The duke of Glocester considering to what conclusion these things
tended, came secretlie to conference with the earles of Arundell,
Warwike, and Derbie, who were in like danger, if they prouided not
more spéedilie for their safetie, wherevpon he discouered to them the
perill wherein they all stood in common, so that when they weied what
was the most expedient meane to safe gard their liues, they gathered
their power togither, determining to talke with the king with their
armour vpon their backes, for their more suertie, as well concerning
his pretense to bring them to their deaths, as for the fauour which he
bare to those whom they reputed to be traitors, both to him, and to the
whole state of the realme, whereby the same could not auoid spéedie
ruine, if remedie were not the sooner prouided. The king on the other
part tooke aduise, how he might apprehend these lords (whom he tooke
to be plaine traitors) ech one apart, before they might gather their
strengths about them; and first, he sent the earle of Northumberland
and others, vnto the castell of Reigate, to take the earle of Arundell,
who laie there at that present. But howsoeuer it fortuned, the earle of
Northumberland came backe, and failed to accomplish that which he had
in commandement.
[Sidenote: The earle of Arundell ioineth with the other lords.]
After this, a great number were sent by night, to haue laid hands on
him, and to haue brought him to the kings presence; or in case he
resisted, to haue slaine him, if by any meanes they might: but he being
warned by a messenger, that came to him from the duke of Glocester,
conueied himselfe awaie, and with such bands as he had got togither,
rode all that night, so that in the morning hauing passed thirtie
miles, not without great trauell, and |785| all speed possible, he was
in the morning aduanced to Haringie parke, where he found the duke of
Glocester, and the earle of Warwike, with a great power of men about
them. ¶ At the same time the king was about to set forward towards
Canturburie, there to performe some vow of pilgrimage, which he had
vndertaken to make vnto the shrine of Thomas Becket. But a brute was
raised, and a slander (belike) contriued, to bring him in further
hatred of his subiects, that he meant to steale ouer into France, vnto
the French king, hauing promised to deliuer vp into his hands the towne
of Calis, with the castell of Guines, and all the fortresses which his
predecessors had possessed in those parties, either by right from their
ancestors, or by warlike conquest.
[Sidenote: Councell taken how to deale against the lords.]
Howbeit this his iournie to Canturburie was suddenlie staied, vpon
knowledge had of the gathering togither of the lords in Haringie
parke, wherewith the king being sore amazed, called togither such as
he trusted, to vnderstand what their opinion was of the matter; and
vnderstanding that the purposed intention of the lords, for which they
were so assembled, was to this end (as they pretended) to bring him
vnto a better trade of life, and more profitable order of gouernement,
he was streight striken with no small feare, demanding of them their
aduise, what was best for him to doo in such troublesome state of
things. Some were of this mind, that it should be best to séeke to
appease the lords with faire promises, assuring them, that they should
haue their desires. Other thought it better to assemble the kings
friends, and ioining them with the Londoners, to go foorth and trie the
hazard of battell with the lords. Among them that were of this mind,
the archbishop of Yorke was the chiefest. But other that were thought
to vnderstand more of the world than he did, iudged it not wisedome so
to doo, considering that if the king lost the field, then should great
harme and dishonor follow; and if the victorie fell to his side, yet
could he gaine naught, but lose a great number of his subiects.
[Sidenote: The lords send messengers to the king.]
This was in Nouember, at what time the king, vpon his returning from
Canturburie, meant to haue holden a parlement; but through those
stirs, neither his iournie to Canturburie, nor the parlement went
forward: yet he caused order to be giuen, that no citizen of London
should sell to the duke of Glocester, the earle of Arundell, or any
other of the lords, any armour, bowes, arrowes, or other munition, or
matter that might tend to the furniture of warre, vpon a great paine.
But notwithstanding, the lords went forward with their businesse; and
before they approched the citie of London, they sent to the king the
archbishop of Canturburie, the lord Iohn Louell, the lord Cobham, and
the lord Iohn Deuereux, requiring to haue deliuered vnto them such as
were about him, that were traitors and seducers both of him and the
realme, that sought nothing else, but to trouble both poore and rich,
and to sow discord and variance betwixt the king and his nobles. And
further, they declared that their comming was for the honor and wealth
both of the king and realme.
[Sidenote: A rash answer of the maior of London.