n of the City to assemble the men of their
several wards, to see that they were suitably armed according to their
rank and estate, and to make a return of the same in due course.(685)

(M367)

On the 14th Gloucester formally charged the king's five counsellors--the
Archbishop of York, the Duke of Ireland, the Earl of Suffolk, Chief
Justice Tressilian and Nicholas Brembre, "the false London knight," with
treason.(686) The king retaliated by causing proclamation to be made to
the effect that he had taken these same individuals under his own
protection, and that no one should harm them save at his own peril. This
protection was extended also to the king's uncle, the Duke of Gloucester,
and the Earls of Arundel and Warwick, the impeaching parties.

(M368)

On the 28th the mayor and aldermen were summoned to proceed to Windsor
forthwith, to consult upon certain matters very weighty (_certeines
treschargeauntes matirs_).(687) The City's archives contain no record of
what took place at the interview, but it appears that the object of the
conference was to ascertain how many men-at-arms the city would be likely
to furnish the king at a crisis. The answer given by the mayor was not
encouraging; the citizens were merchants and craftsmen, and not soldiers,
save for the defence of the city itself; and the mayor straightway asked
the king's permission to resign his office.(688)

(M369) (M370)

Finding that he could not rely on any assistance from the Londoners--whom
Walsingham describes as fickle as a reed, siding at one time with the
lords and at another time with the king(689)--Richard was driven to
temporise. He had already promised that in the next parliament his
unfortunate advisers should be called to account, but long before
parliament met (3 Feb., 1388), four out of the five culprits had made good
their escape--at least for a time. Brembre alone was taken.(690) He had
anticipated the blow by making over all his property at home and abroad to
certain parties by deed, dated the 15th October, 1387, no doubt, upon a
secret trust.(691)

(M371)

Notwithstanding the evident coolness of the citizens towards him, Richard
determined to leave Windsor and spend Christmas at the Tower. He would be
safer there, and less subject to the dominating influence of the Duke of
Gloucester and the Earls of Arundel, Nottingham, Warwick and Derby, who
objected to his shaking off the fetters of the commission. As soon as his
intention was k