Hee died in the principall strength, both of his age, and of his distastfull actions; wherein hee had bene much carried by the hoate humour of his courage and youth; his iudgement not then raised to that stayednesse and strength,[76] whereto yeeres and experience in short time would haue brought it. Hee reigned in great varietie of opinion with his Subiects (some applauding his vertues, others aggrauating his vices) twelue yeeres, eleuen moneths wanting eight dayes: and was at his death fourtie and three yeeres old. At this time he presumed most highly, and promised greatest matters to himselfe, hee proiected also many difficult aduentures, if his life had continued the naturall course; wherein his hopes were nothing inferiour to his desires.
Hee gaue to the Monckes of Charitie in Southwarke his Mannour of Bermondsey, and built for them the great new Church of Saint Sauiour.
Also of an old Monasterie in the Citie of Yorke, he founded an Hospitall
for the sustentation of poore persons and dedicated
it to S. Peter. This Hospitall was afterward
augmented by King Stephen,
and by him dedicated
to S. Leonard.
* *
*
KING HENRY
THE FIRST,
Sirnamed
Beavclerke.
