"But our buildings, like our children, are ob"noxious to death, and time fcorns their folly who "place a perpetuitie in either. And indeed the "fafer kind of fate happened to King Edward, in "both thefe felicities: his pofteritie, like his "edifices, loft in other names. "Edward," fays Habington, "to recover him "the great love which in both fortunes the "Londoners had fhewed him to his laft houre, ufed towards them a particular kindneffe, even "fo much that he invited the Lord Mayor, "Aldermen, and fome of the principal Citizens "to the foreft of Waltham, to give them a "friendly, not a pompous entertainment, where "in a pleasant lodge they were feafted, the King "himself feeing their dinner ferved in; and by "thus ftoopinge downe to a loving familiarity, "funke deepe into their hearts; and that the sex "he always affected might not bee unremem"bered, he caused great plentie of venison to be "sent to the Lady Mayorefs and the Aldermen's "" wives." Louis the Eleventh of France having, contrary to treaty, refused the Dauphin in marriage to the daughter of Edward, that Monarch thus addreffed his Parliament: "This contumelie I am re"folved to punish, and I cannot doubt fucceffe. "Almighty B 3 "Almighty God still strengthens his arm who "undertakes a war for juftice. In our expe "ditions hitherto against the French, what prof "perity waited upon the English arms is to the "world divulged, and yet ambition then appeared "the chief counfellor to war. Now befide all "that right which led our Edward the Third, our "glorious ancestor, and Henry the Fifth, our "glorious predeceffor, we seem to have a deputy"fhip from Heaven to execute the office of the Supreme Judge, in chastifing the impious." The original of the following very curious letter of Edward and of his brother, the Earl of Rutland, to their father, the Duke of York, is in that valuable repofitory of literature and of science the British Museum; RYGHT high and ryght myhty prince, our ful "redouted and ryght noble lorde & fadur as lowely "w' all oure herts as we youre trewe & naturell "fonnes can or may we recommande us unto "your noble gree, humbly befeechyng your nobley " & worthy faderhude daily to geve us your hertely "bleffing, thrugh whiche we trufte muche the rather "to encrees and growe to vertu & to spede the "better in all matiers and things that we shall use "occupye & exercise. Ryght high & ryght mighty "prince, our ful redouted lorde & fadur, we thanke our our bleffed Lorde not only of yo honourable ❝ conducte & good fpede in all your matiers and ❝besynesse and of your gracious prevaile agenft "the entent & malice of your evil-willers, but also "of the knowlege that hit pleafed your nobleffe to "lete us nowe late have of the fame by relation of "S' Waltier Devreux knyght, & John Milewatier ❝fquier, & John at Nokes, yemen of your ho"norable chambier. Alfo we thank your nobleffe "and good fadurhood of our grene gownes, now "late fende unto us to our grete comfort; be"feeching your good lordefhip to remember our porteux, and that we myght have fyne bonetts "fende unto us by the next feure meffiger, for "neceffite fo requireth. Over this, right noble "lorde and fader, please hit your highnesse to witte "that we have charged your fervant WillTM "Smyth berer of thees for to declare unto your "noblesse certayne things on our behalf, namely, "concerning & touching the odieux reule & "demenyng of Richard Crofte & of his brother. "Wherefore we befeeche your generouse lordship "and full noble fadurhood to here him in expofi❝tion of the fame, and to his relacion to geve full " feith & credence. Ryht high & ryght myghty "prince, our ful redouted & ryght noble lorde & "fadur, we beseeche Almyghty Fhu geve yowe as "good lyfe & long, with as moche continual per"fete B 4 "fete profperite as your princely hert con beft "defyre. Written at your Caftel of Lodelowe. "on Satursday in the Aftur-woke. "Your humble sonnes, "E. MARCHE & E. RUTLONde." PHILIP DE COMINES. credit to his "In all the ONE of the obfervations of this natural and entertaining old hiftorian does no lefs difpofition than to his understanding. "princes," fays he, " that I have ever ferved, " and have ever known, there was always a mix"ture of good and of bad, which I plainly « discerned, and indeed without wonder, for they "are men like to ourselves, and perfection be"longs only to God himself. That Prince, "however, whofe virtues exceed his vices, is "certainly worthy of extraordinary commendation and applaufe, for perfons of their rank and dignity are more obftinate and inclinable to "violence in their actions than other men, on "account of the education which they receive in their youth, that is always less strict, and with "lefs of discipline, than that of others; and when "they "they are grown up, the greater part of those "that are about them, make it their business and "their study to conform to their humours." ce Comines, fpeaking of taxes, fays, "Is there any Prince upon earth who has power to raise money, except from his own domains, without "the consent of the fubject who is to pay it, "unless by means of tyranny and violence? It is "objected, that occafionally there are times in "which the Affembly of the Council of the "Nation would not be attended, and that their "debates would take up too much time. The "preparation and the beginnings of a war are "never fo precipitate, but there is time for proper "confideration upon it; and when it is begun "with the consent of the fubject, the Prince is "always more ftrong and more formidable than "his enemy. Money, I am fenfible, is at all "times neceffary to fecure the frontiers of a "kingdom, as well in time of peace as of war; "but this is to be done with moderation, and "depends upon the wisdom of the Prince; for "if he be a good man, he knows what God is, "and what the world is; what he ought to do, "and what he ought to avoid. In my opinion, "of all the countries with which I was ever "acquainted, the Government is nowhere fo "well managed as in England; the people are no <<< where |