Henry and Richard

Henry Bolingbroke and his cousin, Richard, were childhood friends, but when they were older Henry became one of the Lords Appellant in 1387 who took it upon themselves to curtail what they saw as excesses and corruption in the administration of Richard when he became king.

Not only had they been friends, but Henry's father and Richard's uncle, the powerful (and sometimes feared) John of Gaunt, was a steadfast supporter of Richard personally and of royal authority generally.

After all that business (revisited recently in this blog), Richard could not find it in him to punish Henry. Richard awarded him the title Duke of Hereford, from Henry's deceased father-in-law. (Henry's and Richard's uncle Thomas of Woodstock tried to get the title for himself, having married another daughter of the deceased duke, but Thomas had been an enemy of Richard and had been killed—perhaps due to an order from Richard—while in Calais.)

In 1398, the 1st Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray, "many dishonest and slanderous words" about the king that Henry reported to Richard as treason. Mowbray denied the accusation, and Parliament tried to find the truth. Ultimately, Richard felt Trial by Combat was needed to resolve the issue. Mowbray had also been one of the Lords Appellant, and perhaps Richard saw this as a way to rid himself of two people who had opposed him while still looking chivalrous.

Adam of Usk, a Welsh priest and chronicler, described the encounter:

On the day of battle they both came in great state to the appointed place, which was fenced with a wet ditch. But the duke of Hereford appeared far more gloriously distinguished with diverse pieces of equipment of seven horses. And, because the king had it by divination that the duke of Norfolk should then prevail, he rejoiced much, eagerly striving after the destruction of the duke of Hereford. But when they joined battle, it seemed to him that the duke of Hereford would prevail.

Richard stopped the combat, not wanting two important subjects to be injured, and declared that both should be exiled. Mowbray was exiled for life, but Henry was only exiled for 10 years.

It is never wise toe tile someone who might be your enemy and a potential heir to your throne. It might make them long for revenge, and puts them where you cannot easily know what they're planning. See you tomorrow.