Epiphanie: and foorthwith
great preparation was made to receiue the bride, that she might be
conueied with all honor vnto the kings presence.
[Sidenote: The emperours sister affianced to K. Richard, is receiued at
Douer.
A watershake.
1382.