Excester. As for the Serueritie vsed vpon those which were taken in Kent, it was but upon a Scumme of People. His Pardons went euer both before, and after his Sword. But then he had withall a strange kind of Interchanging of large and unexpected Pardons, with seuere Executions. Which (his Wisedome considered) could not bee imputed to any Inconstancie, or Inequalitie; but either to some Reason which we do not know, or to a Principle he had set unto himselfe, That hee would vary, and trie both wayes in turne. But the lesse Bloud hee drew, the more hee tooke of Treasure. And (as some construed it) hee was the more sparing in the One, that hee might bee the more pressing in the Other; for both would haue beene intollerable. Of Nature assuredly hee coueted to accumulate Treasure, and was a little Poore in admiring Riches. The People (into whome there is infused, for the preseruation of Monarchies, a naturall Desire to discharge their Princes, though it bee with the vniust charge of their Counsellors and Ministers) did impute this vnto Čardinal MORTON, and Sir REGINALD BRAY. Who (as it after appeared) as Counsellors of ancient Authoritie with him, did so second his Humours, as neuerthelesse they did temper them. Whereas EMPSON and DVDLEY that followed, beeing Persons that had no Reputation with him (otherwise then by the seruile following of his Bent) did not give way onely (as the first did) but shape him way to those Extremities, for which himselfe was touched with remorse at his Death, and which his Successor renounced, and sought to purge. This Excesse of his, had at that time many Glosses and Interpretations. Some thought the continuall Rebellions wherewith he had beene vexed, had made him grow to hate his People. Some thought it was done to pull downe their Stomacks, and to keepe them low. Some, for that hee would leaue his Sonne a Golden-fleece. Some suspected he had some high Designe vpon Forraine Parts. But those perhaps shall come nearest the truth, that fetch not their reasons so farre of; but rather impute it to Nature, Age, Peace, and a Mind fixed upon no other Ambition or Pursuit. Wherevnto I shall adde, that hauing euery day Occasion to take notice of the Necessities and Shifts for Monie of other great Princes abroad, it did the better (by Comparison) set of to him the Felicitie of full Cofers. As to his expending of Treasure, hee neuer spared Charge which his Affaires required; and in his Buildings was Magnificent, but his Rewards wery very limitted. So that his Liberalitie was rather upon his owne State and Memorie, then vpon the Deserts of others.

For

Hee was of an High Mind, and loued his owne Will, and his owne Way; as one that reuered himselfe, and would Raigne indeed. Had he been a Priuate-man; he would haue been termed Proud. But in a Wise Prince, it was but keeping of Distance, which indeed hee did towards all; not admitting any neare or full Approach, neither to his Power or to his Secrets. For he was gouerned by none. His Queene (notwithstanding shee had presented him with diuers Children, and with a Crowne also, though hee would not acknowledge it) could doe nothing with him. His Mother hee reuerenced much, heard little. any Person agreeable to him for Societie (such as was HASTINGS to King EDWARD the Fourth, or CHARLES BRANDON after to King HENRY the Eigth) hee had none : Except wee should account for such Persons, FOXE, and BRAY, and EMPSON, because they were so much with him. But it was but as the Instrument is much with the Workman. Hee haa nothing in him of Vaine-glorie, but yet kept State and Maiestie to the height; Beeing sensible, That Maiestie maketh the People bow, but Vaine-glorie boweth them.

