6θ ConMvtional History. [chap.
Political
position of
the Bean-
forts.
would, even if the crown went off into another line, have claims
on the duchy of Lancaster. But such a contingency was im-
probable ; the four strong sons of Henry gave promise of a
steady succession, and in the act of 1406, by λvhiclι the crown
was entailed on them successively, it was not thought necessary
to provide for the case of the youngest son’s death without
issue. Still the Beauforts had held together as a minor family
interest; they seem to have acted in faithful support of the
king under all circumstances, and they possessed great influence
with the prince of Wales. Henry Beaufort is said to have been
his nephew’s tutor, and he certainly was for a long time his
confidential friend and adviser. The three brothers were the
king’s friends, the old court party revived in less unconsti-
tutionalguise; maintaining the family interest under all circum-
stances, opposing the parliament when the parliament was in
opposition, and opposing the archbishop when the clergy were
supporting the cause of the parliament. The archbishop to a
great extent embodied the traditions, dynastic and constitutional,
of the elder baronage. The Beauforts were the true successors
to the policy of John of Gaunt, and seem to have inherited
both his friendships and his jealousies, in contrast, so far, with
the king, who throughout his life represented the principles,
policy, and alliances of the elder house of Lancaster. If the
Beauforts were a tower of strength to the king, their very
strength was a source of danger.
Employ-
ment of the
king’s sons.
The young lords of Lancaster had been initiated early in
public life. Henry had been an eyewitness of the revolution
of 1399, and had retained some affection and respect for his
father’s victim. At a very early age he had been entrusted
with command in Wales, and fought at the battle of Shrews-
bury ; he was popular in parliament, and had now become an
important member of the council. Thomas, the second son,
high admiral and lord high steward of England, had been em-
ployed in Ireland, where he was made lieutenant in 1401, and
where he had early learned how utterly impossible it was to
carry on government without supplies. John, the third son,
was made constable in 1403, and remained for the most part in
χvιπ.]
The Iloyal Tamily.
6ι
England assisting his father in command of the north ɪ. He, Famfly
like Henry, was a good deal under the influence of the Beauforts,
whilst Thomas, who possibly was somewhat jealous of his elder
brother, was opposed to them. Between Arundel and the
Beauforts, the court, the parliament, the mind of the king
himself, were divided.
One result of the parliamentary action of 1406 was the Arandei
m again chan-
resignatιon of the chancellor, Longley, who on the 30th of ceiior, 1407.
January, 1407, was succeeded by archbishop Arundel, now
chancellor for the fourth time2. Ten days later the kin# con- Legitmia-
* o tionofthe
firmed the act by which Richard legitimised the Eeauforts5 but Beauforts
. , confirmed
in doing so, he introduced the important reservation ‘ excepta with a limit,
dignitate regali3? These words were found interlined in
Richard’s grant on the Patent Rolls, although they did not
occur in the document Iaidheforeparliament in 1397, which
alone could have legal efficacy. Such an important alteration
the Beauforts must have regarded as a proof of Arundel's
hostility ; their father had had no love for either the archbishop The Beau-
or the earl ; one at least of the brothers must have felt that he to the p∏n∞
had little gratitude to expect from the Arundels. They drew °f walea'
nearer to the prince of Wales and away from the king. The
increasing weakness of Henry gave the prince a still more
important position in the council ; and the still undetermined
question of the loyalty of the duke of York, in whom the
prince seems to have reposed a good deal of confidence, probably
complicated the existing relations. There was too, no doubt,
some germ of that incurable bane of royalty, an incipient
jealousy of the father towards the son.
315. A terrible visitation of the plague desolated England Parliament
in 1407. The rumours that Richard was alive were renewed. *4°7'
The prince of Wales found employment in both marches, for
since the rebellion of Northumberland he had taken work on
the Scottish border also. The parliament of the year was
held at Gloucester ; it sat from October 20th until December
1 He,was made warden of the East March, Oct. 16, 1404; Ordinances,
i. 269.
2 Rymer, viii. 464.
3 Excerpta Historica, p. 153.