New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-18
ROYAL STATESMAN.

ROYAL STATESMAN.
HENRY THE SEVENTH. by James Gardner l6mo'
PIP. 10. Mcmillan * Co.
Not many English kings deserve tho name OF states
man better than Henry the seventh, for his strength
was in hts Superior intelligence and judgment and he
anticipated comparatively modern methods IN pfOcu'-
ing information upon which to base bis action ITO
was brought up in a school OF rough but wholesome
discipline youth passed In cvadlng mortal dangers
in shifting from place place In search OF safety was
well calculated TO teach the young Earl OF Eichmohu
how to rad men, and what measure OF confidence 10
put in them Succeeding the odious faeard the Ihird
coming 10 the throne with the prestige OF dcINcrc'
and tyrantlayer Henry made skful use OF the popu-
lar admiration 10 establish himself FIRMLY by Ia" upon
throne to which his legal title was none OF the
clearc,t HIS marriage with Elizabeth OF YORK
ccmcn,ed the fabric of his power, aud his tito was
never seriously contested. though his reign was pro-
life in prctenders TO tho throne In imprsomhs
Warwick the Tower. Horny appears to haVo 'housn
that he had taken hostage against those attempts out
he did not realize the ease with which tho rahkest
mpos tors would 10 accepted by his enemies WIN
Lambert smncl he had very nttlo trouble, and though
Prkln Wsrbeck gave him moro anxiety, owing 10 tho
fact that Macmillan supported the proteIsons OF thar
impostar there never vas umo when he hsh reason
10 fear for the stability Of his throne on account OF
these Wild endeayos.
Henry by nature pacific. Ready enough 10
fight when fghilug was the best policy, he much
a born diplomatlst and he reIgned long enough to
make all the crowned heads OF Europe reoognze bis
ability in that direction. and respect him As ruler
who knew how TO obtain and bold the balance OF
mower Al first ho was rather ovcrrcachcd by
Ferdinand and Isabella. but after hc had taken the
measure Of the Spanish King the latter ceased to OBJ
tain the advantage in treaties and negotiations, ana
ended by falling under Henrys yoke TO rcrnarkAoe
extent The truth IS Henry vas a much grrs'T
man than any OF his brother sovergns, or Than any
OF the Popes who were his contemporaries ho hh
NOT the stun OF a refornov In him, ac1 this was
evidenced by his undertaking acceptance OF foTc
Alexander tho Infamous OF IN" Infamous Caesar
Eorsia, the prosecutor Of ssvona-u!A the most
iniqulious and fAcitous profgac who ever occupied
Thy poDtfcatc But Henry n fact was CON
ventionslly a faithful son OF ho Church, and az
trrmned TO be and remain on good terms With It's
head 1t was always convenient, moreover, 10 tboSo
times to have band friendly and not too scupuous
Pope 10 issue indugepccs, to grant divorces II To
CURED, TO curse the kings enemies, and illuminate
buIlx At critical iurcturcs. That Henry was what
can only be termed minded and the reverse OF
s1ueaml,h Is proved beyond confession by bis amazing
propo.ition made Isabella Of Spain, that he shohi
marry his own sons widov-kaiharin" OF spain Inc
man who could cooly suggest this to the m"'hnf Oh
h'S dauchtern-lav must have been exceptionally
cal!ous in a by n means mray .mouth"d Az"
The king hal base vice; he was avarFio"s'
and he played the mscr at the expense Of his -be's
Prof. sor Gardner for some insoruahle reason, has
IN this monograph Surr"i over the scandaous METHODS
employed during Hcnry's r':n methods 50 notorious
I'm connection with the royal instruments. RrnpSon ana
Dudley who wcro illogcay and unSeasonAoIy pun
,sbed in the succeeding rcign. This side Of Henry
chaIstor indeed is not adequately reprr'en'h IN inc
present work Tho truth is that be was miscrly ana
| the fact that he was Professor Gardner says "
MAGNIFICENT builder" docs not Al all Offset the evidence
OF the state OF his pTvate treasure whom he deH ho
had amassed and hidden away in a number OF seETt
| places a sum representing SoooopOO IN m0dern
! money This was a treasure altogether out OF pro
rortlon to the needs State private OF ruler who
virtually held tic KEYS OF all his subjects strong
bo,es But bis rapacity appears in other things.
THUG u has been obsrrvrd-and Professor Garncr
himself mentions it-that Henry preferred I" ehoos"
his advisers from the Church. AID for the ra'"h mat
he could reward them with good livngs, which cost
him nothing whereas. had he taken his advisers !ron'
the nobility he would have boon under the necessity
OF paying them IN lands and money Tho superior
fitness OF tho clergy for counsel may DO sdmiu"h WIN
on, invaldating this testimony.
| Henry no doubt cOmpcnSatrd his people for MS
| ayaricc 10 some extent, by saving them from VASE"
f and useless war, but It must be remembered thar
when war was threatened h" took care to rails" fund'
with which to prosecute them and that when Tho
war was obviate he never returned the money TO tho
| contributors lie strong and wise ruler. on the
whole and certainly advanced the prestige and power
OF England some may think that he dli even morn
in pacifylng or, at all events. keeping quic'
Ireland during the eratrr part Of his reign and IN
those DAYS this was certainly an uErNampIcd feat
Henry vas personally amiablc. so far As can be
gathered. He reserved and somewhat naughty
stern and silent, and could BE- cruel though hi
ccneraI bent was toward lenency. He was. o
course like all the Tudor absOlltist TO the cor" am
parliamentary government in his hands was th'
mercst form and convenience. lie did nothing u
advance English liberties In a direct way. thougl
no doubt tho stability he gave tho monarchy and h'
respect he imposed upon foreign princes ha tho hdrNc
seoc, ~ securing for his country the security which
in due time was to make popular freedom possible
Professor Gardner ha, told the story simply and well
with the one exception noted above