Death of Richard II

The Annals Yorkshire by John Mayall. 1399. The unfortunate Richard II, was confined some time in Leeds castle, till his removal to Pontefract, where he was murdered in cold blood, or starved to death, within the fatal walls of the fortress there, which was so often the scene of the foulest deeds of cruelty. In Hardynge's chronicle, the circumstance is thus noticed:

"The kyng then sent kyng Richard to Ledis

There to be kept surely in privitee;

Fro thens after to Pyckering went he needis,

And to Knaresbro' after led was he;

But to Pomfret last where he did dee.

The fate of Richard II. has been described as follows: "One Sir Piers, of Exton, departing from court, came to Pomfret, commanding that the esquire who was used to serve Richard should let him eat well know, as not long would he eat. King Richard sat down to dinner, and was. served without curtesie or assay, when he, marvelling at the sudden change, demanded of the esquire, why he did not do his duty? Sir, said he, I am otherwise commanded by Sir Piers of Exton, who is newly come from King Henry; when he heard that word he took the carving-knife in his hand, and struck the esquire on his head, saying, "The devil take thee, and Henry of Lancaster together," and with that word, Sir Piers entered into the chamber, well armed, with eight tall men in harness; every man having a bill in his hand. King Richard, perceiving them armed, knew well that they came to his confusion, and, putting the table from him, valiantly took the bill out of the first man's hand, and manfully defended himself, slaying four of them in a short space of time. Sir Feirs, dismayed, leaped into Richard's chair, the other four assailing and chasing him about the chamber, till he came by the knight, who, with a stroke of his pole-axe feiled him to the ground, after which he was shortly rid out of the world, without either con- fession or receipt of sacrament."