KING Richard the Second , in whose unfortunate Reign the flame of this Unnatural and Bloody War , which is the Subject of this History , was first kindled , was the Son of that Brave and Walike Prince , Edward , commonly called the Black Prince , and Grand-Son to Edward the Third , King of England , whom he Succeeded in the Right of his Father , Edward the Black Prince who died before King Edward . He was of such a comly and graceful Personage , that he is said to be the most Beautiful Prince , that ever wore the English Diadem ; he had a Soul Noble and Generous , and his mind was Richly endowed , by God and Nature , with all those Qualifications which were requisit to , or could possibly be desired in , a person of his Birth and Fortunes , so that his Subjects promised themselves aboundance of Happiness , under the influence of his Reign ; nor would they have been deceived therein , if he had not suffered particular Persons to Monopolize his Favour and Affections , to the injurie and prejudice of the Publick . But being strangely infatuated by the smooth and subtil insinuations of his Favorites , and inslaved to the humours of his Servants , he was easily prevailed upon to follow their advice , how hurtful and pernicious soever , and hate all Counsel which any way contradicted his Inclinations . So that he gave himself wholly up to the Guidance of those , who making too bold with the goodness of his Nature , and the weakness of his Youth , used his Power and Authority , only as a Property to advance themselves to Wealth and Grandeur . And with a profuse liberality , he bestowed Princely rewards on those whose only merit was a disloyal Silence , or a base and sordid Compliance , contrary to the dictates of their Judgments ; the Consequence whereof proved fatal to him , and issued in his utter ruin . And the truth is , his Education was more to be blamed than his Nature , for there appeared in him many good Inclinations , which certainly might have been improved into great abilities and perfections , had they not been prevented by corrupt Flatteries in his Youth , for want of a better fixation under the more solid and awful Tutorage of his Father , or Grandfather . He was Crowned January the Twenty first , in the Year one Thousand three Hundred and Seventy seven , being not full Eleven years old . No King , that ever Sate on the English Throne , was better beloved by his Subjects than he ; nor had any Prince more wise and able Counsellors , several Noble men being appointed to Govern his Person , and Kingdom , during his Minority , which were afterwards reduced to the Person of Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Holland , who was chosen to the Office of Protector , by the Unanimous consent of Parliament . But the King , being rendered by the extravagant Counsels of those , who had insinuated themselves into his Favour , as unapt to be Governed , as his tender Years made him unable to Govern , quickly disliked this choice of the Parliament , and chose for Protector Richard S●rope , whom the Parliament had a little before chosen to be Chancellor ; nor was it long ere he disliked and dismissed him also , because he refused to ratify some extravagant Grants , which he had made to several persons of mean and abject Fortunes , and had Loyalty and Courage enough to tell him the inconvenience , and evill consequences thereof ; whereat Richard storming , and disdaining to have his Profuseness questioned by an Officer , took the Great Seal from him , and kept it for some time in his own Hands , until he had therewith Authorized those Gifts , he had bestowed on his Creatures .

Among the many fawning and flattering persons , whose ill advised Counsels precipitated this King into most of those rash and inconsiderate Actions , whereby he lost the love of his Subjects , and gave advantage to his Enemies , the Chief were Alexander Nevil Archbishop of York , Robert Vere Earl of Oxford , Michael Poole Earl of Suffolk , Nicolas Bambridge Alderman of London , and Robert Tresillian Chiefe Justice , who , having made the Law and the Seat of Justice a snare to ruin and destroy others , was at last served with the same sauce , by being put to a Shameful and Ignominious death .

The first mention we find in History , of the Duke of Lancasters aspiring to the Crown , is an Information given in unto the King , by a certain Frier , that the Duke did secretly conspire and plot his death ; desiring , that his Information might be kept secret , and not be divulged to any person whatsoever , until he had by convincing Proofs made good the Accusation , and so he might be the more securely and warrantably Attached . Notwithstanding which , the King acquainted two of his Chaplains therewith , and they , suspecting their own safety in regard of the Dukes power and greatness , if they should conceal it and it should afterwards come to his knowledge , persuaded the King to acquaint the Duke therewith , which was presently done , and the Duke being somewhat surprized at this unexpected Discovery , in a most humble manner intreated his Majesty not to believe or give credit to the Accusation , assuring him , that he never entertained so detestable a thought , nor had so horrid and disloyal an intention ever entered his Breast ; nor could such a designe any way turn to his advantage . For if he should ( which God forbid ) intend any such thing , it would be impossible for him to effect it , since he should , by so wicked a Parricide , justly fall into the hatred and detestation of all men ; and for the better fixing the belief of his innocency in the mind of the King , he offered to prove it by his Sword , as the Custom of those times did allow , and earnestly desired the Frier might be put into safe Custody , and if it might stand with his Majesties Good liking , into the Custody of John Holland , a Person , though Brother to the King by the Mothers side , yet absolutely the Dukes Creature in hopes of marrying his Daughter Elizabeth ; which being granted , the discovery was effectually stifled , for the Frier , the night before it was to have been Tryed , was Murthered by him who had him in Custody .

