Tracts, legal and historical

55
Christian name, may have been a near relative either
of John Wyarde the valet, or John Warde the pa-
vilion maker, respectively, of Edward III. and Rich-
ard II., possibly married to some cousin ; and no-
thing could be more natural than, as in the present
instance, for the King to confer the property of one
domestic that had fallen into his hands upon another.
The intimation of the forfeiture, name, designa-
tion, and land, with the fact of the latter having
been in non-entry since his mothers decease, all
identify the above Thomas with the Thomas
Warde of Trumpington, the personificator of Richard
II. While Henry thus took amends of Warde for
seizing his crown by seizing his messuage, it will
be particularly observed, that it is not said that he
was dead, or had suffered for his treason, — for a very
plain reason, that he was then in Scotland, and
enacting the part of the pseudo king. This, if any
thing were wanting, together with his constant dis-
appearance in England thereafter, would be con-
clusive. The date of the grant also is remarkable,
being the very next year after 1408, when the sup-
posed Richard is openly declared to be a pensionary
in Scotland, and first appears in such character in
the public records. Henry had previously thought
it beneath him to deprive so miserable a creature of
his cottage ; but things became different when he
was thus legitimately acknowledged by the Scots,
and therefore allowed the penalties of law to take
their course.