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From Illustrations of Chaucer's England, edited by Dorothy Hughes, M.A.; Longmans, Green and Co.; 1919.
In the month of May the King held a council at Westminster, and on the Feast of the Invention of the Cross, coming into the council, he unexpectedly removed all the great officers, and appointed others whom he chose in their places.
The Earl of Arundel,, to whom was entrusted the direction of Parliament, and the keeping of the sea, and who had been Admiral, was also removed from his office in the same way. The King did this moreover, in the case of other officers, saying, that he ought not to be of inferior condition to any other heir in the realm, since the law 260 and custom of England affirm that every heir . . . when he has reached his 21st year, shall at once enjoy his father’s inheritance, and lawfully have liberty of disposing of his wealth and property. “It has befallen that now for several years we have remained under your counsel and control, and we render thanks many times, first to God, and then to yourselves, in that you directed and guided us, our inheritance and realm . . . especially against our enemies on all sides. . . .
“But now . . . we have attained our majority, and are at present in our 22nd year; therefore we request henceforth full liberty of ruling and controlling ourselves and our inheritance, and we desire to possess our realm, and to choose our officers and ministers at pleasure . . . and appoint them to any offices, remove those now in office at our will, and appoint others in their places.”
There was none who strove to infringe the King’s will, but all glorified God who had ordained that they should have a King of such wisdom.
First, that the lords of the Council be prepared to be at the Council between eight and nine of the clock at latest.
Item, that the business of the King and the realm be examined first before all others, when the greatest of the Council and other officers shall be present.
Item, that business touching the Common Law be sent to be determined before the justices.
261Item, that business touching the office of Chancellor be sent to be determined before him in the Chancery.
Item, that business touching the office of Treasurer be sent to be determined before him in the Exchequer.
Item, that all other matters which cannot be despatched without special grace and permission of the King, be laid before him, to have his opinion and his wishes.
Item, that no gift or grant that may turn to the decrease of the King’s profit pass without the advice of the Council, and the assent of the Dukes of Guienne, York, and Gloucester, and of the Chancellor, or two of them.
Item, that all business sent to the Council to have their advice, and other business of great charge, be determined by those of the Council who shall be present, with the officers.
Item, that all other bills of the people, of lesser charge be examined and despatched before the keeper of the Privy Seal, and others of the Council who shall be present at the time.
Item, that the ordinances touching office to be given by the King, formerly made by the assent of himself and his Council, be held and kept.
Item, that no seneschals or justices be henceforth appointed for term of life.
Item, that the batchelors being of the King’s Council shall have reasonable wages for the time that they shall be at work about the Council.
Item, that the lords being at the Council shall have reward for their labour and expenses by the advice of the King and his Council.
Item, after that any matter be broached in the Council, they shall pass on to no other matters until answer be given to the matter first broached.
On the 8th day of March, in the 13th year, this ordinance was made at Westminster in the King’s presence, 262 the Duke of Guienne, the Duke of York, the Earl of Salisbury, the Earl of Northumberland, the Earl of Huntingdon, the Chancellor, the Treasurer, the Privy Seal, the Seneschal, Lovete, Stury, and Dalingrugg being present.
Right dread and sovereign lord, We your humble and faithful lieges commend us very humbly to your royal majesty. Whom may it please to know that we have heard and understood through the report of the right reverend father in God the Archbishop of York, your Chancellor, right pleasant news, as well of your gracious passage to your land of Ireland, as of your good estate and health of body, to the great joy and comfort of us your said lieges. And how also at the departing of your said Chancellor from your right noble presence, it pleased your royal majesty, for certain causes then moving you, that your Parliament should be held at Nottingham at the octaves of St. Hilary next ensuing. For the accomplishment whereof, and of all other your pleasure and commands, we and all your other lieges are and shall be always ready and prepared with all our power, if it please God. But, right dread and sovereign lord, saving always the most high and wise advice and command of your said royal majesty, all things being considered, and in particular the winter weather, and how that to many magnates of your realm who dwell here about, and might do much profit in this case, it would be too grievous to travel to so distant parts — both for the infirmities and feebleness of some of them and for fear of the floods and heavy roads, that might put them in peril, and your people in great discomfort, 263 and peradventure hinder their coming to the same Parliament, and so prevent the good profit of you and your whole realm, which God forbid! — (And consider also, right dread lord, that in the Parliament thus to be held in your absence, no other matter will be touched upon or despatched for the profit or ease of your people, save touching the grant that shall be made in your aid); — it seems to us, according to our small and simple opinion, that it would be expedient that your said Parliament be held in some other fitting place to be appointed by your most wise discretion. The which may be more ease for the lords and great men of your realm, and also for your people, who, by reason of their ease would be more ready and of better will to aid you in your need than they would be in case of their grievance and discomfort. Whereon may it please your royal majesty to acquaint us as to your will and command, between this and the Saturday next after the Feast of Our Lady’s Conception next ensuing, to the end that we may then perform your pleasure and command. Understanding, right dread lord, that in case that within this time no answer come from you to your Chancellor, he will cause your writs to be made to hold your Parliament at Nottingham according to your first desire. And do not marvel, right dread lord, for that your Chancellor has not given his advice with us in this part; for as he said, he dared not do so, by reason that he was fully informed of your will touching the place and time of your Parliament, according as he reported to us from you, as above.
