. The very notion of heresy alarmed the generality of the
people: innovation in fundamental principles was suspicious: curiosity
was not, as yet, a sufficient counterpoise to authority; and even many,
who were the greatest friends to the reformation of abuses, were
anxious to express their detestation of the speculative tenants of the
Wickliffites, which, they feared, threw disgrace on so good a cause.
This turn of thought appears evidently in the proceedings of the
parliament which was summoned immediately after the detection of
Cobham's conspiracy. That assembly passed severe laws against the new
heretics: they enacted, that whoever was convicted of Lollardy before
the ordinary besides suffering capital punishment according to the laws
formerly established, should also forfeit his lands and goods to the
king; and that the chancellor, treasurer, justices of the two benches,
sheriffs, justices of the peace, and all the chief magistrates in every
city and borough, should take an oath to use their utmost endeavors for
the extirpation of heresy.[*] Yet this very parliament, when the king
demanded supply, renewed the offer formerly pressed upon his father, and
entreated him to seize all the ecclesiastical revenues, and convert them
to the use of the crown.[**] The clergy were alarmed: they could offer
the king no bribe which was equivalent: they only agreed to confer
on him all the priories alien, which depended on capital abbeys in
Normandy, and had been bequeathed to these abbeys, when that province
remained united to England: and Chicheley, now archbishop of Canterbury,
endeavored to divert the blow by giving occupation to the king, and by
persuading him to undertake a war against France, in order to recover
his lost rights to that kingdom.[***]

* 2 Henry V. chap. 7.

** Hall, fol. 35.

*** Hall, fol. 35. 36.

It was the dying injunction of the late king to his son, not to allow
the English to remain long in peace, which was apt to breed intestine
commotions; but to employ them in foreign expeditions, by which the
prince might acquire honor; the nobility, in sharing his dangers, might
attach themselves to his person; and all the restless spirits find
occupation for their inquietude. The natural disposition of Henry
sufficiently inclined him to follow this advice, and the civil disorders
of France, which had been prolonged beyond those of England, opened a
full career to his ambition.

{1415.} The de