But now to returne to the armies where we left them. After the duke was
fled, and Thomas Molineux slaine (as before ye haue heard) the armie of
the lords set vpon the people that were come with the duke of Ireland
(as hath béene said) foorth of Chesshire, Lancashire, and Wales; and
taking them as enimies, spoiled them of their horsse, armor, bowes and
arrowes. The knights and esquiers had their armor and horsses againe to
them restored, and were reteined with the lords to serue them: but the
commons without either armor or weapon were sent home, and had no other
harme done vnto them. The duke of Irelands cariage being taken, letters
were found in his trunkes or males, which the king had written to him,
exhorting him with all spéed to repaire vnto London, with |791| what
power he might make, and there he should find him readie to liue and
die with him. Such was the conclusion of this battell, which happened
néere vnto Burford, fast by Bablake, to the great reioising of manie
through the realme, for that the enimies thereof (as they tooke the
matter) were thus ouerthrowne. But yet the escaping awaie of the duke
of Ireland did somewhat mitigate their ioy, for what was become of him
it was vncerteine. After this the duke of Glocester, and the other
lords went to Oxford, being sorie that their fortune was not to haue
taken the duke of Ireland.
[Sidenote: _Tho. Walsi._
A brute raised that king Richard meant to yéeld vp Calis into the
French kings hands.]
At the same time, or rather before, the archbishop of Yorke, and the
lord chiefe iustice sir Robert Trisilian, fearing the indignation of
the lords, withdrew out of the waie, and durst not be séene. But now
the lords, who after the iournie at Radcote bridge, were come (as ye
haue heard) to Oxford; we find that the same time a brute was raised
(whether of truth or not, we haue neither to affirme nor denie) how
there was a messenger taken being sent from the French king with
letters, in which was conteined a licence of safe conduct, for the king
of England, the duke of Ireland, and others, to come to Bullongne,
with a certeine number limited, where they should find the French
king come downe thither readie to receiue them, to the end that for
a certeine summe of monie, which the French king should giue to the
king of England, the towne of Calis, and all the fortresses in those
parts, which were in the Englishmens hands, should be deliuered to the
Frenchmen; and further that the king of England should doo his homage
to the French king, for the lands which he held in Gascoigne, and so to
haue acknowledged himselfe his liege man. The lords (as was reported)
hauing got these letters, and taken counsell togither how to procéed in
their businesse, to bring the same to good end, remoued from Oxford,
and on Christmas euen they came to S. Albons, and there staied that
daie and the next.
[Sidenote: The lords come to London with a great armie.
K. Richard kéepeth his Christmas in the Tower of London.
The lords send to the Maior and citizens of London to vnderstand their
meaning.