egret of these defenceless people produced on such
occasions. This extreme of dissoluteness proved equally disagreeable
to his father, as that eager application to business which had at first
given him occasion of jealousy; and he saw in his son's behavior the
same neglect of decency, the same attachment to low company, which had
degraded the personal character of Richard, and which, more than all his
errors in government, had tended to overturn his throne. But the
nation in general considered the young prince with more indulgence; and
observed so many gleams of generosity, spirit, and magnanimity, breaking
continually through the cloud which a wild conduct threw over his
character, that they never ceased hoping for his amendment; and they
ascribed all the weeds, which shot up in that rich soil, to the want
of proper culture and attention in the king and his ministers. There
happened an incident which encouraged these agreeable views, and gave
much occasion for favorable reflections to all men of sense and candor.
A riotous companion of the prince's had been indicted before Gascoigne,
the chief justice, for some disorders; and Henry was not ashamed to
appear at the bar with the criminal, in order to give him countenance
and protection. Finding that his presence had not overawed the chief
justice, he proceeded to insult that magistrate on his tribunal; but
Gascoigne, mindful of the character which he then bore, and the majesty
of the sovereign and of the laws which he sustained, ordered the prince
to be carried to prison for his rude behavior.[*] The spectators were
agreeably disappointed, when they saw the heir of the crown submit
peaceably to this sentence, make reparation for his error by
acknowledging it, and check his impetuous nature in the midst of its
extravagant career.

The memory of this incident, and of many others of a like nature,
rendered the prospect of the future reign nowise disagreeable to the
nation, and increased the joy which the death of so unpopular a prince
as the late king naturally occasioned. The first steps taken by the
young prince confirmed all those prepossessions entertained in his
favor.[**] He called together his former companions, acquainted them
with his intended reformation, exhorted them to imitate his example, but
strictly inhibited them, till they had given proofs of their sincerity
in this particular, from appearing any more in his presence; and he thus
dismissed them with libera