[Footnote 148-2: Printed from the original in MS. Cott., Vespasian F. xiii. fol. 35.]
Soon after the duke had returned to London his presence was required at a Great Council summoned for the 18th of July, to consider the expediency of liberating on bail his great rival and personal enemy, the Duke of Somerset, who had been now seven months in prison. [Sidenote: The Duke of Somerset.] On this point York had only one piece of advice to offer, which was, that as he had been committed to custody upon suspicion of treason, the opinion of the judges should be taken before he was released from confinement. That he had remained so long without a trial was not unnatural, considering the nature of the times. It was a bold step indeed to try him at all, while there was a chance of the weak-minded king's recovery; but this step was certainly resolved on. The 28th of October was the day appointed for his trial; and the Duke of Norfolk, who, as we have seen, had been the first to move the capital charge against him, was ordered by that day to be ready to produce his proofs. Meanwhile the lords concurred that it was clearly inexpedient to let him go, especially as the number of lords assembled was not so great as it should have been on the occasion; and the opinion of the Duke of York was not only agreed to, but at his request was put on record.[149-1]
[Footnote 149-1: Nicolas's _Privy Council Proceedings_, vi. 207.]
Six days later it was agreed at another meeting of the Council that the Duke of York should return into the North with the Duke of Exeter in his custody, whom he was to confine in the castle of Pomfret as a state prisoner.[150-1]
[Footnote 150-1: Nicolas's _Privy Council Proceedings_, vi. 217, 218.]
By these decisive steps the authority of the Duke of York was at length secured on something like a stable footing. During the remainder of his protectorate there could no longer be a doubt to whose hands power was committed; and England, at last, had the blessing of real government, able and vigorous, but at the same time moderate. The resolutions of the Council soon became known to the public. 'As for tidings,' wrote William Paston to his brother in Norfolk, 'my lord of York hath taken my lord of Exeter into his award. The Duke of Somerset is still in prison, in worse case than he was.' William Paston wrote in haste, but these were two matters of public importance to be mentioned before all private affairs whatever.[150-2] And yet the private affairs of which he wrote in the same letter will not be without interest to the readers of this Introduction. [Sidenote: Sir J. Fastolf goes to reside in Norfolk.] William Paston now reported to his brother that Sir John Fastolf was about to take his journey into Norfolk within a few days, and proposed to take up his residence at Caister. His going thither must have been regarded as an event not only in the neighbourhood of Yarmouth but even in the city of Norwich. At all events it was highly important to John Paston, whose advice the old knight valued in many matters. 'He saith,' wrote William Paston to his brother, 'ye are the heartiest kinsman and friend that he knoweth. He would have you at Mauteby[150-3] dwelling.' This must have been written in the latter part of July. Sir John did not actually go into Norfolk quite so soon as he intended; but he appears to have been there by the beginning of September.[150-4]