Once or twice they accompanied Adam Armstrong, when he rode to some of
the towns in the neighbourhood, and spent the day with friends of the
Armstrongs there. For a fortnight, the time passed very pleasantly to
the English lad; but, at the end of that time, Adam Armstrong returned
from a visit to Jedburgh with a grave face.
"I have news," he said, "that your King Richard has been deposed; that
Henry, the Duke of Lancaster, having landed in Yorkshire, was joined by
Percy and the Earl of Westmoreland, and has been proclaimed king. This
will cause great troubles in England, for surely there must be many
there who will not tamely see a king dethroned by treasonable
practices; and another, having no just title to the crown, promoted to
his place.
"Such a thing is contrary to all reason and justice. A king has the
same right to his crown as a noble to his estates, and none may justly
take them away, save for treasonable practices; and a king cannot
commit treason against himself. Therefore it is like that there will be
much trouble in England, and I fear that there is no chance of the
truce that concludes, at the end of this month, being continued.
"The fact that the two great northern lords of England are both, with
their forces, in the south will further encourage trouble; and the
peace that, with small intermissions, has continued since the battle of
Otterburn, is like to be broken.
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