IXTRODCCTION 17 



Brocas Master a brief outline has already been given. In 

 the next generation the passionate devotion of the loyal 

 Gascon blood to the failing cause of Eichard the Kedeless^ 

 son of the 'Prince of Aquitaine,' brought the rising fortunes 

 of the familj^ to the brink of ruin. For the second Sir 

 Bernard Brocas, in consequence of his share in the desperate 

 plot to seize Henry IV. at Oxford, lost not only many a fair 

 manor, but his head also. Betrayed by the dastardly traitor 

 Rutland, the conspirators made a dash on Windsor, missed 

 Henry there by a few hours, and fled in hot haste to Ciren- 

 cester, where they were forced to surrender. The earls 

 implicated in the rising having been beheaded without trial, 

 the knights were taken to Oxford, where the greater number 

 were barbarously executed, but four, including (according 

 to the statement of the most trustworthy chronicler) ' Sir 

 Bernard Brocas Gascon ' and Sir Thomas Shelley, were sent 

 to London for trial. Thus accuracy can scarcely be allowed 

 to Shakespeare's graphic narrative of the event wherein 

 Fitzwater reports — 



My lord, I have from Oxford sent to London 

 The heads of Brocas and Sir Bennet Seely, 

 Two of the dangerous consorted traitors 

 That sought at Oxford tliy dire overthrow. 



Richard II. act iv. scene 6. 



At Tyburn Brocas alone of the four was exempted from the 

 degradation of being drawn and hanged, and there they suffered 

 death with the composure becoming knights and gentlemen ^ 

 refusing to the last to betray their associates. For, as 

 stated in the ' Chronique de la Trai'son,' to the question, 

 ' Say amongst you who they were that belonged to your 

 party,' ' la ne respondit nul,' none of them replied a word. 



Although by the clemency of Henry IV. the forfeiture 

 and attainder were with remarkable promptitude reversed, 

 and the family restored in blood and estate, the descen- 



c 



