II. is in the The king hands of the York ists. mercy, of his enemies, was compelled to lend CHAP. the sanction of his authority to the very acts by which he had been deprived of his liberty. When the parliament assembled, he was told that York and his adherents had in all their proceedings been actuated by sentiments of the purest loy- July 9. alty: that their only object had been to explain to him the disgraceful practices of his ministers, and to assist him with their advice in redressing the grievances of the nation: that previously to the battle they had announced their motives and views in letters, which had been withheld from his notice by the arts of the late duke of Somerset, of Thorp, formerly speaker of the house of commons,174 and of William Joseph, the confident of these traitors; that at last they determined to lay their complaints before him in person, but, as they entered the town of St. Alban's for that purpose, were opposed by Somerset, who, in the affray which followed, paid with his life the penalty of his treason. The king, affecting to give credit to this incredible tale, acquitted York, Warwick, and Salisbury, of all disloyal practices, pronounced them good and faithful subjects, and granted them a full pardon for all offences committed before the first day of the session. The peers renewed their oath of July 18. fealty, the spiritual lords laying their right hands on their breasts, the temporal placing their hands 174 Thorp was in the battle, but escaped. Stow, 400. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. II. CHAP. between those of the king. On the last day of July the parliament was prorogued to the twelfth of November.175 July 30. York is protector a second time. About the end of October it was rumoured that Henry had relapsed into his former disorder and the session was opened by the duke Nov. 13. of York as his lieutenant. The next day the Nov. 12. Nov. 15. commons requested the lords to petition the king, that, if he were unable to attend to the public business himself, a protector might be immediately appointed. Two days later they renewed their request, adding, that till it was granted they should suspend the consideration of every other subject. As soon as they left the house, the lords conjured the duke of York to undertake the charge; but he, with affected humility, alleged his own incapacity, and solicited them to select from their body a peer more 175 Rot. Parl. v. 275-283. The Yorkists appear to have quarrelled among themselves. On the day on which they swore fealty "there was language between my lords of Warwick and Cromwell “afore the king, in so much as the lord Cromwell would have ex"cused himself of all the stirring or moving of the mal journey "(the battle) of St. Alban's, of the which excuse making my lord "of Warwick had knowledge, and in haste was with the king, and 66 swore by his oath that the lord Cromwell said not truth, but that "he was beginner of all that journey at St. Alban's; and so between "my said two lords of Warwick and Cromwell there is at this day great grudging, in so much as the earl of Shrewsbury hath lodged "him at the hospital of St. James beside the mews, by the lord "Cromwell's desire, for his safeguard." Fenn's Let. i. 110. In this session was passed an act declaring the duke of Glocester to have been till his death a loyal subject. Whethams. 365. Rot. Parl. v. II. worthy of the honour, and more equal to the CHAP. burden. They in return renewed their prayer with many compliments to his abilities and wisdom: and, after this farce had been acted for a considerable time, he condescended to accept the protectorate on condition that it should not be, as before, revocable "at the will of the "king, but by the king in parliament, with the "advice and assent of the lords spiritual and "temporal."176 Still the powers of government were vested, not in him, but in the members of the council: but this provision was intended merely to blind the eyes of the nation; for he had previously secured a majority in the council, and the office of chancellor, and the government of Calais, were bestowed on his associates, the earls of Salisbury and Warwick.177 covers After these arrangements the protector might Henry rethink himself secure, and might expect at a con- again. venient time to exchange his present for a still higher title. But the meek and inoffensive character of Henry had preserved him friends, who were unwilling that he should be stripped of his authority; and the lofty spirit of the queen sought every opportunity to oppose the rival 176 In the act confirming this appointment, as well as that which confirmed the former, a clause was introduced transferring it to the prince of Wales, as soon as he should come to the years of discretion. Ibid. 288. 177 Rot. Parl. v. 283-290. 441. Young, who had been imprisoned for his bold motion in favour of the duke of York, presented a petition for damages on account of his imprisonment. Ibid. 337. ́II. 1456. Jan. 14. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. CHAP. pretensions of the Yorkists. When the parlíament met after the holidays, Henry had recovered his health. To strengthen his party York had called sir Thomas Stanley and sir Richard West to the house of peers: but the current ran in the king's favour; Henry proceeded in person to the parliament, and the protector's commission was formally revoked.178 Feb. 25. With apparent willingness York descended from his high station: the earl of Salisbury resigned the great seal; and the offices of government were again filled by the king's friends. Two years passed without any important occurrence: but they were years of distrust and alarm the relatives of the lords slain at St. Alban's loudly demanded vengeance; and their adversaries surrounded themselves with bands of armed and trusty retainers. Henry called a great council at Coventry, and by the mouth of his chancellor repeatedly communicated his complaints and intentions to the duke of York. At length the duke of Buckingham, as speaker of the house, rehearsed all the real or supposed offences with which that prince had been charged and at the conclusion the peers falling on their knees besought the king to declare that he would never more "shew grace" to the duke or any other person, who should oppose the rights of the crown, or disturb the peace of the 178 Rot. Parl. v. 421. II. realm. Henry assented: and York repeated his CHAP. oath of fealty, and gave a copy of it under his own signature to the king. The same was exacted from the earl of Warwick. In conclusion all the lords bound themselves, never for the future to seek redress by force, but to remit their quarrels to the justice of their sovereign.179 ation of 1458. Jan. 26. In consequence of this resolution, Henry, who Reconcilihad long acted as the only impartial man in his the two dominions, laboured to mitigate the resentments parties. of the two parties: and at last had reason to hope that his endeavours would be crowned with complete success. By common agreement they repaired with their retainers to London : 180 the loyalists were lodged without, the Yorkists within, the walls: and the mayor at the head of five thousand armed citizens undertook to preserve the peace. The duke assembled his partisans every morning at the Black Friars: their resolves were communicated by the primate and other prelates to the loyalists, who met at the White Friars every afternoon: and the proceedings of the day were in the evening laid before the king, who with several of the judges resided 179 Such is the account on the rolls, v. 347. Our chroniclers tell us that York, Salisbury, and Warwick had arrived near Coventry, when they received advice of a conspiracy against their lives, and immediately fled, York to Wigmore, Salisbury to Middleham, and Warwick to Calais. Fab. 462. Stow, 402. 180 The duke of York had only 140 horse, the new duke of Somerset 200, the earl of Salisbury 400, besides four score knights and esquires. Fenn's. Letters, i. 151. |