The History of England - Vols. 1 to 6 (178 page)

without the bounty of the crown: For his father, Michael de la Pole, though a great merchant, had been ruined by lending money to the late king. See Cotton, p. 194. We may remark that the dukes of Glocester and York, though vastly rich, received at the same time each of them a thousand pounds a year, to support their dignity. Rymer, vol. vii. p. 481. Cotton, p. 310.

[d]Cotton, p. 315.

[e]Knyghton, p. 2686. Statutes at large, 10 Rich. II. chap. i.

[f]Cotton, p. 318.

[g]In the preamble to 5 Henry IV. cap. vii. it is implied, that the sheriffs in a manner

appointed the members of the house of commons, not only in this parliament, but in many others.

[h]Knyghton, p. 2694. Ypod. Neust. p. 541.

[i]The parliament in 1341, exacted of Edward III. that, on the third day of every

session, the king should resume all the great offices; and that the ministers should then answer to any accusation that should be brought against them: Which plainly implies, that, while ministers, they could not be accused or impeached in parliament.

Henry IV. told the commons, that the usage of parliament required them to go first through the king’s business in granting supplies; which order the king intended not to alter, Parl. Hist. vol. ii. p. 65. Upon the whole, it must be allowed, that, according to ancient practice and principles, there are at least plausible grounds for all these opinions of the Judges. It must be remarked, that this affirmation of Henry IV. was given deliberately, after consulting the house of peers, who were much better acquainted with the usage of parliament than the ignorant commons. And it has the greater authority, because Henry IV. had made this very principle a considerable article of charge against his predecessor; and that a very few years before. So ill grounded were most of the imputations thrown on the unhappy Richard!

[k]Cotton, p. 322.

[l]Knyghton, p. 2715. Tyrrel, vol. iii. part 2. p. 919. from the records. Parliamentary

History, vol. i. p. 414.

[*]See note
[L]
at the end of the volume.

[m]At least this is the character given of him by Froissard, liv. 2. who knew him

personally: Walsingham, p. 334. gives a very different character of him; but he is a writer somewhat passionate and partial; and the choice made of this gentleman by Edward III. and the Black Prince for the education of Richard, makes the character given him by Froissard, much more probable.

[*]See note
[M]
at the end of the volume.

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[n]Dugdale, vol. ii. p. 170.

[o]Knyghton, p. 2677. Walsingham, p. 342.

[p]Rymer, vol. vii. p. 659.

[q]Ibid. p. 687.

[r]Cotton, p. 365. Walsingham, p. 352.

[s]15th August, 1388.

[t]Froissard, liv. 3. chap. 124, 125, 126. Walsingham, p. 355.

[u]Rymer, vol. vii. p. 820.

[w]Ibid. p. 811.

[x]Ibid. p. 727. Walsingham, p. 347.

[y]Rymer, vol. vii. p. 152.

[z]Liv. 4. chap. 86.

[a]Cotton, p. 378. Tyrrel, vol. iii. part 2. p. 972, from the records. Parliamentary

History, vol. i. p. 473. That this confession was genuine, and obtained without violence, may be entirely depended on. Judge Rickhill, who brought it over from Calais, was tried on that account, and acquitted in the first parliament of Henry IV.

when Glocester’s party was prevalent. His acquittal, notwithstanding his innocence, may even appear marvellous, considering the times. See Cotton, p. 393.

[b]Froissard, liv. 4. chap. 90. Walsing. p. 354.

[c]Rymer, vol. viii. p. 7.

[*]See note
[N]
at the end of the volume.

[d]The nobles brought numerous retainers with them to give them security, as we are

told by Walsingham, p. 354. The king had only a few Cheshire men for his guard.

[e]Statutes at Large, 21 Richard II.

[f]Cotton, p. 368.

[g]Ibid. p. 377. Froissard, liv. 4. chap. 90. Walsing. p. 354.

[h]Tyrrel, vol. iii. part 2. p. 968. from the records.

[i]Cotton, p. 399, 400. Dugdale, vol. ii. p. 171.

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[k]Cotton, p. 370, 371.

[l]Ibid. p. 371.

[m]Walsing. p. 355.

[n]Statutes at large, 21 Rich. II.

[o]Cotton, p. 372.

[p]The names of the commissioners were, the dukes of Lancaster, York, Albemarle,

Surrey, and Exeter, the marquis of Dorset, the earls of March, Salisbury, Northumberland, Glocester, Winchester, and Wiltshire, John Bussey, Henry Green, John Russel, Robert Teyne, Henry Chelmeswicke, and John Golofre. It is to be remarked, that the duke of Lancaster always concurred with the rest in all their proceedings, even in the banishment of his son, which was afterwards so much complained of.

[q]Cotton, p. 372. Walsing. p. 355.

[r]Cotton, p. 372. Parliamentary history, vol. i. p. 490.

[s]In the first year of Henry VI. when the authority of parliament was great, and when

that assembly could least be suspected of lying under violence, a like concession was made to the privy council from like motives of convenience. See Cotton, p. 564.

[t]Cotton, p. 380. Walsingham, p. 356.

[u]Tyrrel, vol. iii. part 2. p. 991, from the records.

[w]Walsingham, p. 343.

[x]He levied fines upon those who had ten years before joined the duke of Glocester

and his party: They were obliged to pay him money, before he would allow them to enjoy the benefit of the indemnity; and in the articles of charge against him, it is asserted, that the payment of one fine did not suffice. It is indeed likely, that his ministers would abuse the power put into their hands; and this grievance extended to very many people. Historians agree in representing this practice as a great oppression.

See Otterburne, p. 199.

[y]Walsingham.

[z]Knyghton, p. 2744. Otterburne, p. 212.

[a]Tyrrel, vol. iii. part 2. p. 1008, from the records. Knyghton, p. 2746. Otterburne, p.

214.

[b]Art. 16, 26.

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[h]We learn from Cotton, p. 362, that the king, by his chancellor, told the commons,

that they were sunderly bound to him, and namely in forbearing to charge them with
dismes and fifteens, the which he meant
no more
to charge them in his own person.

These words
no more
allude to the practice of his predecessors: He had not himself imposed any arbitrary taxes: Even the parliament, in the articles of his deposition, though they complain of heavy taxes, affirm not, that they were imposed illegally or by arbitrary will.

[[O]
at the end of the volume.

[k]Sir John Heywarde, p. 101.

[l]Cotton, p. 389.

[m]Knyghton, p. 2757.

[n]Knyghton, p. 2759. Otterborn, p. 220.

[o]Cotton, p. 390.

[p]Henry iv. cap. 14.

[q]Peruse, in this view, the abridgment of the records, by Sir Robert Cotton, during

these two reigns.

[[P]
at the end of the volume.

[s]Walsingham, p. 191, 208, 283, 284. Spelman Concil. vol. ii. p. 630. Knyghton, p.

2657.