that of his predecessors,
and repealing the pretended statute by virtue of which Edward II. was
said to have been deposed.[163]. They were provident enough, however, to
grant conditional subsidies, to be levied only in case of a royal
expedition against the enemy; and several were accordingly remitted by
proclamation, this condition not being fulfilled. Richard never ventured
to recall his favourites, though he testified his unabated affection for
Vere by a pompous funeral. Few complaints, unequivocally affecting the
ministry, were presented by the commons. In one parliament the
chancellor, treasurer, and counsel resigned their offices, submitting
themselves to its judgment in case any matter of accusation should be
alleged against them. The commons, after a day's deliberation, probably
to make their approbation appear more solemn, declared in full
parliament that nothing amiss had been found in the conduct of these
ministers, and that they held them to have faithfully discharged their
duties. The king reinstated them accordingly, with a protestation that
this should not be made a precedent, and that it was his right to change
his servants at pleasure.[164]

[Sidenote: Disunion among some leading peers.]

But this summer season was not to last for ever. Richard had but
dissembled with those concerned in the transactions of 1388, none of
whom he could ever forgive. These lords in lapse of time were divided
among each other. The earls of Derby and Nottingham were brought into
the king's interest. The earl of Arundel came to an open breach with the
duke of Lancaster, whose pardon he was compelled to ask for an unfounded
accusation in parliament.[165] Gloucester's ungoverned ambition, elated
by popularity, could not brook the ascendency of his brother Lancaster,
who was much less odious to the king. He had constantly urged and
defended the concession of Guienne to this prince to be held for life,
reserving only his liege homage to Richard as king of France;[166] a
grant as unpopular among the natives of that country as it was
derogatory to the crown; but Lancaster was not much indebted to his
brother for assistance which was only given in order to diminish his
influence in England. The truce with France, and the king's French
marriage, which Lancaster supported, were passionately opposed by
Gloucester. And the latter had given keener provocation by speaking
contemptuously of that misalliance with Katherine Swineford which