ruled them very badly and very rigorously for twenty and two years; but if it please God, I will help you to govern them better than they have been governed in time past." Richard answered, "Fair cousin, since it pleaseth you, it pleaseth us well."

8. Richard was then sent to London; where, at the request of the Parliament, he resigned the crown to his cousin. He was next removed to Pontefract, where he was closely imprisoned, and, as is generally supposed, murdered.

Some say he was starved to death. According to one account, he was murdered, after having despatched four out of his eight assailants; and, according to another, equally improbable, he escaped to Scotland, where he lived in disguise for nineteen years. 9. Richard was tall and handsome, vain, irresolute, and frivolous.

In this reign the Order of the Bath was instituted, Westminster Hall was rebuilt, and the followers of Wiclif began to attract notice. The fashions of the period were very absurd. Boots were worn with toes so long that it became necessary to tie them to the knees. Every garment was composed of two differently coloured materials. The men sometimes wore gowns so long that it was difficult to distinguish them from women; and the ladies wore enormous head-dresses, sometimes three feet high, shaped something like a sugar-loaf.

Contemporaries.-10. Scotland, Robert II., Robert III.; France, Charles V., Charles VI.; John of Gaunt, the patron of Chaucer and protector of Wiclif; William of Wyckham, bishop of Winchester, a famous architect; Froissart the historian.

HOUSE OF LANCASTER,

HENRY IV. OF BOLINGBROKE.

Born A.D. 1366; Reigned 14 Years (1399-1413). Family.-1. Henry was son of John of Gaunt and cousin of the late king. He was twice married: first

to Mary, daughter of the Earl of Hereford; and afterwards to Jane of Navarre. He had no children by his last marriage; but by the first he had four sons and two daughters: Henry of Monmouth; Thomas, Duke of Clarence; John, Duke of Bedford; Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester; Blanche; and Philippa, queen of Denmark.

Henry was not the legitimate heir to the throne, as two great-grandchildren of Lionel, Duke of Clarence, an elder brother of John of Gaunt, were still living. Their claims, however, were set aside by Parliament, on account of their infancy; and Henry kept the young princes in close confinement until they died. To strengthen his title, he declared that Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, from whom he was descended through his mother Blanche, was the eldest son of Henry III., but that on account of his deformity, the crown had devolved on his younger brother, Edward I. This story is without any foundation.

Chronicle.-2. During the first nine years of his reign, Henry's repose was disturbed by repeated insurrections, and by the invasions of the Scotch and French. Numerous attempts were made upon his life, and it was the discovery of one of them, a conspiracy to assassinate him at a tournament held at Oxford, which is supposed to have hastened the death of Richard.

3. A war broke out with Scotland in 1401, in the course of which the Scotch were defeated at Homildon Hill by Percy, Earl of Northumberland, and Hotspur, his son (1402). Great numbers of the Scotch nobles, among whom was Earl Douglas, were taken prisoners. These Henry forbade to be ransomed, though he was deeply in debt to the Percies at the time. His prohibition was consequently neglected; Douglas was set at liberty; and the Percies, in revenge for their treatment, formed a conspiracy with Owen Glendower, a Welsh rebel, for the purpose of dethroning the prince whom they had so recently set up.

Glendower was the great-grandson of Llewellyn. He had been a faithful adherent of Richard II., and had resided for a

long time at his court. On the accession of Henry, part of his estates had been seized by Lord Grey, an English baron; and, not being able to obtain any redress for this injury, he had set up the standard of revolt. Henry marched against him thrice within two years, and was each time driven back. On one of these occasions, Sir Edmund Mortimer, the brother-inlaw of the Earl of Northumberland, was taken prisoner. Henry refused to ransom him, and this widened the breach which already existed between him and the great Percy family. During his captivity, Mortimer married the daughter of Glendower, and openly sided with the rebels.

The Scotch also joined the confederacy against Henry, and sent a body of men under Douglas to assist in the rebellion. Hotspur then marched towards Wales; but, before he could effect a junction with Glendower, Henry attacked and defeated him at Shrewsbury, 1403.

