of the moment, who continually counfefled the king as they pleafed, were not forry, for they imagined ^o one would now pretend to oppofc them. Some about the king's perfon could not dif-guife their pride and prefumption, efpecially the carl marflial, who was in the higheft degree of favour. To flatter and pleafe the king, and to fhew how true- and loyal a fervant he was, when-* ever he heard any reports he told them to the king, expe&ing from fuch means to rife ftill higher in favour ; but many, thinking to advance, are repulfed. Thus it happened to the earl marflial. You rnuft kpow that the earl of Derby and the late duke of Glocefter had married two fifters, daughters to the earl of Hereford and Northamp-ton, conftable of England : the children, there-fore, of the earl of Derby and duke of Glocefter were coufins-german by their mothers fide, and one degree removed by their father's. To fay the truth, the death of the dukç of Glocefter had diipleafed many of the great barons of England, who fiequendy murmured at it when together ; but the king had now fo greatly extended his power, none dared Tpeak of it openly, nor a& upon the current rumours of the mode of his • death. The king had caufed it to be proclaimed, that whoever fhould fay any thing rehearing the duke of Glocefter or the earl of Arundel fhould be reckoned a fitlfe and wicked traitor, and incur Ms indignation. This threat had caufed many to be 41