880 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 



he bare more than his just part of envy for the ex 

 actions. 



At this time the king s estate was very pros 

 perous : secured by the amity of Scotland, strength 

 ened by that of Spain, cherished by that of Burgundy, 

 all domestic troubles quenched, and all noise of war, 

 like a thunder afar off, going upon Italy. Where 

 fore nature, which many times is happily contained 

 and refrained by some bands of fortune, began to 

 take place in the king ; carrying, as with a strong 

 tide, his affections and thoughts unto the gathering 

 and heaping up of treasure. And as kings do more 

 easily find instruments for their will and humour, 

 than for their service and honour ; he had gotten for 

 his purpose, or beyond his purpose, two instruments, 

 Empson and Dudley, whom the people esteemed as 

 his horse-leeches and shearers, bold men and careless 

 of fame, and that took toll of their master s grist. 

 Dudley was of a good family, eloquent, and one that 

 could put hateful business into good language. But 

 Empson, that was the son of a sieve-maker, tri 

 umphed always upon the deed done, putting off all 

 other respects whatsoever. These two persons being 

 lawyers in science, and privy counsellors in authority, 

 as the corruption of the best things is the worst, 

 turned law and justice into wormwood and rapine. 

 For first, their manner was to cause divers subjects 

 to be indicted of sundry crimes, and so far forth to 

 proceed in form of law ; but when the bills were 

 found, then presently to commit them : and never- 



