efore them, were not
his mind and body so occupied by war.

[Footnote 194: October 28, 1419. The Pell Rolls
record payment of 10_l._ to Master Peter Henewer,
physician, appointed by the King and his council to
go to the King in Normandy. Probably he felt his
constitution even then giving way. But as early as
13th October 1415, after the battle of Agincourt,
payment is made for "diverse medicine, as well for
the health of the King's person as for others of
his army," sent to Calais.]

[Footnote 195: A curious and interesting instance
of Henry's personal attention to business in its
most minute details, when many of his subjects
would have been quite satisfied with the report of
another, is preserved among some of the driest and
most formal acts of the Privy Council. Certain
auditors are instructed to examine, with greater
accuracy than before, the accounts of the late
Master of the Wardrobe; and to make an especial
report to the council, most particularly
(potissime) of such items as they shall find marked
in the King's own hand "ad inquirendum." Reference
is also made to those sums against which a black
mark has been placed by the King's hand. The date
of this minute (4th July 1421), and the place
(Calais) in which it states that these accounts
were examined by the King, add considerably to the
strength of this example. Henry had then just left
England suddenly on hearing the sad news of a
disastrous defeat of part of his army, and the
death of his brother, the Duke of Clarence, in
battle; and he was at Calais on his road to put
himself again at the head of his forces.]

Among many illustrations of this striking trait in Henry's character,
the following instances will, it is presumed, be deemed generally
interesting, and deserving a fuller notice than a brief statement of
the facts might require.

The first is a letter