Richard II and Westminster Abbey1

False knights and true men: contesting chivalric masculinity in English treason trials, 1388–1415

“…Faced by his accusers, Brembre initially asked for legal counsel and for a copy of the charges against him, but both requests were denied. 75 He then claimed the knight's right to trial by battle. According to Favent: things terrified that he would die in excruciating pain in the manner of traitors and would prefer to expire as a knight fighting in arms than scandalously.…”

“…De Vere had fled England late in 1387 after losing the battle of Radcot Bridge to a force assembled by the Lords Appellant. 88 One of the charges against him in the Merciless Parliament was that at Radcot Bridge, 'he rode with a great power and force of men-at-arms … and accroaching to himself royal power, caused the king's banner to be displayed in his company.' 89 Legally, raising the king's banner against him was an act of treason.…”

“…96 By 1395, Gloucester was again at odds with the king and by 1397, he and his old compatriot the earl of Arundel were rumoured to be plotting against Richard. 97 In the summer of 1397, Gloucester was arrested, sent to Calais, and was then murdered soon after he confessed to treasonous acts. 98 Morley's appeal of treason against Montague accused him of having abused his intimacy with Gloucester in order to reveal the duke's plans to the king, thereby helping to orchestrate Gloucester's downfall.…”

“…56 However, it is suggestive that Froissart was making 57 Froissart's decision to emphasise the corruption of chivalric intimacy through the reference to sodomy in his account of Despenser's treason may reflect its composition in an atmosphere of growing dissatisfaction with Richard II's rule, including the perceived favouritism he was once again showing towards a group of male companions. 58 Froissart's interpretation of Despenser's treason bears comparison to the case of Robert de Vere, who was sentenced to death in the Merciless Parliament of 1388. 59 Paralleling the relationship between Edward II and Despenser, De Vere was Richard II's closest friend and he held the office of chamberlain, thereby controlling access to the royal person within the spheres of power represented by the king's household and private chamber.…”

‘Grace for the rebels’: the role of the royal pardon in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381

“…102 Nigel Saul suggests that this was prompted by a growing belief that the campaign of repression had been pushed too far. 103 It might also be the case that local gentry wanted power to deal with local rebels themselves, rather than cede authority to the judicial commissions sent from Westminster. A petition of the abbot and convent of Peterborough, for example, requested authority over correction of their own tenants.…”