Owen Glendower, what he was. deuise vnto their English neighbours. This Owen Glendouer John Stow. was sonne to an esquier of Wales, named Griffith Vichan: he dwelled in the parish of Conwaie, within the countie of Merioneth in Northwales, in a place called Glindourwie, which is as much to saie in English, as "The vallie by the side of the water of Dee;" by occasion whereof he was surnamed Glindour Dew. by he of He was first set to studie the lawes of the realme, and became an vtter barrester, or an apprentise of the law, (as they terme him,) and serued king Richard at Flint castell, when he was taken Henrie duke of Lancaster; though other haue written that serued this king Henrie the fourth, before he came to atteine the crowne, in roome of an esquier; and after, by reason of variance that rose betwixt him and the lord Reginald Greie of Ruthin, about the lands which he [p. 519] claimed to be his by right inheritance, when he saw that he might not preuaile, finding no such fauor in his sute as he looked for, he first made warre against the said lord Greie, wasting his lands and possessions with fire and sword, cruellie killing his seruants and tenants. The king, aduertised of such rebellious exploits,1 enterprised by the said Owen, and his vnrulie complices, determined to chastise them, as disturbers of his peace, and so with an armie entered into Wales; but the Welshmen with their capteine withdrew into the mounteines of Snowdon, so to escape the reuenge, which the king meant towards them. The king therefore did much hurt in the countries with fire and sword; sleing diuerse that with weapon in hand came foorth to resist him, and so with a great bootie of beasts and cattell he returned.2 1 Full particulars of Glendower's rebellion reached Henry at Northampton, about September 12-19, 1400. The campaign began soon or immediately after September 26, and was over before October 19, 1400.—Wylie (i. 146-148), citing public records. 2 According to one story Glendower "serued king Richard at Flint castell, when he was taken by Henrie Duke of Lancaster." I venture to suggest that Shakspere-assuming from these words that Glendower was personally attached to the King-turned the border strife with Lord Grey of Ruthin into warfare on Richard's behalf. The lines which I quote above (III. i. 42-44) might have introduced this lost or omitted portion of the play, but they are now, I suspect, imperfect and disarranged: the ryming lines-which should end the scene-being out of place, and two half lines, at least, having been lost. K. Richard returneth out of Ireland, and landeth in Wales. Act III. sc. ii.-My next excerpt continues the history of Richard's fortunes, from the time when the Welshmen dispersed. [Hol. iii. 499/1/66.] At length, about eighteene daies after that the king had sent from him the earle of Salisburie, he tooke the sea, togither with the dukes of Aumarle, Excester, Surrie, and diuerse others of the nobilitie, with the bishops of London, Lincolne, and Carleill. They landed neere the castell of Barclowlie 1 in Wales, about the feast of saint Iames the apostle, and staied a while in the same castell, being aduertised of the great forces which the duke of Lancaster had got togither against him; Thom. Wals. wherewith he was maruellouslie amazed, knowing certeinelie that those, which were thus in armes with the duke of Lancaster against him, would rather die than giue place, as well for the hatred as feare which they had conceiued at him. Neuerthelesse he, departing from Barclowlie, hasted with all speed towards Conwaie, where he vnderstoode the earle of Salisburie to be Additions to still remaining. [After leaving Barclowlie, he went to Conway.] Polychron. of the loss of his castles, He therefore taking with him such Cheshire men as he had with him at that present (in whom all his trust was reposed) he doubted not to reuenge himselfe of his aduersaries, & so at the [News came first he passed with a good courage; but when he vnderstood, as he went thus forward, that all the castels, euen from the borders of Scotland vnto Bristow, were deliuered vnto the duke of beheading of Lancaster; and that likewise the nobles and commons, as well of the south parts, as the north, were fullie bent to take part with the same duke against him; and further, hearing how his the revolt of nobles and commons, and the his coun cillors at Bristol.] in vtter despaire, K. Richard, trustie councellors had lost their heads at Bristow, he became so greatlie discomforted, that sorowfullie lamenting his miserable state, he vtterlie despaired of his owne safetie, and calling his their homes.] armie togither, which was not small, licenced euerie man to depart to his home. 1 "Castrum de Hertlowli in Wallia."