Henry of Monmouth, Volume 2 | Page 6

of Chief Justice immediately upon his ascending the throne. But we
have already seen that, however gladly an eulogist would seize on such
an exalted instance of magnanimity and noble generosity, the truth of
history forbids our even admitting its probability in this place. Henry
certainly did not re-appoint Gascoyne. But, whilst we cannot admit the
tradition which would mark the true character of Henry's mind by his
behaviour to the Chief Justice, there is not wanting many an authentic
record which would amply account for his almost unprecedented
popularity at the very commencement of his reign. Among these we
must not omit to notice the resolution which he put in practice of
retiring for an hour or more every day, after his early dinner, to receive
petitions from any of his subjects, however (p. 011) humble,[13] who
would appeal to him for his royal interposition; to examine and
consider the several cases patiently; and to redress real grievances.
Indeed, numberless little occurrences meet us on every side, which
seem to indicate very clearly that he loved the right and hated iniquity;
and that he was never more happy than whilst engaged in deeds of
justice, mercy, and charity. He seems to have received the golden law
for his rule, "See that they who are in need and necessity have right;"
and to have rejoiced in keeping that (p. 012) law himself, and
compelling all within the sphere of his authority and influence to
observe it also.
[Footnote 13: Many original petitions addressed to Henry are still
preserved among our records. In one, which may serve as a specimen
of the kind of application to which this custom compelled him to open
his ear, Richard Hunt appeals to him as a "right merciable lord, moved
with pity, mercy, and grace." "In great desolation and heaviness of
heart," the petitioner states that his son-in-law, Richard Peke, who had
a wife and four children, and had been all his life a true labourer and

innocent man, and well-beloved by his neighbours, had been detected
in taking from a vessel goods not worth three shillings; for which crime
his mortal enemies (though they might have their property again) "sued
to have him dead." He urges Henry to grant him "full noble grace," at
the reverence of Almighty God, and for passion that Christ suffered for
all mankind, and for the pity that he had on Mary Magdalene. The
petitioner then promised (as petitioners now do) to pray for endless
mercy on Henry; he adds, moreover, what would certainly sound
strange in a modern petition to a monarch, "And ye, gracious and
sovereign lord, shall have a good ox to your larder." Henry granted the
petition. "The King woll that this bill pass without any manner of fine,
or fees that longeth to him."]
Another incident recorded of Henry of Monmouth at this period,
strongly marking the kindness and generosity and nobleness of his
mind, was the removal of the remains of Richard II. from Langley to
Westminster. Without implying any consciousness, or even suspicion
of guilt, on the part of his father as to Richard's death, we may easily
suppose Henry to have regarded the deposition of that monarch as an
act of violence, justifiable only on the ground of extreme necessity: he
might have considered him as an injured man, by whose fall his father
and himself had been raised to the throne. Instead of allowing his name
and his mortal remains to be buried in oblivion, (with the chance
moreover of raising again in men's minds fresh doubts and surmises of
his own title to the throne, for he was not Richard's right heir,) Henry
resolved to pay all the respect in his power to the memory of the friend
of his youth, and by the only means at his command to make a sort of
reparation for the indignities to which the royal corpse had been
exposed. He caused the body to be brought in solemn funeral state to
Westminster, and there to be buried,[14] with all the honour and
circumstance accustomed to be paid to the earthly remains of royalty,
by the side of his former Queen, Anne, (p. 013) in the tomb prepared by
Richard for her and for himself. The diligent investigator will discover
many such incidents recorded of Henry V; some of a more public and
important nature than others, but all combining to stamp on his name in
broad and indelible letters the character of a truly high-minded,
generous, grateful, warm-hearted man.

[Footnote 14: The Pell Rolls acquaint us with the very great expense
incurred on this occasion.]
Another instance of the same feeling, carried, perhaps, in one point a
step further in generosity and Christian principle, was evinced in his
conduct towards the son of Sir