Yet so far he performed the duty of a sovereign that he
took care to maintain a good police in his realm; which, in the
tumultuous state of his government, was a great and difficult work." How
well he performed it, we may learn even from the testimony of a
contemporary Saxon historian, who says, "during his reign a man might
have travelled in perfect security all over the kingdom, with his bosom
full of gold; nor durst any kill another in revenge of the greatest
offences, nor offer violence to the chastity of a woman. But it was a
poor compensation that the highways were safe, when the courts of
justice were dens of thieves, and when almost every man in authority, or
in office, used his power to oppress and pillage the people."--Towards
the close of the life of Henry IV., he kept the regal diadem always in
his sight by day, and at night it shared his pillow. Once the Prince of
Wales, whom Henry always suspected more than he loved, seeing his father
in a most violent paroxysm of disease, removed the crown from his bed.
The king on his recovery missed it, sent for his son, and taxed him with
his impatience and want of duty, but the prince defended his conduct
with such rational modesty, that Henry, convinced of his innocence,
embraced and blessed him.
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