-
Articles/Ads
Article CHARACTER OF HENRY VII. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Character Of Henry Vii.
CHARACTER OF HENRY VII .
JTENRY VII . was in stature a little above the middle size , j }_ slender , strong , and active . His deportment was , in general , grave , reserved , and stately ; but lie could put on a smiling countenance , and assume a gracious engaging manner , when he saw convenient . In personal courage he was not defectivebut it was
, attended with caution and not of the impetuous enterprising kind . Though he sometimes threatened , he never really intended to engage in an 3 * foreign war ; because he knew it was exceedingly expensive ,, and peculiarly dangerous to a prince with a disputed title and discontented subjects . From these considerations , rather than from timidity , he cultivated peace with all the nei ghbouring princes . In application
to business he was indefatigable , and descended to the most minute details . He was his own minister , impenetrably secret in all his . schemes , and prescribed to his servants the parts they were to act without acquainting them with his views . His understanding was good , but neither very quick nor comprehensive ; but he supplied the want of quickness by mature deliberation ; and the success with which all his measures were crowned , procured him the name of the Solomon of the age , and a very high reputation for wisdom , both at
home and abroad . He has been highly admired for diminishing the exorbitant power of the great barons , which had often endangered the crown , and oppressed the people . This he certainly endeavoured , and in part accomplished . But it was far from being a difficult task . The civil wars had ruined two-thirds of the great families , and at his accession there were only twenty-seven temporal peers in England . The great defects in the character of this prince proceeded not from
the weakness of his head , but the hardness of his heart , which was exceedingly selfish ancl unfeeling ; little susceptible of the impressions of love , friendship , pity , or any generous benevolent affection . He was an unkind husband to an amiable consort ; never had a friend , and seldom forgave an enemy . As a son ,- he treated his venerable mother with formal respect , but allowed her no influence ; as a father ,
he was careful , but not affectionate ; as a master , he was far from being generous . His vexatious exactions of various kinds , his severity to Sir William Stanle 3 * , and his cruelty to the innocent Earl of Warwick , have procured him , ancl not unjustly , the odious name of tyrant . An inordinate love of mone 3 * , and an unrelenting hatred ' to the house of York , were his ruling passions , and the chief sources of all his vices and of all his troubles . VOL . III . 3 H
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Character Of Henry Vii.
CHARACTER OF HENRY VII .
JTENRY VII . was in stature a little above the middle size , j }_ slender , strong , and active . His deportment was , in general , grave , reserved , and stately ; but lie could put on a smiling countenance , and assume a gracious engaging manner , when he saw convenient . In personal courage he was not defectivebut it was
, attended with caution and not of the impetuous enterprising kind . Though he sometimes threatened , he never really intended to engage in an 3 * foreign war ; because he knew it was exceedingly expensive ,, and peculiarly dangerous to a prince with a disputed title and discontented subjects . From these considerations , rather than from timidity , he cultivated peace with all the nei ghbouring princes . In application
to business he was indefatigable , and descended to the most minute details . He was his own minister , impenetrably secret in all his . schemes , and prescribed to his servants the parts they were to act without acquainting them with his views . His understanding was good , but neither very quick nor comprehensive ; but he supplied the want of quickness by mature deliberation ; and the success with which all his measures were crowned , procured him the name of the Solomon of the age , and a very high reputation for wisdom , both at
home and abroad . He has been highly admired for diminishing the exorbitant power of the great barons , which had often endangered the crown , and oppressed the people . This he certainly endeavoured , and in part accomplished . But it was far from being a difficult task . The civil wars had ruined two-thirds of the great families , and at his accession there were only twenty-seven temporal peers in England . The great defects in the character of this prince proceeded not from
the weakness of his head , but the hardness of his heart , which was exceedingly selfish ancl unfeeling ; little susceptible of the impressions of love , friendship , pity , or any generous benevolent affection . He was an unkind husband to an amiable consort ; never had a friend , and seldom forgave an enemy . As a son ,- he treated his venerable mother with formal respect , but allowed her no influence ; as a father ,
he was careful , but not affectionate ; as a master , he was far from being generous . His vexatious exactions of various kinds , his severity to Sir William Stanle 3 * , and his cruelty to the innocent Earl of Warwick , have procured him , ancl not unjustly , the odious name of tyrant . An inordinate love of mone 3 * , and an unrelenting hatred ' to the house of York , were his ruling passions , and the chief sources of all his vices and of all his troubles . VOL . III . 3 H