Monday, August 17, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Friday, July 25, 2008
Gloucester's Alleged Confession
Hume claims that the truth of Gloucester's confession "may be entirely depended on"--that it was "genuine, and obtained without violence."
His evidence is this: In the first parliament of Henry IV, Judge Rickhill, who brought the confession over from Calais, was tried on the charge of fabricating the confession, but was acquitted, even though "Glocester's party was prevalent."
To Hume, Rickhill's acquittal "may even appear marvellous, considering the times." (Hume believed him to be innocent.)
His evidence is this: In the first parliament of Henry IV, Judge Rickhill, who brought the confession over from Calais, was tried on the charge of fabricating the confession, but was acquitted, even though "Glocester's party was prevalent."
To Hume, Rickhill's acquittal "may even appear marvellous, considering the times." (Hume believed him to be innocent.)
Alliance with France
But Hume does admit that Richard's alliance with France may have played a part--and this does not reflect well on Richard:
"[Glocester's] aversion to the French truce and alliance was public and avowed; and that court, which had now a great influence over the king, pushed him to provide for his own safety, by punishing the traiterous designs of his uncle."
So Richard murdered Gloucester at the urging of the king of France?!
"[Glocester's] aversion to the French truce and alliance was public and avowed; and that court, which had now a great influence over the king, pushed him to provide for his own safety, by punishing the traiterous designs of his uncle."
So Richard murdered Gloucester at the urging of the king of France?!
The Guilt of the Duke of Gloucester
Hume gives a couple of possible reasons that might have at least somewhat justified Richard's murder of Gloucester.
1. Froissart reports a scheme to depose Richard and place Roger Mortimer, whom Richard had named as his successor, upon the throne. Mortimer allegedly declined and so Gloucester schemed to divide the kingdom in four parts and bestown them upon himself, his two brothers, and the earl of Arundel.
"The king, it is said, being informed of these designes, saw that either his own ruin or that of Glocester was inevitable; and he resolved, by a hasty blow, to prevent the execution of such destructrive projects."
2. Right before his execution, Gloucester allegedly made a confession and Hume is convinced that the report of this confession is genuine.
In this supposed confession, Gloucester allegedly confessed to the following crimes:
1. Froissart reports a scheme to depose Richard and place Roger Mortimer, whom Richard had named as his successor, upon the throne. Mortimer allegedly declined and so Gloucester schemed to divide the kingdom in four parts and bestown them upon himself, his two brothers, and the earl of Arundel.
"The king, it is said, being informed of these designes, saw that either his own ruin or that of Glocester was inevitable; and he resolved, by a hasty blow, to prevent the execution of such destructrive projects."
2. Right before his execution, Gloucester allegedly made a confession and Hume is convinced that the report of this confession is genuine.
In this supposed confession, Gloucester allegedly confessed to the following crimes:
- Speaking contemptuously of the king's person and his government
- Deliberating concerning the lawfulness of throwing off his allegiance to him
- Took part in a secret conference, where his deposition was proposed, talked of, and determined.
Hume concludes that the plot was not so far advanced as to justify Richard in taking such drastic action as he proceeded to take: "It is reasonable to think, that his schemes were not so far advanced as to make him resolve on putting them immediately into execution. The danger, probably, was still too distant to render a desperate remedy entirely necessary for the security of government."
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