12.1. A copie of the instrument touching the declaration of the commissioners sent from the states in par|lement, vnto king Richard.

A copie of the instrument touching the declaration of the commissioners sent from the states in par|lement, vnto king Richard.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _THis present indenture made the nine and twentith daie of Sep|tember, and feast of saint Micha|ell, in the yeare of our Lord 1399, and the three and twentith yeare of king Richard the second. Witnesseth, that where by the authoritie of the lords spiri|tuall and temporall of this present parle|ment, and commons of the same, the right honorable and discreet persons heere vnder named, were by the said authoritie assig|ned to go to the Tower of London, there to heare and testifie such questions and an|swers as then and there should be by the said honourable and discreet persons hard. Know all men, to whome these present let|ters shall come, that we, sir Richard Scroope archbishop of Yorke, Iohn bishop of Hereford, Henrie earle of Northumber|land, Rafe earle of Westmerland, Tho|mas lord Berkeleie, William abbat of Westminster, Iohn prior of Canturburie, William Thirning and Hugh Burnell knights, Iohn Markham iustice, Tho|mas Stow and Iohn Burbadge doctors of the ciuill law, Thomas Erpingham and Thomas Grey knights, Thomas Ferebie and Denis Lopeham notaries publike, the daie and yeere aboue said, betweene the houres of eight and nine of the clocke be|fore noone, were present in the cheefe cham|ber of the kings lodging, within the said place of the Tower, where was rehearsed vnto the king by the mouth of the foresaid earle of Northumberland, that before time at Conwaie in Northwales, the king be|ing there at his pleasure and libertie, pro|mised vnto the archbishop of Canturburie then Thomas Arundell,This promise he made at Flint rather than at Con|waie, as by that which goeth before it may be partlie coniectured. and vnto the said earle of Northumberland, that he for in|sufficiencie which he knew himselfe to be of, to occupie so great a charge, as to go|uerne the realme of England, he would gladlie leaue of and renounce his right and title, as well of that as of his title to the crowne of France, and his maiestie roiall, vnto Henrie duke of Hereford, and that to doo in such conuenient wise, as by the lear|ned men of this land it should most suffici|entlie be deuised & ordeined. To the which rehearsall, the king in our said presences answered benignlie and said, that such pro|mise he made, and so to do the same he was at that houre in full purpose to performe and fulfill; sauing that he desired first to haue personall speach with the said duke, and with the archbishop of Canturburie his cousins. And further, he desired to haue a bill drawne of the said resignation, EEBO page image 504 that he might be perfect in the rehearsall thereof.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 After which bill drawne, and a copie thereof to him by me the said earle deliue|red, we the said lords and other departed: and vpon the same afternoone the king loo|king for the comming of the duke of Lan|caster, at the last the said duke, with the archbishop of Canturburie and the per|sons afore recited, entered the foresaid chamber, bringing with them the lords Roos, Aburgenie, and Willoughbie, with diuerse other. Where after due obeisance doone by them vnto the king, he familiarlie and with a glad countenance (as to them and vs appeered) talked with the said arch|bishop and duke a good season; and that communication finished, the king with glad countenance in presence of vs and the other aboue rehearsed, said openlie that he was readie to renounce and resigne all his kinglie maiestie in maner and forme as he before had promised. And although he had and might sufficientlie haue declared his renouncement by the reading of an other meane person; yet for the more suertie of the matter, and for that the said resignati|on should haue his full force and strength, himselfe therefore read the scroll of resig|nation, in maner and forme as followeth.

12.2. The tenor of the instrument whereby king Richard resigneth the crowne to the duke of Lancaster.

The tenor of the instrument whereby king Richard resigneth the crowne to the duke of Lancaster.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 _IN the name of God Amen: I Ri|chard by the grace of God, king of England and of France, &c: lord of Ireland, acquit and assoile all archbi|shops, bishops, and other prelats, secular or re|ligious, of what dignitie, degree, state, or condi|tion so euer they be; and also all dukes, mar|quesses, earles, barons, lords, and all my liege men, both spirituall and secular, of what man|ner or degree they be, from their oth of fealtie and homage, and all other deeds and priuileges made vnto me, and from all manner bonds of allegiance, regalitie and lordship, in which they were or be bounden to me, or anie otherwise constreined; and them, their heires, and succes|sors for euermore, from the same bonds and oths I release, deliuer, and acquit, and set them for free, dissolued and acquit, and to be harme|lesse, for as much as longeth to my person by a|nie manner waie or title of right, that to me might follow of the foresaid things, or anie of them. And also I resigne all my kinglie digni|tie, maiestie and crowne, with all the lordships, power, and priuileges to the foresaid kinglie dignitie and crowne belonging, and all other lordships and possessions to me in anie maner of wise perteining, of what name, title, qua|litie, or condition soeuer they be, except th [...] lands and possessions for me and mine obits purchased and bought. And I renounce all right, and all maner of title of possession, which I euer had or haue in the same lordships and possessions, or anie of them, with anie manner of rights belonging or apperteining vnto anie part of them. And also the rule and gouernance of the same kingdome and lordships, with all ministrations of the same, and all things and e|uerie each of them, that to the whole empire and iurisdictions of the same belongeth of right, or in anie wise may belong.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 And also I renounce the name, worship, and regaltie and kinglie highnesse, clearelie, freelie, singularlie and wholie, in the most best maner and forme that I may, and with deed and word I leaue off and resigne them, and go from them for euermore; sauing alwaies to my successors kings of England, all the rights, priuileges and appurtenances to the said kingdome and lord|ships abouesaid belonging and apperteining. For well I wote and knowledge, and deeme my selfe to be, and haue beene insufficient and vn|able, and also vnprofitable, and for my open de|serts not vnworthie to be put downe. And I sweare vpon the holie euangelists here present|lie with my hands touched, that I shall neuer repugne to this resignation, demission or yeeld|ing vp, nor neuer impugne them in anie maner by word or deed, by my selfe nor none other: nor I shall not suffer it to be impugned, in as much as in me is, priuilie or apertlie. But I shall haue, hold, and keepe this renouncing, demissi|on, and giuing vp for firme and stable for euer|more in all and euerie part thereof, so God me helpe and all saints, and by this holie euange|list, by me bodilie touched and kissed. And for more record of the same, here openlie I sub|scribe and signe this present resignation with mine owne hand.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Now foorthwith in our presences and o|thers, he subscribed the same, and after de|liuered it vnto the archbishop of Cantur|burie, saieng that if it were in his power, or at his assignement, he would that the duke of Lancaster there present should be his successour, and king after him. And in token heereof, he tooke a ring of gold from his finger being his signet, and put it vpon the said dukes finger, desiring and requi|ring the archbishop of Yorke, & the bishop of Hereford, to shew and make report vnto the lords of the parlement of his volunta|rie resignation, and also of his intent and good mind that he bare towards his cousin the duke of Lancaster, to haue him his suc|cessour and their king after him. ¶ All this doone, euerie man tooke their leaue and returned to their owne.