Hotspur was slain in the battle, after performing prodigies of valour. Douglas was taken prisoner. The Earl of Northumberland was not present at the engagement on account of illness; and soon after he received a free pardon for his share in the rebellion. Glendower still preserved his independence, and was acknowledged prince throughout Wales. He died about 1415, but how, and where, are unknown.

4. In 1405 another insurrection broke out in the north, headed by the Earl of Northumberland, Scrope, Archbishop of York, and Lord Mowbray, son of the late Duke of Norfolk; but, through the prompt measures of Henry, it was soon suppressed. Percy escaped into Scotland; the other leaders were taken and executed.

This is the first instance in English history of a prelate suffering capital punishment.

Northumberland returned to England in 1408 and headed another rebellion. He was defeated, however, and slain in the battle of Bramham Moor, near Tadcaster.

5. Henry was now firmly established on the throne; and, by an unexpected incident, he became enabled to

prevent Scotland from furthering any more insurrections amongst his subjects. James, the surviving son of Robert III., whilst on his way to France, was captured by an English vessel; and fell into the hands of Henry, who detained him prisoner for eighteen years.

Henry is said to have replied, when informed that the young prince was going into France to learn French, "Well, as I know the French language right well, the boy could not have fallen into better hands than mine." His education was carefully attended to; and he soon obtained considerable distinction as a poet. During his imprisonment in Windsor Castle he formed an attachment for the daughter of the Earl of Somerset, whom he saw walking in an adjacent garden; and, on regaining his liberty, he married her.

6. During the latter part of his life, Henry was greatly distressed by the irregularities of his son, who is said to have associated with the vilest companions, and to have plunged into the wildest excesses. Several stories are related of the young prince, which are probably exaggerated, but serve to illustrate his character.

On one occasion, we are told, one of his companions was brought before Chief Justice Gascoigne for robbery. The prince demanded his release, and, on being refused, struck the judge on the face. Gascoigne immediately ordered him to be arrested and imprisoned. The royal offender readily submitted; and his father, when he heard of it, exclaimed, "Happy is the monarch who has a judge so resolute in the discharge of his duty, and a son so ready to submit to the laws!"

7. Henry died from an attack of epilepsy. He was of middle stature and of a severe countenance; brave and vigilant, but superstitious and mean.

During one of his father's fits, Prince Henry, thinking he was dead, took up the crown from the royal bedchamber, and carried it away. The king, on recovering consciousness, asked him if he wished to rob him. of his royalty even before his death. The prince replied "He never had any such thoughts, but, believing him dead, he had taken the crown as his lawful heir, and the only person who had a right to pretend to it;

nevertheless he thanked God he saw him again recovered, and heartily wished he might live long to wear it himself."

8. In this reign the Commons greatly increased their power, and commenced the practice of demanding a redress of grievances before granting subsidies. The Wiclifites suffered great persecution under Henry; and one of them, Sir William Sautre, was burnt at Smithfield (1401). He was the first English martyr. In 1410 another Wiclifite, John Bradby, was burnt for his religion.

Bradby was offered his life if he would recant; but he steadfastly refused. He was then placed in a large barrel surrounded with faggots, and burnt. Prince Henry, moved by his awful agonies, several times begged him to retract, and even offered him a pension for life if he would do so, but in vain.

The Wiclifites, or Lollards, as they are sometimes called, denied the authority of the pope, the efficacy of pilgrimages and indulgences, and objected to confession, invocations to saints, the worship of images, and the observance of holydays. They admitted the doctrine of purgatory, but strongly opposed the celibacy of the clergy.

Cannon were first used in England at the siege of Berwick (1405). About this time the gipsies are first spoken of in English history.

Contemporaries.-9. Scotland, Robert III., James I.; France, Charles VI.; Sir Richard Whittington, thrice lord-mayor of London, famous for the numerous charities which he left; Thomas Longlands, the author of 'The Vision of Piers Plowman.'

HENRY V. OF MONMOUTH.

Born 1388; Reigned 9 Years (1413-1422).

Family.-1. Henry was the eldest son of the late king, and was born at Monmouth. He married Catherine, daughter of Charles VI. of France, and had by her one son, Henry VI.