BEDFORD, DUKE OF. There have been two distinct dukedoms of B. That to be noticed here existed in the person of John Plantagenet, regent of France, and third son of Henry IV. of England, who was born about 1389. During his father's lifetime, he was governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and warden of the Scottish marches. In 1414, the second year of his brother's reign, he was created duke of B.; and he was made com mander-in-chief of the forces in England while Henry V. was carrying on the war in France. After the death of Henry V. (1422), B., in accordance with the dying wish of the king, left the affairs of England in the hands of his brother Gloucester, and went to France to look after the interests of the infant prince, his nephew. The regency of France, in compliance with a request of his deceased brother, he offered to the duke of Burgundy, who refused it; he then assumed it himself, but not without consulting Bur gundy as to the best method of carrying out the treaty of Troyes, by which Charles VI. declared Henry V. next heir to the 'reach crown. On the death of Charles VI., a few months after Henry V., B. had his nephew proclaimed king of France and England, as Henry VI. In the wars with the dauphin which followed, B. displayed great general
ship, and defeated the French in several battles—most disastrously at'Verneull, in 1424. But, in consequence of the rather parsimonious way in which men and money were doled out to him from England, and the withdrawal of the forces of the duke of Bur gundy, he was unable to take full advantage of his victories. The appearance of Joan of Arc, notwithstanding the utmost energy of B., was followed by disaster to the Eng lish arms; and in 1435, B. was mortified by the treaty of peace negotiated at Rouen between Chtiles VII. and the duke of Burgundy, which effectually ruined English inter ests in France. The death of the regent, which took'place Sept. 19, 1435, 14 days before the ratification of the treaty, was mainly, if not altogether, occasioned by his anxiety and vexation on account of the union thus formed. 13.. who was a patron of letters, pur chased and removed to London the royal library of Paris, consisting of 900 volumes. For the present family of B., see RUSSELL, Holm OF.