repentance, for it was followed by a total abandonment of his former habits, and a thorough amendment of his ways and doings. Let none flatter themselves that they have truly repented of past sins, unless the shame, remorse, or sorrow of which they are the subjects, be followed up by a radical change of character and deportment. As reformation will not avail without contrition, so neither will the utmost professions of sorrow, without future amendment. But while the necessity of deep, unfeigned, and practical repentance is urged, as a pre-requisite to divine forgiveness, let it not be forgotten, that the pardon of sin is procured alone by the merits of the divine Redeemer, and received through faith in his name.

That Henry V. was a prince of great energy of character, and of the most comprehensive views, the few incidents which have been related concerning him sufficiently demonstrate. He knew how to avail himself of the favourable moment for commencing an enterprise, how to prosecute it by the most effective means, and how to select the fittest instruments and agents for effectuating his purpose. These are characters of true wisdom, which are particularly important for a stateman or a sovereign; but they are not applicable alone to the affairs of state, they may be brought to bear with effect on the most ordinary relations and pursuits of human life. "Whatsoever, "therefore, thine hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." Seize the golden opportunity whenever it may

offer. Follow up with zeal and diligence the work and ' labour of thine hand, till success shall crown thy persevering endeavour.'

Seldom do we meet with a reign so uniformly prosperous as that which we have just contemplated. It was, indeed, of short duration; but, politically considered, it was the most splendid in the whole series of English sovereigns. That which had been the summit of ambition to several of the monarchs who preceded him, and to which the whole of their lives were devoted, was attained by this successful prince in a short period. His success is, however, as much to be ascribed to the jealousies and contentions of his enemies, as to his own vigour and capacity. But no sooner had he attained the pinnacle of

honour; no sooner had he reached the acme of his glory and power, than the universal conqueror seized him with a mighty, a resistless grasp, and hurled him into the sepulchre of his fathers. Though every foe were conquered, this last enemy remains, and where is the individual so elevated as to be above his reach, so powerful as to escape from his grasp, or so lovely as to be unfaded by his withering touch? In this instance, as in many others of less distinction, it was seen that the sun of human existence arose almost unclouded, and continued to shine for a short time with peculiar radiance; but it went down at noon, and was followed by a long, a tempestuous night. How often have the sons of ambition in like manner been cut off in the midst of their unfinished projects and pursuits; while with their latest breath they have complained, "My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart: and where is now my hope? Thou changest his countenance and sendest him away."

ESSAY III.

The Reign of HENRY VI. from his Accession to the Death of the Duke of Bedford.

A. D. 1422-1435.

THE death of Henry V. took place at a very critical period. The treaty of Troyes, which constituted the English sovereign heir to the French monarchy, had not been carried into effect, though the principal obstacles to its execution were removed. If that illustrious prince had lived another year, there is every reason to suppose, that the adherents of the dauphin would have been completely vanquished, and the crowns of England and France united in the person of Henry. But his early death seemed at once to blast these hopes; as it was

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scarcely to be expected that the French people would be willing to submit to his successor, then an infant of nine months, or to those who might be appointed by the English parliament to administer in his name. But such was the reputation of the king's brother, the duke of Bedford, who became, in consequence of that event, protector of England and regent of France, that no material change took place in the aspect either of foreign or domestic affairs. That distinguished nobleman had already obtained the esteem and confidence of the English nation, by the wisdom of his administration during the long absence of his royal brother; and his splendid military talents were well known to the French, who had recently witnessed his prowess in the field of battle. Both ' parties were therefore induced to recognise his authority, though on different grounds; the one from a principle of affection; but the other from fear and conscious weakness.

The dying requests of the late king were for the most part confirmed by the parliament, which assembled immediately after his death, except that the education of the prince his son, instead of being confided to the earl of Warwick, was intrusted to Beaufort, the bishop of Winchester, an imperious and contentious prelate, who hoped by the ascendency he might thus acquire, to rise above all control, and humble all his political rivals. As the unsettled state of the French empire would render the frequent and long-continued absence of the protector necessary, it was determined that his younger brother, the duke of Glocester, a prince scarcely inferior to the duke of Bedford himself in noble and amiable qualities, should preside over a council of regency, appointed by

the senate.

