Page:The religious life of King Henry VI.djvu/99

Rh innocent and just King, who had been proclaimed in his cradle, crowned in his infancy, and again, at more age had had the Imperial Diadem of France set on his head, living uprightly, loving his subjects, and reigning thirtie eight yeeres, was in that time tossed with variable successe: for twice he was imprisoned and deprived of his Crowne, betrayed, smitten and wounded, and in all things became a worthy example of fortune's inconstancy. He was of Stature very seemely, of body slender, of face beautifull, and by a natural inclination abhorred all vice, farre from pride, given to prayer, well-read in the Scriptures, using works of Charitie, and so chaste, as no suspition of incontinency could be conceived in him: nay, so farre the contrary, that when certain Ladies presented themselves before him in a Maske, with their Haire loose, and their Brests uncovered (hee then a Bachelour and able of marriage) he immediately rose up and departed the Presence, saying: 'Fie, fie, forsooth ye are to blame.' Oath he used none, but in weighty matters, his affirmation was forsooth, and forsooth; very mercyfull to the poor, and so pitifull to malefactors, as he commanded the quarters of traitors to be