CHAPTER V.-PRINCE HARRY,

AFTERWARDS HENRY THE FIFTH.

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BORN 1387; DIED AUGUST 31, 1422.

Virtue alone is true nobility,

Let your own acts immortalize your name.'

DRYDEN'S Juvenal.

RINCE Harry, son of Henry the
Fourth, in his early days, was re-

markable for his volatile disposition

and reckless conduct. Though naturally possessed of an open and generous heart and many good qualities, he had no steadiness of character, but suffered himself to be led and guided, by persons, who, to serve their own interest, encouraged him in all his folly; and as 'evil communications corrupt good manners,' so they turned him from the paths of virtue and honour.

He became daily more careless of his actions, and was constantly the assistant, if not the leader, in some wild frolic, unbecoming the dignity of any youth, much less that of the heir to the Crown.

Princes, and indeed all who are placed in exalted stations, should consider themselves especially bound, to strive to set an example worthy the imitation of those who walk in an inferior sphere; and more peculiarly is this duty incumbent on such, as are destined, in human probability, to be placed in the highest dignity of the nation.

A mind disposed to virtue at once maketh great the possessor; and a Prince, who is naturally the observed of all observers,' cannot be too anxious to acquire a worthy reputation. Unconcern respecting public opinion is blamable in all, but especially in those, whose conduct must in no small degree, ‘give in due time the law to manners, and whose example will be brought forward by future historians, either to illustrate virtue or to exemplify vice,

in order to stimulate to good or evil, princes yet

unborn.'

As a child, Harry was very fond of music. The hearts of the Welsh people would have been filled with delight, had they seen their little Prince seated before the harp, the emblem of Wales, and with his small delicate fingers, drawing forth strains of melody from its strings. Like most other boys, too, he liked martial games, and fought many a mock battle, with the mimic sword his father gave him when he was nine years old.

When only seven, he had the great misfortune to lose his excellent mother. He was then left almost entirely to the companionship of men, and though possessing many good qualities, became, as he grew older, as we have said, so wild and heedless, that he could not command the respect that ought to have existed for the King's son. True, he was popular amongst the low-born, with whom he spent most of his time, for his merit, in their eyes, consisted in his love of fun and gaiety; but the

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giddy pranks and undignified actions of the Prince, who was at some time to sit on the throne of England, filled the hearts of the right judging, with dread as to the future, and his father, the King, was also sadly grieved at his wild and riotous proceedings.

However, a circumstance at length occurred, which induced the public to indulge in a ray of hope, that they might yet expect better things of Harry, that the praiseworthy qualities of his nature might still outweigh and stifle those habits, that were unworthy and hurtful both to himself and others.

It happened that, in one of his foolish frolics, a companion of the Prince, who was assisting in the giddy uproar, was taken up and brought before the Chief-Justice, Gascoigne. Harry attended at the trial, imagining that his presence would overawe the Judge, and prevent his condemning the man to any punishment. In this idea he was mistaken, for the Judge (who possessed the strongest notions on the subject of the rights of justice and equity), after

most carefully sifting the case, sentenced the prisoner according to his offence; whereupon the Prince was so enraged, that, before the assembled Court, he struck the Judge on the face.

The Chief Justice, aware of what bad consequences might ensue, from such an example of disrespect to his authority, being shown by the Prince, without considering the rank of the offender, very courageously and wisely commanded that he should be arrested on the spot, and taken to the King's Bench Prison; and then it was that the amiable qualities of Prince Harry shone forth.

Instead of rebelling against the sentence, and pleading his exalted station as a reason for the sentence not being executed, he at once felt that he had done wrong, acknowledging his fault, and the justice of his punishment, in the most candid manner; then, without a murmur, he suffered himself to be led to prison, as if he had been a private person, instead of the Prince of Wales. The Judge's courage and