or the instruction of youth
in all the best literature of the age.[28] Had he first resolved to
found his college, and reserved his religious houses for later years,
his work might still have been flourishing at this day, and might have
yet continued to flourish till the hand of spoliation and refined
barbarism shall be strong and bold enough (should ever such a calamity
visit our native land) to wrest these seminaries of Christian
principles and sound learning from the friends of religion, and order,
and peace. As it is, Henry's establishments survived him little more
than a century; and the lands which he had destined to support them
passed away into other hands, and were alienated from religious
purposes altogether.

[Footnote 27: The answer which Bishop Oldham is
said to have made on this occasion is chiefly
remarkable for the intimation it conveys, that the
downfall of the monasteries was anticipated a
quarter of a century before their actual
dissolution. "What, my lord, shall we build houses
and provide livelihoods for a company of bussing
monks, whose end and fall we may ourselves live to
see? No, no; it is more meet that we should provide
for the increase of learning, and for such as by
their learning shall do good to the church and
commonwealth."--Anthony Wood.]

[Footnote 28: Henry had much at heart the
maintenance of the truth of the Christian religion,
such as he received it. Of this he is thought to
have given early proof, by confirming a grant of
fifty marks yearly, during pleasure, to the prior
and convent of the order of Preachers in the
University of Oxford, to support the doctrine of
the Catholic faith. It will be said that this was
merely to repress the Lollards. Be it so, though
the original document is silent on that point. It
proves, at least, that he wished to maintain his
religion by argument rather than by violence. The
circumstance, however, of its being merely a
confirmation of a grant, which even his fathe