Richard II's gyration

'Richard II's gyration was a tour of England by Richard II in 1387 to muster support against oversight by a commission of three Lords appointed by the Wonderful Parliament.

The word gyrare is used by the contemporary chronicler Henry Knighton.^[1]

Despite a fear of a French invasion in October 1386 the Wonderful Parliament, with the support of senior Lords,^[2] refused a high request for a very high tax request^[3] until the chancellor Michael de la Pole was removed.^[4] The King initially replied that he would not dismiss as much as a kitchen scullion at parliament's request.^[5] and only when threatened with deposition did Richard remove Pole.^[6] A commission was set up to review and control royal finances for a year.^[7]

Richard saw this commission as an affront to the royal prerogative,^[8] and from February to November 1387 went on a "gyration" of the country to muster support for his cause.^[9] This prolonged absence from London^[10] was intended to allow the King to consolidate his popular support^[11] in areas where loyalty to the Crown was particularly strong.^[12] By installing Robert de Vere as Justice of Chester, he began the work of creating a loyal military power base around the Midlands^[13] and in Cheshire.^[14] Much of the funding came from Nicholas Brembre, a rich wool merchant and recent Mayor of London.^[13] He also secured a legal ruling from Chief Justice Robert Tresilian that parliament's conduct had been unlawful and treasonable.^[15]

It ended with the formation of the Lords Appellant to oppose Richard's move which they did in the Merciless Parliament.