e burning of John
Claydon, skinner, and George Gurmyn, baker, Lollards convicted of
heresy," though the day of the execution is not recorded.

It must here be remembered, that the Mayor himself arrested Clayton,
and produced the witnesses against him; that the King's writ[299] was
not necessary to authorize execution after judgment passed by (p. 402)
the ecclesiastical authority in convocation; and that, even if it had
been necessary to procure the royal sanction, the Duke of Clarence was
left in England with full powers, as Henry's representative. Yet, in
order to avoid giving offence, though they were determined to make an
example of Clayton, they were afraid to proceed to the extreme penalty
of the law without first taking the instructions of the King. This
would scarcely have been necessary, nor would any hesitation, or (p. 403)
scruple, or misgiving have arisen in their minds, had they not been
under a strong practical persuasion that the execution of this man
would have given their King displeasure. And when we know what
employment awaited Henry from the very day of Clayton's conviction
till his return home,--the siege of Harfleur, the harassing march
through France, the battle of Agincourt,--we cannot wonder at no
answer being recorded. Perhaps he made no answer; perhaps the (p. 404)
letter never reached him in the midst of his struggles and dangers;
probably he did not interfere, but allowed the law to take its course.
Whatever took place between the condemnation and the death of Clayton,
every stage of the transaction, from the first arrest of the accused
on the very Saturday after Henry sailed for France, makes it quite
clear that, in the opinion of the magistrates of London, Henry would
be no willing abettor of persecution.

[Footnote 299: "The person who shall be burnt for
heresy ought to be first convict thereof by the
Bishop who is his diocesan, and abjured thereof;
and afterwards, if he relapse into that heresy, or
any other, then he shall be sent from the clergy to
the secular power, to do with him as it shall
please the King. And then it seemeth, the King, if
he will, may pardon him the same; and the form of
the writ is such.

"The King to the Mayor and Sheriffs of London,
greeting.