that trust
to his master;[*] an extravagant act of power! even though the king
changed, in favor of the attorney, the penalty of death into that of
banishment.

Henry, the new duke of Lancaster, had acquired by his conduct and
abilities the esteem of the public; and having served with distinction
against the infidels in Lithuania, he had joined to his other praises
those of piety and valor, virtues which have at all times a great
influence over mankind, and were, during those ages, the qualities
chiefly held in estimation.[**] He was connected with most of the
principal nobility by blood, alliance, or friendship; and as the injury
done him by the king might in its consequences affect all of them, he
easily brought them, by a sense of common interest, to take part in his
resentment. The people, who must have an object of affection, who found
nothing in the king's person which they could love or revere, and
who were even disgusted with many parts of his conduct[***] easily
transferred to Henry that attachment which the death of the duke of
Glocester had left.

* Tyrrel, vol. iii. part ii. p. 991, from the records.

** Walsing. p. 343.

*** He levied fines upon those who had ten years before joined
the duke of Glocester and his party: they were obliged to
pay him money, before he would allow them to enjoy the
benefit of the indemnity; and in the articles of charge
against him it is asserted that the payment of one fine did
not suffice. It is indeed likely that his ministers would
abuse the power put into their hands; and this grievance
extended to very many people. Historians agree in
representing this practice as a great oppression. See
Otterborne, p. 199. without any fixed direction. His
misfortunes were lamented the injustice which he had
suffered was complained of; and all men turned their eyes
towards him as the only person that could retrieve the lost
honor of the nation, or redress the supposed abuses in the
government.

While such were the dispositions of the people, Richard had the
imprudence to embark for Ireland, in order to revenge the death of his
cousin, Roger, earl of Marche, the presumptive heir of the crown, who
had lately been slain in a skirmish by the natives; and he thereby
left the kingdom of England open to the attempts of his provoked and
ambitious enemy. Henry, embarking at Nantz with a retinue of sixty
pe