He therefore taking with him such Cheshire men as he had with him at
that present (in whom all his trust was reposed) he doubted not to
reuenge himselfe of his aduersaries, & |855| so at the first he passed
with a good courage: but when he vnderstood as he went thus forward,
that all the castels, euen from the borders of Scotland vnto Bristow
were deliuered vnto the duke of Lancaster, and that likewise the nobles
and commons, as well of the south parts, as the north, were fullie
bent to take part with the same duke against him; and further, hearing
how his trustie councellors had lost their heads at Bristow, he became
so greatlie discomforted, that sorowfullie lamenting his miserable
state, he vtterlie despaired of his owne safetie, and calling his armie
togither, which was not small, licenced euerie man to depart to his
home.
[Sidenote: K. Richard stealeth awaie from his armie, and taketh the
castell of Flint.]
The souldiers being well bent to fight in his defense, besought him to
be of good chéere, promising with an oth to stand with him against the
duke, and all his partakers vnto death: but this could not incourage
him at all, so that in the night next insuing, he stole from his armie,
and with the dukes of Excester and Surrie, the bishop of Carleill, and
sir Stephan Scroope, and about halfe a score others, he got him to the
castell of Conwaie, where he found the earle of Salisburie, determining
there to hold himselfe, till he might sée the world at some better
staie; for what counsell to take to remedie the mischéefe thus pressing
vpon him he wist not. On the one part he knew his title iust, true, and
infallible; and his conscience cleane, pure and without spot of enuie
or malice: he had also no small affiance in the Welshmen, and Cheshire
men. On the other side, he saw the puissance of his aduersaries, the
sudden departing of them whom he most trusted, and all things turned
vpside downe: he euidentlie saw, and manifestlie perceiued, that he
was forsaken of them, by whom in time he might haue béene aided and
relieued, where now it was too late, and too farre ouer passed.
[Sidenote: A speciall note woorthie to be well weied.]
¶ This suerlie is a verie notable example, and not vnwoorthie of all
princes to be well weied, and diligentlie marked, that this Henrie
duke of Lancaster should be thus called to the kingdome, and haue the
helpe and assistance (almost) of all the whole realme, which perchance
neuer thereof thought or yet dreamed; and that king Richard should thus
be left desolate, void, and in despaire of all hope and comfort, in
whom if there were anie offense, it ought rather to be imputed to the
frailtie of wanton youth, than to the malice of his hart: but such is
the deceiuable iudgement of man, which not regarding things present
with due consideration, thinketh euer that things to come shall haue
good successe, with a pleasant & delitefull end. But in this deiecting
of the one, & aduancing of the other, the prouidence of God is to be
respected, & his secret will to be woondered at. For as in his hands
standeth the donation of kingdoms, so likewise the disposing of them
consisteth in his pleasure, which the verie pagans vnderstood right
well; otherwise, one of them would neuer haue said,
[Sidenote: _Hor. lib. car. 3. ode. 1._]
Regum timendorum in proprios greges,
Reges in ipsos imperium est Iouis
Cuncta supercilio mouentis.
[Sidenote: The earle of Worcester leaueth the K. and fléeth to the duke.