22nd January 1450

Willaim De La Pole – Addresses Parliament

William De La Pole, Duke of Suffolk, was aware of a the rumours and accusations about him and the loss of French territory, when the progued parliament opened the second session, on January 22^nd 1450. He would have been concerned and unnerved about the murder of his supporter Bishop Moleyns, and his confession before he was killed, only two weeks earlier. So concerned about this he asked the king if he could address parliament at the opening.

William invited parliament to ask him any question rather than to have the “odious and horrible language that renneth through your lande, almost in every Commons mouth”, and be allowed to refute them. The commons took their opportunity.

The commons, who obviously had some much more talented people than William, argued the was a prima facie case to answer based on the rumours and accusations alone. The commons agreed that William should be arrested and put into custody until he could answer charges.