Not long after this , the Duke retired in discontent to a Castle of his own at Pomfret in Yorkshire , and began to raise men , but the Princess of Wales , the Kings Mother , fearing the King might be in some danger , interposed between them , and and by her Mediation composed that difference . After which the Duke of Lancaster laying claim to the Kingdom of Spain , in right of his Wife , and designing to go thither to take Possession of it ; the King furnished him with Shipping , Men and Pay for six Months , and so great was his desire of getting rid of him , that at his departure he honoured him like a King , presenting him with a Crown Royal , his Wife being presented with the like by the Queen , both of them being very Rich ; many of the Nobility , and Gentry , attended the Duke in this Voyage , and being assisted by the King of Portugal , who had Married one of his Daughters , he Invaded Castile , and took several strong Towns , but at last a Peace was concluded between him and John King of Spain , wherein it was agreed , that King Johns Eldest Son should Marry the Lady Catharine , another of the Dukes Daughters , and that the Duke should receive Two hundred Thousand Nobles in hand , and Ten thousand Marks yearly , during the Lives of him and his Dutchess , in consideration whereof he was to cease all further claim to that Crown .

About this time that Lancaster went to Spain , the French King threatned England with a War , having made a vast preparations in order thereunto , which was not then in a very good condition to defend it self , by reason of the disagreement between the King and his People , upon the account of Richards Governing according to the Wills of those who Governed him , and suffering all things to pass under the hands of the Earls of Suffolk and Oxford , and some few more of his Favourites . However a Parliament was called , and great numbers of People raised out of each County , and lodged Twenty miles round London , to the end they might be ready upon all occasions , but want of Money occasioning a neglect of their Pay , which is the key of Military Discipline , there was none who did command , nor none who did obey , but they fell to pillaging the Country , whereupon they were dismissed , only they were injoyned to return , when commanded .

When the Parliament met , one of the first things that were done , was the making the Earl of Oxford ( one of Richards Chief Favourites ) Duke of Ireland , which occasioned whispering and dislike in all men , so that Money , being afterwards demandded for the present occasion , it was denied , upon pretence that the Earl of Suffolks Treasure was enough to supply all the Kings wants , accusing him of many Misdemeanors , and requiring to have his Accounts seen . The House of Peers , especially the Duke of Glocester , approved of this request of the Commons . Whereupon Richard , resolving not to lose his Favourites , nor suffer them to be oppressed , determined , as some Historians report , to put his Uncle the Duke of Glocester to death , that so , by taking revenge upon him , he might procure reverence and fear from others , supposing , that the best way , to make himself happy and to be obeyed by his Subjects , was , by procuring himself to be feared . A Supper was therefore provided in the City , to which Glocester , and the rest who had declared themselves Enemies to Suffolk , were invited , that so they might have been there slain , when they least thought of any such thing . The Chief man , who was imployed to manage this affair , was Nicholas Bambridge , who had been Lord Mayor of London the preceding year . But Richanrd Stone , who was then Mayor , detesting so great a wickedness , gave the Duke notice of it , and he did the same to the rest , so that they thought it more convenient to content themselves with private Suppers at home , than to go to a publick one , and pay the Charge of their entertainment , with the loss of their Lives ; the Discovery of this design increased the disgust between the King and his Uncle , which was too great before .

