Page:The religious life of King Henry VI.djvu/19



I HIS EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION

ING HENRY VI was born at Windsor on 6th December 1421, the only son of Henry V and his wife, Catherine of France. He was baptized by Archbishop Chichely of Canterbury; his godparents being his uncle, John Duke of Bedford; his great-uncle, Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester; and Jacqueline, Countess of Holland.

The premature death of his father, on 31st August 1422, made the infant King of England when only nine months old; Henry V's last directions in regard to his son were ignored, and Parliament appointed his eldest uncle, John Duke of Bedford, Protector of the little King. The real government of the kingdom, however, rested with the Council, and all writs were issued in the King's name. Henry V had appointed Sir Walter Hungerford to