E N G L A N D. 
which fo pleated the king, that he contented to fhorten 
his banifliment to four years ; and he alfo granted him 
letters patent, infuring him tlie enjoyment of any inherit¬ 
ance which fhould fall to him during his abfence. But 
nothing could be more fluctuating than Richard’s regard 
to friendfhip. The earl of Hereford retiring into Flan¬ 
ders, and from thence to Paris, found there a very favour¬ 
able reception from the French king. He even opened 
a treaty of marriage with the daughter of the duke of 
Berry, uncle to the king of France; but was prevented 
from completing the alliance by the intereft of Richard, 
who, dreading the increaling power of the banifhed earl, 
fent over the earl of Salilbury to Paris, with orders to fet 
alide the match. Such an injury could not fail to aggra¬ 
vate the refentment of Hereford ; but he had (fill other 
reafons for anger, upon the death of his father the duke 
of Lancafter, which happened fliortly after. Richard, as 
before obferved, had given him letters patent, empower¬ 
ing him to poflefs any fucceflions that fhould fall to him 
while abroad ; but, being now afraid of ftrengthening the 
hands of a man whom he had injured, he revoked the pa¬ 
tent, and appropriated the eftate of the houfe of Lancafter 
to himfelf. 
Flereford, no longer able to bear fitch flagrant a£ls of 
injoffice, conceived the revengeful project of dethroning 
the king. Few men were better qualified for an enter- 
prife of this nature than the earl of Hereford ; who was 
cool, cautious, difcerning, and refolute. The earl of 
Marche, prefumptive heir to the crown, had juft been 
Haiti in a fkirmilh in Ireland, which fo incenfed Richard, 
that, unmindful of his precarious fituation at home, he 
refolved, with a numerous army, to go in perfon, and 
revenge his death. The duke of Lancafter, which title 
Flereford affirmed upon the death of his father, being in¬ 
formed of Richard’s departure for Ireland, inftantly em¬ 
barked at Nants, with a retinue of lixty perfons, in three 
fmall veflels, and landed at Ravenfpurin Yorkftiire. The 
earl of Northumberland, and Henry Percy his fon, who, 
from his ardent valour was furnamed Flotfpur, immedi¬ 
ately joined him with their forces. After which, the 
concourfe of people coming to lift under his banner was 
fo great, that, in a few days, his army amounted to fixty 
thoufand men. The duke of York, who had been left 
guardian of the realm during Richard’s, abfence, alfem- 
bled a body of forty thoufand men at St. Alban’s ; but 
found them either quite difpirited, or more attached to 
the caufe of the rebels than of the crown. It had been 
Hereford’s policy to hide the real motives of his expedi¬ 
tion, and to give out that he only aimed at the recovery 
of his patrimonial dukedom. Upon the prefent occafion, 
therefore, he entreated the duke of York not to oppofe a 
loyal and humble l'uppliant in the recovery of his juft 
rights; but to concur in a meafure that was more likely 
to promote the king’s honour, than injure his interefts. 
The duke of York, deceived by thefe fpecious profef- 
(ions, declared that lie would not only approve, but aflift 
in forwarding his pretenfions ; and both armies meeting, 
embraced with acclamations of friendlhip and joy. 
Whilft thefe things were tranfacting in England, Rich¬ 
ard continued in Ireland in perfect fecurity. Contrary 
winds, which continued to blow for three weeks toge¬ 
ther, prevented his receiving any intelligence of the re¬ 
bellion in his native dominions. Upon the fir ft informa¬ 
tion, however, he imprifoned the earl of Hereford’s bro¬ 
thers, whom he had taken over with him, and then re- 
folvetj to return inftantly to England, to fight the enemy 
in perfon. But ever wavering in his refolutions, he was 
perfuaded to Hay till he could prepare (hips to tranfpqrt 
all his forces together. This delay completed his ruin ; 
to that when he landed at Milford.haven with an army 
of twenty thoufand men, he had the mortification to find 
that the duke of York had efpoufed the caufe of his ri¬ 
val, and that his force was greatly inferior to that of the 
enemy. He now perceived himfelf in a dreadful fitua¬ 
tion, in the midft of a difaffedted people, without any 
Vol. VI. No. 376. 
