mmons, complaining of a law passed at the last parliament
infringing his liberty and prerogative, which he requested their consent
to repeal. To this the commons agreed, and received the king's thanks,
who declared at the same time that he would keep as much freedom and
prerogative as any of his ancestors. It does not appear what was the
particular subject of complaint; but there had been much of the same
remonstrating spirit in the last parliament that was manifested on
preceding occasions. The commons, however, for reasons we cannot
explain, were rather dismayed. Before their dissolution, they petition
the king, that, whereas he was reported to be offended at some of his
subjects in this and in the preceding parliament, he would openly
declare that he held them all for loyal subjects. Henry granted this "of
his special grace;" and thus concluded his reign more triumphantly with
respect to his domestic battles than he had gone through it.[214]

[Sidenote: Henry V. His popularity.]

Power deemed to be ill gotten is naturally precarious; and the instance
of Henry IV. has been well quoted to prove that public liberty
flourishes with a bad title in the sovereign. None of our kings seem to
have been less beloved; and indeed he had little claim to affection. But
what men denied to the reigning king they poured in full measure upon
the heir of his throne. The virtues of the prince of Wales are almost
invidiously eulogized by those parliaments who treat harshly his
father;[215] and these records afford a strong presumption that some
early petulance or riot has been much exaggerated by the vulgar minds of
our chroniclers. One can scarcely understand at least that a prince who
was three years engaged in quelling the dangerous insurrection of
Glendower, and who in the latter time of his father's reign presided at
the council, was so lost in a cloud of low debauchery as common fame
represents.[216] Loved he certainly was throughout his life, as so
intrepid, affable, and generous a temper well deserved; and this
sentiment was heightened to admiration by successes still more rapid and
dazzling than those of Edward III. During his reign there scarcely
appears any vestige of dissatisfaction in parliament--a circumstance
very honourable, whether we ascribe it to the justice of his
administration or to the affection of his people. Perhaps two
exceptions, though they are rather one in spirit, might be made: the
first, a petition to the