Page:The religious life of King Henry VI.djvu/81

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CHARACTER
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fears of opposition. But, whoever may have been the actual author of the death of this holy man, it appears certain enough that the brothers Edward, Gloucester and the Duke of Clarence gave orders for it. The dead body of Henry was taken from the Tower, without any marks of honour, to St. Paul's Church and was exposed there all day. The next day it was transported to the Monastery of St. Benedict at Chertsey, fifteen miles from London, and there buried. Immediately the tomb began to be celebrated for numerous miracles. Not long after the body was carried away to Windsor Castle and placed in the Church of St. George, where it now [i.e. circa 1510] rests and is greatly honoured for many miracles."[1]

"This King Henry reigned thirty-eight years, and after recovering his kingdom, again, for another six months more. He lived to the age of fifty-two. He was tall of stature: his body was slender and his members in every way corresponded; his face was comely, and it ever reflected the bountiful goodness of the disposition with which he was abundantly endowed. By natural disposition he was

  1. MS. Vat. Urb. Lat., 198(1), fol. 205 seqq.