A war among the border people of England and Scotland went on for twelve months,and then the Earl of Northumberland,the nobleman who had helped Henry to the crown,began to rebel against him-probably because nothing that Henry could do for him would satisfy his extravagant expectations.There was a certain Welsh gentleman,named OWEN GLENDOWER,who had been a student in one of the Inns of Court,and had afterwards been in the service of the late King,whose Welsh property was taken from him by a powerful lord related to the present King,who was his neighbour.Appealing for redress,and getting none,he took up arms,was made an outlaw,and declared himself sovereign of Wales.He pretended to be a magician;and not only were the Welsh people stupid enough to believe him,but,even Henry believed him too;for,making three expeditions into Wales,and being three times driven back by the wildness of the country,the bad weather,and the skill of Glendower,he thought he was defeated by the Welshman's magic arts.However,he took Lord Grey and Sir Edmund Mortimer,prisoners,and allowed the relatives of Lord Grey to ransom him,but would not extend such favour to Sir Edmund Mortimer.Now,Henry Percy,called HOTSPUR,son of the Earl of Northumberland,who was married to Mortimer's sister,is supposed to have taken offence at this;and,therefore,in conjunction with his father and some others,to have joined Owen Glendower,and risen against Henry.It is by no means clear that this was the real cause of the conspiracy;but perhaps it was made the pretext.It was formed,and was very powerful;including SCROOP,Archbishop of York,and the EARL OF DOUGLAS,a powerful and brave Scottish nobleman.The King was prompt and active,and the two armies met at Shrewsbury.
There were about fourteen thousand men in each.The old Earl of Northumberland being sick,the rebel forces were led by his son.
The King wore plain armour to deceive the enemy;and four noblemen,with the same object,wore the royal arms.The rebel charge was so furious,that every one of those gentlemen was killed,the royal standard was beaten down,and the young Prince of Wales was severely wounded in the face.But he was one of the bravest and best soldiers that ever lived,and he fought so well,and the King's troops were so encouraged by his bold example,that they rallied immediately,and cut the enemy's forces all to pieces.
Hotspur was killed by an arrow in the brain,and the rout was so complete that the whole rebellion was struck down by this one blow.
The Earl of Northumberland surrendered himself soon after hearing of the death of his son,and received a pardon for all his offences.
There were some lingerings of rebellion yet:Owen Glendower being retired to Wales,and a preposterous story being spread among the ignorant people that King Richard was still alive.How they could have believed such nonsense it is difficult to imagine;but they certainly did suppose that the Court fool of the late King,who was something like him,was he,himself;so that it seemed as if,after giving so much trouble to the country in his life,he was still to trouble it after his death.This was not the worst.The young Earl of March and his brother were stolen out of Windsor Castle.
