ιo8 Constitutional History. [chap.
Bddfe8dbl couno^> addressed him in a speech probably pre-arranged
archbishop in order to produce some effect on Gloucester. He reminded
Kemp, l
Jan. ι427. him of the great responsibility which lay on that body during
the king’s minority. The king, child as he was, centered in his
person all the authority that could belong to a grown-up king,
Theantho- but the execution of that authority stood ‘in his lords, as-
Htyofthe .
council de- sembled either by authority of his parliament, or in his council,
and in especial in the lords of his council,’ who might be called
to account for their administration ; ‘ not in one singular
person, but in all my lords together,’ except where the parlia-
ment had given definite powers to the protector ; the council
therefore asked for the duke’s opinion on the present state of
affairs, and the feasibility of the present system of government *.
Bedford Bedford replied that it was his wish to act in all things under
undertakes , , . σ
to respect it. advice and governance of the council, and then, with tears in
his eyes, swore on the gospels that he would be counselled and
askuɪtoθ1 ruIedbythem. Onthefollowingdaythe chancellor and council,
make the thus fortified with a precedent, visited Gloucester who was lying
sιnιβ prυ- ... ι- ⊂ι
mise. Hl at his lodgings, and administered a formal remonstrance;
it was impossible for them to carry on the government if he
continued to claim the position which on several occasions he
had claimed. He had said more than once that ζ if he had
done anything that touched the king in his sovereign estate,
he would not answer for it to any person alive save only to the
king when he came to his age ; ’ he had also said, ‘ Let my
brother govern as him list whilst he is in this land, for after
his going over into France I will govern as me seemeth good.’
The council hoped that he would give them the same answer
that they had had from Bedford ; and in fact Gloucester, after
some words of apology, repeated his brother’s declaration.
ɪ There are two copies of the minute, in which this statement is worded
somewhat differently ; the words occur as in the text in Ord. iii. 238 ; at
p∙ 233 the sentence stands thus: ‘the execution of the king’s said au-
thority, as toward that that belongeth unto the politique rule and
governaille of his land, and to the observance and keeping of his laws,
belongeth unto the lords spiritual and temporal of this land at such time
as they bo assembled in parliament or in great council, and else, them
nought being so assembled, unto the lords chosen and named to be of his
continual council.’
χvττι.] Gloucester'* Ailniinistratioii. 109
Bedfonl now prepared to return to France; on the 25th of Bedford
February1 the council resolved that it had been the late king’s Feb. 1427.
intention that he should devote himself to the maintenance of
the English hold on Normandy; and the little king, now five
years old, was made to understand that his uncle must leave
him. On the 26th, the crown, which had been kept by bishop
Beaufort as a pledge, was placed in the custody of the treasurer2 ;
on the 8th of March, the king, with Bedford, Beaufort, and the
council, were at Canterbury. Immediately afterwards Bedford Departure
left. Beaufort accompanied him. On the 14th of May, 1426, and Beau-
, I1 1∙ J г 1 , ∙l ■ 3 ɪr 1∙J Ifoit1March
he had applied for leave to go on pilgrimage3. Ke did not ι427.
return until September, 1428, having in the meanwhile been
made a cardinal, legate of the apostolic see, and commander of
a crusade against the Hussites4.
334. The conduct of Gloucester, when thus relieved from Gloucester
, . resumes his
the pressure of his brother and uncle, was what might have designs
been expected. He resumed his designs against Burgundy, Burgundy,
and attempted to sow discord in his brother’s council. A very
summary threat from Bedford was required before he would
desist5. In July he obtained the consent of the council to
raise men and money to garrison Jacqueline’s castles and
towns in Holland ; no further conquests were however to be
attempted without the consent of parliament6. Parliament Parliament
was summoned for the 13th of October7, but Gloucester was 147
not allowed to open it; the little king presided in person.
Little was done in the first session, and on the 8th of December
it was prorogued. In the second session, which began on the
2θth of January, 1428, Gloucester began to show his hand
again. On the 3rd of March he demanded of the lords a
1 Ordinances, iii. 247. ≈ ɪb. ɪɪj. 2-o.
3 Ellis, Original Letters, 2nd Series, i. ɪoɪ ; Ordinances, iii. 195 ; Rymer,
x∙ 358-
4 On Beaufort’s expedition to Bohemia, where he was in the autumn of
1427, see Æneas Sylvius, Hist. Bohem. c. 48 ; opp. p. ιι6; Raynald, a.d,
1427, § 5 j l'alacky, Gesch. v. Bohmen, iii. 438-467.
5 Monstrelet, liv. ii. c. 38.
6 Ordinances, iii. 271.
7 Rot. Parl. iv. 316. John Tyrell was speaker. In this parliament a
number of women presented themselves with a letter complaining of duke
Humfrey’s behaviour to his wife ; Amund. i. 20.