Kent, to the
southeastward of London. King Henry, who was eminently a man of peace,
being possessed of no warlike qualities whatever, and being extremely
averse to the shedding of blood, instead of attacking the Duke of
York, sent a messenger to him to know what his intentions were in
coming into the country at the head of such a force, and what he
desired.

[Sidenote: Professions.]

The duke replied that he had no designs against the king, but only
against the traitor Somerset, and he said that if the king would order
Somerset to be arrested and brought to trial, he should be satisfied,
and would disband his forces.

[Sidenote: An appointment]

The king, on receiving this message, was much troubled and perplexed,
but at length he concluded, under the advice of some of his
counselors, to comply with this demand. He caused Somerset to be
arrested, and notified the Duke of York that he had done so. The Duke
of York then disbanded his army, or at least sent the troops away, and
made an appointment to come unattended and visit the king in his tent,
with a view to conferring with him on the terms and conditions of a
permanent reconciliation.

[Sidenote: Somerset concealed.]

This interview resulted in a very extraordinary scene. It seems that
the queen had contrived the means of secretly releasing Somerset after
his arrest, and bringing him by stealth to the king's pavilion, and
concealing him there behind the arras at the time the Duke of York was
to be admitted, in order that he, Somerset, might be a witness of the
interview. While he was thus secreted, the Duke of York came in. He
commenced his conference with the king by repeating earnestly what he
said before, namely, that he had not been actuated in what he had
done by any feeling of hostility against the king, but only against
Somerset. His sole object in taking up arms, he said, was that that
arch traitor might be brought to punishment.

[Sidenote: Scene in the tent.]

[Sidenote: Fierce altercation.]

[Sidenote: The Duke of York imprisoned.]

On hearing these words, Somerset could contain himself no longer, but,
to the astonishment of the Duke of York and to the utter consternation
of the king, he rushed out from his hiding-place, and began to assail
the duke with the most violent reproaches, alleging that his
pretensions of friendship for Henry were false, and that the real
design of his movements was to usurp the throne. The duke retorted
with equal