Compare 1577 edition: 1 In strength and nimblenesse of bodie from his youth few to him comparable, for in wrestling, lea|ping, and running, no man well able to compare. In casting of great iron barres and heauie stones he ex|celled commonlie all men, neuer shrinking at cold, nor slothfull for heat; and when he most laboured, his head commonlie vncouered; no more wearie of harnesse than a light cloake, verie valiantlie abiding at needs both hunger and thirst; so manfull of mind as neuer seene to quinch at a wound, or to smart at the paine; not to turne his nose from euill sauour, nor close his eies from smoke or dust; no man more moderate in eating and drinking, with diet not de|licate, but rather more meet for men of warre, than for princes or tender stomachs. Euerie honest person was permitted to come to him, sitting at meale, where either secretlie or openlie to declare his mind. High and weightie causes as well betweene men of warre and other he would gladlie heare, and either determined them himselfe, or else for end committed them to others. He slept verie little, but that verie soundlie, in so much that when his soldiers soong at nights, or minstrels plaied, he then slept fastest; of courage inuincible, of purpose vnmutable, so wise-hardie alwaies, as feare was banisht from him; at euerie alarum he first in armor, and formost in orde|ring. In time of warre such was his prouidence, bountie and hap, as he had true intelligence, not one|lie what his enimies did, but what they said and inten|ded: of his deuises and purposes few, before the thing was at the point to be done, should be made priuie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 He had such knowledge in ordering and guiding an armie, with such a gift to incourage his people, that the Frenchmen had constant opinion he could neuer be vanquished in battell. Such wit, such pru|dence, and such policie withall, that he neuer enter|prised any thing, before he had fullie debated and fore|cast all the maine chances that might happen, which doone with all diligence and courage he set his pur|pose forward. What policie he had in finding present remedies for sudden mischeeues, and what engines in sauing himselfe and his people in sharpe distresses: were it not that by his acts they did plainlie appeare, hard were it by words to make them credible. Wan|tonnesse of life and thirst in auarice had he quite quenched in him; vertues in deed in such an estate of souereigntie, youth, and power, as verie rare, so right commendable in the highest degrée. So staied of mind and countenance beside, that neuer iolie or triumphant for victorie, nor sad or damped for losse or misfortune. For bountifulnesse and liberalitie, no man more frée, gentle, and franke, in bestowing re|wards to all persons, according to their deserts: for his saieng was, that he neuer desired monie to kéepe, but to giue and spend.

Although that storie properlie serues not for theme of praise or dispraise, yet what in breuitie may well be remembred, in truth would not be forgotten by sloth, were it but onlie to remaine as a spectacle for mag|nanimitie to haue alwaies in eie, and for incourage|ment to nobles in honourable enterprises. Knowen be it therefore, of person and forme was this prince rightlie representing his heroicall affects, of stature and proportion tall and manlie, rather leane than grose, somewhat long necked and blacke haired, of countenance amiable, eloquent and graue was his spéech, and of great grace and power to persuade: for conclusion, a maiestie was he that both liued & died a paterne in princehood, a lode-starre in honour, and mirrour of magnificence: the more highlie exalted in his life, the more déepelie lamented at his death, and famous to the world alwaie. Peter Basset (a chéefe man in his chamber) affirmed that he deceassed of a pleurisie, though the Scots and French set it downe to be of saint Feacres disease, that they saie was a palsie with a crampe, which Enguerant reports to be saint Anthonies fire, but neither of them trulie. ¶Anglorum praelia saith, that it was a sharpe feuer, Abr. Fl. out of Angl. prael. sub Hen. [...]. which happening vnto him (wearied with the broiles of warre) in a verie vnseasonable time of the yeare, namelie the dog daies, tormented him the sorer, and EEBO page image 584 grew to be not onelie dangerous, but also desperat; for it left him not till life was extinguished: the poets report is, as followeth:

Interea fractúm aestu nimió labore

Corripit Henricum languentem febris acuta,

Coeli intemperies, sextili Sirius ardens

Virus A pestilent feuer. pestiferi fecit ingrandescere A pestilent feuer. morbi.