Page:The Queens of England.djvu/183

ISABELLA OF VALOIS. 155 of the duchess, and first cousin of Richard, who had been dis- missed from that post on account of the extraordinary state she had taken upon herself, and the immense expenses she had in- curred in supporting her pretensions. The Londoners, how- ever, disapproving of her remaining about the queen, dismissed her and her attendants, with all who were attached to the king, and provided her with a new household of their own choosing, who were strictly enjoined never to mention to her the name ol her royal husband, or acquaint her with his fate. Such was the enmity of the Londoners to their king, and devotion to the duke, that it is asserted they sent deputations to Lancaster, on his road to the metropolis, begging him to cut off Richard's head ; and when he entered the city, he was greeted with shouts of "Long live Henry, the noble Duke of Lancaster ! who hath conquered England in less than a month ; such a lord deserves to be king" — quoting a pretended prophecy of Merlin, for A. D. 1399, "that a king should then be deposed after a reign of twenty-two years." For a considerable time Richard remained refractory, refus- ing to sign the resignation to the crown, which Lancaster was so desirous to obtain. He was particularly exasperated by the duke's refusal to suffer the queen to come to him, a favor he earnestly sought to gain ; for he is said to have entertained the strongest attachment to the youthful Isabella, child though she was, while she, entirely won by his kind and gentle demeanor, his fascinating and courtly manners, his accomplishments, and, above all, his affection for her, loved him with a devotion rare in one so young. At last, however, hoping to gain time, save his life, and per- haps obtain assistance from France, the unfortunate monarch was induced to sign his abdication. On the reading of the act of resignation and declaration of Lancaster's right to the throne, the Bishop of Carlisle, a man whose qualities of head and heart make his name for ever memorable in the annals of this period of treachery, rebellion and injustice, alone ventured to oppose the usurper and defend the wronged monarch, in a speech full of power, energy and truth. The reward of his noble conduct was, that as soon as he had ceased to speak, he was, by Henry's order, arrested and sent prisoner to the Abbey of St. Alban's. After various deliberations, Henry Bolingbroke was declared king on the 30th of September, 1399, entirely passing over the