97: The Author cannot undertake to
pronounce how far beyond general instructions the
King himself interfered in each of these
transactions. The letters on the subject of
Brittany and of Oriel College bear internal
evidence that they were dictated by Henry himself.
But the correspondence, still preserved, is too
voluminous for us to believe that he dictated more
of the letters than such as were most important or
most interesting to himself. Still it must be borne
in mind, that we have indisputable evidence of
Henry having minutely examined accounts, at a time
when he "_had great occupation otherwise_,"
directing in his own hand-writing inquiries to be
made as to various items.]

"Very dear and faithful.--Whereas we are given to understand that
great discord and division prevails between our dear and
well-beloved, the Lords de Montferrant and de Lescun, on account
of the lands of the late Lord de Castalhan; we wish this to be
appeased with all possible speed, in the best manner possible,
just as we ourselves would be able to end it. So we wish, and we
charge you, that, immediately on the sight of this, you take the
whole charge into _our_ [_? your_, _voz_, for _noz_] hands;
giving straitly in charge to the said Lords Montferrant and de
Lescun that neither of them make, or procure or suffer to be
made, any riots or assemblies of people, the one against the
other, in the meantime, under great pains upon them by you to be
imposed, and applied to our aid. And this omit in no way, as we
trust in you.--Given under our signet, in our castle of Gisors,
the 26th day of September."

The following letter from Henry to the Bishop of Durham, his
Chancellor, dated 10th February 1418, and written whilst he was
engaged in the siege of Falaise, gives us a pleasing view of the care
with which he attended to the claims of individuals, and his desire to
do justice to a faithful servant.

"Worshipful Father in God, right trusty and well-beloved.
Forasmuch as our well-beloved squire, John Hull, hath (p. 267)
long time been in our ambassiat and service in the parts of
Spain, for