Compare 1577 edition: 1 Thus much adoo there was in this parlement, speciallie about them that were thought to be guiltie of the duke of Glocesters death, and of the condem|ning of the other lords that were adiudged traitors in the forsaid late parlement holden in the said one and twentith yeare of king Richards reigne. Sir Iohn Bagot knight then prisoner in the Tower, Fabian. Sir Iohn Bagot disclo|seth secrets. dis|closed manie secrets, vnto the which he was priuie; and being brought on a daie to the barre, a bill was read in English which he had made, conteining cer|teine euill practises of king Richard; and further what great affection the same king bare to the duke of Aumarle, insomuch that he heard him say, that if he should renounce the gouernement of the king|dome, he wished to leaue it to the said duke, as to the most able man (for wisdome and manhood) of all o|ther: for though he could like better of the duke of Hereford,Henrie the fourth suspec|ted not to be well affected towards the church before his comming to the crowne. yet he said that he knew if he were once king, he would proue an extreame enimie and cruell tyrant to the church.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 It was further conteined in that bill, that as the same Bagot rode on a daie behind the duke of Nor|folke in the Sauoy stréet toward Westminster, the ruke asked him what he knew of the manner of the duke of Glocester his death, and he answered that he knew nothing at all: but the people (quoth he) doo say that you haue murthered him. Wherevnto the duke sware great othes that it was vntrue, and tha [...] he had saued his life contrarie to the will of the king and certeine other lords, by the space of thrée wéeks, and more; affirming withall, that he was neuer in all his life time more affraid of death, than he was at his comming home againe from Calis at that time, to the kings presence, by reason he had not put the duke to death. And then (said he) the king appoin|ted one of his owne seruants, and certeine other that EEBO page image 512 were seruants to other lords to go with him to see the said duke of Glocester put to death, swearing that as he should answer afore God, it was neuer his mind that he should haue died in the fort, but onelie for feare of the king, and sauing of his owne life. Ne|uerthelesse, there was no man in the realme to whom king Richard was so much beholden,The duke of Aumarle ac|cused. as to the duke of Aumarle: for he was the man that to fulfill his mind, had set him in hand with all that was doone a|gainst the said duke, and the other lords. There was also conteined in that bill, what secret malice king Richard had conceiued against the duke of Hereford being in exile, whereof the same Bagot had sent in|telligence vnto the duke into France, by one Roger Smart, who certified it to him by Piers Buckton, and others, to the intent he should the better haue re|gard to himselfe. There was also conteined in the said bill, that Bagot had heard the duke of Aumarle say, that he had rather than twentie thousand pounds that the duke of Hereford were dead, not for anie feare he had of him, but for the trouble and mischéefe that he was like to procure within the realme.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The duke of Aumarle his answer vn|to Bagots bill.After that the bill had béene read and heard, the duke of Aumarle rose vp and said, that as touching the points conteined in the bill concerning him, they were vtterlie false and vntrue, which he would proue with his bodie, in what manner soeuer it should be thought requisit. There with also the duke of Excester rose vp, and willed Bagot that if he could say anie thing against him to speake it openlie. Bagot an|swered, that for his part he could say nothing against him: But there is (said he) a yeoman in Newgat one Iohn hall that can say somewhat.Iohn Hall a yeoman.

Well then (said the duke of Excester) this that I doo and shall say is true, that the late king, the duke of Norfolke, and thou being at Woodstoke, made me to go with you into the chappell, and there the doore being shut, ye made me to sweare vpon the altar, to kéepe counsell in that ye had to say to me, and then ye rehearsed that we should neuer haue our purpose, so long as the duke of Lancaster liued, & therefore ye purposed to haue councell at Lichfield, & there you would ar|rest the duke of Lancaster, in such sort as by colour of his disobeieng the arrest, he should be dispatched out of life. And in this maner ye imagined his death. To the which I answered, that it were conuenient the king should send for his councell, and if they a|gréed herevnto. I would not be against it, and so I departed.