e N, at the end of the volume.

{1389.} It might naturally be expected, that the king, being reduced to
such slavery by the combination of the princes and chief nobility, and
having appeared so unable to defend his servants from the cruel effects
of their resentment, would long remain in subjection to them; and never
would recover the royal power, without the most violent struggles and
convulsions: but the event proved contrary. In less than a twelvemonth,
Richard, who was in his twenty-third year, declared in council, that, as
he had now attained the full age which entitled him to govern by his own
authority his kingdom and household, he resolved to exercise his right
of sovereignty; and when no one ventured to contradict so reasonable
an intention, he deprived Fitz-Alan, archbishop of Canterbury, of the
dignity of chancellor, and bestowed that high office on William of
Wickham, bishop of Winchester; the bishop of Hereford was displaced from
the office of treasurer; the earl of Arundel from that of admiral; even
the duke of Glocester and the earl of Warwick were removed for a time
from the council: and no opposition was made to these great changes. The
history of this reign is imperfect, and little to be depended on, except
where it is supported by public records; and it is not easy for us
to assign the reason of this unexpected event. Perhaps some secret
animosities, naturally to be expected in that situation, had crept in
among the great men, and had enabled the king to recover his authority.
Perhaps the violence of their former proceedings had lost them the
affections of the people, who soon repent of any cruel extremities to
which they are carried by their leaders. However this may be, Richard
exercised with moderation the authority which he had resumed. He seemed
to be entirely reconciled to his uncles[*] and the other great men, of
whom he had so much reason to complain: he never attempted to recall
from banishment the duke of Ireland, whom he found so obnoxious to them:
he confirmed by proclamation the general pardon which the parliament had
passed for all offences; and he courted the affections of the people,
by voluntarily remitting some subsidies which had been granted him: a
remarkable, and almost singular instance of such generosity.

After this composure of domestic differences, and this restoration of
the government to its natural state, there passes an interval of eight
years which affords not many remar