The king was sore offended with the obstinatnes of the rebell, that
would not agree otherwise: but so as he might remaine still at
libertie, without danger to suffer anie maner of punishment for his
passed offenses. Wherevpon the king after his comming to Dublin, and
that the armie had rested there, and in the countrie neere to the
citie, for the space of fiftéene daies, he diuided his people into
three parts, and sent them abroad into the countrie to pursue the
enimies and withall made proclamation, that who so euer could bring
Macmur vnto his presence, should haue for his recompense a great
reward: for he determined not to depart the countrie, till he had him
either dead or aliue. But he knew full little then what incidents to
hinder his purposed intention would after follow.
[Sidenote: The duke of Aumarle.]
The same daie that he sent abroad his armie thus into three seuerall
parts, the duke of Aumarle with an hundred saile arriued, of whose
coming the king was right ioifull; and although he had vsed no small
negligence in that he came no sooner according to order before
appointed, yet the king (as he was of a gentle nature) courteouslie
accepted his excuse: whether he was in fault or not, I haue not to
saie; but verelie he was greatlie suspected, that he dealt not well
in tarieng so long after his time assigned. But now whilest the king
rested at Dublin, his people so demeaned themselues, that the most part
of the rebels, what by manhood and policie were subdued, and brought
vnder subiection, and (as is to be thought) if no trouble had risen in
England to haue called him backe, he meant to haue rid vp the woods,
and made some notable conquest at that time vpon the rebels that yet
held out. Neuerthelesse, during the time of his abode there, such was
the prowesse of him and his, that the Irish were well tamed, and forced
to submit |852| themselues: and yet the kings power made no great
slaughter of them, if it be true that Christ. Okl. saith, speaking
hereof in few words as after followeth:
[Sidenote: _In Angl. prælije sub Rich. 2._]
Pergit ad indomitos princeps Richardus Hibernos,
Inq; potestatem multo sine sanguine, sæuo
Marte reluctantes.
[Sidenote: The duke of Lancaster solicited to expel king Richard, and
to take vpon him the regiment.]
Now whilest he was thus occupied in deuising how to reduce them into
subiection, and taking orders for the good staie and quiet gouernment
of the countrie, diuerse of the nobilitie, aswell prelats as other, and
likewise manie of the magistrats and rulers of the cities, townes, and
communaltie, here in England, perceiuing dailie how the realme drew to
vtter ruine, not like to be recouered to the former state of wealth,
whilest king Richard liued and reigned (as they tooke it) deuised with
great deliberation, and considerate aduise, to send and signifie by
letters vnto duke Henrie, whome they now called (as he was in déed)
duke of Lancaster and Hereford, requiring him with all conuenient spéed
to conueie himselfe into England, promising him all their aid, power
and assistance, if he expelling K. Richard, as a man not meet for the
office he bare, would take vpon him the scepter, rule, and diademe of
his natiue land and region.
[Sidenote: The duke of Britaine a great friend to the duke of Lancaster.
The duke of Lancaster & his adherents saile into England. Additions to
_Polychron._
_Thom. Wals._
_Chron. Brit._
_Froissard._
_Tho. Walsing._]
He therefore being thus called vpon by messengers and letters from
his fréends, and chéeflie through the earnest persuasion of Thomas
Arundell, late archbishop of Canturburie, who (as before yée haue
heard) had béene remooued from his sée, and banished the realme by
king Richards means, got him downe to Britaine, togither with the said
archbishop, where he was ioifullie receiued of the duke and duchesse,
and found such fréendship at the dukes hands, that there were certeine
ships rigged, and made readie for him, at a place in base Britaine,
called Le port blanc, as we find in the chronicles of Britaine: and
when all his prouision was made readie, he tooke the sea, togither with
the said archbishop of Canturburie, and his nephue Thomas Arundell,
sonne and heire to the late earle of Arundell, beheaded at the Tower
hill, as you haue heard. There were also with him, Reginald lord
Cobham, sir Thomas Erpingham, and sir Thomas Ramston knights, Iohn
Norburie, Robert Waterton, & Francis Coint esquires: few else were
there, for (as some write) he had not past fifteene lances, as they
tearmed them in those daies, that is to saie, men of armes, furnished
and appointed as the vse then was. ¶ Yet other write, that the duke
of Britaine deliuered vnto him three thousand men of warre, to attend
him, and that he had eight ships well furnished for the warre, where
Froissard yet speaketh but of three. Moreouer, where Froissard and also
the chronicles of Britaine auouch, that he should land at Plimmouth,
by our English writers it séemeth otherwise: for it appeareth by their
assured report, that he approching to the shore, did not streight
take land, but lay houering aloofe, and shewed himselfe now in this
place, and now in that, to sée what countenance was made by the people,
whether they meant enuiouslie to resist him, or fréendlie to receiue
him.
[Sidenote: The commōs denie to resist the duke of Lancaster.]
When the lord gouernor Edmund duke of Yorke was aduertised, that
the duke of Lancaster kept still the sea, and was readie to arriue
(but where he ment first to set foot on land, there was not any that
vnderstood the certeintie) he sent for the lord chancellor Edmund
Stafford bishop of Excester, and for the lord treasuror William Scroope
earle of Wiltshire, and other of the kings priuie councell, as Iohn
Bushie, William Bagot, Henrie Greene, and Iohn Russell knights: of
these he required to knew what they thought good to be doone in this
matter, concerning the duke of Lancaster, being on the seas. Their
aduise was, to depart from London, vnto S. Albons, and there to gather
an armie to resist the duke in his landing, but to how small purpose
their counsell serued, the conclusion thereof plainlie declared,
for the most part that were called, when they came thither, boldlie
protested, that they would not fight against the duke of Lancaster,
whome they knew to be euill dealt withall.
[Sidenote: The duke of Lancaster lādeth in Yorkshire.