New-York tribune., 1901-09-19
KING RICHARDS DILEMMA.

King Richard the Absentee finds his DOMAIN
somewhat disturbed by rebellion. His people III
two of his dukedoms have refused to accept the
lords he wished to set over them his personal
friend and partner in his private BUSINESS vi
working for his own pocket all the tiihe' luke
Never was sent by him to take possession OIL
the forfeited estates of Duke Hopper in the
north The latter nobleman, however, relused
to bow to the will of his sovereign, raised an
army of yeomen in the district, and completely
routed the Kings favorite. just now he eau
make peace with the King and be recosiiizeo aS
q loval subject is not clear, but he is undoupt-
edlv in possession of the fief and knight TO De
reckoned with
u,ba Quarrel between Duke Foley and Duke
Diver in the south is of even more serious
concern 10 King Richard During King Rich
ards absence on the crusades some OF his mln-
listers and mobiles, as is the way with the vassals
of absentees conspired against his peace Tor
their own purposes. Lord Constable Devery
and Duke Sullivan made themselves the heao OF
a group of mobiles in whose train all the thieves
and gamesters and lewd persons in the Kingdom
travelled. From them vast wealth was amassed.
Before the Kings return these men put up Duke
Foley TO invade the territory OF Duke Dlvver,
one of Richards faithful followers. The hing S
regular troops under the command or the Loro
Constable, were sent against MIN, anu INC ulo-
trict was also harried by the irregular criminal
bands that look to Duke Sullivan for protection
from Justice A great battle was imminent just
as King Richard landed in the kingdom. At his
first court audience he showed his displeasure
at the Lord Constable and sharply rebuked
Duke Sullivan for daring to invade the estates
of fellow vassal dwelling in the Kings peace
But the rebellious mobiles continued their war
fare on Duke Diver and have completely
routed him and set Duke Foley in his place be-
fore the Kings eyes, and now they defy him to
dispossess their tool in the old dukedom OF
Diver or to punish them for their intrigue
Richard the Absentee is now confronted by
serious situation If he tolerates such defiance
he himself may soon become puppet in the
hands of powerful mobiles. and if he tries to pun
ism them they may break into open rebellion
against himself and leave the kingdom prey
TO foreign enemies The Lord Constable already
tramples over all the Kings subjects. His NOM
inaI superior Lord Marshal Murphy, he treats
with contempt: the Regent Lord Van Wyck.
has been complacent to his domination, and he
has boldly gone about the kingdom encouraging
rufians maltreating officers who tried TO make
them observe the law, sneering at those who
nreached righteousness, and attaching in per-
sonaI LOYALTY to himself the criminal bands
which have hitherto paid the privy purse for
liberty to overrun and oppress the populace
King Richard must soon decide whether he will
let this Lord Devery be master of the kingdom
and even when here reign without ruling, or
face the issue, charge the Lord Constable and
Duke Sullivan with treason and chop off their
heads, if they do not instead depose him and
seize his crown.