Men had threatened that he "should be fetched with many thousands," and the expectation of his coming to reform the government became so general that orders were given to close the western ports against his landing.

If we believe the Duke himself, he was forced to move at last by efforts to indict him as a traitor in Ireland itself.

Crossing at Michaelmas to Wales in spite of the efforts to arrest him, he gathered four thousand men on his estates and marched upon London.

No serious effort was made to prevent his approach to the king; and Henry found himself helpless to resist his demand of a Parliament and of the admission of new councillors to the royal council-board.

Parliament met in November, and a bitter strife between York and Somerset ended in the arrest of the latter.