The King , finding the Parliament so averse in their proceedings , retired to Eltham , and being informed , that nothing would be done by them unless the Great Seal were taken away from Suffolk , he Commanded them to send Forty of their Chief Members to him , that he might treat with them , and resolve on what was sit to be done ; and they , thinking so great a number not convenient , sent only the Duke of Glocester and the Bishop of Ely , to beseech him that , since there had been great sums of Money expended , he would suffer them to take the Account , and that since his presence in Parliament was necessary , they intreated him to repaire thither , and to remember , that there was an Ancient Law , which permitted the Parliament to return home , if the King , not being hindered by sickness , should absent himself forty days together from them . Being very much displeased with this Message , he told them , he saw plainly , that their designs tended to Rebellion , and therefore he should not do amiss , if he should call in his Cousin the French King to his Assistance , since it would redound less to his dishonour , to submit himself to a King , than to his own Subjects . The two Commissioners indeavoured to shew him , that the Parliament had no such intention , and that if he would believe those who informed him otherwise , yet that which he had said would neither prove Honourable nor Advantageous to him , nor would it effect what his Passion promised him from thence , the People of England being strong enough to defend themselves against the French , whom they did so much abhor , that they would never endure to be Governed by them : Telling him moreover , that he ought to pretend to rule the French , and that the Evils , which were likely to insue upon his doing as he had said , would fall only on himself to his present ruine , and perpetual infamy in after Ages . The King was hereby persuaded to return to London . Where Suffolks Misdemeanours were the first thing that was inquired into , and , some Historians say , the Judgement , which insued thereon , was , that he would be Degraded , and have his Goods Confiscated , and to lose his Life if the King pleased ; others say , it was only the loss of his Office , a fine of twenty thousand Marks , and the loss of his Pension , of three Thousand a year , which was paid him out of the Exchequer . The King was very much grieved at the misfortune of his Favourite , whose faults had brought such infamy upon him , that he could no longer be defended .

Complaint was likewise made , that , by the Covetousness of the Kings Ministers , the Publick Revenu was vainly consumed , the King insufferably abused and defrauded , the Common People miserably impoverished , the Rents and profits of the Nobles and Great Men much impaired , and their poor Tenants in many places forced to abandon their Farms , and leave them empty and desolate . Whereupon the King consented , that fourteen Persons should be made Choice of to regulate those things , and took an Oath to stand to what they did , to incourage them in their proceedings , and not to revoke any Article of their power , but to confirm and hold good whatever they did , for such a time . And it was confirmed by Act of Parliament , that if any man should advise the King to revoke their Power , though he should not revoke it according to this advice , yet he should , for giving the advice , forfeit all his Lands and Goods , and for a Second offence be Drawn and Hanged as a Traitor . Whereupon the King , by his Commission under the Great Seal of England , confirmed them in their Power in the following words .

Richard King &c. To all those , to whom these Letters shall come to be seen and heard , Greeting , We being duly Conscious of the Greivous Complaints of the Lords and Commons of our Realm in this present Parliament Assembled , That our Profits , and Rents , and the Revenues of our Kingdom by Private and Insufficient Counsel , and the Ill Government as well of certain of our Great Officers as diverse other Persons being near Our Person , are so much Consumed , Wasted , Embezeled , Given away , Granted , and Alienated , Destroyed , and evilly disposed of and Expended , that We are so much Impoverished and Stripped of Treasure , and Means , and the Substance of Our Crown so Diminished , and Destroyed , that We are neither able to sustain Honourably , as We ought , the State of our Houshold , nor Maintain and Manage those Wars , wherewith Our Realm is Inviron'd , without great and outrageous Oppressions , and Charges on Our People , greater then they can bear . And also , that the good Laws , Statuts , and Customs , of Our said Realm , to which We are bound by Oath and Obliged to maintaine , are not , nor have not been duly Observed , nor Executed , Nor full Justice or Right done to Our said People , and many Disinherisons and other great Mischiefs and Damages have happened to Our People , and whole Realm .