To his Confederates abroad he was Constant and Iust, but not Open. But rather such was his Inquirie, and such his Closenesse, as they stood in the Light towards him, and hee stood in the Darke to them. Yet without Strangenesse, but with a semblance of mutuall Communication of Affaires. As for little Enuies, or Emulations upon Forraine Princes (which are frequent with many Kings) hee had neuer any; but went substantially to his owne Businesse. Certaine it is, that though his Reputation was great at home, yet it was greater abroad. For Forrainers that could not see the Passages of Affaires, but made their Judgements vpon the Issues of them, noted that he was euer in Strife, and euer a Loft. It grew also from the Aires, which the Princes and States abroad received from their Ambassadors and Agents here; which were attending the Court in great number. Whom hee did not onely content with Courtesie, Reward, and Priuatenesse; but (vpon such Conferences as passed with them) put them in Admiration, to finde his Vniuersall Insight into the Affaires of the World. Which though hee did sucke chiefely; from themselues; yet that which hee had gathered from them all, seemed Admirable to euery one. So that they did write euer to their Superiours in high termes, concerning his Wisedome and Art of Rule. Nay, when they were returned, they did commonly maintaine Intelligence with him. Such a Dexteritie hee had to impropriate to himselfe all Forraine Instruments.

Hee was carefull and liberall to obtaine good Intelligence from all parts abroad. Wherein hee did not onely use his Interest in the Leigers here, and his Pensioners which hee had both in the Court of Rome, and other the Courts of Christendome; but the Industrie and Vigilancie of his owne Ambassadors in Forraine parts. For which purpose, his Instructions were euer Extreame, Curious, and Articulate; and in them more Articles touching Inquisition, then touching Negotiation. Requiring likewise from his Ambassadors an Answere, in particular distinct Articles, respectiuely to his Questions.

As for his secret Spialls, which hee did imploy both at home and abroad, by them to discouer what Practises and Conspiracies were against him, surely his case required it: Hee had such Moles perpetually working and casting to undermind him. Neither can it be reprehended. For if Spialls bee lawfull against lawfull Enemies, much more against Conspirators, and Traitors. But indeed to giue them Credence by Othes or Curses, that cannot bee well maintained; For those are too holy Vestments for a Disguise. Yet surely there was this further Good in his employing of these Flies and Familiars; That as the use of them was cause that many Conspiracies were reuealed, so the Fame and Suspition of them kept (no doubt) many Conspiracies from beeing attempted.

Towards his Queene hee was nothing Vxorious, nor scarce Indulgent; but Companiable, and Respectiue, and without Iealousie. Towards his Children he was full of Paternall Affection, Carefull of their Education, aspiring to their High Aduancement, regular to see that they should not want of any due Honour and Respect, but not greatly willing to cast any Popular Lustre vpon them.

To his Councell hee did referre much, and sate oft in Person; knowing it to bee the Way to assist his Power, and informe his Iudgement. In which respect also hee was fairely patient of Libertie, both of Aduise, and of Vote, till himselse were declared. Hee kept a straight hand on his Nobilitie, and chose rather to aduance Clergie-men and Lawyers, which were more Obsequious to him, but had lesse Interest in the People; which made for his Absolutenesse, but not for his Safetie. In so much as (I am perswaded) it was none of the Causes of his troublesome Raigne ; for that his Nobles, though they were Loyall and Obedient, yet did not Co-operate with him, but let euery man goe his owne Way. Hee was not afraid of an Able Man, as LEWIS the Eleventh was. But contrariwise, he was serued by the Ablest Men that were to bee found; without which his Affaires could not haue prospered as they did. For Warre, BEDFord, Oxford,

SVRREY, DAWBENEY, BROOKE, POYNINGS. For other Affaires, MORTON, FOXE, BRAY, the Prior of Lanthony, WARHAM, VRSWICKE, HVSSEY, FROWICKE, and others. Neither did hee care how Cunning they were, that hee did imploy; For hee thought himselfe to haue the Master-Reach. And as hee chose well, so hee held them up well. For it is a strange thing, that though he were a Darke Prince, and infinitely Suspitious, and his Times full of Secret Conspiracies and Troubles; yet in Twentie fowre yeares Raigne, hee neuer put downe, or discomposed Counsellor, or neare Seruant, saue onely STANLEY, the Lord Chamberlaine. As for the Disposition of his Subiects in Generall towards him, it stood thus with him; That of the Three Affections, which naturally tie the hearts of the Subiects to their Soueraignes, Love, Feare, and Reuerance; hee had the last in height, the second in good measure, and so little of the first, as hee was beholding to the other Two.

