APPENDIX No. II. Extracts from Chronicles relating to the Execution of the Earl of Wiltes. A contemporary metrical Chronicle of the Deposition of King Richard the Second, written by Creton, who accompanied the King on His visit to Ireland in 1399. (E. Chron. MS. Harl. Coll. Cod. 1319.) Ainsi fusmes en joie et en delit A duveline, ou tres gracieux fit Bien six sepmaines Sans point oir de nouvelles certaines Tant fu le vent contraire de tous lez Car entandiz la partie greigneur Et vous lorrez; mais que je ne devie, Quant au roy pleut qe tout ca jus maistrie Une barge, qui mains yeulx fist pleurer: Ceulx de dedens vouldrent au roy compter Comment le duc avoit fait decoler Son Tresorier; Et comment quant il arriva premier En son pais il fit aux gens preschier Larcevesque de Cantorbre fier Disant ainsi. Thus we remained joyous and happy at Dublin, where full six weeks passed very agreeably away without hearing any news from England, for no peril nor endurance could succeed in bringing over any ships or vessels; so adverse was the wind to them, and so outrageous the tempest on the sea, that I cannot but deem our Lord was angry with the King; for in the meantime the Duke had seized the greater part of England by the strangest and foulest treachery I ever knew, as you shall hear. But not to digress. When it pleased the Sovereign Ruler of all things, the sea again became calm. A barge arrived, which was the cause of great sorrow. THEY WHO CAME IN HER RELATED TO THE KING HOW THAT THE DUKE HAD CAUSED HIS TREASURER'S HEAD TO BE CUT OFF, and how on his first arrival in the country he had made the proud Archbishop of Canterbury preach to the people to this effect, &c. Translation from Walsingham's Chron. Edit. Camden. F. 355. About the Feast of Pentecost (18th May) the King, leaving the Kingdom very much disturbed, as is aforesaid, sailed over to Ireland with his Cheshire men. The Lord Edmund Duke of York (the King's Uncle) to whom the custody of the Realm had been committed in the King's absence, hearing that the Duke of Lancaster had already set sail, and was prepared to invade the Kingdom, having called to Council the Lord Edmund Stafford Bishop of Chichester [Exeter] the Chancellor, and William Scrope Earl of Wilts, the Treasurer of the Realm, and the Knights of the King's Council, John Bushy, William Bagot, Henry Grene and John Russell, asked what was to be done in this matter. They advised him to quit London for St. Albans, there to await the arrival of a military force such as would resist the Duke's coming, but the sequel hath shewn how futile was their advice in this behalf; for they who came thither from many of the Counties protested that they would do no harm to the Duke of Lancaster, who they knew had been unjustly treated. But the aforesaid wicked Councillors John Bushy, William Bagot, and Henry Grene, together with the Treasurer William Scrope, perceiving that the Commonalty were inclined to adhere to the Duke of Lancaster, having left the Custos of the Realm and the Chancellor, fled in haste to the Castle of Bristol. And the Duke of Lancaster having landed about the Feast of the Translation of St. Martin [July 4th] without opposition near the place where the Town of Ravenshere [Ravenspur] formerly stood, there came to meet him the Lord Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland, and the Lord Henry his son, and the Lord Ralph de Nevile Earl of Westmoreland, and many other Lords who feared the King's tyranny greatly. They came with speed to Bristol, and laid siege to the Castle, because they were prepared to have resisted, WHERE AT LENGTH THE TREASURER WILLIAM LE SCROP, JOHN BUSHY, AND HENRY GRENE WERE TAKEN PRISONERS, AND THEY WERE FORTHWITH ON THE MORROW BEHEADED AT THE OUTCRY OF THE POPULACE, OF THESE ALONE W. BAGOT ESCAPED AND SAILED TO IRELAND, for he had not betaken himself to Bristol with his Companions, but had fled to Chester, and concealed himself. When King Richard in Ireland heard of the Duke's arrival, he was presently minded to shut up the Son of the Duke of Gloucester and the Son of the Duke of Lancaster in the Castle of Trym. But when he arrived in England, and was made acquainted with the Duke's preparations, all idea of fighting forsook him, feeling