[1] [2] This doone, the king thought that suerlie all treason and conspiracie had beene vtterlie extinct: not suspec|ting the fire which was newlie kindled, and ceassed not to increase, till at length it burst out into such a flame, that catching the beames of his house and fa|milie, his line and stocke was cleane consumed to ashes. ¶ Diuerse write that Richard earle of Cam|bridge did not conspire with the lord Scroope & Tho|mas Graie for the murthering of king Henrie to [page 549] please the French king withall, but onelie to the in|tent to exalt to the crowne his brother in law Ed|mund earle of March as heire to Lionell duke of Clarence: after the death of which earle of March, for diuerse secret impediments, not able to haue issue, the earle of Cambridge was sure that the crowne should come to him by his wife, and to his children, of hir begotten. And therefore (as was thought) he ra|ther confessed himselfe for need of monie to be corrup|ted by the French king, than he would declare his inward mind, and open his verie intent and secret purpose, which if it were espied, he saw plainlie that the earle of March should haue tasted of the same cuppe that he had drunken, and what should haue come to his owne children he much doubted. There|fore destitute of comfort & in despaire of life to saue his children, he feined that tale, desiring rather to saue his succession than himselfe, which he did in déed: for his sonne Richard duke of Yorke not priuilie but openlie claimed the crowne, and Edward his sonne both claimed it, & gained it, as after it shall appeare. Which thing if king Henrie had at this time either doubted, or foreséene, had neuer béene like to haue come to passe, as Hall saith.