( 3*3 ) 



to the immenfe property of the houfe of Lancafter, which 

 had been preferved entire in the crown by the policy of 

 Henry the 4th, would have made the power of Edward, 

 towards the clofe of his reign, almoft irrefiftable, if it 

 had not been weakened by the extravagance of his ex- 

 pences. 



The fucceflion of Richard the third on the depofition 

 of Edward the fifth, added to the royal demefne the great 

 property of the Warwick family, and left fcarcely one 

 opulent noble in the country. But the people abhorred 

 his crimes, revolted againft his ufurpation, and placed 

 the earl of Richmond on the throne. 



Henry the feventh united in his perfon all the territorial 

 pofleffions of the houfes of York and Lancafter, and the 

 various families whofe fucceffions they had inherited or 

 acquired; and he added to the power which Edward the 

 4th had obtained by his great property, an economy to 

 which Edward was a ftranger. Henry was framed by 

 nature for the quiet fyftematical eftablifliment of tyranny, 

 and circumftances favoured his exertions. The peers 

 during his reign were fo reduced as to be very inferior 

 in number to the fpiritual lords ; and, excepting thofe 

 of his own creation, and the fingle houfe of Buckingham 

 which owed its renovation to his eftabliftiment on the 

 throne, there was fcarcely a peer of considerable property. 

 The lords thus humbled, the commons raifed no head; 

 and all bowed before the prince, who proceeded quietly 

 and by degrees to eftablifli his tyranny by law. 



He died before his purpofe could be accomplished, and 

 his fucceflbr was of a character directly oppofite ; luxu- 

 rious, extravagant, violent, and a ftranger to wily policy. 

 Henry the eighth foon diflipated the immenfe treafure 

 of his father ; he almoft as foon Squandered the vaft pro- 

 perty he had acquired by the diflblution of monafteries; 



T 2 and 



