Page:The Queens of England.djvu/173

ANNE OF BOHEMIA. 147 may guess how much of cordiality subsisted between uncle and nephew. Richard, who, notwithstanding the mediation of Lancaster, was by no means desirous of retaining him in England, be- stowed upon him the duchies of Aquitaine and Guienne. A grand festival and tournament took place on this occasion. At the same time, his son, Henry Bolingbroke, departed for the wars in Prussia, where his presence 'was much more desirable than in the dominions of his royal cousin. Little of importance occurred from this period till the year 1392, when Richard demanding from the citizens the loan of a thousand pounds, they had not only refused to grant it themselves, but had beaten and brutally ill-used a Lombard who had offered to lend the sum. For these and other disorders their liberties were seized, tlieir magistracy dissolved, and the mayor and. some of the principal officers imprisoned. These active measures brought the Londoners to their senses ; they humbly entreated for for- giveness, and by the earnest intercession of the queen, Richard, after much persuasion, consented to pardon them. Upon this occasion they prepared a magnificent entertainment to conciliate the offended monarch. A body of citizens, to the number of about four hundred, all dressed in splendid livery and well mounted, met the king and queen at Blackheath, where they were on their way to Westminster, and besought them to pass through London ; to which the king finally agreed. They then escorted the royal couple to London bridge, where (says Fabian) Richard "was presented with two fayre stedes, trapped in ryche clothe of golde, partyd of redde and whyte," (one was for the queen;) "then rydyng on til he came to Standarde in Chepe, the cytezyns of the cyte standyng upon eyther syde of the stretes in theyr lyvereys, and cryeng Kyng Richarde, Kyng Richarde, and at theyr backes the wyndowys and wallys hanged with al ryche tapettes and clothes arasse in moste goodlye and shewyng wyse. And at the sayd standarde in Chepe, was ordeyned a sumptuouse stage, in whych were sette divers personages in ryche apparel, amonge the whyche an aungell was ordeyned, whiche sette a ryche crowne of golde garnyshed wyth stone and perle uppon the kynge's hede, and another on the queen's as they passed by." This was but a small portion of the pageant prepared for this great occasion ; there were mysteries and mummings, music and merriment ; gifts and offerings were presented to their majesties