122 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 



lord keeper of his privy seal, and afterwards advanced 

 him by degrees, from Exeter to Bath and Wells, 

 thence to Durham, and last to Winchester. For 

 although the king loved to employ and advance 

 bishops, because, having rich bishopricks, they car 

 ried their reward upon themselves ; yet he did use to 

 raise them by steps, that he might not lose the profit 

 of the first fruits, which by that course of gradation 

 was multiplied. 



At last, upon the eighteenth of January, was 

 solemnized the so long expected and so much desired 

 marriage between the king and lady Elizabeth ; 

 which day of marriage was celebrated with greater 

 triumph and demonstrations, especially on the 

 people s part, of joy and gladness, than the days 

 either of his entry or coronation, which the king 

 rather noted than liked. And it is true, that all his 

 life-time, while the lady Elizabeth lived with him, 

 for she died before him, he shewed himself no very 

 indulgent husband towards her, though she was 

 beautiful, gentle, and fruitful. But his aversion to 

 wards the house of York was so predominant in him, 

 as it found place not only in his wars and councils, 

 but in his chamber and bed. 



Towards the middle of the spring, the king, full 

 of confidence and assurance, as a prince that had 

 been victorious in battle, and had prevailed with his 

 parliament in all that he desired, and had the ring 

 of acclamations fresh in his ears, thought the rest of 

 his reign should be but play, and the enjoying of a 

 kingdom : yet, as a wise and watchful king, he 