605 
friend on whom to rely, and forfaken by thofe, who, in 
the meridian of his power, had only contributed to in- 
creafe his follies. Flis little army began gradually to de- 
fert, until at laft he had not above fix thoufand men, 
who followed his ftandard. Thus, not knowing where 
to turn, he faw no other alternative but to throw' himfelf 
upon the generality of his enemy ; and he therefore fent 
a meflenger to Hereford, earneftly defiring a conference. 
The earl appointed to meet at a caftle within about ten 
miles of Chefter, A. D. 1399, where he came the next 
day with his whole army. Richard, who had been brought 
thither by the earl of Northumberland, deferying his ri¬ 
val’s approach from the walls, went down to receive him ; 
while Hereford, after fome ceremony, entered the caftle 
in complete armour, with his head bare, in compliment 
to the fallen king. Richard received him with that com¬ 
placency for which he had been ever praifqworthy, and 
kindly bade him welcome. “ My lord the king (re¬ 
turned Hereford, with a cool refpedtful bow) I am comp 
fooner than you appointed, becaufe your people fay, that 
for one-and-twenty years you have governed with rigour 
and indiferetion. They are very ill fatisfied with your 
conduft ; but, if it pleafe God, I will help you to go¬ 
vern them better for the time to come.” To this decla¬ 
ration the king made no other anfwer, but, “ Faircoufin, 
fince it pleafes you, it pleafes us likewife.” 
But Hereford’s auftere anfw'er was not the only morti¬ 
fication the unfortunate Richard was to endure. After a 
fliort converfation with fome of the king’s attendants, 
Hereford ordered the king’s horfes to be brought out of 
the liable ; and two wretched worn-down animals being 
produced, Richard was placed upon one, and his favour¬ 
ite, the ear*l of Salilbury, upon the other. In this mean 
condition they rode to Chefter, and were conveyed to the 
caftle with a great noife of trumpets, and through a vaft 
concourfe of people". In this manner he was condudted 
from town to town, amidft multitudes who fcoffed at him, 
and extolled his rival. “ Long live the good duke of 
Lancafter, our deliverer 1 ” was the general cry; but as 
for the king, to life the pathetic words of the poet, 
“ none cried, God blefs him!” Thus, after a long jour¬ 
ney, marked with repeated indignities, he was confined a 
clofe priloner in the Tower; there, if poffible, to under¬ 
go a Hill greater variety of ftudied infolence, and fragrant 
contempt. The wretched monarch, thus humbled, felt- 
no difficulty in (igning a deed, by which he renounced his 
crown, and acknowledged himfelf unqualified forgovefn- 
ing the kingdom. Upon this refignation the duke of Lan¬ 
cafter founded his claim: but, willing to adt with every 
appearance of juftice, he called a parliament, which was 
ealily brought to approve and confirm his pretenfions. A 
frivolous charge of thirty-three articles was drawn up, 
and found valid againft the king; upon which he was fo- 
lenmly depofed, and the duke of Lancafter eledted king, 
by the title of Henry IV. Thus began the conteft be¬ 
tween the houfes of York and Lancafter, which, for many 
years, deluged the country with blood; and yet, in the 
end, contributed to fettle and confirm the prefent happy 
conftitution. 
When Richard was depofed, the earl of Northumber¬ 
land made a motion in the houfe of peers, demanding the 
advice of parliament, with regard to the future treatment 
of the depofed king. To this they replied, that he 
fhould be imprifoned in fome fecure place, where his 
partizans (liquid not be able to have accefs.to him. This 
was accordingly put in practice ; but, while lie dill con¬ 
tinued alive, the ufurper could not conceive himfelf in 
fafety. Some confpiracies alfo, which followed foon af¬ 
ter, induced Henry to with for Richard’s death ; in con- 
fequence of which, a hired aflaflin went down to the place 
of this unfortunate monarch’s confinement in Pomfret 
caftle, and, with eight of his followers, rufhed into his 
apartment. The king, perceiving their defign was to take 
away his life, refolved not to fall unrevenged; wherefore 
wrefting a pole-axe from one of the murderers, he foon 
7 P • laid 
