The appeal of the Lords Appellant, February 1388 (C 65/47, m.8)
In 1387 five lords – known as the Lords’ Appellant – rebelled against the king, and used Parliament to outline their agenda. To legitimise their actions, they initiated legal proceedings (an ‘appeal’) against their enemies in Parliament in 1388. They labelled these enemies ‘traitors’, and accused them of misleading the king.
Transcript
First, Thomas, duke of Gloucester, constable of England, Henry, earl of Derby, Richard, earl of Arundel and Surrey, Thomas, earl of Warwick and Thomas, earl Marshal, appeal and say that Alexander, archbishop of York, Robert de Vere, duke of Ireland, and Michael de la Pole, earl of Suffolk, false traitors to and enemies of the king and kingdom, perceiving the tender age of our said lord the king and the innocence of his royal person, so caused him to believe many falsities devised and plotted by them against loyalty and good faith, that they caused him to devote his affection, firm faith, and credence entirely to them, and to hate his loyal lords and lieges, by whom he ought rather to have been governed. And also, accroaching to themselves royal power, in disenfranchising our said lord the king of sovereignty, impairing and diminishing his royal prerogative and regality, they caused him to obey them to such an extent that he was sworn to be governed, counselled, and led by them, by virtue of which oath they held him so long in obedience to their false theories, schemes and deeds, that the troubles, inconveniences, misfortunes, and destruction contained in the following articles arose, as are clearly and in detail to be explained and declared, to the profit of our lord the king, and all his kingdom.
Simplified transcript
Thomas, duke of Gloucester and constable of England, together with Henry, earl of Derby, Richard, earl of Arundel and Surrey, Thomas, earl of Warwick and Thomas, earl Marshal, appeal (initiate legal proceedings) in parliament.
The appellants say that Alexander, archbishop of York, Rober de Vere, duke of Ireland, and Michael de la Pole, earl of Suffolk are traitors and enemies to the king and kingdom. Perceiving the tender age of our lord the king and the innocence of his royal person, these traitors caused him to believe many lies devised and plotted by them. They caused the king to devote his affection, firm faith and credence entirely on them, and caused the king to hate his loyal lords and lieges, by whom the king should have been governed (advised).
The traitors also acquired for themselves royal power, reduced king’s sovereign powers, and damaged the royal prerogative (sovereign rights) and regality.
The traitors caused the king to obey them to such an extent that he swore an oath saying that he would be governed, counselled and led by them. By this oath, the traitors manipulated the king to obey their false theories, schemes and deeds. As a result, the troubles, inconveniences, misfortunes and destructions contained in the following articles presented to parliament arose, as are clearly and in detail to be explained and declared, to the profit of our lord the king, and all his kingdom.