=Source.=--Monstrelet's _Chronicles_, translated by Johnes, vol.
ii., pp. 371-372. (Hafod Press, 1809.)
King Henry, finding himself mortally ill, called to him his brother
the Duke of Bedford, his uncle of Exeter, the earl of Warwick, sir
Louis de Robesart and others, to the number of six or eight of those in
whom he had the greatest confidence, and said that he saw with grief
it was the pleasure of his Creator that he should quit this world. He
then addressed the Duke of Bedford:--"John, my good brother, I beseech
you, on the loyalty and love you have ever expressed for me, that you
show the same loyalty and affection to my son Henry, your nephew, and
that, so long as you shall live, you do not suffer him to conclude any
treaty with our adversary Charles, and that on no account whatever the
duchy of Normandy be wholly restored to him. Should our good brother
of Burgundy be desirous of the regency of the Kingdom of France, I
would advise that you let him have it; but should he refuse, then take
it yourself. My good uncle of Exeter, I nominate you sole regent of
the Kingdom of England, for that you well know how to govern it; and I
entreat that you do not, on any pretence whatever, return to France;
and I likewise nominate you as guardian to my son,--and I insist, on
your love to me, that you do very often personally visit and see him.
My dear cousin of Warwick, I will that you be his governor, and that
you teach him all things becoming his rank, for I cannot provide a
fitter person for the purpose. I entreat you all as earnestly as I can,
that you avoid all quarrels and dissensions with our fair brother of
Burgundy; and this I particularly recommend to the consideration of my
fair brother Humphrey,--for should any coolness subsist between you,
which God forbid, the affairs of this realm, which are now in a very
promising state, would soon be ruined." ... The King then sent for his
physicians, and earnestly demanded of them how long they thought he
had to live. They delayed answering the question directly; but, not
to discourage hope, they said that it depended solely on the will
of God whether he would be restored to health. He was dissatisfied
with this answer, and repeated his request, begging of them to tell
him the truth. Upon this they consulted together, and one of them, as
spokesman, falling on his knees, said, "Sire, you must think on your
soul; for, unless it be the will of God to decree otherwise, it is
impossible that you should live more than two hours." The King, hearing
this, sent for his confessor, some of his household and his chaplains,
whom he ordered to chant the seven penitential psalms. When they came
to "_Benigne fac Domine_" where mention is made "_Muri Hierusalem_,"[9]
he stopped them, and said aloud, that he had fully intended, after he
had wholly subdued the realm of France to his obedience, and restored
it to peace, to have gone to conquer the Kingdom of Jerusalem, if it
had pleased his Creator to have granted him a longer life. Having said
this, he allowed the priests to proceed, and shortly after, according
to the prediction of his physicians, gave up the ghost.
[9] "Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls
of Jerusalem" (Ps. li. 18). The king's words were: "Good Lord, thou
knewest that my mind was to re-edify the walls of Hierusalem" (Leland's
_Collectanea_, ii., 489).