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"well knew his own ftrength, and whom the "love of riot neceffitated to a love of treasure, "which commonly is fupplied by oppreffion of "the fubject. His buildings were few, but

sumptuous for the time, which are yet to be "feene at the Tower of London, his house of "Elthem, the Caftles of Nottingham and Dover, "but above all at Windsor, where he built the 66 new Chapel, (finished after by Sir Reginald

Bray, Knight of the Order,) and endowed the "Colledge with negative revenues, which he

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gave not, but transferred thither, taking from

King's Colledge in Cambridge, and Eaton Col"ledge, a thoufand pounds the ycare, to enrich "this at Windfor.

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"But our buildings, like our children, are "obnoxious to death, and time fcorns their folly who place a perpetuite in either. And "indeed the fafer kind of fate happened to King Edward, in both these felicities: his posteritie, "like his edifices, loft in other names.

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"Edward," fays Habington, "to recover "him the great love which in both fortunes the "Londoners had fhewed him to his last houre, "used towards them a particular kindneffe, even "fo much that he invited the Lord Mayor, "Aldermen,

"Aldermen, and fome of the principal Citizens, "to the forest of Waltham, to give them a "friendly, not a pompous entertainment, where "in a pleafant lodge they were feafted, the King "himself seeing their dinner ferved in; and by "thus ftoopinge downe to a loving familiarity, "funke deepe into their hearts; and that the "fex he always affected might not bee unre

membered, he caufed great plentie of venifon "to be fent to the Lady Mayoress and the Aldermen's wives,"

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HENRY THE SEVENTH
[1485-1509.]

"THIS politic Prince," fays Lord Bacon, 66 always profeffed to love and to feek peace, and it was his ufual preface to his Treaties, That ❝ when Christ came into the world peace was fung, and that when he went out of the world, peace was bequeathed. Yet he knew the way "to peace was not to feem to be defirous to "avoid wars, therefore would he make offers "and fames of wars till he had worded the con"ditions of peace. For his pleasures," adds Lord Bacon, "there is no news of them. He did by pleasures as great Princes do by ban $ quets

YOL, I.

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quets-come and look a little upon them, "and turn away. He was rather studious than

learned, reading most books that were of any "worth in the French tongue; yet he under"ftood the Latin, as appeareth in that Cardinal "Adrian and others, who could very well have "written French, did write to him in Latin."

"He was," fays his noble Hiftorian, "a little "above juft ftature, well and ftraight-limbed, "but flender. His countenance was reverend, "and a little like a churchman; and as it was not "strange or dark, fo neither was it winning nor "pleafing, but as the face of one well difpofed. "But it was to the difadvantage of the painter, "for it was best when he spoke."

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The king of Caftile was fhipwrecked on the coast of England in the reign of Henry the Seventh. Henry," fays Lord Bacon, "foon as he heard the news, commanded pre"fently the Earl of Arundel to go to vifit the "King of Caftile, and let him understand, that

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as he was very forry for his mishap, so he was

glad that he had efcaped the danger of the "feas, and likewise of the occafion. he had to "do him honour; and defiring him to think. "himself as in his own land, and that the king "made all poffible hafte to come and embrace

« him. The Earl came to him in great mag"nificence at Weymouth, with a brave troop of "three hundred horfe, and, for more state, came

by torch-light. After he had done the King's "meffage, King Philip, (feeing how the world went,) the fooner to get away, went upon fpeed to the King at Windfor, and his Queen followed by eafy journies. The two Kings at "their meeting ufed all the careffes and loving "demonftrations that were poffible, and the

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King of Caftile faid pleasantly to the King, that "he was now punished, for that he would not "come within his walled town of Calais when "they met laft. But the King answered, that "walls and feas were nothing where hearts were • open, and that he was here no otherwise than

to be ferved. After a day or two's refreshing, "the Kings entered into speech of renewing the "treaty; King Henry faying, that though King "Philip's person were the fame, yet his fortunes "and ftate were raifed, in which cafe a reno. vation of treaty was used amongst Princes, But whilft these things were in handling, the "King choofing a fit time, and drawing the King

of Caftile into a room, (where they two only "were private,) and laying his hand civilly upon “his arm, and changing his countenance a little "from a countenance of entertainment, faid to him, Sir, you have been faved upon my coast,

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I hope that you will not fuffer me to be wrecked 66 upon yours. The King of Caftile asked him "what he meant by that speech. I mean by it (faid the King) that fame hair-brain wild "fellow the Earl of Suffolk, who is protected in

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your country, and who begins to play the fool "when all others are tired of it. The King of "Caftile answered, I had thought, Sir, that

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your felicity had been above these thoughts; "but if he trouble you, I will banish him. The "King replied, that hornets were best in their "nest, and worst when they did fly abroad, and "that his defire was to have the Earl of Suffolk "delivered to him. The King of Castile here"with a little confufed, and in a hurry, replied, "That can I not do with my honour, and less "with yours, for you will be thought to have "ufed me as a prifoner. The King presently faid, "Then the matter is at end, for I will take that "difhonour upon me, and fo your honour is "faved. The King of Caftile, who had the 66 King in great eftimation, (and befides remem

bered where he was, and knew not what use "he might have of the King's amity, for that "himself was new in his eftate of Spain, and "unfettled both with his father-in-law and with

his people,) compofing his countenance, faid, "Sir, you gave law to me, and fo will I to you.

You fhall have him, but (upon your honour).

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