Page:The religious life of King Henry VI.djvu/55

Rh throughout his life. To give one instance only: Once on a time, when coming from his villa at St. Albans and passing through Cripplegate into London, he saw over the gateway the quarters of a traitor, who had been proved to have been false to His Majesty. Henry at once said: "Remove this, I do not wish that any Christian should be treated so cruelly for my sake." One who was present has given testimony of this fact.

Again, when four noble gentlemen were convicted of high treason and sentenced by the judges to a felon's death, the King remitted the penalty, sending at once to the place of execution their pardon and an order for their release. Three other great barons of the realm conspired against the King and gathered together a great number of armed men to further the ambition of one of them who, as after events showed, aspired to the throne. Henry showed them great mercy and pardoned them all—the leaders as well as their followers, on condition that they submitted to him.

There are many other instances of King Henry's merciful disposition. In one case, two men having conspired to kill him, one