-
Articles/Ads
Article CHARACTER OF HENRY VIII. ← Page 2 of 2 Article ANECDOTE. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Character Of Henry Viii.
treme jealousy of all who were related to the nyyal family , and could be supposed to entertain the most distant thoughts of the throne . To this several persons of hig h rank fell a sacrifice . His excessive selfconceit , ancl the high opinion he entertained of his own superior wisdom , though it was rather a ridiculous than a criminal passion , had the very worst effects . It rendered him susceptible , or rather greecty , of flatter ]* ancl hihly pleased with praisewith which he was accosted
, g , on all occasions . The two great parties , the friends of the pope , and tlie favourers of the reformation , tried to exceed one another in the arts of flattery , and in a servile compliance with all his humours , which rendered him intolerably proud , obstinate , and impatient of contradiction . This also increased his authority , subjected both these parties to his willand put it in his power to do whatever he pleased .
, The court that was paid him by the two great rivals , the Emperor and the King of France , contributed still further to inflame his pride ; ancl , in spite of all his faults , it rendered him popular among his own subjects , who were pleased to see their sovereign the arbiter of Europe . Though ptodiirality ancl avarice are opposite passions , they are often
round in the same person ; and Henry was both profuse and covetous in the extreme . Of his prodigality , the immense sums he squandered are a sufficient proof : and his history affords many evidences of his avarice . At two different times he borrowed great sums from many of his subjects , and procuredacts from his servile parliaments , absolving him from the obligation of repaying them , though he had g iven his creditors security under the privy seal . But of all his passionshis
, anger was the most terrible . When he conceived a jealous 3 * or dislike of any persons , their ruin was resolved ; no submissions , no supplications , no intercessions , no evidences of their innocence , could save them from destruction . In a word , the character he is said to have given of himself , ' That he had never spared a man in his anger , nor ' a woman in his lust , ' seems to be too well founded ; and they are
not inexcusable who have denominated him a tyrant , if tlHty . had not forgotten to add , that he was possessed of many valuable ' accomplishments ; capable at time . s of generous and laudable actions , and of kind affections ; and that he had been an instrument in the hand of Providence of much good to his subjects and their posterity , b 3 * dissolving their connection with the court and church of Rome .
Anecdote.
ANECDOTE .
7 TN the reign of King Charles the First a regiment of horse casually JJ , fell in with the enemy in rather a dark nig ht in summer : the colonel , in order to be more at his ease , stript off his clothes to his shirt , then charged the enemy , routed them , and took a great many prisoners ; one wondering at the defeat and strange execution in the dark , an officer swore ( an Irishman , I presume ) they had light enough ,
for they could easily see and distinguish colours by the moon-shine of their commander ' s shirt . T . 3 H a
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Character Of Henry Viii.
treme jealousy of all who were related to the nyyal family , and could be supposed to entertain the most distant thoughts of the throne . To this several persons of hig h rank fell a sacrifice . His excessive selfconceit , ancl the high opinion he entertained of his own superior wisdom , though it was rather a ridiculous than a criminal passion , had the very worst effects . It rendered him susceptible , or rather greecty , of flatter ]* ancl hihly pleased with praisewith which he was accosted
, g , on all occasions . The two great parties , the friends of the pope , and tlie favourers of the reformation , tried to exceed one another in the arts of flattery , and in a servile compliance with all his humours , which rendered him intolerably proud , obstinate , and impatient of contradiction . This also increased his authority , subjected both these parties to his willand put it in his power to do whatever he pleased .
, The court that was paid him by the two great rivals , the Emperor and the King of France , contributed still further to inflame his pride ; ancl , in spite of all his faults , it rendered him popular among his own subjects , who were pleased to see their sovereign the arbiter of Europe . Though ptodiirality ancl avarice are opposite passions , they are often
round in the same person ; and Henry was both profuse and covetous in the extreme . Of his prodigality , the immense sums he squandered are a sufficient proof : and his history affords many evidences of his avarice . At two different times he borrowed great sums from many of his subjects , and procuredacts from his servile parliaments , absolving him from the obligation of repaying them , though he had g iven his creditors security under the privy seal . But of all his passionshis
, anger was the most terrible . When he conceived a jealous 3 * or dislike of any persons , their ruin was resolved ; no submissions , no supplications , no intercessions , no evidences of their innocence , could save them from destruction . In a word , the character he is said to have given of himself , ' That he had never spared a man in his anger , nor ' a woman in his lust , ' seems to be too well founded ; and they are
not inexcusable who have denominated him a tyrant , if tlHty . had not forgotten to add , that he was possessed of many valuable ' accomplishments ; capable at time . s of generous and laudable actions , and of kind affections ; and that he had been an instrument in the hand of Providence of much good to his subjects and their posterity , b 3 * dissolving their connection with the court and church of Rome .
Anecdote.
ANECDOTE .
7 TN the reign of King Charles the First a regiment of horse casually JJ , fell in with the enemy in rather a dark nig ht in summer : the colonel , in order to be more at his ease , stript off his clothes to his shirt , then charged the enemy , routed them , and took a great many prisoners ; one wondering at the defeat and strange execution in the dark , an officer swore ( an Irishman , I presume ) they had light enough ,
for they could easily see and distinguish colours by the moon-shine of their commander ' s shirt . T . 3 H a