Page:The religious life of King Henry VI.djvu/104

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78
THE CANONIZATION OF

is needful for the canonization of the said late King. Therefore wishing to do what the present King asks, and relying upon the divine judgment rather than upon Our human reason, and likewise desiring to act in a matter of such importance and gravity, We, inclining to the prayer of King Henry and following in the footsteps of Pope Innocent VIII of happy memory, who issued a similar commission, We by these apostolic letters commit to you [the abovenamed prelates] the duty of going personally to Windsor, where the body of the said Henry rests, and of enquiring into his life, merits, sanctity, charity, devotion to God, and his good works, etc. Also to examine into the miracles he wrought during life and after death, etc., calling witnesses to give evidence under oath, as to the ground of their knowledge regarding these things. You are then to report to Us under your hands and seals."[1]

In the same year, 1494, there is entered in the Episcopal Register of Cardinal Morton of Canterbury a long document setting forth what is necessary to be done in every process of canonization. This almost certainly would appear to have reference to the process to be

  1. Wilkins, Concilia, iii, 640.