pretended,
that the crown of France was become an appendage to that of England;
and that a prince, who by any means got possession of the latter, was,
without further question, entitled to the former. So that, on the whole,
it must be allowed that Henry's claim to France was, if possible, still
more unintelligible than the title by which his father had mounted the
throne of England.

But though all these considerations were overlooked, amidst the hurry of
passion by which the courts of France and Burgundy were actuated, they
would necessarily revive during times of more tranquillity; and it
behoved Henry to push his present advantages, and allow men no leisure
for reason or reflection. In a few days after, he espoused the Princess
Catharine: he carried his father-in-law to Paris, and put himself in
possession of that capital: he obtained from the parliament and the
three estates a ratification of the treaty of Troye: he supported the
duke of Burgundy in procuring a sentence against the murderers of his
father: and he immediately turned his arms with success against the
adherents of the dauphin, who, as soon as he heard of the treaty of
Troye, took on him the style and authority of regent, and appealed to
God and his sword for the maintenance of his title.

The first place that Henry subdued was Sens, which opened its gates
after a slight resistance. With the same facility he made himself master
of Montereau. The defence of Melun was more obstinate: Barbasan, the
governor, held out for the space of four months against the besiegers;
and it was famine alone which obliged him to capitulate. Henry
stipulated to spare the lives of all the garrison, except such as were
accomplices in the murder of the duke of Burgundy; and as Barbasan
himself was suspected to be of the number, his punishment was demanded
by Philip: but the king had the generosity to intercede for him, and to
prevent his execution.[*]

{1421.} The necessity of providing supplies both of men and money,
obliged Henry to go over to England; and he left the duke of Exeter,
his uncle, governor of Paris during his absence. The authority which
naturally attends success, procured from the English parliament a
subsidy of a fifteenth; but, if we may judge by the scantiness of the
supply, the nation was nowise sanguine on their king's victories; and
in proportion as the prospect of their union with France became nearer,
they began to open their eyes, and to see the