Ye haue heard before, how the archbishop of Canturburie Thomas
Arundell, was banisht the relme, and Roger Walden was made archbishop
of that sée, who was a great fauourer of the citie of London, the which
was eftsoones about this season fallen into the kings displeasure: but
by the diligent labour of this archbishop, and of Robert Braibrooke
then bishop of London, vpon the humble supplication of the citizens,
the kings wrath was pacified. But yet to content the kings mind, manie
blanke charters were deuised, and brought into the citie, which manie
of the substantiall and wealthie citizens were faine to |849| seale,
to their great charge, as in the end appeared. And the like charters
were sent abroad into all shires within the realme, whereby great
grudge and murmuring arose among the people: for when they were so
sealed, the kings officers wrote in the same what liked them, as well
for charging the parties with paiment of monie, as otherwise.
[Sidenote: The death of the duke of Lancaster.
_Tho. Walsi._]
In this meane time, the duke of Lancaster departed out of this life
at the bishop of Elies place in Holborne, and lieth buried in the
cathedrall church of saint Paule in London, on the northside of the
high altar, by the ladie Blanch his first wife. The death of this
duke gaue occasion of increasing more hatred in the people of this
realme toward the king, for he seized into his hands all the goods
that belonged to him, and also receiued all the rents and reuenues of
his lands which ought to haue descended vnto the duke of Hereford by
lawfull inheritance, in reuoking his letters patents, which he had
granted to him before, by vertue wherof he might make his attorneis
generall to sue liuerie for him, of any maner of inheritances or
possessions that might from thencefoorth fall vnto him, and that his
homage might be respited, with making reasonable fine: whereby it was
euident, that the king meant his vtter vndooing.
This hard dealing was much misliked of all the nobilitie, and cried out
against of the meaner sort: but namelie the duke of Yorke was therewith
sore mooued, who before this time, had borne things with so patient a
mind as he could, though the same touched him verie néere, as the death
of his brother the duke of Glocester, the banishment of his nephew the
said duke of Hereford, and other mo iniuries in great number, which
for the slipperie youth of the king, he passed ouer for the time, and
did forget aswell as he might. But now perceiuing that neither law,
iustice nor equitie could take place, where the kings wilfull will was
bent vpon any wrongfull purpose, he considered that the glorie of the
publike wealth of his countrie must néeds decaie, by reason of the
king his lacke of wit, and want of such as would (without flatterie)
admonish him of his dutie; and therefore he thought it the part of
a wise man to get him in time to a resting place and to leaue the
following of such an vnaduised capteine, as with a leden sword would
cut his owne throat.
[Sidenote: The duke of Yorke misliketh the court & goeth home.
The realme let to farme by the king.
_Tho. Walsi._]
Herevpon he with the duke of Aumarle his sonne went to his house at
Langlie, reioising that nothing had mishappened in the common-wealth
through his deuise or consent. The common brute ran, that the king had
set to farme the realme of England, vnto sir William Scroope earle of
Wiltshire, and then treasuror of England, to sir Iohn Bushie, sir Iohn
Bagot, and sir Henrie Gréene knights. ¶ About the same time, the earle
of Arundels sonne, named Thomas, which was kept in the duke of Exeters
house, escaped out of the realme, by meanes of one William Scot mercer,
and went to his vncle Thomas Arundell late archbishop of Canturburie,
as then soiourning at Cullen. ¶ King Richard being destitute of
treasure to furnish such a princelie port as he mainteined, borrowed
great summes of monie of manie of the great lords and peeres of his
realme, both spirituall and temporall, and likewise of other meane
persons, promising them in good earnest, by deliuering to them his
letters patents for assurance, that he would repaie the monie so
borrowed at a daie appointed: which notwithstanding he neuer paid.
[Sidenote: New exactions.
The paiment of these fines was called a plesanse as it were to
please the K. withall, but y^e same displeased manie that were thus
constreined to paie against their willes.