HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 117 



measure : for he did not press to have the act penned 

 by way of declaration or recognition of right ; as, on 

 the other side, he avoided to have it by new law 

 or ordinance, but chose rather a kind of middle way, 

 by way of establishment, and that under covert and 

 indifferent words : &quot; that the inheritance of the crown 

 &quot; should rest, remain, and abide in the king,&quot; &c. 

 which words might equally be applied, that the 

 crown shoall continue to him; but whether as having 

 former right to it, which was doubtful, or having it 

 then in fact and possession, which no man denied, 

 was left fair to interpretation either way, And 

 again, for the limitation of the entail, he did not 

 press it to go farther than to himself and to the heirs 

 of his body, not speaking of his right heirs, but leav 

 ing that to the law to decide ; so as the entail might 

 seem rather a personal favour to him and his chil 

 dren, than a total disinherison to the house of York; 

 and in this form was the law drawn and passed. 

 Which statute he procured to be confirmed by the 

 pope s bull the year following, with mention never 

 theless, by way of recital, of his other titles, both of 

 descent and conquest : so as now the wreath of three 

 was made a wreath of five ; for to the three first 

 titles of the two houses, or lines, and conquest, were 

 added two more, the authorities parliamentary and 

 papal. 



The king likewise, in the reversal of the at 

 tainders of his partakers, and discharging them of all 

 offences incident to his service and succour, had his 

 will ; and acts did pass accordingly. In the passage 



