interference—Siege of Braine-le-Comte—Gloucester’s inactivity—Correspondence of Gloucester and Burgundy who agree to a duel—Increased hostility to Gloucester in Hainault—Gloucester returns to England—The motive and wisdom of his Hainault policy,

125-161 CHAPTER V   THE PROTECTORATE   Gloucester’s reception in England: attitude of the Council—Jacqueline loses ground in Hainault—The duel between Gloucester and Burgundy forbidden—Gloucester loses interest in Hainault affairs: failure of an expedition to relieve Jacqueline—The quarrel between Gloucester and Beaufort: Beaufort summons Bedford to England—Gloucester’s position before and after Bedford’s return—Council of St. Albans—Parliament of Leicester: Gloucester’s attack on Beaufort: the decision of the Lords—The Council asserts its rights: its communication to Gloucester—Results of Bedford’s intervention—Gloucester suppresses lawlessness—Jacqueline seeks assistance: money voted by the Council for her relief—Abandonment of the contemplated expedition—Public feeling hostile to Gloucester—The Pope refuses the divorce—Gloucester marries Eleanor Cobham—Disturbances in the Midlands—Beaufort attacked for accepting the Cardinalate—Coronation of Henry VI., 162-215 CHAPTER VI   GLOUCESTER AS FIRST COUNCILLOR   The end of the Protectorate—The Forty Shilling Franchise—Gloucester made Regent—Henry VI. goes to France—Parliament of 1431—The rising of ‘Jack Sharpe’: its significance—Gloucester seeks more power: intrigues against Beaufort—Increase of the Regent’s salary—Results of the Regency—Ministerial changes—Beaufort returns to the attack: brings forward grievances against the Government—Lord Cromwell and Gloucester—Gloucester goes to Calais to negotiate peace—Bedford comes to England—More ministerial changes—Bedford petitioned to remain in England: the conditions on which he agrees to do so—Gloucester propounds a scheme for carrying on the war—Quarrel of Gloucester and Bedford—Death of Bedford—Defection of Burgundy from the English alliance—Gloucester appointed Lieutenant of Calais: he relieves it when besieged by Burgundy—Gloucester’s raid into Flanders, 216-254 CHAPTER VII   DISGRACE AND DEATH   Gloucester’s waning interest in political life: his appearance as a patron of letters—Negotiations for peace with France: Gloucester’s opposition; his manifesto against Beaufort and Cardinal Kemp: his manifesto against the release of the Duke of Orleans, and the King’s reply—Gloucester’s declining importance—Trial and imprisonment of the Duchess of Gloucester for sorcery and treason—Consequent loss of influence to Gloucester—The marriage of Henry VI. to Margaret of Anjou—Gloucester’s war policy—Triumph of the Beaufort faction—The Parliament of Bury—Arrest and death of Gloucester, 255-294 CHAPTER VIII   SOME ASPECTS OF GLOUCESTER’S CAREER   The nature of Gloucester’s death: growing conviction that he was murdered—The trial of his servants for treason—The effect of his death on English politics—His policy in Hainault—The nature of his rule in England: charges of oppression: tribute of his servants—His war policy—His ecclesiastical policy: relations with the Papacy—His connection with St. Albans Abbey—His character, 295-339 CHAPTER IX   THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE IN ENGLAND   Nature of the Renaissance, and its influence on Gloucester—State of English scholarship—Gloucester’s qualifications for the career of a patron of letters: his early education—his relations with the Italian Humanists—His friendship with Zano, Bishop of Bayeux—Connection with Leonardi Bruni: its abrupt ending—Correspondence with Pier Candido Decembrio: the translation of Plato’s Republic: books bought for Gloucester in Italy—Gloucester and Piero del Monte—Lapo da Castiglionchio works for him—Antonio Pasini—Friendship with Alfonso of Naples—Antonio di Beccaria his secretary in England—Titus Livius of Ferrara and his Vita Henrici Quinti—Gloucester’s physicians, 340-382 CHAPTER X   THE REVIVAL OF ENGLISH SCHOLARSHIP   Gloucester and the English Scholars—Abbot Wheathampsted his literary friend—John Capgrave’s Commentary on Genesis—Nicholas Upton and Thomas Beckington—The English Poets—John Lydgate’s numerous poems and his tribute to Gloucester’s learning—John Russell, George Ashley, and Thomas de Norton—The English version of the De Re Rustica of Palladius—Gloucester’s patronage of the University of Oxford—Correspondence with the University—Gifts of books to Oxford—Arrangements for their safe keeping—Gloucester’s literary tastes: the books he collected—His literary position and understanding—Influence of Gloucester’s life on English scholarship, 383-425 APPENDICES   A. Books once belonging to Gloucester still extant, 426-438 B. The Tomb of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, 439-441 C. Gloucester’s Will,, 442-443 D.