recommend^ itfelf to your care ; and its citizens, a$ well as all England, entreat you would take upon you the government of the realm, and learn from fhofe who have poffefled themfelves of the kingdom how it has been hitherto governed j for the common people make bitter complaints, that taxes upon taxes are continually impofed, and that the kingdom., fince the coronation of the king, has been more grievoufly opprefled, by thefe and other extraor-dinary aids, than for fifty years preceding it. No pne knows how thefe fums have been expended, nor what is become of them. You will be pleafed to inquire into this, and provide a remedy, or % things will turn out ill, for the difcontents of the people are very ftrong.* The duke of Glocefter replied,—€ My good firs, I have attentively liftened to what you have faid ; but I alone can do nothing. I know you have well-founded caufe of complaint, as well as the reli of England ; but notwithftanding I am fon to a king of England, and uncle to the ptefent king, if I were to interfere by fpeaking to him, he would not attend to me ; for my nephew has counfeliors near * his perfon in whom-he confides more than in him-felf, and thefe counfeliors lead him as they pieafe. If you wifh to fucceed in having your grievances re-dreffed, you fhould enter into a confederacy with the principal towns, and with fome of the nobles .and prelates, and come before the king, where my brother and myfelf will cheerfully meet you, and fay to the king,—c Moft dear lord, you have been " * " ' crowned 819