Now We , for the Honour of God , and the Good of Us and Our Realm , and for the Quiet and Relief of Our People , willing , against the said Mischiefs , to Establish a Good and Meet Remedy , as We have already of Our Free Will , at the request of the Lords and Commons , Ordained and Assigned such Persons for Our Great Officers , that is to say , Our Chancellour , Treasurer , and Keeper of Our Privy Seal , as We esteem Good , Faithful , and Sufficient for the Honour , and Profit of Us , and Our Realm . So also of Our real Authority , certain Knowledge , Good Pleasure and Free Will , and by the Advice and Assent of the Prelats , Lords , and Commons , in full Parliament , in Aid of the Good Government of Our Realm , and the well and due Execution of Our Laws , and for the Relief in time , of that Miserable Condition , under which both We and Our Subjects have long laboured , having confidence in the good advice , sence , and discretion of the Most Honourable Father in God William Arch-Bishop of Canterbury , Alexander Arch-Bishop of York , Our most dear Uncles Edmond Duke of York , and Thomas Duke of Glocester , the Honourable Fathers in God William Bishop of Winchester , Thomas Bishop of Exeter , and Nicolas Abbot of Waltham , Our Beloved and Faithful Richard Earl of Arundel , John Lord Cobham , Richard le Scroop , and John Devereux , have Ordained , Assigned and Deputed them to be of Our Great and Continual Council , for one whole Year next after the Date hereof , to Survey and Examin together with Our said Great Officers and Ministers of whatever State , Degree , or Condition they be within Our Houshold , or without , and to inquire , and take information by all such ways as they shall think meet , of all Rents , Revenues , and Profits belonging to Us , or which ought to appertain to Us , either within the Realm , or without . And of all Gifts , Grants , Alienations , and Confirmations , by Us made , of any Lands , Rents , Tenements , Annuities , Profits , Revenues , Wards , Morgages , Escheats , Forfeitures , Franchises , Liberties , Voidance of Arch-Bishopricks , Bishopricks , Abbyes , Priories , Farms of Houses , Possessions of Aliens &c. And also of all Revenues , and Profits as well of Our said Realm , as Our Lands , Lordships , Cities , Villages , and other Possessions beyond the Seas , and of the Benefices , and Possessions , and other Revenues , of all that are in Rebellion against the Pope . And of the Carrying Money out of the Realm by the Collectors of the Pope , or the Procurators of Cardinals , Lumbards , or other Persons . And likewise of the profits of Our Customs , and all Subsidies Granted to Us by the Clergy and Laity , since the day of Our Coronation . And of all Fees , Wages , and Rewards of Officers and Ministers Great or Small , and of Annuities , and other Rewards granted , and Gifts made to any Persons in Fee , or for Term of Life , or in any other manner . And of Lands , Tenements , Rents , Revenues , and Forfeitures , bargained or sould to the Prejudice and Damage of Our Crown . And also concerning the Jewels and Goods which were Our Grandfathers , at the time of his Death . And of Charters , and General Pardons , and how general payments have been Levied , and Expended , how Garrisons and Forts have been Maintained , and of all defaults , and Misprisions , as well in Our Courts , as in all other Places of Our Realm . And by what Persons Our Revenues and the Substance of Our Crown have been withdrawn or Diminished , or the Common Law Interrupted , or Delayed , or any other Damage that hath hapned to Us , Giving , and by these Presents Granting , of Our Authority , and by the Advice and Assistance of Our said Subjects , unto Our said Counsellors , or any six of them , and to Our Great Officers aforesaid , full Power and Authority , General and Special , to enter our Palace and Houshold , and to call before them all Our Officers , and to Command all Rolls , Records and other Monuments , and Evidences ; and all Defaults , Wasts and Excesses found in Our said Houshold , and in other Courts and Places , and all Deceits , Extortions , Oppressions , Dangers , and Grievances whatsoever , that are to the Prejudice , Damage , and Distress of Us and Our Crown , and the Estate of Our said Realm in General ( though not herein particularly Named , Expressed or Specified ) to Amend Correct , Repair , Redress , Reform and put into Good and due Order , and Establishment : And also to hear and receive the Complaints of all Our Leige People , as well for Us as themselves , against Our said Officers and Counsellors ; And Oppressions , Wrongs , and Injuries which cannot so well be decided in the Courts of Common Law . And to discuss and finally Determine all the matters aforesaid , and full Execution thereof , to award as to them shall seem most Meet , for the Honour and Profit of Us and Our Estate , and the Redintegration of the Rights and profit of our Crown , and the better Covernance of the Peace and Laws of our Kingdom , and the Relief of Our said People . In which Proceeding if difference of Opinion happen among Our said Counsellors , the same shall be concluded by Majority of Votes . And we Command and Charge all Prelats , Dukes , Earls , Barons , Sheriffs , the Treasurer , and Controller , and all other Officers of Our Houshold , Justices de Banco , and other Officers , Ministers and other Leige Subjects whatsoever , That to Our said Counsellors , and Officers in manner aforesaid , they be Obedient , Aiding and Assisting . In Witness Whereof &c. Given under Our Great Seal , the Nineteenth day of November .

