DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.69603#0123
HENRY VIIL
This prince lived during one of the most remarkable
periods in modern history. He occasioned the most
signal revolution that ever occupied the attention of
mankind; but the good which he thus effected, as it was
the consequence of passion and caprice, has insured him
little personal glory or esteem. He annihilated the ty-
ranny of the priesthood, but their fall, however merited,
was tarnished by the blood which he shed:—he restored
to industry those immense domains which had been too
long, exclusively, the hope and reward of idleness; but
the indiscriminating violence of his confiscations, and
the cruelty which accompanied them, too often disgraced
those measures which a more enlightened policy would
have avowed. Under him civilization marched with
rapid strides, but it was seldom that humanity, or a love
for his people, entered into his views, or enlightened his
projects of reform. In a word, he may be said to have
displayed, in most of his acts, the obstinacy of a bigot,
and the ferocity of a tyrant.
Few of our monarchs ever ascended the throne under
more favourable circumstances than Henry the Eighth.
His father had crushed the factious spirit of the people,
and subdued the haughty tyranny of his nobles. He be-
queathed to him a kingdom that enjoyed profound peace,
70
This prince lived during one of the most remarkable
periods in modern history. He occasioned the most
signal revolution that ever occupied the attention of
mankind; but the good which he thus effected, as it was
the consequence of passion and caprice, has insured him
little personal glory or esteem. He annihilated the ty-
ranny of the priesthood, but their fall, however merited,
was tarnished by the blood which he shed:—he restored
to industry those immense domains which had been too
long, exclusively, the hope and reward of idleness; but
the indiscriminating violence of his confiscations, and
the cruelty which accompanied them, too often disgraced
those measures which a more enlightened policy would
have avowed. Under him civilization marched with
rapid strides, but it was seldom that humanity, or a love
for his people, entered into his views, or enlightened his
projects of reform. In a word, he may be said to have
displayed, in most of his acts, the obstinacy of a bigot,
and the ferocity of a tyrant.
Few of our monarchs ever ascended the throne under
more favourable circumstances than Henry the Eighth.
His father had crushed the factious spirit of the people,
and subdued the haughty tyranny of his nobles. He be-
queathed to him a kingdom that enjoyed profound peace,
70