It was a good beginning but most people were cautious as yet. Harry the Prince had had too lurid a reputation to be able to cast it off with a few good deeds. He announced that he would found three religious houses at Richmond, one for Carthusian, one for Celestine monks, the other for Bregen-tine nuns; and in these prayers were to be offered by day and night for the repose of his father's soul.
The weather was unseasonably cold. It had been a harsh winter and persisted so through to the spring, but on corona-
tion day people thronged the streets in spite of the bitter winds. After the traditional ceremony in the Abbey, Henry came out into the streets and by this time the snow was falling fast and the strong winds were making it into a blizzard.
A snow storm in April I Surely such a rare phenomenon that it must be a sign from Heaven.
As Henry battled his way back to the palace for the coronation banquet, it was said that this was God's way of telling England that the King had put off the ardours of his youth. He was being chastened by the bleak snow. A good omen. But there were also those who looked upon the storm as a warning of evil to come.
In any case there could be no doubt that Henry had become a new man.
Thomas Arundel, Archbishop of Canterbury, sought an audience with the King.
The last time the King had seen his Archbishop was at the coronation when Arundel had placed the crown on his head. Now Arundel had a serious matter to discuss and Henry guessed its nature.
Arundel had been an enemy of the movement which was sweeping across the country and known as the Lollards. The aim of this community was, in fact, the complete disendow-ment of the Church; an object which might have seemed worthy of nothing but derision at one time but had in recent years proved itself to be a menace.
These Lollards were the followers of John Wycliffe; they were reformers and their interests were not only confined to the reformation of the Church. It was believed that Lollardry was at the root of the Peasants' Revolt and they had brought disaster very close to the crown. Therefore it was a movement which must be closely watched and since he had come to the throne no one was more aware of this than Henry.
His father had never enjoyed security and he had yet to learn how firm his own hold was. When one had come there by what some might call a devious route and a debatable claim, one had to take care.
The King received the Archbishop with a show of friendship but a certain lack of warmth. He did not greatly care for the old man, but he must be approaching sixty, thought
Henry, and could not last much longer.
'My lord,' said the Archbishop, 1 have come to you about a very serious matter. The Lollards are about to rise and it is time that we took action against them.'
*The Lollards!' cried the King. 'We keep them in check do we not? We know how to deal with them if they become too saucy.'
'They have become more than saucy, my lord. They have become a menace.'
Henry studied his Archbishop intently. Always alert for the rights of the Church, he thought. Always watchful lest some privileges be filched by the State. Henry believed that the State must come first. The Archbishop w^ould not agree. There was always this conflict between the two parties.
Arundel had had a stormy career. He had been banished by Richard; and because Richard had been his enemy, Henry the Fourth had been his friend. Arundel regretted the passing of the fourth Henry and was going to be very wary of the Fifth of that name. And rightly so, thought the new King.
No need to worry. He was an old man. I shall soon be appointing my own archbishop.
'My lord, the Lollards conspire against the crown when they would attack the Church.'
Henry raised his eyebrows.
'Lollardry was behind the Peasants' Revolt, my lord,' said the Archbishop. 'Make no mistake about that. This is a villeins' charter. They would try to make you their puppet or set up one in your place.'
'We have had the Lollards with us for several years. Tell me, my lord Archbishop, why are you excited about them now?'
'Because, my lord, they have a new leader. A man of some wealth and the power to lead. They are gathering together under his leadership. They will be marching on London if we do not take some action.'
'Cannot you take this leader and put him in the Tower that he may be judged of his treason?'
'It can be done, my lord, but in view of who this man is, I thought it best to bring the matter first to your notice and ask what you would have done.'
'But if this man is the leader of a band of rebels who plan to revolt against the crown ... why do you hesitate?'
*It is Lord Cobham, my lord, who was at some time Sir John Oldcastle. He is known to be a man whom you held in some regard. Before he is arrested we w^ould know your will/
'Oldcastle!' cried the King. A slow smile touched his lips. You old rogue, he thought. What are you up to now? 'So he has become a reformer, eh?' Henry was thoughtful for a while. He had not entirely surprised. Old John had loved to discuss, and at times he had leaned towards, those views which were held by the Lollards. It was difficult to imagine him completely serious. He would never give up his lazy lecherous life for a cause surely.
'It appears to be since his marriage to Lady Cobham my lord.'
The King nodded. 'She is an heiress, is she not?'
'The granddaughter of old Lord Cobham who died some years ago. She now owns Cobham Manor and Cowling Castle/
'What sort of a w^oman is she?'
'She is about thirty. Oldcastle is her fourth husband.'
*A much married lady. One of firm opinions I imagine, and of course by his marriage to her John Oldcastle acquires the title. He will like that.'
'There is much Lollardry in the district in which he and his wife now live. It has increased of late. I have heard that the reason is that Lord Cobham is a forceful leader and knows how to recruit men to his cause.'
'He would do that,' agreed Henry. 'I never knew a man more persuasive in his arguments.'
'It is proposed that he be arrested and questioned.'
Henry nodded. 1 will talk to him,' he said. 'I will show him what a dangerous position he places himself in. It is true he was a friend of mine. It would please me to advise him.'
The Archbishop nodded and when he had retired the King sent to Cobham Manor with a command that his old friend visit him without delay.
They faced each other—those two who had been the roys-tering companions intent on savouring adventures, outdoing each other in their recklessness, boastfully declaring that they would stop at nothing—however offensive to conventional society.
There is a change in him, thought the King. He is as rotund as ever; he still has the merry twinkle in his eyes; but there is a new seriousness, a purpose; one might even say fanaticism.
'Well John,' said Henry, 'you may have guessed why I have sent for you.'
'It is because you have missed my merry company and wish to make use of it again.'
'Of a truth I have missed it but there is little time in my life now for such merriment as that which you and I indulged in. You have become over serious, John.'
'My lord, you have become a King and I detect something of a change in you.'
*I have to speak to you seriously/
'You have been in conference with my lord Archbishop I'll swear.'
'Then you know of this grievance against you.'
Til w^arrant that my lord Archbishop knowing of a certain fondness between you and me will have your permission first before he proceeds to clap me into the Tower/
*John, you have to stop this nonsense.'