Page "Merciless Parliament" Paragraph 6

In December 1387, the two armies met at Radcot-on-Thames where the Lords Appellant's army won the Battle of Radcot Bridge against the forces of Robert de Vere.

The victory placed the anti-Ricardian Lords Appellant in a position of incontestable strength.

Richard fled Westminster for London and barricaded himself in the Tower of London.

On December 27, the Appellant's army reached the tower in full battle array and forced Richard to surrender.

When the leading Appellants, Duke of Gloucester ( Thomas of Woodstock ) and the Earls of Arundel, Warwick, Derby ( Henry Bolingbroke, later Henry IV ) and Nottingham, met with Richard on an improvised throne, they seized him and threatened to execute him for his dealings with France.

Ultimately they decided against it, instead forcing him to call a session of Parliament.