92
Constitutional. History.
[chap.
Pθa∞ of peace of Troyes, he accepted Henry as his son-in-law, regent and
May, 4∞. heir of France. On the 24th of June the peace was proclaimed
in London, and on the ɪst of February, 1421, the king returned
to England1.
Bedford's In the meanwhile Bedford was learning how to rule a free
government, , . η . ,, n . ..
1417-1419. people ; a lesson which, if he had been allowed to practise it in
aftei` years, might have even now saved the house of Lancaster
Parliament from utter destruction. He presided in the parliament of 1417,
ɪ4*7' which granted two fifteenths and tenths2, and sealed the fate of
Oldcastle, who was executed on the 14th of December3. With
the funds so provided the government was carried on without
Parliaments a parliament until October, 1419 4, when another fifteenth and
of 1419 and . . ,
ι⅛∞. tenth, with a supplementary grant of a third of the same sum,
was voted, and authority given for a new loan secured on the
grant of this third and the tenth of the clergy s. The queen
dowager was accused in this session of an attempt to destroy
the king by sorcery, and was deprived of the power of con-
spiring in other ways by being relieved from the task of
Gloucester administering her income6. In the parliament of December
lieutenant. *ι τ ∙ ,∙ιτ ∙∣ιι ~7
1420, the king was represented by the duke of Gloucester,
who had been made lieutenant December 30, 1419, when Bed-
ford joined the king in Normandy 7. This parliament was held
1 Kymer, ix. 895 sq. The king reported the conclusion of the treaty to
the regent, May 2 2 ; ib. p. 906 ; it was approved by the three estates of
France Bec. 6 ; ib. vol. x. p. 33 ; and by those of England May 2, 1421 ;
ib. p. no.
2 The parliament met November ɪð; Boger Flower was speaker; the
grant was made Dec. 17; Dep. Keeper’s Rep. ii. App. ii. p. 187; Rot.
Parl. iv. 107. The convocation of Canterbury (Nov. 26-Dec. 20) granted
two tenths, that of York one (Jan. 20, 1418) ; Wilkins, Cone. iii. 381, 389.
A loan by bishop Beaufort of 21,000 marks, made July 18, 1417, was now
secured by act of Parliament ; Rot. Parl. iv. in.
3 Wals. ii. 327, 328 ; Rot. Parl. iv. 107. See above, p. 83, note I.
4 The parliament of 1419 met Oct. 16 ; Roger Flower was again speaker ;
the grant was made Nov. 13 ; Dep. Keeper’s Rep. ii. App. ii. p. 188 ; Rot.
Parl. iv. 117. On Oct. 30, 1419, the convocation granted a half-tenth
and a noble from stipendiary priests; Wake, p. 354; Wilkins, Cone,
iɪi. 396.
5 Rot. Parl. iv. 117. Commissions for collecting the loan were issued
Nov. 26 ; Rymer, ix. 8x5.
6 Wals. ii. 331 ; Rot. Parl. iv. 118. Shewas arrested and sent to Leeds
castle ; Leland, Coll. ii. 489.
7 Rymer, ix. 830.
Win.] Henry's visit in 1421. 93
in daily expectation of Henry’s return1; Gloucester did not Paiiiament
,r , of Dec. 1420.
ask for money. Matters were not looking so prosperous as they
had been ; money was scarce ; the peace was badly kept in the
north. True, the Lollards, as the chancellor said, were de-
creasing, but it was time the king came home2. Petitions
were not to be ingrossed until they had been sent over sea for
the royal assent3 ; the statute of Edward HI, which secured
that the English liberties should not be diminished by the king’s
assumption of a new title, was re-enacted4. A pressing invita-
tion was sent for the king and his bride to visit England5.
Henry was glad enough to return. He landed in February, Return of
1421, and, after having the queen crowned and making a grand Feb. 142’1.
progress through the country, on the 2nd of May opened
parliament in person3. A new expedition was already
necessary ; the duke of Clarence had fallen in battle against
the dauphin in March.
The joy felt at the king’s return seems to have prevented the Parliament
asking of any inconvenient questions ; the treaty of Troyes was Treaty ot4
laid before the three estates and solemnly confirmed. No ∞narmed.
gloom was thrown over the session by a dispute about money.
So great indeed was the confidence of the nation in its leader Security fur
that the parliament empowered the council to give security for
the payment of all debts contracted by the king for the
present expedition7 ; and a proof of private confidence even
more signal than any which the parliament could give was seen
in the conduct of bishop Beaufort, who, although he had as
yet recovered only a third of his former loan, was ready to lend
1 The parliament opened Dec. 2 ; Roger Hunt was speaker ; Rot. Parl.
iv. 123.
2 Rot. Parl. iv. 123. 3 lb. iv. 127.
4 lb. iv. 128. 5 lb. iv. 125.
6 The parliament of 1421 opened May 2 ; Thomas Chaucer was
speaker ; Rot. Parl. iv. 129. On the 6th a statement of the revenue was
made: it amounted to £55,743; the charges on which reached the sum
of £52,235; Ieavingonly £3,507 for extraordinary expenditure; Ordi-
nances, ii. 312 ; Rymer, x. ɪ 13. The convocations granted a tenth ; Wake,
p∙ ,358∙ , 1 .
7 Rot. Park iv. 130. The king had issued commissions for raising a
loan, at York, April 7; Rymer, x. 96: and at Westminster April 21 ;
ɪb. p. 97.