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the victory. The royal cortége, with Richard and his kinsmen of Lancaster and York, and followed by swarms of courtiers with brilliant equipages and noble steeds, passed out of the metropolis and took the highway through Middlesex and Warwickshire toward the scene of trial. City folk and country folk deserted their accustomed occupations, and were bent on their share in the stately pageant. On the spot designated for the duel, canopies and tents were erected; the royal pavilion, whence floated the escutcheon of Plantagenet, was prepared for his Majesty the King; and around it rose the platforms designed for the great barons attendant upon the occasion. On the morning of the sixteenth of September, the little town overflowed with somewhat of its ancient life, the streets were crowded with people and equipages, and the gaudy processions of knights and soldiers clattered over the pavements, regardless of those on foot, and ever and anon coming in collision with each other. Bolingbroke and Norfolk had arrived on the evening previous, and had passed most of the night in consultation with their adherents. Bolingbroke had been closeted with his father, the venerable Lancaster, and had received from him the wise counsels of his affection.

The royal bugles sounded, and the royal party entered the pavilion. The barons, with their attendants, took their places around the space cleared for the duel. The meaner multitude crowded into every nook and corner capable of containing a human body. The heralds proclaimed the wager of battle, and summoned the good knights to enter the lists. The trumpet for the onset gave the blast. Bolingbroke, making the sign of the cross, advanced, adorned with

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that device of the red rose which afterward became so significant; his shield held above his head, and his lance put in rest, directed toward his enemy. Norfolk muttered, "God speed the right," and kept firm to his ground. A deep silence fell upon the scenea breathless expectation of the catastrophe. All eyes were intent upon the two glistening knights, on the point of combat. But, when the lances were about to cross, of a sudden the King arose from his throne, threw down his truncheon between the combatants, and in a loud tone commanded them to desist. take," said he, "the battle into my own hands. I cannot suffer a contest which, in any event, will disgrace the blood royal of England. Have done, fair cousins, and await my judgment of this grave matter." This, of course, ended the contest. The Dukes retired at once to their stations, and the assemblage had to be content with a peaceful termination of the entertainment. The King, resuming his place on the throne, began to confer with his chief officers, and kept all in suspense as to what would be the issue of the matter. Finally the King again arose, and proceeded to announce the result of the conference. Henry of Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford, was commanded to leave England within four months,* and was to be exiled from the kingdom for the space of ten years. The Duke of Norfolk was banished for life, and was to abandon all hope of ever returning to his native land. The sentence was more severe than was expected, and caused many murmurs among the nobles who adhered to either party. Both were popular; on the contrary, the King had but few partisans,

* Froissart, vol. ii., chap. xcv., says fifteen days; but more accurate authorities say as above.

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and those were mostly timeservers who sought riches or power by his favor. The tournament having reached this unsatisfactory conclusion, the spectators separated, and the royal retinue turned their faces back toward London.

Bolingbroke, much chagrined at what he considered the tyranny and jealousy of the sovereign, sullenly set about his preparations for departure. In this state of feeling he was encouraged by many of his friends, especially the Percys, who were his most powerful adherents, and who had many grudges against Richard on account of past indig nities. The popularity of Bolingbroke among the people was manifested wherever he went; he was received with cheers and words of open sympathy; and it flattered his pride and his indignation to find that he had the good-will of the subjects against the sovereign. When the limit of his stay in England approached, the King was holding court at Eltham; there were with him the Dukes of Lancaster and York, the Earl of Northumberland and his son Henry Percy (afterward famous as Hotspur), and the Earls of Salisbury and Huntingdon, the latter of whom had wedded Bolingbroke's sister. Thither went the exiled prince to take leave of his father and kinsmen, and to pay that last attendance on majesty which courtesy required him to perform. When he was admitted to audience, Richard, approaching him in a gentle and conciliating manner, said to his cousin: "As God may help me, fair cousin, the words which have passed between you and the Earl Marshal have much vexed me. I have judged the matter to the best of my understanding. To relieve you from somewhat of your pain, I will reduce the term of your banishment to six

years. Make your plans accordingly." "Sire," answered the Duke, with as much grace as he could summon up, "I humbly thank you; and when it shall be your Majesty's good pleasure you will extend your mercy." The Duke of Lancaster then conducted his son to his closet, and advised him to go to the court of France at once, and thence to make his petitions for a remission of the sentence. Lancaster entertained a tender fondness for Bolingbroke, who indeed had long evinced an unusual spirit and much of his father's clearness of understanding, and engaged him in a protracted and affectionate interview. Taking leave of his father and the court, Bolingbroke returned to London and made ready for immediate embarkation.

On the morning of his exodus from the capital, the streets were thronged with multitudes of the citizens, who manifested their sympathy with him by many lamentations. It is said that forty thousand persons gathered on the line of his route that morning, within the limits of the city. The lord mayor, and a concourse of the higher citizens, attended him; and he was surrounded by many nobles who had long been his partisans and confederates in every adventure. He was greeted by acclamations on every side. The people said: "Ah, gentle Earl, will you then leave us? We will never be happy till you return. None can be compared with you. You are our idol. You have never done any wrong. It is shameful that you should be thus driven from among us." Most of those persons of quality who had joined him in the city, attended him to Dover; and when he embarked, many and affec tionate were the assurances that his friends would re

* Froissart.

main constant to him, and would further his interests at home, while he was an exile in foreign lands.

He had sent before him messengers to the French court, soliciting of King Charles the Sixth permission to reside during the term of his banishment at Paris. When Bolingbroke arrived at Calais, his messenger had already returned, and was awaiting him with a favorable reply from the French King. Charles had likewise sent with the messenger a knight, Sir Charles de Hangiers, with orders to conduct the noble exile through his dominions to the metropolis. The enmity between the Kings Richard and Charles made the latter quick to seize an occasion to show attention to one, whom the former had misused; yet he was probably somewhat reluctant that so spirited and ambitious a prince as Bolingbroke should seek refuge at his court. Bolingbroke set out on his jour ney toward Paris accompanied by a brilliant retinue of French and English knights, such as was worthy of his exalted rank. Everywhere in his progress through the counties he met with enthusiastic welcome from the people, who often came out of their towns in multitudes to receive him, and to tender him the hospitality of their vicinity.

There was at that time in Hainault, a powerful nobleman, William Earl of Ostrevant, a cousin of Bolingbroke's, and a knightly and courteous gentleman. When he learned that his cousin was proceeding to France, he sent two knights to invite him to Hainault, where he would be joyfully received and sumptuously entertained. Bolingbroke, however, desirous to reach Paris without delay, declined so generous an invitation, and continued his journey toward the capital. As he approached his

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