a truth, or drives into error; and it teaches a man to
dissemble and to be safe, but never to be honest."

[Footnote 253: Bishop Taylor's "Liberty of
Prophesying," 13.]

* * * * *

With these observations we would proceed to inquire historically into
the personal character of Henry V. with regard to religious
persecution; a prince who lived when all Christendom was full of (p. 333)
the darkness of bigotry and superstition, and when persecution had
established its "cruel habitations" in every corner of the land.

The first occasion on which Henry of Monmouth's name is in any way
connected with religious intolerance and persecution, is recorded in
the Rolls of Parliament, 7 and 8 Henry IV. The circumstance is thus
stated by Prynne,[254] or whoever was the author of the passage which
is now found in the "Abridgment of Records in the Tower." "At this
time the clergy suborned Henry, Prince, for and in the name of the
clergy, and Sir John Tibetott the Speaker, for and in behalf of the
Commons, to exhibit a long and _bloody_ bill against certain men
called Lollards,--namely, against them that taught or preached
anything against the temporal livings of the clergy. Other points
touching Lollardy I read none; only this is to be marked, for the
better expedition in this exploit, they joined prophecies touching the
King's estate, and such as whispered and bruited that King Richard (p. 334)
should be living; the which they inserted, to the end that by the same
subtlety they might the better achieve against the poor Lollards
aforesaid. Wherein note a most unlawful and monstrous tyranny; for the
request of the same bill was, that every officer, or other minister
whatever might apprehend and inquire of such Lollards without any
other commission, and that no sanctuary should hold them."

[Footnote 254: This work, "published by William
Prynne, Esq. a Bencher of Lincoln's Inn, 1657," is
ascribed by him to Cotton; but it proves not to
have been written by Cotton, but by the two
brothers William and Robert Bowyer. See manuscript
note, by Francis Hargrave, at the commencement of
his copy in the British Museum. What notes and
observations came from the author, whether Cotton
or one of the Bowyers, a