nor, nor of regent, nor no name that shall
import authority of governance of the land; but the said name of
protector and defensor;" and so forth, according to the language of
their former address to the duke of Gloucester. An act was passed
accordingly, constituting the duke of York protector of the church and
kingdom, and chief counsellor of the king, during the latter's pleasure;
or until the prince of Wales should attain years of discretion on whom
the said dignity was immediately to devolve. The patronage of certain
spiritual benefices was reserved to the protector according to the
precedent of the king's minority, which parliament was resolved to
follow in every particular.[440]

It may be conjectured, by the provision made in favour of the prince of
Wales, then only two years old, that the king's condition was supposed
to be beyond hope of restoration. But in about nine months he recovered
sufficient speech and recollection to supersede the duke of York's
protectorate.[441] The succeeding transactions are matter of familiar,
though not, perhaps, very perspicuous history. The king was a prisoner
in his enemies' hands after the affair at St. Albans,[442] when
parliament met in July, 1455. In this session little was done, except
renewing the strongest oaths of allegiance to Henry and his family. But
the two houses meeting again after a prorogation to November 12, during
which time the duke of York had strengthened his party, and was
appointed by commission the king's lieutenant to open the parliament, a
proposition was made by the commons that, "whereas the king had deputed
the duke of York as his commissioner to proceed in this parliament, it
was thought by the commons that, if the king hereafter could not attend
to the protection of the country, an able person should be appointed
protector, to whom they might have recourse for redress of injuries;
especially as great disturbances had lately arisen in the west through
the feuds of the earl of Devonshire and Lord Bonvile."[443] The
archbishop of Canterbury answered for the lords that they would take
into consideration what the commons had suggested. Two days afterwards
the latter appeared again with a request conveyed nearly in the same
terms. Upon their leaving the chamber, the archbishop, who was also
chancellor, moved the peers to answer what should be done in respect of
the request of the commons; adding that "it is understood that they will
not further proceed