Hee was a Prince, Sad, Serous, and full of Thoughts and secret Obseruations, and full of Notes and Memorialls of his owne hand, especially touching Persons. As, whom to Employ, whom to Reward, whom to Enquire of, whom to Beware of, what were the Dependencies, what were the Factions, and the like; keeping (as it were) a Iournall of his Thoughts. There is to this day a merrie Tale; That his Monkie (set on as it was thought by one of his Chamber) tore his Principall Note-Booke all to pieces, when by chance it lay forth. Whereat the Court (which liked not those Pensiue Accompts) was almost tickled with sport.

Hee was indeed full of Apprehensions and Suspitions. But as hee did easily take them, so hee did easily checke them, and master them: whereby they were not dangerous, but troubled himselfe more then others. It is true, his Thoughts were so many, as they could not well alwayes stand together; but that which did good one way, did hurt another. Neither did he at some times waigh them aright in their proportions. Certainely, that Rumour which did him so much mischiefe (That the Duke of Yorke should bee saued, and aliue) was (at the first) of his owne nourishing; because hee would haue more Reason not to raigne in the Right of his Wife. Hee was Affable, and both Well and Faire-Spoken; and would use strange Sweetnesse and Blandishments of Words, where hee desired to effect or perswade anything that hee tooke to heart. Hee was rather Studious, then Learned; reading most Bookes that were of any worth, in the French-tongue. Yet hee understood the Latine, as appeareth in that Cardinal HADRIAN, and others, who could very well haue written French, did vse to write to him in Latine.

For his Pleasures, there is no Newes of them. And yet by his Instructions to MARSIN, and STILE, touching the Queene of Naples, it seemeth hee could Jnterrogate well touching Beautie. Hee did by Pleasures, as great Princes doe by Banquets, come and looke a little vpon them, and turn away. For neuer Prince was more wholly given to his Affaires, nor in them more of himselfe; In so much, as in Triumphs of Iusts, and Tourneys, and Balles, and Masques (which they then called Disguises) hee was rather a Princely and Gentle Spectator, then seemed much to bee delighted.

No doubt, in him as in all men (and most of all in Kings) his Fortune wrought upon his Nature, and his Nature vpon his Fortune. Hee attayned to the Crowne, not onely from a priuate Fortune, which might indow him with Moderation; but also from the Fortune of an Exiled Man, which had quickened in him all Seedes of Obseruation and Industrie. And his Times being rather Prosperous, then Calme, had raised his Confidence by Successe, but almost marred his Nature by Troubles. His Wisdome, by often euading from Perils, was turned rather into a Dexteritie to deliuer himselfe from Dangers, when they pressed him, then into a Prouidence to preuent and remove them a farre of. And euen in Nature, the Sight of his Minde was like some Sights of Eyes; rather strong at hand, then to carrie a farre of. For his Witt increased upon the Occasion; and so much the more, if the Occasion were sharpened by Danger. Againe, whether it were the shortnesse of his Fore-sight, or the strength of his Will, or the dazeling of his Suspition, or what it was; Certaine it is, that the perpetuall Troubles of his Fortunes (there being no more matter out of which they grew) could not have beene without some great Defects, and mayne Errours in his Nature, Customes, and Proceedings, which he had enough to doe to saue and helpe, with a thousand little Industries and Watches. But those doe best appeare in the Storie it selfe. Yet take him with all his Defects, if a Man should compare him with the Kings his Concurrents, in France and Spaine, he shall find him more Politique then LEWIS the twelfth of France, and more Entire and Sincere then FERDINANDO of Spaine. But if you shall change LEWIS the twelfth, for LEWIS the eleventh, who lived a little before; then the Consort is more perfect. For that LEWIS the Eleventh, FERDINANDO, and HENRY, may bee esteemed for the Tres Magi of Kings of those Ages. To conclude, If this King did no greater Matters, it was long of himselfe; for what he minded, he compassed.