Right dear and entirely well-beloved uncle, right reverend fathers in God, and our beloved and faithful lieges — 264 we greet you right heartily, doing you to wit that at the making of these our letters we were in good and perfect health, our Lord be thanked. And right entirely with all our heart we desire continually to have good and gracious news from you of your well-being and estate, and especially of the good governance and prosperity of our realm. May God of His high puissance continually grant us thereof good and pleasant tidings. And touching news from here, be pleased to know, that for great and notable causes moving us thereto, we have, with the advice of our Council, ordained to hold our Parliament in our city of Dublin on Monday the morrow of the Octaves of Easter next, and the writs for the said Parliament will be made in all haste. for that in our land of Ireland there are three manner of people, to wit, wild Irish, our enemies, Irish rebels, and obedient English, it seems to us and to our Council about us, considering that the said rebellious Irish have perchance rebelled for griefs and wrongs done to them on the one part, and by default of remedy being given them on the other; and that thus if they were not prudently treated, and put in good hope of pardon they would probably join our enemies, which we would not have by our default, — that general pardon should be granted them, by fine and fee of our seal to be paid by each who shall have the pardon; whereby it seems to us and our said Council that in many ways great benefit would come to us and our said land. But inasmuch as we do not think of doing such, or so weighty a thing without your counsel and assent, we have taken generally all the said rebel Irish into our especial protection until the quinzaine of Easter next, to the end that betwixt now and then, those who will may come and show the causes of their rebellion, and especially that in the meantime we may have your full counsel and advice, if the said pardon should be granted or no. Thus we will and command, firmly charging 265 you, that having had communication among you upon this said matter, with good deliberation, you send us clearly your counsel and advice as soon as in any way you can, by the entire confidence that we have in you; For love of us acquainting us fully with news of you at all times when you shall be able. Our Lord have you in His Keeping. Given under our signet in our city of Dublin on the first day of February.
[On October 26th.] The new queen was led to the pavilion of the French Council, and with her there came the Duchesses of Lancaster and Gloucester, and the Countess of Huntingdon, with their ladies. The Dukes of Berry and Burgundy, clad in crimson velvet brought the Queen to the place appointed for the interview; she was dressed in a close garment, after the older fashion, of red velvet powdered with lilies, wearing on her head a costly crown. And the King of France gave her to the King of England with these words — “I commend to you, dearest son, the creature whom I love best in the world, save the Dauphin, my son, and my wife.” King Richard took her by the hand, thanking the King for so honourable and gracious a gift, and promised to receive her upon the conditions agreed between them.
266On Friday the feast of Candlemas the King caused the lords spiritual and temporal to come before him at Westminster in the said Parliament, and showed them how he had heard that on the preceding Thursday they were with the commons, and that the commons had shown them and touched upon certain matters whereof it seemed to him that some were contrary to his prerogative, estate, and royal liberty; commanding the Chancellor to set forth and repeat the said matters.
Whereupon the Chancellor made report to him of the said matters, that were in four points. . . .
And the fourth point was, that the great and excessive charge of the King’s household should be amended and diminished; to wit, as to the multitude of bishops having lordships, who are promoted by the King and their retinues; and also as to many ladies and their retinues, who dwell in the King’s household, and are at his cost.
. . . Upon which report the King declared his will to the lords; how that, “by the gift of God he is by line and right of inheritance the inheritor of the realm of England and will have his prerogative and the royal liberty of his crown.” . . .
. . . And as to the fourth article, touching the charge of the King’s household, and the staying of bishops and ladies in his company, — the King was greatly grieved and offended that the commons, who were his lieges should misprise and take upon themselves any ordinance or governance of the King’s person, or of his household, or of any persons of estate whom he might please to have in his company. And it seemed to him that the commons 267 committed great offence herein, against his prerogative and royal majesty, his liberty and that of his royal ancestors, which he is bound, and desires, to maintain with the help of God. Wherefore the King commanded the lords . . . that on the following Saturday morning they should plainly show and declare to the commons the King’s will in this matter.
And on Saturday . . . the lords . . . were with the commons, and showed them the King’s command; and the commons delivered the said bill to the lords, with the name of him who gave it them, to wit Sir Thomas Haxey. . . .
And afterwards the commons came before our lord the King in Parliament by his command, and there with all the humility and obeisance that they could, greatly grieving, as appeared by their countenance, for that the King should have conceived such thought against them, humbly entreated the King to accept their excuse, that it was never their will or intent to say, show, or do anything that might be offence or displeasure to the King’s royal majesty, or against his royal estate or liberty, and especially in this matter touching his own person . . . well knowing and recognising that such things pertained not to them, but only to the King himself and his ordinance. But that their intent was . . . that the lords should entreat the King to consider his honourable estate, and do what should please him therein. . . .
And upon this the commons humbly submitted themselves to the King’s will and grace, entreating his royal majesty to hold them graciously excused. . . . Whereupon the Chancellor said to them, by the King’s command, that of his royal benignity and gracious lordship the King held them fully excused, and promised them good lordship.
268Be it remembered that . . . after the judgment given against Thomas Haxey, clerk, who was condemned to death in Parliament, as a traitor, there came before the King in Parliament the Archbishop of Canterbury and all the other prelates, making . . . protestation that their entire and full intent was, and always would be, that the King’s royal estate and prerogative might be always saved and guarded without blemish; And they humbly entreated the King that it might please him of his grace to have pity and mercy upon the said Thomas, and of his royal dignity to remit and release the execution of his death, and grant him life. And upon this . . . the King of his royal pity and especial grace, remitted and released the execution of the death of said Thomas and granted him his life.
Whereupon the prelates, returning thanks to the King for his great benignity and mercy, humbly entreated him that it might please him, of his abundant grace, to the reverence of God and the honour of Holy Church, to grant them the guard of the body of the said Thomas. . . .
Whereupon the King . . . granted them the keeping of his body.