in a wife prince, it was but keeping of distance; which indeed he did towards all; not admitting any near or full approach either to his power or to his fecrets. For he was governed by none. He had nothing in him of vainglory, but yet kept state and majesty to the height; being fenfible, that majesty maketh the people bow, but vain-glory boweth to them. He was born at Pembroke Castle, and lieth buried at Westminster, in one of the ftatelieft and daintieft monuments of Europe, both for the chapel and for the fepulchre. So that he dwelleth more richly dead, in the monument of his tomb, than he did alive in Richmond or any of his palaces. I could I wish he did the like in this monument of his fame. (Life of Henry VII.)* *The Latin translation of the Life varies much from the English, and rewards careful study. LEGISLATION OF HENRY VII. In the end of the 4th year [1489] the king called again his Parliament, not as it feemeth for any particular occafion of ftate; but the former Parliament [1488-9] being ended fomewhat fuddenly (in regard of the preparation in Britany), the king thought he had not remunerated his people fufficiently with good laws (which evermore was his retribution [= recompenfe] for treasure): and finding by the infurrection in the North, there was discontentment abroad in respect of the Subfidy, he thought it good for to give his fubjects yet further contentment and comfort in this kind. Certainly his times for good commonwealth's laws did excel; fo as he may justly be celebrated for the beft lawgiver to this nation after King Edward the Firft. For his laws (whofo marks them well) are deep and not vulgar; not made upon the fpur of a particular occafion for the prefent, but out of providence of the future; to make the eftate of his people still more and more happy, after the manner of the legif lators in ancient and hiftorical times. (Life of Henry VII.) POLITIC CLEMENCY OF There were taken prisoners [at the battle of Newark], amongst others, the counterfeit Plantagenet, now Lambert Symnel again, and the crafty priest his tutor [Richard Simon]. For Lambert the King would not take his life, both out of magnanimity (taking him but as an image of wax that others had tempered and moulded), and likewife out of wisdom; thinking that if he suffered death he would be forgotten too foon; but being kept alive, he would be a continual spectacle, and a kind of remedy against the like enchantments of people in time to come. For which cause he was taken into fervice in his Court to 'a bafe office in his kitchen ; fo that (in a kind of mattacina [ = dance] of human fortune) he turned a broach [=fpit] that had worn a crown; whereas fortune commonly doth not bring in a comedy or farce after a tragedy. As to the priest, he was committed close prifoner, and heard of no more; the King loving to feal up his own dangers. (Life of Henry VII.)* HENRY VIII. After the decease of that wife and fortunate king, King Henry VII., who died in the height of his profperity, there followed (as useth to do when the fun fetteth fo exceeding clear) one of the fairest mornings of a kingdom that hath been known in this land or anywhere else. A young King about 18 years of age, for ftature, ftrength, making, and beauty, one of the goodlieft perfons of his time. And although he was given to pleasure, yet he was likewife defirous of glory; fo that there was a paffage open in his mind by glory for virtue. Neither was he unadorned with learning, though therein he came fhort of his brother Arthur. He had never the leaft pique, difference, or jealoufy with the * See under 'Ireland.' King his father, which might give any occafion of altering court or council upon the change; but all things paffed in a ftill. He was the firft heir of the White and of the Red Rose; so that there was no difcontented party now left in the kingdom, but all men's hearts turned towards him; and not only their hearts, but their eyes alfo; for he was the only son of the kingdom. He had no brother; which, though it be a comfort for Kings to have, yet it draweth the subjects' eyes a little afide. And yet being a married man in those young years, it promised hope of speedy iffue to fucceed in the crown. Neither was there any queen mother who might fhare any way in the government or clash with the councillors for authority, while the King intended [= attended] his pleasure. No fuch thing as any great or mighty fubject who might eclipse or overfhade the imperial power. And for the people and State in general, they were in fuch lowness of obedience as fubjects were like to yield who had lived almost four and twenty years under fo politic a King as his father; being alfo one who came partly in by the fword, and had fo |