As their uncle, he supposes that, should at any time a party be
formed to place the Earl of March on the throne, I should be the leader
in the matter; though assuredly I have never given him any reason to
doubt my loyalty.
"I say not that I approved of the deposition of King Richard; and
indeed I have not, like Lord Grey and many other nobles, among them the
Percys, been a warm supporter of King Henry's cause. I hold myself
altogether neutral, in that matter. I saw that nothing would be more
ruinous, for the country, than that a boy like my nephew should mount
the throne; and had a party been formed to make him king, instead of
Henry, I would have taken no share in it. Nevertheless, there is no
getting over the fact that, by right, the Earl of March is King of
England, and there is no saying what may come about in the future; but
assuredly, at the present time, I am as ready to do my duty towards
King Henry as are those who are louder in their expressions of
attachment to him.
"Nevertheless, I am well aware that the king distrusts me. As you see,
he has not, these three times that he has invaded Wales, come near
Ludlow. He has not summoned me to join his banner; nay, more, has
strictly ordered me not to send a man-at-arms to join him.
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