one in
Wallbrook, and the other in Lombard Street.--Lord Lyttleton, in his Life
of Henry II., vol. i. p. 50, says, "Most of our ancient historians give
him the character of a very religious prince, but his religion was,
after the fashion of those times, belief without examination, and
devotion without piety. It was a religion that at the same time allowed
him to pillage kingdoms, that threw him on his knees before a relic or a
cross, but suffered him unrestrained to trample upon the liberties and
rights of mankind;" again, "his government was harsh and despotic,
violating even the principles of that institution which he himself had
established. Yet so far he performed the duty of a sovereign that he
took care to maintain a good police in his realm; which, in the
tumultuous state of his government, was a great and difficult work." How
well he performed it, we may learn even from the testimony of a
contemporary Saxon historian, who says, "during his reign a man might
have travelled in perfect security all over the kingdom, with his bosom
full of gold; nor durst any kill another in revenge of the greatest
offences, nor offer violence to the chastity of a woman. But it was a
poor compensation that the highways were safe, when the courts of
justice were dens of thieves, and when almost every man in authority, or
in office, used his power to oppress and pillage the people."--Towards
the close of the life of Henry IV., he kept the regal diadem always in
his sight by day, and at night it shared his pillow. Once the Prince of
Wales, whom Henry always suspected more than he loved, seeing his father
in a most violent paroxysm of disease, removed the crown from his bed.
The king on his recovery missed it, sent for his son, and taxed him with
his impatience and want of duty, but the prince defended his conduct
with such rational modesty, that Henry, convinced of his innocence,
embraced and blessed him. "Alas!" said Henry to his son, "you know too
well how I gained this crown. How will you defend this ill-gotten
possession?" "With my sword," said the prince, "as my father has done."

Henry V. was, perhaps, the first English monarch who had ships of his
own. Two of these, which sailed against Harfleur, were called "The
King's Chamber," and "The King's Hall." They had purple sails, and were
large and beautiful.

Party rage ran so high in 1403, that an act of parliament was found
necessary to declare, "Pulling out of eyes and cutting o