hich, in several of its clauses, discovered a very general
prejudice against the measures of the court.

{1452.} The duke of York, trusting to these symptoms, raised an army
of ten thousand men, with which he marched towards London, demanding a
reformation of the government, and the removal of the duke of Somerset
from all power and authority.[**] He unexpectedly found the gates of the
city shut against him; and on his retreating into Kent, he was followed
by the king at the head of a superior army; in which several of
Richard's friends, particularly Salisbury and Warwick appeared; probably
with a view of mediating between the parties, and of seconding, on
occasion, the duke of York's pretensions.

* Parl. Hist. vol. ii. p. 263.

** Stowe, p. 394.

A parley ensued; Richard still insisted upon the removal of Somerset,
and his submitting to a trial in parliament: the court pretended to
comply with his demand; and that nobleman was put in arrest: the duke
of York was then persuaded to pay his respects to the king in his
tent; and, on repeating his charge against the duke of Somerset, he was
surprised to see that minister step from behind the curtain, and offer
to maintain his innocence. Richard now found that he had been betrayed;
that he was in the hands of his enemies; and that it was become
necessary, for his own safety, to lower his pretensions. No violence,
however, was attempted against him: the nation was not in a disposition
to bear the destruction of so popular a prince: he had many friends in
Henry's camp; and his son, who was not in the power of the court, might
still be able to revenge his death on all his enemies: he was therefore
dismissed; and he retired to his seat of Wigmore, on the borders of
Wales.[*]

While the duke of York lived in this retreat, there happened an incident
which, by increasing the public discontents, proved favorable to
his pretensions. Several Gascon lords, affectionate to the English
government, and disgusted at the new dominion of the French, came to
London, and offered to return to their allegiance under Henry.[**]

{1453.} The earl of Shrewsbury, with a body of eight thousand men, was
sent over to support them. Bordeaux opened its gates to him: he made
himself master of Fronsac, Castillon, and some other places: affairs
began to wear a favorable aspect; but as Charles hastened to resist
this dangerous invasion, the fortunes of the English were soon reversed:
Shrews