Richard was deposed and thrown into prison. He was a son of Edward, called from the black armour which he wore, the Black Prince. The Black Prince was the eldest son of Edward III., the duke of Clarence was his second son, and John of Gaunt the third. When Richard was deposed, a descendant of the duke of Clarence, was the legal successor to the throne, but Henry Bolingbroke set aside his claim, and caused himself to be crowned King. Henry IV. died March, 1413, in the 14th year of his reign. At the age of twenty-five Henry V. succeeded his father. During his short reign of nine years he exhibited such qualities as are much admired in a rude age. He possessed great personal courage, a spirit of military enterprise, talent for command, and patient perseverance in the accomplishment of his purposes. According to history his deportment was singularly graceful and dignified, and his power of self-government even more extraordinary than his control of other men. Shakspeare, in the last act of Henry IV. has given a very touching scene—it is the closing one of the king's life, in which he gives his latest counsel to the Prince of Wales. The king being ill, has his crown displaced from his head, and falls asleep. At this moment the prince enters the apartment of his father, and perceiving his condition, tenderly laments it, but removes the crown, and swears to maintain his right to it. The king awakes, eagerly demands who has taken away the crown, and seeing prince Henry, requests to be left alone with him; they then confer together thus: HENRY IV. and PRINCE HENRY. K. Hen. Come hither to me, Harry. P. Hen. I never thought to hear you speak again. K. Hen. Thy wish was father, Harry, to that thought; I stay too long by thee, I weary thee. Dost thou so hunger for my empty chair, That thou wilt needs invest thee with mine honours Before thy hour be ripe? O foolish youth! Thou seek'st the greatness that will overwhelm thee. Is held from falling with so weak a wind, Thou hast stolen that, which, after some few hours, Thy life did manifest, thou lov'dst me not, Thou hid'st a thousand daggers in thy thoughts: What! canst thou not forbear me half an hour? Down, royal state! all you sage counsellors, hence! Now, neighbour confines, purge you of your scum. P. Hen. O, pardon me, my liege! but for my tears, The moist impediments unto my speech, [Kneeling. I had forestalled this dear and deep rebuke, And found no course of breath within your majesty, And never live to show the incredulous world Coming to look on you, thinking you dead, And thus upbraided it. The care on thee depending, Therefore, thou, best of gold, art worst of gold. To try with it,—as with an enemy, That had before my face murdered my father,— But if it did infect my blood with joy, Or swell my thoughts to any strain of pride; Did, with the least affection of a welcome, That doth with awe and terror kneel to it! K. Hen. O my son ! Heaven put it in thy mind, to take it hence, Come hither, Harry; sit thou by my bed; And hear, I think, the very latest counsel Heaven knows, my son. By what by-paths, and indirect, crooked ways, I met this crown; and I myself know well, For all the soil of the achievement goes It seemed in me, But as an honour snatched with boisterous hand; And I had many living, to upbraid My gain of it by their assistances; Which daily grew to quarrel, and to bloodshed. What in me was purchased, Falls upon thee in a more fairer sort; So thou the garland wear'st successively. Yet, though thou stand'st more sure than I could do, With foreign quarrels; that action, hence borne out, You won it, wore it, kept it, gave it me: HENRY V. The noble change that he had purposed, as he bound his brows with the crown of his dying father, was exemplified in Prince Henry when he became King of England. One circumstance of his public conduct, which is finely exhibited by Shakspeare, is illustrative of his respect for the constitution and laws of his kingdom, and as an example of his disinterestedness and veneration for justice does honour to his memory. 66 Henry the Fifth, when Prince of Wales, was wild, and in the disgraceful society of Sir John Falstaff, Poins, and other idlers, committed several offences against the laws. Some of his attendants had been taken up by the officers of justice, for a riot, and were brought before the chief justice, Sir William Gascoigne. While they were in court, prince Henry came, and rudely demanded that they should be released. The chief justice refused. The prince insulted, and, it is supposed, even struck the judge. The chief justice with great dignity kept his seat upon the bench and in the authoritative tone of a man to whom the execution of the laws is intrusted, rebuked the prince, and ordered him to be taken into custody. To this the prince, recollecting his duty, becomingly submitted." It is related by an old historian that Prince Henry, being ordered to prison, " doing reverence" to the judge, departed, and went to the King's bench as he was commanded. One of his attendants, displeased at this indignity, (as he deemed it,) offered to the prince, and thinking to incense the King against the chief justice, repaired to his majesty with the whole affair. The King on hearing the circumstance, paused for a moment, and then, lifting his eyes and clasped hands to Heaven, exclaimed," O merciful God! how much above all other men am I indebted to thine infinite goodness; especially that thou has given me a judge who feareth not to minister justice, and also a son who can suffer worthily and obey justice." "After the death of his father, when Henry became king, the nation expected he would give himself up to amusement and intemperance; but on the contrary; he immediately assumed the deportment and conduct of a wise monarch, and, dismissing from his presence his former companions, instead of disgracing the chief justice who had committed him, he thanked him for the firmness and dignity with which he had executed the laws, and conferred great favours upon him." King Henry, the Princes his brothers, and the Chief Justice. Ch. Just. Good morrow; and heaven save your majesty! King. This new and gorgeous garment, majesty, Sits not so easy on me as you think. Brothers, you mix your sadness with some fear; I'll be your father and your brother too. Let me but bear your love, I'll bear your cares. P. John and the others. We hope no other from your majesty. -and you most; King. You all look strangely on me ; You are, I think, assured I love you not. [To the Chief Just. King. No! How might a prince of my great hopes forget |