This Parliament likewise gave the Duke of Ireland Thirty Thousand Marks , which was paid in by the Admiral Clisson , for the Ransom of John of Bretaign , Count of Pointivers , who was his Son in Law , and had been taken by the English in the Battail of Antmoy 1364. This was the only thing they did , during the whole Sessions , which pleased Richard , and there was something in that too , that did not please him , for it was upon this condition , that he would go by Easter into Ireland , and take Possession of what the King had given him in that Kingdom . It was a prodigious Sum in those days , yet they willingly parted with so much Treasure , rather than have him still at Court , to Seduce and Infatuate the King .

The Parliament was no sooner Dissolved , but Richard thought all that they had done was Dissolved likewise , at least De facto , accounting all their Complaints against Suffolk , and the rest , as meer trifles , and therefore he received them all into as much or greater Favour than ever , who being full of revenge for the Affronts , and Injuries , which they fancied they had received , by their Mischievous Whispers and fatal Suggestions they indeavoured to instil their destructive Poyson into the Royal Breast ; and that their private Spleen might carry some shew of publick Respect and Loyalty , they insinuated to the King that he was not above , nay scarce , half a King , telling him , that he indeed bore the Sword , but others swayed it ; he had the Title of a King , but the late Established Council had the Authority , who used his Name only as a pretext to colour their Illegal proceedings , and accounted his person but a bare Cipher , to make their Number the Greater by its addition ; without which they would be nothing , but now all things are so much at their Devotion , that you can neither demand nor command without their Limitations , nay your very Bounty , which is the most Celebrate dand Necessary Vertue in a Prince , is restrained , and your Affection confined to Frown , or Favour as they please to prescribe . By which suggestions , though he were not naturally of a Cruel disposition , yet they drew him into many violent and unprincely Courses , to support those , against all Opposition , whom he had at first advanced without merit , Resolving to use an absolute power in all things , and Give and Forgive at his Pleasure .

Easter , the time prefixed by the Parliament for Irelands being gon , was now come , but he cared not for the Voyage , however to wheedle the People into a belief that he was repairing thither , he went to Bristol , and the King with him on pretence of seeing him take shipping . But when they got to Bristol they went not to Sea , but passed forward into Wales . Where the Favourits resolved , that it was impossible for them to subsist any longer , without ridding out of the way those , who would otherwise undo them , the Chief whereof were , Glocester , Arundel , Warwick , Nottingham , and the Young Earl of Darby , Eldest Son to the Duke of Lancaster , who afterwards laid the foundation of those unhappy Wars , which are the Subject of this History . Delays in a business of that consequence , they thought , were dangerous ; and the Treacheries , formerly framed against Glocester , rendered it impossible for them to accomplish their ruine by the same methods , and therefore the Law was thought to be the safest and most likely means , in regard it was more Masked and Obscure from the penetration of the Vulgar . Whereupon as if Irelands Voyage had been quite forgot , they repair to Nottingham , whither they summoned divers Citizens of London , the Sheriffs of the several Counties , and all the Judges of England . The Londoners were , in requital of some favours they had formerly received , to prove the Crimes they had contrived against them ; and they inquired of the Sheriffs , what men they could raise against the Lords , and Commanded them , that they should suffer none to be returned to serve in the next Parliament , but such as should be Nominated by the King , and his Council ; neither of which fully answered their expectations ; but the Judges were more Compliant , for Tresilian , who was Chief Justice , Indited Two Thousand Persons at Coventry , and he and one Blacke , an Apprentice of the Law , perused and approved under their Hands and Seals , the Inditements against the Lords . And the better to colour their proceeding with the appearance of Justice , he framed three Questions to be proposed to the Judges , two whereof were concerning the late Act of Parliament , which gave power to the Fourteen Lords to inspect into , and punish the miscarriages of the Kings Ministers ; and the other , concerning the Judgment against Suffolk , designing thereby , says a Modern Author , that what Ireland and the rest had resolved on , might , by being delivered as the Judges Opinion , pass current for Law ; the Queries being so framed , and proposed , that it was more easie to understand thereby , what the Proposer would have to be Law , than what was really so . And it appears they proceeded therein against their Conciences , since some of them and particularly Robert Belknappe Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas , as Knyghton reports , strenuously refused to sign the Resolutions , till Ireland and Suffolk forced him to it , by threatning to kill him , if he did not comply ; and when he had signed them , he burst forth into Tears , and said , I now want nothing but an Halter , to bring me to that Death I have deserved . The first Query was , Whether the King being forced to give his consent to the Acts of the last Parliament , to the prejudice of his Prerogative , he might not Lawfully revoke them ? The Second , That if he might do so , what punishment did they deserve , who had forced his Consent ? The Third was , Whether the Judgment , given against Suffolk , were not erronious , and therefore revokeable ? To the First and Third , they answered they were revokeable ; and to the Second , that , as Traytors , they ought to be punished with death . There were Ten in all , but they were all comprised in those Three .

