About the same time, to wit, in the quindene of Easter, a parlement
of the nobles was holden at Salisburie, during the which an Irish
frier of the order of the Carmelits, being a bacheler in diuinitie,
exhibited to the king a bill against the duke of Lancaster, charging
him with heinous treasons: as that he meant vpon a sudden to destroie
the king, and to vsurpe the crowne, shewing the time, the place, and
circumstances of the whole contriued matter. The king being yoong both
in yeares and discretion, when he had heard the friers information,
called two of his chapleins vnto him, one sir Nicholas Slake, and an
other, and asked their aduise what they thought good to be doone in
such a weightie cause. Now as they were busie in talke about the same,
the duke of Lancaster came into the kings chamber after his woonted
manner, not vnderstanding anie thing of the matter whereof they were in
talke. The king with a sterne countenance beheld the duke, not dooing
him the honor that he was accustomed. The duke suspecting that the king
had somewhat in his head that touched his person, withdrew. In the
meane time those two that were thus in counsell with the king, fearing
happilie the dukes power, or else vpon good will they bare towards him,
persuaded the king that in anie wise he should call him, to see and
heare what was laid to his charge.
[Sidenote: A miserable & cruell torture.]
The duke, after he had read the bill of his accusation, made such
answer, and so excused himselfe in declaring his innocencie, that the
king gaue credit to his words, and receiued his excuse. Herewith the
duke besought the king, that the frier might be kept in safe gard, till
the time came that he might purge himselfe of that he had charged him
with; and that the lord Iohn Holland the kings halfe brother might haue
the custodie of him, till the day appointed that the duke should come
to his full triall. The night before which day, the said lord Holland,
and sir Henrie Greene knight, came to this frier, and putting a cord
about his necke, tied the other end about his priuie members, & after
hanging him vp from the ground, laid a stone vpon his bellie, with
the weight whereof, and peise of his bodie withall, he was strangled
and tormented, so as his verie backe bone burst in sunder therewith,
besides the straining of his priuie members: thus with thrée kind
of tormentings he ended his wretched life. On the morow after, they
caused his dead corps to be drawne about the towne, to the end it might
appeare he had suffered worthilie for his great falshood & treason.
Which extreame punishment and exquisite kind of execution, had it
not béene meritoriouslie inflicted vpon so impudent an offender, had
deserued perpetuall record of vnaccustomed crueltie, with this vehement
exclamation, |764|
O fera barbaries æuo non nota priori,
Sed nec apud sæuos inuenienda Scythas.
[Sidenote: A rode into Scotland.