Saliflburyj the young carl of Kent, and the lord de Spencer, were advancing towards Windfor, to feize and murder him ; that they were in fufficient force to take the caftle, and had with them Mag-dalen, one of the ppefts of the chapel royal to Richard of Bourdeaux, drefled up as the late king * and that they gave it out every where that king Richard had cfcaped from prifon. Many of the country people believed it, faying, c We have feen him/ miftaking him for the king. s Thofe who brought the intelligence faid to king Henry, f Sire, depart hence inftandy, and ride to London, for they will be here in a fhort time/ He followed this counfel, and, mounting his horfe, fet*6ff with his attendants from Windfor, taking the road to London. He had not been long de-parted, before thofe who intended to put him to death came to Windfor,w and entered the çaftle-gate, for there were none to oppofe them, , They fçarched the apartments of the caftle, and the houfes of the canons, in hopes of finding the king, but were difappointed. On their failure, they were much enraged, and rode away to Colnbrook, where they lay, and forced many to join them by fair or foul means, faying that king Richard was in their company, which fome bçlievçd, but others not. King Henry, doubtful pf the confequences of this çonfpiracy, haftened %o London, and, by. a roupdabout road, entered thç Tower. Some fharp word^ paflfed between him and Richard of Bour-deaux : he told *him,—c I faved your life, and had gre§ç difficulty in doing itj andj in return, • ' you 182