Henry of Monmouth, Volume 1

Monmouth, Volume 1, by J.
Endell Tyler

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Title: Henry of Monmouth, Volume 1 Memoirs of Henry the Fifth
Author: J. Endell Tyler
Release Date: January 31, 2007 [EBook #20488]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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MONMOUTH, VOLUME 1 ***

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original spelling has been retained.
Printer's error corrected: - Page 18: portophorium to portiphorium. -

Page 27: applition to application. - Page 42: chace to chase. - Page 80: '
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[Illustration: Henri of Monmouth]

HENRY OF MONMOUTH:
OR,
MEMOIRS
OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF

HENRY THE FIFTH,
AS
PRINCE OF WALES AND KING OF ENGLAND.

BY J. ENDELL TYLER, B.D.
RECTOR OF ST. GILES IN THE FIELDS.

"Go, call up Cheshire and Lancashire, And Derby hills, that are so free;
But neither married man, nor widow's son; No widow's curse shall go
with me."

IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. I.

LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET,
Publisher in Ordinary to Her Majesty.
1838.
LONDON: PRINTED BY SAMUEL BENTLEY, Dorset Street, Fleet
Street.

TO HER MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY THE QUEEN. (p. iii)
MADAM,
The gracious intimation of your Royal pleasure that these Memoirs of
your renowned Predecessor should be dedicated to your Majesty, while
it increases my solicitude, suggests at the same time new and cheering
anticipations. I cannot but hope that, appearing in the world under the
auspices of your great name, the religious and moral purposes which
this work is designed to serve will be more widely and effectually
realised.
* * * * *
Under a lively sense of the literary defects which render these volumes
unworthy of so august a patronage, to one point I may revert with
feelings of satisfaction and encouragement. I have gone only (p. iv)
where Truth seemed to lead me on the way: and this, in your Majesty's
judgment, I am assured will compensate for many imperfections.
* * * * *
That your Majesty may ever abundantly enjoy the riches of HIS favour
who is the Spirit of Truth, and having long worn your diadem here in
honour and peace, in the midst of an affectionate and happy people,
may resign it in exchange for an eternal crown in heaven, is the prayer
of one who rejoices in the privilege of numbering himself,

Madam,
Among your Majesty's
Most faithful and devoted
Subjects and servants.
J. ENDELL TYLER.
24, Bedford Square, May 24, 1838.

PREFACE. (p. v)
Memoirs such as these of Henry of Monmouth might doubtless be
made more attractive and entertaining were their Author to supply the
deficiencies of authentic records by the inventions of his fancy, and
adorn the result of careful inquiry into matters of fact by the descriptive
imagery and colourings of fiction. To a writer, also, who could at once
handle the pen of the biographer and of the poet, few names would
offer a more ample field for the excursive range of historical romance
than the life of Henry of Monmouth. From the day of his first
compulsory visit to Ireland, abounding as that time does with deeply
interesting incidents, to his last hour in the now-ruined castle of
Vincennes;--or rather, from his mother's espousals to the interment of
his earthly remains within the sacred precincts of Westminster, every
period teems with animating suggestions. So far, however, from
possessing such adventitious recommendations, the point on which
(rather perhaps than any other) an apology might be expected for this
work, is, that it has freely tested by the standard of (p. vi) truth those
delineations of Henry's character which have contributed to
immortalize our great historical dramatist. The Author, indeed, is
willing to confess that he would gladly have withdrawn from the task
of assaying the substantial accuracy and soundness of Shakspeare's
historical and biographical views, could he have done so safely and
without a compromise of principle. He would have avoided such an
inquiry, not only in deference to the acknowledged rule which does not

suffer a poet to be fettered by the rigid shackles of unbending facts; but
from a disinclination also to interfere, even in appearance, with the full
and free enjoyment of those exquisite scenes of humour, wit, and nature,
in which Henry is the hero, and his "riotous, reckless companions" are
subordinate in