Historic%20Yorkshire

82
THE FALL AND DEATH OF RICHARDII.
of the guardians of Richard during the period of his imprisonmentat
Pontefract. This lends colour to the tale,
andit may be that the merciful and humane character of
Richard's gaolers reallydid permit his escape, and that
he, out of gratitude for their hazardous kindness, was
willing afterwards to lay aside all attempts to resume
the kingly prerogatives, and so effect their safety, while
securingforhimself a secludedretirement,which,possibly,
the changing fortunes of kingship had made welcome to
him. The Scottish King undoubtedlyspread the report,
and encouraged it, that Richard was his guest. It may
be urged against this, however, that he was a man of
weak mind, who might be easilypersuaded by conspirators,
to do so to favour their designs. Again, it weighs
against the probabilityof the truth of the story to learn
that Richard, at the Scottish Court, declined to receive
thoseEnglish nobleswho had been on terms of familiarity
with him in the days of his power and prosperity.
Henry found this reporthad a dangerouseffect, and to
discourage the furtherance of its belief in England he
executed many who gave expression to their credence.
These executionsbut gave strength to the popularbelief.
In support of it Mr. Tytler, in his History of Scotland,
has reference to certain entries in the accounts of the
Duke of Albany (the King, James, was a prisoner in
England: Robert died in 1406), which deal with the cost
of maintenanceof King Richard of England for the years
1408, 1414, 1415, 1417- Itmay bebrought asan objection
that had the captive so escaped, the two implicated persons
would have been surely executed, but this would
most of allhave increased the beliefin the escape. However,
we find RobertWaterton the prisonerof the Earl of
Northumberland in 1405, whoafterwards, as though influenced
by his charge, agreed with Robert of Scotland
for the support of Richard.
The arguments and speculations for and against are
wellbalanced, and, like others of the dubious points of
our history, can but be leftin their original darkness.