But this difficulty , of getting the Law cast in their own Mould , being over , yet remained a greater to be grapled with , viz. the Arming themselves with Power sufficient to inable them to execute , what they had so well designed . Wherefore they sent about privately to raise men , but they came in slowly , in regard the Lords were loved as much as they were hated , nor could they manage their design with such secresie , but that the Lords heard of it . Wherefore , to take off all ill Impressions which were by Ireland , and the rest made against them in the Kings Mind , his Uncle , the Duke of Glocester , who was the Chief of those Lords who were thus Combinated against , voluntarily before the Bishop of London , and several of the Nobility , deposed upon Oath , that he had never designed any thing but the Service and Honour of the King and Kingdom , that his only Crime was , that he had hated and still did hate Ireland , with the contents of which Oath , the Bishop did , upon the Dukes request , acquaint the King , assuring him of the Dukes good intentions , and intreating his better opinion of him , and had prevailed , had not Suffolk , when he perceived the King inclining to a good opinion of the Duke , began to exasperate him against him , saying , the Dukes mind was full of Deceit , Ambition and Treason , to which the Bishop smartly repllyed , be silent , Sir , it becomes not you to talk , who stand condemned in Parliament , and are now alive only by the Kings Grace and Favour , whereat Richard was so offended , that he commanded the Bishop out of his Presence : whereupon the Lords thought it high time to provide for their own safety , and endeavour to obviate the ruin which was preparing for them , wherefore advising together , they resolved to stand upon their Guard , and with all imaginable speed raised great numbers of Armed Men .

Richard , being informed thereof , intended to surprise them singly , and thereby prevent their Uniting , wherefore Arundel being farthest from the rest , and most exposed to danger , he commanded the Earl of Northumberland to apprehend him , who , in order thereunto , went with some Forces to Rigate in Surrey , but found him too well provided , and in a condition rather to offend than be offended , so that he thought it better to return without doing any thing , than by a rash attempt to discover the reason of his coming . However the King did not quit his design , but gave the like order to divers others , commanding that if they could not take him alive , they should bring him dead But he being informed thereof , by Glocester who had better intelligence , marched all night to Haringey Park , where he found the Duke and Warwick , with a great number of Soldiers . And Richard beginning now to fear they were too strong for him , sent the Bishop of Ely , who was then Chancellor , to perswade them to present themselves before him at Westminster , promising they should have their Grievances redressed , and have the King's safe Conduct , but they were hard to be prevailed upon , in regard they had little belief of , and therefore were unwilling to trust to their fair promises , since where there was neither shame of Infamy , nor fear of Punishment : breach of Promise and treachery might only have been looked upon as terms of Wisdom , and Subtilty . But the Chancellour , who was very Cordial , and upright in his Mediation , perswading them not to stick at that , since the Good of the Kingdom depended thereon , and passing his word that if there were any fraud intended , he would give them timely advertisment , they consented upon the security , and there being upon the day when they were to appear above a Thousand Armed Men , secretly placed in Ambush , about the Meers , to cut them off as they passed by the Chancellor , according to his promise , sent them word of it , and Richard wondering they did not come , the Chancellor told him , it was because he did not keep his word with them , he disowned his knowledg of it , and Commanded the men to be cut in pieces , but they upon notice despersed themselves . And Richard having promised the Lords a safe Conduct a Second time , they presented themselves before him on their knees , in the Great Hall at Westminster , where he sate arrayed in his Robes , of Majesty , and having his Crown on his Head , and the Scepter in his Hand , and there it was concluded , that all differences on both sides should be refered to the determination of the next Parliament , which the King told them should begin the next day after the Purification of the Blessed Virgin ; and that then both parties should have Justice done them , according to the Laws , and in the mean time all of them should be in the Kings protection , without injuring each other . And so after some Friendly discourse , and drinking with the King , they departed ; but knowing the Malice and Perfidiousness of the Favourites , they thought it not best to separate , but , with a Vigilant Eye , observe their Motions .