When Northumberland heard of the fate of his army, he disbanded some reinforcements, with which he was hastening to join his son ; and came with a small retinue to make his submission to the king at York. Ile pre tended that his sole intention in arming, was to mediate between the parties, which Henry thought proper to ac _ _cept as an apology, and granted him a pardon. The only that perished by the hands of the executioner in ohs rebellion, ‘i ere the Earl or worc,:ster and Sir Richard Vernon, who were considered as the chief au thors of the insurrection. The clemency of Henry, how ever, could not ttach Northumberland to his interests. That nobleman soon after engaged to join another rebel lion, headed by the Earl of Nottingham and the Archbi shop of York ; but they betook themselves to arms with out waiting for their more powerful auxiliary. The Earl of 'Westmoreland, with a small body of royalists, met them at Shipton, and desiring a conference between the two armies, persuaded them, by a promise of par don, and a redress of all their grievances, to disband their forces on the field, which he engaged also to do on his part ; but he had secretly given contrary orders to his own men, and when the rebels were dismissed, lie seized their leaders, and carried them to the king, who was advancing with an army to oppose them. Hen ry still confined his severity to the heads of the party, and the prelate and Earl were the only persons that suf fered. The Earl of Northuniberland and Lord Bardolf, upon being informed of this disaster, fled to Scotland ; but afterwards returning with some forces, they were de feated at Bramham by Sir Thomas Rokesby, and both fell in the action.
Henry, being now freed from his domestic enemies, began to look abroad to find some employment for the restless and disorderly spirits of his people. The dissen sions which then agitated the monarchy of France, first invited his attention. During the indisposition of Charles V II., who,•though a prince of great spirit and genius, was subject to frequent fits of insanity, which totally incapa citated him from regularly exercising his authority, the administration of affairs in that kingdom was disputed between the dukes of Orleans and Burgundy. Henry first entered into an alliance with the Duke of Burgundy, and sent him a small body of troops to defend him against his enemies; but he soon after received more advantageous proposals from the Duke of Orleans, which he accepted, and dispatched a greater force to the support of his par ty. The opposite factions, however, had been brought to a temporary accommodation, when the exertions of the king of England were rendered fruitless and vain ; and the declining state of his health prevented him from re newing the attempt.
Though Henry was yet in the flower of his age, his end was visibly approaching; and before his death he became subject to fits, which at times robbed him of his senses. As his constitution decayed, his fears of losing his crown increased; and such was his anxiety, that he always steeped with the royal diadem beside him on his pillow. The Prince of Wales, happening one day to en ter his father's chamber, found him in a deep sleep, and supposing him dead, carried of the crown. The king, when he awoke and missed his crown, asked the prince, with marks of great displeasure, if he meant to rob him of his dignity before his death ? " No," replied his son, "supposing your Majesty dead, I took the crown as my lawful inheritance; but since I see you recovered, 1 re store it with much more pleasure ; and may God grant you many happy days to enjoy it in peace." The king was seized with his last fit .while at his devotions before the shrine of Edward the Confessor in Westminster Ab bey, and expired in the 46th year of his age, and I3th of his reign.
Had Henry IV. come to the throne by the right of in hcritance, lie would have been considered one of the greatest monarchs that ever held the sceptre of Eng land. He possessed great military talents, and his poli tical wisdom has seldom been surpassed. Though sur rounded with enemies who were continually plotting against his government, yet such was his vigilance in detecting a conspiracy, and his activity and prudence in suppressing it when it rose to rebellion, that his autho rity was strengthened by every effort that was made for its overthrow. His usurpation was certainly in many respects beneficial to the English nation. During his reign, the administration of justice became less arbitra ry and less venal ; the limitations of the government were more carefully maintained ; the House of Commons as sumed powers which it did not before possess, and rose in importance and independence. But while we are
pleased with the exercise of his authority, we cannot but detest the unjustifiable means by which it was ob tained. Rebellion against his sovereign; the deposition and murder of his lawful king ; and the exclusion of the rightful heir, are crimes that can never be regarded but with abhorrence. It was these that drew upon him the hatred of his subjects, and from being one of the most popular noblemen in the kingdom, Henry became one cf the most unpopular kings that ever sat upon the throne. The intelligence of his death was, received without re gret, and was immediately forgotten in the sincere re joicings that were made at the accession of his son.
Henry V. came to the throne with the tide of popula rity flowing full in his favour. His noviciate in arms, which he performed at the battle of Shrewsbury, gave indications of a great and military genius ; and these were strengthened by several advantages which he gain ed over the brave Glendour in Wales. But his father, who was infected with all the jealousies natural to an usurper, had entertained unreasonable suspicions of the fidelity of his gallant son ; and during the latter years of his reign, had excluded him from the command of his armies, and even from all public business whatever. The active and enterprizing genius of Henry, being thus re strained from its proper exercise, broke out in the extra vagancies of riot and dissipation. Surrounded by a crew of low and profligate companions, he indulged in all their disorderly humours and amusements. When heated with wine, he sometimes encouraged and seconded his asso ciates in attacking and robbing the passengers on the streets and highways, and enjoyed himself by laughing at the fears and regrets of these defenceless people. In the midst of his excesses, however, the nobleness of his heart often appeared through the clouds which his fol lies threw over his character ; and even when plunged in the extremes of dissoluteness, he displayed such traits of genuine humanity and magnanimity, as gave good reason to cherish the hope of a speedy reformation. Art incident is related of him which tended much to encou rage that hope, and which slims, that when brought to reflection, he was ashamed of his irregularities and er rors. One of his riotous associates had been indicted be fore Sir William Gascoigne, the chief justice, for some misdemeanour ; and Henry appeared with him at the bar, on the clay of his trial, to give him countenance, and to overawe the judge. Finding, however, that the cri minal was condemned notwithstanding his interference, he was so exasperated, that he proceeded to insult the chief justice upon the bench ; but Gascoigne, mindful of the dignity of his office, ordered the prince to be com mitted to prison for his rude conduct. Henry, as if struck at once tvith a consciousness of his fault, quietly sub mitted to his punishment, and acknowledged his errors. When his father was informed of this circumstance, it is said that he exclaimed, in a transport of joy, " Happy is the king who has a magistrate endowed with courage to execute the laws upon such -an offender; still more happy in having a son willing to submit to such a chas tisement!" The first actions of Henry's reign confirmed all the Ropes that had been entertained in his favour. He as sembled his former companions ; acquainted them with his intended reformation ; forbade them to appear in his presence until they had learned to imitate his example ; and dismissed them with liberal presents. The wise mi nisters of his father were retained in their offices, and re ceived his favour and confidence ; even the chief justice, who trembled to approach the royal presence, was ap plauded for his impartial conduct, and encouraged to per severe in a just and strict execution of the laws. Henry next endeavoured to extinguish the remains of faction, by burying all party distinctions in oblivion, and by exalt ing to honourable employments in the state, the adhe rents of either party, who were distinguished by their virtue or abilities. He restored the family of Percy to their fortunes and honours, and treated his competitor, the Earl of Marche, with such singular courtesy and kindness, that this gentle and unambitious nobleman ever after remained sincerely attached to his person and go vernment. Such prudence and magnanimity gained him the affections of all ranks; and the defects of his title to the throne were forgotten in the high esteem and regard in which his personal character was held.