Page:The religious life of King Henry VI.djvu/40

20 what was within his own personal knowledge, or what he had learnt from absolutely trustworthy sources and unimpeachable witnesses. There is some reason to believe that the life was composed in the reign of Henry VII to be presented to the Pope as part of the evidence required for the proposed canonization of the saintly King. Blackman thus prefaces his interesting account of the holy King: "Like another Job he was a man simplex et rectus, fearing the Lord God in all things and shunning evil. He was truly a vir simplex without any trace of deceit or double-dealing, as is admitted by everyone. He never treated anyone in a double manner, nor was he false to his people, but ever spoke with frankness. He was rectus et justus and always acted on the principles of justice. He never did anyone an injustice knowingly, nor did he ever do an injury to anyone. Most faithfully he rendered unto God what was His. He most carefully and amply gave to God and His Church the tithes and oblations due to them. In regard to religious worship, even when wearing his robes of state with the crown on his head, he was wont to show to God profound reverence; to make his bows