The measures adopted by the protector in France, immediately after the death of Charles VI. (which quickly followed that of Henry V.) were dictated by a sound and liberal policy. When the duke of Burgundy declined the regency of France during the king's minority, the duke of Bedford, acting in that character, convened the parliament of Paris-caused Henry VI. to be proclaimed king of France and received, in the behalf of his sove

reign, the fealty and homage of all those princes and nobles, who were attached to the English interests. The wisdom which characterized his administration, induced many who had been wavering, and even hostile, to join his party; insomuch that the dauphin, when, at the death of his father, he assumed the title of Charles VII., found himself in a great measure deserted. At that period his cause seemed almost hopeless: the dukes of Brittany and Burgundy, the earl of Richmond, and many other powerful vassals of the French empire, had sworn allegiance to the English sovereign: the dukes of Orleans and Bourbon, the earls of Angoulême, Vendôme, aud others of his party, were prisoners of war in England: his capital and the greater part of his fortresses were in the hands of the English, whose army far exceeded his own in numbers, and in courage inspired by success. Yet desperate as the state of his affairs seemed to be, he resolved not only to persist in the contest, but also to be publicly crowned at Poitiers; hoping that this circumstance might induce some to rally round his standard, who refused to support him as dauphin. His chief hope lay in the valour of his Scottish allies, who adhered to him in the midst of his misfortunes, and enabled him to gain some partial victories over detachments of the English army. This hope was at length destroyed by the disastrous battle of Verneuil, fought A. D. 1424, in which the earl of Buchan, who had been appointed constable of France was slain, and the brave troops under his command were utterly routed by the duke of Bedford.

If the protector could have followed up this important victory, by pursuing the scattered remnants of Charles's army, and taking possession of his few remaining fortresses, the war might have been quickly terminated. But the painful tidings had reached him of the divided state of the English ministry, and of a serious contention having arisen between the bishop of Winchester, and the duke of Glocester, the regent, which threatened to terminate in a civil war. This rendered his immediate return to England necessary, where he arrived in time to prevent open hostilities, and succeeded at length in bringing about a seeming reconciliation. In the mean time jea

lousies arose amongst the confederate French princes, several of whom, allured by the promises of wealth and honour, which prince Charlea had held out to them, manifested a disposition, notwithstanding his ill success, to join his standard. The duke of Bedford, on his return to France, found that the English interest had manifestly declined; the duke of Brittany and earl of Richmond had forsaken him, and the duke of Burgundy had cooled in his attachment. Partly, however, by vigorous, and partly by conciliatory measures, these malecontents were reclaimed, and the English affairs again began to wear a most encouraging aspect, when an incident occurred the most remarkable in history, which totally and suddenly changed the whole scene, and eventually saved the French monarchy. This was the appearance of a young heroine on the field of action, who was firmly believed by the one party to be commissioned of God to work the deliverance of France, and by the other, to be in compact with Satan; but who in reality was a deluded visionary and enthusiast, that first deceived herself, and then succeeded in deceiv ing others.

Joan of Arc, or as she has been sytled by historians, "the maid of Orleans," was born A.D. 1407, in the village of Dompré, of very obscure parents. She was early inured to hardships, by serving at a small inn at Neufchatel, in the lowest capacity. While she occupied this humble station, her mind was fired with a strange enthusiastic ardour to attempt the restoration of the unfortunate Charles, the forlorn condition of whose affairs had excited general sympathy. Her imagination was so impressed with this idea, that she fancied herself the object of divine revelations on the subject; St. Margaret, St. Catharine, and others of the canonized vestals of that age, were frequently present to her mental vision, and, as she supposed, communicated to her the will of heaven, that "she should be the instrument of raising the siege of Orleans, which was then reduced to the last extremity, and conducting king Charles to Rheims, where he should be publicly crowned, after the manner of his ancestors." Fired with these patriotic anticipations, she hastened to the commanding officer of a neighbouring garrison to