Chronicle of the Betrayal of Richard II. [After 15 Jan 1400]. The Countess¹ sent a letter to King Henry to acquaint him that she had seized the Earl of Huntingdon (age 48), and to beg him to send his cousin of Arundel to take vengeance upon him for the death of his father, for she was determined to hâve him drawn and hung. Then the King sent the Earl of Arundel thither, and said, "Cousin, go to your aunt, and fetch the prisoners dead or alive." When the Earl of Arundel arrived at the town where the Earl of Huntingdon was taken, he found there his aunt, and eight thousand or more of the villeins of the country, before whom his aunt had led forth the Earl of Huntingdon to put him to death; and there was not one of the villeins present who did not take compassion on him.

Note 1. Joan (age 53), widow of Humphrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford, Lord Constable of England, mother of Mary de Bohun, the first wife of Henry IV, who died in 1394. This extraordinary woman, sister to the [her brother] Earl of Arundel executed by Richard (age 33), and to the [her brother] Archbishop of Canterbury (age 47) whom he had banished, and mother to [her daughter] Aleanora Duchess of Gloucester, was completely identified by ail the ties of relationship with Henry and his party. Imbued with the feelings of chivalry, she, like our Queen Philippa, the Countess of Salisbury, and some others, was equal, in case of emergency, to daring exploits at the heads of armies. (See Froissart, i. 77, 81, 134,137, 139.) Humanity, in its nobler meauing, was, however, without the circle of the sympathies of chivalry. She appears to have acted a mother's part to Henry's children after they had lost their natural protector. Henry V. bequeathed to Thomas Bishop of Durham 'the missal and portophoriuin which we had of the gift of our dear grandmother the Countess of Hereford.' He also bequeathed her 'a gold cyphus.' But she did not survive him. She died on the 7th of April 1416. [Note. Most sources give her death in 1419.]

Accounts and Extracts. 16 Jan 1400. The earl of Huntingdon (age 48), the king’s brother, fled into the county of Essex; but passing through a small village belonging to the countess of Hereford (age 53), sister to the late [her brother] earl of Arundel, he was known and arrested. The countess sent news of it to king Henry, desiring him to send her the young earl of Arundel (age 18), her nephew, that he might enjoy the vengeance she was going to take on the man to whose counsels she principally attributed the death of her brother; which, it appears, she should rather 'have imputed to the treachery of the earl of Nottingham. The young Arundel hastened thither, and loaded Huntingdon with reproaches. The countess had assembled her vassals, to the number of eight thousand, and delivered to them the earl of Huntingdon in chains, ordering them to cut him in pieces. The unfortunate man entreated for mercy, alledging, that he had never done them any injury; and all took great pity on him except the countess (of Hereford) and the earl of Arundel. The countess flew into a passion, exclaiming, "Curse on you all, villains! you have not the courage to put a man to death."

An esquire offering himself for this purpose, advanced with his hatchet in his hand; but he was so touched with the tender complaints of Huntingdon, that be trembled for fear, and returned to the countess with tears, ssaying, "Madam, I would not put the duke to death for all the gold in the world." — "Then," said she, "do what thou hast promised, or thy own head shall be cut off." When he heard this, he was so afraid, that he knew not what to do, and faid, "Sir, I entreat your pardon; forgive me your death." He then lifted his hatchet, and struck him so hard on the shoulder, that he made him fall with his face to the ground: The noble duke (Huntingdon had been created duke of Exeter by Richard) leaped on his feet, saying, "Alas, man! why do you treat me thus? "For God's fake, kill me more easily." He then gave him eight blows on the shoulder, for he could neither hit his neck or his head; the ninth stroke was in the neck: and the worthy duke, brother to the noble king Richard, spoke yet, saying, "Alas, dear friend! have pity on me, and free me from my pain." The executioner then cut his throat with a knife, to separate his head from his body; and in this manner was the noble duke put to death.’