persuaded that the people who were congregated against him would sooner die than yield, as much through hatred of him as through fear. At length having been brought to the Castle of Conway, he asked to have speech with the Lord Thomas Arundel, whom he had expelled from the Archbishopric of Canterbury, and the Earl of Northumberland, seeing that no hope further existed of escape. To them he indicated his wish to give up the Realm, if an honourable provision for himself and security of life for the eight persons whom he would name should be accorded, and their promise given to that effect. Which things having been agreed on and ratified, he came to the Castle of Flint, where having had short parley with the Duke of Lancaster, they forthwith mounted their horses and came to the Castle of Chester on that night, together with the Army which had followed the Duke in great numbers; and the King gave himself up to the Duke on the 20th day of the month of August, being the 47th day from the Duke's entry into England; the King's treasure, with horses and other ornaments aud the whole household furniture, fell into the Duke's hands, but the King's attendants, the magnates, lords, and gentry, were despoiled by the Welchmen and Northumbrians. The King was led to London to be kept in the Tower till the meeting of the next Parliament. In the meantime Writs were directed, in the name of King Richard, to the persons of the Realm who of right ought to be present in Parliament to assemble in London at Westminster on the morrow of Saint Michael. 1 1 Translation from William of Worcester's Chronicle. Published by Hearne. Vol. II. Liber Niger, P. 445. The Duke rode to Bristol with the Archbishop Thomas Arundel, AND THERE BEHEADED WILLIAM SCROPE EARL OF WILTS TREASURER OF ENGLAND AND HENRY GREENE AND JOHN BUSHE KNIGHTS, . . . . and afterwards rode to Flint Castle, where the King was, and came with the King to London in the month of September. Extract from Grafton's Chronicle. P. 399. King Richard being in Ireland, and now hearing of the Duke's arrival in England, hastened not a little to set all things there in order, and he returned into England, and landed at Milford Haven in the beginning of September [August], and from thence passed into the Castle of Flint in Wales, ten miles distant from Chester, and there rested him and his people, intending there to have gathered a great power, and to have set upon the Duke. But in the meantime the aforesaid Duke, who had proclaimed himself Duke of Lancaster in the right of his father John of Gaunt, was come to Bristol, AND THERE WITHOUT RESISTANCE TOOK SIR WILLIAM SCROPE EARL OF WILTS, HIGH TREASURER OF ENGLAND SIR JOHN BUSHE AND SIR HENRY GREENE, WHO There was also taken Sir John [William] FORTHWITH WERE ADJUDGED AND WERE BEHEADED. Bagot, but he escaped and fled to Ireland. Translation from La Chronicque de la Traison et Mort de Richard Deux Roy Dengleterre. MS. Bib. Imp. Paris. No. 904. Fonds St. Victor. A.D. 1399. And the King made preparations for leaving, to carry on the war in Ireland. It is true that King Richard set out from England, and that he constituted his Uncle, the Duke of York, his Lieutenant in England, and caused him to take an oath to be true and loyal to him, and proclaimed that all persons throughout the Kingdom should pay the same obedience to the Duke, his Uncle, as to his own person. H also appointed the Marquis of Dorset Admiral, and SIR WILLIAM SCROP TREASURER; AND SIR JOHN BUSSY, SIR THOMAS GREEN, AND SIR WILLIAM BAGOT, THESE FOUR KNIGHTS HE CONSTITUTED CHIEF COUNCILLORS OF ENGLAND. After that the good John of Gaunt, the late Duke of Lancaster, was dead and buried, the King took leave of the Noble Queen of England at Windsor, and ordered and besought his Uncle, the Duke of York, and Sir William Scrop, that they should take every care of the Queen, and that she and her people should want for nothing. Nevertheless he was obliged to wait ten days towards the north for a wind. And then the King and all his army embarked to the sound of trumpets, and the King commanded that they should set sail in the name of God and St. George; and they had such fine weather that in less than two days the King and his people saw the Tower of L |