the
actual defence of the land, as well against enemies outward, if case
required, as against rebels inward, if any were, that God forbid;
granting you therewith certain power, the which is specified and
contained in an act of the said parliament, to endure as long as it
liked the king. In the which, if the intent of the said estates had been
that ye more power and authority should have had, more should have been
expressed therein; to the which appointment, ordinance, and act, ye then
agreed you as for your person, making nevertheless protestation that it
was not your intent in any wise to deroge or do prejudice unto my lord
your brother of Bedford by your said agreement, as toward any right that
he would pretend or claim in the governance of this land; and as toward
any pre-eminence that you might have or belong unto you as chief of
council, it is plainly declared in the said act and articles, subscribed
by my said lord of Bedford, by yourself, and the other lords of the
council. But as in parliament to which ye be called upon your faith and
ligeance as duke of Glocester, as other lords be, and not otherwise, we
know no power nor authority that ye have, other than ye as duke of
Glocester should have, the king being in parliament, at years of mest
discretion: We marvailing with all our hearts that, considering the open
declaration of the authority and power belonging to my lord of Bedford
and to you in his absence, and also to the king's council subscribed
purely and simply by my said lord of Bedford and by you, that you should
in any wise be stirred or moved not to content you therewith or to
pretend you any other: Namely, considering that the king, blessed be our
Lord, is, sith the time of the said power granted unto you, far gone and
grown in person, in wit, and understanding, and like with the grace of
God to occupy his own royal power within few years: and forasmuch
considering the things and causes abovesaid, and other many that long
were to write, We lords aforesaid pray, exhort, and require you to
content you with the power abovesaid and declared, of the which my lord
your brother of Bedford, the king's eldest uncle, contented him: and
that ye none larger power desire, will, nor use; giving you this that is
aboven written for our answer to your foresaid demand, the which we will
dwell and abide with, withouten variance or changing. Over this
beseeching and praying you in our most humble and lowly wise, and also
r