e overthrow of
dominions which are thought to be grounded on foundations of adamant."

[Footnote 224: Casaubon, quoted by Sir Walter
Raleigh.]

* * * * *

Where Henry was when the unexpected news arrested his progress is not
known. The certainty is, that whilst he was anxiously engaged in
reforming abuses, and preparing good laws at home; after he had (p. 296)
also just concluded a peace with Genoa, and, by generously releasing
the King of Scotland, had bound him by the strongest ties of gratitude
and affection; his exertions were suddenly arrested by the sad news of
the defeat of his forces at Baugy in Anjou, and the death, in battle,
of his brother, the Duke of Clarence.[225] These tidings caused him to
shorten his progress, and to return to his capital, where he arrived
at furthest on the 1st of May.

[Footnote 225: Monstrelet says, that the flower of
the English chivalry, who were with the Duke, fell
in that field, and, besides knights and esquires,
from two to three thousand men; and that, with the
Earl of Somerset and others of noble and gentle
blood, about two hundred were taken prisoners.
There was also, he says, a dreadful slaughter of
the French. The English, under the Earl of
Salisbury, recovered the body of the Duke from the
enemy, and it was carried with much ceremony to
England, and there buried.]

The Bishop of Durham, Chancellor of England, was charged to open the
Parliament, which met on the second of that month, Henry himself being
present, in the Painted Chamber. The Chancellor's address, though in
many points strange, and well-nigh ridiculous, is too interesting to
be passed by unnoticed. He began by uttering eulogies on the King,
specifying, among other topics of praise, this merit in
particular,--that, whilst God had granted him victories and conquests
as the fruits of his labour, he never assumed the least merit to
himself, but ascribed all the glory to God only, "_following in (p. 297)
a manner the example of the very valiant Emperor Julius Caesar_;"
and also because as Job, when news was brought to him of the death of
all his children as they were feasting in their eldest brother's
house, praised God, saying, "