call King Richard,
had not been alive, as I wot well that he is not alive." He confessed,
also, a guilty knowledge of a conspiracy to "bring in that person
which they named King Richard, and Harry Percy out of Scotland, with a
power of Scots."

Another very curious fact is alleged in this document, interesting in
more points than one. It shows what a powerful engine in those (p. 139)
days was the _Confessional_; and it proves also that, though Henry
has been called the King of Priests, there were some of the sacred
order in high station who were bent on his overthrow. Cambridge
declares that both the Earl of March and his man Lusy had assured him
that the Earl "was not shriven of a great while [had not attended the
priests for the purposes of confession] without his confessors, on
every occasion, putting him in penance to claim what they called his
right." His confessors would not absolve him without imposing upon
him, by way of penance, this condition, that he should claim his right
to the crown.

LETTER OF CONFESSION FROM THE EARL OF CAMBRIDGE.

My most dreadful and sovereign liege Lord, like to your Highness
to wit [please your Highness to know] touching the purpose cast
against your high estate. Having the Earl of March, by his own
assent, and by the assent of myself, whereof I most me repent of
all worldly things; and by the accord of Lord Scrope and Sir
Thomas Grey, to have had the aforesaid Earl in the land of Wales
without your licence, taking upon him the sovereignty of this
land, if yonder man's person, which they call King Richard, had
not been alive, as I wot well that he is not alive;[113] for (p. 140)
which point I put me wholly in your grace. And as for the form
of a proclamation which should have been cried in the Earl's
name as the heir to the crown of England against you, my liege
Lord, called by untrue name Harry of Lancaster, usurper of
England, to the intent to have made the more people to have drawn
to him and from you; of the which cry Scrope knew not of as from
me, but Grey did; having with the Earl a banner of the arms of
England, having also the crown of Spain on a pallet, which, my
liege Lord, is one of your weddys, for the which offence I put me
wholly in your grace. And as for the purpose taken by Umfrevyle
and Wederyngtoun for the bringing in of that person which they
name