ENGLAND. 



nil refor- 

 mation. 



Supports 

 the clergy 

 hipenecu- 



LoLnb. 



highways. and enjoyed himself bvlmtghingat thefcarsand 

 rtgrcts of these -- |<cojile. In the midst of his 



' often np- 



! through the cloud* which his follies threw over 

 his character ; and even when plunged in the extremes 

 of dissoluteness, he displayed such traits of genuine hu- 

 manity and magnanimity, as gave good reason to che- 

 rish the hope of a speedy reformation. An incident is 

 related of him which tended much to enrourage that 

 hope, and which -.hews, that when brought to reflection, 

 he was ashamed of his irregularities and errors. One of 

 his riotous associates had been indicted btfoie Sir Wil- 

 liam Gasroijtne, the chief justice, for some misdemea- 

 nour ; and Henry appeared with him at the bar, on the 

 day of his trial, to give him countenance, and to over- 

 awe the judge. Finding, however, that the criminal was 

 condemned notwithstanding his interference, he was so 

 exasperated, that he proceeded to insult the chief justice 

 upon the bench ; but Gascoigne, mindful of the dignity 

 of his office, ordered the prince to be committed to pri- 

 son for his rude conduct. Henry, as if struck at once 

 with a consciousness of his fault, quietly .submitted to 

 his punishment, and acknowledged his errors. When 

 his father was informed of this circumstance, it is said 

 that he exclaimed, in a transport of joy, " Happy is the 

 king who has a magistrate endowed with courage to ex- 

 ecute the laws upon such an offender ; still more happy 

 in having a son willing to submit to such a chastisement !" 



The first actions of Henry's reign confirmed all the 

 hopes that had been entertained in his favour. He as- 

 sembled his former companions ; acquainted them with 

 his intended reformation ; forbade them to appear in his 

 presence until they had learned to imitate his example ; 

 and dismissed them with liberal presents. The wise mi- 

 nisters of his father were retained in their offices, and 

 received his favour and confidence ; even the chief jus- 

 tice, who trembled to approach the royal presence, was 

 applauded for his impartial conduct, and encouraged to 

 persevere in a just and strict execution of the laws. Hen- 

 ry next endeavoured to extinguish the remains of faction, 

 by burying all party distinctions in oblivion, and by 

 exalting to honourable employments in the state, the ad- 

 herents of either party, who were distinguished by their 

 virtue or abilities. He restored the family of Percy to 

 their fortunes and honours, and treated his competitor, 

 the Earl of Marche, with such singular courtesy and 

 kindness, that this gentle and unambitious nobleman 

 ever after remained sincerely attached to his person and 

 government. Such prudence and magnanimity gained 

 him the affections of all ranks ; and the defects of his 

 title to the throne were forgotten in the high esteem and 

 regard in which his personal character was held. 



But the mind of Henry, though endowed with the 

 most shining qualities, and sublimest virtues, had not 

 escaped the superstition of the age, and in the religious 

 differences which then agitated the kingdom, he was led 

 to support, with his countenance and authority, the esta- 

 blished clergy in all their oppressions. The Lollards had 

 become formidable to the church by their numbers and 

 popularity, and at their head was Sir John Oldcastle, 

 Lord Cobham, a man of valour and abilities, who had 

 been distinguished with the favour both of Henry and 

 his father. The zeal and high character of this noble- 

 man pointed him out to the clergy as a fit object of per- 

 secution. His punishment would strike terror into his 

 party, and convince them that the laws enacted during 



the last reign for their suppression, would be rigorously 

 nforced. The AfthbUhop of Canterbury, accordingly, 

 applied to Henry for permission to bring Lord Cubhuin 

 to trial for his heietical opinions ; but the generous na- 

 ture of the king was uvei.-c to siirh violent measures; 

 and he first endeavoured, by a private conversation with 

 that nobleman, to bring him to renounce his errors. 

 Cobham, however, was resolute in maintaining his opi- 

 nions ; and Henry finding him immovcable, gave him 

 up to the fury of his enemies. He was then indicted by 

 the primate, and condemned to suffer death by fire. 

 But lie made Ins escape from the Tower before the exe- 

 cution of his sentence ; and provoked by persecution, 

 and stimulated by religious zeal, he was induced to at- 

 tempt the most criminal enterprises. He endeavoured 

 to rouse his party in defence of their principles, and 

 formed the design of seizing the king's person, and ta- 

 king vengeance on their enemies. But the attempt was 

 frustrated by die activity of Henry, and the conspira- 

 tors dispersed. Some of them were taken and executed, 

 but the greater number were pardoned. Cobham, who 

 had made his escape, after undergoing a variety of dis- 

 tresses, was apprehended about four years after. II.- 

 was first hanged as a traitor, and his body was then 

 bunied on the gibtot as a heretic. This insurrection 

 served only to bring discredit upon the reformers, and 

 checked for a time the progress of their party. More 

 severe laws were enacted by parliament against their 

 opinions, which were now regarded as treasonable and 

 dangerous to the state ; and all magistrates were obliged 

 to take an oath that they would use their utmost endea- 

 vours for the extirpation of he: 



The ambitious spirit of Henry was now invited to 

 engage in enterprizes more congenial to his wishes. 

 The animosities of the rival families of Orleans and 

 Burgundy had broken out afresh, and their hatred be- 

 came more implacable than ever. The Duke of Burgundy, 

 by an act of the basest treachery, had procured the as- 

 sassination of his rival in the streets of Paris ; and the 

 princes of the blood, combining with young Orleans, 

 rose to avenge the murder of their relative. The civil 

 wars were thus renewed, and consumed the very vitals 

 of the monarchy. The unhappy king, seized sometimes 

 by one party, sometimes by another, transferred alter- 

 nately to each the appearance of legal authority. Henry 

 resolved to profit by these confusions, and to attempt the 

 recovery of those dominions which had formerly been 

 given up in successive treaties with France. He accord- 

 ingly sent ambassadors to Paris, demanding Catharine, 

 the French king's daughter, in marriage, with two mil- 

 lions of crowns as her portion ; the restitution of Nor- 

 mandy, with all the other provinces that had been wrest- 

 ed from England, together with the superiority of Brit- 

 tany and Flanders. This message threw the French 

 court into the utmost consternation. They knew the 

 abilities of their enemy, and were conscious of their 

 own desperate condition. They therefore endeavoured 

 to avert the danger by negociation. They replied that 

 they were willing to give him the princess in marriage, 

 with eight hundred thousand crowns ; to resign the 

 full sovereignty of Guienne, and to annex to it the 

 country of Perigord, Rovergue, Xaintonge, the Anjou- 

 mois, and other territories. But Henry was deaf to 

 their proposals ; and as he could have no expectation of 

 his own demands being complied with, he had been di- 

 ligently preparing for war. He had assembled a large 



Huturt. 



Jan. 6. 

 1414. 



Severe laws 



ug;uii!-t 

 licrc-y. 



Di'turb- 

 ances in 

 France re- 

 newed, 



which in- 

 vitcs the in* 

 terfcrence 

 of Henry, 



who pre- 

 pares for 



