[919] Stubbs, iii. 126, and Ramsay, ii. 25, both regard the first manifesto by Gloucester as the one that influenced public opinion, but the opening words of the King’s reply to his uncle confute this theory. These two historians also fail to distinguish clearly between Gloucester’s two manifestoes, and imply that the second followed on the King’s indication of his policy.
[920] Ashmole MS., 856 ff. 417-423; Stevenson, Letters and Papers, ii. 451-460.
[921] Paston Letters, i. 40.
[922] Rymer, V. i. 97.
[923] Rot. Parl., v. 311.
[924] February 19, 1440; Rot. Pat., 18 Henry VI., Part ii. m. 25.
[925] Ordinances, v. 138, 139.
[926] Amundesham, Annales, ii. App. D. 295.
[927] Stevenson, Letters and Papers, ii. 604. Cf. de Beaucourt, iii. 179, 180. When the Duke of York was appointed Captain-General in France in 1440, he was given the same powers as the Duke of Bedford used to have ‘or as my Lord of Gloucester, or shulde have had now late.’ So it seems that the plan of commissioning Gloucester to undertake the French war had gone some way.—Stevenson, Letters and Papers (William of Worcester collections), ii. [586].
[928] Cal. of French Rolls, Rep. 48, App. 347. This appointment was not finally confirmed until August 28, 1442. Thomas Kyrel acted as Lieutenant of Calais in the interval, Ordinances, v. 205.