Henry of Monmouth, Volume 2: Or, Memoirs of the Life and Character of Henry the Fifth, as Prince of Wales and King of EnglandTyler, James Endell
History
Henry of Monmouth, Volume 2: Or, Memoirs of the Life and Character of Henry the Fifth, as Prince of Wales and King of England
Tyler, James Endell
Henry V, King of England, 1387-1422
[Footnote 236: It is satisfactory to find, even
among the mere details of expenditure, testimony
borne to his love of the Holy Scriptures. Among his
last domestic expenses is this interesting item:
"To John Heth 3_l._ 6_s._ for sixty-six quarterns
of calfskins, purchased and provided by the said
John, to write a Bible thereon for the use of the
King."--Pell Rolls, February 23, 1422, just six
months before his death.]
The bowels of Henry were buried in the monastery of St. Maur; and
his body embalmed, being put into a leaden coffin, was drawn to
St. Denis. Before and behind the corpse were two lamps burning;
and two hundred and fifty torches gave light to the procession.
The Abbot and Monks of St. Denis came out to meet it, and
solemnly preceded it to their church, where they performed (p. 308)
the office for the dead, the Archbishop of Paris singing the
requiem. From St. Denis the procession advanced to Paris, where
the body was deposited for a while in Notre Dame; and thence,
with great and solemn pomp, it was carried to Rouen. The Queen,
from whom the death of her husband had been before concealed,
here met the Duke of Bedford; and made preparations for the
conveyance of the body to England. In a bed, in the same carriage
with the body, was laid the figure of the King, with a crown of
gold on his head, a sceptre in his right hand, and a ball in his
left. The covering of the bed was vermilion silk embroidered with
gold, and over the chariot was a rich silk canopy. The chariot
was drawn by six horses in rich harness. The first bore the arms
of St. George, the second, the arms of Normandy; the third, those
of King Arthur; the fourth, those of St. Edward; the fifth, the
arms of France; the sixth, the arms of England and France. James,
King of Scots, followed it as principal mourner. The banners of
the saints were borne by four lords. The hatchments were carried
by twelve captains; and around the carriage rode five hundred
men-at-arms, all in black armour,--their horses barbed black, and
their lances held with the points downwards. A great company
clothed in white, and bearing lighted torches, "encompassed the
hearse." Those of the King's household followed, and after them
the royal family; the Queen, with a great retinue, followed at a
league's distance. Whenever the corpse rested masses were sung
from the first dawn of the morning till nine o'clock. The
procession passed through Abbeville to Calais; and crossing to
Dover, proceeded with the same solemnities towards London. When
they approached the capital, they were met by fifteen bishops in
their pontifical habits, and many abbots in their mitres and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account