more; buVthat you may provide a remedy m time, have it proclaimed that you will hold a fo-lemn feaft on this enfutng palm Sunday, and in-vite all the princes of your blood, particularly the earl of Derby, when you fhall hear fomcthing that wiU furprife you, and what you are not fufpicious of, notwithftanding it fo nearly concerns you/ The king was very penfive on hearing this, and begged the earl marfhal to give him further information ; that he might fafely tell him all, for he would keep it feccet. I know not if he did fo ? but the king, if he did, kept it to himfelf, and allowed the earl to aâ in the matter as he pleafed ; the confequences of which were as follows. The king had it proclaimed that he would hold a folemn feaft at his palace of Eltham on palm Sunday, and fent particular invitations to the dukes of Lancafter and York and their children, who, not fufpe&ing any mifchief, came thither. When the day of the feaft was arrived, and all the lords had retired after dinner with the king to his council-chamber, the earl marfhal, having fctded in his own mind how to aét and what to fay, caft .himfelf on his knees before the king, and thus addreffed him :] f Very dear and re-nowned lord, I am of your kindred, your liege man and marfhal of England ; and I have befide fworn on my loyalty, my hand within yours, that I would nevçr conceal from you any thing I might hear or fee to your prejudice, on pain of being accounted a difloyal traitor. This I am refolved - . never 48