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