Norwich.
_Sir William Hankford_ (Vol. ii., p. 161. &c.).--Your learned correspondent
MR. EDWARD FOSS proves satisfactorily that Sir W. Gascoigne was not
retained in his office of Chief Justice by King Hen. V. But MR. FOSS seems
to have overlooked entirely the Devonshire tradition, which represents Sir
William _Hankford_ (Gascoigne's successor) to be the judge who committed
Prince Henry. Risdon (_v_. Bulkworthy, _Survey of Devon_, ed. 1811, p.
246.), after mentioning a chapel built by Sir W. Hankford, gives this
account of the matter:
"This is that deserving judge, that did justice upon the king's son
(afterwards King Henry V.), who, when he was yet prince, commanded him
to free a servant of his, arraigned for felony at the king's bench bar;
whereat the judge replied, he would not. Herewith the prince, enraged,
essayed himself to enlarge the prisoner, but the judge forbad; insomuch
as the prince in fury stept up to the bench, and gave the judge a blow
on the face, who, nothing thereat daunted, told him boldly: 'If you
will not obey your sovereign's laws, who shall obey you when you shall
be king? Wherefore, in the king's (your father's) name, I command you
prisoner to the king's bench.' Whereat the prince, abashed, departed to
prison. When King Henry IV., his father, was advertised thereof (as
fast flieth fame), after he had examined the circumstances of the
matter, he rejoiced to have a son so obedient to his laws, and a judge
of such integrity to administer justice without fear or favour of the
person; but withal dismissed the prince from his place of president of
the council, which he conferred on his second son."
Risdon makes no mention of Sir W. Hankford's being retained in office by
King Henry V. But at p. 277., _v._ Monkleigh, he gives the traditional
account of Hankford's death (anno 1422), which represents the judge, in
doubt of his safety, and mistrusting the sequel of the matter, to have
committed suicide by requiring his park-keeper to shoot at him when under
the semblance of a poacher:
"Which report (Risdon adds) is so credible among the common sort of
people, that they can show the tree yet growing where this fact was
committed, known by the name of Hankford Oak."