an authentic record which would amply account for his
almost unprecedented popularity at the very commencement of his reign.
Among these we must not omit to notice the resolution which he put in
practice of retiring for an hour or more every day, after his early
dinner, to receive petitions from any of his subjects, however (p. 011)
humble,[13] who would appeal to him for his royal interposition;
to examine and consider the several cases patiently; and to redress
real grievances. Indeed, numberless little occurrences meet us on
every side, which seem to indicate very clearly that he loved the
right and hated iniquity; and that he was never more happy than whilst
engaged in deeds of justice, mercy, and charity. He seems to have
received the golden law for his rule, "See that they who are in need
and necessity have right;" and to have rejoiced in keeping that (p. 012)
law himself, and compelling all within the sphere of his authority and
influence to observe it also.

[Footnote 13: Many original petitions addressed to
Henry are still preserved among our records. In
one, which may serve as a specimen of the kind of
application to which this custom compelled him to
open his ear, Richard Hunt appeals to him as a
"right merciable lord, moved with pity, mercy, and
grace." "In great desolation and heaviness of
heart," the petitioner states that his son-in-law,
Richard Peke, who had a wife and four children, and
had been all his life a true labourer and innocent
man, and well-beloved by his neighbours, had been
detected in taking from a vessel goods not worth
three shillings; for which crime his mortal enemies
(though they might have their property again) "sued
to have him dead." He urges Henry to grant him
"full noble grace," at the reverence of Almighty
God, and for passion that Christ suffered for all
mankind, and for the pity that he had on Mary
Magdalene. The petitioner then promised (as
petitioners now do) to pray for endless mercy on
Henry; he adds, moreover, what would certainly
sound strange in a moder