The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

374 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII.
note it, he said merrily to him, that he had been prejudice the monarchy of England. Whereunto
in the midst of Spain, which was a hot region, the king himself replied; that if that should be,
and his journey had made him dry; and that if Scotland would be but an accession to England,
the other had been in so hot a clime, he would and not England to Scotland, for that the greater
have been drier than he. Besides the prince was would draw the less; and that it was a safer
upon the point of sixteen years of age when he union for England than that of France. This
died, and forward, and able in body. passed as an oracle, and silenced those that moved
The February following, Henry, Duke of York the question.
was created Prince of Wales, and Earl of Chester The same year was fatal, as well fur deaths as
and Flint: for the Dukedom of Cornwall devolv- marriages, and that with equal temper. For the
ed to him by statute. The king also being fast- joys and feasts of the two marriages were cornhanded, and loath to part with a second dowry, pensed with the mournings and funerals of Prince
but chiefly being affectionate both by his nature, Arthur, of whom we have spoken, and of Queen
and out of politic considerations to continue the Elizabeth, who died in child-bed in the Tower,
alliance with Spain, prevailed with the prince, and the child lived not long after. There died
thouogh not without some reluctation, such as could also that year, Sir Reginald Bray, who was noted
be in those years, for he was not twelve years of to have had with the king the greatest freedom
age, to be contracted with the Princess Catharine. of any counsellor: but it was but a freedom the
The secret providence of God ordaining that mar- better to set off flattery. Yet he bare more than
riage to be the occasion of great events and his just part of envy for the exactions.
changes. At this time the king's estate was very prosThe same year were the espousals of James, perous: secured by the amity of Scotland,
King of Scotland, with the Lady Margaret, the strengthened by that of Spain, cherished by that
king's eldest daughter; which was done by of Burgundy, all domestic troubles quenched, and
proxy, and published at Paul's cross, the five and all noise of war, like a thunder afar off, going
twentieth of January, and Te Deum solemnly upon Italy. Wherefore nature, which many
sung. But certain it is, that the joy of the city times is happily contained and refrained by some
thereupon showed, by ringing of bells and bon- bands of fortune, began to take place in the king;
fires, and such other incense of the people, was carrying, as with a strong tide, his affections and
more than could be expected, in a case of so great thoughts unto the gathering and heaping up of
and fresh enmity between the nations, especially treasure. And as kings do more easily find inin London, which was far enough off from feeling struments for their will and humour, than for
any of the former calamities of the war; and there- their service and honour; he had gotten for his
fore might be truly attributed to a secret instinct purpose, or beyond his purpose, two instruments,
and inspiring, which many times runneth not only Empson and Dudley, whom the people esteemed
in the hearts of princes, but in the pulse and veins as his horse-leeches and shearers, bold men and
of people, touching the happiness thereby to ensue careless of fame, and that took toll of their master's
in time to come. This marriage was in August grist. Dudley was of a good family, eloquent,
following, consummate at Edinburgh: the king and one that could put hateful business into good
bringing his daughter as far as Colliweston on language. But Empson, that was the son of a
the way, and then consigning her to the attendance sieve-maker, triumphed always upon the deed
of the Earl of Northumberland; who, with a done, putting off all other respects whatsoever.
great troop of lords and ladies of honour, brought These two persons being lawyers in science, and
her into Scotland, to the king her husband. privy counsellors in authority, as the corruption
This marriage had been in treaty by the space of the best things is the worst, turned law and
of almost three years, from the time that the king justice into wormwood and rapine. For the first,
of Scotland did first open his mind to Bishop Fox. their manner was to cause divers subjects to be
The sum given in marriage by the king was ten indicted of sundry crimes, and so far forth to pIrothousand pounds: and the jointure and advance- ceed in form of law: but when the bills were
ment assured by the King of Scotland was two found, then presently to commit them: and neverthousand pounds a year, after King James's death, theless not to produce them in any reasona.ble
and one thousand pounds a year in present, for time to their answer, but to suffer them to languish
the lady's allowance or maintenance. This to be long in prison, and by sundry artificial devices
set forth in lands, of the best and most certain and terrors to extort from them great fines and
revenue. During the treaty, it is reported, that ransom, which they termed compositions and
tihe kinu remitted the matter to his council; and mitigations.
that some of the table, in the freedom of counsel- Neither did they, towards the end, observe so
lors, the king being present, did put the case, much as the half-face of justice, in proceeding by
that if God should take the king's two sons with- indictment; but sent forth their precepts to attach
out issue, that then the kingdom of England men and convent them before themselves, and
would fall to the King of Scotland, which might some others, at their private houses, in a court of