The authority of Henry being now securely establish ed, and his reputation for vigour and sagacity spread over all Europe, his amity and alliance was courted with every demonstration of respect by the most powerful fo reign princes. The Princess Margaret, his eldest (laugh ter, was contracted to James the Fourth of Scotland; but as the royal bride was only in the eleventh year of her age, the marriage was not consummated till three years afterwards. A similar connection, which had long been negotiating between Arthur, Prince of \Vales, and the Princess Catharine, third daughter of Ferdinand and Isa- , bells of Spain, was concluded about the same time, and the marriage celebrated with great pomp about the end of the year 1501. These two matches were afterwards productive of the most important events; the former lay ing the foundation for the future union of the English and Scottish crowns; and the latter proving a remote oc casion of the reformation of religion in Christendom. Prince Arthur sickened and died a few months after his marriage ; but his father, still desirous to continue his alliance with the royal family of Spain, after procuring the pope's dispensation, obliged his second son Henry, whom he created Prince of Wales, to be contracted to the infanta. During these more prosperous incidents, the queen died in childbed, and the child survived her only a few days ; but, as she had never gained the affec tions of her husband, though deservedly the favourite of the nation, it was not supposed that her death made much impression upon the king; and he soon after be gan to lay plans for a second marriage. He first turned his thoughts to the Queen Dowager of Naples; but, hearing that her dower was diminished, he abandoned all further pursuit. In 1506, Philip, Archduke of Aus tria, who had married Joan, heiress of Castile, having embarked with his consort for Spain, was driven by a storm into the port of Weymouth, and was received by Henry with every possible demonstration of respect. Ever watchful how to draw advantage from every inci dent, he first prevailed upon Philip to conclude a more favourable commercial treaty, than that which hitherto existed between the English and the Low Countries, and next negotiated a lucrative matrimonial alliance between himself and Philip's sister, Margaret, Duchess Dowager of Savoy. But the accomplishment of this intended con nection was prevented by Henry's declining health, and by the commencement of a disease which soon termi nated in his dissolution. In the view of approaching death, the king applied himself with much earnestness to acts of justice, piety, and mercy; and had recourse to many of those superstitious practices, which were then held most efficacious for conciliating the favour of heaven. He paid the debts of all persons in London who were imprisoned for small sums; and, with the excep tion of a few of the more aggravated cases, issued a ge neral pardon to all criminals. He directed 2000 masses to be said for his soul within a month after his decease ; distributed alms to paupers and prisoners, upon condition that they prayed fervently for his future felicity; and con stituted commissioners, to make restitution to all whom he had injured or oppressed. He expired, in his favou rite palace at Richmond, in the 54th year of his age, and the 24th of his reign.
Henry VII. was, in stature, above the middle size, and though of a slender form, yet strong and active. His de portment was grave and stately; but when any great point was to be gained, he was capable of displaying the most insinuating address. Though not defective in per sonal courage, and always collected in seasons of danger, he was rather cautious than enterprising in the field. He was indefatigable in public business, and descended to the most minute details; kept his views impenetrably secret, and only prescribed to his ministers the parts which they were to act. His understanding, though not
remarkable for acuteness, was sure in its deliberations, and the general success of his measures procured him a very high reputation for political wisdom. He was more deficient in the feelings of the heart than in the faculties of the mind; and was little susceptible of the social and generous affections. An inordinate love of money, and an unrelenting hatred to the house of York, were his ruling passions, and the chief sources ui his vices and his vexations. During the latter part of his life, in par ticular, his strict economy degenerated Imo absolute ava rice, which broke through all restraints; and with the assistance of two rapacious ministers, Ernpson and Dud ley, he committed the most arbitrary exactions upon his subjects. By his frugality and extortions, he accu mulated immense wealth, and is said to have possessed, at his death, in ready moncy, the suns of 1.80(),u001. But the royal coffers being then the only treasury of the state, he may be said to have saved for public and though a few individuals may have suffered from his rapacity, he left the nation wealthy and flourishing. His reign, in a general view, was oils at home and honourable abroad ; and though not personally the least, ne was po litically the most useful prince, next to King Alfred, that had hitherto fill, d the till one of England. He loved peace, without fearing war; and extended his power by wise treaties, rather than expensive victories. It was the uniform tendency of his measures to depress the no bility and clergy, and to raise up and humanise the peo ple. By a law, empowering the nobles to break their entails and alienate their possessions, the overgrown au thority and estates of the barons were gradually dimi nished, while the property and influence of the'commons were proportionally increased. By repeated statutes, and a rigorous enforcement of the laws, he prevented the great families from giving liveries or badges to their de pendants and retainers ; and thus effectually suppressed those armed bands, maintained around the castle of every baron, and ready for every act of violence or insurrection. He was not so successful in his attempts to abolish the privileges exercised by monasteries, in affording refuge to the most notorious offenders; and all that he was able to accomplish by his influence with the pope, was to procure a regulation, that if any, who were once registered as sanctuary-men, should again sally forth to commit fresh offences, they might be dragged from the place of their refuge, and delivered up to justice. His great efforts were uniformly directed to promote a spirit of industry, and to extend the benefits of commerce among his sub jects. In these views he repealed various statutes, which acted as restraints upon manufacturing and mechanical trades ; endeavoured to draw the towns from the neigh bourhood of strongholds to more commercial situations; and never failed, in his treaties with foreign powers, to secure the commercial interests of the kingdom. He ex pended fourteen thousand pounds in building one ship, which was called "the Great Harry," and which may be considered as, in fact, the beginning of the English navy; since the government, before this period, had no other mode, of raising a fleet than by hiring or pressing the vessels of merchants. By his prudence and perse verance, in short, he effected a great and beneficial change upon the state of the kingdom; enacted many wise and salutary laws; restored, or rather established commerce; reduced to just subordination a factious and insolent aris tocracy; and taught the peaceful arts of civilized life to a warlike and turbulent people.