CHAPTER XXVI
HENRY IV. A SPLIT KING
When Henry IV Part I came to the throne the Barons immediately flung their gloves on the floor in order to prove
1. That Richard II was not yet dead
2. That Henry had murdered him.
Henry very gallantly replied to this challenge by exhibiting Richard II’s head in St. Paul’s Cathedral, thus proving that he was innocent. Finding, however, that he was not memorable, he very patriotically abdicated in favour of Henry IV, Part II.
RENEWED EDUCATIONAL FERMENT
Even Henry IV Part II, however, is only memorable for having passed some interesting laws against his Old Retainers, i.e. butlers and sutlers, who had irritated him by demanding Liveries, requiring too much Maintenance, etc. He also captured the Scottish Prince James and, while keeping him as a sausage, had him carefully educated for nineteen years; finding, however, that James was still Scotch, Henry IV Part II lost interest in education and died.