Tracts, legal and historical

38
For more than two years after the death of Rich-
ard II., which is stated to have been on the 14th
February, 1400, 1 there follows a decided calm or
interregnum in events, that interest us, which is ex-
tremely material, for it was the period of all others
when the truth was most likely to be known. At
that critical time, no one dreamt that Richard was
alive, and nothing is known of him in any quarter,
for too plain a reason, because he was in his grave.
We now come to later occurrences connected with
the theory the author has formed, and which may
shew the origin of certain rumors that subsequently
prevailed.
One of the most atrocious actions in the reign of
Richard II., was the murder of his uncle, the Duke
of Gloucester, chiefly perpetrated by William Serle,
a servant and yeoman of the robes to the King — one
of those creatures, in whose society the monarch,
who was fond of low company, occasionally demean-
ed himself. Serle, along with Fraunceys, yeoman
of the chamber to the Earl of Rutland, suffocated
the Prince, by throwing a feather-bed upon him,
which they pressed with the full weight of their
bodies until he was bereaved of existence. 2 The
aiders and abettors in. the enterprize were Wil-
1 On Saint Valentine's day, in that year, see Walsingham,
p. 405, and Otterburn, p. 228-9.
2 Otterburn, p. 193.— Rolls of Parliament, Vol. III. p. 452-3.
Placita coram Rege in Parliamento, 1 Henry 4.