HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 415 



desired to effect or persuade any thing that he took 

 to heart. He was rather studious than learned ; 

 reading most books that were of any worth, in the 

 French tongue, yet he understood the Latin, as ap- 

 peareth in that Cardinal Hadrian and others, who 

 could very well have written French, did use to 

 write to him in Latin. 



For his pleasures, there is no news of them ; and 

 yet by his instructions to Marsin and Stile, touching 

 the Queen of Naples, it seemeth he could interro 

 gate well touching beauty. He did by pleasures, as 

 great princes do by banquets, come and look a little 

 upon them, and turn away. For never prince was 

 more wholly given to his affairs, nor in them more 

 of himself: insomuch as in triumphs of justs and 

 tourneys, and balls, and masks, which they then 

 called disguises, he was rather a princely and gentle 

 spectator, than seemed much to be delighted. 



No doubt, in him, as in all men, and most of all 

 in kings, his fortune wrought upon his nature, and 

 his nature upon his fortune. He attained to the 

 crown, not only from a private fortune, which might 

 endow him with moderation ; but also from the for 

 tune of an exiled man, which had quickened in him 

 all seeds of observation and industry. And his times, 

 being rather prosperous than calm, had raised his 

 confidence by success, but almost marred his nature 

 by troubles. His wisdom, by often evading from 

 perils, was turned rather into a dexterity to deliver 

 himself from dangers, when they pressed him, than 

 into a providence to prevent and remove them afar 



