Unfounded Charge against Henry of Peculation. -- Still more serious Accusation of a cruel attempt to dethrone his diseased Father. -- The Question fully examined. -- Probably a serious though temporary Misunderstanding at this time between the King and his Son. -- Henry's Conduct filial, open, and merciful. -- The "Chamber" or the "Crown Scene." -- Death of Henry the Fourth. Page 278 CHAPTER XIV. Henry of Monmouth's Character. -- Unfairness of Modern Writers. -- Walsingham examined. -- Testimony of his Father, -- of Hotspur, -- of the Parliament, -- of the English and Welsh Counties, -- of Contemporary Chroniclers. -- No one single act of Immorality alleged against him. -- No intimation of his Extravagance, or Injustice, or Riot, or Licentiousness, in Wales, London, or Calais. -- Direct Testimony to the opposite Virtues. -- Lydgate. -- Occleve. Page 313 CHAPTER XV. (p. xxiv) Shakspeare. -- The Author's reluctance to test the Scenes of the Poet's Dramas by Matters of Fact. -- Necessity of so doing. -- Hotspur in Shakspeare the first to bear evidence to Henry's reckless Profligacy; -- The Hotspur of History the first who testifies to his Character for Valour, and Mercy, and Faithfulness in his Duties. -- Anachronisms of Shakspeare. -- Hotspur's Age. -- The Capture of Mortimer. -- Battle of Homildon. -- Field of Shrewsbury. -- Archbishop Scrope's Death. Page 337 CHAPTER XVI. Story of Prince Henry and the Chief Justice, first found in the Work of Sir Thomas Elyot, published nearly a century and a half subsequently to the supposed transaction. -- Sir John Hawkins -- Hall -- Hume. -- No allusion to the circumstance in the Early Chroniclers. -- Dispute as to the Judge. -- Various Claimants of the distinction. -- Gascoyne -- Hankford -- Hody -- Markham. -- Some interesting particulars with regard to Gascoyne, lately discovered and verified. -- Improbability of the entire Story. Page 358 APPENDIX. No. 1. Owyn Glyndowr 385 2. Lydgate 394 3. Occleve 401 MEMOIRS OF HENRY OF MONMOUTH. (p. 001) CHAPTER I. HENRY OF MONMOUTH'S PARENTS. -- TIME AND PLACE OF HIS BIRTH. -- JOHN OF GAUNT AND BLANCHE OF LANCASTER. -- HENRY BOLINBROKE. -- MONMOUTH CASTLE. -- HENRY'S INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD. -- HIS EDUCATION. -- RESIDENCE IN OXFORD. -- BOLINBROKE'S BANISHMENT. 1387-1398.