Henry of Monmouth, Volume 2 | Page 8

have
wondered or complained if he had still kept him as a prisoner on
parole.[19] But Henry, to whose guardianship, whilst Prince (p. 017) of
Wales, the young Earl had been intrusted, was no sooner seated on the
throne, than he admitted this young man into a full share of his
confidence; not with the suspicion of a rival, nor with the fear of an
enemy, but with the openness of an acknowledged and kind master
towards a trustworthy and devoted servant. The references to (p. 018)
him which are found in the authentic records of that time (and they are
not a few) all tend to establish this point.[20] Henry immediately gave
him, on his coming of age, full and free possession of all his manors,
castles, lands, advowsons, and honours; and seems to have had him
continually in his retinue as a companion and friend. On one occasion
we may suppose that Henry's suspicions and apprehensions of danger
from the young Earl must have been roused; and yet we find him still
continued in his confidence, and still left without any restraint or
estrangement. When the conspiracy against Henry was discovered at
Southampton, the Earl of Cambridge, (as we shall see more in detail
hereafter,) in his letter of confession, declares it to have been the
intention of the conspirators to carry the Earl of March into Wales, and
to proclaim him as their lawful king. How far the young Earl was privy
to this conspiracy, or to what extent he was "art and part" in it, does not
distinctly appear. An expression, indeed, in the early part of the Earl of
Cambridge's letter, "Having the Earl of March by his own consent, and
by the assent of myself," should seem to imply that he was by no means
ignorant of the plans of the conspirators, nor averse to them. How far,
moreover, Henry thought him guilty, is matter of doubt; but certain it is,
that he deemed (p. 019) it necessary to have the King's pardon regularly
signed in the usual manner for all treasons, felonies, and misdemeanors.
The instrument bears date August 7, 1415, at Southampton. This
document, however, by no means proves his guilt: on many occasions
such patents of pardon were granted to prevent malicious and vexatious

prosecutions. Nevertheless, at all events, it shows that Henry's thoughts
must have been especially drawn to the relative circumstances under
which himself and the Earl of March were placed; and yet he continued
to behave towards him with the same confidence and friendship as
before. Two years afterwards, Henry appointed him his lieutenant at
sea, with full powers; yet so as not to supersede the privileges and
authority of the high admiral, the Duke of Exeter.[21] The following
year, in the summer, he was made lieutenant and guardian-general of
all Normandy; and in the December of the same year he was
commissioned to receive the homage and oaths of all in that country
who owed suit and service to the King. He fought side by side with
Henry at the field of Agincourt; and there seems to have grown
stronger and riper between them a spirit of friendship and mutual
confidence.[22]
[Footnote 18: Roger Mortimer, fifth Earl of March, son and heir of
Philippa, daughter and heiress of Lionel Duke of Clarence, third son of
Edward III, died in 1398; leaving two sons, Edmund, of whom we are
here speaking, then about six years of age, and Roger, about a year
younger.]
[Footnote 19: In a previous section of these Memoirs, brief mention has
been made of the abortive attempt to carry off into Wales this young
Earl of March and his brother, and of the generous conduct of Henry of
Monmouth in his endeavour to restore the Duke of York to the King's
favour, which he had forfeited in consequence of his alleged
participation in that bold design. A manuscript has since been brought
under the Author's notice, which places in a very strong light the
treasonable and murderous purpose of those who originated the plot,
and would account for the most watchful and jealous caution on the
part of the reigning family against a repetition of such attempts. Henry
must have been fully aware of his danger; and the fact of his throwing
off all suspicion towards the young Earl, and receiving him with
confidence and friendship, enhances our estimate of the generous and
noble spirit which actuated him. The document, in other points curious,
seems to deserve a place here:

"The Friday after St. Vallentyne's day, anno 6 Henrici Quarti, ye Erll of
Marche's sons was secretly conveyd out of Wyndsor Castell yerly in ye
morninge, and fond af[ter?] by diligent serche. But ye smythe, for
makyng the key, lost fyrst his lands; after, his heed.