Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

CHAPTEK
IX.
THE CHURCH UNDER THE HOUSE OF LANCASTER
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(1399-1461).
HENRY BOLINGBROKE was " a strong man with a weak'
title, therefore he befriended the Church. He
wanted the support of the spiritual power in order
to consolidate his own. If he had been born Prince
of Wales, he might have rendered exceptional services
to England. King as he was, by the law of
the stronger, he was undoubtedly able. Stern, daring,
unscrupulous in the attainment of his ends, he
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was of his age and in harmony with it. He wore
the crown, which had been the object of his ambition,
for fourteen years, always in trepidation, never
in weakness, and bequeathed it at last to a son, who
knew its glories without its cares.
Henry IV. was crowned on St. Edward's day,
1399, by Archbishop Arundel, whom Richard II. had
sentenced to perpetual exile. Before his coronation
the new king declared his intentions with regard to
the Church. He would not tax the clergy, nor
accept subsidies unless the need were overwhelming ;
he would uphold the liberties of the Church and suppress
heresy as far as he possibly could. The Arch-
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