The king's health now rapidly declined, and he became subject to epileptic fits. It is said, that one day, when he was in one of these fits, the prince, who believed him to be actually dead, carried the crown, which was placed by the king's bedside, out of the room. When the king came to himself, he instantly missed it, and sternly asked, who had taken it away?

66

Not

The prince made a dutiful apology, which pacified the king, who said with a sigh, "Alas! fair son, what right have you to the crown, when you know your father had none?" "My liege," answered the prince, "with your sword you won it, and with the sword I will keep it."Well," replied the king, "do as you please; I leave the issue to God, and hope he will have mercy on my soul." A. D. 1415. very long afterwards, while he was performing his devotions in Edward the Confessor's chapel at Westminster, Henry was again seized with one of his fits. He was conveyed to the abbot's lodging, and there expired, on the 20th of March, 1413, in the 46th year of his age, and the 14th of his reign. His first wife was Mary de Bohun, by whom he had four sons and two daughters: his second wife was Isabella of Navarre, widow of the duke of Bretagne, by whom he had no children.

Several Lollards were in this reign condemned to death for their opinions. The Lollards put no faith in the pardons and indulgences granted by the pope, not thinking that the souls of men were in the keeping of any sinful and mortal man like themselves: and this opinion was very displeasing to the Roman Catholic clergy, who made a great profit by the sale of those indulgences. The Lollards disbelieved also in transubstantiation.

Transubstantiation is the belief that the bread and

Did Henry IV. suspect the prince of undutifulness to himself?
Did the king bestow his crown on prince Henry?

What was the state of religion in England during the reign of Henry
IV., and what were the opinions of the Lollards?
What was meant by transubstantiation ?

wine taken at the sacrament actually becomes, by the priest's blessing, the real body and blood of our Savior, the very substance, instead of considering them, as Protestants do, to be solely a memorial of Christ's last supper, and to be taken in remembrance of him.

There were many other points in which the Lollards differed from the then established church, such as the praying to images and relics, doing penance, saying masses for the souls of the dead, and many more: but that of denying transubstantiation was considered the most material difference, or rather was made a sort of test of faith, by which heretics were to be distinguished.

Arundel, archbishop of Canterbury, was the chief persecutor of the Lollards, and caused many of them to be condemned and executed. One of them, of the name of Badby, was sentenced to be burnt at Smithfield. He was tied to a stake, and faggots were piled around him, which were just going to be set on fire, when the prince of Wales rode up to him, and besought him to renounce his opinions and save his life, promising to give him enough to live comfortably upon, if he would do so.

The poor man thanked the prince with many expressions of gratitude; but said that, as he firmly believed his opinions. to be true, he would not sacrifice his conscience to save his life. When the faggots were set on fire, the prince came again, and entreated him to recant; but he continued steadfast as before, and was accordingly burnt.

These are the first instances of the burning for heresy mentioned in English history. This cruel practice was followed from that of the Catholics of Italy, France, and Spain.

How did the Lollards differ from the Catholics?

How were the Lollards persecuted?

Were the Lollards firm in suffering for their doctrine, and who commenced burning for heresy?

What is heresy ?

CHAP. XIX.

HENRY V.

[Years after Christ, 1413-1422.]

A gentleman and ladies of rank of the fifteenth century le

Henry, as soon as his father had breathed his last. retired to his own room, and spent the remainder of the day in prayer and privacy. On the following morning he is said to have sent for the low companions of his youthful follies, and to have told them that he was now going to lead an altered life, and to enter on new and important duties; at the same time forbidding them to appear in his presence, till they, like himself, should have reformed their conduct.

The young king possessed, in an eminent degree, the qualities most calculated to make him a favorite with the people. Even in the midst of his wildest excesses, he had always given proofs of a good and feeling heart. He had already distinguished himself for military courage, and his deportment was at once commanding and ingratiating. His

Did Henry V. abandon his youthful follies when he came to the throne?

By what qualities did Henry V. commend himself to the English nation?

person was tall and slender, his hair dark, and his features exceedingly beautiful; and in the general joy with which he was received as king, the defect in his father's title to the crown, seemed to be forgotten.

It must be remembered that the succession was through the oldest, and next oldest of the royal family in order. The defect in Henry's title, was, he had set aside the heirs of his grandfather's second son, and being son of a third son, had taken the place of the legitimate heir; this heir being the earl of March, a great grandson of Lionel, duke of Clarence, the elder brother of John of Gaunt, Henry's grandfather.

Henry, confiding in this his general popularity, set at liberty the earl of March, (who had been kept in close confinement during the whole of the last reign,) and treated him with an unsuspicious frankness, which more effectually secured his fidelity than bars and bolts could have done. This young nobleman, in the following year, was made a party to a plot against Henry, which had for its object to place himself on the throne; but he discovered the whole plot to the king, who put to death all the ringleaders of the conspiracy.

To show his respect for the memory of the unfortunate Richard, who had knighted him, and from whom he had when a boy received many kindnesses, Henry caused his remains to be removed from Langley, where they had been buried, and re-interred at Westminster with great pomp.

Amongst many other generous acts, Henry recalled the son of Hotspur from exile, and restored to him the estates and honors of his family. In short, his conduct fully justified in all respects, except in that of his persecution of the Lollards, the high opinion the nation had formed of him. But in that instance we may suppose he was actuated by a mistaken zeal for what he considered the true religion.

One of the most distinguished followers of the new doc

Why was the title of Henry IV. defective? (title signifying legal right to reign.)

How did Henry V. treat the earl of March?

What respect was shown to the remains of Richard II.?

What instances are given of opposite traits in the character of Henry V. generosity in one case, and cruelty in another?

Who was Lord Cobham?

trine was lord Cobham. He had been in the early part of his life very wild and ill-conducted; but from the time he adopted the reformed opinions, he had led a moral and religious life. Henry, thinking highly of him as a wise and virtuous man, attempted to reason with him on what h● himself thought the fallacy of the new opinions.

The king, however, after a long conversation, became so much provoked by Cobham's perseverance in the defence of his tenets, that he turned him over to an assembly of bishops, by whom he was committed prisoner to the Tower. From thence he made his escape, and secreted himself in Wales till the year 1417; when a particular search was made for him, on suspicion of his having excited a popular tumult; and being taken, he was condemned and burnt as a heretic.

Meanwhile the miseries of France were extreme. Civil war raged with the greatest fury: the nobles seemed to have caught the frantic madness of their monarch, and to be actuated by the desire of exterminating each other. Towns were taken and destroyed, the open country was desolated by fire and sword, and all to gratify the hatred and revenge of the dukes of Orleans and Burgundy. This sad condition of that unhappy country added fuel to the ambition of the English king.

The military ardor of Henry induced him A. D. 1415. to revive the claim to the crown of that country which had been made by Edward III. He accordingly made preparations for asserting it; and the leading parties in France were so intent on their own internal quarrels, that they saw not the gathering tempest, till it was ready to burst on their heads, and Henry, with thirty thousand men, had already crossed the Channel.

Henry had time to besiege and capture the town of Harfleur, while the dukes of Orleans and Burgundy were at Paris, contending who should command the army which was to be sent against him. This contest being at length decided in favor of the duke of Orleans, he marched from

Was Lord Cobham treated as a wise and virtuous man deserved? What was the condition of France in 1415?

Upon what pretence did Henry V, make war upon France?

What town in France did Henry capture, and what army marched against him?