said to have been notorious for his wild and reckless doings. Once, we are told, he was sent to prison by Judge Gascoigne, because he behaved insolently to the judge in court. Whatever faults he may have had as a prince, we know that he was on the whole a good king, and much loved by his people. He was too fond of war, and he persecuted the Lollards; these were his chief faults. But he was exceedingly brave, true to his word, and put the good of his people foremost in all his acts.
One very important change he permitted Parliament to make. Henceforth the petitions of the Commons to the king were not to be altered by him before he gave his assent to them. After a petition or bill had received the king's assent, it became a statute or law.
4. State of the People.—There was but one feeble plot against Henry, so strong was he in the good-will of his people. The nation had recovered somewhat from the Black Death, which again visited itin 1407. Serfs and labourers were gradually gaining their freedom, and the yeoman could now pay rent for his farm instead of giving labour to his lord. That the condition of the labouring class had greatly improved is shown by the laws against extravagance in dress. Trade with other countries was extending, and this led to an increase in shipbuilding. The coal trade of Newcastle was growing, and many merchants were becoming rich.
Against this bright side of the picture we must place the restlessness among the people, the blame of which the Church and the nobles: put upon the Lollards. The result was that Henry put in force the laws against heresy, and, among others, Sir John Oldcastle, 2 leading Lollard, was hanged in chains and burnt.
5. The French War Renewed.—To keep his nobles quiet, and to call away the attention of the people from their grievances, Henry renewed the war with France. There was no good reason for attacking France; but Henry loved war, and his nobles loved plunder. The King of France was insane, and his unhappy country was torn. by strife among the great French nobles. The opportunity to recover the lost territory was too good to be neglected, so Henry revived Edward III's claim to the French crown.
In August, 1415, Henry landed in Normandy and laid siege to
