episcopal jurisdiction over the clergy and for a mitigation
of the Statute of Heresy.

[Sidenote: Action of Prince Henry]

But formidable as the movement seemed it found a formidable opponent. The
steady fighting of Prince Henry had at last met the danger from Wales, and
Glyndwr, though still unconquered, saw district after district submit
again to English rule. From Wales the Prince returned to bring his will to
bear on England itself. It was through his strenuous opposition that the
proposals of the Commons in 1410 were rejected by the Lords. He gave at
the same moment a more terrible proof of his loyalty to the Church in
personally assisting at the burning of a layman, Thomas Badby, for a
denial of transubstantiation. The prayers of the sufferer were taken for a
recantation, and the Prince ordered the fire to be plucked away. But when
the offer of life and a pension failed to break the spirit of the Lollard
Henry pitilessly bade him be hurled back to his doom. The Prince was now
the virtual ruler of the realm. His father's earlier popularity had
disappeared amidst the troubles and heavy taxation of his reign. He was
already a victim to the attack of epilepsy which brought him to the grave;
and in the opening of 1410 the Parliament called for the appointment of a
Continual Council. The Council was appointed, and the Prince placed at its
head. His energy was soon seen in a more active interposition in the
affairs of France. So bitter had the hatred grown between the Burgundian
and Armagnac parties that both in turn appealed again to England for help.
The Burgundian alliance found favour with the Council. In August, 1411,
the Duke of Burgundy offered his daughter in marriage to the Prince as the
price of English aid, and four thousand men with Lord Cobham among their
leaders were sent to join his forces at Paris. Their help enabled Duke
John to bring his opponents to battle at St. Cloud, and to win a decisive
victory in November. But already the king was showing himself impatient of
the Council's control; and the Parliament significantly prayed that "as
there had been a great murmur among your people that you have had in your
heart a heavy load against some of your lieges come to this present
Parliament," they might be formally declared to be "faithful lieges and
servants." The prayer was granted, but in spite of the support which the
Houses gave to the Prince, Henry the Fourth was resolute to assert his
power. At th