of Lancaster—The Queen presides at a grand tournament—Richard quarrels with the Londoners—Greatly oppresses them—The Queen intercedes for them—Grand entry of Richard and Anne into London—By the Queen's entreaty the Londoners are pardoned—Hospitality of the Queen—Hvr death—Bitterly bewailed by the King—Her funeral, and tomb—Patronage of C/taucer. Τ availed not to Richard that, in the spring of 1386, his dreaded uncle, the ambitious Duke of Lancaster, departed with his Duchess to prosecute their claim to her hereditary dominions ; as shortly afterwards the great barons, under the guidance of the Duke of Gloucester, fomented the dissension of the nobility, remodelled the government, left Richard little more than the empty title of King, condemned as traitors several of the royal officers and partizans ; and although the Queen on her knees, seconded by the earnest solicitations of the King, implored the Duke of Gloucester to spare the life of their greatly respected friend, Sir Simon Burly, their tears and entreaties were disregarded, and, in the absence of the King and his friends, Burly was hurried before the merciless Parliament, as it was called, impeached, and condemned as a defaulter to the amount of fifty thousand pounds, and on the same day decapitated. Overwhelmed with sorrow at the death or exile of all their dearest and ablest friends, the King and his beloved consort retired to Eltham, where they tarried during the summer, in the confident hope that ere long a reaction of public opinion would enable Richard to regain that power which had been so triumphantly wrested from him. After remaining for nearly a twelvemonth a mere cipher in the hands of Gloucester's party, Richard, on receiving assurances of support from several influential barons, entered the Councilchamber on the third of May, 1389, and, unexpectedly, asked his uncle his age. " Twenty-two," your Highness, replied the Duke. " Then, my lords," observed the King, with a self-possessed air, " I am of full age to manage my own concerns ; I have been longer under control than any ward in my dominions. I thank you, my lords, for your past services, but need them no longer." This dignified address struck the Council with silence ; and before they had time to recover from their surprise, Richard demanded and obtained the seals from the Archbishop of York, and the keys of the Exchequer from the Bishop of Hereford, He next appointed a new chancellor and new treasurer, dismissed tho former Council, and chose a new one ; and, by proclamation, informed tbe people that he had taken the reins of Government into his own hands. This proclamation —a most temperate and conciliatory document—was evidently more than mere words, as, from this period to the death of his beloved consort, Anne, the King's administration was wise, liberal, tranquil, and happy. In November, the Duke of Lancaster returned to England; and shortly afterwards, Richard, to rid himself of the presence of the ambitious noble, conferred on him the sovereignty of Aquitaine. The King and Queen, however, professed the greatest friendship towards him, paid him a week's friendly visit at his castle of Lancaster, and, ere he do parted to his newly-acquired territory, marked the occasion by holding a grand festival, at which the King invested him with the sword and coronet of Aquitaine, whilst the Queen presented his Duchess with an elegant golden circlet, Lancaster, however, might have spared himself the expense and the trouble of the voyage, as the people of Aquitaine refused to acknowledge any other than the King of England for their Duke. Queen Anne and her royal lord kept the Christmas festival of 1389 with great pomp at Woodstock ; and in the subsequent spring, Richard's full assumption of the regal reins was celebrated by a magnificent tournament held in Smithfield, and which had been proclaimed throughout England, Scotland, Flan