l presents.[***]

* Hall, fol, 33.

** Walsing, p. 382.

*** Hall, fol. 33. Holingshed, p. 543. Godwin's Life of
Henry V, p. 1

The wise ministers of his father, who had checked his riots, found that
they had unknowingly been paying the highest court to him; and were
received with all the marks of favor and confidence. The chief justice
himself, who trembled to approach the royal presence, met with praises
instead of reproaches for his past conduct, and was exhorted to
persevere in the same rigorous and impartial execution of the laws. The
surprise of those who expected an opposite behavior, augmented their
satisfaction; and the character of the young king appeared brighter than
if it had never been shaded by any errors.

But Henry was anxious not only to repair his own misconduct, but also to
make amends for those iniquities into which policy or the necessity of
affairs had betrayed his father. He expressed the deepest sorrow for
the fate of the unhappy Richard, did justice to the memory of that
unfortunate prince, even performed his funeral obsequies with pomp and
solemnity, and cherished all those who had distinguished themselves by
their loyalty and attachment towards him.[*] Instead of continuing the
restraints which the jealousy of his father had imposed on the earl
of Marche, he received that young nobleman with singular courtesy and
favor; and by this magnanimity so gained on the gentle and unambitious
nature of his competitor, that he remained ever after sincerely attached
to him, and gave him no disturbance in his future government. The family
of Piercy was restored to its fortune and honors.[**] The king seemed
ambitious to bury all party distinctions in oblivion: the instruments of
the preceding reign, who had been advanced from their blind zeal for
the Lancastrian interests, more than from their merits, gave place every
where to men of more honorable characters; virtue seemed now to have an
open career, in which it might exert itself: the exhortations, as well
as example of the prince, gave it encouragement: all men were unanimous
in their attachment to Henry; and the defects of his title were
forgotten, amidst the personal regard which was universally paid to him.

There remained among the people only one party distinction, which was
derived from religious differences, and which, as it is of a peculiar
and commonly a very obstinate nature, the popularity of Henry was not
able to