Another letter in the same collection shews that the CHAP. II. secretary had obtained two volumes which had belonged to his patron, though they are not described in the present inventory, one of them a chronicle of Jerusalem, the other a history of Fastolfe's own achievements. On the whole it is probable that Sir John, while he was a liberal benefactor to Magdalen College, Oxford, as well as the sister university, contented himself as his contemporaries of high rank probably did, "with promoting literature by his bounty without partaking of its enjoyments." Mr. Amyot also expresses his surprise at the small quantity of the generous extract of the grape mentioned in these rolls. "It is remarkable that, in a mansion so celebrated for its hospitality, the cellar should be found to contain only two pipes of red wine, and none of any other description." The butlery had its gallon pots and pottles of leather, and the size of the silver flaggons destined for the banquetting hall is sufficient to assure us that, notwithstanding the scanty furniture of his cellars, the knight's board was amply supplied with the exhilarating beverage, then, as at the present time, constituting so impor tant a feature in the banquet.

Fastolfe, as well as his companions in arms, engaged in the war with France, was a sufferer from the low state of the royal exchequer. The Paston papers contain an account of the losses and damages which he sustained in the king's service, both on the continent and in England. The crown was indebted to him for loans and charges while employed in France, in the sum of four thousand and eightythree pounds, fifteen shillings, and seven pence; and

CHAP. I. during the space of fifteen years after his abode in Norfolk, he complains that he was obliged to attend the king and council at a great expense, for which it is stated, and for all his service to Henry VI, he had neither fee, wages, reward, nor recompense; his treasures of gold and silver, his wide and fertile lands, his rich effects and sumptuous houses, chiefly gained in that productive war, in which he had been by the favour of the ministry promoted to so many commands of trust and emolument, were not considered an adequate remuneration by a man who, almost burthened with his wealth, continued his solicitations and remonstrances until the last year of his existence. It was impossible in the impoverished state of the revenue for Henry to satisfy the demands continually poured in upon him by courtiers and nobles, whose thirst for gold nothing could appease; and however censurable Fastolfe's avarice may be deemed, he only resembled the great bulk of the nation in his unceasing desire to overflow coffers already filled to the brim. The knight's character seems to have been held in much estimation by his contemporaries; the Paston Letters contain numerous passages wherein he is mentioned with affectionate reverence by his kinsmen and dependents, both before and after his decease. A letter addressed to him by Thomas Bourchier, archbishop of Canterbury, is couched in the kindest and most respectful language. Yelverton, a judge of the King's Bench, whose name has occurred in the preceding pages, styles him "moste worshipfull and best betrusted maister:" and a knight, who was king at arms in the reign of Henry VII., speaks of

him in terms of high praise, calling him, "a rich CHAP.II. knight and a grate bilder; having bilded CasterHall in Northfolk, a royal palace in Southwark, and another in Yarmouth: a speciall goode maister to the officers of armes," and adds, "was most triumphantly brought in erthe, that I have heard of his degree."

CHAPTER III.

Predictions respecting the Birth-place of Henry VI.-Prophecy of Henry V.-Exhibition of the Infant King-Acts passed by the Parliament-Henry makes his second Appearance in Public-receives the Honour of Knighthood—he knights his young Companions— Marriage of the Dukes of Bedford and Burgundy, and the Count de Richemont-mean Subterfuge of the latter-Negociations with Scotland-Embassy from that Country-Liberation of the King of Scotland-He is unjustly reproached by the English HistoriansAccomplishments of James-his Attachment to the Lady Joan Beaufort-the Monarch's unhappy Fate-his poetical Talents and other Acquirements-Poem of the Duke of Orleans-Division in the English Cabinet-Henry's Coronation—the Banquet-Proposition respecting a Coronation in France-Panic of the English Soldiers-Henry visits France—his Reception at Paris-Processions and Pageants— the King is crowned-Indignation of the French Prelates-Complaints of the Canons-Dislike of the Proceedings by the FrenchMagnificence of the Banquet-a Tournament-Honours paid to the King on his Return to England-Jealousy of the Duke of Burgundy —Richemont's crooked Policy-War with Bretagne-Spirit of the Duke of Bedford-Co-operation of the Cardinal-the Duke of Bedford's impolitic Marriage-Quarrel between the Dukes of Bedford and Burgundy-Successful Negociations of the French King—Indignation of the English at Burgundy's Defection-Embassy of the Heralds their Danger-Murders committed in the Metropolis-Answer of the Council-Disrespect offered to Henry-Grief at the Death of the Duke of Bedford-Speech of Charles at the Hero's Tomb-Burgundy's Appeal to the Citizens of Ghent-martial Ar dour of the Flemings-their vain Boas's-Conduct on the March to

Calais confident Expectations of the Flemings-Events of the Siege -Embassy from the Duke of Gloucester-Burgundy's Answer-Discontent of the Flemings-Defeat sustained by the Men of GhentMutiny in the Burgundian Camp-the Duke is compelled to retreat -Gloucester's Exploits in Flanders-Death of two Dowager Queens of England and of Isabella of France-Funeral of the latter.

III.

THE unfortunate events which crowded upon each CHAP. other in Henry's disastrous reign, were by the superstitious supposed to have been the consequence of his birth at Windsor, a place predestined to bring misery upon the head of that monarch who should first see the light within its fatal precincts, and the calamities which befel the luckless Henry are also supposed to have been foretold by the boding fears of his anxious parent. According to some of the old writers, Henry V., aware of a prediction which menaced evil to those of his family who should enter the world in a spot of such ill-omen, had charged his queen to select some other place for the nativity of her expected infant; and when informed that his commands had been disobeyed, his joy at the birth of a son and heir was checked by a prophetic anticipation of the misfortunes which afterwards befel his only child, and he is said to have exclaimed to the Lord Fitzhugh, his chamberlain and confidential friend, "I, Henry of Monmouth, shall small time reign and much get, and Henry, born at Windsor, shall long time reign and lose all; but God's will be done :"* a tale which though perhaps beneath the dignity of history, may be recorded in a work which professes to give a more minute and familiar representation of the opinions and prejudices of the

• Baker.