-Eves., 149. Williams (Trais. 188, note) supposed this place to be Harlech Castle, Merionethshire. According to Usk (27; 137), and the text of Trais. (41; 188), Richard landed at Pembroke. The Lebaud and Ambassade MSS. of Trais. (Trais. 41, note 6), Creton (Archaeol. xx. 75; 321), and Ott. (206) have Milford as Richard's landing-place. he they were ready to h awaie from his armie, and taketh Flint. the castell of The souldiers, being well bent to fight in his defense, besought (Though him to be of good cheere, promising with an oth to stand with him against the duke, and all his partakers vnto death; but this could not incourage him at all, so that, in the night next insuing, stole from his armie, and, with the dukes of Excester and Surrie, the bishop of Carleill, and sir Stephan Scroope, and about halfe a score others, he got him to the castell of Conwaie,1 where he found the earle of Salisburie; determining there to hold himselfe, till he might see the world at some better staie; for what counsell to take to remedie the mischeefe thus pressing vpon him he wist not. After Act III. sc. iii.-The scene is laid before Flint Castle. relating the cause of Richard's departure from Conway, and describing the ambush on the journey (see note 1), Holinshed proceeds: Richards at 1399.)] Flint Castle (Aug. 18, [Hol. iii. 500/2/71.] King Richard being thus come vnto the castell of Flint, on the mondaie, the eighteenth of August, and the duke of Hereford being still aduertised from houre to houre by posts, [p. 501] how the earle of Northumberland sped, the morow following being tuesdaie, and the nineteenth of August,2 he came thither, & mustered his armie before the kings presence; which [Bolingvndoubtedlie made a passing faire shew, being verie well ordered mustered by the lord Henrie Persie, that was appointed generall, or rather (as we maie call him) master of the campe, vnder the duke, of the whole armie. . . . 1 In a sidenote against this passage Richard is said to have withdrawn to "the castell of Flint," after deserting his army; and at the close of sc. ii., Act III., he exclaims: "Go to Flint Castle, there Ile pine away ; . ... ... We learn from Creton (Archaeol. xx. 129-149; 349-366), whom Hol. subsequently follows, that Northumberland decoyed Richard from Conway Castle to a part of the road between Conway and Flint, where an ambush was laid. On reaching this spot the King was obliged to proceed to Flint, which was in the possession of Northumberland's troops. Trais. (47-52; 196-201) has the same story, with less detail. These authorities place the meeting of Richard and Bolingbroke at Flint Castle. Usk (27; 138, 139), Ott. (207, 208), and Wals. (ii. 233, 234), agree that Richard left Conway and met Bolingbroke at Flint Castle. But, according to Eves., Richard, forsaking his army, betook himself to Flint Castle (150), whence, after some negotiation, he departed to Conway Castle, where Bolingbroke met him (154, 155). 2 This date is derived from Eves., 155. broke his army before the Aug. 19.] castle, on [Richard watched The king . . . was walking aloft on the braies1 of the wals, to the coming, behold the comming of the duke a farre off. of the army.] lands mes sage to the king: (If Richard would engage to Shakspere altered the time, place, and purpose of Northumberland's mission. That mission had for its object the beguilement of Richard from Conway to Flint, where he would be in Bolingbroke's power. I begin the following excerpt-which contains the outline of III. iii. 31-126-at the time when Northumberland-entrusted with the difficult task of persuading Richard to leave Conway Castle [Hol. iii. 500/2/14.] came before the towne, and then sending an herald to the king, requested a safe conduct from the king, that he