The duke in déed sore stomached the matter, that his counsell might
not be followed in all things, and speciallie for that he saw (as he
tooke it) that the king was misled by some persons that were about
him, otherwise than stood with his honor: for reformation whereof, he
conferred with the abbat of saint Albons, and the prior of Westminster.
The abbat was both his coosine and godfather: and hauing on a daie both
the duke and the prior at his house in saint Albons, after dinner he
fell in talke with the duke and prior, and amongst other communication
required of the prior to tell truth, whether he had anie vision the
night before or not. The prior séemed loth to make a direct answer; but
at length being earnestlie requested as well by the abbat as the duke,
he declared that he had a vision in déed, which was “that the realme
of England should be destroied through the misgouernement of king
Richard.” “By the virgine Marie,” said the abbat, “I had the verie same
vision.” The duke herevpon disclosed vnto them all the secrets of his
mind, and by their deuises presentlie contriued an assemblie of diuerse
great lords of the realme at Arundell castell that daie fortnight, at
what time he himselfe appointed to be there, with the earles of Derbie,
Arundell, Marshall, and Warwike: also the archbishop of Canturburie,
the abbat of saint Albons, the prior of Westminster, with diuerse
others.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 21.
The purpose of the conspirators.