It was replied in favour of the house of York, that it was never too late to correct any pernicious precedent; for, if it were allciwed that present possession of power, and continuance in it for a few years, were sufficient to eon Vert usurpers into iegal princes, it would throw the throne open to every turbulent innovator ; that the deposition of Richard II. and the advancement of Henry IV. were not deliberate acts of the legislature, but proceeded from the levity of the people, or were procured by violence and usurpation; that the maintenance of order in the succes sion, served to prevent those numberless confusions which must ensue, if no rule were followed but present advantage and convenience; that the restoration of the true order of succession could not be considered as a change which familiarised the people to revolutions, but only the correction of a former abuse, which had itself encouraged the giddy spirit of innovation, rebellion, and disobedience ; that as the original title of Lancaster was founded entirely on present convenience, even that prin ciple, unjustifiable as it was, had now gone over to the house of York. A weak king governed by corrupt mi nisters, or an imperious queen engaged in foreign con nections, could never stand in comparison with a prince of approved wisdom and experience, and the lineal heir of the crown, who, by his restoration, would remedy those abuses, of which the nation so justly complained.
These arguments were keenly contested on both sides, and the people were completely divided in their senti ments and affections. Each party was distinguished by a particular symbol. The ensign of the house of Lan caster was a red rose, that of York a white one ; and the civil wars which soon after followed, were known throughout Europe under the name of the quarrel be tween the two roses. This fatal quarrel, which lasted nearly thirty years, was signalized by twelve pitched battles ; and eighty princes of the blood are computed to have fallen on the field or on the scaffold.
In a parliament assembled soon after the return of the Duke of York from Ireland, his adherents, encouraged by the general discontent against the administration, ob tained a petition from the lower House, which prayed the king to dismiss the Duke of Somerset, the Bishop of Chester, and several others, from his presence and coun sels. This request the king hesitated to grant. But it vas soon after seconded by the appearance of the Duke himself, who had conic to London at the head of 10,000 men, and demanded a reformation in the government, and the removal of the Duke of Somerset from all power and authority. The gates of the city, however, were shut against him ; and on his retreating into Kent, he was followed by the king with a superior army. A confer ence ensued, in which Richard insisted on Somerset's being dismissed, and submitting to trial in parliament. This demand was seemingly complied with, and Somer set was put under arrest ; but when Richard came to pay his respects to the king in his tent, and to repeat his accusation against the minister, he was surprised to see that nobleman step from behind the curtain, and of fer to maintain his innocence. Richard now found him self in the hands of his enemies ; but they judged it prudent to refrain from offering violence to one who was so popular and powerful, and dismissed him upon a pro mise of obedience. lie then retired to his seat of W16
more, on the borders of \Vales.
But new discontents drew Richard from his retreat. An attempt was made to recover the province of Gas cony from the French, which completely failed. The blame was laid upon the ministry ; and Henry havihg at the same time fallen into a distemper, which rendered him incapable of exercising the royal power, the queen found herself unable to resist the opposite party ; and the Duke of York was invited to take upon him the ad ministration of the government. The Deike of Somerset was sent to the Tower, and Richard was appointed lieu tenant of the kingdom. The parliament soon after cre ated him protector during pleasure, and the way to the throne thus lay open before him. But Richard had not yet advanced any pretensions to the crown ; and was even now irresolute about receiving the power that was offered to him. He desired that it might be recorded in parliament, that this high office was conferred on him without any application on his part ; and that all his powers should be specified and defined. This excessive and amiable moderation, however, served only to en courage his enemies; and as soon as Henry had re covered so far as to have the appearance of directing the government, he was dismissed from the protector ship, and Somerset was again raised to the head of af fairs.
Richard was sensible of the dangers Which threatened him, and had recourse to arms. He still complained, however, only of the king's ministers; but his complaints were answered by the appearance of an army, command ed by Somerset and the king in person. In the battle of St Alban's, Somerset was slain with 5000 of his party. Henry was wounded and taken prisoner, but was treated by his enemies with great respect and ten derness. He was carried back in triumph to London, where the parliament restored the protectorship to Ri chard, but limited its continuance to the period of the Prince of \Vales' majority, who was now about three years of age. The queen, whose ambition, supported by her native vigour and perseverance, impelled her to attempt the recovery of her authority, prevailed upon her husband to re-assert his prerogative. She took ad vantage of the Duke of York's absence from court, and carried Henry to the House of Lords, to whom he signi fied his intention of resuming the government. This step was so unexpected, that no opposition was made to it ; and it was accordingly declared that Richard's power was at an end, and that the king was reinstated in the sovereign authority. The Duke even acquiesced in this irregular measure ; but soon after, having reason to suspect that designs were formed against his life, he withdrew to his castle of Wigmore. Hostilities were again about to be renewed; when the mediation of the Archbishop of Canterbury prevented for a time the ef fusion of blood. He proposed that the great leaders of both factions should meet in London, and be solemnly reconciled. An outward reconciliation was according ly effected ; and in a solemn procession to St Paul's, the Duke of York led Queen Margaret, and the chiefs of the opposite parties marched hand in hand with each other.