Page:The religious life of King Henry VI.djvu/26

8 at Elmswell and divided his time between fishing and hawking until the vigil of the Purification, when he returned to Bury to be present at the blessing of the Candles. The season of Lent was again passed in the Prior's lodgings, and the youthful King was present at all the solemn ceremonies of the Holy Week and Easter.

On the Tuesday after the feast, Henry, together with the Earl and Countess of Warwick, was formally received into the fraternity of the Convent of Bury. Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, who was with the King and who was already a Confrater of St. Alban's Monastery, petitioned to become a member of the family of St. Edmund's also. The young monarch determined that the reception should be carried out in the most formal manner possible, so, having prostrated himself before the shrine of St. Edmund, followed by the Duke of Gloucester, the Earl of Warwick, and the rest of his suite, he proceeded to the Chapter House where the monks were assembled, and there asked for the privilege of being joined in brotherhood with the monks. Then the Duke of Gloucester on his knees begged the King to thank the Abbot and the brethren