Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden maonachi Cestrensis; together with the English translations of John Trevisa and of an unknown writer of the fifteenth century.

Capitulum Trisesimum Primum.

AND after this the sayd erles of Marche, Warwyk, and of Salysbury cam over soe to Dover with moche peple, and there landed, to whome al the countray drewe, and cam to London armed. And for to late the lordes of the kynges counseylle knowe theyr trouth, and also theyr entente, assemblyd them and told them, that they entended no harme vnto the kynges personne, sauf that they wold putte fro hym suche persones as were aboute hym. And soo departed fro London with a grete puyssaunce toward Norhampton, where the kynge was accom|panyed with many lordes, and had made a stronge felde with|oute the toun. And there both partyes mette, and was foughten a grete bataylle. In which batayll were slayne the duck of Bokyngham, therle of Shrowesbury, the vysecounte Beamond, the lorde Egremond, and many knyghtes and Squyers and other

also. And the kyng hym self taken in the felde, and after|ward brought to London. And anone afterward was a parla|ment at Westmynstre, duryng whiche parlament the duck of York cam oute of Irlond with therle of Rutland, rydyng with a grete felawship in to the palays at Westmestre, and toke the kynges palays, and cam into the parlament chambre, and there toke the kynges place, and claymed the croune as his propre enherytaunce and ryght, and cast forth in wrytyng his tytle, and also how he was ryghtful eyer; wherfore was moche to doo, but in conclusion it was appoynted and concluded that kynge Harry sholde regne and be kyng durynge his naturel lyf, for as moche as he had ben so long kyng, and was possessyd. And after his deth the duke of Yorke shold be kynge, and his eyres after hym, and forthwith shold be proclamed eyr appa|raunt, and sholde be also protectour and regente of Englonde durynge the kynges lyf, with many other thynges ordeyned in the same parlament. And if kyng Harry duryng his lyf wente from this appoyntement, or ony artycle concluded in the sayd parlement, he shold be deposed, & the duke sholde take the crowne and be kyng: all whiche thynges were enacted by thauctorite of the sayd parlament. At whiche parlament the comons of the royamme beyng assemblyd in the comon hows comenynge and treatyng vpon the tytle of the sayd duc of Yorke, sodaynly fyll downe the crowne whiche henge thenne in the myddes of the sayd hows, whiche is the fraytour of thabbay of Westmynstre, whiche was taken for a prodyge or token that the regne of kyng Harry was ended: and also the crowne whiche stode on the hyest tour of the stepel in the castel of Dover fyll doun this same yere.