might come and talke with him; which the king granted, and so Northumber the earle of Northumberland, passing the water, entred the castell, and comming to the king, declared to him, that, if it might please his grace to vndertake, that there should be a parlement assembled, in the which iustice might be had against such as were enimies to the common-wealth, and had procured the destruction of the duke of Glocester, and other noblemen, and herewith pardon the duke Bolingbroke of Hereford of all things wherin he had offended him, the duke would be readic to come to him on his knees,2 to craue of him forgiuenesse, and, as an humble subiect, to obeie him in all dutifull seruices. summon a and grant Bolingbroke a full pardon, would become Richard's obedient subject.] [Again The excerpt illustrating the rest of the scene is an account of what happened at Flint, on a later date. When Bolingbroke approached the castle, he [Hol. iii. 501/1/62.] compassed it round about, euen downe to the sea, with his people ranged in good and seemelie order at the foot of the mounteins: and then the earle of Northumberland, passing foorth of the castell to the duke, talked with him a while Boling- in sight of the king, being againe got vp to the walles, to take better view of the armie, being now aduanced within two bowe ascending to the walls, Richard saw broke's army encircling the castle, 1 Creton-Hol.'s authority for this passage-says that Richard "monta sur les murs dudit chastel [of Flint], qui sont grans & larges par dedens" (Archaeol. xx. 370). Cp. the stage direction (1.61): "The trumpets sound, Richard appeareth on the walls." 2 Cp. III. iii. 112, &c.: "His comming hither hath no further scope umberland him.] shootes of the castell, to the small reioising (ye may be sure) of and Norththe sorowful king. The earle of Northumberland, returning to talking with the castell, appointed the king to be set to dinner (for he was fasting till then) and, after he had dined, the duke came downe to the castell himselfe, and entred the same all armed, his [Within the bassenet onelie excepted; and being within the first gate, staied there, till the king came foorth of the inner part of castell vnto him. 2 he first gate of the castle, Bolingbroke awaited the Richard.] in the outer The dukes behaviour to the king at their The king, accompanied with the bishop of Carleill, the earle of Salisburie, and sir Stephan Scroope, knight,' (who bare the sword before him,) and a few other, came foorth into the vtter (They meet ward, and sate downe in a place prepared for him. Foorthwith, ward.] as the duke got sight of the king, he shewed a reuerend dutie as became him, in bowing his knee, and, comming forward, did so likewise the second and third time, till the king tooke him meeting. by the hand, and lift him vp, saieng: "Deere cousine, ye are "welcome." The duke, humblie thanking him, said: "My soue- The dukes reigne lord and king, the cause of my comming at this present, "is (your honor saued) to haue againe restitution of my person, "my lands and heritage, through your fauourable licence." The king hervnto answered: "Deere cousine, I am readie to accom"plish your will, so that ye may inioy all that is yours, without 'exception." Meeting thus togither, they came foorth of the castell, and the king there called for wine, and, after they had dronke, they mounted on horssebacke, and rode [-halting at eleven places on the way-] to London: .. 1 York, whom Shakspere brings into this scene, was not at Flint. He was then, perhaps, at Bristol-Hol. 500/1/12; Eves. 153. Before the date of this scene, Aumerle-who is named amongst Richard's friends in III. ii. 27—went over to Bolingbroke.-Cp. Hol. 500/1/57, &c.: Trais. 46; 194: Eves. 154. Aumerle was present at a meeting between Richard and Archbishop Arundel, which took place after Richard had been "walking aloft on the braies," and before Bolingbroke drew near and surrounded Flint Castle. When the conference was ended, Aumerle returned with Arundel to Bolingbroke.-Hol. 501/1/8, &c.: Archaeol. xx. 157-159; 370, 371. 2 Cp. III. iii. 190, 191: "Faire coosen, you debase your princely knee, To make the base earth proud with kissing it: demand lands, and was granted person, heritage by Richard.] |