XIV. where it was placed upon the bridge. The prin- CHAP. cipal ringleaders of the rebellion suffered upon the scaffold, and it was afterwards alleged against the Duke of York that they had confessed a design to place him upon the throne in the event of their success.* Hall. Holingshed. Stow. XIV. CHAP. many of each party lost their lives, the Londoners succeeded in forcing the bridge, and Cade was compelled to retreat. This disaster encouraged the archbishops of Canterbury and York, who were in the tower, to try the effect of negotiation, they dispatched the Bishop of Winchester to the church of Saint Margaret's on the opposite side of the river, with pardons under the great seal for all who should lay down their arms. Cade was induced to accept the royal mercy, which was eagerly received by his followers, many of whom returned home; but recovering his spirits, and suspicious that Henry's clemency would not be extended to the leader of the rebellion, he rallied the most staunch of his associates, and not finding himself strong enough to renew the attempt upon London, fell back to Dartford, and from thence to Rochester. He had, however, lost all his authority; regardless of the common cause each of the insurgents was intent upon seizing the plunder which had been carried from the capital; unanimity was at an end, and Cade perceiving that every hope of regaining his command was lost, mounted a horse and fled into Sussex. A reward of a thousand marks had been set upon the rebel's head, his movements had been carefully watched, and Alexander Iden, the new sheriff of Kent, following close upon his track, overtook him in an orchard near the town of Lewes. A desperate conflict ensued. Cade's brave defence purchased for him a soldier's death, he fell under the sword of the royalist, who carried the traitor's head to London, XIV. where it was placed upon the bridge. The prin- CHAP. cipal ringleaders of the rebellion suffered upon the scaffold, and it was afterwards alleged against the Duke of York that they had confessed a design to place him upon the throne in the event of their success.* CHAP. XV. CHAPTER XV. National Discontent-Impolitic Conduct of the Government—York's Departure from Ireland—he summons his Friends-Murder of Tresham-York enters London-his Interview with the King-Queen Margaret's Displeasure-Buckingham's Interference- Parliament Summoned-Arrival of Somerset-his unpopularity-Outrage of the Mob-The Peers attend Parliament-Resolution to impeach Somerset-Insolent Proposition of a Lawyer-Proceedings of the Parliament-York secures Somerset-The attempted Vindication by Somerset's Friends-Norfolk's Speech-Private Feuds-Fierce spirit of the Nobles-York's Retirement to Ludlow-his Proclamation— Levies Forces-The King at the head of an Army-York encamps at Dartford-Embassy from the King-York demands the Arrest of Somerset-Decision of the Council-York's Second Interview with the King-Angry Meeting between Somerset and York-York carried a Prisoner to London-Henry's Clemency-Somerset's Ascendance-Embassy from Guienne-Expedition under Talbot-his Success-his Reverses-Encounters the French Army-is defeated and slain-Fall of Guienne-Description of the Duchy-The English driven out of France. THE insurrection was quelled, but it was followed by a very short interval of tranquillity. A large portion of the nation disliked the government of the queen, and were anxious to see the Duke of York at the head of the ministry. He was not without ambition, though deeply indebted to Henry for the restoration of the forfeited titles and estates of his family he had received ample cause for discontent in the XV. preference accorded by his sovereign to his personal CHAP. enemies. His faithful services to the crown seemed to demand confidence, and at a period in which the nation had strongly expressed their dissatisfaction with the measures of the court, he was encouraged by numerous partizans to assert his just pretensions to a share in the royal councils. Henry's imbecility and dislike to public business seemed to warrant the interference of a kinsman so nearly allied, and so capable of conducting an administration from whence he had been entirely excluded without sufficient cause. It was the policy of Margaret of Anjou and her party to prevent the duke from gaining a higher degree of ascendance over the public mind; it seemed dangerous to trust a man with power who was not only in the event of the king's death presumptive heir to the crown, but who possessed rights which he would probably claim at the first favourable moment. We cannot therefore be surprised at the queen's unyielding resolution rather to engage in open war than to admit him into the cabinet. Unfortunately both the talents and the virtue of the kingdom were opposed to Margaret, and the misconduct of her principal favourites afforded but too fair a pretext for their removal from the royal presence. Notwithstanding the rebellious spirit which was abroad, as yet scarcely a disloyal word had been breathed, even the proclamations of Cade were couched in the king's name, and the errors of the government attributed entirely to unworthy ministers. The enmity between York and Somerset furnished the former with a plausible motive for his expostulations, and whatever might |