The peculiar period chosen for this act, and its precipitancy in
contrast with the delay in issuing the new patents to the other judges,
tend strongly, I am afraid, to deprive us of the "flattering unction" of
supposing that it resulted from Gascoigne's choice, rather than Henry's
mandate. Nor is the royal warrant of November 1414, 2 Henry V. (twenty
months afterwards), granting him four bucks and four does yearly, during
his life, out of the forest of Pontefract, a sufficient proof of favour
to countervail the impression created by his early removal.
With these facts before us, King Henry's supposed generosity in
renominating Gascoigne can no longer be credited. But, even presuming
that none of these facts had been discovered, I must own myself
surprised that any one could maintain that Gascoigne was ever Chief
Justice to Hen. V., with two existing records before him, both
containing conclusive proof to the contrary.
The first is the entry on the Issue Roll of July, 1413, of a payment
made of an arrear of Gascoigne's salary and pension, in which he is
called "_late_ Chief Justice of the Bench of _Lord Henry, father of the
present King_."
The second is the inscription on his monument in Harwood Church in
Yorkshire, where he is described as "_nuper_ capit. justio.
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