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Accounts and Extracts is in Modern Era.
Narrative of the Death of Richard II. King Of England, In The Year 1399.
Taken from the Manuscript in the King's Library, No. 8448, bound in calf, and lettered on the back "Embassies." No. 22, of the Manuscripts of Baluze. By M. Gaillard.
This is the same volume that has already furnished us with so full an account of the negociations respecting the kingdom of Majorca and Minorca, and the counties of Roussillon and Cerdagne, invaded by the king of Arragon, and re-claimed by Louis I duke of Anjou. We have no clue to lead us to the author of this narrative, from which we shall give an extract; but he appears to be a man of information; his account is interesting, and he presents us, in the minutest circumstances, with a just picture of the manners of the age, and country of which he writes.
August 1399. Another advantage the duke of Lancaster derived from the arrival of the earl of Huntingdon was, to oblige him to write to the king, that he might place an entire confidence in the earl of Northumberland, who was sent by the duke of Lancaster,and was charged with this letter. When he appeared before the king, with seven attendants, he was asked by him, if he had not met his brother on the road? "Yes, sire, "he answered, "and here is a letter he gave me for you." Northumberland dedemanded no other conditions of peace, on the part of the duke of Lancaster, but that the possessions of the house of Lancaster should be restored, and that he should be created lord chief justice. The king deliberated in private with his friends, and immediately imparted to them a secret he might have dispensed with. "Whatever agreement or peace, " says he, "he makes with me, if ever I can take him at an advantage, I shall no more scruple to put him to death, than he did to gain the upper hand of me." However, the terms offered were so reasonable, that they could not be rejected. The bishop of Carlisle only advised him to take the precaution of making Northumberland swear by the gospels and the eucharist. He swore, "and might" be compared, "says our author, "to Judas, or Ganelon, for he perjured himself on the body of our Lord."
[12th January 1400] Sir Thomas Blount (age 48), and one Bennet Selly, his companion, were drawn from Oxford (above three miles) to the place of execution, where they were hanged; but the ropes were soon cut, and these gentlemen were made to talk, and sit on a bench before a great fire, and the executioner came with a razor in his hand, and knelt down before Sir Thomas Blount, whose hands were tied, begging him to pardon him his death, as he must do his office, Then Sir Thomas asked him, "Are you the person appointed to deliver me from this world?" The executioner answered, " Yes," saying, "Sir, I pray you pardon me;" and Sir Thomas kissed him, and forgave him his death, The executioner knelt down, and Sir Thomas Blount (Le Blonc) made himself ready; and then the executioner opened his belly, and cut out his bowels strait from below the stomach, and tied them with a string, that the wind of the heart should not escape, and threw the bowels into the fire. Then Sir Thomas le Blonc was sitting before the fire, his belly open, and saw his bowels burning before him. Sir Thomas D'Arpeghen (age 45), king Henry's chamberlain, insulting Blount, said to him with derision, "Go seek a master that can cure you," Blount only answered by putting his hands together, saying, Te Deum laudamus, and blessed be the hour that I was born, and blessed be this day, for I shall die in the service of my sovereign lord, the noble king Richard."
Arpeghen wished to compel him to reveal the accomplices of his treason. "The words traitor and treason," said he, "belong to thee and the infamous Rutland, by whom the flower of English chivalry is this day destroyed. I summon you both before the face of Jesus Christ, for your great treason against our sovereign lord the noble king Richard." The executioner then asked him, if he would drink? "No," said he, "you have taken from me the place into which I should put it. God be praised, my bowels are in the fire." He afterwards entreated the executioner to deliver him from this world, saying, "It hurts me much to see the traitors who are present." The executioner then knelt down before him, and kissed him in a very humble manner, and soon after his head was cut off, and he was quartered.
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16th January 1400. The earl of Huntingdon (age 48), the king's [half] brother, fled into the county of Essex; but passing through a small village belonging to the countess of Hereford (age 53), sister to the late earl of Arundel, he was known and arrested. The countess sent news of it to king Henry, desiring him to send her the young earl of Arundel (age 18), her nephew, that he might enjoy the vengeance she was going to take on the man to whose counsels she principally attributed the death of her brother; which, it appears, she should rather 'have imputed to the treachery of the earl of Nottingham. The young Arundel hastened thither, and loaded Huntingdon with reproaches. The countess had assembled her vassals, to the number of eight thousand, and delivered to them the earl of Huntingdon in chains, ordering them to cut him in pieces. The unfortunate man entreated for mercy, alledging, that he had never done them any injury; and all took great pity on him except the countess (of Hereford) and the earl of Arundel. The countess flew into a passion, exclaiming, "Curse on you all, villains! you have not the courage to put a man to death."
An esquire offering himself for this purpose, advanced with his hatchet in his hand; but he was so touched with the tender complaints of Huntingdon, that be trembled for fear, and returned to the countess with tears, ssaying, "Madam, I would not put the duke to death for all the gold in the world." — "Then," said she, "do what thou hast promised, or thy own head shall be cut off." When he heard this, he was so afraid, that he knew not what to do, and faid, "Sir, I entreat your pardon; forgive me your death." He then lifted his hatchet, and struck him so hard on the shoulder, that he made him fall with his face to the ground: The noble duke (Huntingdon had been created duke of Exeter by Richard) leaped on his feet, saying, "Alas, man! why do you treat me thus? "For God's fake, kill me more easily." He then gave him eight blows on the shoulder, for he could neither hit his neck or his head; the ninth stroke was in the neck: and the worthy duke, brother to the noble king Richard, spoke yet, saying, "Alas, dear friend! have pity on me, and free me from my pain." The executioner then cut his throat with a knife, to separate his head from his body; and in this manner was the noble duke put to death.'
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The bishop of Carlisle suffered only about a year's imprisonment, and the loss of his bishopric. He died rector of Todenham, in the county of Gloucester.
Henry IV remained peaceably in possesssion of the throne, and was the first king of England of the house of Lancaster, afterwards dispossessed by the house of York.