But it is plain that all these speeches were either intended by Knyghton merely as an ornament to his history, or are false.

For (1.) when the five lords accuse the king's ministers in the next parliament, and impute to them every rash action of the king, they speak nothing of these replies, which are so obnoxious, were so recent, and are pretended to have been so public.

(2.) The king, so far from having any connections at that time with France, was threatened with a dangerous invasion from that kingdom.

This story seems to have been taken from the reproaches afterwards thrown out against him, and to have been transferred by the historian to this time, to which they cannot be applied.] [Footnote 13: NOTE M, p.295.We must except the twelfth article, which accuses Brembre of having cut off the heads of twenty-two prisoners confined for felony or debt, without warrant or process of law; but as it is not conceivable what interest Brembre could have to treat these felons and debtors in such a manner, we may presume that the fact is either false or misrepresented.

It was in these men's power to say any thing against the persons accused.