( II ) 



to the immenfe property of the houfe of Lancader, which 

 had been prefcrved 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 irrefiflable, if it 

 had not been weakened by the extravagance of his ex- 

 pences. 



The fuccefTion 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 

 pofleflions 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 eftablifhment 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 eftablifhment on the 

 throne, there was fcarcely a peer of confiderable property. 

 The lords thus humbled, the commons raifed no head ; 

 and all bowed before the prince, who proceeded quietly 

 and by degrees to eftablifh his tyranny by law. 



He died before his purpofe could be accompli flied, and 

 his fucceflbr was of a charader diredly oppofite ; luxu- 

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

 Henry the eighth foon diffipated the immenfe treafurc 

 of his father ; he almoft as foon fquandcrcd the vail pro- 

 perty he had acquired by the diffolution of monafteries ; 



and 



