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RICHARD II.

Born 1367. Died Jan. 10, 1400. Began to Reign June 21, 1377. Reigned 23 Years.

Son of the Black Prince, was horn at Bordeaux, and succeeded his Grandfather, Edward III. at eleven years of age. He was of a handsome appearance, and lively disposition ; but infirm, proud, changeable, and wanting that spirit necessary for the governing a people, poor and discontented, with nobles, haughty and rebellious. While Richard was engaged in quelling an insurrection in Ireland, the people, headed by the Duke of Hereford, had assembled to the amount of 60,000 men. Richard’s forces soon began to desert him, and, with no other hopes of safety, he was obliged to throw himself on the mercy of the enemy, by whom he was deposed and sent prisoner to Pomfret Castle, where he was at last murdered by Sir Pierce Exton and other eight assassins.

Eminent men in thin reign :—William of Wykeham, Founder of Winchester College, and of Merton College, Oxford ; William Walworth, Lord Mayor of London.